Chapter Text
As autumn came and went, the Abyss became colder. Many animals were no longer around, and the flowers, once in all their grandeur, were now small and dormant. A thick layer of snow covered the dark, deep forest. The human base and its few remaining survivors had retreated after wandering all summer and autumn in the old towns to hunt for older technologies. After brief consideration, humankind returned to the base until a better solution could be found (a.k.a. until spring arrived).
Even after the magnetic fields were restored, winter in the Abyss was not suitable for human exploration, and even less so for mushrooms.
An Zhe and Lu Feng had searched back and forth for three months for the remains of the cave where An Zhe's original body was, but they had no success. Seeing that he might not be able to fulfill his promise, An Zhe felt a bit depressed.
They were just about to leave for the base, but seeing his mushroom so down, Lu Feng said, "There's no rush, we can stay a few more days."
An Zhe looked at him but said nothing. What can a few more days do...?
Suddenly, their vehicle stopped. They looked around to find a large wall completely covered in ivy. Upon looking further, they realized they were in an abandoned town, but no one had noticed because they had both been too busy staring at each other's depressed faces.
An Zhe blinked at Lu Feng a few times. "Now that I look at this place, I don't remember there being a city here. We took pretty much the wrong direction."
Lu Feng denied all possibility of him taking the wrong path. An Zhe just gave him a judgmental look.
"Now that we are here, let's take a look. Maybe we can find something for the Research Institute," Lu Feng said.
An Zhe nodded, so they put on a backpack and some warm clothes.
Before going out the door, Lu Feng put a beanie on An Zhe, pulling it down so low that it blinded him. The Colonel is always bullying me! An Zhe thought, but before he could throw his hands up in protest, Lu Feng fixed the beanie with a half-smile.
So they both exited the vehicle and started to walk. Some snow had already appeared in that area; according to schedule, they had to reach the Research Institute in six days, otherwise they would be stuck out here for a long time...
After they passed a large concrete block, they realized it was actually a fence. Behind the fence were some small houses and two- to three-story apartment blocks, most of which had collapsed roofs, while others were mere ruins. After inspecting the place, they decided to check out an apartment building that looked somewhat stable.
"This is considerably smaller than all the towns we went to," An Zhe remarked.
"Watch your step, don't hold on to that railing." Lu Feng kicked the railing to prove it wasn't stable, and it snapped right in half.
The pair entered the apartment. Things inside seemed normal, if you ignored the thick layer of dust. Now that it was winter, there were no insects anywhere, making it look like an old woman's shack that hadn't been cleaned in a very, very long time.
They entered the first room. The walls had been painted pink well, that's what it looked like, though only tiny patches were still visible. Tattered, peeling sheets remained on the bed, and a few stuffed animals were thrown here and there.
"It must have been the room of a young human girl," An Zhe said as he ventured deeper into the room until he stood in front of a large bookshelf.
He pinched a few of the books and flipped through them. "It's a miracle they are not destroyed," Lu Feng remarked as he reached to toss them aside.
An Zhe took a book from the lower shelves and flipped through it. His face went white. What was that? Holy Mushroom Gods? He slowly read the back of the book: BL. What is BL? he thought. As he looked through the pages, he realized, BL is a genre of boys' love... that sounds oddly familiar.
Lu Feng, seeing how shocked An Zhe was, walked over to check out the books. It was as if his green eyes suddenly lit up a little. "We should bring these with us. Yes, all of them."
An Zhe looked down at him and wondered, "How would this help the Reserch Institute?"
Lu Feng looked at him, a half-smile playing on his face. "You only see books here. I see very clear instructions."
An Zhe stared at him. Now he’s going to use books to bully me? Instructions? For what? What did he find in those books?
When An Zhe had first been shocked by these books, it was because he saw two boys with very long hair kissing on a flying sword. He had been amazed mostly because of the sword! But what could this cruel Colonel have found to make even HIM smile a bit?
After they sorted the books into a bag, An Zhe looked into a cabinet and found a small box filled with countless old photos. The photos were of two blonde teenage girls wearing all black and posing with a small bat plushie. On the back, it read: Christmas 2020.
Christmas... what is that? he wondered, momentarily distracted by the hair colors of the children of those days. Then, he found a small letter:
Dear Santa,
For Christmas, I wish to have a cat, but if that is not possible, just buy me a gift card. (I am still waiting for that cat under the tree on December 25th).
With love, Didi. I am waiting, Santa!
"Christmas, Santa... I guess it was a tradition here," An Zhe said, "and they were getting gifts from this weird Santa guy."
"I heard about this. Well, why not bring it back? The base is so boring anyway that it's become depressing," Lu Feng said.
An Zhe looked at him. "Isn't it boring you just don't talk to people?" He took the photo box and put it in his pocket. "I've said so many times that you have to—"
Before he could finish, Lu Feng gently kissed him. "Why would I do that when I have you?"
Nuh-uh, you won't make me shut up, An Zhe thought to himself, but it was already too late he completely folded under the strategic sweet-talking.
After looking around a bit longer and gathering more interesting items, the temperature outside dropped even further, and they decided to leave for the base. For a moment, An Zhe forgot all about the cave. I don't have to worry so much, he thought. Humans always leave an imprint of where they are. He won't go anywhere. I'll find him, and show him... a Christmas girl.
An Zhe, this body that you gave me was a great Christmas present, An Zhe thought as he shyly took Lu Feng's arm.