Fiery

Mu Xiao finished washing up before long, feeling refreshed from head to toe. All he lacked was a full stomach. When he stepped out of the room, he saw that the round table in the center had already been set, while An Rongru was still busy arranging a large pile of food.

"You should go wash up too. I'll handle dinner," Mu Xiao said. He wore only a tank top and shorts, which did nothing to hide his tall, lean, powerful build or the robust masculine aura he exuded.

"Mm, I'll go now." An Rongru's lovely face flushed as she picked up the clothes she had prepared from the bed. Lowering her head slightly, she walked past Mu Xiao.

With the two of them alone in the same room, An Rongru's Life Detection ability was not yet under such perfect control that she could freely switch it on and off. She could therefore clearly sense the vigorous vitality emanating from Mu Xiao's body, as well as the masculine charm that could soften a woman's body and heart. Especially for a beautiful mature woman like her, who had gone without affection for years, it was like a moth drawn to a flame.

Sometimes, a man's allure was even stronger to a woman.

However, Mu Xiao had no such frivolous thoughts. He went straight to the kitchen and found the ingredients An Rongru had washed clean. Most of them had been left behind in the security room, but the refrigerator had already failed and become useless. If they did not eat some of the food promptly, it would spoil sooner or later. They might as well use it all at once.

New humans were better at absorbing nutrients, and their bodies consumed varying amounts of energy. Naturally, their appetites were several times greater than before.

Ordinary food in this early stage of the era could not satisfy a new human's appetite at all, nor did it contain enough nutrition to strengthen the body. Only the flesh and blood of mutant beasts, packed with powerful genes, could meet the nutritional needs of a new human's physique. Long-term consumption of mutant beast meat could even strengthen one's vitality and nourish the flesh.

Mu Xiao had killed a mutant cat inside the law firm and carved out more than thirty portions of high-quality edible meat. That would be the main course for his hearty meal tonight.

"Mutant beast meat wasn't cheap in the early days of this era. And fresh meat like this was delicious—truly something worth remembering..." Mu Xiao took out a fresh-red, springy chunk of meat from a plate. The cleaver in his hand flashed like lightning, slicing it into translucent, cicada-wing-thin pieces.

Before long, more than thirty thick pieces of meat had become a small mountain of slices.

Mu Xiao then cut up the other meats and vegetables An Rongru had gathered, placing them on separate plates. He filled half a large pot with water, found an energy stove for heating, cleared out its electronic virus, and brought everything to the dining table.

"It's a long night. A hotpot will be perfect for passing the time." Mu Xiao was quite satisfied with the abundance of ingredients, as well as how quickly and easily dinner had been settled.

Mu Xiao switched on the energy stove and prepared the dipping sauce. Once the water boiled, he could start eating.

While waiting, Mu Xiao repaired several electric lamps, making the room less gloomy. This security hall room had no windows. If it had, the mutant security guards could have easily broken through the room's defenses through them earlier. Thus, Mu Xiao was not worried about the light leaking outside and drawing unnecessary trouble.

Steam soon rose from the pot. Mu Xiao dipped a few slices of meat into the boiling water, then began eating on his own without waiting for An Rongru.

Women were certainly not as quick and straightforward as men when washing up. Besides, with the possibility of something intimate happening tonight, An Rongru could not deny that she had feelings for Mu Xiao, yet she did not want to establish a physical relationship with him so quickly. She also knew that men found it difficult to suppress their desires, especially a young man in the prime of his vigor. An Rongru likewise knew what sort of nourishment a woman her age needed. Her heart grew increasingly bashful, and she had no choice but to make preparations. If something really happened, she did not want to leave herself with an unpleasant night.

If something truly happened today, it would be an important and unforgettable day for An Rongru.

The rich fragrance of boiling meat filled the entire room.

Mu Xiao had no idea how shy and flustered An Rongru's thoughts were. He only knew how to devour the ingredients on the table, continuously swallowing slices of mutant cat meat. His mouth was filled with tender, pleasantly chewy meat, free of even the slightest bloody or gamey taste. Once swallowed, the meat turned into tiny currents of warm heat that spread through his body, nourishing his internal organs, muscles, tendons, and bones. His vitality heated up and surged, like he had drunk an invigorating tonic wine. His blood circulation accelerated without pause, his blood cells divided, and his entire body's energy and vitality burned with intense vigor.

He felt the vitality of his body gradually strengthening, though there were no signs of his physique advancing to the next level. Still, his blood was becoming infused with abundant life energy.

"A newly evolved new human absolutely can't eat too much mutant meat. Otherwise, the excessive nourishment will do more harm than good. But the bloodline in my body possesses the Devour characteristic. I can absorb unlimited nourishment without fearing that excessive vitality will make my blood explode and kill me..." Mu Xiao ate until he was drenched in sweat, his tank top soaked through. He felt that he would need another shower later.

Rather than continuously eating mutant meat, Mu Xiao also ate ordinary meat and vegetables from time to time, allowing his body, at its most vigorous state, to squeeze out the maximum nutritional value from the other foods.

Half an hour later, An Rongru finally emerged from the bathroom. Her red lips were moist, her face lovely and alluring, her long lashes framing a straight, delicate nose. Her large, watery eyes seemed as though they could drip with water, carrying the mature charm of a seductive woman.

An Rongru wore a white athletic jacket. Her figure was too voluptuous, and she could not find clothes that fit her. Nor did she want to wear close-fitting garments or put on another man's shirt. Some female security guards' clothes and underwear did not suit her size either, so she had no choice but to find a female security guard's athletic jacket and wear it like a shirt.

"It smells so good."

Even after washing up, An Rongru's heart was still racing and she felt awkward and uneasy. But the wafting aroma of meat throughout the room made her realize just how hungry she was. She had been so lost in wild thoughts that she had forgotten her body's hunger. She could not help but smile wryly. Even in her thirties, she was acting as shy as a young girl. Setting aside some of her embarrassment, she sat across from Mu Xiao and began quietly enjoying dinner.

When she ate a slice of mutant meat, she found the texture exceptionally good. Her body also began to warm, filled with an extremely comfortable heat. She then ate several more slices in succession. Her blood seemed to heat up and boil, her entire body burning as though endless energy had been born within her.

"What kind of meat is this? It seems really good for the body." An Rongru pursed her rosy lips slightly and blew on the hot meat slice. Her face blossomed with radiant beauty and mature charm. She had gone hungry for a long time in recent days, and her previously malnourished skin was now being replenished. Her cheeks became even fuller and rosier, carrying the rich, elegant beauty of a mature woman.

"It's mutant beast meat. It has a high nutritional value, and eating it over time is very beneficial to the body." Mu Xiao looked up at her seductive face. His energy and vitality were too abundant, stirring desire within him, but he quickly calmed himself and shifted his attention. "You haven't been a new human for long. If you feel your body temperature getting too high, it means your body is starting to struggle to digest this high-energy meat. You must stop eating it then. Otherwise, the benefits will turn into harm."

"Mm, I understand." Drenched in fragrant sweat, An Rongru gave Mu Xiao a dazzling smile. Her charm was indescribable, so enchanting it was breathtaking.

Huff!

Mu Xiao let out a deep breath, expelling the heat building in his chest. He did not know whether An Rongru had stirred his desire, or whether his excessively vigorous vitality had made him feel stifled and overheated.

By the end of the hotpot meal, both of their vitalities were surging. The temperature in the room gradually rose, and the atmosphere became hazy and suggestive.

Mu Xiao had originally been able to control his desire well. But when he saw An Rongru's cheeks flushed like fire, her moist crimson lips, the fine beads of sweat covering her delicate nose, and her tender, watery eyes containing a deeply affectionate allure, he gradually stopped trying to restrain the desire he had suppressed in his heart.

"Want a drink?" Mu Xiao did not want her to feel too much psychological pressure later, so he wanted to use alcohol as a catalyst—and as a way to test her willingness. After all, lovemaking was meant to be enjoyment and indulgence. If one party was unwilling, Mu Xiao did not want to act like a beast and merely vent his physical desires.

"I..." An Rongru's ample chest rose and fell slightly. The allure in her eyes rippled like spring water, and her full, soft face was flushed red like the clouds at sunset. As she pressed her crimson lips together, she seemed to radiate a desire that could set one aflame.

Of course, she understood that Mu Xiao was testing her feelings. Her own body was also burning with heat, and she greatly wanted to release the mature desires she had long suppressed. Yet there were still things in her heart that she could not let go of—especially when her daughter's fate remained unknown. If she indulged her emotions now, it felt as though she would be betraying her daughter.

"Can you give me a little time?" An Rongru lowered her head, not daring to look at Mu Xiao's expression. She was afraid she would see his face turn cold.

An Rongru understood that what she had done was essentially a refusal to make love with Mu Xiao. It was an untimely and ungrateful thing to do.

She knew all too well that in this world without order, human nature was often more terrifying than monsters. If the first person she had met had not been Mu Xiao but another man, she might have been violated on the spot and lost her chastity. Not to mention receiving the same help Mu Xiao had given her—helping her become a new human, saving her several times despite her being a burden, giving her the ability to protect herself, and even respecting her wishes now.

Most importantly, Mu Xiao was full of mystery and possessed great strength. As a woman, An Rongru desperately needed the sense of security that gave her. If rejecting him caused her to lose a man capable of protecting her, then the days ahead might not hold hope, but despair. If she encountered men with ill intentions, she might become a female slave better off dead, reduced to a tool for venting desire...

The more An Rongru thought about it, the more flustered and terrified she became.

Moreover, she had already promised Mu Xiao that she would become his woman, yet she was now refusing him. It vaguely felt like she was breaking her word. Therefore, even if Mu Xiao abandoned her now, it would only be natural.

"I only want to find my daughter and learn whether she's alive or dead. I don't want to disgrace myself too much..." An Rongru raised her head and looked at Mu Xiao, tears glimmering in her beautiful eyes.

At that moment, her full and gentle face appeared elegant and chaste, making it impossible to bear crushing the love in her heart as a mother.

"Mm, all right." Mu Xiao had not been reborn as some sex-crazed man who absolutely had to resolve the urges below his waist. Besides, she had her own difficulties. If he still forced her to do something she did not want, it would be no different from forcing a virtuous woman into prostitution.

Mu Xiao did not consider himself a good person, but he did not want to become a rotten one.

He...

An Rongru had not expected Mu Xiao to truly understand her. Her unease instantly melted into tender sweetness, and her heart brimmed with gratitude.

"Thank you," An Rongru said softly, her words carrying much gratitude and affection.

"Don't reject me next time. After all, I'm a man too, and holding back is very hard," Mu Xiao said bluntly.

Hearing such explicit words, An Rongru's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. Still, she lowered her head and gave a soft, sweet hum of agreement.

The two ate their fill, clearing every dish on the table. Naturally, Mu Xiao ate the most.

There was still some packaged food in the room that would not spoil easily. Mu Xiao had An Rongru put it away as well; food could not be wasted carelessly.

Mu Xiao returned to the bathroom and rinsed himself with cold water. His blood and vigor were too strong, and with a mature, alluring beauty before him, he naturally needed to calm himself properly. Soaking in the cold water, Mu Xiao suddenly remembered that An Rongru's New Human ability had yet to reveal itself. He felt it was necessary to find out what kind of ability she had awakened.