Human and rabbit set out

District 73 lay on the outermost edge of the human survival base. It had once been an industrial district with few residents to begin with. After an invasion by the mutants and a war between the two sides, it had truly become a wasteland. Only a handful of people still lived here, mostly scavengers-and one eccentric man.

The driver glanced at the boy dozing in the back seat. He looked clean and fair-skinned, not like someone who lived here. But he was only a driver. There was no need to concern himself with anything beyond getting his passenger where he wanted to go.

He wiped his face, slammed on the brakes, and called, "We're here."

Qin Miaomiao lurched forward with the momentum and woke up. He looked around groggily. Outside stretched an endless wasteland, with a few dilapidated houses lit by scattered lamps. Fierce winds occasionally howled past, sounding like the mournful cries of wild beasts.

Qin Miaomiao shuddered. He couldn't understand why Shi Jinse had sent him here. Out in this wilderness, wasn't he afraid a wolf would eat him?

Qin Miaomiao glanced back at the driver's ferocious face and decided this man was more likely to eat him. He obediently climbed out.

"Don't worry. There's a weirdo living around here, but it's perfectly safe." The driver glanced at him, then added, "If you want to head back, I leave at six every morning. On the dot."

Qin Miaomiao had only just woken up and couldn't process this sudden tenderness from such a tough-looking man. Seeing his lack of response, the driver roared, "Did you hear me?"

Qin Miaomiao hurriedly nodded like a little chick. The driver snorted and disappeared into the night without looking back, leaving only a cloud of exhaust. Choking on it, Qin Miaomiao rubbed his nose and sneezed. Something felt as though it was pushing out of his head. He finally snapped awake-and his ears popped out at the same time!

Apparently, he couldn't hold out much longer. Before he could react, a clear voice rang out. "Where did this little brat come from?"

Qin Miaomiao turned toward the voice. Behind him stood a large tree stripped down to bare branches, with someone perched in it. The night was so dark that he could only make out a silhouette.

But he couldn't let anyone see him like this. There was only one word in Qin Miaomiao's mind: Run!

The person in the tree let out a wild laugh, his eyes unusually bright in the darkness. Someone actually thought they could run after seeing him?

The nighttime chill rode the wind, slicing across his face like knives. Qin Miaomiao ran blindly forward without the slightest idea where he was going.

There seemed to be a river ahead, its banks lined with reeds nearly as tall as a person. Thinking he had found a way out, Qin Miaomiao tried to hide among them. But the moment he stepped forward, the ground vanished beneath his foot. It was a trap.

The world spun. Qin Miaomiao plunged headfirst into the pit, taking such a hard fall that it took him a long time to recover. Then, as soon as he opened his eyes, a ring of laser lights blazed on, nearly searing his eyeballs out.

When he recovered, a man stood outside the trap with his hands on his hips, laughing. "Let's see where you can-"

He stopped mid-sentence, his swagger vanishing. Apparently, he had finally gotten a good look at what was inside the trap. He burst out cursing. "Shit! Where's my little boy? Why is there a damn rabbit?"

Only then did Qin Miaomiao realize what had happened. He looked down at his hands. Sure enough, he had turned back into a rabbit. Yet he felt a faint sense of relief. This was better than being stuck half human and half rabbit with nowhere to go. Being human was too hard.

Unable to find the boy, the man went out and searched the area before returning. Reluctantly, he hauled the rabbit out and glared at him.

Only now did Qin Miaomiao get a clear look at him. How to put it? He had never seen anyone look so much like a raccoon. His beard resembled fox fur, jutting out in two triangular points, and a scar crossed his face. He wore orange coveralls, looking as though he had just returned from a construction site, yet everything about him radiated a petty thug's swagger.

Who is this guy? Before Qin Miaomiao could actually ask, the man introduced himself. "You've got some nerve causing trouble on Hao Yin's turf! I'll scatter your damn ashes!"

Qin Miaomiao's mouth twitched. For a moment, he didn't know which part to criticize first. This man didn't look remotely like a good person, so why did his name sound like "good guy"?

And why did he talk with an accent?

The more Hao Yin thought about it, the angrier he became. Suspecting that the rabbit had eaten the boy, he turned Qin Miaomiao upside down and shook him hard, as though he could shake the boy back out. "Come on, spit it out! Did you eat that little boy?"

Qin Miaomiao was nearly dizzy enough to faint. What little boy? Does this guy have a brain? Since when do rabbits eat people?

Something fell out of Qin Miaomiao's pocket with a clatter. It was the badge.

"What the hell is this?"

Distracted, Hao Yin stopped shaking him, walked over, and picked it up. The small round badge reflected a faint silver gleam in his palm. He froze completely.

Discarded off to the side, Qin Miaomiao finally caught his breath. Then he saw Hao Yin's expression. The shaking hadn't knocked him unconscious, but this nearly scared him into fainting.

All traces of the man's earlier unreasonable bluster were gone. His eyes reddened and instantly filled with tears. In a complete reversal, he gazed at Qin Miaomiao with overflowing affection. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought Qin Miaomiao was his long-lost father.

Qin Miaomiao looked to either side, confirming that the man was indeed looking at him. Then Hao Yin choked out, "You came from the base?"

Confused, Qin Miaomiao nodded.

"Re... Re..." He stammered over the syllable without getting anywhere, tipping his face skyward and pressing his fingers against his tear ducts as though he could force the tears back in. After taking a long while to recover, he asked uncertainly, "Remiya sent you?"

So it was Remiya. An indescribable sense of reassurance suddenly welled up inside Qin Miaomiao.

He hesitantly nodded. The next moment, Hao Yin lunged over and scooped him up, beside himself with excitement. "I knew it! I knew Remiya cared about me! She was afraid I'd be lonely and unsafe out here, so she sent a rabbit to keep me company, didn't she? I knew it! Ohoho!"

In your dreams! Hao Yin had gone completely mad. Tossed up and down, Qin Miaomiao felt as though he was about to reach the moon.

But he understood now. This man probably had a crush on Remiya, or perhaps he was one of her devoted followers. Either way, since Remiya had gone to such lengths to send him here, that meant this place was safe, right?

Qin Miaomiao suddenly felt so touched that he wanted to cry. He hadn't expected Remiya to arrange so much for him. Looking up at the battered crescent moon, which seemed to grow and shrink as he moved, he suddenly remembered her gentle face. Yet when he closed his eyes, another face appeared-one that looked seventy percent like hers.

He abruptly opened his eyes. If that was the case, would Lei Ouyan know he was here too?

Hao Yin rode a modified Kawasaki Ninja, green as a praying mantis. Combined with his orange outfit, the colors looked strikingly vivid even in the nighttime wilderness.

Qin Miaomiao was tied up and strapped to his back like a backpack. It took a long ride to reach his home, and the moment they got off, his eyes were dazzled again.

Before him stood a green shipping-container house, surrounded by dirt, rubble, and discarded metal. Eight blinding searchlights converged on it, as though afraid anyone might fail to notice this garbage dump. A gaudy sign hung over the entrance: Hao Residence.

Qin Miaomiao felt just as he had when he first saw SpongeBob living in a pineapple. Someone can actually live in this?

Speechless, he looked at Hao Yin, who beamed smugly. "Well? First time seeing a palace as magnificent as mine?"

"..."

"Come on in. Since Remiya sent you to me, I won't charge you rent."

People charge rabbits rent these days?

Qin Miaomiao followed Hao Yin inside, feeling as though he was stepping onto the stage of history. But beyond the door was another world entirely. Scrap metal filled every corner, leaving nowhere even to put his feet. Taken as a whole, it was a garbage heap, but on closer inspection...

Before Qin Miaomiao could inspect anything, his foot landed and he shot forward. He seemed to have stepped onto a skateboard or triggered some mechanism. He slid away, hit a springboard, and was launched upward. By the time he realized what had happened, he had been automatically locked inside an iron cage. Headfirst.

Hao Yin came in behind him and paid him no attention. He eagerly flopped onto a pile of junk, then pressed a switch somewhere.

There's even a television?

The television came on. Hao Yin declared excitedly, "It's seven! My favorite program is starting!"

Qin Miaomiao looked. It was the DNT Base evening news.

Hao Yin's image grew stranger and stranger in his mind. Looking around, he realized this wasn't entirely a garbage dump. It was more like a chaotic laboratory. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with strange objects. Some looked like weapons; others were pills. It resembled a magical shop in Harry Potter's Diagon Alley.

Qin Miaomiao couldn't help studying Hao Yin again. A tangle of thoughts filled his head, and he finally pulled one coherent possibility from them. Could he be an arms smuggler?

Hao Yin suddenly shouted, "This sucks! Remiya isn't even on!"

"..."

The idea that had barely begun sprouting in Qin Miaomiao's mind was immediately stamped back down.

Hao Yin seemed to remember the rabbit at last. He looked at yesterday's leftovers on the table, hesitated, then reluctantly placed them inside the cage. "Eat up. Don't be shy."

Qin Miaomiao took one look. He would rather starve.

Hao Yin himself cared quite a bit about his quality of life. He mixed a bowl of yogurt and cereal, then sat cross-legged beside him and dug in. "Didn't Remiya send any message for me?"

"Right. Even if she did, you couldn't tell me." Hao Yin muttered to himself, then suddenly brightened. Setting his bowl aside, he stared at the rabbit with gleaming eyes. "No, I've got it! Nothing can stump a genius like Hao Yin! I'll make you talk right away!"

How was he going to make him talk?

Before Qin Miaomiao could react, Hao Yin had disappeared. Then came a bang, as though he had shut himself inside a room.

Qin Miaomiao couldn't keep up with this man at all. Hao Yin was like a pair of wind-and-fire wheels, charging ahead at full speed. He could run five kilometers while Qin Miaomiao was still standing at the starting line.

The gaps in the cage were fairly wide. Qin Miaomiao tried squeezing through and actually managed to get out.

With Hao Yin gone, Qin Miaomiao wandered around. The room was dusty, but everything on the shelves was spotless. Clearly, Hao Yin treasured these things. He didn't dare touch anything and was about to leave after a glance when a photograph in the corner of a shelf caught his attention.

It was a group photograph. Qin Miaomiao recognized Remiya, much younger and less mature than she was now, but just as beautiful, smiling gently. Chris stood to her left with his arms folded, wearing his usual arrogant expression. To her right was a grinning man making a V sign, dressed in the same work clothes as Remiya. He looked quite cheerful, but Qin Miaomiao didn't recognize him. The two little boys in the front row, however, looked very familiar.

One wore overalls and had little yellow curls and skin so pale it was almost translucent. He was clearly Shi Jinse. And the silver-haired child beside him, wearing a prim shirt with a stubborn, impatient expression, had to be Lei Ouyan!

Qin Miaomiao was surprised. So he had that sour face even as a kid! Still, he was pretty cute.

He admired the picture happily for a while before realizing something. If this photograph belonged to Hao Yin, didn't that mean the stranger was-Hao Yin?

He looked more closely. Their features did share some similarities, but the difference was enormous... Time really did butcher a person's looks.

So he had once worked at the base, alongside Remiya. Why had he ended up here producing garbage?

Qin Miaomiao looked around, increasingly convinced that despite Hao Yin's eccentric behavior, he might actually be an inventor.

Hao Yin didn't emerge until the fourth evening. During those four days, Qin Miaomiao did nothing but eat and sleep. Sometimes, the television switched on at seven sharp, and he occasionally saw familiar places he had visited at the base. Once, he even saw the lamp outside Lei Ouyan's lounge. But he never saw Lei Ouyan. He wondered whether Lei Ouyan still remembered this nameless little rabbit. Suddenly, Qin Miaomiao felt as though his rabbit life had lost all purpose. Watching the sun rise and set each day, he felt as though he had begun waiting to die the moment he was born.

So boring.

Hao Yin crawled out of the mountain of junk, looking exhausted. His expression was grim, as though his experiment had failed.

He slumped beside the sofa, completely unconcerned about why Qin Miaomiao was sitting on it. Sitting cross-legged on the floor with his arms folded, he muttered, "Where did it go wrong? Why did it fail?"

He got up and poured himself a glass of water. At seven, the television came on again. Qin Miaomiao was stealing Hao Yin's cereal when he looked up and saw a rabbit on television. He froze, rubbed his eyes, and saw the words beside the picture: wanted criminal, large bounty.

Hao Yin sprayed out a mouthful of water and turned to stare at the rabbit. Qin Miaomiao was stunned too. Since when was he wanted?

Qin Miaomiao immediately put down his spoon and raised his hands in surrender. It wasn't me! It has nothing to do with me! I'm innocent!

Hao Yin darted over, picked him up, and compared him with the picture on television for a long time. Then his words shattered any lingering hope. "Shit, even the green bag is identical! It really is you!"

He should have thrown that stupid bag away. Qin Miaomiao wanted to cry but had no tears. Hao Yin's eyes shone. "I'm rich! I'm rich!"

As he spoke, he shouldered a bag and hurriedly packed a few things. He was about to leave when he abruptly stopped. "Wait, my experiment isn't finished!"

He looked at the rabbit, torn. All the affection he had initially extended to Remiya's gift was gone from his eyes. Now he was only wavering between cashing him in immediately and using him first before cashing him in.

"Forget it." Hao Yin finally decided. "A few more days won't hurt. If I finish my research before trading you in, won't I make a fortune?"

As he spoke, Remiya appeared on television. She was being interviewed about recent developments at the base and among the mutants.

That was all it took. Hao Yin lunged toward the screen like a radar locking onto its target, staring without blinking, afraid to miss a single frame. He looked ready to crawl inside the television.

Qin Miaomiao looked over too, but spotted Lei Ouyan immediately. He was in the background, probably caught in the shot by accident, with only his profile visible. He was sitting at a computer. Then he seemed to notice something and looked up toward the camera. The image wobbled before quickly shifting away.

Qin Miaomiao stared motionlessly, unable to describe what he felt.

Then Hao Yin sighed, sounding aggrieved and lonely. "Ah, I miss her so much."

Then he added, "If only she would come see me."

Despite his odd behavior, Hao Yin really was a scientist. He had once been an influential figure within the base, but after being thrown out, he had settled in the wasteland.

He had lived here for seven years and opened a weapons shop selling his own inventions. Very few customers visited, but attracting customers didn't seem to be his purpose.

He simply kept watch here, year after year, fighting the mutants. That was why the local residents called him the Wasteland Emissary.

To Qin Miaomiao, he was like an old wizard from a fairy tale. Every day, he buried himself in experiments, mixed potions, and invented strange, useless things. He upheld only three truths in life: money, research, and Remiya. Nothing else mattered. He often became so absorbed in experiments that he forgot to eat or sleep, spending ten days or half a month at a time in his shabby laboratory.

Since becoming a wanted criminal, Qin Miaomiao's life had taken a turn for the worse. Hao Yin gave him a set of equipment that let him run faster and jump higher. Under ordinary circumstances, it would have been an incredible advantage.

But Qin Miaomiao was Hao Yin's prisoner now, and this outfit was like a set of shackles. Once he put it on, he couldn't take it off. Whenever he exceeded Hao Yin's preset range, the equipment sprouted wings. Like a robot vacuum returning to recharge, it would drag Qin Miaomiao back from any distance and hang him up.

Qin Miaomiao couldn't escape even if he wanted to. He was like Little Swallow trapped in the Hanxuan Chess Club.

Hao Yin often sent Qin Miaomiao to collect deliveries from his neighbors. He couldn't be bothered to visit the main city, but sometimes needed materials, so he asked his neighbors to bring them back.

He used to collect them himself. Now that he had a rabbit, that became the rabbit's job.

But the wasteland was vast and sparsely supplied. Though they were called neighbors, their homes were miles apart. Qin Miaomiao had to leave before dawn every day and could only return toward evening. If he stayed out past six, his equipment activated its curfew system and forcibly brought him home.

It was as though Hao Yin was terrified he would escape. But didn't he realize that after working from before dawn until nightfall, Qin Miaomiao had no energy left to run away?

Qin Miaomiao was a little late today, and the neighbor had been waiting for quite a while. By now, he was used to a rabbit running errands. He placed the goods in the basket on the rabbit's back and sighed. "Life's getting harder. Things are about to change again. Go back and tell Master Hao we're moving away. We probably won't be able to bring things back for him anymore."

Qin Miaomiao didn't understand. You're certainly making yourself comfortable. Whatever else I might be, I'm a rabbit right now, not a person. How am I supposed to tell him?

Still, Hao Yin did seem to be working on a rabbit-language translator lately. He had tested it on him several times, all unsuccessfully. But if it worked, Hao Yin would probably send him straight to the base to claim the bounty.

That thought chilled Qin Miaomiao's heart. He trudged back dejectedly.

Just after he left, a vehicle pulled up, its tires grinding over the ground and raising clouds of dust. Someone stepped out, a massive black weapon on his back. The wasteland wind whipped his clothes, and a piercing chill surrounded him.

Whatever was in his bag was terribly heavy. Qin Miaomiao was getting too tired to run, so he sat beneath a tree to cool off. As his mood improved, his thoughts cleared, and inspiration struck. I'm nearly beyond the preset range anyway. Why not go a little farther? Then the Combat Suit can sprout wings and carry me back. Wouldn't that be a win on every front?

Qin Miaomiao clapped his hands, stood up, and headed toward the boundary, completely unaware that it was a boundary precisely because it separated safety from danger.

A special substance lined the boundary, preventing ordinary mutants from passing through. Later, Hao Yin had added a chemical agent. Even if a mutant penetrated the barrier, it would retain traces of the substance, allowing it to be tracked, triggering an alarm, and gradually corroding its body. But it had no effect on ordinary people, or rabbits, and it wasn't necessarily effective every time.

So Qin Miaomiao had no idea he had crossed the barrier. His special sensing ability had also been suppressed within the safe zone. Only once he crossed did his danger sense finally surge up, late, violent, and overwhelming.

I'm doomed! Qin Miaomiao froze for a full second before remembering to run. But his hesitation had given the mutants an opening. He had no time to worry about how many had followed him inside. He felt as though he had stirred up a hornets' nest. Without Hao Yin's Combat Suit, he would already have ended up in a mutant's stomach.

The mutants varied in strength. Some pursued him relentlessly, while others were easily left behind. Once they realized they couldn't catch the rabbit, they began searching for other targets.

There happened to be a home nearby. Qin Miaomiao had visited several times and remembered an elderly person and a child living there. Even with the defensive weapons Hao Yin had given them, they had no chance against the mutants.

And Qin Miaomiao had caused this. He glanced aside, distracted, and nearly had his hind leg bitten.

Oh no. Apparently hearing the commotion outside, someone opened the door and came out!

A mutant let out an excited howl.

Without time to think, Qin Miaomiao kicked off the tree trunk ahead. With an astonishing leap, he reversed direction and blocked the mutants behind him. They instantly swarmed forward, eight in all, surrounding him.

Standing in their midst, surrounded on every side, Qin Miaomiao finally realized how recklessly he had overestimated himself by turning back. He had practically come to die. There was no way he could fight these mutants.

He could only wait for Hao Yin to notice the signal and rescue him. Gritting his teeth, Qin Miaomiao began buying time. He darted back and forth. Compared with the sluggish, violent mutants, the rabbit was fairly agile. They lunged into one another, growing increasingly furious.

Outnumbered and burning through his strength too quickly, Qin Miaomiao couldn't hold out beyond ten minutes. He was knocked to the ground and could barely get up. When is Hao Yin finally going to come...?

Just then, a clear child's voice rang out. A little girl opened the door, saw Qin Miaomiao, and called inside, "Grandma, it's the rabbit!"

The little girl had never seen mutants before and didn't even know how terrifying they were. She only saw an injured rabbit and wanted to help. She ran toward Qin Miaomiao.

Don't come closer! Qin Miaomiao couldn't shout. He tried to stop her, but the next instant, a mutant pinned him beneath its paw, leaving him unable to move. The world spun before his eyes. He couldn't hold on much longer, and he saw another mutant leap toward the little girl.

Desperate, he screamed inside his mind. No! Run!

But no one could hear him.

Just when he thought everything was over, a tremendous blast rang out. The mutant in front of the girl fell.

A silver-haired boy seemed to descend from the sky. Like a bolt of lightning, he rescued the little girl from beside the mutant and carried her to safety.

Then he turned back, aiming the black cannon barrel at the mutants' heads. Several shots rang out, and the mutants fell one after another. In an instant, as though a fierce wind had swept through, everything fell still and returned to silence.

All that remained was a rabbit's heartbeat, pounding like a drum.

Qin Miaomiao stared blankly at the person before him. For one fleeting moment, he really had prayed, If only Lei Ouyan were here.

He hadn't expected to actually see him.

Lei Ouyan turned back, meeting the rabbit's eyes. He looked much calmer than the rabbit, as though he had anticipated this encounter all along.

Seeing the rabbit remain motionless, he walked over and gently lifted him by the ears. His earlier fierceness vanished instantly, and Qin Miaomiao even felt a hint of tenderness he hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Scared stupid?"

Only then did Qin Miaomiao seem to return to reality. An indescribable sense of grievance filled him. Lei Ouyan's arrival was already an enormous surprise, yet he couldn't help greedily wondering why he hadn't come sooner.

Qin Miaomiao squirmed twice. You're the one who's scared stupid.

Lei Ouyan chuckled. Seeing that the danger had passed, the little girl skipped outside, followed by her elderly grandmother. She stopped before Lei Ouyan, her dimples sweet as honey. "Big brother, Grandma said it was really dangerous just now. Thank you for saving me."

"Mm. You're welcome." Lei Ouyan set the rabbit down and nodded to the elderly woman ahead.

The old woman walked unsteadily, leaning against the doorframe. She smiled at them. "Why don't you come in for a meal before you go?"

"Big brother, come eat with us. My grandma's cooking is really good." The little girl invited him warmly. After a moment's thought, she looked at the rabbit, her tone noticeably cooler. "You can come too, little rabbit."

With that, she pulled Lei Ouyan toward the house, as though it didn't matter whether the rabbit came or not.

Qin Miaomiao was aghast. How old are you, and you're already abandoning your friends for a pretty face? And Lei Ouyan isn't even waiting for me! I hurt all over! Can't he help carry me inside? A rabbit isn't that heavy!

Qin Miaomiao refused to go! He folded his arms and sat down where he stood.

The two ahead stopped. Seeing the rabbit stay put, the little girl asked, "Big brother, what's wrong with the rabbit?"

Lei Ouyan glanced at him. "The rabbit's angry."

"You're the one who's angry!"

Qin Miaomiao glared fiercely at Lei Ouyan, but Lei Ouyan seemed to have taken the wrong medicine today. He kept making Qin Miaomiao feel as though he were under a spell.

He wasn't annoyed, either. Leaning against the wall with his arms folded, he deliberately left his pocket exposed and tilted his head. "Not coming?"

Qin Miaomiao had no willpower. In a few quick bounds, he leaped straight into Lei Ouyan's pocket, the place he had been dreaming of.

That familiar warmth and scent.

Fine, Qin Miaomiao thought, curled up in his pocket. Lei Ouyan, I forgive you.

The house was simply furnished, yet cozy. Wind chimes hung by the door, and handicrafts filled the room. The delicate, distinctive ones were probably the old woman's work, while the rougher, more childish pieces were likely the little girl's.

The girl eagerly pulled Lei Ouyan inside, darting back and forth to introduce the things she had made.

Although Lei Ouyan remained silent, he showed a rare patience and looked at every one with her. Finally, he stopped beside a red sandalwood table. A basket on top held freshly finished handicrafts.

"Grandma made this," the little girl said. "There's just a tiny bit left to finish."

She took it down. It was a plump little crocheted rabbit, with pale pink cheeks and ears and a little green bag on his back.

The longer Qin Miaomiao looked, the more familiar it seemed. Isn't that literally me? He felt rather embarrassed that they had even made a doll of him.

But inwardly, he was delighted. They made a doll after me. They must really love me...

Within a few seconds, several grand dramas had already played out in Qin Miaomiao's head. He looked smugly at Lei Ouyan. See? You're just a dazzling distraction. I'm the one firmly rooted in her heart, unshaken by any storm.

Qin Miaomiao bounded onto the table, ready to bask in the little girl's adoration. Instead, she looked at Lei Ouyan. "This was modeled after the bunny. I was going to give it to him, but you just saved me, so I'm giving it to you."

Huh? Qin Miaomiao panicked. Did I hear that right? How can you give someone else something you've already given me? And Lei Ouyan, of all people? Does he look like someone who'd accept something like this?

"Thank you," Lei Ouyan said.

Thank you? Qin Miaomiao was astonished. How could someone like Lei Ouyan carry a stuffed toy around? He didn't really want it. He was just stealing Qin Miaomiao's things on purpose.

Childish! Rabbit tormentor! Angry again, Qin Miaomiao stomped over to the window and folded his arms, leaving them with nothing but his round little back.

Lei Ouyan smiled at his retreating figure, then looked down at the rabbit in his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. It really did look like him.

Ingredients were limited, so the meal was simple and quickly prepared.

Three humans and one rabbit sat around the table beneath a swaying little lamp. There was a carrot on Qin Miaomiao's plate. He hadn't had one since leaving the base and eagerly dug in.

It never occurred to him to wonder why there was suddenly a carrot here.

Lei Ouyan ate neatly, his eyes lowered. The lamplight fell across his lashes, casting shadows beneath them. Between bites, Qin Miaomiao sneaked a glance at him. Their eyes unexpectedly met, and Qin Miaomiao hurriedly looked away.

He suddenly began imagining what things would be like if they lived in a normal era. Lei Ouyan would probably be one of the popular boys at school, though his face would warn everyone to keep their distance. He wouldn't like socializing with his classmates, but he would crouch beside the flower bed by the school's back gate to feed the cats.

If they met, Qin Miaomiao thought he probably wouldn't be able to resist stealing a few extra looks.

Qin Miaomiao shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

A news report was playing on television. Aberrant activity had been detected in the city's main river, and contamination was suspected. Water was now desperately scarce, and the base had dispatched special operations teams to search for new sources under an initiative called Plan A.

Qin Miaomiao glanced at the screen. A place that had been prosperous and orderly not long ago was now in chaos. As the camera swept past, people's faces were filled with terror and despair. They crowded outside the base's embassy, demanding a solution while refusing to listen to any explanation. It seemed they were simply spreading panic, or perhaps merely venting their own fear.

He turned to look at Lei Ouyan, who didn't seem to care. That wasn't surprising, though. Indifference was practically second nature to him.

Even now, Qin Miaomiao had never seen him truly care about anything, much less a rabbit.

Suddenly, his food seemed tasteless. He put down his chopsticks, only to be interrupted by a chime.

Six o'clock. Curfew. He had to go back!

Qin Miaomiao hurriedly looked toward Lei Ouyan and tried to reach out to grab him, but it was too late. He was already flying.

The grandmother and granddaughter were used to this and calmly waved goodbye. Lei Ouyan didn't react much either, merely watching him fly away.

Qin Miaomiao called toward Lei Ouyan, I'll come back for you! Don't go too far!

Hao Yin stood guard at the door like an alert sheepdog, bristling with anger. When Qin Miaomiao returned, he picked him up and demanded, "Were you the one who brought the aberrants in?"

Qin Miaomiao covered his head. I didn't do it on purpose! And it was your fault anyway!

But Hao Yin didn't press him. He rubbed his chin and studied him. Qin Miaomiao thought he was considering how to stew him, until Hao Yin asked, "You beat them?"

Qin Miaomiao immediately straightened up, despite his guilty conscience. Of course. I might be useless most of the time, but I'm amazing when it counts.

"My equipment really is incredible!" Hao Yin instantly brightened. Carrying the rabbit inside, he set him on a specialized machine and examined him at length. Apparently dissatisfied with the results, he muttered, "Looks like there's still room for improvement. It should suit you better after some modifications. You don't need to go out for the next few days. I might need you to test new weapons at any time."

No way! Qin Miaomiao thought. I still have to go find Lei Ouyan!

But every time he got ten meters away, a powerful magnetic force dragged him back. Qin Miaomiao couldn't leave at all. He tried several times and made quite a commotion.

Annoyed, Hao Yin locked him up and even slandered him. "Why do you keep running outside? Have you fallen in love? Found yourself a little girl rabbit?"

Like hell I have! Too exhausted to struggle anymore, Qin Miaomiao lay in his cage, sulking and refusing food and water.

Hao Yin had learned something new: rabbits had surprisingly bad tempers.

He couldn't be bothered with him anymore. He still needed to repair the breach in the barrier, then come back and work on new weapons, determined to turn the rabbit into the overlord of the wasteland.

Repairing the barrier took three days. On the evening of the third day, Hao Yin returned and sensed something wrong as he reached his door.

The atmosphere was off. It felt as though someone had been here.

He checked on the rabbit first. His location hadn't changed, so apparently he still hadn't recovered from his heartbreak. If the visitor wasn't here to steal the rabbit, what did they want?

Hao Yin's expression suddenly sharpened. He knew who it was.

He hurriedly pushed open the door. The wind chimes rang brightly, swaying for a while before gradually falling still.

Sure enough, it was Lei Ouyan. He was leisurely playing with Hao Yin's latest inventions as though he owned the place.

Hao Yin studied the young man's back. It had been a year. He was taller now, his bearing more upright. Before, an intimidating chill had seemed to radiate from every strand of his hair, but this time he seemed a little softer.

Of course, that might have been his imagination. This brat had never been easy to deal with. Hao Yin tossed his things aside. "What are you doing here, you little punk?"

As he spoke, he slyly activated his newly invented mechanism. In an instant, arrows fired from every direction. Hao Yin was smug, thinking he could finally handle the brat, only to discover that Lei Ouyan was even more agile than before. He dodged them with ease.

He had underestimated him. Hao Yin quickly hit several more switches, unleashing a dizzying array of mechanisms. After a few exchanges, Hao Yin collapsed onto the floor, panting and waving his hands. "No, no, I can't anymore. Whatever you want, no. You can take my life."

Lei Ouyan brushed off his hands and straightened his clothes. "I'll pass on your life."

Hao Yin panicked. "Your weapons are already good enough. I don't have anything better."

"Who said I wanted weapons?"

"Then what do you want? Me?" Something seemed to occur to Hao Yin as he spoke, and he immediately jumped up. "You want to steal my rabbit and claim the bounty?"

"..." Lei Ouyan didn't seem concerned about why Hao Yin thought he needed that paltry bounty. Instead, he asked, "Since when was he your rabbit?"

"I found him, so of course he's mine! Besides, he owes me money now. He's our little hired hand."

Lei Ouyan gave a cold, dismissive laugh. "Where's the rabbit?"

"You really want him?"

Lei Ouyan said nothing, but his gaze alone made Hao Yin's skin crawl. Hao Yin grunted twice. "Well, it's not impossible. Let's hear you call me your brother-in-law. Never mind."

Hao Yin was a classic bully toward the weak and coward before the strong, all ambition and no nerve. Still, a real man knew when to bend. He sat down at the table. "You can have the rabbit, but you know my rules. I never make a losing deal, even for my husband's little brother."

Lei Ouyan's gaze settled on him. Hao Yin turned away and worked his abacus. Ten minutes later, looking secretly delighted, he pushed it toward Lei Ouyan. "For the illustrious captain of the First Operations Team, this price isn't unreasonable, is it?"

Lei Ouyan looked up and scrutinized him. Although Hao Yin was nervous, he would never compromise on money. He slapped the table. "If you can't even bear to spend this much, you clearly don't really want the rabbit."

"Add this to the total." At some point, Lei Ouyan had found a pair of white earphones, which he placed in front of Hao Yin. Hao Yin was stunned. He wondered whether Lei Ouyan had installed surveillance here. Why did he always manage to find the most valuable thing in the place?

Qin Miaomiao woke up. He seemed to have had a dream in which he and Lei Ouyan fought fiercely, and he had won in the end.

He sat up, still a little dazed, and remembered his two transformations: once into a monster, once into a human. Could some great secret be hidden within him? Would he really become the ultimate aberrant boss and end up facing Lei Ouyan as an enemy?

The thought suddenly made Qin Miaomiao nervous, as though he were about to fight Lei Ouyan to the death.

The television was still reporting on Water Source Plan A, announced several days earlier. Today, they revealed the departing teams. Qin Miaomiao wasn't interested at first, but as his gaze swept past, he spotted Lei Ouyan's name. He moved closer. Of the seven teams, only Lei Ouyan's column contained a single name: his own.

An indescribable feeling stirred in Qin Miaomiao's chest, but then he realized Lei Ouyan hadn't come specifically to find him. He was only here on a mission. Disappointment welled up inside him. Of course. No wonder he hasn't come looking for me, even though I've been stuck here for days! Qin Miaomiao stared at Lei Ouyan's photograph on the screen as though he could burn a hole through it.

"Can you read that?" Qin Miaomiao froze, thinking he was hearing things. He turned around, and there was Lei Ouyan, leaning against the doorway with his arms folded. "Or is it because you saw me?"

Yes! I saw you! Just looking at you makes me angry! Qin Miaomiao refused to acknowledge him and deliberately hopped farther away.

Lei Ouyan wasn't in a hurry. He walked inside, looking around and touching this and that, before stopping beside the cage Hao Yin had kept him in. "Did Hao Yin mistreat you?"

Although it hadn't really been mistreatment, hearing those words made Qin Miaomiao feel wronged, and half his bluster instantly evaporated.

You're one to talk. You wanted to eat me.

Lei Ouyan chuckled. "I'm leaving, then."

Where are you going? Qin Miaomiao immediately chased after him, only to discover Lei Ouyan wasn't actually leaving.

Fine. Qin Miaomiao deflated and stopped fighting himself. In a few bounds, he hopped onto the weapon on Lei Ouyan's back and refused to budge, as though it had become his territory too.

He thought haughtily, Since you're all alone, I suppose I'll keep you company.

"Made up your mind?" Lei Ouyan suddenly asked. Only then did Qin Miaomiao notice the new earphones he had put on at some point. They looked pretty cool, but he didn't think much of it. Leaning back with his hands behind his head, he thought, What's there to decide? Stop fussing. When I say I'm going, I go!

Despite that, Hao Yin stopped them the moment they stepped outside.

Borrowing Lei Ouyan's authority, Qin Miaomiao stood proudly behind him and looked down his nose at Hao Yin. I have a partner now. Don't think I'm still scared of you!

"What are you chattering about?" Hao Yin couldn't be bothered with him. He pressed something, and Qin Miaomiao immediately flew toward him.

Panicked, he looked at Lei Ouyan, but Lei Ouyan stayed perfectly still, looking as though he were enjoying the show.

Don't tell me these two have already agreed on how to eat me! Pinned to Hao Yin's workbench, Qin Miaomiao squeezed his eyes shut and launched into another inward tirade, calling Lei Ouyan a lying dog who bewitched innocent rabbits.

Suddenly, his Combat Suit loosened. He opened his eyes, still confused, as Hao Yin produced another Combat Suit from somewhere. His eyes shone as he introduced it. "This is the upgraded version. More combat functions, greater safety. Naturally, it's more expensive too. Look, it can do this, and this..."

As he spoke, the suit somehow ended up on Qin Miaomiao. Utterly distraught, Qin Miaomiao sprawled on the floor and tried to take it off. Hao Yin smacked him on the head.

Why did you hit me?

"Can you afford to pay for that?" Lei Ouyan suddenly asked. The remark came out of nowhere, but Hao Yin did stop. Pulling faces at Lei Ouyan, he said, "If I'd known you'd grow up this cocky, I'd have beaten you a few more times while you were little."

Lei Ouyan ignored him and said to Qin Miaomiao, "Come here."

Qin Miaomiao immediately bounded over. Neither looked back as they left, simply disappearing from sight.

Hao Yin felt bitter. The rabbit had stayed with him for at least a month, treating him like a predator every time he was let out. Now that a real wolf in sheep's clothing had shown up, he couldn't wait to throw himself at him.

Was he a rabbit or a puppy?

He would look at Lei Ouyan so pitifully, then rush toward him with such eagerness. When Lei Ouyan was away, he was like a puppy whose owner had left home, waiting day after day for his return.

Hao Yin had known from the beginning that this was Lei Ouyan's rabbit. The little fellow was famous, after all. He had turned the base upside down, then suddenly appeared here.

He had thought Lei Ouyan didn't want him anymore. He hadn't expected him to actually come and fetch his rabbit.