บท 42: Epoch 42
Epoch 42: Mate with me.
Zmei's emerald eyes turned into slits. His whole body is now emitting a murderous aura. His eyes followed the sub-beast's every movement. Like a predator, it is ready to pounce on its prey.
Tang Tang leaned back again on the giant stone, ignoring the danger he once again felt coming from the man. "I'm not sleepy anymore. Do you want to have a chat?" he casually asked.
Zmei didn't move an inch. "What do you know?" He asked in a mocking tone, with every word full of threat. "Just hearing some stories from other people makes you think that you already know me."
"Is this the same method you use to get Xue and Hou's attention?" he sneered. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not as naive as them."
"If you want to seduce me, you can just directly use your body. I will gladly accept you instead of using such nonsense," he continues, waiting for the sub-beast's response.
Tang Tang didn't care what Zmei was thinking and just let the man finish talking as he started to reminisce about the past.
Seeing that Tang Tang didn't plan to answer his provocation, Zmei stopped and decided to wait to hear what the sub-beast was planning to say next.
But if he starts spouting nonsense, even if he is the person sent by the Beast God, he will make sure that he will regret messing with him.
His past is an open secret to everyone, and he never denies anything about it. Whether it's the truth or not, he doesn't care. The only thing he finds unacceptable is when it is used to make a deal with him or get his attention.
And the sub-beast he finds mesmerizing will not be an exception.
Staring at a distance, Tang Tang started to remember everything— the pain and helplessness he felt those years. "When I was 10 years old, both of my parents abandoned me—"
Zmei cut him off, and with a sneer, he asked. "Is this the reason why you said that we were the same?"
Tang Tang, who was already immersed in the past, didn't answer as he continued to narrate, "My mother and father abandoned me to my sick grandmother with only a few clothes, not even a single penny to buy food."
He chuckled. "You know what a penny is? It is a thing that can be used to exchange for food, medicine, and a house. They both left me without anything."
Zmei saw Tang Tang laughing, but the whole person was full of sadness, and his voice was slightly trembling. He tried to swallow back all the things he wanted to say and listened attentively to the sub-beast.
"At 10 years old, I wanted to play with the other children, but I need to study and work as well so I can buy food, pay rent, and buy my grandmother's medicine."
"I envy those kids who have parents. They can just play all day and have any desserts or treats they like, while I can only work and let lunch pass by with an empty stomach."
Zmei's expression softened as he asked. "Do you hate your parents?"
"Hate? Yes, I hated them. Both of them build their own families and look so happy, while I was left with my sick grandmother and felt miserable. But what can hate bring me? They will only occupy a piece in my mind and heart."
"I stopped hating and caring about them. Either they are happy or not, live or die, I won't care anymore. It will at least give me a little peace of mind."
"How about revenge? To make them feel the pain we suffer, they should repent of the things they did to us." Zmei can't simply accept the idea of forgiving those who hurt him. Already forgetting that what Tang Tang is narrating is not his story.
"I also thought about it before, but it takes too much energy. So I chose to focus on the things that will help me and my grandmother live more comfortably. Thinking about those people will only make them feel special."
Seeing the disapproving look of Zmei, Tang Tang stifled a laugh and said, "In my previous world, we had a saying that 'Success is the greatest revenge.' Show to those people that even without them, you can still achieve everything you wanted for yourself. It will permanently remove their hold over you and the shackles of the past."
Remembering something, Tang Tang's smile faded. "I filled myself with positive outcomes, encouraging myself to study and work harder every day, just so we can live in a much bigger house, eat three times a day, and completely heal my grandmother's illness," he added with a self-deprecating smile.
"And when I thought that I was already nearing achieving those things, my grandmother died. The only person who showed me love and concern, the only person I can call a family, left me. Suddenly everything lost its meaning because once again, I am all alone."
Tang Tang takes a few steps and faces the man standing like a statue. Looking directly into those beautiful emerald eyes that are now full of sadness, anger, and... confusion?
He asked. "I feel so empty and so lonely. Do you know what I did after to fill that emptiness? To feel happy even if it's temporary?"
Zmei was momentarily stunned, not because of the sub-beast's questions but because of those eyes staring at him that were now devoid of emotion.
Deep in his heart, he already knew the answer, but he still asked after a while. "W-what?"
"I play around."
Zmei's eyes dilated as he allowed the sub-beast to continue.
"I sleep with anyone who shows me interest. Seeking temporary comfort from those strangers, I just exchange a few words, being satisfied with the temporary warmth they give because I am scared that if I ask for more, I will get hurt and be left alone again."
"I thought I was strong, but I became a coward without me knowing." A smile blooms on Tang Tang's face as if the one he is mocking is not himself.
"We're really the same, aren't we?" Tang Tang once again said, but this time, Zmei didn't get mad.
'Yes.' Zmei wanted to answer. Just different places, different people involved, but all the pain, loneliness, and emptiness— even the ways to relieve them are really the same.
Under the brightly lit moon, in the middle of the quiet vegetable field, the two kept staring at each other for a long time until Zmei broke the silence.
"Mate with me."
Tang Tang was stunned by Zmei's direct invitation, and then he could not help but laugh heartily after. This is the first time he has encountered someone inviting him to have sex with a straight face.
The sub-beast's laugh is contagious, and Zmei can't help but smile. The oppressive atmosphere from earlier was immediately lifted.
"I'm serious," Zmei still said, in case Tang Tang thought he was joking.
Tang Tang smiled, suppressing his laughter. He looked at the handsome man in front of him. "I know, and if you invite me before I agree with Hou and Xue, I will agree with you without a second thought."
"Do you love them?"
"Hmm.. Maybe, Maybe not. I'm not sure myself, but I want to try."
"Why?" Zmei's brows furrowed.
'If you're not sure, then why be devoted to them?' he wanted to add but restrained himself. He doesn't have a right to question the sub-beast.
"I was a coward in my previous world, but with God giving me a second chance, I want to be brave for once and give it a try. A new life in a new world doesn't sound bad, right?" Tang Tang explained with a smirk. He really sounds proud and brave at this moment.
Seeing that the sub-beast has already decided. Zmei sighed. "It's a pity."
Tang Tang smiled and slightly patted the man's shoulder. "Don't worry. There are a lot of people in the world. You might find the person you wanted to be with forever soon, a person who will love you back and never leave you."
"Tsk. The wind is getting cold, let's go back now." Zmei wanted to swat the cold hand, but seeing how thin the sub-beast arm was, he just ignored it and turned back.
"Why are you acting so distant now? I think we should be friends," Tang Tang said as he followed the man.
Not hearing any response from the man, Tang Tang continued. "I will be visiting your tribe after the winter. Let's be friends so I will have someone I know when that day comes, okay?"
Tang Tang continued to chatter until he noticed the way they were taking. "Where are you going? Your tent is on that way," he asked, pointing in the opposite direction.
"I will escort you back to your tent first," Zmei answered without looking back.
Tang Tang grinned as he patted the man's broad back. "Ayooo! What a tsundere. I will make a delicious breakfast for you tomorrow."
Zmei stopped and asked the sub-beast with a frown. "What is a tsundere?"
But Tang Tang didn't answer and walked past him in a good mood. 'It feels refreshing, Ude!'
[｡◕‿◕｡]
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OnceUponATime
OnceUponATime “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” — Charles Swindoll
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