Chen Yang lay in bed at night, wondering when the two pieces would be connected together.
If there was anyone who had passed through that fragment of the small town, he must have seen Chaoyang Island and was as anxious and calm as he was.
After all, this really can't be rushed.
Fortunately, they have about 200 years to live, so they can wait slowly.
Chen Yang lifted his legs and shook his feet. It had been less than two hundred years. He was twenty-six when he passed the level. This body was twenty-six years old. Now he had been out for almost a year. He was going to be twenty-seven.
Two hundred minus twenty-seven...
Never mind, never mind. The days are long anyway.
Chen Yang suddenly turned over to Chao Jian and patted his face: "Our life span is so long, so the age divisions will be different. Am I still in the teenage stage?"
Chao Jian laughed muffledly: "Yes, you are still a teenager."
Chen Yang ignored Chao Jian's teasing smile and said, "Old age is after 170 or 80 years old."
Then they will have to maintain this appearance for many years.
"The old saying is right, there is always sunshine after the storm." Chen Yang stroked Chao Jian's eyebrows, as if he felt the gorgeous brushstrokes when God painted him. With each stroke, he would sigh, "It's right to persevere."
Chao Jian responded after a while: "Yeah."
Those days cannot be summed up by the word "persistence", there are no words to describe them. Now that I have walked out of the long darkness, when I look back, I don’t feel that they were just like that, nothing special, just so-so.
Instead, it's all pain.
Not physically, but mentally and spiritually.
But it's all worth it.
All worth it.
Chao Jian curled his lips and chuckled silently. He hugged his brother and closed his eyes with peace of mind.
Chen Yang touched Chao Jian's arms and legs. When he first came back, Chao Jian was very thin, and he had the aura of a patient who had been ill for a long time and finally walked out of the dark and damp dungeon and stood in the sun. Slowly, he recovered.
This island feeds people.
No, it is an ordinary life that nourishes people.
Still not right, it was Chen Yang who raised him. Chao Jian got enough nutrients from him, so he grew well naturally.
Chen Yang has also gained a lot of weight, but it's all lean. Not only does he do farm work, he also insists on long-distance running as an exercise. His skin color is very healthy, and his muscle lines are clear and not exaggerated.
Chao Jian couldn't let go of his whole body, especially his butterfly bones and two dimples on his waist.
The tooth marks on the former have never disappeared, and the latter is being caressed by Chao Jian, over and over again, without getting tired and lingering.
Chen Yang suddenly called out to Chao Jian: "Let me ask you, what do you like about me?"
This is one of the classic love questions, a question that will earn you points, but also a question that will cost you your life.
Chao Jian held Chen Yang's waist and opened his closed eyelids. Chen Yang leaned closer to look at him.
"Do you really want me to tell you?" Chao Jian frowned.
Chen Yang: "Tell me, tell me!"
"I like your hair, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, face, neck, Adam's apple..."
"… "
Chen Yang silently rolled away from Chao Jian: "I'll go get a broom and sweep away the goose bumps on the bed."
"Stop messing around." Chao Jian touched his hair.
"The broom is too dirty to carry on the bed, use a rag and clean mine as well."
"..." Chen Yang was embarrassed, "You know it's disgusting, and you still say it?"
"Tell the truth." Chao Jian said helplessly, "I reminded you."
"That doesn't count as a warning." Chen Yang was embarrassed, "Don't say that again."
Chao Jian kissed his hair.
Chen Yang patted him without much force: "Did you hear that?"
"I heard it." Chao Jian curled his lips, "You asked me to say it, so I said it."
"Yes, yes, it's my fault. I'm old and confused." Chen Yang held his head in his arms. "Sweet dreams, young man."
Chao Jian took a deep breath of his brother's scent and said, "Good night."
Chen Yang gently stroked Chao Jian's back, his thoughts circled back to the fragments of the small town, and he gradually fell asleep.
He didn't know that the person next to him would kiss him every once in a while, and happiness became a fool.
When Chen Yang woke up, the warm morning light of early summer kissed his face closely.
He stretched himself lazily in the aroma of rice porridge. He had land, a house, and a partner. If he had a dog, it would really be...
Paradise on earth.
The next day, Chen Yang was sawing wood in the yard when Chao Jian came back from somewhere, holding a black ball in his hand.
"What?" Chen Yang stopped what he was doing and took a look. "Bear?"
Chao Jian: “Yeah.”
"It's still a baby. There is such a cute little thing on the island." Chen Yang dropped the saw in his hand and looked at the little bear with curiosity.
"Little cutie?" Chao Jian frowned.
"It's just an adjective. Don't be jealous." Chen Yang felt the coldness on his partner and gave her a kiss through the air.
The partner had a blank expression and his ears were slightly red. Even though they were an old couple, they were still shy.
Chen Yang's eyes did not move away from the baby bear: "Is it the only one?"
Chao Jian took off his coat and threw it on the table in the yard: "More than that."
"This is a male bear." Chao Jian said, "There is also a female. They are both in the deep mountains south of the cave."
Chen Yang asked curiously, "Why did you go there?"
Chen Yang realized something when he didn't get a response. He stopped looking at the baby bear and started observing his partner: "Going out of your way to find the little animal?"
"There are no dogs on the island, only bears." Chao Jian lowered his head and rolled up the sleeves of his singlet, "Make do with it for now."
Chen Yang paused: "Did I talk in my sleep? Did I say I wanted to get a dog?"
Chao Jian said nothing.
That's it. Chen Yang rubbed his face and propped his chin with his hand. "Bears are not dogs. I've never kept one." He added, "And bears are solitary animals. Like this one, it probably won't interact with the female bears on the island unless they are about to mate, then they will play and live together."
Chao Jian didn't care about that. He just looked at Chen Yang and asked, "Don't you like it?"
Chen Yang sighed: "It's afraid of me."
Although he had long since changed from a tasker to an ordinary citizen on the island, he had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and the smell of blood on his body could not be dissipated.
I don’t know if it will disappear completely in the future, but it’s unlikely to happen in the next few years.
Birds are stupid and they will approach him, but the bear is smart and agile. It doesn't even dare to look at him. It has been on alert since entering the yard, with its two short front claws digging into the ground.
It is nervous and scared.
Chen Yang's upper body leaned forward and the bear began to retreat.
The bear walked toward him again.
It was not because it discovered his kindness and wanted to be friends with him, but because there was a presence at the gate of the courtyard that made it feel more dangerous.
It made some comparisons and decided that the human on the chair was easier to deal with.
Chen Yang glanced at Chao Jian who was standing at the gate and said, "Let it go."
Chao Jian turned aside without saying anything, even though it took him most of the day to find the bear.
Chen Yang walked to the door and waved to the little black bear cub: "We are all neighbors, welcome to come and play."
The bear ran into the mountains without looking back.
"One male and one female, this is for reproduction." When Chen Yang said this, he seemed to have seen a litter of baby bears. He leaned against the gate and smacked his lips, "They came here at about the same time as us, right?"
Chao Jian pursed his lips and said in a light voice: "Maybe."
Chen Yang stretched out his foot and touched Chao Jian, who was in a bad mood. The truth before his reset was that he had friends from all corners of the world. After the reset, he woke up from the rehabilitation center. With the modified memory, he thought that his sister, who depended on him for life, was gone, and he had an accident again. His life was bleak and dark. At that time, he did rehabilitation in the rehabilitation center for more than half a year. His life was monotonous and dull, without taste and color.
He was afraid of being alone, but that didn't matter now.
Now he is not alone, he has a partner. It is good to have popularity on the island, but it will not feel boring without it.
He knew very well what he had exchanged for this day. He would remember it all his life and would remember it vividly when he grew old and lay dying.
"Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself." Chen Yang put one hand around Chao Jian's shoulders, "Brother is happy."
Chao Jian pinched his finger bones and said nothing.
Chen Yang was just worrying about how to coax his partner when he heard him say, "Will you get bored of being alone with me every day?"
"…" Chen Yang said blankly, "Why should I hate you? You are so beautiful."
Chao Jian's face was slightly hot: "It's just like that after seeing it too many times."
Chen Yang took his hand off Chao Jian's shoulders and stepped back. When his emotions were clearly out of control, he took another half step back, leaned against the door frame on the other side, and said with a straight face, "Will you get sick of it?"
Chao Jian's cheeks tightened: "No."
As soon as he finished speaking, he pulled Chen Yang back. He didn't like him being so far away from him.
“So…” Before Chen Yang could finish the words “Why are you asking me this question?”, Chao Jian’s words made him lose the ability to speak.
"I was wrong." Chao Jian said.
Chen Yang looked at Chao Jian's sincere confession and couldn't help but touch his little nose: "...Okay, I forgive you. No, dear, can you let your brother vent his anger before pouring water on him next time? I can't even hold on when I'm halfway through."
Chao Jian turned and walked out.
Chen Yang asked him where he was going, and he said, I'm going to make you some pheasant soup.
"What kind of pheasant is this?" Chen Yang muttered slowly. "Shouldn't you press me against the door from behind, put one hand in my mouth to stop me from screaming, and use the other hand to push my back down, while you carefully apologize and do it to me like crazy? You still don't have the comprehension skills."
Although he expressed disdain on the surface, his eyes were filled with a gentle smile.
Chen Yang took two steps and then stopped. He touched his face twice in a strange way and said to himself: "Chao Jian is not confident even though he looks like that. Shouldn't I pay more attention to my image?"
I don't think so. According to Chao Jian's bad aesthetic sense, everyone in the world is ugly, except me, his brother.
Chen Yang hummed a little tune and sat back in the chair, continuing to saw wood and build a bookshelf for Chao Jian.
There are books in the supplies, all of which are ancient texts, and the four treasures of the study are also complete. Advanced civilization requires players to pick up the traditional culture that has been forgotten in time and space.
Chen Yang couldn't understand the ancient Chinese text, but Chao Jian could. He read it and explained it to Chen Yang.
Not only did he explain it, but he was also required to recite and write it down.
That’s enough.
You study liberal arts and I study science, so who's afraid of who? Chen Yang is no pushover, he came up with some math problems that were so tricky that they would kill you.
So the word "Chuan" was carved between Chao Jian's eyebrows.
In the end, Chen Yang couldn't bear it anymore and felt sorry for him, so he secretly wrote down the steps to solve the problem.
Chen Yang squatted down, used a tape measure to measure the size, marked it with a pencil, and devoted himself to this great undertaking.
Chen Yang thought the baby bear would not come.
Unexpectedly, more than half a month later, the man blatantly passed by his door, walking upright with his broad and fat body and holding some fruits in his arms.
Its body looks clumsy, but it actually walks very flexibly.
Chen Yang had just returned from the mountains. He shook his dripping hair, half-knelt down to look at the stiff black bear, and said with a smile, "Oh, you came to steal from me."
The last time I came here, I actually remembered to pay attention to my surroundings, took a fancy to the fruits in his house, learned to wait, and took advantage of the opportunity. That's good, I underestimated it.
"You are quite brave." Chen Yang showed a row of neat teeth.
The bear shook and a fruit fell from its hand. It quickly picked it up and tucked it under its armpit, staring at humans warily with its small black eyes.
Chen Yang thought of 03, whose eyes were also very small. He was distracted for a moment, then smiled and said, "Little friend, since this is your first offense, I won't bother with you. This won't happen again."
The next moment, the smile on Chen Yang's face disappeared completely. He pointed to a small orchard in front of the door and said, "You can pick any other fruit, but..."
Pointing at one of the trees, he said, "The fruit on that tree is not allowed. My partner planted it for me. The bark belongs to me, understand?"
The bear held the fruit tighter.
"I know you can understand my warning. Don't cross my bottom line. I'm very fierce when I get angry. I can hit you with a hoe until all you can see are stars." After Chen Yang finished speaking, he returned to his kind and gentle face and waved his hand, "Let's go."
The bear was about to run away when a hoe was thrown in front of it. It glared at the human who had gone back on his word and snorted heavily.
This means he is irritated and is about to show his claws.
Chen Yang calmly sat down on the ground and said with a smile: "I want to eat it too, but I'm too lazy to pick it. Give me one so I can try it."
The bear dropped a fruit and ran away.
Chen Yang glanced at the fruit at his feet. He looked at it for a long time and then laughed out loud.
The humans living on the fragments of the world are the ones who have selected the best genes, and the large animals may also be the same, but their IQ, tsk. Isn't it just a bear and cowardly child
Chen Yang casually rubbed the fruit on his clothes a few times, took a bite, and his face suddenly changed.
"Hmm... so sour."
Mr. Chen went to his girlfriend to cry and complain.
One year later, Chen Yang was shelling beans in the kitchen, occasionally throwing one to the bear next to him. Chao Jian was cooking, and the air was filled with the smell of oil smoke.
"The peppers are a bit spicy this year." Chen Yang coughed a few times and glanced at the bear who was calmly facing away from him, "Aren't you afraid of spicy food?"
The bear turned around and put a paw on his face.
Chen Yang: “…”
"Hahaha!" He rubbed its furry head fiercely. "Heihei, you are even funnier today than yesterday. I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow."
A chilly gaze came from the stove.
Chen Yang immediately withdrew his hand that was rubbing the bear's head.
Chao Jian walked to Chen Yang holding a shovel, bent his back, lowered his head and moved closer.
Chen Yang kissed him on the face.
After coaxing him, Mr. Chao continued cooking.
Just as Chen Yang finished shelling the beans and ate a piece of chicken that Chao Jian passed to him, his eyelids suddenly twitched once, and then again.
My eyelids are twitching.
There is one more person on the island!
And he has already come down the mountain and is walking towards the stone house!
Is it the third member of the Yi tribe, or
Chen Yang and Chao Jian looked at each other, one put down the beans, the other threw away the spatula, and quickly went out. They stood at the door, looking at the strangers on the island.
He was an old man with a white beard and wearing a gray coat. He was very short and thin, but very energetic.
Chen Yang could tell at a glance that the old man was not a clearance participant who had just come out of the mission world, because he had his hands behind his back, walked slowly, and looked calm and composed, like a neighbor who came to visit, and every wrinkle on his face was relaxed.
So where he came from...
An idea suddenly popped up in Chen Yang's mind, and the idea instantly expanded several times. His temples swelled and his breathing became a little rapid: "It seems that the island and the town are connected."
Just now.
After a year, they were connected again, when he and Chao Jian were busy making lunch.
The old man was the first person to come to the town, and he came to explore the way.
Chen Yang wants to go over.
Chao Jian embraced Chen Yang and patted his arm gently with his fingers: "Calm down."
"I'm very calm." A drop of sweat dripped down Chen Yang's neck.
"What a nice smell." The old man sniffed and muttered, "It smells like pheasant. The cooking temperature is just right. You can tell that the cooking was done with great care. The cooking skills are much better than Lao Zhou's."
He came closer and closer, without considering the safe distance, as if he was not worried about what Chen Yang and Chao Jian would do to him.
"Hello, two young brothers." The old man greeted them in a friendly manner.
Chen Yang asked a question he knew the answer to, which he thought was a more appropriate opening line: "Uncle, where are you from?"
"From the other side of the sea." The corners of the old man's eyes were full of wrinkles, and his eyes seemed cloudy and honest, but his eyes were clear and sharp. That was the best proof that he was able to get out, and his strength should not be underestimated.
"Have the fragments just been connected?" Chen Yang raised his eyebrows and asked again.
The old man stroked his sparse beard and said, "I didn't notice that. We are all living our own lives. We can't just stare at it all day and do nothing."
Chen Yang pondered and nodded. That’s right, he and Chao Jian didn’t pay much attention to it.
Oh, by the way, the uncle just said "everyone", and this word made Chen Yang's brain hot. He said calmly: "Uncle, how many people are there in the town?"
The old man smiled with his wrinkled face: "You are really patient, little brother. Come with me and take a look and you will know."
Chen Yang was stunned.
The old man walked out of the island with his hands behind his back. He came here not only to explore the way, but mainly to lead the way.
To lead the way for new comrades in their group.
Chen Yang looked at Chao Jian.
Chao Jian straightened the collar at the back of his shirt and said, "Let's go."
"Go take a look and come back soon. We're all connected. You'll have plenty of time to walk around later." Chen Yang shouted to the bear in the yard and said seriously, "Take care of the house."
The bear nodded.
The old man who turned around saw this scene and was not surprised. It was obvious that there were such animals with good IQ in the town and they could live in peace with humans.
What does it mean to connect the island and the town? It means they grow together.
They turned from a single fragment into two-in-one. The sea water and foggy space that originally separated them were all outside the synthesized fragment, separating them from other fragments of the world that were not yet visible.
Chen Yang looked at the stone tablet at the entrance of the town, feeling as if he were in another world.
The monument in the mission world says xx Town, and the real world says Ping'an Town.
"I named the town." The old man next to him said, with the expectation of a child waiting to be praised, "How is it?"
"Peace..." Chen Yang chewed it two or three times and tasted the same flavor as Chaoyang Island. It was the stability after the storm and the expectation for the future.
—Be safe and sound, embrace the sunshine and welcome hope.
"Very good." said Chen Yang.
The old man smiled and said in return: "The name of the island you live in is also good, Chaoyang, which means morning sunshine. That's good."
"Yeah." Chen Yang had just finished speaking when the old man walked past him, hunched over, mumbling, "You can grow fruits and vegetables on the island, you won't starve to death, and the scenery is nice. Why wasn't I assigned there in the first place? I don't know if I can apply to transfer my household registration... The town is not fun at all, there are no tall trees to climb..."
When Chen Yang heard the old man's complaints, the corners of his mouth twitched.
The one who passed the level was an old man, and when he came back he had an old man's body. The bones of an old man are definitely not as strong and useful as those of the young people, even if they live longer.
But after holding it in for too long, I just want to let go.
Chen Yang pulled Chao Jian into the town. Every place they passed was familiar yet unfamiliar. As he walked along, he saw the careful planning of the town's customs passers-by along the way.
Fields, vegetable gardens...
There was also a large melon field. Chen Yang's eyes lit up. There were watermelons!
In this season they have grown bigger, become round and ripe.
Chen Yangduo looked at the big watermelon closest to him and swallowed: "We don't have watermelon seeds in our supplies."
Chao Jian glanced at the grains in his field of vision: "It looks like it's random."
"Want to eat watermelon?" Chao Jian said, "I'll ask later."
Chen Yang was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt that the watermelon was not important. What was important was Chao Jian's communication and contact with others. If Chao Jian could make friends... Chen Yang did not think further, and did not dare to hold too high hopes, so he just let it go.
Chao Jian is back, and he is still the only one in the world, so he needs to take things slow.
The island has changed, and the town has changed too. Chen Yang sighed as he walked. When he entered the town and stood on the street, he truly realized how strong the atmosphere of fireworks was here.
Everywhere you look there are traces of human life.
The old man went to inform the others. Chen Yang walked towards the inn where the mission was originally located. Chao Jian followed him, his eyes fixed on his back.
Chen Yang tilted his head and instinctively sped up towards Jian, keeping pace with him.
In order to achieve this in the past, Chao Jian changed from walking to running. He tried his best to chase his brother. Later, when he was about to catch up, his brother stopped, but he passively walked forward.
Later, Chao Jian stopped and turned back, found his brother who was standing on the road, and pulled him away, but there were countless pills between them. Chao Jian would lose control, and the strength with which he pulled his brother was sometimes light and sometimes heavy, and was unpredictable.
Now they are finally standing together.
Chen Yang felt a pain in his hand being held, but he did not struggle to break free. Instead, he moved a little closer to Chao Jian.
When they walked to the door of the inn, they suddenly heard several sets of footsteps behind them, coming closer and closer, with kindness, enthusiasm, and excitement.
They were the missioners who had gone through the same hardships as them to return home.