EM 50. Return To The Base

“Lube. Don’t forget the lube. And stretching, you have to stretch enough. If it gets stuck halfway, neither of us is going to be happy. Are you even qualified for this?” Wei Xiaoyan lay on the bed, panting, his voice hoarse from lust. His eyes were wet and unfocused. “Bro, you’re my actual brother. I swear I can’t take it anymore. Just go outside and find someone, okay?”

Duan Qing was silent for a moment, then calmly looked at him. “I don’t know this place. Where do you expect me to find someone? Just grab a random guy? And what do you want me to say? ‘Excuse me, sir, are you in good health? Any bedroom skills? My friend here got drugged. Mind helping us out by fucking him?’ Should I say that?”

“…”

Duan Qing went on. “Even if I found someone like that, what if he’s not into you?”

Wei Xiaoyan’s mouth twitched. “Fine. Then go ask the front desk manager to come up. I’ll talk to him myself. If you’ve got money, anything can be arranged, alright?”

Duan Qing looked serious. “I don’t know the manager.”

“Then ask someone! Do I have to teach you how to do that?” Wei Xiaoyan roared, but the sound came out barely above a whimper. He groaned in frustration. “If I had the strength, I’d be out there solving this myself. You think I’d be lying here asking you?”

Duan Qing looked up at him. “Does it hurt?”

The drug’s effect was washing over his brain. Wei Xiaoyan couldn’t hold back a moan. “No… Boss used a type of drug made for training bottoms. Specifically ones for gay clients, so… yeah, I can feel it… back there…”

“… Then what was all that whining about just now? I could have just gone in and you would’ve felt it anyway.”

“I would, but I’d be half-dead by morning,” Wei Xiaoyan gasped, trying to stay conscious. “Bro, do you actually know what you’re doing? If you don’t, just say so and quit messing around.”

Duan Qing focused on prep. “I watched a few videos during break. I think I can handle it.”

Wei Xiaoyan paused. “Why were you watching that kind of video?”

Duan Qing pulled his hand back and was just about to go in when he froze at the question. The two of them locked eyes.

After a beat, Duan Qing said, “I was curious. Just watching for fun.”

“… Do I look like an idiot to you? That’s the dumbest excuse I’ve ever heard. You think I’d believe that?”

Duan Qing grabbed him by the waist.

So this was his own fault after all? Wei Xiaoyan shut his eyes and gave up.

---

Everyone had played too hard the night before, so no one was up early. They didn’t start trickling out of the guest rooms until around nine. Song Feng greeted Wei Xiaoyan with a big smile. “So, did you have fun last night?”

Wei Xiaoyan’s mouth twitched. “It was… alright.”

Song Feng nodded. “Alright means you definitely did.”

“…”

Not bothering with him anymore, Song Feng hummed as he gathered everyone for breakfast. He was clearly in a great mood. Bai Xuyao chewed on a finger, observed for a moment, then crept over curiously. “Senior, why do you look like you got roughed up?”

“I’m fine.”

Bai Xuyao thought about it, then turned to look at Duan Qing. His eyes were bright and innocent. “Did you two have a fight?”

“Nothing serious,” Duan Qing replied calmly. “Just not compatible in bed.”

Bai Xuyao nodded in understanding and patted him on the shoulder. “My bro says stuff like that just needs practice. You’ll get there.”

Duan Qing said, “Yeah.”

Wei Xiaoyan: “…”

After the meal, Song Feng brought the stuffed toy to visit Xiaolin. Naturally, Xiao Mingxuan went along. During their conversation, he learned that the woman worked at a public institution. He couldn’t help but sigh. If Song Feng’s teacher had successfully returned to China back then, with his qualifications, he likely would have been placed in a good position, maybe even had a promising future. Then this household, with two civil servants and a healthy, adorable son might have been the picture of happiness. But fate had taken another path.

He knew Song Feng understood this too. Which was why, even though the past was already behind him, the wound it left had never healed. Watching Song Feng smiling and chatting with her as if nothing had happened, he could not imagine how this man had survived the earliest days. He thought, if only he had crossed paths with him sooner, if only he had fallen for him earlier, maybe he could have been there through those difficult years. Even just to light a cigarette for him, or share a cold beer.

“Let’s go. They’re waiting,” Song Feng said with a smile as he came over. He turned and said to the woman beside him, “We’ll head out now, sis.”

She smiled and nodded. “Take care on the road.”

“Got it.”

Xiao Mingxuan gave her a polite nod, then followed Song Feng out. On the way, he made a mental note to reach out to a few acquaintances once they got back to base, see if they could keep an eye on her and the child. If possible, he would ask around and see if someone decent could be introduced to her. But it couldn’t be forced. It had to be her choice.

What he thought might work in his favor for now was that Song Feng was heading back to the military base. They would not see each other for months, maybe a year. And after everything that had happened, the woman probably would not want to marry someone in another dangerous line of work. But then… his steps faltered. He turned and glanced at Song Feng. If they really did get married, this man would probably step away from the frontlines, settle down, and devote himself to being a good husband and father.

Song Feng noticed the look and turned to him. “What?”

Xiao Mingxuan kissed him on the lips. “Nothing.”

The group spent a few more carefree days in Beijing, eating well and playing hard. The days passed in comfort and joy. It felt like no one wanted to leave. Xiao Mingxuan said that if everyone could pull their weight, and the team really became independent in the future, he would fight to build a base in Beijing. The moment he said that, the group’s blood boiled with excitement.

As the return date drew near, Song Feng wrapped his arm around Bai Xuyao’s neck and grinned. “One of these days, I’ll call your two senior brothers out. We’ll have a meal together.”

Bai Xuyao lit up immediately. “Yeah? When?”

Standing to the side, Xiao Mingxuan and Wei Xiaoyan exchanged a sharp glance, keeping their expressions neutral. Song Feng scratched his chin. “Not sure yet. Depends if they’re busy. This year they only sent me a New Year’s message. I didn’t even see them. No idea what they’re working on.” He turned to Wei Xiaoyan. “Did they message you too? Just one text?”

Wei Xiaoyan nodded. In truth, even that text had been sent by Wang Yizhong’s people. He answered calmly, “They probably still have assignments.”

Song Feng thought it over and nodded. “That makes sense.”

Wei Xiaoyan exhaled quietly and followed along. Xiao Mingxuan lingered at the back of the group and asked in a low voice, “How are they doing now?”

“They just got out of critical condition.”

“That’s good.”

Wei Xiaoyan gave a quiet response. If anything really happened to those two, no one would be able to hold Song Feng back. That would be a disaster.

Wang Yizhong had arranged for close monitoring of all activity in Beijing. With both Xiao Mingxuan and Wei Xiaoyan working behind the scenes, Song Feng remained completely unaware that anything was wrong. The only thing he ever noticed was when he glanced out the car window and muttered, “Why does it feel like there have been so many car accidents these past few days?”

Xiao Mingxuan replied calmly, “Maybe we’ve just had bad luck lately. Try to drive less.”

“Oh.”

To avoid any surprises, Xiao Mingxuan had informed the military district ahead of time. On the day they returned to base, the entire team took a helicopter directly back. They landed smoothly on the helipad. Zheng Qiyong stood in front of the main building, watching the members of Team 2 approach. He returned their salute, then looked toward his pitiful student. He walked over, reached out, and gave his head a pat under his wide-eyed stare, then silently walked away.

Song Feng immediately clutched at Xiao Mingxuan’s shirt, shrinking behind him like a frightened child, only his head sticking out. “What’s going on? What’s wrong with him?”

Xiao Mingxuan spoke with gentle reassurance. “Be good. He’s just saying hi.”

“No way,” Song Feng retorted. “That freak has never patted my head. The only physical contact I’ve ever gotten from him is when he hit me. That was terrifying. What the hell is going on? Is he sleepwalking?”

“…”

“I’m serious, what’s wrong with—”

“He said he’s proud of you. He told me before the New Year,” Xiao Mingxuan interrupted, lying through his teeth with a straight face.

Song Feng froze. He didn’t move or speak. He stayed stunned until Xiao Mingxuan dragged him back to the dorm. Then, with eyes shining, he finally came back to life. “Really? Really really?”

“…”

Song Feng bounced over and reached for him. “Really—mmf—”

Xiao Mingxuan pulled him in by the back of the head and shut him up with his mouth. Their tongues tangled as he kissed him deep, holding on until Song Feng finally quieted down. Only then did he let go and gently pat his head. “Yes. Now stop asking.”

Song Feng sat obediently on the bed, watching him tidy up the room. After a moment of silence, he crept forward again, eyes wide and sincere. “He really said that?”

“…”

Song Feng’s persistence was beyond reason. That night, Xiao Mingxuan couldn’t take another round of “really?” or those pure, round eyes staring up at him. He pinned him down and went at him hard. Looking down from above, he thrust deep and rough. “Still asking?”

Breathless and trembling, Song Feng shook his head quickly. “No. Please don’t—ah…”

Xiao Mingxuan lowered his head and kissed him, sinking into the heat without holding back. Afterward, they each took a shower. Xiao Mingxuan leaned against the headboard and pulled him into his arms. Song Feng’s chest and shoulders were marked with red, his skin looking even paler in contrast. Xiao Mingxuan ran his hand over him, unable to stop himself from remembering that this man had undergone two skin graft surgeries.

He asked quietly, “Why were you injured before? Was it during a mission?”

“No, not a mission. That one was my own fault,” Song Feng said. “There was an explosion. My mentor saved me, but I still got hurt. They rushed me to the hospital. If Xiaoyan and the others hadn’t arrived in time and gotten word to my brother, I probably would’ve been taken by that bastard right from the hospital.”

“Bastard?” Xiao Mingxuan immediately caught on. “The one you said tried to sleep with you before?”

“Yeah, that guy. He was the head of a terrorist group,” Song Feng explained. “At the time, my mentor and I were working as bodyguards for an arms dealer. He was going to negotiate with that guy and hired us for protection. Somehow, during that time, the guy took a liking to me. Our job was already done, and we were getting ready to leave when everything went wrong.”

Xiao Mingxuan held him close. Earlier that day, he had spoken with Zheng Qiyong and told him that he was aware someone was targeting Song Feng. He had seen the files himself. That organization was currently expanding rapidly. Both Wang Yizhong and Zheng Qiyong agreed that since the past could not be undone, there was no point reopening old wounds. Their plan was to take care of the leader quietly. But the true boss had yet to appear. Only a proxy had surfaced so far, and the full picture was still under investigation. For now, though, Song Feng had returned to base and was safe.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, “You killed him?”

Song Feng answered with a quiet hum. “Once I recovered, I hunted him down. Tracked him from Africa to Europe, then chased him through Asia for two months across Russia. Cornered him in an abandoned factory by the Yenisei River. Took out him and a dozen of his men.”

Xiao Mingxuan finally understood what Wei Xiaoyan had meant. That kind of brutality wasn’t something ordinary people could summon. Going after an entire organization solo, nonstop, with no rest was madness. Zheng Qiyong had once said that if this man ever showed signs of refusing orders or abandoning missions, they should just leave him alone. That tendency must have already taken root back then.

Still, if all the major figures in that group were dead, who was behind this now? Or had someone survived? But even if someone had, people like that only cared about profit. Why risk everything to get revenge for a dead man?

It didn’t add up.

Song Feng had no idea what he was thinking. He was off in his own memories. He reached toward the bedside table, grabbed a cigarette, and lit it. His voice was quiet.

“Back then I really thought there was no point in living. Might as well just die. But then I figured, if I died too, then my mentor’s sacrifice really would have meant nothing. He gave his life to save a suicidal idiot. That would’ve been the cruelest joke of all.”

“I had to live,” he said at last. “I had to carry his share too.”

Xiao Mingxuan pulled him tighter into his arms. “Yeah.”