Lu Zheng · Chat

Today is a rare day off for the team. The sun shines warmly on the training ground. Lu Zheng is squatting on the open ground behind the dormitory building, with a row of things spread out in front of him—not weapons, not gear, but bones. Not real bones. Dog chews. They come in various shapes, beef flavor, chicken flavor, mint flavor. He arranges them one by one, frowning as he picks for a long time. Finally, he holds a beef-flavored one in his mouth, squints his eyes in satisfaction, and his tail slowly sweeps the ground behind him. "What are you doing?" Lu Zheng's ears perk up instantly in fright, and he almost swallows the dog chew. Turning his head, he sees Lin Yan standing behind him, holding a cup of tea, looking at him expressionlessly. "Brother Lin!" Lu Zheng takes the dog chew out of his mouth, his tail starting to wag. "It's our day off, so I was just... uh... relaxing." Lin Yan is silent for two seconds. Then he turns and walks away without saying a word. But the moment Lin Yan turns around, Lu Zheng hears an extremely soft sound, like a sigh or a suppressed chuckle. "Brother Lin, did you just laugh—" Lin Yan doesn't look back. Just as Lu Zheng is about to chase after him to confirm, a lazy set of footsteps comes from behind. He doesn't need to turn around to know who it is—that person's tiger tail is flicking back and forth, the tip sweeping across the ground with a rustling sound. "Kid, chewing on your bones again?" Huo Yingxue is wearing a loose, old T-shirt. His platinum-blonde long hair is rarely untied, draped over his shoulders, and his icy-blue eyes are half-squinted, clearly having just woken up. He walks over to Lu Zheng, looks down at the row of dog chews on the ground, sneers, and smacks the back of Lu Zheng's head with his tiger tail. "How old are you?" "Twenty-five..." Lu Zheng covers the back of his head, his ears flattening down. "Brother Huo, do you want to try? This beef-flavored one is really delicious." "No." "It's really good, just try it—" Huo Yingxue ignores him, pulls a piece of chocolate from his pants pocket, unwraps the foil, and pops it into his mouth. Lu Zheng glances at him, wanting to say that eating too much chocolate isn't good, but he holds back—the last time he said that, Huo Yingxue wrapped his tiger tail around his neck and dragged him ten meters. "It's a rest day today. What are your plans?" Su Heming appears out of nowhere. His crimson fox ears show a translucent pink under the sunlight, and his fluffy big tail sways elegantly. Holding a cup of coffee, he sits on the nearby steps with a smile, his gaze lingering on Lu Zheng's dog chews, his smile deepening. "Don't talk," Huo Yingxue warns him in advance. "I didn't say anything." Su Heming sips his coffee, looking utterly innocent. "Your eyes are talking." "That's my eyes smiling, not talking." Lu Zheng doesn't understand what they are bickering about. He carefully packs the dog chews back into the box one by one, then stands up and pats the dust off his knees. He has a plan today—he's going to town to buy some things. During last week's mission, his wrist guard got worn out. Huo Yingxue said he had an old pair to give him, but Lu Zheng couldn't bear to take it. He can't bear to use any of Brother Huo's things; they are all kept in a metal box under his bed, taken out to look at from time to time, and then carefully put back. "Brother Huo, I'm going to town," he says. "Is there anything you want me to bring back?" Huo Yingxue has just taken his last bite of chocolate and mumbles something. "What?" "Toothpaste," Huo Yingxue swallows and repeats. "And potato chips. Lime flavor." "Roger that!" Lu Zheng turns his head in Lin Yan's direction. Lin Yan has already walked under the shade of a tree, leaning against the trunk. The cup of tea in his hand is still unfinished, and his gaze is fixed in the distance. "Brother Lin! Do you need me to bring you anything!" Lin Yan raises a finger, indicating "No." "Alright!" Lu Zheng doesn't mind at all; Lin Yan always gives this answer anyway. But he will still buy an extra bottle of sports drink at the convenience store and quietly slide it into Lin Yan's locker when he gets back. A sticky note will be attached to the bottle, saying "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Lin," signed with a crudely drawn dog head. Lin Yan has never brought it up, but those sticky notes have never appeared in the trash can either. "Lu Zheng," Su Heming calls out to him. "Yeah?" "Bring me a bag of coffee beans," Su Heming says, and then adds as Lu Zheng is about to turn around, "Don't get the wrong one. Not instant, beans." "Oh..." Lu Zheng scratches his ear. "What kind should I buy?" "Just tell the clerk 'the kind Su Heming wants,' and they'll know." "Exactly how many times have you bought coffee beans for the clerk to remember your name..." "It's my talent," Su Heming says with a smile. Just as Lu Zheng reaches the gate, Huo Yingxue's lazy voice floats over from behind. "Kid." "What's up, Brother Huo?" Huo Yingxue is leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, his tiger tail slowly drawing circles behind him. The sunlight spills over his white fur, making him look like he's glowing. He tilts his head to look at Lu Zheng for two seconds, his lips curving into that familiar, rogue-like smile. "Be careful on the road." Just five words. But Lu Zheng's tail instantly spins like a helicopter propeller, his ears stand straight up, and his golden-brown eyes shine incredibly bright.