Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 277: Chapter 277 - Set up

Jai cleared his throat, still burning from Yunfeng’s last words. ”Sooo... what is the plan?” he asked, trying to sound casual as he looked around at the others.

Yunfeng folded his arms and leaned back slightly, the room quieting around his composed presence. ”This is the plan. We’ll set up a safe house and make sure that Shao is properly quarantined inside.”

Before he could even finish, Jai’s face lit up in excitement. ”Perfect! We’ll have Qiu Yue move out of his room and make Shao live there alone. It’s got thick walls and soundproofing. He won’t bother anyone and we can keep an eye on him easily!”

But Yunfeng didn’t mirror his enthusiasm. Instead, he gave Jai a long, even stare. ”That won’t work.”

Jai blinked. ”Why not?”

Yunfeng’s voice was calm but firm. ”He has to stay as far away from you as possible. So we have to move him to a residence nearby, but not one where your scent is still fresh.”

Jai frowned, clearly displeased. ”Why? That seems dumb. I’m right here. Wouldn’t it be easier if I was close in case anything happens?”

”No,” Yunfeng said flatly.

Muchen, standing silently near the window, gave a soft sigh, but didn’t speak.

Jai folded his arms, narrowing his eyes. ”Why not? Give me one good reason.”

Yunfeng rubbed the bridge of his nose and said tiredly, ”Because you have a pheromone that is basically whispering ’I’m naked and I’m ready to mate.’”

Dead silence.

Jai blinked rapidly. ”...What?”

Yunfeng didn’t repeat himself.

Jai’s face turned an alarming shade of red as the words sunk in. ”Oh...” he muttered, looking like he wanted to bury himself alive. ”Oh... that’s bad...”

Muchen looked away quickly, clearly trying not to laugh but failing to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching.

Jai groaned into his hands. ”You mean I’ve been walking around like that this entire time? Like a walking mating call?!”

Shao, still sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed, gave a quiet cough and turned his face away, ears slightly pink. ”You weren’t... that bad.”

”Don’t lie,” Jai shot back, glaring at him. ”You nearly jumped me in the storage room yesterday!”

”That wasn’t your fault,” Shao muttered, still not looking at him. ”That was... me losing control. That’s exactly why I need to be locked up somewhere I can’t smell you.”

Jai’s voice dropped to a mumble. ”I can shower. Like... scrub myself. With bleach.”

”That’s not how it works,” Yunfeng said with a sigh. ”The scent is deeper. It lingers in your skin. Your clothes. Your hair. Even the air around you. Especially for someone like Shao who’s already keyed into you.”

Jai looked increasingly miserable with every word. ”So what... I can’t even see him? I just have to pretend he doesn’t exist until this is over?”

”No,” Yunfeng said more gently this time. ”You don’t have to pretend he doesn’t exist. But you do have to keep your distance. For both your safety. Once we set up the house, you can be nearby in case something goes wrong. Just not close enough to trigger anything.”

Jai sat down slowly, puffing his cheeks out in frustration. ”Fine. Where are we putting him?”

”There’s an old vacation house just down the road,” Muchen finally spoke up, his voice low. ”Not too far, and the windows are small. We can board them. There’s running water, electricity. It’s good enough to last a few days.”

”We’ll stuff the place with food and water,” Yunfeng continued. ”Everything Shao might need. We barricade the doors from the outside. Once he’s inside, no one enters. No one. Not even if he begs.”

Shao flinched slightly but nodded.

Jai swallowed, suddenly aware of how serious it all sounded now. ”What if he... gets hurt in there?”

”We’ll set up a check-in system,” Yunfeng replied. ”He’ll write a note and slip it under the door each morning and night. Just a sign that he’s conscious and okay.”

”And if he’s not?”

”Then we’ll find a way to sedate him and break in. But that’s the worst-case scenario.”

Jai stared at the floor, heart heavy in his chest. ”What if... he calls for me?”

”He will,” Shao said softly, voice raw. ”I’ll probably scream your name the first night.”

Jai looked up at him sharply, startled.

”I won’t mean it,” Shao said. ”I won’t even know I’m doing it. I just—” he exhaled shakily, looking away again. ”I don’t want to hurt you. So don’t come in. Please. Promise me.”

Jai’s throat felt tight. ”Okay,” he whispered. ”I promise.”

Yunfeng stepped forward. ”Good. Then we start setting up now. We’ll need blankets, water, protein-heavy food, extra clothes, and something for waste management.”

Jai, though quiet, nodded and stood. ”I’ll help.”

Shao looked up at him finally, their eyes meeting just for a moment. His lips parted like he wanted to say something. But instead, he looked down and whispered, ”Thank you.”

The next house over looked abandoned, but solid. A bit overgrown with weeds and grime caked along the windows, but structurally sound. Yunfeng led the way, pushing open the rusted gate with a firm shove. The hinges groaned, dust drifting up as they all stepped through.

”This’ll do,” Yunfeng said, nodding to himself. ”We’ll clean out one main room, barricade the rest.”

Jai rubbed his arms, eyeing the place warily. ”It looks haunted.”

”It’s not,” Muchen muttered, already stepping toward the door and testing the knob. ”Just needs some love.”

With a loud creak, the front door opened. The air inside was stale, but dry. Shao stayed behind with Qiu Yue, leaning on him slightly as the others filed inside. His eyes flicked toward Jai briefly, but he said nothing.

Jai glanced back at him and gave a small nod before heading in with the others.

Once inside, Yunfeng took command without hesitation.

”Jai, you and Muchen go through the kitchen. Toss anything moldy, keep what’s salvageable. Canned goods, sealed snacks, anything still in date. Clear off the counters.”

Jai gave a thumbs-up and turned back to the cabinets, muttering, ”Why does this feel like we’re prepping for a werewolf to change on the full moon...”

Muchen smirked faintly. ”Not that far off.”

Meanwhile, Yunfeng and Qiu Yue were clearing out the living room. Yunfeng found a couch that hadn’t completely collapsed and pushed it aside with ease. ”We’ll turn this room into Shao’s den,” he said. ”Less windows. Easier to block.”

Qiu Yue nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. ”We’ll need to tape and board these up, yeah?”

”Already on it,” Yunfeng said, dragging over a stack of old chairs and wooden panels from the hall closet. ”Shao, you okay out there?”

Shao’s voice drifted from the porch. ”Yeah. Just breathing.”

”Take your time,” Yunfeng said without pause, then looked back at Qiu Yue. ”We barricade the front door from the outside. Make sure it can’t be opened no matter what. Rear windows too. I’ll wedge the hallway with furniture so he can’t move too far.”

Qiu Yue paused, looking slightly troubled. ”You’re really locking him in, huh?”

”He asked us to,” Yunfeng replied. ”He’s terrified of hurting Jai.”

Qiu Yue gave a quiet nod, shoulders tense.

Soon, the house was bustling with movement. Jai helped strip old bedding from the spare room and laid it out across the floor of the chosen den, layering thick quilts and foam pads. He scattered soft clothes around too—hoodies, shirts, anything that might provide comfort or catch pheromones.

Muchen returned from outside carrying several large plastic bins. ”Found a water barrel. Clean. We’ll fill it up and leave a pump jug so he doesn’t dehydrate.”

”Good,” Yunfeng said. ”Leave him protein bars, instant noodles, electrolyte packs. Keep it simple. Nothing that needs much effort.”

As the sun dipped lower, the house took shape. The living room was now transformed into a makeshift rut sanctuary. The windows were sealed, the door reinforced with planks and cabinets pushed into place. An emergency slip-box was rigged outside the door—a small slot where Shao could pass a note through without risking anyone being exposed to his scent.

Jai stood in the doorway, gazing in. ”It’s kind of... cozy. If you ignore the ’I’m locking myself in to survive a biological prison’ part.”

Shao stepped in slowly, taking a long breath. He looked around the dimmed room, taking in the pile of blankets, the stack of rations, the heavy boards nailed over the window seams.

”It’s perfect,” he whispered.

”You sure?” Jai asked, fidgeting slightly. ”I mean... you’re gonna be in here alone. For days.”

”I’ve done harder things,” Shao murmured. ”At least this time, I won’t hurt anyone.”

Jai lowered his gaze. ”Right.”

Shao turned to face him. ”Jai...”

Yunfeng interrupted gently. ”It’s time.”

Shao nodded once, then stepped forward. He hesitated, then pulled Jai into a soft hug. His voice was low and steady. ”I’ll be okay.”

Jai clutched his shirt tightly. ”Don’t... don’t scream my name too loud, okay? Or I might break my promise.”

Shao gave a breathless laugh and pulled away. ”I’ll try not to.”

They closed the door behind him. Yunfeng and Qiu Yue worked quickly to secure it from the outside. Nail after nail. Board after board. Jai stood still, watching it all, chest feeling hollow and full at the same time.

When the last plank was in place, Yunfeng placed his hand on it solemnly. ”Let the rut begin.”

Jai groaned. ”Don’t say it like that. It sounds like the start of a horror movie.”

Muchen gave a tired chuckle. ”Hopefully with a happy ending.”

Yunfeng turned to them both. ”Now we wait. And hope Shao makes it through without losing himself.”

They all stood in silence for a moment, facing the barricaded house, the dimming sky painting long shadows across the porch.

Jai whispered under his breath, ”You better come out of this, Shao... in one piece.”