Exclusive Possession – CH 042

Chapter 42.

Mu Xian replied calmly, “I don’t know. And who are you?”

As he said this, he took a half step back, and my hands suddenly felt empty, creating distance between us. This action made my heart sink, sinking into sadness and bitterness.

“She said my name’s Yi Pucheng, and you’re?” Yi Pucheng’s tone was slightly self-deprecating, and he looked at me meaningfully after he finished speaking.

Then I saw Mu Xian reach out and rub her fair forehead, glance at me, and say, “She said my name is… Mu Xian.”

I stared blankly, my eyes stinging with tears. Then they looked at each other. Mu Xian emerged from the stream, and Yi Pucheng walked to his side. The two stood together, looking at me at the same time.

That gaze…was it questioning?

“She said it was a plane crash.” Yi Pucheng looked at me with a half-smile, his hands clasped behind his back. The wound on his forehead had stopped bleeding, and he had wiped most of the dirt off his face. “Beautiful lady, if we both have amnesia, why are you alright? Explain.”

Mu Xian stared at me, silent.

I snapped out of my shock and yelled at Yi Pucheng, “Wait a minute!” Then I stared at Mu Xian, whose gaze was so… scrutinizing. I grabbed his hand and asked, “You really don’t remember me?”

He glanced down at my tightly clenched hand, then shook his head. My eyes instantly filled with tears, my throat felt hot and choked, and without any relief, large tears streamed down my face. His features blurred, and everything around me faded into a hazy blur. I cried silently, gripping his hand tightly as I sobbed.

Neither of them spoke. After a while, my tears stopped flowing so quickly, but a dull ache began to throb in my chest. I wiped away my tears and choked out, “I’m your wife. I wasn’t injured or lost my memory because you shielded me with your body when the plane crashed.”

“What proof do you have?” Yi Pucheng’s deep voice came.

Proof? Tears welled in my eyes, and I instinctively looked down, searching myself. But I was wearing a wedding dress, without even a pocket; over it was a spacesuit. Where could I find any proof?

Suddenly, my chin tightened as someone grabbed it, forcing my face up. I looked at Mu Xian in a panic. He was looking at me too, his slender fingers pinching my chin, his dark brows slightly furrowed.

I thought he was getting impatient and feeling even worse inside. But then he said softly, “Okay, don’t cry.” He paused, then added, “You are my woman; you don’t need any proof.”

With tears still on my face, I looked at him with sudden surprise and exclaimed, “You remember?”

To my disappointment, he shook his head. Perhaps seeing that both Yi Pucheng and I were looking at him, one with a sorrowful expression and the other with a puzzled look, he suddenly put his arm around my waist, his expression somewhat unnatural, but his tone calm and firm: “She smells like me; she’s mine.”

My heart skipped a beat, a mixture of joy and sorrow, sweetness and pain. Yi Pucheng’s voice came through: “Scent? It seems you’re a beastman.”

Before Mu Xian could answer, I had already hugged him tightly, burying my face deep in his chest. I really wanted to hold him forever, never letting go. Who knew what danger might lurk in the next second? Who knew if there would come a day when he wouldn’t even recognize my scent?

Suddenly, I felt a slight itch on my neck, as if some soft scent were lingering around me. I turned my head and saw Mu Xian with his head down, his straight nose close to the skin at the base of my neck, sniffing hard as usual.

I could tell from his expression that he was somewhat interested and comfortable—because his previously furrowed brows had somehow relaxed beautifully.

He had feelings for me. Looking at his handsome, fair profile and his dark, clean eyes, my heart ached terribly.

“Can we stop this lovey-dovey stuff for now?” a lukewarm voice sounded from the side. “Let’s figure out how to get out of this awful place first.”

I then remembered that Yi Pucheng was still nearby. Mu Xian also looked up, glanced at me thoughtfully, and removed my hand from his body. But his hand remained wrapped around my waist; as always, he forcefully took control of everything. I felt a little uncomfortable, but since he had chosen me without hesitation, I felt much more at ease and gently rested my head on his chest.

Mu Xian looked up and around, then said to Yi Pucheng, “Going up the mountain will make it easier for rescuers to find us.”

Yi Pucheng nodded: “That’s what I think too. However, the temperature is low at the top of the mountain, and it will be getting dark soon. Let’s rest at the foot of the mountain for the night and then go up the mountain at dawn.”

“Okay,” Mu Xian replied, “Keep an eye out for food and water along the way.”

“Yes.” Yi Pucheng put his hands in his pockets, glanced at me, and said, “But we are all in the same boat, so only by working together can we survive longer. I’d like to lay down three rules: First, all food and water will be shared. If there isn’t enough, she’s a woman and weak, so we will leave it for her. Second, we can’t act alone; we must discuss things as a group of three. Third, you two are a couple, and I don’t know you at all, so our trust level is zero. For my safety, I hope I won’t be alone. We will communicate promptly about anything and not hide anything.”

He had always been nonchalant, but he spoke these words with unusual fluency and sounded quite objective. Before I could even speak, Mu Xian nodded: “Reasonable, I agree.” Yi Pucheng grinned and raised his right hand. Mu Xian waved his hand, gave him a high five, and then gave him a brief hug.

I was stunned and immediately shouted, “Wait a minute!”

The two of them had let go of each other and turned to look at me at the same time.

“Mu Xian, there’s something I want to say to you privately,” I said softly, “about things between us as husband and wife.”

Mu Xian was taken aback, but Yi Pucheng had already spoken bluntly: “You just said you would trust each other, and now you’re going to throw me aside? At a time of life and death, you’re still talking about matters between husband and wife? Well, sorry, I want to hear it too. You go ahead.”

I immediately became alert—had he regained his memories? Just as I hesitated, Mu Xian said calmly, “Say what you want to say directly.”

How could I say that! I wanted to tell him that Yi Pucheng was the enemy.

I glanced at Yi Pucheng. Although he still had a smile on his lips, his expression was somewhat cold, seemingly unhappy, with a hint of mockery. I understood a little—he might not have regained his memories; he was just naturally cunning and suspicious. I guessed that when I recognized Mu Xian, he had already figured out those rules, afraid of being taken advantage of.

I felt incredibly frustrated—knowing there was a ticking time bomb next to me, I had no choice but to endure it. After hesitating for a moment, I could only say dejectedly, “What I was trying to say was that although the water here looks filthy and grayish, it’s safe for people to drink; I’ve tested it.”

Their spacesuits were burned, but mine was intact, and some of the basic detection tools that came with them were still usable.

Yi Pucheng’s eyes lit up. Mu Xian had already let go of me, turned around, scooped up a handful of water, tasted it, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, and nodded to Yi Pucheng: “The water quality’s very clean.”

Yi Pucheng strode to the stream, lay down, and buried his face in the water, gulping it down. Mu Xian, on the other hand, drank slowly and gracefully, handful by handful. I squatted down beside him, and as he drank, he stared sharply at me, as if scrutinizing me further. I, of course, returned his gaze with open and eager eyes.

Our eyes met for a moment, then he turned his face away, a faint blush rising on his delicate cheeks, as if he wasn’t used to my gaze. I found it a little funny, yet also felt a pang of tenderness, so I hugged his arm and rested my head against it. He was silent for a moment, then placed his hand on my shoulder.

I saw that Yi Pucheng had his back to us, and I was about to speak in a low voice when Yi Pucheng wiped the water off his face, casually tossed it aside, and stood up.

“You are an interesting woman. Why did you keep the water source a secret from me?” He squinted at me, looking sly and a little fierce.

“I’m not hiding it from you; there’s so much water, and we can’t finish it all. There’s no need to hide it from you,” I argued, pretending to be a little angry. “He’s my husband, and I’ve always been in the habit of telling him beforehand and letting him decide.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Xian looked up at me, his gaze intense.

Yi Pucheng stared at me for a few seconds, smiled, and looked at Mu Xian without saying anything.

Mu Xian naturally took my hand, pulled me to my feet, and said, “It won’t happen again. I promise you.” He then looked at me and said, “Remember my words.” I could only nod.

“Okay, brother, I trust you,” Yi Pucheng said decisively, then glanced at me before looking towards the mountains and forests to the east: “Let’s go.”

Mu Xian suddenly turned to look at me: “What…is your name?” Yi Pucheng also raised his eyebrows and looked at me.

My heart immediately ached again: “Hua Yao, my name’s Hua Yao.”

Mu Xian nodded: “Can you walk? Do you need me to carry you?” His words sounded so distant and polite, and I shook my head bitterly: “No, I can walk.”

I had only taken a few steps when I suddenly felt my hand tighten; Mu Xian had gripped my hand firmly. Then he quickly turned his head to look at me, his gaze… seemingly meaningful.

What was he implying to me?

Has he regained his memory?

The elation that had just begun to rise in my heart was quickly suppressed—impossible. He was just by the water, facing me, and his uneasy expression couldn’t have been faked, nor would it have been necessary. Yi Pucheng couldn’t have seen it anyway.

Or did he sense that I wanted to avoid Yi Pucheng and tell him something important? So he gave me a look, signaling me to calm down?

***

When we reached the foot of a high mountain, it was already pitch black. As far as the eye could see, the entire earth was pitch black, without a single ray of light, like an endless black hole.

I couldn’t see anything at all. Yet Mu Xian and Yi Pucheng walked through the rugged valley as if it were flat ground. But that was normal; one was a half-beast and the other a robot, so naturally they could see in the dark.

I had no choice but to let Mu Xian carry me. Unexpectedly, without my snail-paced pace slowing us down, the two of us actually started running through the mountains and forests. I leaned on Mu Xian’s shoulder, feeling the wind whistling past my ears as he ran, which felt warm and reassuring. However, the thought of our uncertain future and Yi Huli beside me made me uneasy.

“Xiao Mu, there’s a cave ahead,” Yi Pucheng’s calm voice came. “Let’s spend the night there.”

“Okay.” Mu Xian stopped, and I heard him take a deep breath, probably inhaling the scent inside. Then he said, “There’s no one inside; it’s safe. Yi, you go ahead.”

I was speechless—just on the way here, Yi Pucheng said, “Brother, what should I call you? Mu what? I will call you Little Mu. I’m older than you; you can call me Brother Yi.”

Mu Xian naturally didn’t want to call him brother, so he called him “Yi.”

I thought that when they regained their memories, they would probably feel a chill themselves.

Then Yi Pucheng laughed and said, “It seems our eyesight’s about the same. Could it be that I’m also a beastman? Maybe we’ve known each other before.”

“Possibly,” Mu Xian replied calmly.

I remained silent.

Upon entering the cave, we were pleasantly surprised—the cave walls, made of some unknown stone, emitted a soft, pale light, much brighter than the outside. We could clearly see each other’s silhouettes.

The cave was filled with dry, hardened soil, which looked clean, but the temperature was a bit chilly. Mu Xian placed me on a flat piece of ground. As soon as I sat down, I saw Yi Pucheng sitting down directly opposite us, less than a meter away, without any attempt to avoid suspicion. I could even see the lazy look in his eyes.

He was so shrewd! How could I possibly whisper to Mu Xian when he was watching me like that?

At this moment, Yi Pucheng lay down on the ground and said, “I have a head injury, so I will sleep for half the night. You keep watch and wake me up when it’s time to go.”

“Okay.” Mu Xian sat down beside me. Throughout the journey, the two of us discussed any decisions in this quick and concise manner, without a single wasted word.

I was overjoyed, thinking that once Yi Pucheng was asleep, I could talk to Mu Xian.

I lay down to the side. The cave was completely quiet. I pressed myself against the cold ground, feeling a chill all over. After lying there for a while, I felt sleepy, but I couldn’t sleep. So I tossed and turned, glancing at Yi Pucheng every now and then. Although he was lying down, his eyes were wide open, as if he was watching us with great interest.

“Can’t sleep?” Mu Xian’s soft voice suddenly rang out. I looked up and saw him leaning against the cave wall, looking at me with his head turned to the side.

When I saw his cold expression, I realized that he didn’t remember me. I felt wronged and sad and whispered, “You used to hold me while I slept.”

He looked at me silently without saying a word, while Yi Pucheng on the other end chuckled and said, “Miss, there’s a virile single man lying next to you.”

I was extremely embarrassed by what he said, but Mu Xian remained silent. A chill ran through me, and just as I was about to lie down, I saw Mu Xian suddenly straighten his long legs, which had been bent, and then whisper, “Come here.”

A sweet, soft feeling welled up inside me. I climbed up and sat on his lap, snuggling close and wrapping my arms around his neck. I didn’t know if it was just my imagination, but his body seemed to stiffen for a moment; his neck even seemed to freeze, and his face turned straight ahead, completely still.

I couldn’t care less about all that. Maybe the more physical contact I had with him, the sooner he would remember me. With that thought, I raised my head and gently pressed my face against his neck and chin without moving.

We hugged quietly for a while, and his skin seemed to grow warmer and warmer. Suddenly, he lowered his head, his face directly in front of mine. The tip of his nose touched the tip of mine, his dark eyes were inches away, and his breath was on my face.

“Mu Xian…” I couldn’t help but murmur his name, closing my eyes and waiting. His arms around my waist tightened, and he lowered his head to kiss me.

His warm lips covered mine, hesitating slightly before slipping inside and licking my tongue. I reciprocated, a warm current surging through my chest. But after only a short while, he pulled away, then reached out and pinched my chin, his dark eyes gazing at me quietly.

“Did I kiss you like this before?” His voice was slightly hoarse.

“No.” I pressed my lips against his again. “You kissed me harder…”

Before I could finish speaking, his lips were already firmly captured in mine, sucking hard. The kiss felt exactly the same as before. I held him tightly, murmuring softly in his mouth, “Do you remember?”

He didn’t answer but kissed me harder and deeper until we were both breathless. I also felt something slowly hardening beneath me, pressing against my thigh. This reaction made me… very gratified.

It took him a long time to end the kiss, but he still stared intently at me, his erection still throbbing. I leaned on his shoulder and looked up at him, my fingers gently scratching the fine muscles of his chest.

Suddenly, he grabbed my restless fingers and said in a hoarse voice, “After we escape, make love with me. I won’t forget.”

I couldn’t help but laugh; he really hadn’t changed at all. Just as I was about to agree, I heard Yi Pucheng’s somewhat teasing voice: “Good idea. After we get out, I will find some women and sleep with them a few more times; maybe that will help me regain my memory.”

I had completely forgotten he was still there and felt incredibly embarrassed. Mu Xian just smiled slightly and patted my bottom: “Go to sleep first.” Then his hand stopped moving—perhaps he didn’t even realize that it was a habitual gesture he made to express possessiveness towards a certain part of his body.

I nodded but didn’t intend to actually go to sleep. To my surprise, a glance out of the corner of my eye revealed that Yi Pucheng had actually sat up again and said to Mu Xian, “We must find a way to find food tomorrow.”

Mu Xian nodded: “There are plants here, so the chances are pretty good.”

The two began to talk in hushed tones, speculating about their location, the approximate time it would take for a rescue ship to arrive, and how to deal with danger if they encountered any… As I listened, I couldn’t stay awake any longer. Mu Xian’s embrace seemed to have a magical power; my eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and I fell asleep without realizing it.

**

When I woke up again, there was complete silence around me. I found Mu Xian lying beside me—his hands were gripping me like iron clamps, his eyes were tightly closed, and he was clearly fast asleep. My spacesuit was draped over us, covering most of our bodies.

Perhaps because my heart was still in suspense, I probably didn’t sleep for long. It was still pitch black outside the cave, and dawn hadn’t broken yet.

I immediately looked up to find Yi Pucheng, then froze—he was sitting on the open ground not far from where we were, his long legs casually stretched out, one hand resting on his knee, supporting his chin, his eyes clear and bright, staring intently at us. I felt as if he were clearly looking down at me from above.

It seems Mu Xian had already switched shifts with him, and he would be on duty until dawn—I was a little disappointed; I could only wait for another chance.

I lowered my head and stopped looking at him, but perhaps my movement had disturbed Mu Xian. He frowned in his sleep, and his hand, which had been on my waist, suddenly slid down and reached under my skirt, habitually groping along my thigh.

His movements were so exaggerated, I wondered if Yi Pucheng noticed anything amiss. I felt incredibly embarrassed and was about to stop his hand when he had already expertly reached there, inserted half a finger, and then stopped moving.

“Mu Xian…” I gently nudged him, but I knew that although he was usually very alert, he always slept very soundly when he was next to me. Often, even if I woke up and moved around, he would remain motionless. Moreover, after his mental energy was damaged last time, his sleep became even deeper, and now that he was injured again, how could he be easily awakened?

“Hmm…” He snorted, and his hand suddenly withdrew. I breathed a sigh of relief and was about to pat him to comfort him and let him go back to sleep when, instead of returning his hand to my waist, he reached down to his crotch and began to rustle as he unzipped his pants.

His military uniform was already tattered, and he easily found the zipper. Then, with a thrust of his waist, his hot, hard object pressed against my clitoris under my skirt, ready to strike.

Although I was covered by layers of clothing, Yi Pucheng definitely couldn’t see it from his angle. But I was terrified—many times before, when I was asleep, Mu Xian would vaguely hold me and start doing it; sometimes he would move a few times and then fall asleep again, and sometimes he would wake us both up.

Seeing that he had already closed his eyes and was habitually grinding at the entrance, while his other hand began to knead in preparation, I hurriedly whispered, “Mu Xian, I’m on my period today! I can’t!”

His eyes were still closed, but he paused, and his brows furrowed.

“Hmm,” he responded vaguely, his hand moving upwards until his warm palm rested on my stomach, where it remained still.

I breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the spacesuit over him even tighter, covering him more completely. Then, under the fabric, I carefully tucked his erection back into his pants and zipped it up. While I was doing this, Mu Xian was already fast asleep, though his brows were still slightly furrowed.

I watched him quietly for a while, then looked up at Yi Pucheng. I saw him leaning against the cave wall with his hands behind his back, a playful smile on his lips, looking lazy and unpredictable.