SA | Chapter 32

The Journey’s End

The helicopter landed in the city center of Anchorage. According to the original plan, Zhang Li was supposed to head back right after landing, but none of them brought it up.

It wasn’t until they walked out of the airport and stood by the roadside waiting for a car that Gu Deng finally looked up and said, “You should go back.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“Huh?” Gu Deng was taken aback.

Zhang Li flagged down a taxi and said, “Judy and Smith both have work to do. I found another pilot, but he won’t be able to take me until tomorrow.”

They first went to Smith’s house to drop off their luggage, took a short rest, and then headed to the supermarket for their final supplies. Gu Deng was only supposed to accompany them, but as soon as he entered the supermarket, his shopping urge kicked in, and he ended up buying a bunch of stuff for himself.

After dinner, Gu Deng took a shower and lay on the bed, playing with his phone while wearing a face mask. Social media was as lively as ever, filled with all kinds of information and videos.

When he was out in the wild with no internet, no bed, and not even a hot shower, he dreamed of returning to this kind of life. But now that he was actually lying on a bed playing with his phone, he suddenly found it all meaningless.

Closing his eyes, Gu Deng’s mind drifted to the Alaskan wilderness, the sunset painting the snowy mountains red, and reindeer crossing the grasslands. Thinking of this, he suddenly jumped out of bed, took off his face mask, and walked out.

Downstairs, he could hear Ali and Cookie playing with a ball. Gu Deng took a deep breath, knocked on Zhang Li’s door, and asked, “Can I come in?”

“Come in.”

Gu Deng turned the doorknob. Zhang Li was sitting on the bed in black boxer briefs, packing his things, exuding a strong masculine aura.

Gu Deng glanced at the luggage and asked, “Where are the reindeer now?”

Zhang Li took out a tablet and opened a dynamic map to explain, “The tagged reindeer are currently in this area. They’re expected to reach their destination in about ten days.”

“Oh.” Gu Deng nodded and asked, “So this is your last supply run?”

Zhang Li suddenly looked up at him.

Gu Deng thought his intentions had been seen through and was about to speak when Zhang Li leaned in and kissed him.

Gu Deng had just showered, wearing new silk pajamas, with a face mask applied and body lotion on, exuding a soft fragrance. Zhang Li held Gu Deng’s neck and bit his wet, soft lips.

Gu Deng’s body trembled slightly. The silk pajamas slipped in Zhang Li’s palm, revealing a large expanse of smooth shoulder and neck, with faint traces of muscle lines visible.

Zhang Li’s other hand gripped Gu Deng’s waist, pulling him to sit sideways on his lap. The hard black boxer briefs pressed against the soft silk pajamas, and at that moment of contact, both of them shivered involuntarily.

The sensation was so strange, a mix of pleasure and numbness, making Gu Deng unable to help but move his waist, only to be pressed back by Zhang Li. Gu Deng closed his eyes and made a sound. Zhang Li took the opportunity to flip him onto the bed, his large hand slipping inside the soft silk pajamas.

In an instant, Gu Deng’s mind went blank. He should have wanted to stop, but he couldn’t find the right words. His body betrayed his rationality, instinctively seeking pleasure.

It wasn’t until Zhang Li tugged at his pajama bottoms that Gu Deng, in a surge of excitement, finally came to his senses, grabbing Zhang Li’s wrist and gasping, “Stop, stop for a moment…”

Zhang Li lifted his head, his eyes red. If he had tried to control himself before, he wasn’t pretending anymore. He looked at Gu Deng with a predatory gaze, exuding a strong animalistic aura.

“Not tonight,” Gu Deng said firmly, pushing Zhang Li away. “I want to go with you.”

Zhang Li’s muscles tensed, his expression as if he could pounce and tear someone apart at any moment. But upon hearing this, he forcibly stopped all his actions.

Zhang Li took a deep breath, sat up on the edge of the bed, and asked, “Do you want to go?”

“I do,” Gu Deng nodded, then asked uncertainly, “Do you think I can make it?”

As he spoke, Gu Deng’s face was bathed in warm light, his features incredibly delicate and beautiful. He looked so pampered, as if he was born to be adorned with jewels and sink into a soft bed.

If Zhang Li hadn’t traveled with him, hadn’t seen Gu Deng break down in tears and quickly pull himself together, hadn’t heard him say, “I won’t commit suicide” at the foot of the snowy mountain, he might have thought Gu Deng was just that pampered.

But in Zhang Li’s heart, Gu Deng was more like the Siberian tit he had always been searching for—seemingly fragile and delicate, yet able to survive the Arctic’s minus 50-degree winter.

Zhang Li leaned down and gave Gu Deng a long kiss, then looked up and said, “If you want to go, then we’ll go together.”

Gu Deng was still a bit uneasy and asked, “Will it delay your schedule?”

Zhang Li was silent for a moment, then said, “My brother will understand.”

Gu Deng: “…”

What a hell-level joke.

Gu Deng couldn’t help but laugh, happily going back to pack his luggage.

The next morning, they boarded a plane to the Arctic, ready to witness the final leg of the reindeer migration. The itinerary had been slightly adjusted; they would land ahead of the reindeer herd, aiming to reach the destination at the same time.

Without skis and thick sleeping bags, their backpacks felt lighter. Gu Deng carried a hiking backpack, walking briskly across the spring tundra.

Along the way, the snow melted, new grass sprouted, gray jays chirped, and the Arctic spring arrived with lively enthusiasm.

They didn’t encounter any reindeer on the first day. It wasn’t until noon on the second day, when a large river blocked their path and they decided to stop for lunch, that they saw the shadow of reindeer on a distant hill.

By this time, they were less than 30 kilometers from their destination. The satellite map showed that once they crossed the river, climbed the low hill on the other side, and hiked another 20 kilometers, they would reach the plains rich with tussock grass.

After lunch, they packed up to cross the river. Gu Deng’s long-prepared inflatable kayak finally came in handy.

As Gu Deng inflated the kayak, he looked up and asked Zhang Li, “Are you really going to swim across?”

Under the spring sun, Zhang Li was down to just his underwear, stretching his body as he said, “I’m ready.”

Gu Deng: “…”

Seeing Zhang Li’s eager expression, Gu Deng reasonably suspected that Zhang Li didn’t bring a kayak not because it was heavy, but because he simply wanted to play in the water.

Gu Deng couldn’t understand Zhang Li’s thirst for adventure, so he tied the two hiking backpacks to the boat and slowly paddled towards the shore… or so he planned. But the river ahead was wide and fast, and he had to exert all his strength to move forward.

Rowing was difficult enough, let alone swimming. Gu Deng was a bit worried and looked back to see Zhang Li following closely behind, swimming skillfully, which finally put his mind at ease.

When Gu Deng paddled ashore, Zhang Li also reached the bank, standing by the river to clean the remaining mud and sand from his body. His tight, tanned skin glistened beautifully in the sunlight after being wetted by the river. He was only wearing white underwear while swimming, which became semi-transparent after getting wet, clinging to his well-defined waist and abdomen.

It wasn’t until Zhang Li bent down to take off his underwear that Gu Deng finally looked away, muttering softly, “Calling you a donkey isn’t wrong.”

Zhang Li turned around after dressing, his black tight-fitting clothes hugging his muscular frame. “What did you say?”

Gu Deng stared at Zhang Li for two seconds, then beckoned, “Come here.”

Zhang Li walked over to him.

Gu Deng said again, “Turn around.”

Zhang Li turned his back to Gu Deng.

“I just said…” Gu Deng leaned in close to Zhang Li’s ear and then extended his right hand.

With a crisp “smack,” Zhang Li froze, his expression momentarily blank.

Gu Deng, shocked by the sensation, smacked twice more until Zhang Li grabbed his wrist. Gu Deng ducked under Zhang Li’s arm and ran away, commenting as he ran, “You must have done a lot of squats, your butt is so perky… ah!”

Zhang Li caught him and pinned him to the grass.

The river babbled, and a string of unknown yellow flowers bloomed on the nearby grass. Spring had arrived.

Because of this little episode, both of them were a bit restless when setting up camp that night.

Which was normal, after all, spring had arrived!

Thinking this, Gu Deng turned over to touch Zhang Li’s chest muscles. Unexpectedly, as soon as he placed his hand, it was immediately pinned down.

Gu Deng grumbled unhappily, “Can’t I even touch?”

Zhang Li took a deep breath, pushing Gu Deng’s hand away, “Don’t tease unless you want me to take you right here.”

“Sigh,” Gu Deng retracted his hand sheepishly, deliberately saying loudly, “Seeing but not getting, I shouldn’t have come.”

Just as he finished speaking, Zhang Li suddenly knelt up, unzipping his sleeping bag with a swift motion. Before Gu Deng could react, Zhang Li quickly pulled down his shorts and buried his head.

Gu Deng: ?

“Wait, what are you doing?” Gu Deng bent his waist, pressing Zhang Li’s head, incredulous, “What are you doing?”

Zhang Li half-kneeled, looking up with determined eyes.

“No, no need,” Gu Deng felt a bit embarrassed and quickly added, “I was just joking earlier, not angry or complaining about you. And I’m not in a hurry to do that either!”

He immediately raised his voice, earnestly adding, “Really, I was just joking, not in a hurry at all!”

“But I want to.” Zhang Li said, burying his head again.

Gu Deng had never done such a thing before and almost immediately sprang up, only to be pressed back down by Zhang Li.

In the middle of the night, with bright light still shining on the tent, Gu Deng felt a tingling pleasure, yet couldn’t help but struggle with his rationality.

It was too much. The tent was so small they could barely turn around. Was it really necessary to be so extreme? Whatever, extreme it is then. The animals outside don’t even have a tent. Gu Deng closed his eyes, giving up the struggle.

Unfortunately, they both overestimated the space in the tent. Although they had a double tent, it was cramped for two men lying flat, let alone performing such high-difficulty actions.

Someone moved too much, and with a loud “whoosh,” Gu Deng incredulously looked up—the tent had collapsed.

Zhang Li: “…”

Gu Deng: “…”

After setting up the tent again, both of them were a bit silent.

Gu Deng: “Maybe we should wait until we get back.”

Zhang Li: “…Okay.”

So, they spent four days in abstinence and finally reached the plains rich with tussock grass.

Before reaching the destination, Gu Deng had beautiful expectations for the place. Blue skies, white clouds, blue lake waters, and cotton-like tussock grass by the shore—it must be extremely romantic. He had already started imagining bathing by the lake with Zhang Li, maybe even doing some things not suitable for children.

Until he encountered the omnipresent mosquito army.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Mosquitoes were everywhere. It’s no exaggeration to say that almost every moment, Gu Deng could hear the sound of mosquitoes.

The dense swarm of mosquitoes was like an overwhelming army. Even though they wore fully armed mosquito-proof clothing and sprayed layer upon layer of repellent, they couldn’t completely fend off the mosquitoes. After all, people still had to eat, pee, and poop… Gu Deng learned this painful lesson the hard way.

Upon reaching the destination, they set up camp by the lake with tussock grass. When Gu Deng went to the bathroom, he ignored Zhang Li’s advice and took off his mosquito-proof clothing, resulting in several big bites on his jj and butt, which were itchy and painful.

But it was too embarrassing, so Gu Deng didn’t dare tell Zhang Li. He waited until Zhang Li went out to shoot, then secretly applied medicine in the tent. But then something worse happened. Whatever medicine Zhang Li had, it was spicy when applied, turning him into a burning bird, with his front and back both burning.

Gu Deng had never suffered like this in his life. Feeling both angry and pitiful, he curled up in his sleeping bag, feeling incredibly wronged.

When Zhang Li returned, he saw Gu Deng curled up like a silkworm cocoon in the sleeping bag, with his face covered by a fleece jacket, sealing himself tightly.

“Are you asleep?”

“No.” Gu Deng replied through the clothes, his voice muffled.

The voice sounded off, so Zhang Li lifted the jacket to see Gu Deng’s eyes, nose, and cheeks all red, looking extremely pitiful.

“What happened?” Zhang Li touched his forehead, finding no fever.

Gu Deng’s voice was a bit aggrieved, “I got bitten by mosquitoes.”

Zhang Li: “Where did they bite you? Did you apply medicine?”

Gu Deng nodded slightly, “I did.”

Zhang Li kissed Gu Deng’s cheek, softening his voice, “I contacted the pilot. We’ll go back tomorrow.”

“Aren’t you staying a bit longer?” Gu Deng looked up at him, maintaining a creator’s rigor, “Did you get enough footage?”

“Yes, staying here would disturb the reindeer’s birthing. And…” Zhang Li’s thumb brushed Gu Deng’s lower lip, his voice deep, “I want to go back early.”

Gu Deng was a bit conflicted but still spoke the truth, “But I have to abstain for a few days.”

They currently had no conflicts, and Zhang Li hadn’t noticed any coldness from Gu Deng, so he naturally asked, “Why?”

Gu Deng pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Zhang Li deliberately asked, “Do you regret being with me?”

“I don’t!” Gu Deng immediately retorted.

Zhang Li: “Then why?”

Gu Deng felt a bit embarrassed and said softly, “Because I got bitten by mosquitoes.”

Zhang Li was even more confused.

Gu Deng shrank in his sleeping bag and added softly, “I got bitten on my jj…”

Zhang Li froze, his face showing an expression he thought he’d never have in his life.

“You got bitten there?” he asked incredulously.

“If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.” Gu Deng went all out, pulling down his pants. In the process, he touched the mosquito bite and added a bit pitifully, “Help me see if it’s swollen.”

“Ahem…” Zhang Li glanced quickly and then averted his eyes, trying hard to control his expression, “It looks okay.”

Gu Deng whimpered, “But it itches and hurts.”

Zhang Li: “Should I rub it for you?”

Gu Deng hesitated for two seconds, “Will it help?”

“Not sure,” Zhang Li said, “but we can try.”

Gu Deng steeled himself, closing his eyes, “Let’s try then.”

Zhang Li extended his right hand, and little Gu Deng lay softly in his palm, warm and slightly pulsating, like a fragile fledgling.

“Does it hurt?” Zhang Li gently squeezed.

Gu Deng shook his head, “Just a little, but it’s really itchy.”

After a while, he said pitifully, “But it got bigger.”

“Don’t think about it then.” Zhang Li ignored his hint, coldly withdrawing his hand, “We’ll talk when you’re better.”

Gu Deng: “…”

Staying cooped up in the tent was too hard to bear, so Gu Deng borrowed a camera from Zhang Li, planning to take some pictures of the nearby scenery.

Film cameras could only take pictures but not view them, which didn’t interest Gu Deng much. He borrowed Zhang Li’s telephoto digital camera, which was heavy like a weight with the body and lens. Gu Deng’s arms got tired after a while, and he lost interest in taking photos, so he wandered around with just his phone.

It was reindeer molting season, and besides mosquitoes, there was fur in the air. Gu Deng felt a bit allergic, but it was still within tolerable limits, so he continued wandering.

Ahead, a doe was giving birth, and Gu Deng watched from a distance, not getting too close. Zhang Li had told him that does were very sensitive before and after giving birth and could easily become aggressive. To Gu Deng’s surprise, the birthing process was very quick, with the calf dropping from the mother with a frightening weight and able to walk and run freely within an hour.

The newborn calf was clumsy and lively, incredibly cute. But Gu Deng didn’t approach, watching for a while before leaving.

It was still all reindeer here, countless reindeer scattered across the plains. No matter which direction he looked, he saw reindeer. The molting reindeer weren’t particularly pretty, and Gu Deng grew a bit aesthetically fatigued, so he sat by the lake to daydream.

Some reindeer came to the lake to drink, maintaining a respectful distance from Gu Deng.

After a while, Gu Deng felt someone tap his shoulder.

He thought it was Zhang Li and said without turning, “Are you done shooting?”

“Zhang Li” didn’t answer, instead poking his butt.

Gu Deng got a bit angry. Zhang Li knew he couldn’t do anything now, so why tease him? He turned around angrily, only to meet a pair of dark eyes. A newly born fawn was curiously nudging his body with its head.

“Oh, it’s a fawn. Baby, why did you come over?” Gu Deng bent down, his voice soft and gentle.

The fawn didn’t answer, curiously sniffing Gu Deng’s clothes, tasting the saltiness, then disdainfully spitting it out.

Gu Deng didn’t dodge, instead using his phone to record a video, narrating with a troubled voice, “I know people shouldn’t interact with wild animals, but what can you do when wild animals insist on approaching you?”

More reindeer came to the lake to drink, and Gu Deng got up, waving goodbye to the fawn. Unexpectedly, the fawn followed him as soon as he took a step. At first, Gu Deng was delighted, but after the fawn followed him for dozens of meters, he finally realized something was wrong.

Ten minutes later, Gu Deng and Zhang Li stood with arms crossed, analyzing the fawn’s prospects.

“Lost?”

“Seems like it.”

“How did it get lost again?”

“There are too many. There must be at least a hundred thousand deer on this grassland.”

“So what do we do?”

“Wait.”

Luckily, they had good luck this time. After half an hour, the fawn reunited with a doe under their watchful eyes and started nursing again. The fawn sneezed while nursing, also bitten by mosquitoes.

Gu Deng: “…”

Is there no end to this?

Indeed, there wasn’t. After dinner, as Gu Deng and Zhang Li lay in the tent, the buzzing of mosquitoes lingered in their ears.

“Still itchy?”

“Not anymore.”

“Then sleep.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

After a while, the tent was filled with sound again.

“Zhang Li, are you asleep?”

“No.”

“Can you chat with me?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I don’t know, just feeling a bit reluctant.”

“Me too.”

“Do you think the oil field development will succeed? Will it affect the reindeer migration?”

“There will definitely be an impact, but I think the reindeer will adapt to a new route.”

“I think so too. They’re amazing.”

After a while, Gu Deng yawned and said, “I’m too sleepy. I’m going to sleep.”

“Goodnight.”

“Mm, goodnight…”

After Gu Deng fell asleep, Zhang Li kept his eyes open. He turned his head towards Gu Deng, deeply gazing at him in the almost eternal daylight.