Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 329: Chapter 330 - Introducing his dad

Shao sat down beside Jai, wiping the sweat from his face and neck. He was beyond exhausted after searching for Hana for so long, his entire body feeling heavy from the strain. But the moment he sat beside Jai, some of that exhaustion seemed to melt away. Just being close to him gave Shao a strange, refreshing energy that made him feel as though he could keep going a little longer.

Without thinking much about it, he leaned his head against Jai’s shoulder and quietly breathed in his sweet scent. The familiar aroma immediately soothed him, and before he even realized what he was doing, his arm had slipped around Jai’s waist. He gently pulled him closer, content to simply sit there and rest against the person he loved.

Unfortunately, their peaceful moment didn’t last long.

A hand suddenly grabbed Shao’s wrist and yanked his arm away from Jai’s waist.

Shao immediately lifted his head and glared at the intruder.

A middle-aged man stood in front of him, staring down at him with cold, assessing eyes. His imposing presence alone was enough to make it clear that he wasn’t someone who was easily intimidated.

The two stared at each other for several seconds.

Then, at exactly the same time, they spoke.

”Who are you?”

Jai’s face immediately flushed.

He hurriedly pulled away from Shao and scooted closer to the middle-aged man, looking between the two of them awkwardly.

”Um... Shao, this...” He swallowed nervously. ”This is my dad. And Dad, this is Shao...”

Shao froze.

Dad?

His eyes widened as he looked at the man again.

Jai’s father?

So this was the man who had raised Jai.

The realization made Shao sit up straighter.

Shinju’s cold, scrutinizing gaze swept over him, clearly examining him from head to toe. He looked almost like a predator protecting its young, his imposing figure and sharp eyes making it painfully obvious that he was being evaluated.

But he had met plenty of intimidating people during his time in business. He knew how to deal with powerful men, and he certainly wasn’t going to make a bad first impression by showing fear.

He calmly straightened his clothes and gave Shinju a polite smile.

”It’s nice to meet you, Mister...”

”Shinju. I’m General Shinju.”

”Oh.” Shao nodded politely. ”General Shinju. It’s nice to meet you.”

He paused for barely a second before introducing himself with complete honesty.

”I’m Jai’s boyfriend.”

Jai’s entire face instantly turned bright red. ”Oh my God...” He covered his face with both hands and practically shrank into himself.

Shinju’s eyes widened. He slowly turned toward his son.

”Jai...”

Jai refused to look up.

”Is he telling the truth?” Shinju asked, his voice strangely calm. ”Is he your boyfriend?”

Jai’s face burned even hotter. He gave a tiny, embarrassed nod without looking at either of them. ”I... I need to pee.”

And with that, he immediately turned around and hurried away.

”Yunfeng! Can you come with me?”

Yunfeng, who had been watching the entire exchange from nearby, immediately understood what was happening.

He silently followed after Jai, giving his friend the company he clearly needed to escape the disaster he had just walked into.

While the protagonist of this entire debacle had successfully escaped, the other two men were left behind in a tense standoff.

Shinju’s eye twitched as he stared at the young man sitting calmly before him. There was no doubt about it. Shao looked at least five years older than his son, perhaps even a little more.

This man...

Shinju’s expression darkened.

He’s a predator!

He was preying on his innocent young son!

This beast!

The urge to throw a few punches became increasingly difficult to suppress.

Shinju glared at Shao, his voice filled with barely contained fury.

”Do you even know how old he is? He’s a kid! A child!”

Shao remained surprisingly calm under the older man’s furious stare.

”He’s twenty. I’m twenty-four. I don’t think a four-year age difference is that big of a deal.”

He paused before adding earnestly, ”Besides, I know I’ll take good care of him. He’ll be very safe with me, and I’ll make sure he’s happy.”

”I can keep him happy and safe too!” Shinju shot back immediately. ”Why does he need you?!”

Jinju quickly jumped to her feet and grabbed Shinju by the shoulders before his temper could get the better of him.

”Shinju, they’re young and in love,” she whispered, gently patting his back in an attempt to calm him down. ”We really shouldn’t get too involved.”

”I can, and I will!” Shinju insisted, refusing to be pacified. ”My son is a young, innocent kid! He doesn’t even know how the world works. This man simply seduced him. I know it! He’s not gay!”

Jinju took a slow breath.

”My son wasn’t gay either.”

Shinju fell silent for a moment.

Jinju looked up at him seriously, her expression softening.

”But love happens. We can’t choose who our hearts fall for. You know that.”

Her words struck him harder than he expected.

Shinju’s anger slowly began to fade, replaced by a mixture of disbelief and helplessness. He took a deep breath and shook his head.

”I... I can’t accept this.”

His voice sounded almost defeated.

”I can’t.”

Before Jinju could say anything else, Shinju turned around and hurried toward one of the cars. He climbed inside and slammed the door shut behind him.

Jinju stood there for a moment, staring after him.

Then she sighed.

This was going to take a while.

A few minutes later, Jai finally returned with Yunfeng, looking much more relaxed now that he had managed to escape the awkward situation with his father.

His eyes immediately searched the camp until they landed on Shao, who was still sitting near the fire.

Without a second thought, Jai walked over and dropped down beside him, his earlier embarrassment already fading now that he was back where he wanted to be.

”How did it go.,” Jai settling closer to him.

Shao turned toward him with a small smile. ”it went... I think he will accept us soon.”

He had barely gotten comfortable when a stern voice came from behind them.

”Jai.”

His entire body stiffened.

Slowly, Jai turned around and found his father standing beside one of the cars, his arms folded across his chest and his expression leaving absolutely no room for argument.

”Come here.”

Jai blinked. ”Why?”

”Come here,” Shinju repeated, his voice calm but firm.

Jai reluctantly got to his feet and walked over. The moment he was close enough, Shinju pointed toward the car.

”You’re sleeping in there tonight.”

Jai stared at him in disbelief. ”What?”

”You heard me.”

”But why?” Jai asked, his voice rising in protest. ”I always sleep with everyone else.”

Shinju gave him a pointed look before glancing toward Shao, who was still sitting beside the fire. ”You’re sleeping in the car. Away from him.”

Jai’s face immediately turned red. ”Dad!”

”No.”

”But—”

”No.”

Jai stared at him, completely exasperated. ”I’m twenty!”

”And I’m still your father.”

Jai opened his mouth, but no argument came to mind that could possibly defeat that logic. He slowly looked back toward Shao, hoping for at least some support, only to find Shao sitting there with the faintest smile on his face.

”Don’t laugh,” Jai muttered accusingly.

”I wasn’t,” Shao replied, though the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.

”You were.”

That only made Shao’s smile grow a little wider, and Jai gave him an annoyed glare before turning back toward his father. ”Dad, this is ridiculous. You can’t seriously expect me to sleep in the car just because Shao is here.”

Shinju’s expression remained completely unmoved. ”I can, and I do.”

Jai sighed heavily, already realizing there was no way he was going to win this argument. ”Fine...”

He turned around and began walking toward the car with the defeated expression of someone being sent to prison. As he passed Shao, he slowed down just enough to give him a quiet, ”Good night.”

Shao looked up at him warmly. ”Good night.”

Jai climbed into the car, still muttering under his breath about his ridiculous father, while Shinju remained outside for a moment, watching until he was certain his son had actually gone inside. Only then did he turn his attention back toward Shao.

The two men looked at each other across the campfire.

Shao’s expression remained calm and polite, while Shinju’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Neither of them said a word, but the message was obvious.

Shinju was watching him.

And after what he had just learned, he had absolutely no intention of making things easy for the man who had stolen his son’s heart.