Using Jun Tesi’s ability, the two of them smoothly bypassed the military blockade and returned to Tang Xiao’s neighborhood.
Before entering the house, Tang Xiao suddenly noticed that Jun Tesi’s expression seemed a little off. His brows were furrowed, and even his footsteps had slowed.
Tang Xiao stopped as well. “What's wrong?”
Wasn't he just excited and looking forward to this?
“...If your dad and mom don't accept me, will you leave me?” Jun Tesi asked.
“I won’t. I am my own person, and I have my own life,” Tang Xiao answered without hesitation. But then he looked at Jun Tesi. “But I hope to have their blessing because they are important to me.”
A trace of confusion crossed Jun Tesi’s face. At that moment, Tang Xiao took his hand and pulled him forward. “Alright, no matter what happens, I will face it with you. Let’s go.”
They walked up to the door. Tang Xiao took a deep breath, then, under Jun Tesi’s gaze, unlocked the electronic lock and pushed open the door.
“Who... Xiaoxiao?!”
Father Tang was unexpectedly home today. Or rather, ever since Tang Xiao and Tang Chen had left one after the other, he had been staying home to accompany his wife. He hadn't expected to see his youngest son again.
Father Tang looked at Tang Xiao, then at Jun Tesi beside him, momentarily at a loss for words. “You… weren’t you recruited into that project?”
Ah, big brother had been helping him cover things up.
The smile that Tang Xiao had just started to form froze. “...It’s been postponed for now.”
He was going to join the project eventually anyway, so this wasn’t exactly a lie, right?
As he was thinking this, he noticed Mother Tang hurrying over from the dining room. Her eyes were brimming with tears. Tang Xiao pressed his lips together and lowered his head. “I’m sorry for not telling you the truth before.”
“...Come in first and let’s talk.”
Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi sat on one side of the couch, while Father and Mother Tang sat across from them. After a few minutes, they had already composed themselves, but they still eyed the two sitting together with suspicion. “What exactly is going on? And who is this?”
“His name is Jun Tesi. He’s my lover,” Tang Xiao introduced.
Jun Tesi obediently lowered his head. “Hello, Uncle, Auntie.”
“Hm? Lover… Lover?!" Father Tang stared at Jun Tesi’s physique, his eyes widening. Mother Tang had a similar reaction, covering her mouth in shock. “Xiaoxiao, what exactly is going on? Didn't you say you got recruited for a national project and might lose contact for over a decade? Why are you bringing home a lover now?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t tell the truth before. The higher-ups indeed invited me, but I didn’t go because, at the time, Jun Tesi’s fate was unknown. So I chose to search for him instead,” Tang Xiao said with difficulty. “It was extremely dangerous, and I didn’t know what would happen. That’s why I lied… I’m sorry.”
Jun Tesi immediately turned to look at Tang Xiao, but with his head lowered, his expression was hidden.
His mind flashed back to Tang Xiao saying, I was prepared to dedicate my entire life to this.
Facing an unknown and potentially deadly alternate world, Tang Xiao had even prepared himself to be forever separated from his parents.
Father and Mother Tang exchanged looks, their expressions turning serious. Even their gazes toward Jun Tesi became more unfriendly.
“So, you came back this time for…?”
“I want to marry Jun Tesi, so I brought him to meet you,” Tang Xiao said, lifting his head to look directly at his parents. “He is the one I have chosen, the person I want to spend my life with.”
Jun Tesi’s heart trembled. Under the table, he interlocked his fingers with Tang Xiao’s, grasping his hand tightly.
Tang Xiao let him be. Meeting his parents' eyes, he then lowered his gaze, already prepared for a scolding. In this situation, they had every right to be angry.
A heavy silence filled the living room Jun Tesi, who had been sitting upright, gradually hunched over as he lowered his head alongside Tang Xiao.
Father Tang didn’t immediately lash out. Instead, with a complicated expression, he asked, “So… the time when you had an emotional breakdown, locked yourself in your room, and almost gave up on research—was it because of him?”
Jun Tesi was stunned. He turned to look at Tang Xiao, who raised his head and met his father’s gaze. Then, he nodded.
“At the time, I thought… I would never see him again.”
Jun Tesi unconsciously tightened his grip on Tang Xiao’s hand.
So he hadn’t been the only one suffering.
Father and Mother Tang’s expressions darkened—no, they were as black as the bottom of a pot. But Father Tang suppressed his anger at being deceived and continued asking, “So what exactly did you do? You were prepared to never return—did you get hurt?”
“I didn’t. I—”
“I’m sorry. Xiaoxiao risked his life for me—”
“No, you stop talking first,” Father Tang cut Jun Tesi off without hesitation, keeping his gaze fixed on Tang Xiao. “Is this related to your university being trapped in the fog area? Did you travel to another world through it?”
Tang Xiao was visibly shocked. “How do you know?”
“Hah, your dad has been in business for many years. He has some connections,” Father Tang snorted coldly. His arms were crossed as he sized up Jun Tesi with increasing displeasure. “Answer me properly—how did you two meet, and what exactly happened between you?”
Tang Xiao’s reaction had already confirmed everything—meaning the person he brought home was not only the same gender but also from an entirely different world.
Their precious son had risked his life for someone else, almost died, and even lied to them. How could Father and Mother Tang possibly welcome Jun Tesi with open arms?
If it weren’t for Tang Xiao, Jun Tesi would have been thrown out already.
Tang Xiao hesitated for a moment but eventually told his parents about his whereabouts and purpose during this time. Of course, he omitted parts that might be confidential or difficult to explain. He simply said that he had coincidentally discovered a way to connect to another world, where he had been conducting scientific research. It was during that time that he met Jun Tesi. Due to various events and misunderstandings, he had cut off contact with that world, believing he would never see Jun Tesi again.
So, when he learned that Jun Tesi might be in danger, he decided to go after him.
No one who had entered the fog area had ever returned, and Tang Xiao had mentally prepared himself for the possibility that he wouldn’t come back either.
“Scientific research, huh? No wonder you suddenly became so interested in this field and made such rapid progress in such a short time,” Father Tang finally unraveled the lingering doubt in his heart.
To be honest, Tang Xiao's rise in the real world had been so fast that Father Tang had almost gone to check their family genealogy—wondering if they had some hidden scientific genius in their ancestry or if their ancestors' graves had been blessed with divine favor. Now, at last, the mystery was somewhat solved—it made sense if Tang Xiao had already started his research in another world.
“So you two met because of research in a lab?” Mother Tang looked at Jun Tesi. “Is he a researcher like you?”
Tang Xiao: ……
Jun Tesi: ……
The two of them immediately had strange expressions. Tang Xiao glanced at Jun Tesi, knowing that this was a hurdle they couldn't avoid.
He took a deep breath. “No, he's not a researcher.”
Father Tang: “Then what? Administrative staff? Logistics?”
“Neither,” Tang Xiao's heart pounded as he turned to look at Jun Tesi. Jun Tesi also looked at Tang Xiao at that moment, his gaze as gentle as ever, as if no matter what decision Tang Xiao made, he would accept it.
Whether it was to continue hiding the truth or to reveal everything.
So, Tang Xiao tightened his grip on Jun Tesi's arm and said, “He's… an experimental subject.”
Jun Tesi cooperatively transformed his arm into mycelium, letting it dance freely in the air.
This time, it was Father and Mother Tang who had blank expressions.
Tang Xiao lowered his head in silence. In fact, he had considered simply keeping everything a secret from his parents—after all, Jun Tesi could disguise himself very well.
But he had promised to share his world with Jun Tesi, and that meant his family would be Jun Tesi’s family as well.
Covering up the truth might be convenient, but that wasn’t how a real family operated. It would only create another hidden problem.
So, he might as well tell them the truth.
After a long while, Father and Mother Tang finally found their voices again, though their tones had completely changed. “He's… not human?”
“Nope.” Tang Xiao forced a smile. “Technically speaking, he's closer to a mushroom.”
“In the research institute of that other world, my main research subject was him.”
Father and Mother Tang: ……
Honestly, compared to most people of their generation, they were already considered pretty open-minded. Father Tang had initially disapproved of Tang Xiao’s career choice, but after seeing how hard Tang Xiao worked, he gradually accepted it. He even got a premium membership on a certain video platform, secretly using an alternate account to follow Tang Xiao’s livestreams. After watching enough gaming streams, he secretly downloaded Steam too. Of course, all of this was done without his two sons knowing.
Mother Tang, despite being in her forties, still maintained herself as if she were in her twenties. She spent a lot of time surfing the internet, so when Tang Xiao decided to become a game streamer, she never opposed it.
Even when their son brought home a man and introduced him as his lover, they weren’t all that angry. They had mentally prepared themselves for this a long time ago—after all, Tang Xiao had never shown any interest in pretty girls since he was a child. But this wasn’t even a human?! That was just too much! This was all too ridiculous. They were so shocked they were speechless, staring at the tightly held hands of Jun Tesi and Tang Xiao, at a complete loss for words.
If their son had been dating another human, they could have at least tried the classic ‘break them up with a blank check’ strategy—something like ‘leave my son, and I'll give you money.’
But what were they supposed to do with a non-human?! What would a mushroom even need money for? To buy fertilizer?!
Father Tang, dazed and bewildered, asked, “Do you really have to be with him?”
Tang Xiao nodded. “It has to be him.”
Mother Tang: “But he's not even human… Uh, what about his body? What does he eat? And lifespan—wait, no, interspecies reproduction is an issue…”
Wait, something didn’t seem right. They were both male. Even if he were human, they wouldn't be able to have kids, right?
Both of them were confused. Even Mother Tang wasn’t sure what she was asking anymore. When it came to human relationships, she could at least use ‘incompatible family backgrounds’ as an argument, but for non-human relationships? There didn’t even need to be a reason!
Jun Tesi, recalling all the ‘meet the parents’ guides he had stayed up reading (mostly posts about relationship struggles), seriously replied, “Physically, we are completely compatible, Auntie and Uncle. You don’t need to worry. I can adjust my body freely, including different shapes and colors. I will definitely make Xiaoxiao happy.”
As he spoke, he turned himself red.
Father and Mother Tang: ……
Tang Xiao: That’s completely unnecessary.
“My food source is just Xiao Xiao; that's enough for me. If needed, I can hunt on my own,” Jun Tesi finally had a chance to showcase his advantages and eagerly introduced himself. “As for reproduction, I can have children!”
Tang Xiao couldn't help but curse. “You can seriously have kids?!”
“Of course, Xiaoxiao.” Jun Tesi looked confident—confidence built after reading countless posts about family conflicts and childbirth. “I can reproduce asexually. You can have as many children as you want. Though, ideally, we should go with cytoplasmic fusion.”
Tang Xiao quickly covered Jun Xisi’s mouth, his face turning red from embarrassment. “Alright, alright! I get it! Shut up now!”
“Mmm—wait, there's one more important thing—” Jun Tesi's muffled voice came through. He took the opportunity to sneakily lick Tang Xiao’s palm, making Tang Xiao jolt and snatch his hand away. Jun Tesi seized the moment and finally said, “Lifespan… I can indeed live for a very long time.”
His golden eyes met Tang Xiao’s dark ones in midair, and he softly added, “But I don’t want to live alone.”
Tang Xiao's eyes slowly widened. Jun Tesi held Tang Xiao’s hand tightly and solemnly declared, “If that day ever comes… then let’s go together.”
Just like those lovers who embraced each other in eternal rest.
Jun Tesi silently added in his heart—this was merely a belated lovers’ suicide pact.
Tang Xiao had already agreed. He had agreed.
With him there, death and the end didn’t seem so frightening anymore.
Jun Tesi was serious—Tang Xiao could tell. Even Father and Mother Tang, as bystanders, could see the deep and unwavering obsession in his solemn gaze.
It made the words of resistance and rejection they had prepared get stuck in their throats, leaving them momentarily unable to voice them.
Lovers’ suicide. Even in the human world, it was an unbearably heavy word.
In other words, Jun Tesi was declaring that not even death could separate them—so what obstacle could possibly stand between them now?
Jun Tesi reluctantly tore his gaze away from Tang Xiao and looked toward Father and Mother Tang, who wore complicated expressions. He solemnly said, “Please entrust Tang Xiao to me. I want to marry him, and I will protect him for a lifetime.”
The family meeting ended inconclusively. In the end, Father and Mother Tang still didn’t express a clear stance, using silence as their form of rejection.
They simply said they wanted to talk to Tang Xiao alone.
Jun Tesi nodded in understanding and quietly left the villa, leaving the space for the three of them.
Once Jun Tesi was gone, Tang Xiao was immediately bombarded with questions from his parents. He answered as best he could but vaguely glossed over the fact that he had once faked his own death. He merely said he had encountered an opportunity and happened to do quite well.
“So, when you disappeared before, you went to that world?” Father Tang sighed. “We never dared to ask you because we were afraid it would bring up painful memories. But no matter what, you were gone for so many days without a trace—we almost called the police.”
Tang Xiao froze. Were they talking about the time before his staged death, when he had been staying in the game world? He had indeed logged in continuously for two or three days without logging out, only disconnecting briefly for necessary physiological needs. He hadn’t even checked his phone.
But he had been in his rented apartment the whole time—how was that considered missing?
“We couldn’t find you anywhere, and your phone wouldn’t connect.” Father Tang sighed again. “We thought something terrible had happened to you. Turns out, you were just in another world falling in love.”
In reality, he had been preparing to fake his death. But of course, Tang Xiao wouldn’t dare to say that—he could only remain silent.
Father Tang: “Do you really have to be with him?”
“That’s right, Xiaoxiao, do you really have to choose him?” Mother Tang couldn’t help but ask. “Even people from different countries face all kinds of difficulties when they’re together—let alone you two.”
And besides, he had even spoken of a lovers’ suicide pact.
This love was too deep, too heavy—they were worried Tang Xiao would get hurt in the process.
“Yes, I’ve made up my mind.” Tang Xiao said seriously, “I’m certain. I love him.”
“This isn’t like you at all. Are you sure you haven’t been brainwashed? We don’t understand the methods of non-humans,” Father Tang said, his brows tightly furrowed. “Does your brother… know about this?”
“He does,” Tang Xiao said. He understood the implication in Father Tang’s words, but he simply replied, “I’m fine. I haven’t been brainwashed… and my brother has accepted it.”
Well, maybe not exactly accepted it—more like he had been so shocked after learning Jun Tesi’s identity that he had no choice but to accept it.
Tang Xiao silently added that in his heart.
Father and Mother Tang both fell silent. They didn’t say anything more, but their avoidance of the topic still showed how difficult it was for them to accept.
“Let’s wait until your brother comes back. We’ll hold another family meeting then.”
“Alright.”
Tang Xiao sighed softly. He had known from the start that getting his parents to accept this wouldn’t be easy.
That was fine—he had already prepared for a long battle.
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