Chapter 68 A Kiss

When a person gets used to having superpowers but can't use them, it's like having a healthy hand but not being able to use it—it's very uncomfortable.

Bai Chenzhu carried the unconscious Jiang Ye on his back, walking carefully down the slippery stone steps until he stepped on the stone closest to the shore.

He'd always been an office worker, and his usual exercise consisted of going to the gym occasionally to build up a thin physique. Even after finally awakening his superpower, it hadn't given him a muscular build.

Heaven really does favor one side over the other.

So much so that after walking for a while, Bai Chenzhu wanted to throw the person on his back into the water, but reason stopped him.

That's Jiang Ye.

Looking around, zombies roamed the streets, searching for any food imbued with spiritual energy. The riverbank was lined with stilted bamboo houses, many bearing signs like "XX Boutique Hotel," "XX Guesthouse," or "XX Home," while actual residences were few and far between.

Bai Chenzhu stood on the stone slab closest to the shore, his eyes already fixed on a building with a large sign on the second floor: Riverside Guesthouse.

It is simple and easy to understand.

The reason I chose this place is because it's the only one with an external staircase, allowing direct access from the first floor to the second floor via a spiral staircase. The second-floor balcony is furnished with tables and chairs, and a wooden door and a huge floor-to-ceiling window separate the room from the balcony.

Although I can't use my mental power, using just a little bit shouldn't attract that monster, right?

After hesitating for a few moments, Bai Chenzhu made a decision. He quickly pinched off a small ball of spirit yarn and threw it out.

Sure enough, the nearby zombies were all attracted to him. He seized the opportunity to go ashore, rushed to the stairs, and went up to the second floor.

He put Jiang Ye down and kicked him hard several times. The cracks on the glass grew larger and larger, and finally shattered with a bang, leaving shards of glass all over the floor.

Bai Chenzhu lowered his arm that had been blocking his head, revealing several more scratches on it.

There was no one else in the room. Bai Chenzhu jumped in, grabbed a clothesline pole as a weapon, smashed open the door, and breathed a sigh of relief when he found no zombies outside. He then found another room, carried Jiang Ye inside, and placed him on the double bed.

This one set of movements had already exhausted him so much that he was holding his knees and panting heavily.

He was soaking wet, with only a few candies he habitually carried in his pocket, and the alien translator he had casually stuffed into his pocket yesterday while washing his backpack.

There was nothing usable.

Bai Chenzhu had to go find clothes and a first-aid kit.

By the time he found the dusty first-aid kit, treated his and Jiang Ye's injuries, and then stripped Jiang Ye of his wet clothes and put on a simple bathrobe, it was already completely dark outside.

Bai Chenzhu turned on the light and sat down in the indoor rocking chair to rest. The rocking chair swayed back and forth. He rested his head against the rattan of the chair, looking at the zombies outside the glass window, thinking about what to do next.

Jiang Ye is still unconscious and won't wake up anytime soon. The car is destroyed, and it's quite a distance from here to Deer Cry Mountain. I wonder how Sister Zhuohua and the others are doing, and whether that monster is still in the city…

Bai Chenzhu rubbed his temples, realizing that the situation was getting out of control.

At that moment, his stomach started rumbling.

Apart from eating some bread in the morning, he and Jiang Ye basically didn't eat anything all day.

Without a car, the situation suddenly became tricky, making it difficult to even meet basic physiological needs.

Bai Chenzhu took the clothes pole and went out, sneaking down to the first floor. The first floor had a self-service laundry area, a kitchen, and a lobby. A pair of zombie couples were wandering around the lobby. Hearing the noise, they came looking for the spiritual energy of the living.

Bai Chenzhu ducked as fast as he could to avoid the zombies' fingers, then smashed their heads open with his other hand, splattering red and white matter all over the ground, which reeked of a foul stench.

He dropped the weapon, covered his nose, stepped over the filth, groped his way to the snack cabinet, and returned to his room with a bunch of instant noodles in his arms.

——

The crunching sounds filled his ears. Jiang Ye opened his eyes groggily and saw Bai Chenzhu sitting opposite him, his cheeks puffed out as he ate something, his hair disheveled and his neck damp.

It looks like she just took a shower not long ago.

Crackling sounds.

Jiang Ye moved his hands and felt sore all over, as if he were being crushed by a mountain. He gasped and struggled to get up, only to find that he had been changed into a bathrobe, the most common type of bathrobe in a hotel. He leaned against the bedside table and even had the mood to joke, "What are you eating? You look like a hamster."

Bai Chenzhu stopped chewing, her dark eyes fixed on him. "You're awake?"

"I only found instant noodles. I'm so hungry, I can't wait to boil water. Get up and eat something." He checked Jiang Ye's breathing every now and then, afraid that the other person would turn into a corpse.

Jiang Ye looked up at the ceiling, his attention diverted, "There's even water and electricity here?"

Bai Chenzhu took a bite of a pancake with a blank expression. "The automation level of water and electricity is very high. In theory, if there is no system modulation or failure, it can continue to be supplied normally. The ancient city has not been under siege for long, so of course there is still water and electricity."

Jiang Ye turned to look at him and said out of the blue, "You really do look like a hamster."

Bai Chenzhu: ...

Is it because you think he's eating too loudly?

Jiang Ye laughed twice. "Don't make that face. Aren't my jokes funny?"

Bai Chenzhu took a deep breath, fiercely finished the last bite, and crumpled the packaging bag so hard it creaked. "Jiang Ye, if you keep being naughty, your dinner will become my extra meal."

Jiang Ye's smile vanished instantly. "No!"

He struggled to get up. There were two packets of instant noodles on the bedside table. He simply imitated Bai Chenzhu and hurriedly ate them.

Bai Chenzhu walked over and touched his forehead. "It seems the fever reducer isn't working."

Jiang Ye rummaged through the first-aid kit, saying, "Eating more will help." He then tore open the packaging and tilted his head back to eat it.

Bai Chenzhu's lips twitched, and he snatched the pill from his hand. "Do you want to die? This stuff can't be given in larger doses in the short term!"

"Don't worry, I won't die." Jiang Ye shook his still somewhat dazed head and opened his palm towards him. "I have a strong recovery ability, so increasing the dosage won't be a problem."

"Who said there's no problem?"

"I used to eat it like candy." Jiang Ye put his hands down, propped himself up on the blankets behind him, and said nonchalantly, "I've never seen any problems with it."

Bai Chenzhu exchanged a glance with him, then stuffed the medicine back into the box and confiscated the first-aid kit as well. "That's because nobody cares about you."

Jiang Ye said happily, "Hey, right, now that you're in charge of me, I guess I'm enjoying the benefits of having a wife."

Bai Chenzhu remained silent, only looking down at him, her eyes beneath her tousled hair dark and unfathomable, her tone bitter, "Jiang Ye, don't always say things like that."

Jiang Ye was feeling smug when he heard this, and raised his chin, saying, "You mentioned me before."

"Hmm," Bai Chenzhu murmured, "but you don't seem to have learned your lesson."

Jiang Ye hummed a tune as he looked at him. His sword-like eyebrows were lowered, making him appear somewhat fierce and unruly, as if asking: So what if you don't learn your lesson?

Very arrogant.

Bai Chenzhu put down the medical kit and suddenly knelt on one knee between Jiang Ye's legs on the bed. Jiang Ye was about to step back when Bai Chenzhu cupped his face in his hands.

"Don't move," Bai Chenzhu commanded.

Jiang Yezhen stopped moving, his dark eyes darting around. "What's wrong? You're acting strange."

Bai Chenzhu was so angry she almost laughed.

Who's acting strangely?

He forcefully turned Jiang Ye's face, making him look up at him. "Jiang Ye, I originally thought it didn't matter, we had enough time. But now..."

But now, monsters roam outside, and only the hut retains a warm light.

He suddenly felt that life was really insignificant, that he was just a tiny grain of sand in the era, and that he might die somewhere no one knew at any time.

Or perhaps he was simply too tired to think straight and his eyes were blurry, so for some reason he wanted to be willful for once, regardless of the time or place.

He wanted to share all his troubles and anxieties with Jiang Ye.

Bai Chenzhu grabbed his collar and, as quickly as possible, leaned down and lightly touched his lips with hers.

It was very fast, just a simple skin patch application. Bai Chenzhu only felt a scorching hot spot being applied, and it probably didn't even take two seconds.

But that was enough to deal Jiang Ye a devastating blow.

What? That was a kiss, something humans only do to people they like. Jiang Ye's eyes widened, his soul seemed to leave his body for a moment, and he could only stare blankly at Bai Chenzhu, who was so close to him.

What just happened?

Is this a dream? Is this a dream?

"You, you, you..."

Bai Chenzhu loosened her grip, releasing his collar, and asked casually, "What's wrong with me?"

"You just kissed me, didn't you?" Jiang Ye immediately grabbed his wrist and pressed him for an answer.

"Hmm, are you going to hit me?" Bai Chenzhu curled her lips, shook the hand on her wrist, and looked at him with a half-smile.

Jiang Ye stared at the smile on his lips, her breath catching in her throat. "Don't you like men?"

That's a funny question.

Bai Chenzhu turned his head slightly, pinched Jiang Ye's chin with two fingers, and stared at him intently. Jiang Ye's face was filled with astonishment and disbelief, and Bai Chenzhu asked, "You're not a man?"

"No, what I mean is..." Jiang Ye didn't know what to say. He took a few deep breaths, finally realized something, and stammered, "You...you like me?"

Bai Chenzhu paused, withdrew his hand, his fingers curled up and then unfolded, opened his mouth, then closed it again, unable to utter those few words for a long time.

It's as if once he says it, the fig leaf will be completely torn off, and he will be completely exposed to Jiang Ye.

Finally, he didn't give an answer, but stood with his arms crossed and threw the question back at him, "Guess."

"Guess? Guess what?" Jiang Ye's heart pounded, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the white wall before him, his mind completely blank.

Seeing his reaction, Bai Chenzhu, who had been certain of something, was now uncertain. He frowned and asked, "Jiang Ye, do you dislike men, or do you dislike me?"

“Of course…” Jiang Ye grabbed his wrist without even thinking.

Bai Chenzhu glanced down and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, confidently saying, "Your hands are much faster than your brain."

Jiang Ye abruptly withdrew his hand, and the smile on Bai Chenzhu's face faded.

Jiang Ye suddenly realized that his action of letting go was not right. "Don't be angry."

"What do I have to be angry about?"

Jiang Ye secretly glanced at his expression and saw that Bai Chenzhu's face was indifferent.

Oh no. Alarm bells went off in Jiang Ye's head.

Seeing that he was in such a predicament because of her, Bai Chenzhu stopped pressing him and simply got up to pack her things.

Busy and flustered, he didn't know what to do. He just felt a little awkward being in the same room with Jiang Ye, but it was dangerous outside.

So he put on a cold face, packed up the medical kit, and then went to sweep the floor.

Jiang Ye reached for his broom, "A-Zhu..."

Bai Chenzhu avoided his hand and said casually, "Now that you're awake, go and take care of yourself. You sweated a lot when you had a fever, and you're going to smell bad."

He paused for a moment before saying this, then added, "We'll talk again when you come out."

With just a few words, their usual way of getting along seemed to have returned. Jiang Ye frowned and said, "I don't want to. I'm so tired. I have no energy."

He glanced at Bai Chenzhu, his mouth and mind working in separate ways, "Unless someone helps me wash."

After saying this, he suddenly realized that after what had just happened, how could he say such things to Bai Chenzhu?

Isn't that harassment?

You shut up! What nonsense are you spouting!

He's gotten used to being a smooth talker, and now once he's said something, it's too late to take it back.

It seems not only his hands, but also his mouth is faster than his brain. Bai Chenzhu paused for a moment, looking down at the person who had dug this hole for him, "Are you sure?"

Jiang Ye hesitated, "Uh."

I'm not so sure now.

“If it’s your request.” Bai Chenzhu rolled up his sleeves. Jiang Ye had a bad feeling. The next second, Bai Chenzhu reached out his hand to him.

Bai Chenzhu reached out to Jiang Ye's waist, her stiff forearm aching. This day had been filled with falling off a cliff, swimming, carrying Jiang Ye for a distance, and fighting zombies for food; even an iron man would be exhausted.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of the embarrassing scene of accidentally dropping Jiang Ye, so he turned around and grabbed Jiang Ye's two ankles.

With a thud, Jiang Ye fell onto the wooden floor. It didn't hurt much, but the shock made him dizzy. Before he could recover, Bai Chenzhu grabbed his ankle and dragged him toward the bathroom, as if he were dragging a corpse, simple and brutal.

There was absolutely no romance or warmth to speak of.

"Wait!" Jiang Ye frantically grabbed the floorboards, blurting out, "Is this how you treat someone you like?!"

Bai Chenzhu paused, her face flushed, her expression turned colder, and she tightened her grip, "You're not a girl, do you expect me to carry you like a princess?"

When resistance was futile, Bai Chenzhu dragged him into the bathroom, pulled him up, and threw him into the bathtub. The showerhead was turned on, and cold water sprayed onto Jiang Ye's body.

Jiang Ye shivered from the cold. "Why isn't the hot water on?"

“Only cold water.” Bai Chenzhu squatted down, lifted his shirt with one hand, and used the showerhead to spray water into the water, carefully washing a 'human-shaped object'.

He had truly detached himself from his emotions, pretending that what was in front of him was just a lump of pork.

"Yes, he's just washing pork." Bai Chenzhu kept telling himself, his movements swift and efficient, his mind serene and detached.

Jiang Ye lay sprawled in the bathtub like a dead pig, weakly raising his hand, "A-Zhu, I think I should do it myself."

"Didn't you say you were weak?"

"I rested for a while, and now it's happening again," Jiang Ye said with a bitter face.

Bai Chenzhu glanced at him, a knowing smile appearing on her lips. "There's no hot water, so you'll have to make do. Hurry up, or you'll catch a cold again."

After saying that, he put down the showerhead, took off Jiang Ye's shirt, and knowing he was being considerate enough, he stood up, clapped his hands, and went out, making sure to close the door behind him.

Bai Chenzhu sat back in her rocking chair. A figure could be vaguely seen through the frosted glass of the bathroom. It was Jiang Ye climbing out of the bathtub, and judging from his posture, he was taking off his pants.

His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked away, staring blankly at the mural hanging above his bed.

Thinking back to the chaotic mess they had just made, both of them were confused and at a loss, not knowing what they were doing. Bai Chenzhu found it amusing, and then fell into deep thought.

Hmm...did he really ruin the atmosphere by doing that?

Bai Chenzhu began to regret it again, thinking of no less than ten possible reactions he could have made at the time.

For example, would it be better to support him/her?

The mural above the bed depicts a seaside at sunset. After staring at it for a while, Bai Chenzhu was slightly taken aback, as if his thoughts were being transported back to the seaside of Luozhou.

The tension vanished, and he felt a rare sense of peace in the house surrounded by zombies.

There's only this room.

The house was brightly lit, while it was pitch black outside, and strange noises could be heard from time to time. The mutants here were not just zombies.

The ancient city's night view, once considered unparalleled, is now devoid of lanterns and colorful lights, leaving only an unknown darkness.

Bai Chenzhu realized he had been lost in thought, staring into the darkness outside, and yawned. Why is this guy taking so long to shower?

Bai Chenzhu thought about it casually and then realized: Jiang Ye, this guy who's missing a screw in his head, actually has moments of fear...

He got up to boil water.