19. Jealousy

The ecstasy of reunion was like a raging tsunami, briefly but violently washing away the fatigue, worry, and despair that had accumulated in everyone's hearts for days. However, when the initial, almost overwhelming wave of excitement receded slightly, revealing the washed-out beach of reality, a more complex, subtle, and sharp-edged atmosphere began to silently permeate and ferment in the air.

A Yan was the first to rush to Su Lin. Using almost brute force, he yanked Su Lin away from the pale, unfamiliar young man clinging to him, his movements rough and even tinged with an undeniable sense of dominance. He gripped Su Lin's shoulders tightly, examining him up and down, over and over, as if examining a precious, fragile object he had lost and then recovered. His bloodshot eyes were filled with lingering fear and palpitations, and his voice was hoarse and cracked with extreme excitement and heavy breathing.

"Su Lin! Are you okay?! Ah? Are you hurt anywhere? Did those damn bastards do anything to you?! Do you know that we...we are going fucking crazy!!" His fingers tightened unconsciously, almost embedding into Su Lin's arm bones, and the violent trembling was clearly transmitted through the contact.

His movements were so large that they inevitably affected the wounds on Su Lin's body, which hadn't yet fully healed and were only barely stabilized by his supernatural powers. A sharp stinging pain came, and Su Lin couldn't help but let out a soft "hiss," his delicate brows furrowed.

"Ayan! Be gentle!" Mu Lin's voice echoed in time, gentle yet tinged with undeniable strength. He stepped forward, his long, bony hand seemingly gentle, yet precise and firm, he released Ayan's somewhat uncontrolled grip. He then carefully grasped Su Lin's other arm. His fingertips seemingly inadvertently rested on Su Lin's wrist, a subtle, cooling energy penetrating, sensing his true state. Those eyes, always filled with a smile as gentle as spring water in March, were now filled with a deep sense of relief at having been lost and a hint of barely concealed fear after surviving a catastrophe. Like the finest net, his gaze enveloped Su Lin from head to toe. "I'm glad you're okay, I'm glad you're okay... Finding you is truly..." He trailed off, only slightly tightening his grip on Su Lin, his words speaking volumes.

Lei Qing didn't move forward. He stood a few steps away, like a stabilizing force, a silent mountain. But his gaze, usually as cool and sharp as a hawk's, now possessed a weight and warmth, locked on Su Lin. He scrutinized him from head to toe, every hair and every wrinkle in his clothing, carefully and repeatedly examining him. After confirming that, aside from his obvious dishevelled appearance, his weightlessness, and the weariness that etched his brow, he bore no life-threatening injuries, his jawline, taut as hard as cold stone, relaxed imperceptibly, and he let out a barely audible breath of suppressed air. However, as his sharp gaze swept over Su Lin's coat, which was clearly too large and made of coarse fabric, and certainly not belonging to anyone in their group, his eyes darkened imperceptibly, a trace of cold displeasure creeping through them like an undercurrent.

Surrounded by the three of them, Su Lin felt like the eye of a storm, a momentary calm. Feeling their overflowing, almost tangible concern, their nervousness, their deep, ocean-like emotions, the strength and loneliness he'd forced himself to maintain for days seemed to find a safe haven. Warmth welled up in his heart, his nose felt uncontrollably sore, his eyes burned, and his voice choked. "I'm fine...really, just minor injuries, nothing serious. What about you? You're all okay, right? That day..." He recalled the devastating scene of the canyon collapse, and with lingering fear, he anxiously scanned the three of them, searching for any possible injuries.

"We're fine!" Ah Yan rushed to answer, his voice loud and clear, trying to dispel Su Lin's worries. He patted his sturdy chest, making a dull sound, and then, as if finally noticing the completely ignored, extremely uneasy, almost huddled-up boy next to him. His brows immediately twisted into knots, and the flush of excitement on his face due to the reunion quickly faded, replaced by an undisguised, highly aggressive vigilance and interrogation. His tone instantly plummeted from blazing concern to an icy cold, filled with suspicion and rejection:

"Who is this kid?" These four short words were like ice chips squeezed out from between teeth.

Swish, swish, swish!

Three gazes, each carrying a distinct yet equally oppressive meaning, instantly focused on Xingchen like searchlights. Lei Qing's was a cold scrutiny and assessment, as if he wanted to dissect him thoroughly; A Yan's was undisguised hostility and rejection, like a beast guarding its territory upon seeing an intruder; Mu Lin's was relatively gentle, but beneath that gentleness lay a deep inquiry and a subtle detachment.

Stardust froze under those three, tangible gazes, as if bound by invisible ropes. Even breathing became difficult. He could clearly sense the undisguised hostility and... an almost instinctive rejection in their gazes, especially from the red-haired man with eyes as scorching as burning magma and the silent man whose mere presence emanated a suffocating oppression. Only the blue-haired man with a gentle demeanor was slightly more measured, yet his gaze also held a penetrating scrutiny that seemed to see through any disguise, leaving him exposed.

A surge of fear and self-doubt washed over him like a tide. He subconsciously wanted to hide behind Su Lin, seeking the only familiar shelter that could bring him a sense of security. This small action, laced with complete dependence and trust, instantly ignited the explosive of possessiveness in A Yan's heart.

"Hey! You kid..." A Yan glared and became furious. He reached out to grab Xingchen's thin arm and pull him away from Su Lin.

Su Lin hurriedly explained, trying to ease the tense atmosphere: "His name is Xingchen, and I met him on the road. He was seriously injured and was chased by zombies, and I..." He briefly recounted how he rescued Xingchen from the swarm of zombies, and how they traveled together and supported each other afterwards. However, out of caution and protection, he subconsciously concealed Xingchen's horrifying ability that could bring disaster, and only emphasized that he was brave, had helped him a lot on the road, and was a reliable companion.

However, this well-intentioned explanation not only failed to dispel the three people's doubts, but instead made the atmosphere even more subtle and tense.

A strange kid with unknown origins? Su Lin not only saved him, but also brought him along? And even... they seemed quite close? A Yan's eyes practically spit fire as he glared at Xingchen fiercely, as if he were a thief so audacious he had stolen his most precious treasure. His fists clenched until they crackled. That unsightly jacket was now even more glaring in his eyes.

The gentle smile on Mu Lin's face faded, like ripples on water after a stone is dropped. He studied Xingchen, his gaze lingering for a moment on his overly pale face, frail frame, and large eyes etched with anxiety and stubbornness. His tone remained gentle as a spring breeze, but his questions cut to the heart like a scalpel. "Xingchen? An interesting name. Thank you for taking care of Su Lin all this time." He nodded slightly, courteous yet with an invisible sense of distance. "But it's so dangerous out there. How did you manage to survive all by yourself? And you don't look very old." He keenly sensed that while the young man looked frail and frightened, like a frightened young animal, there seemed to be something hidden deep in his eyes. It wasn't just fear for them, but also an indescribable melancholy and stubbornness that belied his age.

Lei Qing said nothing, but his cold, scrutinizing gaze never left Xingchen, as if analyzing every subtle expression and every pulse of his heart. Su Lin's coat, which didn't belong to him, and the boy's obvious, complete dependence on him, all served to stir up a strange feeling of displeasure, creeping like a vine.

Xingchen's heart tightened at Mu Lin's seemingly gentle, yet incisive, question, as if gripped by an invisible hand. He subconsciously glanced at Su Lin, seeking guidance and courage. Only after receiving an encouraging, reassuring look did he lower his head and whisper a soft, mosquito-like response, tinged with barely concealed inferiority and embarrassment: "I... I was with another team... and then... we got separated... and I almost died. It was Brother Su Lin who saved me..." He omitted the cruel details of his ruthless abandonment, feeling only that exposing his shortcomings before these men, so powerful they suffocated him, as if they were from another world, was an immensely embarrassing torture.

"Oh? Really?" A Yan crossed his arms and sneered. His tone was sour enough to pickle a jar of cucumbers. The sarcasm and contempt in his words almost solidified into substance. "Then your luck is really good. You just happened to meet our Su Lin, huh? You didn't cause us Su Lin any trouble along the way? Didn't slow down? Didn't waste precious food and water?" He emphasized the word "we" especially, as if he was hammering down the mark of ownership with a sledgehammer.

Xingchen's face flushed instantly, not out of shyness but out of intense humiliation and anger. He could sense the undisguised contempt and rejection in the other person's words, as if he were a worthless piece of trash. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. Summoning all the courage in his chest, he raised his head and met A Yan's hostile gaze. His voice, though still trembling, carried the ferocity and stubbornness of a cornered animal:

"I'm not causing any trouble! I will help Brother Su Lin keep watch, find things, and collect firewood! I... I eat very little! I can also..." He wanted to say that he would use his ability to help, but when he remembered Su Lin's instructions, he swallowed the words back and just stared at A Yan stubbornly, his chest heaving violently.

"Standing guard? Looking for something?" A Yan raised his eyebrows exaggeratedly and interrupted him, his tone full of disdain, "With your small body? You look like you will fall down if the wind blows? If you really encounter danger, won't our Su Lin have to protect you? It's a waste of his strength and energy!" He took a step forward, almost using his height and powerful aura to oppress Xingchen, and the shadow he cast completely enveloped the young man, "I tell you kid, Su Lin is ours! Now we have found him, and there is nothing for you to do! You'd better go back to where you came from! Don't be an eyesore here!" These words were spoken extremely impolitely, even harshly, with the meaning of ruthless expulsion.

"Ayan!" Su Lin couldn't help but speak out to stop her, his brows furrowed tightly, his face showing disapproval. He knew Ayan was worried about him and cared about him, but this was too much, completely disregarding a young man's self-esteem and feelings.

Xingchen's eyes instantly turned red at A Yan's words, and tears welled up in his eyes, but he bit his lips tightly to prevent the tears from falling. Instead, he looked up suddenly, with a look of despair and madness in his eyes, and retorted loudly, his voice rising with excitement, even breaking a little: "I won't go! Brother Su Lin promised to take me away! I want to follow Brother Su Lin! You...you have no right to drive me away!" As he spoke, he subconsciously reached out and grabbed the corner of Su Lin's clothes even tighter, as if it was his only driftwood in the raging sea, and he was afraid of being forcibly separated by this sudden and powerful force.

This action, this action full of dependence and declaration, completely stepped on the most sensitive nerve in A Yan's heart.

"Hey! You kid don't understand what people are saying, right?!" A Yan was furious, veins bulging on his forehead, and he reached out to grab Xingchen's hand that was tightly holding the corner of Su Lin's clothes. He used such great force that he showed no intention of showing mercy.

"That's enough."

Lei Qing's voice rang out, low and cold. It wasn't loud, but it seemed to contain immense power and an undeniable authority, instantly drowning out all the noise. He stepped forward, his figure towering between A Yan and Xing Chen. His gaze swept over A Yan, deep as a cold pond, carrying a warning and a commanding tone. Although A Yan was filled with anger and resentment, under Lei Qing's oppressive gaze, he withdrew his hand in frustration, but continued to glare at Xing Chen with a murderous glare, as if he wanted to cut him into pieces with his eyes.

Lei Qing's gaze finally fell on Xingchen's hand, which was tightly grasping the corner of Su Lin's clothes. His eyes grew even colder, like an ice spike piercing the bones. Then he looked at Su Lin and said concisely, his tone brooking no room for rebuttal: "Leave here first and find a safe place to talk."

Although he didn't directly express his support for A Yan's expulsion, his powerful, unquestionable aura, as well as the subtle rejection and scrutiny he displayed towards Xingchen, spoke volumes. This young man, whose origins were unknown and who had a close relationship with Su Lin, was also unwelcome to him.

Mu Lin smoothed things over at the right moment, his impeccable, gentle smile reappearing on his face, but the warmth in his eyes hadn't increased much. "The captain is right. We shouldn't stay here for long. The smell of blood is too strong." He smiled at Xingchen, who was still trembling slightly. His words were gentle, but contained a reminder and a clear boundary. "Xingchen, my little friend, since Su Lin has agreed to you, let's go together. However, the road ahead may be more dangerous. You have to keep up. We... may not be able to distract ourselves too much to take care of you."

Su Lin watched this scene, rife with undercurrents, filled with jealousy, and on the verge of exploding at any moment. He felt a surge of anxiety, his temples throbbing. He was grateful for his teammates' regard for him and their deep friendship; he cherished this lost warmth immensely; but he couldn't harden his heart and abandon the young man who had relied on him, trusted him, and shared his hardships for so long. He sighed, his heart filled with helpless exhaustion. He gently patted the back of Xingchen's still tense, cold hand, offering a soothing touch. Then he nodded to the three teammates who were staring at him intently, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible hoarseness:

"Let's find a place to rest first. Everyone needs to rest."

The new team was temporarily formed in an extremely delicate and tense atmosphere.

A Yan watched Xingchen with a fierce gaze, as if guarding against a thief. If he came even slightly closer to Su Lin, he would immediately release a fierce, depressing aura, even deliberately wedging himself between them. Mu Lin maintained a polite yet distant observation, a gentle, impeccable smile plastered on his face, but his all-seeing eyes never ceased to assess Xingchen. Lei Qing walked silently but with a powerful presence beside Su Lin, his towering figure and icy aura silently asserting his sovereignty and protective domain.

Xingchen, like a frightened bird, clung to Su Lin, minimizing his presence as much as possible, yet unable to completely evade the immense, tangible pressure and hostility emanating from three directions. He lowered his head, his frail body tense, like a small animal that had strayed into the territory of a ferocious beast, surrounded by predators but clinging to its only protector, refusing to leave. Every step he took was cautious, filled with anxiety and stubbornness.