Chapter 22 The Apocalypse 21

The flickering sparks at his fingertips mirrored the shepherd's dark, deep eyes, like the oppressive sky before a storm, heavy and suffocating.

He leaned against a pillar, his posture quite relaxed, but his expression was cold and stern, his jawline taut, and his cheeks even sunken, clearly indicating that he was in a very bad mood.

The suppressed anger between his brows could not be concealed no matter how much he forced a smile.

“I’ve waited so long, and you haven’t come to find me. What, you needed me to get close to you on the way to the base, but you’re abandoning me as soon as we arrive? I can understand you not joining my team, but what’s going on here—your…brother…brother,” the shepherd boy emphasized the last three words, speaking sarcastically, “when did he become my boyfriend? Even in the apocalypse, there should still be some basic ethics and morals, right? Can brothers register for marriage?”

"If I hadn't happened to be nearby, would I have had to call you 'Madam' the next time I saw you?"

Lu Xuejin was someone Mu Tong had specifically looked after; all changes related to him on the base system would be sent to him. When Mu Tong received the message, he was at an art supply store, as Liu Gao had instructed, selecting art supplies and planning to invite Lu Xuejin to dinner sometime.

He understood Lu Xuejin; with such a timid personality, it was understandable that she wouldn't dare to bother him or try to build a relationship with him at the base. His reputation there wasn't good either, and getting involved with him wouldn't be a good thing. But that didn't mean he could understand Lu Xuejin and Luo Mingchuan—!

These two people!

The shepherd boy recalled that Lu Xuejin and Luo Mingchuan stood far away from him, yet they were so close and talked intimately, creating a small world of their own where no one could enter. Yun Hongli even told him not to be so hostile towards Luo Mingchuan.

ha.

The shepherd boy almost laughed.

Back then, they were talking about love, weren't they? It was Lu Xuejin who made Luo Mingchuan be patient, and it was Lu Xuejin who temporarily and patiently dealt with him for the sake of their future.

The reluctant smile Lu Xuejin wore when facing him must have been filled with love when she was with Luo Mingchuan. How many whispered words of love were exchanged between them, unseen by him?

He felt something was wrong back then, and now it seems his intuition was absolutely right.

A cold, piercing gaze pierced directly at the man who was half a step behind Lu Xuejin. Even those who didn't know them, upon hearing the explosive remarks just now, seeing the tense standoff, and looking at the sign hanging high above the gate, would understand without much explanation—this was an emotional dispute.

Within half a minute, a number of people had gathered around to watch.

Humans are naturally inclined to join in the fun, even in the face of the apocalypse. Not to mention that all three involved are men, each handsome in their own way, with the added element of a younger brother versus a fake brother… a two-man-for-one drama, how exciting!

The young man being sandwiched between two men certainly had the qualities to be fought over.

That flawless face, that well-proportioned and slender figure, that gentle and warm temperament, that innocent and pure smile... tsk tsk, who wouldn't be captivated?

Just as passersby were speculating, the person at the center of the dispute spoke up: "I have always treated Mingchuan like a younger brother."

The sunlight, like melting gold leaf, shattered on his long eyelashes, making him look absolutely stunning.

His voice was as gentle as a breeze as he explained in a soft, slow voice, making many onlookers clutch their hearts, thinking: "Such a well-behaved and beautiful person, even if it's a lie, we'd believe it!" It's an honor to have him deliberately fabricate lies to deceive us!

However, the shepherd boy remained unmoved, or rather, he had long been accustomed to Lu Xuejin's gentle demeanor, to the point that he had developed a certain resistance.

Moreover, upon learning that Lu Xuejin had just harshly rejected him, she immediately married a man he had always disliked, he was at his breaking point and couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. He coldly sneered, "So you're taking care of everyone on the same household register?"

The base has long since abandoned the old household registration system, and there is no such thing as a household registration book. However, everyone knows that the shepherd boy is just an analogy, and everyone understands the subtext.

That's exciting!

Those unaware of the truth might have assumed the shepherd boy was the wife whose boyfriend had been stolen away by the scheming younger brother. A few who recognized him, however, wore strange expressions.

Lu Xuejin sighed helplessly. He had nothing to explain, so he said indifferently, "...Just take it this way. We never really had any relationship to begin with."

It was only a short three-day journey together.

For most of the time, the shepherd boy's attitude towards him was lukewarm and ambiguous. If he were to develop feelings for a brat in such a short period of time, wouldn't that be demeaning himself?

"It's nothing." The shepherd boy was even more defensive. He should have seemed kind because of his baby face, but now his face was twisted with anger, making him look particularly terrifying.

The casual, leaning posture against the pillar vanished, replaced by a taut, bow-like back. Light-colored eyes, brimming with innate wildness, stared intently at their prey.

The shepherd boy sneered, "So, all that was on my part on the way to the base? I called you into the car to protect you closely, gave you a portion of water, and even searched for fresh food because I was worried you wouldn't eat anything? It was all just me being a nice guy? I was just an ordinary person who didn't know you. If so, I'm really a great person."

“You are indeed a good person,” Lu Xuejin said.

"Lu Xuejin!" the shepherd boy called out, taking a few steps closer. His tall figure almost completely enveloped Lu Xuejin, their foreheads nearly colliding, causing a gasp. Fortunately, the security guards from the agency heard the commotion and arrived, skillfully separating Lu Xuejin and the shepherd boy, firmly blocking the shepherd boy and preventing the verbal argument from escalating into a violent conflict.

The leader recognized the shepherd boy and knew his terrifying background. With a pained expression, he whispered a reminder: "They're already married. Even if you're from the shepherd family, you can't blatantly break the rules and ruin their relationship in front of everyone. Look, everyone's watching..."

The shepherd boy was notoriously bad-tempered, but the base rules were in place, so the leader gritted his teeth and tried his best to keep his voice down and his posture as humble as possible, for fear of accidentally angering this young master and becoming the outlet for his anger.

Fortunately, the shepherd boy still retained some rationality. He stared intently at Lu Xuejin, his eyes bloodshot, as if he wanted to etch the curve of her eyelashes into his memory, but his body remained restrained and motionless.

The leader quickly gave his subordinates a look: What are you standing there for? Contact Deputy Captain Yun right away!

Luo Mingchuan, who had remained silent until now, finally turned his gaze to the shepherd boy, his eyes indifferent and devoid of hostility. Then, he looked down at the marriage certificate several times, before glancing up at the shepherd boy, who was being blocked at every turn and had a gloomy expression.

A slow smile curved his lips.

hiss--

The onlookers who noticed this subtle action gasped in surprise.

Dude, I don't really understand who's the official wife and who's the original wife, but you're both married, so you've achieved a partial victory. Don't be so smug! Stop provoking her; be careful your defeated rival turns into a mistress and steals your man away!

Fortunately, the shepherd boy's gaze remained fixed on Lu Xuejin, and he didn't pay much attention to the wild man behind him, otherwise there might have been a real possibility of bloodshed on the spot.

“Captain Mu, I am truly grateful to you, Sister Yun, and the other members of the hunting team for taking care of me all this way,” Lu Xuejin paused, then said with a hint of helplessness, “but I have no other feelings for you besides gratitude.”

After saying that, he reached back to find Luo Mingchuan's hand, and the man obediently took the young man's hand in return.

They intertwined their fingers and turned away under the angry gaze of the shepherd boy.

Luo Mingchuan remained silent throughout, but the strong sense of provocation in his every move was obvious to everyone.

Many people secretly thought that the wife probably wasn't a good person either, but she knew how to put on an act. Compared to the super-strong man who made a scene on the spot and spoke in a sarcastic tone, she was at least more dignified.

The loss was not unjust!

The murmurs of the onlookers gradually subsided, and the discussions about "whether it was the wife beating the mistress or the mistress beating the wife," "the younger brother's love," and "no wonder his wife doesn't want him because he's a super-male guy who always gives attitude" reached his ears. Suddenly, the shepherd boy raised a strange smile, and his tense body gradually relaxed, as if he had finally calmed down.

"Alright, they're all gone." He rolled his eyes and said, "Are you afraid I'll chase after them and beat them up?"

The leader's heart was in his throat, knowing that this matter was far from over—given the shepherd's temperament, this seemingly indifferent attitude was actually the moment when he was most furious.

...

Once out of sight of everyone, Lu Xuejin was the first to let go.

Luo Mingchuan's bent knuckles curled slightly, as if instinctively trying to keep him, before silently returning to a lowered posture.

“You did this on purpose,” Luo Mingchuan said calmly.

He deliberately acted affectionately to make the shepherd boy hostile towards him.

The other party is not like a reasonable gentleman; they are part of the hunting team and have many ways to torment the newcomers.

"Mmm." Lu Xuejin nodded honestly. He raised his hand and patted Luo Mingchuan's shoulder, like a good older brother teaching his younger brother. "It was a lot of fun, wasn't it?"

Fun...

Luo Mingchuan suddenly frowned.

He truly is a devil who manipulates people's hearts at will.

He disliked the shepherd boy. The arrogant young master, whose family background was clearly not simple, was overbearing, incredibly haughty, and had an insatiable tongue. He was also incredibly foolish to covet Lu Xuejin. The shepherd boy's previous interactions with Lu Xuejin had fueled his murderous intent.

However, when I saw Lu Xuejin treating the shepherd boy as a temporary toy or a pastime without any mercy, the first thing that came to mind was not joy, but a faint sense of sorrow for the plight of those who share the same fate.

He suddenly felt disgusted that the young man treated other people's sincerity as a game.

The newly issued documents were fragile and easily damaged, so as soon as he returned to his low-rent apartment, Luo Mingchuan carefully put away the marriage certificate. Before putting it in the box, he couldn't help but open the cover, his gaze lingering on the black and white words, his fingertips gently stroking the photo of him and Lu Xuejin.

A fake smile.

A false relationship.

No one knew that what truly connected him and Lu Xuejin was a darker identity of "accomplice," an identity of "outcast" hiding sharp claws and lurking in human society.

Luo Mingchuan has always scoffed at the shallow and fragile connections between people.

However, upon holding this thin document in my hand, a sudden, inexplicable, and overwhelming feeling of emotion welled up within me.

For a fleeting moment, he had the illusion that his eyes were brimming with tears, as if this was a trophy he had been waiting for for a long time.

Although it was my first time handling the hard cover and paper of a marriage certificate, the feel of it was strangely familiar.

Luo Mingchuan attributed it to an illusion, closed the box, and gently shut the drawer.

After dinner, he began doing housework. The weather had been fairly sunny during the day, but a torrential downpour began after nightfall. The weather was becoming increasingly extreme.

The hognose snake awoke from its slumber. The zombified animal no longer needed to eat, but it did need a comfortable "home." Lu Xuejin had lost interest in it, and regularly cleaning its pet carrier naturally became Luo Mingchuan's job. He yanked the snake out of its body and tossed it aside.

The rain pounded against the windowpane. Beside him, Lu Xuejin sank into the sofa.

Dong Yao's tone was somewhat complicated: "We actually got married in this little world...sigh, baby, I don't even know how to describe how I feel. Baby, how do you feel?"

Bored, Lu Xuejin tore off the hair tie and slowly grabbed the clump of loose hair to tie it up again.

He felt that the question of the hole was unnecessary.

"It's not like it's my first time getting married, so what special feelings could I possibly have?"

Dongyao, hearing this, asked curiously, "What was it like when you married Chenmo? I heard that you humans hold grand weddings for it."

The hair tie was crooked, and Lu Xuejin tried to straighten it, saying casually, "No, we only got the marriage certificate."

His tone was indifferent, as if he didn't care about forming a connection with someone outside his blood relatives for the first and perhaps only time in his life.

Dong Yao was taken aback.

Then Lu Xuejin said in a joking tone, "However, there was no grand wedding, but there was a grand funeral. You attended it before, didn't you?"

Dongyao always felt that his tone and the content of his speech were strange.

It sounds as if Lu Xuejin is not saddened or dejected at all by the passing of Shen Mo—his beloved partner.

Dong Yao knew that as time went by, even the strongest feelings would gradually fade and disappear, but in just a few months since Silent's death, Lu Xuejin was already able to talk about that funeral as if nothing had happened.

He looked so sorrowful when he stood before the coffin, his eyes lowered. Like a white rose broken by a storm, weary and weak.

Just then, the communication bell rang, interrupting Dong Yao's thoughts.

He is the manager of the low-rent housing complex.

"0321 Lu Xuejin, someone outside is looking for her, surnamed Mu."

Lu Xuejin paused in her hand as she put the snake back in the box, and then raised an eyebrow.

【Ugh, why is that guy surnamed Mu still haunting me? Is he going to chase after me and try to kill me in a fit of rage? Baby, just ignore him!】

"I'm going out for a bit. I'll be right back." Lu Xuejin said, getting up, grabbing an umbrella from the entryway, and heading out.

The evolved zombies are attracted to light sources, and the base has extremely strict control over nighttime lighting. Coupled with the torrential rain, the entire base is as indistinct as a giant sleeping in the darkness.

No one noticed the pitch-black crows flying in through the thick rain.

Lu Xuejin went downstairs in the dark.

A crow stood on the eaves, and he stood under the dripping eaves, opposite a disheveled shepherd boy.

The once arrogant hunting team captain let the cold rain beat down on him, his wet hair clinging to his face, his combat uniform pressing heavily against his broad shoulders.

He wasn't using an umbrella.

A storm raged in the shepherd boy's eyes, his pale lips were tightly pressed together, and his expression was cold. He stared intently at Lu Xuejin, but remained silent.

The rain slanted down, its dampness pleasant to the touch, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth. Lu Xuejin was in a fairly good mood, so she had the patience to play with the shepherd boy.

Now that there was no one else around, he explained gently, "We're new here, all alone, and we don't have any outstanding abilities to gain a foothold in the base. Although Mingchuan has superpowers, he's too weak. Marriage sounds absurd and hasty, but for the time being, this is the only solution we can think of."

“Captain Mu, you have helped me so much, I can’t take it all for granted and ask you for more.”

Lu Xuejin smiled bitterly, seemingly embarrassed by this absurd act.

The man's eyebrows trembled in the rain, as if he were moved.

“Once we’ve established ourselves, we’ll cancel the registration.” As she spoke, Lu Xuejin cautiously looked around and pleaded in a low voice, “Captain Mu, please don’t tell anyone about our fake marriage. I heard it’s a serious crime in the base, with very severe consequences.”

The fine raindrops clinging to her eyelashes suddenly fell, and her stiff, straight lips softened subtly.

So that's how it is.

Although they had anticipated this possibility, and the other team members, who considered themselves experienced, had also advised him in the same way, it was ultimately not as effective as Lu Xuejin's direct appeal. The shepherd boy's initial anger and coldness were instantly soothed by the young man's few words.

The shepherd was about to say, "Then let's get a divorce, and I'll provide you with shelter."

But then he suddenly realized that Lu Xuejin was staring intently at him.

The light under the eaves was dim, but the superhuman's body had been enhanced, allowing him to see even in the dark, so the shepherd could see clearly—

Lu Xuejin's pupils dilated like a cat's, shining brightly and eerily in the night.

That focused gaze seemed to be scrutinizing, observing, and even dissecting him as if he were a precious animal, eager to see some kind of reaction.

This is not the expression Lu Xuejin would have.

The shepherd boy was speechless, doubting that it was an illusion. After a moment of silence, Lu Xuejin tilted her head slightly and said casually, "--Those were all lies to you."

He peered at the shepherd boy's expression, then smiled innocently: "You believe me?"

"What are you saying?" The shepherd boy felt his throat go dry.

"Don't you understand?" The handsome young man tilted his head.

He completely shed his facade of weakness and timidity, and spoke of his love for Luo Mingchuan in a cold, strange, and sarcastic tone.

"If it weren't for Mingchuan, I wouldn't have humbled myself in front of you. Speaking of which, Captain Mu, your awkward attempts to appear calm were quite funny." Lu Xuejin's dark pupils widened, turning her originally pure and clear eyes into something malicious as she mercilessly mocked, "However, it did add some fun to the tedious journey. So I'm grateful to you!"

At that moment, the night rain fell wildly like a cataclysmic judgment. The shepherd boy suddenly felt his knees go weak, and for a moment, he couldn't believe it.

The young man's skin, hidden in the darkness, glowed softly. His features were gentle, but his smile was colder than ever before. The falling raindrops twisted before him, and the shepherd boy felt a chill run through him, wondering if it was all a dream.

But Lu Xuejin had lost interest in chatting. He ran into the rain, smiled, took the shepherd boy's cold hand, put the umbrella in his rough palm, and said gently with concern, "It's been raining a lot at night these past few days. Why didn't you bring an umbrella? It must be so uncomfortable to get soaked. Go back quickly, or you'll catch a cold."

The shepherd boy gripped the umbrella handle, his body stiff, all his warmth taken away by the young man who turned and left.

The crows in the rain rolled their scarlet eyes, fluttered their wings, and then flew away.

When Lu Xuejin returned to her residence, Luo Mingchuan was leaning against the door, casually asking, "Have you had fun?"

"It's really interesting, but it's a pity you didn't see his expression." Lu Xuejin's lips curled up slightly, and her eyes shone with a satisfied light. Her smile was like that of a demon that drew nourishment from the emotions of others, stunningly beautiful.

The window was half-open, and dense raindrops rushed in. Lu Xuejin stepped into the slanting rain curtain, her eyelashes drooping, and said with an ambiguous expression, "However, my hands are ice cold."

"That's not good..."

Luo Mingchuan brought a dry towel and covered Lu Xuejin's slightly damp hair with it.

He didn't feel guilty for being involved and becoming an accomplice in Lu Xuejin's emotional exploitation; he only felt some regret—regret for not being able to control the shepherd boy's body and observe Lu Xuejin's mean, arrogant, and excited expression, as if a devil had appeared in the world.

However, there's plenty of time in the future.

The next day, the cafeteria was bustling with noise, interspersed with intermittent conversations.

"When will this end? I really want to eat fruit..."

"If you want to eat one, just accumulate points. Over time, you'll be able to exchange them for a peach. They say it's a special variety cultivated by the research lab, incredibly sweet. Sigh, but that'll be a long time coming. If only I could join the hunting team..."

"I wouldn't dare go! Although I can earn points, it's too dangerous! Countless people have died since it was established."

"Haha, you little brat, your arms are so thin, even if you wanted to go, they wouldn't dare take you in!"

The people behind them chatted slowly, one after another.

"However, I heard that the top team in the base—you know the captain, right?—has been diagnosed with a serious illness and all hunting activities have been suspended. Vice Captain Yun will be taking over the team instead."

"You've heard about it too? Is it true? Aren't people with superpowers supposed to be as strong as oxen and never get sick?"

"It should be true, after all, everyone saw when the team went out, and there was definitely no man there." They seemed hesitant to mention the shepherd boy's name directly, lowering their voices and using vague pronouns instead. "It's so strange... That captain, you know, isn't he a sharp-tongued, incredibly powerful, and skilled esper? How come he's the only one who's sick? So I guess there's more to it than meets the eye; he might have gone on a secret mission..."

The voice trailed off: "That's true, after all, his surname is Mu, and the Mu family... these days, everyone has the surname Mu. It's said that the chief of the Central Research Institute is also a member of the Mu family."

A few minutes later, the two men cleared their plates and stopped talking.

Lu Xuejin gently wiped away the oil stains that had accidentally gotten on her lips, got up and left the cafeteria.

...

He is currently working at an art gallery.

The place has a strong artistic atmosphere, and the guests who come and go are all dressed in suits and formal dresses, exuding a silent sense of superiority in the quietness.

Such a thing shouldn't exist in a post-apocalyptic base—while most people are still struggling to make a living and grappling with an uncertain tomorrow, a group of people in the safe rear are enjoying exquisite tea and snacks and discussing the most elegant yet most useless art.

If this gets out, who knows what kind of trouble it will cause.

Therefore, the existence of the gallery was only known to a small number of upper-class people in the base.

Lu Xuejin was able to enter this place and obtain the qualification to participate in the exhibition thanks to the scion of a prominent family whom she had met by chance in the cafeteria.

Although the other party was down on his luck and had to buy cheap meals at the outer ring canteen, his family still held a place in the base and could easily contact important figures that others could not reach. Adding Lu Xuejin's name to the list of exhibitors was a matter of course for him.

Lu Xuejin only frowned slightly and looked troubled. The scion of a wealthy family, who was completely captivated by her, immediately pounded his chest and said he would help her out. That afternoon, he received an invitation from the gallery.

If they could sell a painting here, the points they earned would be enough to ensure Lu Xuejin and Luo Mingchuan's financial security for a month.

Unfortunately, his paintings were not very popular.

The young man standing in the corner of the gallery wore a crisp white shirt, a light gray jacket, and his slightly long black hair was tied back. He simply stood there quietly, a faint smile on his lips, yet he was enough to attract attention.

From the moment he stepped into this place with his painting, many eyes, both openly and secretly, fell on him.

Some were impeccably dressed in suits, others were casually relaxed; these people deliberately came to the corner to chat with Lu Xuejin, ostensibly discussing art, but their true intentions lay elsewhere. Their gazes swept over the painting, showing little interest in its gloomy and eerie style, but instead focusing intently on the painter himself, casually inquiring about his background and origins.

"Mr. Lu, you've only been at the base for a short time? No wonder we don't recognize you; you're a new face." Among these people with ulterior motives, the young man with black and red dyed hair was the most persistent and attentive. Judging from his appearance, he was probably short-tempered, yet he spoke softly and gently in front of Lu Xuejin, as if afraid that a harsh word would disturb the young man with his eyes lowered.

For the first time, he racked his brains to find a topic, but the young man remained indifferent and uninterested.

But this timid and quiet demeanor has a unique charm, allowing the young man with dyed hair to suppress his irritability and pretend to be a nice guy.

"Yes," Lu Xuejin replied perfunctorily, sounding somewhat impatient.

Dong Yao was speechless: "Is this guy an idiot?"

A metal ball blocked the two, and a mechanical arm bared its teeth and claws, waving at the face of the young man with dyed hair, fully demonstrating the system's anger.

"Then Mr. Lu..." The young man with dyed hair was still chattering away. Lu Xuejin's eyes softened, and she seemed to be listening attentively, but in reality, she had already been distracted by observing her surroundings.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of an out-of-place figure.

He wore a lead-gray hoodie, brown cargo pants, and his hair was a mess, as if it hadn't been styled in a long time.

She had a cold demeanor and an unremarkable appearance.

"It's him... Mu Huai..."

"Why is he here? The shepherd boy..."

The man walked to the corner as if no one else was there, stopped in front of Lu Xuejin's painting, and examined it carefully.

For the entire afternoon, he was the first person to look at the painting without looking at its owner.

Lu Xuejin's eyes lit up. She left the chattering young man with dyed hair and walked over to him. "Sir, are you interested in buying it?"

After waiting a while, Mu Huai finally looked away from the painting and calmly looked at him.

This person looks familiar.

He recognized him.

Lu, Xue, Jin.

Mu Huai silently repeated the name in his heart—the person who had broken his cousin's heart. He had only been at the base a few days before being harassed by someone. Despite not being strikingly beautiful, she exuded a dangerous aura that made people drool.

They are objects that should be carefully protected.

The young man's eyes shone brightly under the lamplight, without a trace of impurity, as clear and flawless as glass beads, and the gaze directed at him was filled with the purest joy.

Lu Xuejin did not recognize him.

Mu Huai thought to himself calmly.

In the end, he bought the painting. And out of a desire to help his cousin clean up his mess, and also out of a subtle protective instinct, he took the initiative to commission Lu Xuejin to paint the painting.

The painting was eventually hung in the chief laboratory of the most heavily guarded research institute in the base.

There are zombies, humans, all sorts of bizarre animals, and twisted and strange experimental products here.

The painting's subject matter perfectly matched the eerie atmosphere, making everything seem even more sinister and chilling. However, the surrounding paintings were sacred religious paintings, creating a stark contrast and a strange effect.

On the operating table were colorful medicines arranged, and a dissected laboratory mouse was still covered in blood, while next to it stood an angel statue.

Pure white wings, lowered brows in prayer, gentle expression.

The shepherd boy once mocked the laboratory, saying it looked like a cult's den.

"Only a madman would arrange things like this. I really don't want to admit that someone like you is my cousin." The shepherd boy then crushed the previous statue with his bare hands, letting the fragments cut his palms and the winding bloodstains stained the table. "Or am I a madman too? Haha."

Mu Huai gazed at the statue quietly, feeling that it bore a striking resemblance to Lu Xuejin.

Behind him, zombies roared menacingly, and strange objects kept protruding from beneath their bluish-gray skin.

After the experiment, Mu Huai took off his blood-stained plastic gloves and left. As he walked through the corridor, the shepherd boy came towards him.

The two brothers have very different temperaments, but if you look closely at their facial features, you can indeed find many similarities.

"Are you bored?" the shepherd boy asked sinisterly, clearly aware of his connection with Lu Xuejin.

Despite being thoroughly humiliated, he didn't hold a grudge against Lu Xuejin. Instead, he harbored deep hostility towards his cousin who had offered to help Lu Xuejin. But this was simply how the Mu family interacted, and Mu Huai was already used to it.

He didn't want to talk to this rutting beast, so he walked past indifferently without saying a word, the two brushing past each other as if they were complete strangers.

...

After that, Mu Huai often ran into Lu Xuejin in galleries, art supply stores, and other artistic venues.

Occasionally they would chat for a few minutes, but most of the time, he would just watch from afar.

The handsome young man quickly integrated into the circle and became the center of attention.

He rarely expressed his own opinions, but always listened attentively to the views of others, whether discussing poetry and paintings or debating doctrines and theories. His gentle and inclusive attitude quickly made him one of the most popular figures.

Surrounded by stars.

This word perfectly describes him.

As the young man leaned gently against the second floor of the greenhouse, a slender wine glass in hand, those around him eagerly tried to make him laugh. He responded lazily, tilting his head back to take a sip of the sweet wine. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and the ruffled collar of his shirt rippled in the sunlight like rolling waves, highlighting his long neck and fair, translucent skin. It was hard to imagine that just a month ago he was a penniless, timid, and ordinary person.

Lu Xuejin, like a withered flower bud finally nourished by rain, blossomed into delicate white petals, attracting a swarm of bees.

Those surrounding him, having hidden their former arrogance, smiled so warmly and intimately. They didn't truly love art; they merely used it as a stepping stone to get closer to Lu Xuejin.

An ordinary, mediocre person.

If it weren't for the protection of their families, they would have long since become numb and stupid zombies outside the base.

These people are useless to the base; instead, they gnaw at the base's solid walls like termites, wasting a lot of resources.

Simply put, it's about living a life of idleness and waiting to die.

Mu Huai had always believed that their best place was in a research institute. Recently, their experiments had hit a bottleneck, and they desperately needed a large amount of data for control. This way, they could also play a role and contribute their due strength to the vast and chaotic human race.

Lu Xuejin was different. He was forced by the need to make a living, and to escape his cousin who was willful, like a wild beast, and had no restraint in his ugly desires.

He should be alive.

Others should serve as flesh and blood to support him.

"Chief Mu, it's rare to see you out. Has the experiment progressed recently?" someone approached and asked in a low voice. "If you encounter any difficulties, please feel free to contact us. Everyone is very concerned..."

His indifferent gaze swept over her for a moment, and Mu Huai nodded slightly before saying nothing more.

The man's expression froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal, and he walked away calmly.

Mu Huai and Zhang Yang are two extremes. He rarely shows himself or interacts with people. This personality offends many people, but because of his identity and his abilities, no one dares to question his actions - everyone is waiting for the research institute's results.

Even towards Lu Xuejin, Mu Huai only secretly looked after her, considering the trouble caused by the shepherd boy, to prevent this flower from being devoured by the swarm of bees.

It suddenly started to drizzle that day, and the gathering ended early.

Mu Huai noticed that Lu Xuejin didn't bring an umbrella, and he wasn't the only one who noticed. Soon, someone offered to take Lu Xuejin home.

"No need to trouble you, I live on the outer ring road, it's not on my way." Lu Xuejin declined with a smile, but there was a hint of helplessness in her smile.

Some people insisted on seeing him off, but the soft-hearted young man didn't budge this time. He waited until everyone had left before slowly walking out.

Mu Huai watched his retreating figure, hesitated for a moment, and then chased after him.

He held the umbrella, his lips moved slightly, and he said awkwardly, "I have an umbrella, I'll take you home."

Lu Xuejin turned around at the sound. Behind him was a fine, soft curtain of rain. His smile blended into the sunlight, and his curved eyes were clearer than the sky after it had been washed by water.

Mu Huai's breath hitched.

"No need to trouble you, my family is coming to pick me up," Lu Xuejin said softly.

It turns out that it wasn't an excuse he came up with to refuse others.

Lu Xuejin walked a few steps into the distance and slipped under a man's umbrella. The stranger carefully shielded him from the wind and rain, ensuring he didn't get a single drop of water on him.

"You're back so early today?" Mu Huai heard Lu Xuejin speak, her tone coquettish and affectionate. He leaned close to the man's arm, and the two walked away intimately under the umbrella.

Having conducted research for so many years, Mu Huai is exceptionally sensitive to the smell of blood. Even from a distance, he can smell the strong scent of blood emanating from a man.

Mu Huai knew him.

A hunting team newcomer who quickly rose to fame and acted ruthlessly.

Every hunting expedition was a resounding success, with the hunters returning with a full haul.

Mu Huai had heard some rumors about him.

On his first trip with the team, he ripped open his teammate's heart and abdomen.

This cruel and violent man would quietly come to take Lu Xuejin home, carefully protecting him and preventing him from being tainted by worldly troubles.

"...family members."

Mu Huai remembered that in the system's records, Lu Xuejin's marital status was listed as "married," and her partner was the person in front of him.

Such an intimate couple should not be involved by the shepherd.

Mu Huai lowered his eyes.

Author's Note:

Is he talking about his cousin or himself? [winking emoji]