Chapter 55 Unbendable
Leaving the house and Jiang Ye, Bai Chenzhu felt the air outside begin to flow again, no longer trapped in that strange stagnation. Even her heart, which had been pounding like a rollercoaster, felt much better.
Tang Zhao, walking beside him, was chattering away, calculating in his ledger. The two were planning to exchange some unwanted items for some stored grain.
Back when Bai Chenzhu was staying at his house, Tang Zhao loved to count the family's supplies every day, getting extremely anxious. But when the two were about to leave, he generously gave Bai Chenzhu a large bag full of supplies.
Now that he was in charge of the inventory and purchasing, Bai Chenzhu felt most at ease, so he took a break and drifted off into thought about other things, occasionally responding to Tang Zhao's words.
Although I don't know what it meant.
"Brother Bai? Brother Bai!"
Bai Chenzhu, who was carrying the things, came back to his senses. "What's wrong?"
"You're always so absent-minded. Did you have another argument with Boss Jiang?" Tang Zhao was a little annoyed by his absent-mindedness, after all, Tang Zhao was counting very seriously.
"Why would you say that?" Bai Chenzhu was speechless. "What do you mean by 'arguing again'? I rarely argue with him."
Tang Zhao gave a perfunctory "Oh," looking at him with disbelief in his eyes. Bai Chenzhu smacked him on the forehead, "Don't make wild guesses."
Tang Zhao held his head in one hand and gasped, his resentment running high. "Brother Bai, Teacher Bai, you're not that much older than me, why are you always so mature? And stop patting my head, it'll make me stupid."
"My appearance is young, but my soul is mature." Bai Chenzhu thought to himself with a cold face, "You might even have to call me an old man if you knew."
Tang Zhao shuddered. "So, according to you, if my appearance is younger, does that mean I'm more mature? Mature like an old man."
He stroked his non-existent beard and grinned.
Bai Chenzhu ignored him.
Tang Zhao thought he was lost in thought again, so he raised his five fingers and waved them in front of him, jumping up and down, but Bai Chenzhu pressed him down with one hand.
Bai Chenzhu narrowed his eyes. A woman walked over from a distance. "Xiao Zhu!" she called out, a smile appearing on her usually cold face.
It's Han Yuyan; she's arrived in Luozhou.
"You arrived earlier than me after all." Han Yuyan walked slowly with him, while Tang Zhao diligently carried the supplies behind them.
The supplies Tang Zhao was carrying could be described as "a whole truckload" or even less. Han Yuyan looked back at Tang Zhao several times, "Are you sure you can carry all that stuff by yourself?"
Tang Zhao was quite flattered. He held his head high, chest out, holding the shopping bags that were taller than him, and shook his head, "I can do it!"
Han Yuyan was surprised, "You're so strong, are you a superhuman?"
"Auntie." Bai Chenzhu interrupted her question and Tang Zhao's unanswered question. After all, he was not the original owner of this body, and he always maintained a wary and defensive attitude towards strangers.
The two chatted briefly. Bai Chenzhu then learned that she had just arrived in Luozhou that morning.
"I didn't expect Mr. Bai to disappear. Fortunately, Mrs. Bai is still here. She told me to rest first and that she'll take me to see Young Master Bai later." Han Yuyan said with emotion, "I'll be staying in Luozhou for a while. What about you, Xiaozhu? How about you stay with your aunt for a bit?"
She stopped and looked intently at Bai Chenzhu, her face cool and aloof, yet irresistibly approachable.
He certainly wouldn't stay, but his body seemed to be working against him. Bai Chenzhu swallowed hard, suppressing the 'okay' that was about to escape his lips.
Wait, is his body working against him? Bai Chenzhu immediately realized that it all stemmed from the seemingly harmless person in front of him.
His patience was wearing thin. His face turned cold, no longer showing any of his previous intimacy. "Take back your powers, or don't blame me for taking action."
Han Yuyan was startled. She took a half step back and stared at Bai Chenzhu in shock. This was both because Bai Chenzhu could see through her trick and because he was about to attack her.
When did her timid, useless nephew become so perceptive?
Han Yuyan had come to the market alone, so she dared not act recklessly and quickly withdrew her spiritual power.
Tang Zhao was also startled when he heard this. When he looked at Han Yuyan again, his goodwill towards her had diminished considerably.
Bai Chenzhu pressed the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "If you use your powers on me or the people around me again, Auntie, don't blame me. I'm just trying to protect myself."
Han Yuyan seemed a little dazed, then overjoyed, "You, you're also a superhuman? Are you like me? Do you know how rare this kind of ability is?"
She had always thought that only her superpower was so special, but she never expected that there was someone else with it right in front of her. Han Yuyan stared at him with a fervent gaze.
Bai Chenzhu knew that when she said "the same," she meant the mental system. He knew how rare the mental system was, and Han Yuyan's reaction was expected. He did not reply.
Han Yuyan sensed the subtle atmosphere and frowned as she explained, "Xiaozhu, I didn't mean any harm. I just felt that you had lost your memory and forgotten your family, so you were always distant from me. I used my special ability just so that you could spend more time with me."
Regardless of whether the reason was true or false, Bai Chenzhu found it laughable. If it was the result of supernatural influence, then what was the point of asking?
Bai Chenzhu continued walking forward with a cold face.
Han Yuyan walked up quickly and asked anxiously, "Are you really leaving in such a hurry? Why not stay a couple more days?"
Bai Chenzhu said, "I have something very important to do."
Han Yuyan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Since you arrived so early, have you met Bai Li? That is, that young master Bai."
"I've seen him," Bai Chenzhu said. "He's turned into a zombie and can't be saved. Are you still going to stay in Luozhou?"
Han Yuyan remained silent.
The three walked back to the manor from the market. As expected, Han Yuyan also lived in the manor, but not nearby.
As they approached the manor gate, Han Yuyan said, "I know he probably can't be saved."
She said, "But so what? Madam Bai has no intention of abandoning him and wants to take care of him. I can use this opportunity to reorganize the laboratory, study zombies, and maybe even create a vaccine."
Bai Chenzhu hadn't expected her to have this idea. Looking at Han Yuyan's firm and aloof face, he realized that he had been blinded by his own limited perspective.
He only saw that she was the original owner's aunt and that she had special abilities, but he didn't notice her other identity.
Such young scholars and experts might be able to develop a vaccine. No wonder the Bai family sent someone to escort her here.
When he looked at her again, Bai Chenzhu's tone softened considerably.
"Auntie," Bai Chenzhu said softly, "I'm leaving in a few days. I live on the top floor of that building. You can come find me if you need anything."
He pointed Han Yuyan in a direction.
Han Yuyan noted down the location and extended an invitation, "I plan to visit Young Master Bai this afternoon. Would you like to come with me? Miss Li will also be coming."
With nothing else to do, Bai Chenzhu agreed.
——
After returning, Bai Chenzhu told Jiang Ye about Han Yuyan's situation.
Jiang Ye was sprawled out on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Tang Zhao squatting down beside him, packing his things.
He thought for a moment, then waved to Bai Chenzhu and walked towards the room.
There was something that couldn't be said in public. Bai Chenzhu glanced at Tang Zhao and quickly followed.
Tang Zhao, who had been secretly eavesdropping, looked at the closed door with an increasingly strange expression. He muttered to himself, "Why are they whispering to each other every day? That's weird."
Jiang Ye collapsed onto the bed as soon as he entered the room. "Han Yuyan, she's going to be something special. The vaccine development started with her, it's just a pity she died young."
"Why?" Bai Chenzhu pulled up a chair and sat down.
"I don't know." Jiang Ye said what he knew. "Some say she killed Bai Li, some say she became Bai Guangzheng's mistress... Anyway, there are all sorts of rumors, but the fact is that she died in Luozhou."
Bai Chenzhu felt that these rumors were unlikely. After all, Han Yuyan looked like just an ordinary expert, although she had a strange ability to bewitch people... Thinking of this, Bai Chenzhu pinched the bridge of his nose and began to wonder if he had fallen for it again. Otherwise, why would he always want to speak up for her?
He had clearly only met this person twice.
Bai Chenzhu said, "Han Yuyan wants me to accompany her to see Bai Li this afternoon. Do you want to go?"
"What am I supposed to do there?" Jiang Ye snorted.
"Be my bodyguard, huh?" Bai Chenzhu said matter-of-factly. "Are you coming or not?"
Jiang Ye snorted, did a somersault to his feet, tugged at his clothes, and said with a hint of regret, "I'm not going. I'm going to talk to Old Man Li about the alien race. If you don't come back tonight, I'll come pick you up."
Bai Chenzhu didn't seem to care much. "Maybe it's because you came later than me."
Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow and laughed nonchalantly, "Then come pick me up! I'll be super happy, welcome, welcome, a warm welcome!"
It's like he's going to pick up his child from kindergarten. Bai Chenzhu could picture Jiang Xiaoye staring longingly at the door waiting for someone to pick him up, and he couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "Stop joking around, go see what we're having for lunch."
——
In the afternoon, Tang Zhao eagerly raised his hand, wanting to go with Bai Chenzhu to see Han Yuyan and Bai Li. In his words, he also wanted to study the zombies.
The group had encountered quite a few zombies during this period, but they had never stopped to study them properly.
The two walked towards the agreed location. Tang Zhao looked at Bai Chenzhu, then at the front, then at Bai Chenzhu again, shaking his head like a rattle drum.
Bai Chenzhu crossed his arms and said quietly, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't be so sneaky."
Taking the opportunity, Tang Zhao asked the question that had been on his mind for a long time, "Brother, what are you and Boss Jiang whispering about in your room every day?"
"Uh." Bai Chenzhu didn't know what to say for a moment. "I just... I just said some words. What could I possibly do?"
"Oh." Tang Zhao looked unconvinced.
Both of them had their own thoughts, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Bai Chenzhu changed the subject, "Tang Zhao, I remember you talked about him, right?"
He remembered that this guy had a girlfriend he dated when he was young.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Bai Chenzhu felt a pang of regret. Zombies were everywhere, and Tang Zhao's girlfriend might be among them. Asking about this was like reopening old wounds.
However, Tang Zhao's reaction was indifferent, showing no sadness or grief, as if it had never happened at all. But in fact, he nodded and admitted, "Less than two months, does that count?"
Bai Chenzhu hadn't expected that young people who had just come of age were so open-minded. He had no intention of prying into Tang Zhao's privacy, but simply lowered his voice and asked somewhat awkwardly, "What do you think is the difference between a friend and a romantic partner?"
Tang Zhao looked at him in shock, "Brother, shouldn't you know better than me?"
Bai Chenzhu: ?
"What do you mean? How would I know?" Bai Chenzhu frowned.
“But…” Tang Zhao raised his finger and gestured two little figures, which were stuck together, just like two people who are always together. “Aren’t you and Boss Jiang…?”
Bai Chenzhu didn't hold back and smacked his head, saying, "You're talking nonsense. If I knew the answer, would I need to ask someone?"
It was just a misunderstanding, Tang Zhao breathed a long sigh of relief. "I knew it! How could something from the two-dimensional world appear in the three-dimensional world? I was just thinking the wrong thing."
He'd been feeling awkward for a while, even wondering if he should avoid suspicion. He scratched his head. "There's a big difference between friends and partners, isn't that obvious at a glance?"
Bai Chenzhu humbly inquired, "For example?"
"Even the best of friends have a distance, and there's little physical contact. For example, I wouldn't hold hands with my brother."
Thinking about that scene, Bai Chenzhu felt that he would probably accidentally slam Tang Zhao's head against the wall.
"It's different with a romantic partner. There will definitely be a lot more physical contact, like holding hands, hugging, kissing, etc. And if you can be in a romantic relationship, it's definitely because the other person is attractive to you, so you can't help but look at them, can't help but get closer, and sometimes you might even have a kind of 'appetite'... cough cough, just for your reference. I've only held hands, so I don't know anything deeper."
As Tang Zhao spoke, he blushed awkwardly.
Kissing? Holding hands? Hugging? Bai Chenzhu compared them one by one and suddenly felt that the difference was really obvious. He didn't need to worry about it so much. In the end, it was all the fault of a certain person who always lacked tact.
Even if there were some feelings of attraction, a straight man couldn't be turned gay. Bai Chenzhu thought it would be better to keep some distance in the future, for the sake of everyone.
He patted Tang Zhao on the shoulder. "Thank you."
Although he didn't know what he had helped with, Tang Zhao still grinned happily, showing off his two rows of white teeth.
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