Chapter 83 If you're blind, you can't see five men...
Rhein silently observed Chandler.
This man is meticulous, reliable, and very gentle, like a breeze—not the cold of winter, not the dryness of autumn, nor the heat of summer.
It's a lush spring day, with a gentle spring breeze. Nothing is absolutely necessary, but its presence would certainly enhance the beauty of the day.
He would rather Ranran have the special ability of Nan Guishang than such a man. He knew Ranran too well; she was easily swayed by gentleness but not by force, and she unconsciously radiated kindness towards the weak.
If you show the slightest weakness, or act as a gentle companion without expecting anything in return, it will soften her heart and make her unable to bear it.
Meng Xin was just like that; he always acted all cutesy and tearful in front of Ranran, which is how the girl brought him to the safe zone. Who knew that he would stay there for so long after they arrived?
But what he really is like in private.
Oh.....
Rhein glanced at Meng Xinye, whose eyes were brimming with tears, and gave a soft hum.
Meng Xin's loud crying completely drowned out Rhine's humming, giving Shan Ran a bit of a headache.
She wanted to reach out and pat the snail-shaped boy's head, but both her hands were being held tightly, leaving her no free hand. So she simply gave up and offered words of comfort.
"It's okay, I've woken up now, I'll recover in a few days, don't cry."
Meng Xin wiped away her tears, wanting to say something, when she heard Nan Guishang say from the side, "That's right, Shan Ran just woke up, it's her first time being revived, her body hasn't even adjusted yet, and you're already crying here, making Shan Ran comfort you, you're so insensible, unlike me..."
Nan Guishang suddenly realized that he had just talked too much, so he stopped talking and remained silent.
Hearing the other party's sarcastic words, Meng Xin felt a lump in his throat and almost choked, but he still couldn't help coughing a few times.
That redhead is still so annoying!
I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've really improved. You used to be such a hothead, but now you're acting like a dog vying for its master's favor, even more cunning than him!
And it "doesn't look like me~~~"
Meng Xin cursed the man in his heart, took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, concealed the gloom in his eyes, and turned to look at Shan Ran, who was still the same young man.
Although his genitals are not visible at the moment, the act must be performed completely.
"Ranran, thank goodness you were there, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to wake up from the illusion of mist. You have no idea, when I saw you in trouble, my heart almost stopped. Luckily, it was an illusion after I lost my memory, and when I woke up, you were right beside me..."
At this point, Meng Xin, who had just stopped crying, choked up again.
Shan Ran pursed her lips, sighed softly, and followed the sound, pulling her hand out and placing it on the head of the snail-like boy.
While waiting for Shan Ran, he was constantly fighting against the Nightmare Beasts, which were the monsters' lair and there were a great many of them. He was seriously injured, otherwise he wouldn't have taken five days to wake up.
However, in front of Shan Ran, he didn't mention his injuries at all, but instead expressed his reluctance and fear.
Shanran felt a pang of sympathy and couldn't help but pat his head to comfort him.
As luck would have it, Kunwu Yecheng was sitting on the side where she had withdrawn her hand.
Thinking back to his first time entering the illusionary realm of mist, the tall man curled his fingers slightly, looked at Meng Xinye who was still sobbing, and his eyes were dark and unfathomable.
So, in the illusion, did this blue-haired man also... you know... with Ranran?
The other people who had never entered the mist with Shan Ran also had different expressions and various guesses in their minds.
Especially Rhine, who asked very detailed questions in the ward that time and knew the details of the first illusion clearly.
He squinted as he sized up Meng Xinye.
Tea also has its benefits, which allowed him to overtake others by taking a shortcut.
However, Meng Xin's explanation was vague. When asked about the situation inside the mist, he only said it was similar to the one involving Kunwu Yecheng, omitting many details and leaving much to the imagination.
Logically speaking, he and Shanran should have had physical intimacy in the illusion, right?
Chandler stood alone at the foot of the bed, watching the men surrounding Shan Ran, practically clinging to her. He raised an eyebrow and asked softly.
"Ranran, are you feeling unwell?"
Shan Ran shook her head. "It's alright, just a bit stiff in my limbs. Although there's a piece missing from the back of my head, it doesn't seem to affect my thinking, which is quite amazing."
Upon hearing this, Nan Guishang slowed down his grip and became very attentive, trying his best to make Shan Ran more comfortable.
Meng Xin, who had been stroking Shan Ran's face, changed her touch and started massaging her shoulders and arms.
Chandler asked, just like last time, "Since you're not feeling unwell, could you tell me about what happened inside the fog this time?"
Shanran nodded and slowly began to explain.
This time there was no dirty talk or gossip, and Shan Ran was very open and honest.
Meng Xin's heart skipped a beat.
If Shan Ran speaks, wouldn't that negate all those ambiguous moments he had shared before?
He glanced sideways at the man standing at the foot of the bed. The man looked detached and uninvolved, but deep down he probably wanted to compete more than anyone else.
What a hypocrite! Her younger brother is right there, yet she doesn't even bother to conceal her burgeoning feelings.
What? Because your younger brother is too stupid, you think you can sit at the table?
Meng Xin also let out a sigh of displeasure, but he certainly wouldn't interrupt Shan Ran if she wanted to speak.
Shan Ran expressed himself very clearly, finishing his sentence in just a few words.
Although the setting of the illusion is her original world, every world has darkness, and this world also has human trafficking incidents.
If gladiatorial arenas can flourish, then human trafficking is nothing new.
The men present might fight amongst themselves, but they were all kind-hearted, and hearing about such things would make them feel uncomfortable.
The Southern Merchant was the most impatient. He gritted his teeth and cursed, "Don't let me run into people like this in real life, or I'll break their bones inch by inch and feed them to the monsters!"
But he soon realized something was wrong.
"So in this illusion, there's no need for exchanging anything, no need for kissing, and no need to acquire superpowers?"
Chandler gave the red-haired youth an approving look; it was rare for his foolish younger brother to be so clever.
Rhine raised an eyebrow, glanced at the blue-haired youth by the bedside, and scoffed softly.
Kunwu Yecheng's eyes lit up, sparkling. He understood; no special abilities meant no intimate contact, so they weren't like he'd been with Ranran that time...
Meng Xin naturally noticed Kunwu Yecheng's gaze, so bright it could blind him! He narrowed his eyes, quite displeased; everyone in the room made him uncomfortable!
Except for dyeing.
Chandler chuckled, sounding quite pleased. "Ranran must be tired after talking for so long. Why don't we all go out and let her get some rest?"
Meng Xinye: What's so good about you? You haven't even sat down at the table, what are you doing here?
Shan Ran didn't refute, but yawned. It was her first time being revived, and she felt very novel, but she was indeed a little tired.
So the crowd stopped surrounding her and got up to walk outside.
Before leaving, Nan Guishang turned to look at the girl and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Shanran, um... next time we go into the mist, can I go with you?"
Before Shan Ran could speak, she was interrupted by another voice.
Rhine scoffed, not even glancing at the other person, "No need for Young Master Shang to come. Next time I'll be with Ranran, so you won't have to trouble yourselves."
After saying that, he turned around and went back into Shanran's room. "It's better if one of you stays here with Ranran. You all should go back and rest."
I almost got led astray by Chandler's words, but luckily that idiot reminded me at the end.
Rhine smiled faintly as she watched everyone leave, and finally closed the door.
Nan Guishang stared blankly at the door that slammed shut with a "bang" for a long while before he came to his senses.
He wanted to refute it, but Rhine wasn't in front of him, so there was no point in refusing. Besides, what grounds did he have to refute it?
I was seething with anger, with nowhere to vent it.
He looked around and found that Cheadle hadn't gone far, so he chased after him.
"Brother! Do you have time now?"
Chandler stopped, turned around, looked at the other person, and nodded. "Ah Shang, is there something you need?"
"Brother, come here, I have something to tell you."
Without saying another word, he pulled Chandler toward a secluded corner.
After confirming that no one was around, Nan Guishang finally spoke, "Brother, you like Shanran too, don't you?"
Cheadle frowned slightly, then relaxed, calmly looking at his brother without objecting.
"I knew it, you've been calling her Ranran for the past few days."
Nan Guishang should have been sad and anxious, but with so many men ahead of him, he really had no desire to compete with his good older brother.
He had completely forgotten his initial feelings, when he hoped that Shan Ran would cut off her other "ill-fated relationships" so that he could become the "other woman" and take her place.
Now he doesn't seek to rise to a higher position; he just wants to be ranked a little higher.
"Brother, we're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony."
Chandler: ...I have a strange, ominous feeling.
"Brother, I like mountain dyeing, and you like mountain dyeing too. We both like mountain dyeing, so let's form an alliance!"
Even with his good temper, Chandler couldn't keep his expression in check at this moment.
"Alliance?"
"Yes!" Nan Guishang nodded hurriedly, like a silly dog squatting at the door wagging its tail waiting for a bone. "When brothers are of one mind, their strength can break metal!"
Chandler: Is this how you're supposed to use idioms?
"I...I was young and ignorant before, and I said some unpleasant things to Shanran." At this point, Nan Guishang lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly.
"You're young and ignorant? Ah Shang, you're 23, and Meng Xin is only 18 now, so he's only 19."
"Brother!" The red-haired youth suddenly looked up and cried out in grievance, "Whose brother are you anyway?!"
Chandler raised his hands in surrender, "Go on, continue."
"Brother, stop criticizing me. Shanran did kiss me, but she doesn't seem to have any interest in your superpowers."
Chandler nearly coughed up blood; his silly younger brother had hit him right on the heart.
"How...do you intend to form an alliance?"
"Ha!" Nan Guishang had an "I knew it" look on his face. "Brother, have you ever watched those dramas about vying for favor? Those people in them really go to all sorts of tricks to win favor!"
We're brothers, we should help each other. When I'm favored, I'll promote you, and when you're favored, you'll promote me. When she gets tired of me, you go for it; when she gets tired of me, it'll be my turn. We're so different types, she won't get tired of us!
Gaining favor... being promoted...
Chandler lowered his head, closed his eyes, and sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
Does that silly little brother know what inappropriate things he's saying?
"Ah Shang, answer me first. Can you tell me what unpleasant things you said to Ranran?"
The red-haired youth's previously animated expression froze instantly, his face hardening, and a few beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"I...I..."
"Um?"
"I...I told Shanran, I would never like you!"
"....."
"Moreover, I questioned her about why she kissed me. I was very angry at the time and probably looked rude."
"?"
"Then, she explained that she was blinded by my good looks and said she would never do such a thing again and would only be friends with me. I... I didn't have the courage to say the rest. Fortunately, a powerful monster suddenly appeared the next day, and I died saving her."
"ah...."
"That was the first time I'd ever been so grateful to a monster, even though I killed it. I'll miss it."
"I...."
"Brother, I didn't expect to be proven wrong so quickly. I regret it, but it's no use regretting it now. Brother, you've always been smart, I can't do without you, brother, let's form an alliance!"
Chandler once again helplessly lowered his head and rubbed his forehead.
How do you want to form an alliance?
The returning merchant's eyes lit up; there was hope!
"Brother, you know I have a very short temper and I speak very bluntly..."
"And without even thinking," Cheadle interrupted mercilessly.
"Brother! You really are my brother!"
"Let's get down to business."
"Oh, I see. I'm not very good with words, but you're the smartest. If anything seems off, just wink at me to remind me that our opponent is someone else, and we need to stand together against them..."
The two were chattering away on one side, while a man stood on the other side of the wall.
The tall man stood in the shadows of the corner, breathing slowly and motionless, so that no one could detect his presence.
Kunwu Yecheng was originally at the D+ level, but during this mission, he broke through and reached the C level.
In situations where they are of equal status, if he wants to conceal his breathing, others will not be able to detect it.
He didn't care about the so-called alliance of the Southern Merchants, nor was he interested in their brotherly charade.
He only noticed the phrase "until she gets tired of it".
The tall man stood firmly in place, arms crossed, seemingly lost in thought.
——
Since awakening in District 4, Shanran has never had such a leisurely and comfortable life.
Because she couldn't see, she couldn't go anywhere. She ate and slept all day long, and she felt like she was gaining weight.
Her head healed quickly, but she remained blind.
Several men took turns massaging her in pairs to help her recover.
Even when it wasn't her turn for a massage, other people would come over, feed her some fruit, and chat with her for a while, making sure she wasn't bored.
It felt so good that at that moment she had the urge to just relax and be a couch potato forever.
She didn't even need to move while taking a bath; Meng Xin would use his water-based supernatural abilities to clean her up.
Rhine used the simplest method: wiping her with a damp towel.
Nan Guishang shamelessly offered to help, but Meng Xinye ruthlessly refused.
Shan Ran was well aware of their undercurrents.
Even if she knew, she would pretend not to know for the time being.
They're both her children, so she just wanted to play ostrich and ignore them for the time being.
As long as I can't see you, I won't know you're in a battleground.
There is no concept of an emperor in this world; she used to watch palace dramas.
She sighed deeply and lamented, "Being an emperor is tough too..."
As soon as I finished speaking, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my eyes.
In three days, her eyeballs had grown back, but she could only sense light and could not see anything.
She covered her eyes and let out a soft cry of pain.
"Ranran, what's wrong?"
The person who was wiping her body stepped forward, brushed her hair with his hand, and asked with concern.
The pain quickly subsided, and Shanran slowly opened her eyes.
A hand reached out, holding a towel, and gently wiped away her fresh tears.
After wiping away her tears, Shanran blinked and realized she could see again.
However, it's still a bit blurry, like high myopia, and it should take a few more days to recover to its previous level of vision.
But she was still very happy.
It's really difficult to move around without being able to see, but fortunately, she hasn't gotten used to the lifestyle of blind people yet, and she can see things.
She looked around, surveyed the room, and finally fixed her gaze on the man by the bed. She squinted as if she were truly nearsighted.
After seeing who it was, she was stunned for a moment.
This...it's Captain Kunwu?
Even when she couldn't see, she could hear their arguments. In the end, only Meng Xin and Rhein cleaned her.
How did Kunwu Yecheng manage to get in?
And he.....
Why is he dressed like that?
This was the first time Shanran had seen Captain Kunwu wearing clothes other than his combat uniform.
He was wearing a loose gray T-shirt and casual pants. His hair was a little longer than when we last met, and it wasn't styled neatly. His bangs were casually scattered across his forehead, which softened his features considerably.
The mask she usually wore was removed, revealing her full face.
Perhaps it was because they rarely saw it that it was so rare, so much so that Shan Ran was momentarily stunned.
Consort Cheng is so beautiful.
Ugh, what is she thinking?
If this face existed before the apocalypse, even if he did nothing, people would fight to take care of him.
However, his usually sharp and imposing eyes now resembled ripples on the surface of water, gentle and warm.
He usually wears a dark-colored, tight-fitting combat suit, which makes his muscles stand out and his lines look particularly defined. When you get close to him, the atmosphere also seems a bit somber.
His current casual, loose T-shirt subtly reveals his good physique, making him appear thinner than usual, less aggressive and repressed, and more like the older brother next door.
Like the older students in the same neighborhood in the fantasy world, who are a few years ahead of you.
Shan Ran stared at him blankly, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
Seeing the man's ears turn bright red, she finally realized what had happened. She lowered her head and coughed lightly to hide her guilty conscience.
"Captain Kunwu, I've known you for so long, but this is the first time I've seen you dressed like this."
Kunwu Yecheng looked down at himself, then looked at the girl with some anticipation. "I rarely wear clothes like this either. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Shanran looked up again. The first thing she saw after regaining her sight was such a pleasing person, and she was very happy. So she smiled and nodded, "You look good, you look really good dressed like this."
Kunwu Yecheng's ears turned even redder, burning hot, so hot that his cheeks felt hot.
"I'm glad you like it."
The voice was very soft, like a breeze. Shanran wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she didn't ask any further questions.
Kunwu Yecheng continued what he was doing, wiping Shanran's body.
He pushed the blanket, which he had already lifted, up a little, and the towel slid up from his knees.
Shan Ran shuddered and quickly stood up, pressing down on the other person's hand.
The thin blanket covering her fell off and piled up at her legs, burying both of their hands inside.
The hands in the darkness only intensified the ambiguity.
"Why are you the one wiping it? I didn't even know, I thought..."
"Who do you think it is? Rhine? Meng Xinye?"
"I..." Shan Ran stammered, her eyes darting around.
Wiping her body is too private; she would definitely entrust it to someone very close to her. But in front of a man, she didn't know how to answer.
The man's large hand enveloped hers, and under the blanket, it grew increasingly hot.
He leaned forward, getting closer to her, and the girl's figure was reflected in his obsidian-like eyes.
"Ranran, don't push me away. You can have anything you want, but don't push me away."
Looking at the handsome face so close to hers, Shan Ran could feel the other's hot breath and see a fleeting hint of shyness on his face.
However, the man was very good at disguising himself, and Shanran would not have noticed if they hadn't been so close.
She couldn't help but laugh.
The captain, who was always cold-faced and ruthless, was so different in front of her, which really made her itchy.
Shan Ran used some force to free her hand from the man's large palm.
His eyes drooped, as if he had been struck by a blow, and his entire aura seemed to be sinking, looking listless.
Even her previously unruly hair was now completely flat and lifeless.
But then, a pair of cool hands touched the back of the man's neck and pulled him forward.
He looked up in surprise and met a pair of smiling eyes.
She pulled the man close, her lips brushing against his flushed earlobe. "Why would I push you away? Hmm?"
A damp scent swept by, bringing a tingling sensation. Kunwu Yecheng's head seemed to go numb, his mind blank.
The tremor in the last syllable of the "hmm?" resonated deep within him, momentarily silencing his thoughts and freezing him in place.
But he quickly came to his senses.
He cupped Shanran's face in his free hand, his dark eyes swirling with unspoken emotions as he gazed at the girl in front of him.
That gaze was oppressive, as if it were about to crash a raging storm onto her.
The man leaned down and kissed her uncontrollably.
A man who had been forbidden from marrying for 28 years was like a wild beast released from its cage.
Although that moment of enlightenment was just an illusion, the sensation was so real that it was no different from the real thing.
Like a reckless young boy, he pried open her lips and teeth, sucking on her and swallowing her sobs.
Shanran sank into the pillow, her breath filling the air, making it hard for her to breathe.
She felt a secret joy deep inside.
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