Chapter 7 The Apocalypse 6
The next morning, Lu Xuejin asked Cheng Ce to drop her off at the crossroads outside the residential area and then walked to her apartment building.
Dongyao answered quickly: [I know, I know, baby, you're afraid the male lead will see you and cause another conflict. But you and Cheng Ce clearly didn't do anything, who knows how much Luo Mingchuan is imagining things.]
Lu Xuejin: "It's not his fault. Anyone else would have misunderstood if they were in his shoes."
The cicadas chirped incessantly, and the sweltering heat made me sweat profusely after walking only a short distance.
Back in the old, run-down apartment, Luo Mingchuan was still in class. Lu Xuejin went to the bathroom to wash her face, splashing cold water on her face.
Cool water droplets slid down his cheeks, taking away some of the heat. He looked at his wet face in the mirror and found the experience quite novel.
Sweating is something I haven't experienced in a long time.
There was no air conditioning in the room, only two old fans bought from a second-hand market. When turned on, they blew hot air and made a creaking noise as the fan blades turned.
Lu Xuejin moved a small stool to sit in front of the fan, reached out to brush away the stray hairs that were wet with water from her forehead, and almost brought her whole face close to the air vent.
Luo Mingchuan came out to get some water during break and saw this scene. He immediately frowned and asked, "Do you want to catch a cold?"
Lu Xuejin turned her head at the sound, a slight smile playing on her lips, her fingers still tugging at her collar, trying to let more wind in.
His eyes were exceptionally beautiful, with clear, bright pupils and soft, upturned corners. When he looked at someone, he seemed focused, as if his eyes could only hold that one person. However, Lu Xuejin was timid and usually habitually lowered her eyes when speaking, avoiding direct eye contact. Perhaps she was in a good mood at the moment, or perhaps she felt she didn't need to be guarded in front of her younger brother, which is why she didn't subconsciously lower her head.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling on his eyelashes like a sprinkle of fine gold dust, reflecting the gleam in his eyes.
“…blow it a little longer,” Lu Xuejin said softly, her tone unconsciously coquettish.
Luo Mingchuan's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his head to drink water, feeling his chest pounding and his heart pounding rapidly. He felt inexplicably agitated.
He attributed this to the frustration caused by Lu Xuejin's disobedience.
You're in your twenties, why are you still acting like a child?
Despite being the elder, Lu Xuejin is pitifully clumsy in daily life, knows nothing, and has no self-control.
Just like how my past life was carefully taken care of and pampered, which led to my current state.
Thinking of this, Luo Mingchuan's eyes darkened.
He himself wasn't sensitive to temperature changes, but seeing Lu Xuejin's sweaty skin, her nose wrinkled from the heat, and her constantly fanning herself, he suddenly felt that they should install an air conditioner. However, with classes and tutoring every day, he simply couldn't find time to work. Although Lu Xuejin had repeatedly told him not to go to bars anymore, the extra time he had wasn't nearly enough.
Seeing Lu Xuejin enjoying the fan and getting closer and closer until she was almost buried in it, Luo Mingchuan put down his water glass, turned around and went back to his room to get the homework he had just finished. He ostensibly asked Lu Xuejin to check his learning progress, but in reality, he just wanted to keep him away from the fan.
Lu Xuejin: "..."
The exercise book was filled with dense numbers and symbols, showing a serious attitude. Lu Xuejin glanced at it briefly and said, "Good attitude towards learning, keep it up."
As for the accuracy of the content, there was little comment. Luo Mingchuan also knew that what he wrote was more for show than practical use, so he lured Lu Xuejin to the sofa with the exercises and then left.
As soon as he left, Dongyao jumped onto Lu Xuejin's lap, shaking his head and saying, "[The male lead really has no talent for studying at all. He filled up his notebook, but unfortunately, he didn't get many questions right. Bao, you should criticize him a bit, let him know the dire situation, and stop spoiling him.]"
[These are such simple questions; even a newly created rudimentary system could answer ten in a second. He's really no match for them.]
This system is too dynamic.
"..." Lu Xuejin touched the smooth surface of the metal ball, her voice gentle, "I don't want to dampen his enthusiasm."
Dongyao couldn't help but exclaim again: "Baby, you're so good to me!"
Having a wife who is considerate, gentle, and beautiful in everything—what have you done to deserve this?
...
Despite the embarrassing brawl outside the bar, Cheng Ce continued to patronize Lu Xuejin's business without fail. Thanks to him, Lu Xuejin's sales performance was outstanding, and she should be able to settle a considerable commission this month.
Unfortunately, the apocalypse is coming soon, and Lu Xuejin is destined not to receive her salary this month.
Tonight, Cheng Ce abandoned his serious and rigid style of dress, changing into a hoodie and jeans, his hair deliberately styled to look a few years younger. He pushed a square pink cardboard box in front of Lu Xuejin, saying, "It's a new product from the pastry shop next door; I heard it tastes good."
From visiting every night, chatting, opening a champagne tower for Lu Xuejin, to bringing all sorts of snacks and desserts, Cheng Ce's intentions were quite obvious.
Lu Xuejin simply lowered her eyes and wiped the cocktail shaker, her voice indifferent: "Sorry, I ate too much for dinner, and I don't have much of an appetite right now."
Cheng Ce paused, and the light suddenly turned a cold white, highlighting Lu Xuejin's originally soft features with a hint of coldness. It wasn't an illusion; Lu Xuejin's tone and attitude were much colder than yesterday.
Was it because that "child" discovered their relationship?
That night, Cheng Ce didn't really examine the man beside Lu Xuejin, but in just a few quick glances, he was left with the impression that the man was rude, barbaric, and unruly. Lu Xuejin was gentle by nature, and she might back down in the face of his forceful interference.
“You can freeze it in the refrigerator and eat it tomorrow. It tastes even better chilled.” He maintained a gentle smile, but his fingers, hidden under the table, twitched nervously.
The cocktail shaker stood upright. Lu Xuejin finally looked up and glanced at him lightly: "I'm really sorry, I don't eat sweets."
To keep pestering them would just be obnoxious and unreasonable.
Cheng Ce had no choice but to take the cardboard box back.
He then tried to find another topic, but Lu Xuejin responded with the same indifferent attitude. In Cheng Ce's expectations, their relationship should have steadily warmed up, from strangers to friends who could chat for a few words, then to close friends, and finally naturally crossed the line of friendship. However, Lu Xuejin's attitude took a sharp turn for the worse, and her estrangement was clearly visible.
It's all because of that damn "kid".
Cheng Ce could barely maintain his smile.
As it was nearing the end of the workday, Lu Xuejin looked at Cheng Ce and said calmly, "Mr. Cheng, I've thought it over carefully, and this kind of transaction really shouldn't continue... Thank you for your help, I will raise the money to repay you as soon as possible, it may take until next month. Please don't come again in the future."
The voice started out weak, but became more and more firm as it went on.
Why?
The mask of gentleness welded to her face finally shattered, and Cheng Ce froze for a moment. He wanted to stop Lu Xuejin to ask her what was going on, but her figure had already disappeared into the back room. He tried to follow her, but was stopped by a waiter who smiled politely.
"Sir, please do not enter the workplace."
He stood frozen in place, a ferocious expression spreading across his face, startling passersby.
This man looks quite refined, so why does he have such a scary expression?
Heartbroken? Caught cheating?
Is it really necessary?
...
Logistics room.
Lu Xuejin locked the door and took off her uniform.
boring.
Cheng Ce's expression, which he tried his best to control but which revealed subtle clues, flashed through Lu Xuejin's mind. She tried to recall it, but still couldn't find anything to savor, and felt bored.
The elite adult man, feigning gentleness as he approached his prey, revealed all his thoughts and methods to Lu Xuejin. Lu Xuejin almost saw through Cheng Ce. Although he didn't understand the source of the other's craving for pain, he had no desire to continue exploring.
Compared to Cheng Ce, his younger brother is more entertaining.
So after using Cheng Ce to create a misunderstanding with Luo Mingchuan, he quickly decided to stop this childish game with the elite man.
Although Dong Yao was unclear about the host's thoughts, he was still overjoyed that Lu Xuejin was away from Cheng Ce.
[Good job, baby! Stay far away from this kind of perverted man.]
get off work.
Lu Xuejin changed back into her casual clothes and left the bar. Her smiling eyes swept lightly over her surroundings. The place was bustling and lively, but the street scene was mundane day after day.
Suddenly, my gaze fell upon the glass display case of the reptile house across the street. In one of the compartments, a pure white hognose snake with a slight pinkish tinge was coiled up, hissing and flicking its tongue, displaying a rare and ferocious appearance.
"Oh, I forgot to take it down. It was originally a very good breed and had a good temperament, but recently I don't know what happened, it started attacking people. I've had this guy since it hatched, and it's already taken a few bites." The reptile shop owner was very honest in response to Lu Xuejin's question. "Hognose snakes have weak venom, but their bites still hurt quite a bit, and some people may experience allergic reactions. If you like its appearance, I have other hognose snakes here that are more docile. This one might be difficult to keep if you buy it."
Lu Xuejin lowered her eyelashes and gently tapped the glass with her fingers. The coiled hognose snake immediately swooped down, baring its sharp fangs at the human.
"See?" The shopkeeper shrugged. "This one can't be tamed. Think about it, if you take it home, it'll bite you a couple of times every day and won't be affectionate. Who can stand that? This must be your first time handling a reptile, so don't push it too hard."
He thought to himself, "This unfilial son may be fierce, but I raised him myself. What if I can't accept him after buying him and abandon him? These hognose snakes are quite stupid; a lone snake won't survive long in a big city."
But the guest in front of me is so good-looking, he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would abandon someone...
"Hey, this snake is half-zombie! If it bites you and injects venom, humans will also get infected with the virus!" Dongyao warned.
He then asked, "Why are you suddenly interested in snakes?"
Lu Xuejin stared at the small snake, its menacing appearance fully revealed, her eyes filled with tender affection. The scene of this person and snake gazing at each other through the glass was inexplicably chilling. The shopkeeper shivered, wondering why it suddenly felt so cold in the middle of summer—was the air conditioning too low?
“No need to change, this one is fine.” Lu Xuejin tapped the glass again, her eyes crinkling. “It suits my taste perfectly.”
No matter how much you like someone, you're still unhappy if you get bitten...
The boss was inwardly complaining, but the customer insisted, and he had no choice but to comply.
Given his personality flaws, the owner ultimately gave him a 50% discount and also threw in a bunch of pet supplies.
As Lu Xuejin pushed open the door to leave, the boss couldn't help but call out to him, "If you really can't keep it, you can bring it back for a refund."
[This shop owner is actually quite nice.] Dongyao sat on Lu Xuejin's shoulder, watching the hognose snake roll around in the pet carrier. He was puzzled by his host's sudden decision to buy a pet. He was even more confused when he saw that Lu Xuejin did not leave but instead went into the pet supply store next to the reptile shop.
Lu Xuejin bought a dog muzzle, a leash, and a piece of chain.
Dongyao couldn't help but ask: "Baby, are you going to raise a dog too?"
Lu Xuejin smiled meaningfully: "...I have that idea."
When Lu Xuejin got home, Luo Mingchuan was taking a shower, so she quietly put the snake and dog supplies back in the room.
The television was broadcasting news about the recently emerged virus, and there seemed to be new developments. However, this had nothing to do with the daily lives of ordinary people.
In the dead of night, all was quiet.
Lu Xuejin sat by the window and unlocked the small lock on the pet carrier. The pig-nosed snake, which was eager to bite, immediately stretched out its body.
However, Lu Xuejin swiftly grabbed his kiss, and his body rolled in vain, unable to break free.
【!!】 Dongyao breathed a sigh of relief, almost thinking her host was about to be bitten. She said with lingering fear, 【Baby, quickly put it back in its place, it was too scary TAT】
Lu Xuejin ignored her and gently stroked the snake's head downwards with her free hand. The hognose snake seemed to be soothed, its neck swelled for a moment, and its twisting body instantly quieted down, stiffening and remaining motionless.
...This is a trick used by hognose snakes when facing external enemies: feigning death to survive.
Even when Lu Xuejin let go, it remained motionless, not even flicking its tongue, letting Lu Xuejin play with it as she pleased, clearly terrified.
Dong Yao was amazed: "Baby, do you have a secret to training snakes? It becomes docile as soon as you touch it, it's amazing!"
Lu Xuejin stroked the hognose snake's tail, casually replying to the system: "There's no secret...maybe it's because I've always had a soft spot for small animals?"
The slender fingers stopped on the snake's snout and rubbed it, but the hognose snake continued to play dead.
Lu Xuejin smiled and forcefully parted the snout with her fingers, forcing out the sharp fangs.
"bite."
He commanded.
【？？】
Wait, what is the host supposed to do?
"Baby!!" Dongyao screamed, "What are you doing?!"
The hognose snake actually obeyed the command, its fangs piercing Lu Xuejin's fingertip, slowly injecting venom. Lu Xuejin watched with a smile, feeling no pain and not even trying to dodge; instead, she stroked the snake's body as if rewarding it.
The zombie virus rapidly entered the bloodstream through the venom, reaching the heart in an instant. It was too late for Dong Yao to act; almost immediately, Lu Xuejin showed symptoms of infection.
Those dark, lustrous eyes began to glow red.
Lu Xuejin released the pig-nosed snake and was still laughing.
He observed himself in a small mirror and found that apart from his eyes turning red and his lips becoming more vibrant, there were no other visible changes in his physical condition.
I felt extremely dizzy, and my forehead was burning hot, like I had a high fever.
Lu Xuejin ignored Dong Yao's screams, sat quietly for a moment to savor the moment, then got up and pushed over and smashed the water glass on the table.
The sharp, piercing sound of shattering glass immediately caught the attention of the neighbors next door.
Thump, thump.
A hesitant knock sounded on the door.
Not wanting to disturb Lu Xuejin's rest, Luo Mingchuan's low voice was muffled by the door: "Are you still awake? What happened?"
Lu Xuejin did not answer. He stood up, holding onto the back of the chair, and struggled to drag his legs. He staggered a few steps and fell onto the bed in a disheveled and powerless manner, making a few muffled thuds.
Without further hesitation, Luo Mingchuan immediately pushed open the door and rushed in.
Under the moonlight, Lu Xuejin's hair was scattered messily on the pillow. When Luo Mingchuan reached out to touch her, his skin was surprisingly hot.
He carefully lifted the back of Lu Xuejin's head, wanting to observe his condition.
Her black hair was disheveled, and Lu Xuejin's eyes were flushed with an unnatural redness, which seemed to seep into her eyes. Her lowered eyelashes trembled sadly, and her eyes were wet with moisture.
The high fever brought a captivating blush to his cheeks, and his full lips were almost eerily beautiful. A slanting ray of moonlight fell, brushing across his flawless, white skin, and his once gentle features were now tinged with the cold, crescent moon's glow, as if revealing a hidden, elusive spirit that would stir the soul at first sight and leave an unforgettable impression.
Sensing Luo Mingchuan's approach, Lu Xuejin's long eyelashes trembled with difficulty, and she called out softly in a mournful voice:
“Mingchuan…”
His breath was intensely hot.
Luo Mingchuan froze for a moment, his heart skipped a beat.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com