Chapter 9 The Apocalypse 8
The next few days passed peacefully. Lu Xuejin went to work as usual. Because of the fever, Luo Mingchuan naturally asked her to go home on time and cut off contact with Cheng Ce. This time, Lu Xuejin finally obediently agreed.
Luo Mingchuan was unaware that Lu Xuejin had already abandoned Cheng Ce. The poor elite man dared not appear in front of Lu Xuejin, fearing that his persistent pursuit would annoy her. He could only secretly observe Lu Xuejin's every move from the booth.
He was even mocked by his friends for being so old and having his old house catch fire.
This peaceful life continued until Luo Mingchuan's birthday.
The afternoon sun was blazing, its scorching rays capable of melting anyone. Lu Xuejin had pre-ordered a cake. Of course, the birthday boy wouldn't have to worry about dinner, so he found a high-end restaurant that offered delivery and ordered a table full of his favorite dishes.
These preparations were carried out quietly, and Luo Mingchuan was unaware of them. He went to class as usual, struggling with the incomprehensible exercises.
As lunchtime approached, Lu Xuejin stopped Luo Mingchuan, who was putting on his apron and about to go into the kitchen, and asked him to go to the nearby supermarket to buy some fruits and vegetables.
"……knew."
Luo Mingchuan put on a wide-brimmed hat, picked up the door key, closed the door, and went downstairs.
The sun was still scorching at five o'clock, and the road was steaming with heat. There were only a few pedestrians. Luo Mingchuan caught a glimpse of several food delivery riders speeding past and stopping in front of an old residential building.
His thick eyebrows furrowed slightly beneath the brim of his hat.
Lu Xuejin is acting very strangely today.
From the morning onwards, he had an undisguised smile on his face, clutching his phone and mysteriously tapping away, as if he were secretly plotting something behind my back.
During his daytime tutoring sessions, Luo Mingchuan was distracted, constantly pondering this problem. His tutor reminded him several times, but could only sigh helplessly in the end. After all, whether the boy listened attentively or daydreamed, the learning outcomes were about the same. The tutor felt guilty for paying a high salary to teach a student who didn't grasp concepts, and privately contacted Luo Mingchuan's parents, suggesting that continuing tutoring was unnecessary and a waste of money. However, the parents didn't seem to care, so he could only continue teaching with a sigh.
I even sent him away before dinner...
We still have enough groceries at home; it's not time to restock yet.
He racked his brains, trying to come up with various guesses and eliminating possibilities one by one, but he couldn't find an answer no matter how hard he tried. It wasn't until he caught a glimpse of a birthday gift package on a new display stand when he entered the supermarket that he realized—today seemed to be his birthday.
A sudden flutter in my heart.
He never celebrated his birthday, nor did he feel the need to. Many people attributed special meanings to the date, but in Luo Mingchuan's view, it was simply a case of having too much time on one's hands. However, given Lu Xuejin's personality, she would indeed secretly prepare surprises for him.
A strange sense of anticipation and secret joy spread from the bottom of his heart, sweet as if he had drunk honey water. Luo Mingchuan pressed his chest, trying to calm his emotions.
What should have taken ten minutes to buy, he deliberately extended to half an hour. By the time he stood at his doorstep again, the sun had already sunk below the horizon, and the temperature had finally dropped.
Luo Mingchuan didn't try to hide the sound of the door opening, but he instinctively called out as he did so, "I'm back."
As she pushed open the door, the aroma of food wafted towards her. Lu Xuejin stood in the entryway, holding a colorful firework tube in her hands.
Two loud "bangs".
"Happy birthday, Mingchuan!"
Confetti rained down on her shoulders. Lu Xuejin looked over with great interest, but seeing Luo Mingchuan's strange expression, she immediately put away the confetti cannons with embarrassment: "They were a gift from the cake shop, might as well use them."
The dining table was set out. This old table was small and narrow, with unstable legs, and the surface was covered with marks left over from the years. It had been used since Luo Mingchuan could remember.
With four dishes and a soup, plus a fruit cake, Luo Mingchuan had never had such a sumptuous dinner, even when his father was still alive.
The dim, yellow sunset slowly moved across the table. The food was hot and fragrant, and the rising steam made everything seem like an unreal dream.
The sound of a neighbor cooking came from next door. Luo Mingchuan noticed Lu Xuejin's ears flushed slightly and heard him say softly, "I'm not a good cook, so I can only order takeout."
Even if he were to make it by hand, he might not be able to finish it by the next day.
Luo Mingchuan gripped his chopsticks stiffly, stubbornly saying, "There's no need for this. I don't celebrate my birthday."
[Dedication Points +5]
The system notification, however, revealed everything.
Dongyao jumped onto the dining table, pointing and whispering at him: "Tsk tsk, so stubborn. Can't he be a little more honest? Honey, your husband is really something."
It couldn't understand why Lu Xuejin would fall for Chen Mo. After all, judging from Luo Mingchuan's personality, Chen Mo himself should be an unromantic, stubborn, and illiterate man who was not worthy of him at all.
But this question was destined to remain unanswered. Dongyao dared not ask, for it knew that its host cherished silence, and to inquire would be an offense.
Although it is an inorganic entity, it understands human relationships and social dynamics. In terms of emotional intelligence, it considers itself to be even higher than the silent one.
The restaurant's culinary skills were unmatched; the food was delicious, beautifully presented, and the portions were generous. Lu Xuejin was full after eating very little. She put down her chopsticks, rested her chin on her hand, and watched as Luo Mingchuan devoured the remaining dishes.
Luo Mingchuan naturally cleared away the dishes, closing the kitchen door before Lu Xuejin could react. Several bowls were quickly washed with the splashing of water.
As dusk fell, the curtains were drawn tightly shut when I came out, letting in only a faint sliver of light, plunging the living room into darkness. One by one, the candles on the fruitcake were lit, their flickering flames illuminating the snow-white cream and glistening fruit, creating a warm, orange glow.
The halo of light enveloped Lu Xuejin's face and scattered in his clear eyes, like a falling meteor shower.
"Come sit down here. Today is your eighteenth birthday. After this day, you will be an adult and a full-fledged adult. Time flies..." Lu Xuejin sighed with emotion, her eyes lifting to completely envelop Luo Mingchuan. "Although it's a bit rushed, I sincerely hope that you can be safe and happy."
He clapped his hands, a happy smile spreading across his face. "Make a wish."
Luo Mingchuan sat down stiffly, recalling similar scenes on TV. He clasped his hands together and slowly closed his eyes. He was very unaccustomed to this posture, his mind was blank, and he didn't know what to wish for.
Lu Xuejin clapped rhythmically and hummed "Happy Birthday." Her gentle singing mingled with the subtle sounds of the fireworks, creating an indescribably soft and moving effect.
...Just wish for his grades to improve. Lu Xuejin cares so much about his grades and has spent a lot of money to hire tutors for him. If there's no improvement, he'll definitely be disappointed.
Also, his brother must be in good health.
Lu Xuejin bought a small cake for two people. After cutting off a small piece, she left the rest for Luo Mingchuan. Even though he had just finished eating, the young man still had the energy to quickly swallow the sweet cream and soft cake base.
The sweet taste was delightful, and Luo Mingchuan loved it so much that he couldn't help but eat a lot.
Lu Xuejin, sitting opposite him, rested his chin on his hand and tilted his head, revealing a stretch of ivory-white neck that served as the perfect canvas for the candlelight, casting dappled warm shadows. Strands of hair fell as he tilted his head, framing his delicate features, while the candlelight danced and burned deep within his eyes.
Luo Mingchuan kept looking at him, swallowing the last bite of cream.
It's said that overeating can cause dizziness. Having eaten so much in one meal, Luo Mingchuan quickly felt dizzy and drowsy. He blinked, trying to dispel the sudden drowsiness. He usually did this to quickly wake up when he was about to fall asleep in class at school.
This time, however, the drowsiness didn't subside; instead, it intensified. My arm fell heavily, making the table shake. Not only was I sleepy, but my limbs and my entire body felt weak and sore.
Luo Mingchuan frowned, shook his head, and tried to sit up straight. The surrounding scenery seemed to grow larger and smaller in his eyes, but Lu Xuejin's smile remained unchanged, dreamlike and enchanting.
A hissing sound came from the snake, like the flute call of a snake keeper in a psychedelic world. Luo Mingchuan searched for the source of the sound with difficulty and finally found the snow-white snake on Lu Xuejin's forearm.
My head is splitting with pain, and my limbs feel heavy and sluggish.
He realized something was wrong.
"You..." What did you do to me?
"Hey, what's wrong with the male lead?" Dong Yao ran up to Luo Mingchuan. "I feel like he ate something weird, there weren't any mushrooms in the dish."
It did not receive a response from the host.
Lu Xuejin said, "I am your brother, and I should have raised you and taken care of you, but I missed so many years. You are now an adult, and this is the first time I have celebrated your birthday."
He sighed, as if he genuinely felt sorry for it.
Before Dongyao could figure out what had happened, she exclaimed, "Baby, this isn't your fault! Come check on the male lead, something's wrong with him."
"...So I think I should give you an irreplaceable gift."
As she spoke, Lu Xuejin walked up to Luo Mingchuan. The tall young man, who was usually someone you had to look up to, was now leaning back in his chair, letting Lu Xuejin look down at him.
Luo Mingchuan's lips parted and closed twice, as if he wanted to say something, but his strength was being consumed by the drugs, and he could only barely maintain the posture of keeping his eyes open, staring at the person at the head of the table with a gloomy expression.
He hadn't shown that sinister and cold expression to Lu Xuejin in a long time, afraid of frightening his timid older brother. But now, Luo Mingchuan realized that his awkward attempts to take care of her were a complete joke. How could someone so timid put drugs in a cake? And how could she be so calm and composed under his gaze?
Lu Xuejin…!
Suddenly, Lu Xuejin leaned closer, her loose hair enveloping Luo Mingchuan like a spiderweb. From this angle, Luo Mingchuan saw a pair of scarlet eyes.
...What is that?
Lu Xuejin smiled, revealing her fangs.
Pressing his fingers down on Luo Mingchuan's head, he casually found a suitable spot to bite. His zombie instincts reminded him that he was about to bite into a piece of juicy, tender meat. The moment his teeth touched his skin, a tingling, itchy sensation and a chilling sense of crisis spread through his limbs.
Luo Mingchuan wanted to resist, but he was completely unable to move.
The sharp teeth pierced the skin, and blood gushed out, sliding down the wound.
Intense pain.
Luo Mingchuan almost thought that Lu Xuejin had bitten through his neck.
vampire?
Despite the pain, he still had the leisure to ponder the reason for Lu Xuejin's unusual behavior.
He couldn't hear Dongyao's screams.
【Honey!! What are you doing?!】
But at this point, Dongyao could do nothing but scream.
The virus was injected into the human body, efficiently conquering new territory. Lu Xuejin ruffled the young man's hair, as if petting a pet. After a moment, she slowly got up, her fingertips tracing the wound, watching the hot blood gushing out.
"I think this gift will be unforgettable."
He said softly.
Her lips were stained with blood, an eerily red.
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