In the evening, they had planned to find an open area to set up camp, but they inadvertently spotted a standalone villa on the hillside by the roadside.
The villa was only about two stories tall, full of modern style and design flair. It stood out prominently amid all the farmland and woods. When the group went over to check, they found it completely empty inside, with a layer of dust accumulated on the smart lock.
Bai Tao grumbled, “Who on earth builds a house in the middle of farmland!”
The villa looked brand new but had no furniture at all. It clearly hadn’t been lived in. Tang Zhao muttered, “Those evil capitalists, leaving so many houses idle…”
Bai Chen Zhu looked around and said, “Jiang Ye, this is very similar to your previous place.”
“Yeah, meeting by chance means fate, and if it’s fate, it’s my home.” Jiang Ye smiled at him, got out of the car, wiped his palms, and vaulted over the wall in two or three moves.
Tang Zhao exclaimed in surprise whether this counted as ‘burglary.’
Bai Chen Zhu, already used to his startled outbursts, kept a straight face as he helped Jiang Ye pry open the lock. “In these special times, the owners would understand.”
If the owners were still alive, that is.
Meanwhile, Bai Tao chased after Tang Zhao in playful scuffle.
Once the door opened, Zhou Zhuo Hua smoothly drove the car into the courtyard.
—
The house was much more comfortable than a campsite.
Bai Chen Zhu silently apologized to the house’s owner in his mind, then openly started picking out rooms.
The group quickly divided up the rooms. After checking both floors, they confirmed it really was a new house—nothing but bare walls.
So they ended up grilling the leftover midday fish in the courtyard.
Zhou Zhuo Hua still nibbled on bread by the side. Bai Chen Zhu found a bucket, dumped a fish that looked relatively normal into it, and poked it a couple of times with a wooden stick.
“What’s up?” Jiang Ye came over.
“I think this one’s pretty normal.” Bai Chen Zhu fiddled with the fish thoroughly and observed it closely. “The teeth, eyes, and scales are all normal. Zhuo Hua should be fine eating it.”
Bai Chen Zhu gave Jiang Ye a nudge with his elbow. “Do you know how to tell?”
Seeing the odd look on Jiang Ye’s face, he had a good guess. “You know.”
Jiang Ye started to leave, but Bai Chen Zhu reacted quickly and grabbed his neck. “Where to? Tell me first.”
His voice wasn’t loud, leaving Jiang Ye some room.
Jiang Ye nearly stumbled from the yank. He turned around with a sigh, took the stick from Bai Chen Zhu’s hand, and poked the fish in the bucket. “Fine. Actually, in the later stages, everyone’s bodies undergo some mutation. So even mutated fish can be eaten, as long as they’re not too extreme.”
“Mutated fish are edible?” Bai Chen Zhu recalled those grotesquely shaped ones and immediately felt nauseous. “Really?”
“Of course it’s real. Human bodies in the later stages aren’t as sensitive, and the infection rate drops sharply. Only a sufficient viral load can cause mutation, but right now…” He glanced at Zhou Zhuo Hua.
Bai Chen Zhu got it. “You don’t want to take the risk.”
“Not now. And if Zhuo Hua sees how ugly the mutated fish are, she might not dare eat any more grilled fish.”
Jiang Ye tugged at his lips, reminiscing about something with a slight sigh. “Speaking of which, this is why Luozhou City managed to rise in the later stages. The ocean is vast, and the number of human-infected monsters is limited. They eat seafood from the sea, grow some staple crops, and don’t have to worry about food shortages. Sigh, unlike other bases, where they slave away just for a bit of meat…”
“Why talk about things so far off?” Bai Chen Zhu noticed his low mood and slapped his back, placing the bucket in front of him and assigning a task. “Grill me some fish.”
“Hiss, you’re really not holding back, huh.” Jiang Ye put one hand on his hip and pointed.
This was all because of Jiang Ye’s skills—whether grilling chicken or fish, it always tasted great. Bai Chen Zhu looked at him innocently and asked sincerely, “Are you sure you want me to hold back with you?”
“No dare.” Jiang Ye looked a bit aggrieved.
Bai Chen Zhu started to walk away, then suddenly backtracked two steps and poked Jiang Ye’s cheek, switching to a gentle tone. “Be good and go grill the fish.”
From a few meters away, the three by the campfire could clearly see the two stuck together. Bai Tao whispered in Zhou Zhuo Hua’s ear, “Those two are whispering again. What do they have to talk about?”
“Birds of a feather flock together. Put them together, and their average age wouldn’t exceed six.” Zhou Zhuo Hua patted her hand. “Alright, we’ve been roughing it outdoors for so long. It’s rare to find a house—let’s turn in early tonight.”
—
That night, Bai Chen Zhu hugged a thin blanket into his room.
Jiang Ye lived rough, using an outer jacket as a blanket, and even tried to persuade Bai Chen Zhu to do the same. “In this hot summer, why need a blanket? It’s sweltering enough without sleeping naked.”
“Strip if you want.” Bai Chen Zhu made his bed. “No blanket, no sense of security.”
Since they were already sleeping in rooms, he didn’t mind making himself more comfortable.
Jiang Ye rolled over and directly pinned his blanket under him.
Acting up again. Bai Chen Zhu smacked the back of his shoulder blade. “Roll back.”
Jiang Ye mischievously lay on the thin blanket, pretending to sleep.
“Get off.” Bai Chen Zhu reached to push him, but Jiang Ye gripped the edge of the bed frame tightly. If Bai Chen Zhu used real force, the bed frame might flip, ruining their sleep.
“Not getting up, huh?” Bai Chen Zhu’s patience ran out.
Jiang Ye kept pretending to sleep.
Bai Chen Zhu simply sat on his waist. Jiang Ye hadn’t expected this move and let out a half-genuine cry of pain. “Murder! Help, someone’s killing me!”
Bai Chen Zhu found it amusing. He pinched the back of Jiang Ye’s neck and slowly rubbed it. “Is my blanket comfortable?”
“Not comfortable at all! The worst!” Jiang Ye said quickly. “I want to go back.”
Bai Chen Zhu pressed his palm harder, shoving Jiang Ye’s forehead into the blanket with a thud.
After a moment, he released him. “Since you like it so much, don’t go back.”
Such a good deal? Jiang Ye froze. He tried hard to turn his head to look at Bai Chen Zhu, but the hand on his neck held firm. He couldn’t see Bai Chen Zhu’s expression.
He hesitated only a moment before giving up on using his superpower.
A warm body pressed against him. Jiang Ye’s hairs stood on end.
Bai Chen Zhu lay on top of him, using him as a body pillow. Noticing Jiang Ye stiff as a board, he patted his back. “You’re sleeping in my blanket, so you be my pillow. No objections?”
Jiang Ye had plenty of objections.
“Objection denied.” Bai Chen Zhu gave the back of his head a knuckle rap. “You’ll just lie there like that tonight.”
“Wait…”
Bai Chen Zhu mimicked his roguish ways, pretending to sleep and even snoring deliberately to prove he was ‘asleep.’
With the person sprawled on his back, Jiang Ye was dumbfounded. His fingertips clenched and unclenched as he mentally rehearsed flipping the guy off countless times, but he didn’t act.
Time ticked by. Bai Chen Zhu hadn’t expected Jiang Ye to endure it. After tormenting him enough, he pretended to roll over in his sleep onto the mattress, giving Jiang Ye a chance to get up.
A hiss of cold air came from beside him—Jiang Ye’s limbs were numb. Bai Chen Zhu lay facing the wall and heard the movement; his lips curved slightly.
A blanket draped over him.
The curve at Bai Chen Zhu’s lips gradually flattened.
He had thought it was just usual horseplay, but Jiang Ye’s indulgence seemed excessive—no retaliation at all.
After a while, he turned to glance at Jiang Ye. Jiang Ye lay on his side facing the door, back turned, wearing only an outer jacket with his arms exposed to the air, muscles clearly defined.
Bai Chen Zhu lifted the edge of the thin blanket and draped the corner over Jiang Ye’s waist.
—
Luozhou City sat at the southernmost edge of Hua Country, bordered by sea on three sides and connected to the mainland by only one large bridge. It was most famous for its Vacation Island.
From a great distance, one could see the Holiday Hotel in the center of Vacation Island, designed to look like a giant ship—extremely iconic.
Around it scattered colorful houses, arranged like stars surrounding the moon.
“The legendary world-class vacation destination.” Zhou Zhuo Hua adjusted her glasses as she gazed at the vibrant colors and sighed. “I always wanted to visit during a holiday. Never thought my first time would be in the apocalypse.”
The car was crossing the bridge. Bai Chen Zhu looked at the shimmering sea and had a sudden thought. “Jiang Ye, what if the fragment is in the sea?”
Jiang Ye said the third fragment was in the Holiday Hotel.
Of course, he had privately told Bai Chen Zhu that it should be in Bai Tao’s father’s hands.
But after the incident with Tang Jie, they weren’t so sure anymore.
After all, the second fragment was supposed to be with Tang Jie, but he had nothing. It was only after Jiang Ye pressed him that he revealed a planned destination, and they risked it to find the fragment inside the mutated cow.
Now, they had shifted timelines again, arriving in Luozhou several years early. Who knew what they’d encounter.
Jiang Ye said flatly, “That’s fate. I can only do my part.”
Bai Chen Zhu turned to look at him upon hearing this, but Jiang Ye focused intently on the road ahead.
Liar. These days had been enough for Bai Chen Zhu to figure out Jiang Ye’s temperament. From his actions, he could discern some patterns.
He vaguely guessed Jiang Ye’s mindset: Even if it was like fishing a needle from the sea, he’d fish it out—that would be doing his part.
—
As soon as the car came off the bridge, it was surrounded.
After stating there were two ability users inside, they received high-level treatment. The lead squad captain, to welcome them to Luozhou, offered rooms at the Holiday Hotel.
Jiang Ye asked directly, “We have urgent business and need to see your boss. Can you arrange it?”
“What important matter? You can tell me.” The lead squad captain said politely.
Bai Chen Zhu glanced at Jiang Ye and seamlessly continued, “It’s about the zombie king. We fled here because a powerful zombie king appeared at our last base. And now, we’ve sensed a similar aura in Luozhou. We’re very worried for its safety.”
Sure enough, at the mention of zombie king, the lead squad captain immediately reported up the chain. “Please wait a moment, everyone. Mr. Bai is very busy and will see you later.”
Mr. Bai.
Bai Chen Zhu caught the key phrase and glanced at Bai Tao.
Bai Tao, who had been chatting and laughing with Zhou Zhuo Hua, heard it too. Her smile faded, and she frowned deeply, lost in thought.
Jiang Ye grabbed Bai Chen Zhu’s elbow and led him back to the car. “What are you looking at? Let’s go.”
Bai Chen Zhu withdrew his gaze.
The car parked in a lot near the hotel. The group looked up at the towering Holiday Hotel, momentarily speechless.
“Wow, they say this is one of the world’s top hotels.” Tang Zhao walked with his neck craned, nearly tripping over a stone.
Bai Tao yanked him irritably. “We can tell without you saying.”
Bai Chen Zhu walked ahead, thoughtful. “If they allocate lodging at this standard, Luozhou is a great place for development.”
Zhou Zhuo Hua frowned. “With people packed so densely, if a zombie appears in one room, it’s a disaster.”
“There are thousands of rooms here, after all.” Jiang Ye idly toyed with the car keys. “So they need lots of patrols. Even ordinary people can find work.”
They chatted as they walked, all tall and long-legged, standing out like cranes among chickens on the street. Soon, people followed, offering to guide them.
Compared to Fuguang City, the streets here were clean, lined with stalls selling all sorts of odd things—barter only. Crowds bustled about, lively and vibrant.
But Bai Chen Zhu noticed straw tags on some people’s heads.
Those with straw tags were trade goods. He instantly realized something, and his good mood vanished.
It seemed Luozhou’s ‘prosperity’ was just surface-level, no different from Fuguang City at its core.
—
“Dad!” Bai Tao’s startled cry drew the attention of the whole street.
Including the other four.
Like a bird, Bai Tao broke from the group and happily rushed to an elegant man, hugging his arm. “Daddy! I finally found you! Waaah!”
She wept with joy, affectionate and enthusiastic—completely different from her car complaints about not liking this father.
Bai Chen Zhu followed and sized up Bai Tao’s father.
He looked very young, appearing only in his thirties or forties, fair-skinned and beardless, quite refined. He wore a fully covered casual outfit and black gloves.
Beside him stood a beautiful woman in a skirt, pushing a wheelchair. On it sat a boy about Bai Tao’s age, sickly and pale-faced, numb expression.
No matter how he looked at it, they appeared to be a family of three out for a trip. Bai Chen Zhu glanced back and forth, concluding that this boy was the son of the base leader that Han Yuyan had mentioned.
Was Bai Tao really an only child? He turned his head to look at Jiang Ye, trying to convey the question.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Ye had been watching him the whole time. The two of them suddenly locked eyes, and Jiang Ye’s gaze held surprise.
Bai Chen Zhu rubbed his chin and fell into thought. “It looks like it’s not what we thought at all.”
Jiang Ye: “Mm.”
Mr. Bai froze in place, at a loss for what to do. The guards around him heard that “Dad” and saw Mr. Bai’s permissive attitude, so they didn’t dare to act rashly.
As a result, Bai Tao was able to get close. After crying her fill, she unceremoniously used Mr. Bai’s sleeve to wipe her tears.
She looked at the woman, sizing her up from head to toe. Her round eyes brimmed with clear innocence—nobody would suspect her of having ulterior motives.
Bai Tao turned to Mr. Bai and raised her voice. “Daddy, is this my new mommy too?”
That single word “too” nearly made Bai Chen Zhu burst out laughing. He turned his head away and coughed twice to cover it up.
Tang Zhao had always been rather dense and straightforward. He laughed outright without holding back, causing the polite smile on Father Bai’s face to nearly falter.
“Taotao, you’re still alive?!” An expression finally appeared on Father Bai’s face, like a short-circuited robot coming back online.
He looked moved as he pried Bai Tao off himself and gripped her shoulders, looking her over from side to side. “You’ve been through a long journey; you must be tired. Let’s head back to the residence and talk there.”
Bai Tao said joyfully, “Yay! Can I bring them back with me too?”
She pointed at the other four.
“Who are they?” Father Bai’s attitude turned cold as he scrutinized Bai Chen Zhu and the others.
Bai Tao pointed at Zhou Zhuo Hua. “This is my girlfriend.”
Then she pointed at Tang Zhao. “This is my boyfriend.”
Finally, she pointed at Bai Chen Zhu and Jiang Ye. “These are my two spare tires.”
Bai Chen Zhu’s eye twitched. A single thought ran through his mind: ‘Why was he a spare tire?’
Bai Tao shook Mr. Bai’s arm and looked up at Father Bai pleadingly. “Without them, I’d be so lonely. Daddy surely understands, right?”
Perhaps too shocked by the twisted relationships, Father Bai’s guards behind him—and the people on the street who had been listening in—stood there dumbfounded.
“Okay, Daddy~” Bai Tao pulled out all the stops with her coquetry, hugging Mr. Bai’s arm and shaking it.
With her cute round face that was so pure and harmless, and at the perfect age of a little girl, her coquetry felt entirely natural.
Mr. Bai couldn’t hold out. Mr. Bai surrendered.
But that silly sweet innocent act made the four who had traveled with her for a while feel extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable. They even suspected she had been possessed.
Bai Chen Zhu covered his eyes. Jiang Ye said, “You’ll get used to it.”
What did that mean? Bai Chen Zhu looked at Jiang Ye in utter shock. Had Bai Tao acted like this in her previous life to manipulate people too?
Jiang Ye looked at him deeply and nodded, confirming his guess.
Countless thoughts flashed through Bai Chen Zhu’s mind in an instant. But among those fragmented memories, the one that surfaced was Zhou Zhuo Hua’s words: Jiang Ye was weak to soft approaches but not hard ones.
He paused, then—for some inexplicable reason—asked, “Do you like this kind of thing?”
