Chapter 45: Sleeping Separately

“Do you like it like this?”

“Why would I like it like this?” Jiang Ye looked at him in bewilderment.

Bai Chen Zhu smiled and touched the tip of his nose, saying nothing. He just felt deeply unsettled inside.

He could not figure out what answer he wanted, but it certainly was not this one.

Bai Chen Zhu soon put his probing aside.

Jiang Ye waited for Bai Chen Zhu’s next words but got none, so he looked away, toward a family of three up ahead. No, now it was a family of four.

The woman in the skirt dress had a very forced smile. The boy in the wheelchair showed no reaction to Mr. Bai recognizing him as kin.

The group skirted around Holiday Hotel and checked into Mr. Bai’s residence, a Rose Manor hidden away in the city that could easily accommodate them all.

Bai Chen Zhu stared at the roses in the courtyard, and the first thing that came to mind was the first mutant he had encountered.

That climbing vine rose.

As a result, he could not appreciate the blooming roses filling the yard. He even vaguely caught a whiff of blood, finding the sight extremely off-putting, and he deliberately walked around them.

Bai Tao followed Mr. Bai inside. Before leaving, she winked at them, signaling that she would handle the Zombie King matter and that they should relax.

But it was hard to relax, and rightly so—after all, even Bai Tao was tangled up in family affairs.

They were settled in a secluded spot in the back courtyard, rarely visited by others, which isolated them from everyone else.

Some ordinary people also lived here, both old and young. Whenever they made eye contact with them, those people quickly looked away and avoided them.

Bai Chen Zhu made eye contact with one of them. He walked over openly and greeted her quite naturally.

She was a woman whose expression mixed fear and uncontrollable curiosity. She responded to Bai Chen Zhu, “Y-You’re an Ability User, aren’t you?”

Bai Chen Zhu kept his expression unchanged as he withdrew his hand in greeting. “I’m not.”

Hearing this, the woman actually breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced timidly at the people behind him and mumbled unclearly, “Ability Users are very dangerous here. You should leave quickly.”

With that, she turned and ran off. Bai Chen Zhu called after her, but she did not come back.

Bai Chen Zhu walked back, and the others gathered around him as they headed to their lodging.

“This place is very strange,” Bai Chen Zhu said in a low voice. “That woman’s reaction didn’t seem right.”

“We’ll probably have to wait for Bai Tao to come back to know what’s going on,” Zhou Zhuo Hua said worriedly. “Speaking of which, that woman next to Mr. Bai and her son—could she be Mr. Bai’s second chance at love? If so, Bai Tao’s position would be not just awkward but dangerous.”

“Of course. Who would want their husband bringing home an extra daughter to split the family fortune? In TV drama terms, this could fuel seventy or eighty episodes of mansion intrigue!” Tang Zhao’s words were rough but spot on.

Without Bai Tao there to bicker with him, Tang Zhao actually felt unaccustomed. He said worriedly, “She’s not going to just stay here and not come back, is she?”

That would mean one less playmate for him. Tang Zhao fretted.

No one could answer that. They reached their lodging and briefly discussed Luozhou City’s layout before planning to rest.

Tang Zhao suddenly spoke up. “Hey! Jiang Boss, doesn’t it feel cramped sharing a bed with Brother Bai every night? Why don’t you let me take over that duty.”

He patted his chest loudly, thinking that he had been hogging a single room these days and now wanted to contribute. “Lately, my superpowers have improved, so protecting Brother Bai is no problem! You’re so strong—you can totally enjoy a room to yourself.”

Jiang Ye: “No!”

Bai Chen Zhu: “No need.”

They spoke in unison.

A strange atmosphere spread. Tang Zhao scratched his head, looking puzzled at the calm-faced Bai Chen Zhu and the scowling Jiang Ye. “Why?”

Jiang Ye’s denial only made it more obvious. “It’s nothing. I’m just afraid he’ll run off again.”

At that, Bai Chen Zhu glanced at him, his expression subtle.

Jiang Ye turned his head away and huffed coldly with his arms crossed.

“Oh~ So that’s it.” Tang Zhao laughed heartily. “But why would Brother Bai run off for no reason?”

He just had to bring up the sore spot. Zhou Zhuo Hua could not stand it anymore and smacked the back of his head.

—

Jiang Ye walked quickly, ahead of Bai Chen Zhu.

The more Bai Chen Zhu called him, the faster he went, until the door slammed shut.

But two seconds later, the lock opened by itself.

Bai Chen Zhu stared at the door crack and raised an index finger, easily pushing the door open.

He stood in the doorway, neither entering nor leaving in a hurry. “Jiang Ye.”

Jiang Ye sat at the table with his back to him, hunched over drawing something, without turning around.

“Jiang Ye.” Bai Chen Zhu called again.

Jiang Ye stiffened there, saying nothing.

Bai Chen Zhu was at a loss for words. He did not know why he kept calling Jiang Ye; he just felt like something was off.

His intuition had always been spot on.

That was why, when he felt he should follow, he did— even though he had no idea what to say.

Bai Chen Zhu thought for a moment and reassured the uneasy man. “I won’t leave casually.”

“So…”

So you’re going to room with Tang Zhao? Jiang Ye held his breath, his fingers tightening around the pen. He even felt enveloped by a cool breeze, gently wrapping around him.

What was that?

Bai Chen Zhu’s mental power? Was he trying to soothe him this way? Jiang Ye’s pupils contracted sharply.

Crack—

The pen snapped in two in his hand.

Bai Chen Zhu approached lightly. Jiang Ye, whose attention was elsewhere, did not notice at all. Or rather, Jiang Ye had no guard up against Bai Chen Zhu.

Bai Chen Zhu took the upper half of the pen from his fingers and tossed it into the trash bin. “Tang Zhao’s right. You should enjoy a single room.”

Jiang Ye sat rigidly, like a marble sculpture under a master’s hand. His mind was entirely on this, floating and unable to touch ground. The words in his ears seemed muffled through a layer of gauze.

Bai Chen Zhu took the other half from his fingers. “But, Jiang Ye, remember when Tang Jie kidnapped me?”

Taking advantage of Jiang Ye not turning around, he leaned against the table edge and looked down at him. His serene, sea-like eyes clearly held amusement, though his words carried fear. “I’m used to rooming with you. It’s safer with you around. So, can you not go?”

“Of course—cough cough cough!” Jiang Ye realized he had answered too quickly and immediately stopped, pretending to cough a couple times. He looked up at Bai Chen Zhu, then quickly looked away.

It made him seem all the more sneaky.

Amusement deepened in Bai Chen Zhu’s eyes as he tossed the broken pen into the trash bin.

“We’re all buddies here. Since you put it that way, I suppose I can make the sacrifice,” Jiang Ye said, his tail practically wagging as he forced out those reluctant words.

Bai Chen Zhu crossed his arms and watched Jiang Ye’s performance quietly, studying the deep contours of that uninhibited face, the roguish smile at his lips. A trace of doubt gradually surfaced in his heart.

When Tang Zhao made the suggestion, his first reaction had been refusal. But upon reflection, he had no reason to refuse—Tang Zhao was right on every point.

Perhaps it was just habit. Bai Chen Zhu thought. And it was safer rooming with Jiang Ye. His luck was always poor; out of so many people, he was always the first targeted.

Bai Chen Zhu thought of his mental power and reached out to touch the invisible air. A cool sensation slid through his fingers.

He could now retract most of his mental power, but a small part still drifted outside. Bai Chen Zhu rubbed his temples and smiled wryly: Was he going to get targeted again this time?

—

That evening, someone came to say that Mr. Bai wanted to see them.

In the brightly lit hall under the luxurious crystal chandelier, Mr. Bai had prepared a table full of dishes. To his left sat Bai Tao, followed by that woman, while his right side was empty.

Bai Chen Zhu raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the seating arrangement.

The refined and steady Mr. Bai raised a glass of wine and thanked them solemnly, his face full of gratitude and very polite. “Thank you for bringing Tao Tao back. Sit, sit wherever.”

Jiang Ye naturally took the seat to Mr. Bai’s right, followed by Bai Chen Zhu, Tang Zhao, and Zhou Zhuo Hua in turn.

Jiang Ye and Mr. Bai hit it off immediately and chatted happily. Bai Chen Zhu ate beside him, listening to their conversation while distractedly observing the woman across from them.

His seat was directly facing hers. She had clearly dressed up, her makeup covering her sallow complexion, but compared to the beaming Bai Tao beside her, she looked especially haggard.

Bai Tao spared not a glance for the woman, nor did Mr. Bai.

Jiang Ye and Mr. Bai soon became sworn brothers.

Bai Chen Zhu overheard it all.

Mr. Bai’s real name was Bai Guang Zheng, a businessman who had come to Luozhou City to negotiate with the authorities. Somehow, he awakened superpowers and quickly consolidated power amid the chaos in Luozhou City. Now, it could be said without exaggeration that he was the true ruler of Luozhou City.

The woman was his remarried spouse, and the son was an accident. Bai Guang Zheng did not want to say much about the boy.

When he mentioned the son, the woman glanced at Bai Guang Zheng with faint repulsion.

Bai Tao called him “Dad” affectionately and trusted him completely.

“You mean a certain object caused the Zombie King to be born? That thing made zombies this strong—it’s unbelievable!” Bai Guang Zheng exclaimed. “To think such a thing exists in the world. I’ve never seen it. Little brother, rest assured: once I detect it, I’ll send people to deal with it immediately!”

There was still no lead on the fragment.

Bai Chen Zhu finished his meal cleanly. He saw that Jiang Ye had been drinking nonstop and barely touched his food.

Too much alcohol hurt the stomach. Bai Chen Zhu naturally snatched a chicken leg from Tang Zhao and put it in Jiang Ye’s bowl.

Jiang Ye’s movements froze. After a moment, he continued chatting with Bai Guang Zheng about superpowers.

“Little brother, superpowers aren’t for sparring,” Bai Guang Zheng said earnestly, raising his fist inspiringly. “We need to save our strength to protect the people!”

Bai Chen Zhu’s gaze was drawn to his words. Looking at Bai Guang Zheng’s righteous face, he felt an intense sense of dissonance.

Jiang Ye’s invitation to spar was turned down.

They talked until late into the night before returning. Bai Tao used the excuse of wanting to chat with her friend Zhou Zhuo Hua and naturally went back with them, sticking close to Sister Zhuo Hua the whole way.

—

As soon as they entered the door, the sweet smile vanished from her face. “Damn it!”

Bai Tao cursed. “That idiot Bai Guang Zheng doesn’t even bother hiding it.”

Tang Zhao stealthily checked that the doors and windows were secure before coming over in surprise. “His son looks about your age.”

That was like pouring oil on the fire.

“Hah, a bastard child—what’s there to hide?” Bai Tao sneered, recalling some unpleasant past.

She rubbed her face. “He thinks I don’t know, but I know everything.”

“The deadbeat old man cheated. He was doing business out there, ended up in her bed, and she got pregnant demanding marriage. The deadbeat ran off. Then, over a decade later, they rekindled things. The kid was already that big, and he came back with excuses to divorce my mom.”

“Back when I was taking my middle school exams, the deadbeat returned to Floating Cloud City. That kid followed him, learned the truth, and came at me looking for a fight.”

“I dragged him to my mom as proof, and she filed for divorce first… He never came back to Floating Cloud City after that.”

“Scum!” Bai Tao spat viciously, her eyes red as she recalled their once harmonious father-daughter days. She could not tolerate Bai Guang Zheng’s actions any longer.

The deeper the love, the deeper the hate.

Bai Chen Zhu timely changed the subject. “Do you know where the fragment is?”

“No, nothing here at Bai Guang Zheng’s,” Bai Tao said, her attention shifting and her expression improving. “But I heard a rumor. Want to hear it?”

“Yes, yes!” Tang Zhao raised his hand eagerly.

Flattered by the enthusiasm, Bai Tao beamed. “The manor isn’t very safe. There are suspected mutants active, attacking people. Try not to go out at night.”

At these words, all four looked at Bai Chen Zhu.

After traveling together, even the blind could see how much mutants were drawn to Bai Chen Zhu.

Bai Chen Zhu sighed helplessly and raised his hand like a student. “I guarantee I won’t go out at night.”

Jiang Ye slung an arm around his shoulders and patted heartily. “What’s there to fear? With me around, any mutants that come will bite the dust. By the way, Bai Tao, do you know how strong your dad is? He turned down my sparring invite.”

Working backward from the result, Bai Guang Zheng was no match for Bai Tao.

But that was the Bai Tao from ten years later, a mental system Ability User. It was hard to compare.

Bai Tao shook her head. “I only heard he’s very strong. They boast about him being the ‘strongest in Luozhou City’ and ‘strongest human’ and such.”

Bai Chen Zhu’s face grew solemn. He elbowed Jiang Ye aside. “Be serious. How does he compare to you exactly?”