He left the room and Jiang Ye behind. Bai Chen Zhu felt the outside air flowing again, no longer trapped in that strange stagnation. Even his heart, which had been on a rollercoaster, felt much better.
Tang Zhao, walking beside him, chattered away as he tallied up their account book. The two were planning to trade some unnecessary items for stockpiled food.
Back when Bai Chen Zhu had been staying at his house, Tang Zhao had loved counting their supplies every day, anxious beyond measure. But when they had set out to leave, he had generously given Bai Chen Zhu a full, hefty pack of supplies.
Now that Tang Zhao was handling the inventory and purchases, Bai Chen Zhu trusted him completely. He slacked off a bit, zoning out as he thought about other things, occasionally responding to Tang Zhao’s words.
Though he had no idea what he was even responding to.
“Brother Bai? Brother Bai!”
Bai Chen Zhu snapped back to attention, the items in his hand swinging. “What’s up?”
“You’re always spacing out. Did you fight with Boss Jiang again?” Tang Zhao was a bit displeased with his distraction—after all, Tang Zhao was counting very seriously.
“Why would you say that?” Bai Chen Zhu was amused. “What do you mean ‘again’? I rarely fight with him.”
Tang Zhao gave a perfunctory ‘oh,’ eyeing him with blatant disbelief. Bai Chen Zhu lightly smacked his forehead. “Don’t make stuff up.”
Tang Zhao clutched his head with one hand and sucked in a breath, full of resentment. “Brother Bai, Teacher Bai, you’re not that much older than me. Why are you always so mature? And stop patting my head all the time—it’ll make me dumb.”
“My body might be young, but my soul is mature.” Bai Chen Zhu thought coldly to himself that Tang Zhao might even call him an old man if he knew the truth.
Tang Zhao shivered. “By that logic, my body is even younger, so does that make me even more mature? Mature like a grandpa?”
He stroked his nonexistent beard, grinning cheekily.
But Bai Chen Zhu ignored him.
Thinking he had zoned out again, Tang Zhao waved five fingers in front of his face and bounced around, only to be pressed down by Bai Chen Zhu’s single hand.
Bai Chen Zhu narrowed his eyes. In the distance, a woman approached. “Little Zhu!” she called, a smile breaking through her cool expression.
It was Han Yuyan. She had arrived in Luozhou City.
“You beat me here after all.” Han Yuyan walked slowly alongside him, while Tang Zhao dutifully carried the supplies behind them.
The load Tang Zhao carried was so massive that calling it ‘a cartful’ would be an understatement. Han Yuyan glanced back at him several times. “Are you sure you can handle all that alone?”
Tang Zhao was flattered. He straightened up, hugging the pile taller than himself, and shook his head. “I got this!”
Han Yuyan was surprised. “You’re so strong. An ability user?”
“Auntie.” Bai Chen Zhu cut off her question—and Tang Zhao’s impending answer. He wasn’t the original owner, after all, and he always stayed vigilant around strangers.
The two chatted briefly. Bai Chen Zhu learned she had only arrived in Luozhou City that morning.
“I didn’t expect Mr. Bai to be missing. Luckily, Mrs. Bai is still here. She told me to rest first and take me to see Young Master Bai later.” Han Yuyan sighed. “I’ll be staying in Luozhou City for a while now. What about you, Little Zhu? Will you stay with Auntie for a bit?”
She stopped walking and looked at him earnestly, her cool features somehow drawing people in.
Of course he wouldn’t stay, but his body seemed to betray him. Bai Chen Zhu swallowed, holding back the ‘sure’ that nearly escaped his lips.
Wait—his body was betraying him? Bai Chen Zhu realized it immediately. It all stemmed from the seemingly harmless person in front of him.
His limited patience wore thin. He hardened his expression, losing all the earlier warmth. “Drop your superpower, or don’t blame me if I make a move.”
Han Yuyan jumped in fright. She took half a step back, staring at him in shock—both because he had seen through her trick and because he was threatening her.
When had her timid, useless nephew become so sharp?
She had come to the market alone, so she didn’t dare act rashly. She quickly withdrew her mental power.
Hearing this, Tang Zhao also startled. Looking at Han Yuyan now, that previous fondness dropped by half.
Bai Chen Zhu irritably pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you use superpowers on me or anyone around me again, Auntie, don’t blame me. I’m just protecting myself.”
Han Yuyan seemed dazed for a moment, then overjoyed. “You—you’re an ability user too? The same as me? Do you know how rare this superpower is?”
She had thought her ability was uniquely special, but here was one right in front of her. Han Yuyan’s gaze on him was nearly fanatical.
Bai Chen Zhu knew her “same” referred to the mental system. He was well aware of how rare mental system abilities were, and her reaction was expected. He didn’t respond.
Han Yuyan sensed the awkward atmosphere and frowned in explanation. “Little Zhu, I didn’t mean any harm. I just felt like, since you’ve lost your memory and forgotten your family, there’s always this distance with me. I only used the superpower hoping you’d spend more time with me.”
True or not, Bai Chen Zhu found it amusing. If it was the result of superpower influence, what was the point of asking?
With a cold face, Bai Chen Zhu kept walking forward.
Han Yuyan hurried to catch up. “Do you really have to leave so soon? Can’t you stay a couple more days?”
Bai Chen Zhu said, “I have important things to do.”
Han Yuyan fell silent, then suddenly asked, “Since you got here so early, have you seen Bai Li? I mean, Young Master Bai.”
“I’ve seen him,” Bai Chen Zhu said. “He’s turned into a zombie. He can’t be saved. And you’re still staying in Luozhou City?”
Han Yuyan didn’t reply.
The three made their way from the market back to Bai Manor. As expected, Han Yuyan was also staying there, just not near them.
At the manor gates, Han Yuyan said, “I know he probably can’t be saved.”
“But so what?” she continued. “Mrs. Bai has no intention of giving up on him; she’s keeping him around. I can use this chance to rebuild the lab, research zombies—maybe even develop a vaccine.”
Bai Chen Zhu hadn’t expected this from her. Looking at Han Yuyan’s resolute, cool face, he felt he had been too narrow-minded.
He had only seen her as the original owner’s aunt and noted her superpower, missing her other identity.
Such a young research expert—maybe she really could develop a vaccine. No wonder the Bai Family had sent escorts for her earlier.
Looking at her again, Bai Chen Zhu’s tone softened considerably.
“Auntie.” Bai Chen Zhu said quietly, “I’ll be leaving in a few days. I live on the top floor of that building over there. Come find me if you need anything.”
He pointed out the direction for Han Yuyan.
Han Yuyan noted the location and extended an invitation. “I’m planning to visit Young Master Bai this afternoon. Would you come with me? Miss Li will be there too.”
With nothing else to do, Bai Chen Zhu agreed.
—
Back inside, Bai Chen Zhu told Jiang Ye about Han Yuyan.
Jiang Ye sprawled on the sofa without any posture, staring at the ceiling in a daze. Upon hearing this, he started to speak but spotted Tang Zhao squatting nearby, packing things.
He thought for a moment, beckoned Bai Chen Zhu, and headed to the room.
This was something not convenient to discuss outside. Bai Chen Zhu glanced at Tang Zhao and quickly followed.
Tang Zhao, eavesdropping with perked ears, watched the closed door, his expression growing weirder. He muttered, “Why are they always whispering in the room? So strange.”
Jiang Ye flopped onto the bed as soon as he entered. “Han Yuyan, huh. She’s going to be a big deal later. The vaccine research starts making progress with her, but unfortunately, she dies young.”
“Why?” Bai Chen Zhu pulled up a chair and sat.
“No idea.” Jiang Ye shared what he knew. “Some say she killed Bai Li, others say she became Bai Guang Zheng’s thir—anyway, all sorts of rumors. The fact is, she died in Luozhou City.”
Bai Chen Zhu doubted these rumors. Han Yuyan just seemed like an ordinary expert, albeit with that weird mind-controlling superpower… Thinking this, he pinched his nose, wondering if he had fallen for it again. Why else would he keep defending her?
He had only met her twice.
Bai Chen Zhu said, “Han Yuyan wants me to go see Bai Li with her this afternoon. Want to come?”
“Why would I?” Jiang Ye huffed.
“To be my bodyguard.” Bai Chen Zhu said righteously. “Coming or not?”
Jiang Ye huffed again, rolled off the bed, straightened his clothes, a bit regretful. “Nah, I’m going to chat with Old Li about the alien race. If you’re not back by evening, I’ll come get you.”
Bai Chen Zhu didn’t mind. “You might be the one later than me.”
Jiang Ye smirked, grinning shamelessly. “Then you come get me. I’d be super happy—welcome, welcome, warm welcome.”
It was like picking up a kindergartener. Bai Chen Zhu could picture little Jiang Ye waiting eagerly at the door. He chuckled and shook his head. “Quit joking. Go see what’s for lunch.”
—
In the afternoon, Tang Zhao eagerly volunteered to tag along with Bai Chen Zhu to meet Han Yuyan and Bai Li. In his words, he wanted to study zombies too.
They had encountered plenty of zombies lately but never stopped to examine them properly.
As the two headed to the meeting spot, Tang Zhao glanced at Bai Chen Zhu, then ahead, then back at Bai Chen Zhu, shaking his head like a rattle-drum.
Bai Chen Zhu crossed his arms and said wryly, “Spit it out if you have something to say. Stop being sneaky.”
Tang Zhao seized the chance to voice the question that had been bugging him. “Bro, what do you and Boss Jiang whisper about in the room every day?”
“Uh.” Bai Chen Zhu was stumped for a moment. “J-just talking. What else would it be?”
“Oh.” Tang Zhao didn’t seem convinced.
Both had their own thoughts, making the atmosphere a bit awkward.
Bai Chen Zhu changed the subject. “Tang Zhao, didn’t you say you dated someone?”
He recalled this guy had a high school girlfriend.
As soon as he said it, Bai Chen Zhu regretted it. With zombies everywhere, she might be one of them. Wasn’t this poking at a wound?
But Tang Zhao’s reaction was flat—no sadness, no grief, as if it had never happened. In fact, he nodded and admitted, “Less than two months. Does that count?”
Bai Chen Zhu hadn’t expected kids just out of high school to be so casual. He hadn’t meant to pry into privacy but lowered his voice, a bit embarrassed. “What’s the difference between friends and lovers, in your view?”
Tang Zhao stared at him in shock. “Bro, shouldn’t you know better than me?”
Bai Chen Zhu: ?
“What do you mean? How would I know?” Bai Chen Zhu frowned.
“But…” Tang Zhao held up fingers to mime two little figures sticking together, just like those two who were always glued at the hip. “You and Boss Jiang aren’t…?”
Bai Chen Zhu unceremoniously ruffled his hair. “Nonsense. If I knew, why would I ask?”
So it was a misunderstanding. Tang Zhao let out a long breath of relief. “I knew it. Anime stuff doesn’t happen in real life. I overthought it.”
He had even felt awkward for a while, wondering if he should keep his distance. He scratched his head. “Friends and lovers? The difference is huge—it’s obvious, right?”
Bai Chen Zhu asked humbly, “Like what?”
“Friends, even close ones, keep some distance. Limited physical contact. Like, I wouldn’t hold your hand, Bro.”
Imagining that scene, Bai Chen Zhu figured he’d accidentally smash Tang Zhao’s head into the wall.
“Lovers are different—lots of physical contact, like holding hands, hugging, kissing, stuff like that. And to be lovers, the other person has to attract you, so you can’t help staring, getting close… even sometimes feeling this ‘hunger’… Cough, just for reference. I’ve only held hands; no clue about the deeper stuff.”
As he spoke, Tang Zhao got all fidgety and blushed first.
Kissing? Holding hands? Hugging? Bai Chen Zhu compared them one by one and suddenly realized the difference was pretty clear. No need to overthink it. In the end, it was all that boundary-blind guy’s fault.
Even if there was some fondness, a straight guy couldn’t be bent. Bai Chen Zhu decided to keep more distance in the future—for everyone’s sake.
He patted Tang Zhao’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
Not sure what he had helped with, but Tang Zhao grinned widely anyway, flashing two rows of white teeth.
