Chapter 10
It was hard to believe a pollutant could learn human language so quickly, let alone speak so eloquently.
The pollutant continued to surprise Shi Xu. His momentarily erratic heartbeat returned to normal.
Despite the pollutant’s clear eyes and sincere words, Shi Xu didn’t fully trust it.
They were born of malice. Only seven years had passed since the first rift opened. There was no evidence of a pollutant showing goodwill towards humans.
They were capricious, greedy, driven by slaughter and consumption, evolving only to continue their ruthless cycle.
“Why do you like me?” The question sounded childish even to Shi Xu.
The pollutant blinked. “I don’t know.”
Shi Xu scoffed. “Then why do you like me?” He knew the answer would be the same, yet he asked.
Surprisingly, the pollutant replied, “In your human terms, it was love at first sight.”
Shi Xu’s narrow eyes narrowed further, the corners lifting in a captivating curve. His smile widened, his voice icy. “Do you know the true meaning of love at first sight?”
The previously still jellies trembled again. [Pretty, want lick…] Despite the internal turmoil, the pollutant remained outwardly calm. “What… meaning?”
Shi Xu pointed at his face, smiling. “Love at first sight is based on looks.”
The pollutant shyly agreed. “Wife’s face… very pretty.”
Shi Xu concluded, “So, you like me because I’m good-looking.”
The jellies trembled faster, rushing to explain. “No, not… only face…” It couldn’t articulate the reason. It wasn’t just physical attraction, nor solely based on Shi Xu’s appearance.
Sensing the pollutant’s struggle, Shi Xu stopped teasing. “Let’s end this topic.”
The pollutant deflated. “Okay, listen… to Wife.”
“I need to make something clear…” Shi Xu paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I’m shallow. I would never like someone ugly.”
The pollutant: “!!!”
Rejected!
His confession was rejected!!
Maybe he should have kept that mannequin after all?
Shi Xu disliked takeout. Whenever possible, he cooked his own meals.
It was getting late. He decided to make dinner.
After his clear rejection, the pollutant slumped on the sofa, dejected.
Shi Xu ignored its mood, finding it a welcome change. At least it was finally quiet, not following him around and constantly calling him “wife.”
He went upstairs to change into comfortable clothes. As he removed his shirt, the collar brushed against his neck, causing a slight itch.
He looked in the mirror. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing his long neck and delicate collarbone. A small red spot, like a mosquito bite or a pinprick, appeared on his left side, between his neck and collarbone.
Shi Xu frowned, touching the spot repeatedly, each touch firmer. The itching was less intense than the pressure of his fingers, more like a dull ache from fatigue.
Not a serious injury.
He examined it carefully, concluding it was just a bug bite. He applied some antiseptic lotion, the cool liquid soothing the itch.
…
When he went downstairs, the pollutant wasn’t in the living room. Finding it odd, he entered the kitchen, spotting the transparent jellies on the kitchen island.
“Wife, you… cooking? I… help.”
Surprise flickered in Shi Xu’s eyes.
It recovered that quickly?!
He glanced at the fingernail-sized jellies, scoffing, “How can you help in that state?”
The pollutant: “…”
Seeing the jellies deflate again, Shi Xu said lightly, “Reform. Wash the vegetables.”
Immediately, the jellies merged, forming a sphere.
“Wife… cares… about me~ Wife… the best~~”
As it reformed, its tentacles reappeared, wriggling on the dark marble countertop.
Shi Xu pursed his lips, averting his gaze.
For the first time in 24 years, he felt like a normal human being.
A normal human wouldn’t date this creature.
The Anomaly Management Bureau’s questioning was routine. It should have taken only an hour. Zheng Xin arrived at 2 pm, but didn’t leave until 8 pm.
He spent most of that time in shock and repeatedly fainting, the gruesome images seared into his mind.
The staff advised him against viewing the bodies of his ex-wife and son, suggesting cremation and burial without viewing.
He was a doctor. He had seen his share of gruesome scenes.
Out of curiosity, and a flicker of guilt towards his ex-wife and son, he wanted to see them one last time.
Despite the staff’s warnings, he insisted.
His confidence shattered the moment the sheet was lifted, the image becoming a permanent scar.
He had performed countless open-chest surgeries, but none as shocking as this.
What kind of instrument could have caused such damage?
And how was that disgusting silkworm placed inside his son’s stomach?
Zheng Xin returned home in a daze. His current wife greeted him with her usual enthusiasm.
Sensing his distress, she asked, “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t talk to me. I want to be alone! Don’t disturb me!” Zheng Xin pushed her away, stumbling towards his room.
The slammed door startled her. She had never seen him so distraught.
She knew where he had been, having heard about his ex-wife and son’s deaths. She was shocked.
She was his mistress, having schemed her way into her current position. She had tried to sabotage his previous marriage, even targeting his innocent son, but she never intended for them to die. She never imagined this ending.
She felt a pang of guilt and unease.
But she also found it strange. She knew Zheng Xin no longer had feelings for his ex-wife and son. Why were their deaths affecting him so much?
Had he suddenly repented, remembering their good qualities?
Would he divorce her because of this?
Anxious, she wanted to understand his intentions, but hesitated to disturb him.
She sat in the living room for hours, until midnight, but Zheng Xin didn’t emerge.
The master bedroom was quiet. Despite the soundproofing, she could hear faint sounds. He must have fallen asleep.
She decided to talk to him in the morning, going to the guest room.
After turning off the lights, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, troubled by the news and Zheng Xin’s behavior.
She rolled over, glancing at the door, then suddenly opened her eyes.
She had turned off all the lights, but now, light seeped from under the door.
The guest room was near the kitchen. She could hear faint sounds coming from it.
She immediately assumed Zheng Xin was looking for food.
Honestly, he had refused dinner, and now he wanted a midnight snack. He couldn’t even cook rice, what could he possibly make?
She had thrown away the leftovers, and he disliked instant food. There were only raw ingredients in the kitchen.
A few moments later, a knock echoed on the guest room door. She wasn’t surprised.
This wasn’t the first time. Whenever he returned late from work, he would wake her up to cook for him.
She wanted his money and status, he wanted her beauty, figure, and domestic skills.
But her domesticity was an act. Until she secured enough money, she had to maintain the facade.
With the persistent knocking, she reluctantly got out of bed, her annoyance transforming into a sweet smile as she reached the door. “Honey…”
Her greeting turned into a scream.
It wasn’t her handsome husband standing there. It was his body, but with a black line across the neck, connecting it to the head of a black silkworm.
A perfect head transplant, the patient still mobile and able to speak. “Wife, I’m hungry! Give me food, I want to eat!” The silkworm head opened its black mouthparts.
Too terrified to flee, the woman’s eyes widened, consumed by darkness.
Qi Yu felt he should buy a lottery ticket. He was convinced he would win.
Several new breakfast places had opened near his home. He had tried to enjoy a leisurely breakfast twice, only to be interrupted by calls from the bureau.
Because he was closest to the incidents.
Because both incidents happened near breakfast places.
The Anomaly Management Bureau handled pollutants and Variant outbreaks, while the police dealt with ordinary human safety.
Since the emergence of pollutants, crime had decreased. Public safety was excellent. It was unusual for a police station to handle multiple cases in a few days, let alone several in a month. At this rate, he should consider a career change.
Qi Yu was frustrated!
He took a bite of a fried dough stick, carrying his takeout breakfast, rushing towards the scene while eating.
He exchanged a look with his equally exhausted subordinate, seeing the same helplessness in each other’s eyes.
“Vice-Captain,” his subordinate called weakly.
Qi Yu sighed. “Let’s see what happened.”
He was grateful for his strong stomach.
Seeing the gruesome scene, he managed to keep his breakfast down.
The housekeeper had reported the incident, discovering it upon arrival that morning.
According to her, a couple lived there.
Hearing the husband’s name, Qi Yu froze. “Zheng Xin?” He looked at the lifeless silkworm head on the floor, a bad feeling rising within him.
Less than 12 hours after leaving the Anomaly Management Bureau, Zheng Xin was dead.
The Variant that killed him was most likely…
