Chapter 4: Tonight, this Zombie Emperor will sleep here!…
“If I wanted to bite someone, a muzzle wouldn’t stop me.”
The little zombie tilted his head up, his expression sincere as he looked at Shi Changyuan. Perhaps holding his head up was a bit uncomfortable, as his long eyelashes fluttered incessantly.
“I know.”
“Even an alloy door couldn’t stop you.”
It was rare for Shi Changyuan to see such a docile look. His fingertips twitched, wanting to pinch the soft flesh of the young man’s cheek, but his intention was too obvious and was dodged in an instant.
“No touching the Zombie Emperor!”
Lin Ling took two steps back, speaking with great righteousness, yet he couldn’t help but rub the skin where he had been touched.
A human’s body temperature was higher than a zombie’s. The skin-to-skin contact was a bit… overly warm.
“And I never agreed to be called Cutie,” the little zombie muttered uncomfortably, trying to distract himself.
“You’ve already developed a serum, so why are you still afraid of me biting people?”
Hearing this, Shi Changyuan’s brow twitched. He looked at the little zombie and retorted, “Just because there’s a serum, you can go around biting people?”
The sentence wasn’t exactly a scolding, and his tone wasn’t fierce, but it made Lin Ling feel a sudden pang of guilt.
Following his animal-like survival instincts, Lin Ling shrank back and defended himself. “I never said that.”
Looking at those eyes that were always sparkling, Shi Changyuan unconsciously rubbed his fingertips together and said with a light laugh, “A muzzle would indeed cause unnecessary speculation.”
“How about you wear this instead?”
A silver metal ring was placed in front of Lin Ling. Shi Changyuan stared into his eyes, his tone lilting.
“This has a tracker and a toxin.”
“Letting a zombie loose among people requires some precautions. Cutie can understand that, right?”
As for the name “Cutie,” the little zombie found that the more he corrected him, the more the other seemed to enjoy it. He decided to selectively ignore it and picked up the metal ring from the table.
It was a very thin, soft metal ring with a transparent gem dangling from the middle. The moment he put it on, it automatically tightened, fitting snugly around his neck.
“Is this okay?”
The little zombie looked at the sparkling gem on his neck and even gave it a little flick.
He didn’t really understand. A zombie’s weak point wasn’t the neck, so what was the use of wearing this thing?
Besides, as the Zombie Emperor, Lin Ling was immune to most toxins. But if this represented a promise “not to bite,” then he would certainly keep it.
“It looks quite nice.”
Shi Changyuan seemed very pleased with the metal ring. He then extended a hand toward the little zombie.
“What’s this for?”
The little zombie, who hadn’t batted an eye at the poison necklace, now looked terrified at Shi Changyuan’s gesture and took several steps back.
“Hold my hand.” Shi Changyuan’s gaze slowly fell to the metal ring on Lin Ling’s neck. “Or I hold this.”
The little zombie didn’t understand the difference between the two options, but for the sake of his escape plan, he took a deep breath and, as if facing death, slapped his hand into the other’s palm.
“Alright, alright, let’s go!”
Shi Changyuan smiled without saying a word and led Lin Ling out the door.
After the first door, which the little zombie had destroyed with brute force, there was a second door with facial recognition, and a third with iris recognition.
The little zombie: …Hiss.
Outside the lab seemed to be more labs—identical white walls, corridors, and various security checkpoints. Then, an elevator appeared before them.
“P-Professor Shi?”
When the elevator doors opened, a researcher stepped out. He immediately bowed upon seeing Shi Changyuan, then scurried past them, keeping as much distance as possible, and ran down the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
Shi Changyuan could feel the little zombie, who was already tense, grow even more rigid.
He turned slightly, completely shielding Lin Ling behind him.
“Mm.”
“C-Congratulations, Professor Shi, on finding a pet you like.”
As the small talk landed on this topic, the detachment in Shi Changyuan’s eyes dissipated slightly. He nodded. “The book you gave me was very useful. Thank you.”
“Ah, n-no problem, I’m glad it was useful.” The researcher was flattered and waved his hands repeatedly while also backing away. He let out a huge sigh of relief after Shi Changyuan stepped into the elevator.
“Goodbye, Professor Shi.”
The researcher bowed again in farewell, averting his gaze. But as he straightened up, through the not-yet-fully-closed elevator doors, he caught an unexpected glimpse of an exceptionally beautiful young man.
And as the elevator doors concealed the young man, his lingering gaze fell upon a strikingly familiar name-brand collar.
The researcher froze on the spot, his mind in chaos.
So that’s Professor Shi’s pet?
Wait! That’s not right!
How can it be that kind of “pet”?!!
**
“Breathe.”
Shi Changyuan felt the temperature in his palm dropping and spoke to remind him.
The little zombie took a moment to react, only then realizing he had been holding his breath the entire time out of nervousness.
“Um…”
Lin Ling hesitated for a moment before taking the initiative to speak to the human beside him.
“I think she was looking at us weirdly. Is that okay?”
Shi Changyuan hadn’t expected Lin Ling to ask this. He hummed softly. “You’ll get used to it.”
Get used to it?
Huh? Get used to what? Get used to people looking at me weirdly?
The little zombie was a bit shocked, thinking this was another one of the evil human’s strange quirks. But when he met those emotionless eyes, he asked blankly, “Are you used to them looking at you weirdly?”
The answer he received was a “Of course.”
Seeing the little zombie’s even more confused gaze, Shi Changyuan finally explained with a light laugh, “Haven’t you noticed? They’re afraid of me.”
Just as he finished speaking, the elevator reached its destination.
The little zombie had assumed that to get to Shi Changyuan’s apartment, they would at least have to leave this research institute, which would be a good opportunity to memorize the route. But he found that the elevator was going up.
Then, they wound through identical white corridors, took a private, direct-access elevator, and by the time they reached the door to Shi Changyuan’s apartment, the little zombie hadn’t gathered any useful information at all.
Damn it, what a waste!
The apartment layout was simple: a study, a bedroom, and an open-plan kitchen that looked completely unused.
But what caught Lin Ling’s eye the most was the massive floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, which looked out onto a starry sky.
“Wow!”
It wasn’t until he saw that window that Lin Ling realized he hadn’t seen a single window before, neither in the lab nor in the corridors.
“How is this done?”
“Projection.”
Back in his own apartment, Shi Changyuan changed into casual clothes, giving off a completely different vibe than when he was in his lab coat.
It was as if… taking off the white coat was like shedding a layer of gentle, harmless human skin.
The little zombie blinked, thinking with some regret.
If only this human were a zombie. He looks so fierce; he’d definitely be a powerful high-tier zombie.
I would definitely make Shi Changyuan my number one subordinate!
“So this is a fake window?” The little zombie pulled himself back from his fantasy and looked at the giant floor-to-ceiling window again.
“No.”
Shi Changyuan’s words made the little zombie’s spirits lift.
Great! It wasn’t a total loss!
If he could see the view outside, he could plan his escape route from the institute in advance, and the outside world wouldn’t be a complete unknown.
“Can this projection be turned off? I want to see the view outside.”
Because Lin Ling asked so directly, the options “yes” and “no” were laid bare before him.
“Outside?”
Shi Changyuan looked at the little zombie, whose schemes were once again written all over his face. He smiled and deliberately teased, “I can, but what will Cutie give me in exchange?”
“What?”
The little zombie tilted his head, not understanding.
“Cutie wants to escape, and you want me to help you.” Shi Changyuan was well aware of the young man’s thoughts, yet he still walked over and placed the projection remote in his hand.
“An exchange.”
The little zombie held the remote, thought for a moment, and then waved his hand magnanimously.
“Fine! I permit you to call me by my name.”
“This is the esteemed name of the Zombie Emperor. When I rule the world, just mention my name, and I’ll make you a Zombie Prince!”
Shi Changyuan: …
Seeing the man’s silence, Lin Ling thought this human was about to be ungrateful again. He was about to say more when he heard what sounded like a laugh, followed by, “Alright, Lingling.”
Being called “Lingling” again made the little zombie feel a bit awkward. He glanced at the human several times but ultimately said nothing.
Fine, fine.
It’s better than Cutie.
The moment the projection was turned off, Lin Ling finally knew where he was—
The legendary human base.
Clearly zoned streets, towering city walls and fences, and constantly patrolling guards checking identities and conducting blood tests. It looked like a thriving, prosperous place.
This was a side of the apocalypse Lin Ling had never seen in the city ruins.
But these sights all screamed one thing to Lin Ling: this place was hard to get into and even harder to get out of. The road home was long.
And there was one more, absolutely fatal problem: there were a total of 18 human bases, and every single one was a considerable distance from his home.
Heavens, where did he bring me? QAQ
The little zombie was overcome with sorrow. After composing himself, he turned back to the human before him.
If he still wanted to escape, it seemed he could only rely on this human.
If the man could bring him in, he could surely take him out.
Well, I’m screwed, the great Zombie Emperor thought blankly.
He would have to pretend to play nice with this evil human full of bad intentions. Once he got on good terms with the evil human, he would have to test his limits. It all sounded so, so, so difficult.
At this thought, the little zombie let out a huge sigh and silently gave himself a pep talk.
When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility upon the Zombie Emperor, it must first temper his will.
The little zombie slowly wandered around the apartment. When his gaze fell upon the only bedroom, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Well, well, isn’t this an opportunity?
The first step in testing the human’s limits begins with occupying the only bed in his home!
The little zombie pointed at the bed and announced to Shi Changyuan, “Tonight, this Zombie Emperor will sleep here!”
**
Author’s Note:
Here! [Bunny ears]
