Bai Chen Zhu pretended to be calm as he slapped away Jiang Ye’s paw and crossed his arms against the wall.
Jiang Ye frowned and touched the tip of his nose.
After a moment, Bai Chen Zhu spoke to break the awkward atmosphere. “I remember I had a fever for a long time, maybe half a month.”
He looked at Jiang Ye, who understood and said, “My first fever lasted a few days, I think. I can’t remember exactly. The second one was around ten days.”
“That long.” Bai Chen Zhu pinched the bridge of his nose. After spending these days together, he knew Jiang Ye cared about Zhou Zhuo Hua.
Bai Chen Zhu felt a bit discouraged. “So what now? We can’t go to a hospital now. Even if we find a doctor, under these conditions, we can at most bring her fever down to make her comfortable. Are we supposed to stay in the hotel for ten days or half a month just waiting? Come to think of it, whether she lives or dies, everything will be clear after half a month.”
“She might not make it.” Jiang Ye said rationally. He pinched his trembling fingertips, having other plans. “I plan to find someone.”
Find someone? Bai Chen Zhu’s gaze sharpened. He didn’t even ask who and straightened up. “I’ll go too!”
Bai Chen Zhu’s unhesitating attitude clearly aroused Jiang Ye’s suspicion. Jiang Ye relaxed the frown between his brows and gave a half-smile, the sharpness in his features fully apparent. “What, now you want to follow me? Didn’t you say earlier you’d run from anything?”
Bai Chen Zhu choked. “I’m already here…”
He couldn’t think of an excuse and simply shrugged, leaning back against the wall. “Fine, I admit I’m scared of dying. Compared to staying with a sick person, it’s safer to follow you. Besides, Young Master Jiang personally said he’d cover the meals.”
That frank admission of being scared of death was obviously nonsense. At this time and place, Jiang Ye had no interest in pressing him and tacitly accepted the arrangement.
Auntie Liang came out. Jiang Ye didn’t say a word and stared straight ahead without focus, as if lost in thought.
Bai Chen Zhu took the initiative to thank her and gave a tip. In their exchange, he got familiar with the Auntie Liang. “If we stay longer, we’ll have to trouble you to come help out.”
After seeing Auntie Liang off, the two entered the room.
Thanks to this duplex family suite, there was a large bed, chair, and bathroom on each of the upper and lower floors, allowing them to look after Zhou Zhuo Hua without too much awkwardness.
Jiang Ye tiredly raised his hand to press the bridge of his nose and went upstairs to feed Zhou Zhuo Hua another fever-reducing pill. The fever medicine was only treating the symptoms for Zhou Zhuo Hua now. After a while, she would burn up again, fluctuating up and down, heart-wrenching to watch.
She was awake for very short periods, mostly delirious and mumbling nonsense without knowing what she said.
Jiang Ye dragged a chair to sit by the bed, looking at the unconscious Zhou Zhuo Hua. “If you follow me, I’m afraid she’ll starve to death alone.”
Sick people were always weak, especially unconscious ones. Though they could ensure the room’s safety, what about inside?
“Afraid of what?” Bai Chen Zhu leaned obliquely against the stair railing, looking up at him and pointing at himself.
Jiang Ye didn’t understand.
Bai Chen Zhu looked carefree. “I’m an example. If I get hungry enough, I’ll crawl up to find food. I won’t die.”
Seeing Jiang Ye still undecided, Bai Chen Zhu came up with a damaging idea. “You don’t believe me? Then let’s stay two days and see. Besides, you’ve been driving for so long. Don’t you need to rest before heading out? It won’t make a difference for this short while.”
Thus, when Zhou Zhuo Hua, feverish and starving, crawled up desperately to forage, she saw two people hurrying up from downstairs.
They were neatly dressed and calm-faced, clearly having rested well. One stood and one sat by her side, waiting for her to regain consciousness.
Seeing her clutching her growling stomach, the two, drawn by the noise, looked at her in unison.
Bai Chen Zhu keenly noticed her dazed eyes and considerately handed her glasses, also pointing to the pile of bread and water by the bed. “You’re awake? The food’s all there.”
Jiang Ye saw that she really would crawl up on her own, and the heavy stone in his heart dropped by more than half. He stood, patted her shoulder, and instructed, “Sis, we’re heading out for a bit. Take good care of yourself in the hotel.”
It must have been her fevered eyes. Zhou Zhuo Hua rubbed her eyes, put on the glasses, and looked again at the two in front of her, still full of doubt.
She had only slept once, and not only had these two gotten so close, but they were also going out without her?
Zhou Zhuo Hua yawned. Not fully awake, her mouth moved first. “What, are you two eloping?”
Jiang Ye shrugged and chuckled lightly. “No need for that.”
“Hiss, wait…” Zhou Zhuo Hua clutched her scorching forehead and looked around, her voice hoarse. “How long have I slept? Weren’t you supposed to wake me for lunch?”
Bai Chen Zhu lowered his eyes and unscrewed a bottle of mineral water to hand to Zhou Zhuo Hua. “We called you. You took medicine and went back to sleep.”
Zhou Zhuo Hua said in shock, “Why don’t I remember that?”
“You were delirious from the fever.” Jiang Ye tucked in her blanket corners. “We arrived at the hotel last night. Back to business—now that you’re clear-headed, can you remember things? We’re planning to head out. Can you manage alone? Won’t starve yourself to death?”
“Me alone? You’re leaving?” Zhou Zhuo Hua stared unblinkingly at Jiang Ye.
To be precise, she felt her brain was like a rusty machine, stuttering along. It took her several minutes to process Jiang Ye’s words.
Fever, coma, leaving… Zhou Zhuo Hua smiled bitterly, her eyes misty from the high fever or unformed tears. “Is it because I’m turning into a monster?”
So the two were abandoning her for self-preservation.
Leaving was a kind lie, right? Zhou Zhuo Hua knew it was the best choice. Besides, how many disgusting zombies had they taken out along the way?
But rational understanding didn’t stop the desolation and hurt of being abandoned emotionally.
‘I’m about to turn into a disgusting, man-eating monster too.’ Zhou Zhuo Hua thought self-abandonedly. Once they’re far away, I’ll just go and…
Her gaze passed over the nearby clear glass window. Outside, the tall buildings stood as majestically as ever, and the sky was gorgeously painted with colorful clouds.
Beautiful weather, beautiful times, just like humans not yet turned into zombies. Zhou Zhuo Hua suddenly calmed down and gave the two a gentle smile. She had made up her mind.
She was about to kill a special zombie for the first and last time.
Those bloodshot eyes made Jiang Ye’s heart tighten, and the world before him flickered white.
He had lived too long; many memories were unclear, just as people struggle to recall someone from a specific day ten years ago.
But in that instant, looking at Zhou Zhuo Hua’s fever-flushed face, Jiang Ye truly recalled the last time he saw her years ago.
Back then, Zhou Zhuo Hua had also been infected, running a high fever. It was the first time he saw her cry so pitifully, stripped of all courage and confidence.
She had clutched his sleeve in breakdown. “Jiang Ye, I don’t want to die. I want to go home.”
But later, this same person who wanted to go home comforted him instead. ‘Anyway, I’m feverish and don’t have long to live. At least one of us can survive.’ She turned and lured away the zombies for him.
This was what he owed Zhou Zhuo Hua, even if she knew nothing about it in this life.
Jiang Ye looked at her teary-eyed expression and handed her a tissue, saying dispiritedly without much conviction, “You’ll be fine.”
Zhou Zhuo Hua took a deep breath and gave Jiang Ye an uglier-than-crying smile, trying to joke to dispel the heavy mood. “Great, I used to laugh at you as the Strongman every day. Now I’m turning into the Strongman Monster.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions so fast.” Bai Chen Zhu saw their faces growing gloomier and interrupted Zhou Zhuo Hua’s negativity. “Look at me and Jiang Ye. Aren’t we fine right now?”
Zhou Zhuo Hua didn’t respond.
Bai Chen Zhu figured she couldn’t process her emotions right away. “You’re a doctor. You know more about this than us, right?”
Zhou Zhuo Hua sighed. “Normal people would be in serious trouble after two days of high fever. No normal person burns for half a month without turning into a monster. This world doesn’t follow normal rules anymore. If I lose my reason, I’m no longer Zhou Zhuo Hua. You two should leave while you can, in case I hurt you…”
She trailed off, gripping the blanket until her fingertips turned white.
The silent Jiang Ye suddenly patted her head. “Fever fried your brain? What nonsense? We’re not leaving. We’re going to pick up your sister.”
At these words, Zhou Zhuo Hua was stunned for a long time before recalling her family. “My sister? Meng Meng?”
“Yeah.” Jiang Ye said, “I’ll go bring that girl to you.”
Hope flashed in Zhou Zhuo Hua’s eyes.
But soon, thinking of the virus everywhere outside, the light faded.
Zhou Zhuo Hua waved it off, resigned. “I lost contact with her almost half a month ago. I don’t even know where she is now. Even if she’s still at home, that’s the bustling city center, a strictly gated community full of people… She might already be a little monster. You don’t need to risk it for me.”
“Besides,” Zhou Zhuo Hua smiled bitterly, “even if she’s alive and well, if she sees—an utterly ugly, man-eating corpse—I’d rather she never sees me.”
“She won’t turn into a monster. She’s been waiting at home for you and Uncle Zhou to pick her up.” Jiang Ye felt an inexplicable certainty, but when he realized where it came from, his mood sank.
After all, if Zhou Meng Meng followed the original path, Zhou Zhuo Hua probably wouldn’t survive.
Jiang Ye clenched his fist, face unchanged. “Anyway, since we came to Floating Cloud City with you, we have to let you two meet no matter what. All you need to do is take care of yourself while we’re gone these few days and wait for us to return.”
Zhou Zhuo Hua couldn’t argue with the two, nor stop them. After tending to her needs, she touched the pillow and immediately fell asleep again, oblivious to the world.
Night had fallen, and darkness wasn’t good for travel. The two decided to head out in the morning.
After settling Zhou Zhuo Hua, the two with heavy hearts went downstairs one after the other.
The suite had only two beds. Needless to say, Zhou Zhuo Hua took the upstairs one.
As for Bai Chen Zhu and Jiang Ye, they nearly fought over the other bed. Neither wanted the sofa, so they compromised, each taking one side, sharing the bed but not the pillow.
Jiang Ye came out after showering, drying his hair and enjoying the hairdryer’s warm breeze.
Bai Chen Zhu chewed bread on the sofa, cheeks slightly puffed. He turned his head to look at Jiang Ye and suddenly asked in Jiang Ye’s earlier tone, “How do you know she’s at home and won’t turn into a monster?”
It wasn’t a big question, but after traveling together, doubts had piled up in Bai Chen Zhu’s mind. He wasn’t one to sit still; it was patient enough to wait until now to ask.
The hairdryer roared loudly. Jiang Ye squinted at the mirror, styling his hair.
Bai Chen Zhu thought he hadn’t heard and raised his voice to ask again.
Jiang Ye switched the hairdryer to the other hand, blowing his hair ends.
Was he not hearing? He was playing deaf. Bai Chen Zhu didn’t speak, just ate his bread bite by bite. When Jiang Ye put down the hairdryer, Bai Chen Zhu crumpled the wrapper loudly and tossed it accurately into the trash.
“Jiang Ye, I’m talking to you.” Bai Chen Zhu said coldly.
Jiang Ye glanced at him. “Hm? You don’t know?”
Bai Chen Zhu asked in confusion, “Should I?”
Jiang Ye couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or pleased. After packing up, he sat in another single chair, leg crossed, and sighed deeply. “I thought you were like me.”
Jiang Ye’s rare seriousness gave Bai Chen Zhu a fresh feeling. Especially when Jiang Ye sat upright silently in the chair, even an ordinary chair took on a leader’s dominance.
But looking again, Jiang Ye’s summer beach outfit was still eye-searing.
All illusion. Bai Chen Zhu covered his stung eyes and was silent for a moment. “Like how? We both have superpowers?”
“If foreknowledge counts as a superpower.” Jiang Ye gave him a deep look.
Foreknowledge? Knowing the ‘plot’? Then Jiang Ye was just like him?
A buzz sounded, like a long bronze bell tolling in his mind. Bai Chen Zhu gasped, sat up straight abruptly, hands braced on the table, leaning forward to stare fixedly at Jiang Ye, fingertips white from pressure.
Bai Chen Zhu stared deathly at the suspected fellow traverser and spelled out like a code, “Creation Martial God?”
But to his disappointment, Jiang Ye showed no reaction to the book title, even puzzled.
Bai Chen Zhu persisted. “Have you read a book called Creation Martial God?”
This topic jumped really fast. Jiang Ye mocked Bai Chen Zhu. “I didn’t expect it. You look so refined and scholarly, yet you like reading such chuunibyou books.”
Bai Chen Zhu asked repeatedly, “You really haven’t heard of this book?”
Jiang Ye touched the carved patterns on the armrest without even lifting his head. “Is it a bestseller?”
‘Not a transmigrator?’ Bai Chen Zhu carefully observed his expression. Jiang Ye’s face showed only straightforward puzzlement.
“This isn’t an issue of whether it’s popular or not…” Bai Chen Zhu suddenly thought of another possibility and probed abruptly. “Bai Tao likes this book too, and you actually don’t know about it.”
Bai Tao, one of the female characters who appeared in the later parts of the novel. In the discussions about the female lead at the time, Bai Tao had the highest support.
If the male lead had an entire harem, then ‘Bai Tao’ was the undisputed empress. She shared a deep bond with Jiang Ye and possessed all the qualities of the ideal ‘main wife.’ She could handle social occasions, cook in the kitchen, defend the base, and manage the harem.
Jiang Ye’s eyes flickered slightly, but that anomaly vanished in an instant and wasn’t caught by Bai Chen Zhu.
Jiang Ye only chuckled lightly. “Who is Bai Tao?”
‘Not a transmigrator, nor reborn.’ This time, Bai Chen Zhu was truly puzzled. He propped his chin and thought for a moment but couldn’t come up with an answer.
Was Jiang Ye too good at acting, or was he overthinking it? Bai Chen Zhu gave up the pursuit. He lazily crossed his arms and leaned back, looking up at the dusty ceiling.
It made sense, really. The world was full of strange encounters, but not so common that you’d run into them casually.
His questions one after another hadn’t gotten answers and instead sparked Jiang Ye’s curiosity.
He had originally thought Bai Chen Zhu was ‘reborn’ like him. Unexpectedly, this ‘Little Butterfly’ flapping its wings right in front of him had given him a huge surprise. Where exactly had this person come from?
He tapped the table with one hand to signal Bai Chen Zhu to continue. “Don’t just say half of it. So, what famous author wrote that novel? What was it about?”
Bai Chen Zhu gave him a light glance, then spoke slowly like he was telling a bedtime story. “The story is pretty simple. It’s roughly about the world ushering in the apocalypse. Then a man about your age awakened a very powerful superpower, led people to establish a base, cleared out the zombies, and human history entered a new era. That’s all there was to it, but later…”
Bai Chen Zhu looked into Jiang Ye’s eyes, curled up the corners of his lips, and crooked a finger at him. “Later, it had a terrible ending. The male lead was on the verge of ending the apocalypse, yet he personally destroyed the antivirus medicine targeted at the zombie virus. The zombie virus made a comeback, and humanity faced extinction in despair.”
“It’s over?” In those few words from him, Jiang Ye’s heartbeat fell into disorder, and his thoughts descended into chaos.
Bai Chen Zhu hummed an affirmative sound from his nose.
After a moment, Jiang Ye closed his eyes briefly and regained his calm. He commented as an outsider. “The protagonist sounds like a big villain.”
“But why are you looking at me with that kind of gaze?” Jiang Ye put down his crossed leg, shifted to half-lying on the sofa with his legs overlapped lazily on the table, slouching without any proper posture, looking like a total slacker.
A half-smile played on his face. “Do I look like someone who could do something that huge? Heaven can see, I’m a great good person~”
