Chapter 76: A Perfect Match

When Bai Chen Zhu woke up, he was the only one left in the pitch-black little room. He squinted his eyes and sat up. “Jiang Ye?”

Where had he run off to play again.

He got up and washed up simply. His body no longer felt as uncomfortable.

Bai Chen Zhu pushed open the door. In the living room on the first floor, Tang Zhao and Bai Tao were huddled together picking vegetable leaves, while Zhou Zhuo Hua was busy chopping fish in the kitchen.

As soon as he came down the stairs, the looks from everyone on the first floor changed. Tang Zhao’s eyes were full of ‘As expected,’ while Bai Tao’s were mostly curious.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Chen Zhu asked puzzledly. “What’s with those looks.”

Bai Tao cleared her throat. “Well, Brother Jiang was in a great mood just now.”

“So?”

Bai Tao’s face darkened. “He saw us and said, ‘How did you know Azhu is my partner?’”

Bai Chen Zhu: ……

Tang Zhao couldn’t hold back and turned his head to chuckle quietly a couple of times.

Bai Tao grumbled, “No one asked him, but he said it to everyone, even the zombies outside the door.”

Bai Chen Zhu could already picture the scene. He rubbed his forehead, feeling deeply helpless, but on second thought, it was indeed Jiang Ye’s style. “Where is he?”

“He was just bragging a moment ago when Liang Zhi sent someone to fetch him.” Bai Tao tossed down the vegetable leaves sourly. “What’s so great about having a partner?”

Bai Chen Zhu couldn’t help laughing. “It really is pretty great.”

Bai Tao huffed angrily and went into the kitchen, refusing to talk to him.

Tang Zhao then said, “Congratulations, congratulations. If you’re looking for Boss Jiang, he’s in the third big house to the left after going out the door.”

“Got it, thanks. Next time, I’ll treat you to some wedding candies.” Bai Chen Zhu nodded.

“No problem.” Tang Zhao rubbed his hands. “Owe me the wedding candies for now. I’ve been craving some booze lately—could you bring back a bottle for me, bro?”

Bai Chen Zhu sized him up for a moment and compared their heights, puzzled. “I remember you’re a senior in high school this year. Are you even eighteen yet?”

“What kind of talk is that, bro!” Tang Zhao puffed up and swatted his hand away. “I’ve been an adult for ages!”

How long could “ages” be? A few months, or maybe days? Bai Chen Zhu didn’t call him out. He was in a good mood and nodded in agreement.

Zhou Zhuo Hua poked her head out from the kitchen. “Remember to come back with Jiang Ye for lunch later!”

“Got it.” Bai Chen Zhu was somewhat looking forward to lunch.

After stepping outside, he found the surroundings quite clean. That group had used sandbags, barricades, and fences to enclose a circle around several nearby houses, clearing out all the zombies in the inner area. It served as a temporary foothold.

He followed the directions Tang Zhao gave and arrived at the third house, which turned out to be fairly large—a bar.

No wonder Tang Zhao wanted him to bring back a bottle of booze.

The first and second floors of the bar were packed with people. Jiang Ye stood on the performance stage in the lobby on the first floor, with a blackboard behind him that he’d scrounged from somewhere. A sheet of paper was tacked to the blackboard. “If you’re heading south, I suggest taking this route—head southeast for a stretch first……”

Bai Chen Zhu pushed open the door and went in, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed as he listened.

Most of the people in Ancient City had come here as tourists, none from around these parts. Having survived death, their first thought was ‘home’—to go back and find their families, even if they might be gone or something had happened to them.

But people always yearn for home.

Jiang Ye answered them one by one about the major bases near their homes, giving references for where they could seek refuge. He even suggested going to a base and using news of the ‘Alien Race’ as an entry point to meet the base leader or something, in exchange for help.

Jiang Ye certainly had his own selfish motives, but the information he provided was reliable.

Bai Chen Zhu propped his chin, thinking that if he were one of these people, he really would consider Jiang Ye’s advice.

So, could these people successfully spread the message?

Bored, he counted the crowded heads—about one hundred thirty, and they all seemed to be ability users.

If they were ability users, it shouldn’t be too hard.

Jiang Ye took a sip of water and wrapped up simply. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to come find me. I’ll be staying in Ancient City for a while.”

He happened to glance up casually and spotted Bai Chen Zhu at the back of the crowd. His eyes lit up instantly, and he was eager to jump off the stage.

Liang Zhi called out to Jiang Ye, who had taken a step forward. “As for the Alien Race, Mr. Jiang seems to know quite a bit. Could you tell us more?”

Jiang Ye looked at Bai Chen Zhu, then at Liang Zhi.

It was like a kindergartener held back by the teacher after class, his eyes pitifully glancing toward Bai Chen Zhu.

Liang Zhi followed his gaze and was somewhat surprised.

Wasn’t this the ‘girl’ who had come with Jiang Ye that day? Now without the mask, she was strikingly handsome on closer inspection, but with too sharp an edge—no one would mistake the gender now.

So someone had come to fetch him. Liang Zhi let go, about to say Jiang Ye had prior business and could leave first.

Bai Chen Zhu at the door smiled and lifted his chin at Jiang Ye, signaling him to continue.

Jiang Ye thought for a moment, then stepped back to the blackboard. “The Alien Race, well, mainly their wings are tricky……”

Once everyone had left, Jiang Ye eagerly jumped off the stage and rushed over.

Bai Chen Zhu teased, “I came to pick you up from ‘class.’ How about it, Teacher Jiang?”

Jiang Ye hugged him tightly, jostling the wound. Bai Chen Zhu instinctively sucked in a breath.

“Ah, sorry, sorry.” Jiang Ye floundered and let go.

Bai Chen Zhu looked him up and down and made Jiang Ye turn around for inspection. “Your wounds are all healed?”

“Healed enough.” Jiang Ye thumped his chest solidly.

“I’d say I’m not bad myself. But compared to you now……” Bai Chen Zhu shook his head.

“How can you have it all?” Jiang Ye said.

The two walked out side by side.

Having slept a whole day, it was already evening, and Bai Chen Zhu was full of energy. He thought for a moment, eager to try. “How about we snag a car later and bring it back?”

Their original car had been great, but unfortunately stomped to pieces by the monster. They absolutely couldn’t go on foot from here on; having a car was essential.

“How?” Jiang Ye asked, intrigued.

“Find one parked in a courtyard, then search the house. If the owners turned into zombies, the keys are probably on them or inside.” Bai Chen Zhu shared his idea.

After hearing him out, Jiang Ye sighed. “Even without me, you’d do just fine in the apocalypse.”

“Too bad that’s not possible.” Bai Chen Zhu said rationally. “At least in this time and place, I’ve already met you.”

Jiang Ye said confidently, “Even in another time and place, if I met you, I’d definitely like you.”

Bai Chen Zhu’s eyes curved, about to say something when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ye thought he’d moved him.

Bai Chen Zhu glanced at him. “Crap, I forgot to bring back a bottle of booze for Tang Zhao.”

With that, he turned and headed back to the bar.

Jiang Ye hurried after him. “What booze?”

“Wedding booze.”

In the end, Bai Chen Zhu hauled back a whole case of booze, delighting Tang Zhao into calling him bro nonstop.

—

Zhou Zhuo Hua usually didn’t like entering the kitchen, but today she was in a rare good mood and cooked. Unfortunately, even the best chef couldn’t make a feast without ingredients, so it ended up an all-fish banquet.

Bai Tao had dragged back a foldable round table from somewhere and found a few small stools. Tang Zhao grabbed a bottle opener, fumbled, and flung it flying—caught by Jiang Ye. Bai Chen Zhu helped serve the dishes and rice.

The five sat around the table, enjoying the steaming hot lunch in this makeshift spot, gathered together.

A heart-pounding escape from death, followed by some indulgent revelry in the aftermath.

Zhou Zhuo Hua raised her glass. She’d barely eaten but downed several cups, feeling a bit tipsy. She stood up with her glass, beaming. “To us surviving death once again!”

Bai Chen Zhu saw Jiang Ye still picking at his food and nudged his arm with his elbow. Jiang Ye quickly set down his chopsticks.

The five glasses clinked with a crisp sound.

Bai Chen Zhu was just about to speak when Jiang Ye, like he could read his mind, said happily, “Today is a good day—to me and Azhu tying the knot!”

Another clink of glasses.

Tang Zhao looked left and right, then chimed in, “To me drinking for the first time today!”

The other four looked at him and laughed in unison, indulging him with another clink.

Bai Tao joined in the fun. “Me too, me too—to my new skirt today!”

Bai Chen Zhu took a serious look and saw that Bai Tao, usually in long clothes and pants, had changed into a mint-green long skirt in her good mood, looking quite ladylike. He laughed heartily. “Tao Tao’s all grown up too. Come on, to her!”

The dinner table was lively with chatter, the food dwindling and empty bottles piling up.

By the end, Bai Tao and Tang Zhao had passed out flat on the table.

“Two little cabbages.” Zhou Zhuo Hua laughed.

Small, pale, and greens.

Bai Chen Zhu chuckled and picked up the last bite of fish with his chopsticks. “Can’t blame them—they’re just barely adults. How could their tolerance match ours?”

Zhou Zhuo Hua propped her chin, eyes hazy, and covered a burp with her hand. “I always thought you were a good student before. Now I see you’re definitely not—with tolerance like that, not worse than me or Jiang Ye.”

Student? That word felt so distant. If not reminded, he’d forget his body was that of a twenty-something, still young. Bai Chen Zhu’s expression turned subtle as he fibbed, “I’m a natural.”

“You guys eat slowly.” Zhou Zhuo Hua rested a bit longer, then stood steadily without a change in expression and picked up Bai Tao. “I’ll take her back first. The table can wait.”

Zhou Zhuo Hua had drunk plenty! Bai Chen Zhu startled and set down his chopsticks, standing to catch them, but Zhou Zhuo Hua stood rock-steady. Bai Chen Zhu froze. “You sure you’re okay?”

Zhou Zhuo Hua waved him off disdainfully. “Shoo, shoo—I’m perfectly sober.”

She lifted her chin toward the table. “Remember to get Tang Zhao back to his room.”

Jiang Ye gave an OK sign. “Don’t worry.”

After Zhou Zhuo Hua left, Bai Chen Zhu turned to help Tang Zhao, but Jiang Ye was faster, hoisting the kid over his shoulder in moments.

Jiang Ye explained, “This guy’s heavy. I’ll take him up first.”

Bai Chen Zhu raised a brow. “You steady on your feet?”

“Forgot where we first met? You go rest in the room—I’ll be right there.” Jiang Ye said as he turned and carried Tang Zhao upstairs.

It had been a bar. Bai Chen Zhu remembered clearly. He watched helplessly as Jiang Ye went up, then cleared the table casually.

Fine, one after another showing off their tolerance.

When Jiang Ye came down and saw he hadn’t gone back to the room yet, he didn’t say much and helped clear the table and chairs in short order.

Bai Chen Zhu noted his flushed face but bright, sober eyes. “Wanna walk it off? Good for digestion.”

Jiang Ye washed his hands and nodded.

But where was safe to walk? They’d only secured a small area. After two loops, they hopped onto the rooftops, found a high balcony, and sat admiring the river view… and the zombies.

The scenery wasn’t great, but Bai Chen Zhu’s mood was. He rocked in the latticed swing chair, wrapped in fake flowers, with a fake flower wall behind and a wish board nearby. No doubt a former influencer spot.

Jiang Ye got excited, blew the dust off the table, wrote their two names with a pen, drew a heart in between, and stuck it on the wish board.

The sticker had lost its stickiness over time, falling off repeatedly. Losing patience, Jiang Ye nailed the wish paper to the board with the pen, stabbing it deep into the wall.

Bai Chen Zhu watched him fuss. “You still believe in this stuff?”

“Sort of.” Jiang Ye turned, shrugging. “I believe in myself more, but doing some things just puts you in a great mood.”

He pointed to their names on the board. “See! Such a perfect match!”

Bai Chen Zhu chuckled speechlessly.

Jiang Ye walked over, eyeing the swing chair Bai Chen Zhu was in.

Bai Chen Zhu knew exactly what he wanted. “Don’t—two people will break it.”

Jiang Ye didn’t believe him and insisted on squeezing in.

Bai Chen Zhu had no choice. “How about you sit on my lap?”

Jiang Ye shook his head. “I’d crush your bones, and I’d be the heartbroken one.”

“How fragile do you think I am?” Bai Chen Zhu sighed helplessly. He stood, blocked Jiang Ye, and pulled him to the sofa by the balcony edge. “Here, sit. No broken bones.”

Jiang Ye sat pressed against him, arms touching, finally satisfied, and stretched out his long legs toward the horizon.

Bai Chen Zhu turned his head to look at him. “You were clingy before, even more now.”

“Nonsense!” Jiang Ye protested. “Who else do I cling to besides you?”

Bai Chen Zhu thought seriously—really, no one. He patted Jiang Ye’s head and praised, “Good, keep it up.”

Jiang Ye rubbed against his palm twice, then suddenly lay down, pillowing his head on Bai Chen Zhu’s knee contentedly.

They hadn’t seen the sun today, but the clouds were plentiful, like clusters of white cotton balls one after another. Bai Chen Zhu raised his hand to shield the light for him. “Tired?”

Jiang Ye nodded. “Want to nap for a bit.”

Bai Chen Zhu pinched his cheek. “Get up. You can sleep in a place this bright?”

“Won’t die from it. Sunbathing.” Jiang Ye was immensely proud of his physique. He turned his head to hug Bai Chen Zhu’s waist, closed his eyes, and deliberately started snoring to indicate he was asleep.

Fortunately, the sun hadn’t come out today, or both of them would have gotten sunburned. Bai Chen Zhu had no choice but to raise his hand and loosely cover Jiang Ye’s eyes from above. “Then sleep for a bit.”

Jiang Ye buried his head in his embrace and curved his lips.

—

After they returned, Jiang Ye naturally moved into Bai Chen Zhu’s room.

“Yo! True Fragrance Bro.” Tang Zhao passed by, saw it, and teased him.

Jiang Ye, who was tidying the bed, didn’t understand. After asking Bai Chen Zhu what those two words meant, his face darkened.

He immediately dragged Tang Zhao out for a “spar” under that pretext.

His best troublemaking friend Bai Tao hurried over to watch the show. She clapped and cheered, gleefully pouring oil on the fire.

“No more fighting, no more, bro! If we keep going, I’ll turn into a pig head!” Tang Zhao wailed incessantly, inwardly cursing his own mouth that he couldn’t control despite seeing everything clearly.

Zhou Zhuo Hua, who had followed to join the fun, shook her head and teased him. “Youngster, you need to learn a lesson.”

Something felt off. Bai Chen Zhu mulled over her words, growing curious. “Zhuo Hua-jie, when did you…”

Zhou Zhuo Hua’s narrow eyes swept over him. She smiled slyly and said leisurely, “When that kid was chasing after you and making a fuss. You know how some people just aren’t likable—kind of like little kids who have a crush on a girl and can’t help but bully her. So irrational.”

And as his childhood friend, Zhou Zhuo Hua had unfortunately seen through Jiang Ye’s true nature long ago. It was impossible that she hadn’t watched the drama unfold from the sidelines.

That had been how long ago? Bai Chen Zhu recalled that person’s past antics, then stared expressionlessly at Jiang Ye in the courtyard for a moment.

Jiang Ye clearly had a good sense of self-awareness. His hairs stood on end. He loosened his grip, and Tang Zhao, whom he’d been holding up, fell flat on the ground. Jiang Ye floundered. “Wait, let me explain!”

Bai Chen Zhu mischievously wanted to see Jiang Ye squirm, so he deliberately kept a stern face. Feigning anger in line with Zhou Zhuo Hua’s words, he said, “You have one minute to make your excuses.”

Jiang Ye wailed incessantly.

‘Sis, you screwed me!’