Troubling

Ma Wei's conjectures were all deductions based on his own experience.

He had encountered cases similar to today's more than ten times.

And monsters drifting into residential complexes and devouring an entire building's worth of people—that was something he had personally experienced as well.

Thinking of the tragic scene back then, Ma Wei couldn't help but take a deep breath.

The stench of blood and rot shot straight from his nasal cavity to his brain, and he immediately gagged, nearly vomiting on the spot.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Ma Wei pounded his chest hard to settle his breath, then turned to his team members and said, "What are you idiots standing around for?

Take photos where you need to take photos, collect the bodies where you need to collect bodies. Are you waiting for me to do the work myself?"

The three team members snapped back to reality and immediately sprang into action.

Ma Wei sighed helplessly and said to Gao Teng and the other, "Look at my team members, they're all like men with premature ejaculation—they only move when they're commanded. It's too hard to get them to work quickly."

Zhang Meizhu: "..."

Gao Teng: "..."

What kind of bizarre comparison was that?

Ma Wei added, "Also, I have to remind you two: hurry home and take a few extra showers.

With the stench on you right now, monsters could smell you from over a hundred meters away and track you down."

Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu exchanged a look, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

"But don't worry too much; as long as you stay honestly within the city, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Our Linshan City is quite safe, after all, it has someone as extremely serious and responsible as me holding down the fort."

"..."

Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu's faces crumpled, their expressions incredibly complex.

Ma Wei waved his hand: "Go on and get busy, there's nothing left for you here. Hurry home and get yourselves smelling nice.

I hope that the next time I see you, no one is pregnant."

Gao Teng: "..."

Zhang Meizhu: "..."

"Ha... haha..."

Ma Wei seemed very pleased with his own joke and let out two loud laughs.

Afterward, he waved at Gao Teng and the other, watching them leave the living room.

Reaching the hallway, Gao Teng said to Zhang Meizhu, "I'm heading back. See you at the sewer later."

"Wait a second."

Zhang Meizhu stopped him, her face full of worry: "What if you get targeted by a monster going back like this? You should just come to my place to wash up."

Gao Teng hesitated: "Is that really appropriate?"

Zhang Meizhu didn't care at all: "I don't mind, what are you afraid of?"

Gao Teng furrowed his brows: "There are too many people at school fawning over me, and now you're asking me to go to your house to shower—it really makes me overthink things."

Zhang Meizhu's face turned red instantly.

Gao Teng continued: "You don't like me, do you? Can you please not have such strange thoughts? It really troubles me."

Zhang Meizhu's body turned burning red in an instant.

She punched Gao Teng in the chest: "That's enough! Shut your mouth!"

Gao Teng patted his chest and let out a long sigh of relief: "It's a good thing you don't have feelings for me; otherwise, I'd have to find a new partner. I don't want to waste my time on such boring things. Right now, I just want to focus on my studies."

Zhang Meizhu grabbed the flesh on Gao Teng's waist and twisted it hard: "Say that again?!"

"Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?"

Gao Teng raised his hand and placed it on Zhang Meizhu's face.

Immediately, he recoiled in horror: "Good heavens! My hand is cooked! Help!"

Zhang Meizhu: "..."

She suddenly went quiet, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

Gao Teng coughed and said in a probing tone: "Shall we go home?"

Zhang Meizhu shot him a fierce glare and walked to the door to unlock the fingerprint lock.

Just as the two were about to walk inside, Ma Wei poked his head out from 1901: "Don't do anything out of line just because of curiosity, okay?"

Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu: "..."

"Haha..."

Ma Wei pulled his head back in, grinning quite happily.

"You're incorrigible!"

Zhang Meizhu cursed under her breath and walked into the living room first.

Gao Teng followed closely behind and closed the door.

Their eyes met, yet there was not a hint of awkwardness between them, only a sense of open and candid ease.

Clearly, both of them viewed the other only as a friend; there were no such complicated thoughts at all.

Zhang Meizhu spoke first: "I'll go find you some clothes. You can't wear my dad's, so I'm afraid you'll have to wear my pajamas."

Gao Teng's heart suddenly felt a bit heavy; he understood what Zhang Meizhu meant.

This once-happy family was now separated by life and death, and the old clothes her father left behind were Zhang Meizhu's precious memories.

He let out a long breath and said with a straight face: "Although I'm a bit reluctant, for the sake of our friendship, I'll reluctantly wear your clothes."

"Huh?"

Zhang Meizhu looked completely bewildered: "You're the one being reluctant? I haven't even complained about you yet! Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Hey, you're swearing."

"I'll beat the hell out of you, too!"

Zhang Meizhu gave Gao Teng a fierce punch.

Gao Teng took the punch with a chuckle; he didn't want to anger Zhang Meizhu, but rather keep her from sinking into a sorrowful mood.

Now, thanks to his clowning around, Zhang Meizhu's mood was clearly not as low as before.

"Wait there!"

Zhang Meizhu whipped her ponytail around and walked into the bedroom.

A while later, she tossed a set of black pajamas to Gao Teng: "Use the guest bathroom."

"Alright."

Gao Teng glanced in the direction Zhang Meizhu pointed and walked over.

Scrub, scrub.

Even though Gao Teng scrubbed until he felt like he was peeling off a layer of skin, the fishy stench on his body remained pungent; he simply couldn't wash the smell away.

Just as Ma Wei had said, this scent would linger on him for at least half a month.

This was a bad thing, but it was also a good thing.

If it could attract monsters, he would be able to farm merit points to his heart's content.

But if the monsters were too strong, that would be troublesome.

"Danger and opportunity coexist."

Gao Teng dried himself off and changed into the pajamas, which emitted a faint fragrance.

The scent was subtle, yet refreshing, causing his entire body to involuntarily relax.

Gao Teng stretched, the pajamas were comfortable, though the sleeves and legs were short and didn't fit him at all.

He opened the door and stepped out; Zhang Meizhu had already finished showering in the master bathroom and was drying her hair with a hairdryer while wearing her Public Security Bureau auxiliary uniform.

Gao Teng walked over to the dining table, pulled out a chair, sat down, and watched Zhang Meizhu.

It had to be said that her features were incredibly delicate—almond eyes bright and clear, a high-bridged nose, and full, lush lips; there was hardly a single flaw to be found.

Her height was also just right; at one meter seventy, she was slender and tall, her waist was slim enough to be encircled by one's hands, and her legs were as straight as jade pillars. She was truly impeccable.

When cleaning the sewers, Zhang Meizhu always wore a mask, but now, looking at her closely, he realized just how stunning her beauty was.

Even the top-tier celebrities from his past life were no better than this.

Gao Teng couldn't help but sigh in his heart; even Zhang Meizhu's hair was impossibly perfect.

Not only was it voluminous and soft, but it was as dark and glossy as ink, making her clean, makeup-free face appear even fairer and more translucent.

Impeccable, truly impeccable.

"What are you looking at?"

Noticing Gao Teng's gaze, Zhang Meizhu slanted her eyes at him.

Gao Teng said: "I was thinking... you might have fallen for me and are intentionally showing off your charm in front of me."

He sighed: "It's quite troubling!"

Zhang Meizhu's face turned red instantly.

"Get lost!!!"