Ma Wei's guess was based on his own experience.
He'd encountered cases like today's more than ten times.
He'd even personally experienced a monster wandering into a residential compound and eating everyone in an entire building.
Thinking of the carnage back then, Ma Wei couldn't help taking a deep breath.
The foul air shot straight from his nostrils to his brain. He immediately gagged, nearly throwing up.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Ma Wei pounded his chest, forcing the air down, then turned to his team members and said, "What are you standing around for like idiots?
Take pictures if you're supposed to take pictures, collect the bodies if you're supposed to collect the bodies. Are you waiting for me to do everything?"
The three team members suddenly snapped out of it and got to work.
Ma Wei sighed helplessly and said to Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu, "Look at my team. They're all like premature ejaculators—give them an order and they'll move once, but getting them to work faster is impossible."
Zhang Meizhu: "..."
Gao Teng: "..."
What kind of comparison was that?
Ma Wei went on, "Also, I have to warn you two: go home and take a few showers as soon as you can.
With that smell on you, a monster could sniff you out from over a hundred meters away."
Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.
"But don't worry too much. As long as you stay in the city, you should be fine.
Linshan City is pretty safe, after all. I'm here, and I take my work extremely seriously."
"..."
Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu wore complicated expressions, their faces scrunched up.
Ma Wei waved them off. "Go on, then. There's nothing for you to do here. Hurry home and get nice and clean.
Hopefully, the next time I see you, neither of you will be pregnant."
Gao Teng: "..."
Zhang Meizhu: "..."
"Ha... haha..."
Ma Wei seemed quite pleased with his joke and laughed twice.
Then he waved to Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu, watching as they left the living room.
Gao Teng reached the hallway and said to Zhang Meizhu, "I'm heading back. See you in the sewer later."
"Wait."
Zhang Meizhu stopped him, looking worried. "What if a monster targets you when you go back like that? You should come wash up at my place."
Gao Teng hesitated. "Is that really okay?"
Zhang Meizhu didn't mind at all. "I don't care, so what are you worried about?"
Gao Teng furrowed his brows. "There are so many people at school trying to get close to me. Now you're asking me to come over and shower at your place. I can't help reading into it."
Zhang Meizhu's face quickly turned red.
Gao Teng continued, "You don't have a crush on me, do you? Could you stop having such weird ideas? It's really troubling."
Zhang Meizhu's whole body turned scorching hot in an instant.
She punched Gao Teng in the chest. "That's enough! Shut up!"
Gao Teng patted his chest and let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're not interested in me. Otherwise, I'd have to find a new partner. I don't want to waste my time on that sort of pointless stuff. All I want to do right now is study."
Zhang Meizhu grabbed the flesh around Gao Teng's waist and gave it a vicious twist. "Say that again!"
"Why is your face so red? Are you feeling sick?"
Gao Teng raised a hand and placed it against Zhang Meizhu's face.
Then he jerked his hand back in horror. "Oh my god! My hand's cooked! Help!"
Zhang Meizhu: "..."
She suddenly fell silent, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
Gao Teng coughed and asked tentatively, "Shall we head home?"
Zhang Meizhu shot him a fierce glare, walked to the door, and unlocked it with her fingerprint.
Just as the two were about to go inside, Ma Wei poked his head out of Unit 1901. "Don't let curiosity make you do anything out of line."
Gao Teng and Zhang Meizhu: "..."
"Haha..."
Ma Wei pulled his head back inside, laughing heartily.
"What a jerk," Zhang Meizhu muttered, then went into the living room.
Gao Teng followed close behind and shut the door.
Their eyes met, but neither felt the slightest awkwardness. Both were completely at ease.
Clearly, they saw each other as nothing more than friends. Neither had any other ideas.
Zhang Meizhu spoke first. "I'll find you some clothes. You can't wear my dad's clothes, so you'll probably have to wear my pajamas."
Gao Teng suddenly felt a little heavyhearted. He understood what Zhang Meizhu meant.
This family had once been happy, but now they were separated by life and death. The old clothes her father had left behind were precious memories to Zhang Meizhu.
He let out a long breath and said seriously, "I'm not thrilled about it, but since we're friends, I'll reluctantly wear your clothes."
"Huh?"
Zhang Meizhu looked utterly bewildered. "You're saying you don't like them? I'm not the one who has a problem with you! What the hell gives you the right?"
"Hey, don't swear."
"I'll damn well hit you, too!"
Zhang Meizhu punched Gao Teng hard.
Gao Teng cheerfully took the punch. He wasn't trying to make Zhang Meizhu angry; he just didn't want her to sink into sadness.
After all his joking around, Zhang Meizhu was clearly feeling less down.
"Wait here!"
Zhang Meizhu gave her ponytail a sharp flip and went into the bedroom.
A little while later, she came back with a set of black pajamas and tossed them to Gao Teng. "Use the bathroom in the guest room."
"Okay."
Gao Teng glanced in the direction she pointed and headed over.
He scrubbed and scrubbed.
Even after rubbing himself so hard he nearly peeled off a layer of skin, the stench on him was still overpowering. There was no way to wash it off.
Just as Ma Wei had said, the smell would stick to him for at least half a month.
That was bad, but it was also good.
If it attracted monsters, he could rack up merit points to his heart's content.
But if the monsters were too strong, that would be trouble.
"Risk and opportunity go hand in hand."
Gao Teng dried himself off and changed into the pajamas, which gave off a faint, delicate fragrance.
The scent was barely there, yet soothing, and he couldn't help relaxing.
Gao Teng stretched. The pajamas were comfortable, but the sleeves and legs were too short, so they didn't fit him at all.
He opened the door and went out. Zhang Meizhu had already finished showering in the master bedroom's bathroom. She was wearing the Public Security Bureau's auxiliary staff uniform and drying her hair with a blow-dryer.
Gao Teng went to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, watching Zhang Meizhu.
He had to admit, her features were exquisite: clear almond-shaped eyes, a high nose bridge, and full lips. It was almost impossible to find a flaw.
She was just the right height, too. At 170 centimeters, she was tall and slender, with a tiny waist and long, straight legs like jade pillars. She was truly flawless.
When they cleaned the sewers, Zhang Meizhu always wore a mask. Now that he could take a close look at her, he realized just how astonishingly beautiful she was.
Even the top actresses of his previous life couldn't compare.
Gao Teng couldn't help marveling to himself. Even Zhang Meizhu's hair was unbelievably perfect.
It was not only soft and full, but also as glossy and black as ink, making her bare face look even fairer and more radiant.
Flawless. Truly flawless.
"What are you looking at?"
Noticing Gao Teng's gaze, Zhang Meizhu gave him a sidelong look.
Gao Teng said, "I was thinking... you might have a crush on me and are trying to show off your charms."
He sighed. "It's troubling!"
Zhang Meizhu's face quickly turned red.
"Get lost!!!"
Before you continue