Cowardly Follower (18)

Xue Ci was internally bewildered, but managed to maintain a semblance of composure on the surface.

Aside from being startled by the ice on his cheek, he wasn't that scared.

Perhaps compared to other perverts, Lu Bo'an seemed much more respectable.

Xue Ci never expected that he would be chosen from among the perverts to be a normal person. He took a deep breath, tilted his small face up, and suddenly felt that being frightened like this was very unfair.

Her eyelids drooped.

He didn't look happy.

Following the other party's lead, I replied with a single word in a cool and aloof manner.

"Yes."

Lu Bo'an paused slightly, then narrowed his eyes.

He stared at Xue Ci's face as if he were scrutinizing her.

After making such a boastful statement, Xue Ci's cheeks burned even hotter, but the words had already been spoken and could not be taken back.

So, forcing myself to indulge in a bit of self-pity, I said, "You saw it too, the rewards for being my dog are plentiful."

"You must listen to me and be at my beck and call."

"And it's not something just anyone can do."

"I don't like older people; their energy runs out quickly."

With almost every sentence he spoke, Lu Bo'an's brows furrowed even more tightly. Xue Ci suddenly felt like a rebellious teenager, always arguing with her parents.

He also seemed inclined to argue with Lu Bo'an at this moment.

Regardless, we won one round.

The last sentence, in particular, was completely copied from the sarcastic remarks in the Fragment. Xue Ci herself probably didn't even understand what "exhausted" meant. It was more of a reminder in the first half of the sentence that the other person was not young.

I can't say any more, or I'll go out of character (OOC).

Furthermore, calling someone old is a personal attack and goes too far.

11. Confidently: [He physically attacked you, so what's wrong with you retaliating by physically attacking him?]

Xue Ci: "..."

In short, he pursed his lips, and in Lu Bo'an's sight, the defiant attitude he had just displayed vanished instantly.

With drooping eyelashes and puffed-out cheeks, she looked a bit like a wary little rabbit.

He was waiting for Lu Bo'an to retaliate.

The next second, the other person suddenly whispered in his ear, "I don't burn out that quickly."

?

Xue Ci didn't understand whether this counted as an argument.

After being stunned for a while, he opened his lips, then closed them again.

In short, he was the one who had been tricked by the Invisible Man several times before.

He retaliated with insults, so they were even.

Xue Ci ignored Lu Bo'an and frowned as he tried to leave, but Lu Bo'an blocked his way with his body.

Xue Ci to the left, blocking the way.

Continue blocking from behind.

How did a mature and refined man turn into a scoundrel and a hooligan?

Xue Ci was annoyed by him. "Are you trying to argue with me? Then just say it."

Lu Bo'an remained silent.

He is a man of few words and a cold personality, but not to the point of being speechless.

He only realized that, ever since he met Xue Ci, some of his behaviors had started to become uncontrollable.

Driven by curiosity, we explore.

Anger stemming from jealousy.

Lu Bo'an is a mature adult, and it only takes him a few days to realize his feelings.

What troubled him was that he couldn't control these feelings, which made him feel frustrated, jealous, incompetent, and lost. After experiencing so many emotions, these feelings surged up again when he faced his rivals.

Xue Ci's slowness made him uneasy.

So he deliberately left a small hook, intentionally letting the other party see a hint of his intentions.

But when the kitten actually ran away and behaved in a way that didn't meet his expectations, he became unhappy.

These contradictory and undignified behaviors were things he used to despise. He used to think that dating should involve a generous and healthy relationship.

For example, like the day Lu Zhoucheng brought Xue Ci to his home.

Yes, that's it.

However, replacing one's younger brother and being with his partner is not a respectable or healthy thing in itself.

so.

Xue Ci was also unwilling, and was scared away after even the slightest intimate gesture.

This caused him to repeatedly become Invisible Man, running into the other person's room and sniffing their clothes like a pervert, leaving marks on their fair skin.

He'll get even more excited if there are other people around.

But sharing is absolutely out of the question.

When Lu Zhoucheng was a child, Lu Bo'an would buy him whatever he wanted; he never had the habit of sharing. Moreover, Xue Ci was a person with her own will.

In short, he had a strong desire to possess Xue Ci exclusively.

They also have strong sexual desires.

At the same time, they also have high self-esteem.

His sense of self-esteem is quite different from Lu Zhoucheng's.

Lu Zhoucheng is young, flamboyant, and loves to pretend—but when he likes someone, it's genuine, the kind of liking that comes from the bottom of his heart.

His pride was hurt because he couldn't make Xue Ci in love with him.

So when Xue Ci said "the rewards for dogs are plentiful," he was completely tempted.

He was so moved that he almost said he'd be the one.

And it must be the only one.

"My legs are sore from standing..." The boy's grumbling brought the man back to his senses, and suddenly, the handsome features reappeared before his eyes.

Lifting the chair with one hand, Lu Bo'an finally showed signs of speaking, "Sit down first."

Xue Ci: "..."

Is she planning to have a long talk with him?

After hesitating for a few seconds, Xue Ci sat down.

Lu Bo'an's hand almost instantly landed on the back of the chair, and he leaned forward slightly to support his entire body.

This is a very intimate yet restrained posture.

Xue Ci sat upright with her legs together, her face and neck tense, looking very uneasy.

"I'm not doing anything," Lu Bo'an said slowly, a hint of confusion appearing in his indifferent eyes. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

Xue Ci looked at him in confusion, blinking her eyes, not quite understanding what he meant.

"You just said there would be a reward for being your dog," Lu Bo'an said, emphasizing each word. "Is it too late now?"

"... What?"

"Be a dog."

"..."

It's truly unbelievable that such words would come from someone as refined as Lu Bo'an.

Xue Ci what was happening and refused, "You lied to me, and you deliberately scared and bullied me. An obedient person... wouldn't do that."

He had originally intended to refuse tactfully, but this sounded like he was saying that Lu Bo'an was a disobedient dog.

... It's a little awkward.

Xue Ci's cheeks flushed slightly. She sat up straight and asked uneasily, "May I go now?"

Lu Bo'an still wouldn't let him go.

This time, however, he gave a reason. "If you leave, you won't talk to me anymore."

Xue Ci thought that was indeed the case.

"So what do you want?"

Lu Bo'an stared at him. "I don't want you to ignore me."

Xue Ci found talking to Lu Bo'an a bit mentally taxing. He beat around the bush, slowly trying to understand, half-understanding, but finally gleaned a hint of meaning. "So when you said you wanted to be a dog, it was because you were afraid I'd ignore you, right?"

Lu Bo'an nodded.

Xue Ci suddenly stopped being afraid of him.

It seemed that the person in front of him was no different from the group of Fragment.

As long as you show an unhappy expression and say something like "I don't care" or "I hate you," even the weirdest pervert will turn into a quiet ghost.

"I understand..." he murmured.

Actually, he used to get along very well with Lu Bo'an, but after being treated, the other party's attitude suddenly changed, making him feel unfamiliar and afraid.

Only then will they actively distance themselves.

Xue Ci asked the question that had been weighing on her mind, "When you said you would help me with my treatment, were you deliberately bullying me, or did you really help me?"

Lu Bo'an didn't lie to him. "Yes, I have both."

"I already knew about this when we were in the dorm, and I really wanted to bring it up, but I was afraid of scaring you."

"Later, you trusted Lu Zhoucheng so much that he actually brought you to see me."

"You chose him to help you, not me."

"Xiao Ci, I'm so jealous."

I thought we were closer.

And so, she openly and honestly admitted her feelings.

It doesn't seem like anything special.

Xue Ci was stunned for a moment, then bit her lip and pondered for a while.

"But what you did to me was wrong."

Lu Bo'an: "I know."

"You're avoiding me, and I can't help myself."

What he didn't say was that he enjoyed seeing that pretty face turn teary-eyed with fear when he frightened her.

Quietly avoiding danger is indeed something Xue Ci often does.

He knew that such behavior could cause unintended harm.

Perhaps that's how Lu Bo'an was hurt.

Xue Ci thought for a moment and said, "I will talk to you, but you can't turn into Invisible Man to scare me or bully me anymore."

"And you're not allowed to do those things to me."

Lu Bo'an had no way out; he couldn't handle this relationship.

Or perhaps, he was defeated even more thoroughly than Lu Zhoucheng.

"Good."

The consequences of being honest aren't bad.

Lu Bo'an received the reward of being a dog.

Xue Ci fed him porridge, and tasted it herself before feeding him to make sure he wasn't burned.

This was the Yiyi in recent days that Lu Bo'an felt physically and mentally relaxed; his heart felt light, as if it were being carried into the air by the rising sweet and sour bubbles.

The bubbles burst, and the sweetness seeped into my internal organs.

Compared to coveting or spying, he experienced a more respectable kind of pleasure.

She even shamelessly demonstrated to Xue Ci how to make herself transparent.

The superpower was very useful, and it also allowed him to control which part of his body became invisible at will. Lu Bo'an mastered it so well that he even considered whether to reveal a hand when pulling on the ankle.

He kept his dirty thoughts to himself.

When I talk to Xue Ci gently, images of her crying face flash through my mind from time to time.

He shouldn't make excuses for himself.

Perhaps he was born a psychopath.

*

When Lu Zhoucheng returned to the gymnasium, he was busy sharing the good news with Xue Ci.

They found a drivable car with enough range to drive them out of the city.

This might be a good opportunity to seek help from outside, but it's too late and the navigation is malfunctioning, so they need to plan their route.

Finally, Duan Zeran, with his sharp eyes, spotted Xue Ci first.

Following the other person's gaze, Lu Zhoucheng saw Xue Ci and Lu Bo'an together, helping a wounded soldier change his bandages.

He took two steps, his gaze falling on Lu Bo'an's sling arm, his expression suddenly changed, and he quickened his pace.

Xue Ci was still examining someone's wound when someone hugged her from behind.

He struggled to turn around. "Lu Zhoucheng, you... don't hold me like this... put me down."

Lu Zhoucheng whispered in his ear, "Did you see that? Lu Bo'an's arm."

"The Invisible Man!"

After speaking angrily, Lu Zhoucheng noticed that Xue Ci's expression was not surprised.

Do you already know?

Lu Zhoucheng's face darkened, his eyes filled with complex emotions. After calling for help from an acquaintance, he took Xue Ci's hand and said, "I have something to talk to you about."

Lu Bo'an stood aside without intervening.

He clearly knew what Lu Zhoucheng wanted to talk to Xue Ci about.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, the man's expression became more composed than before.

He is now a member of the group.

His status was similar to Lu Zhoucheng's.

*

"You know Lu Bo'an is Invisible Man, and you forgive him so easily?" Lu Zhoucheng almost cracked his voice, trying to dissuade her, "Xue Ci, why don't you think about it again?"

Xue Ci ignored the advice. "It was indeed me who ignored him first."

He apologized to me and said he wouldn't do it again.

Lu Zhoucheng's eyelids twitched. "Were you fooled by his sweet talk again? What did he say to you?"

Xue Ci was too embarrassed to say something like "being treated like a dog."

He brushed it off, clearly not wanting to discuss the topic any further.

Lu Zhoucheng wasn't surprised at all that the Invisible Man was Lu Bo'an. What surprised him was that Lu Bo'an still held a rather important place in Xue Ci's heart.

She seems to look more like an ex than he does.

Lu Zhoucheng became increasingly depressed as he thought about it, and he had a bad feeling.

As expected, over the next two days, Lu Bo'an displayed his medical knowledge to Xue Ci like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

But Xue Ci was exactly susceptible to this tactic, and her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at the other person.

Their guard completely disappeared.

Lu Bo'an's slightly upturned lips were particularly jarring to his eyes. How come he hadn't known his brother was so good at charming innocent young boys?

Lu Zhoucheng scoffed dismissively, but his eyes betrayed his disappointment.

"What are you doing? You look so listless. Here!"

Just like when they were still on the team, Wu Feng tossed a bottle of water to Lu Zhoucheng, who caught it steadily.

In just a few months, no one expected a zombie attack. They are not staying here for exercise, but for refuge.

"I'm tired of seeing that expression on my two roommates' faces these past few days." Wu Feng glanced at the boy not far away. "But your brother is really talented; if he were a professor, his classes would be packed every time."

Lu Zhoucheng said "Oh," and then added, "He's a top medical student, of course."

His words were full of sour grapes.

The charm of such composure and high academic qualifications is something that these college students naturally cannot match. However, according to his understanding, Yu Cheng and Duan Zeran were admitted to An University with high scores.

He... doesn't seem very competitive.

Wu Feng: "Why aren't you saying anything? What are you thinking about?"

Lu Zhoucheng: "It's due to inferiority complex."

Wu Feng: "You're only feeling inferior now?"

Lu Zhoucheng: "?"

"I heard that when Xue Ci first added you on WeChat, you posted on your Moments every day. To be honest, anyone could see your intentions. I feel ashamed for you."

"..."

Lu Zhoucheng's face stiffened from the insults, and he wore a sullen expression all day.

*

At dusk, the stadium's main entrance was smashed open by zombies.

Danger could strike at any moment, so no one dared to stay indoors alone. They gathered in the center of the stadium, huddling together in small groups to comfort each other.

The unease of the past few days has left everyone looking rather unwell.

The superpowered team drove out of the city and discovered that two or three nearby cities had already fallen completely, and they had not yet received any rescue. It was possible that the entire country had already fallen.

They didn't mention the hopeless situation for the time being. They brought back a large amount of supplies, and after a hearty meal, everyone felt much more at ease and went back to their rooms to rest.

People were filled with anxiety, feeling unsafe anywhere, so they went back to their rooms to shower.

Xue Ci felt that fetching water would require several trips back and forth, so she simply went to the bathroom.

The bathroom was deserted, not a soul in sight. After he left with the basin, the small yellow and white flowers in the dish proved that the plant had indeed been there.

Was it intentionally left for him?

Xue Ci felt that the plant meant no harm—there are good mutated monsters too.

Xue Ci was in a good mood after receiving an extra flower. She sat down at the table and carefully washed the water off the flower.

Lu Zhoucheng knocked on the door at that moment.

The boy told him about the scenes he had seen in the next city over the past few days. Some zombies were already disguising themselves as humans to deceive people, but fortunately they could smell the rotting odor on them.

There is indeed a scene in the story where Xue Ci saves zombies as if they were humans, and he asks Lu Zhoucheng curiously how similar these zombies are to humans.

Lu Zhoucheng: "Apart from the smell, they're all the same; people with a poor sense of smell wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

Xue Ci lost in thought.

The progress bar has reached 70%.

His remaining tasks mostly involved finding these imposters.

Lu Zhoucheng changed the subject again, showing no intention of leaving.

Xue Ci was a little sleepy and politely suggested that she wanted to rest.

Lu Zhoucheng didn't leave. "It's not safe lately, I'll just sleep on the floor here."

11: [Heh.]

I've dragged this out until now, and I'm finally stopping pretending.

Xue Ci too weak to bargain with him, and after she acquiesced, he took advantage of her and asked if she could kiss him.

Xue Ci's eyes widened, and she quickly picked up the washbasin and made up an excuse to do laundry before leaving.

Go to bed early, you have to go out tomorrow.

He gave instructions, but in reality, he was trying to avoid getting entangled with them.

Lu Zhoucheng felt a warm glow in his heart and quietly made himself a makeshift bed on the floor.

Xue Ci carried the washbasin to the sink.

The weather has been getting hotter lately, and the bathroom, being in a shady spot, feels like it has its own built-in air conditioning.

Xue Ci on the tap, staring at the thin stream of water, her eyelids gradually becoming sleepy.

Hopefully, Lu Zhoucheng will be asleep by the time he gets back, so he won't bother him anymore.

Xue Ci awake when her cheek was suddenly brushed lightly.

He was very familiar with this feeling.

"Big brother?"

He shouted into the air beside him.

After his relationship with Lu Bo'an improved, he reverted to addressing him as he used to.

Lu Bo'an didn't reveal himself immediately; the next moment, the clothes in the basin were lifted out of thin air.

This looks like magic...

Xue Ci scratched her head sheepishly, realizing her idea was too naive.

The man worked quickly, and soon washed two or three pieces of clothing.

Xue Ci about to leave with the washbasin when her sleeve was grabbed.

Soon, a few words appeared on the mirror in front of the sink, written with a finger dipped in water.

Each stroke, one character at a time.

Xue Ci really wanted to say, wouldn't it be faster to just reveal your human form and tell him directly?

He didn't know that there were some things Lu Bo'an couldn't say.

for example.

I like you.

Xue Ci looked a little dazed, clearly still processing those words.

Soon, the second line of text appeared.

"Give me a kiss, okay?"

Wh-what?

Before Xue Ci could speak, she felt a gentle breeze brush against her lips.

A strange feeling.

He picked up the basin and said decisively, "Okay, we've kissed, I'm going back now. Thank you for helping me with the laundry."

Her sleeve was still being pulled and wouldn't let go.

The next moment, Lu Bo'an appeared out of thin air before them.

The man was very close; his tall figure blocked the light, casting a shadow on him.

"You..." Xue Ci uttered a single word in a daze.

"You promised to kiss me, right?" Lu Bo'an leaned down, his low, husky voice carrying the dampness of the night breeze, "I didn't manage to kiss you just now."

Xue Ci opened her mouth, recalling what she had just said.

It sounds like agreement.

But then I thought about it again, and something didn't seem right.

It was as if Lu Bo'an was deliberately trying to kiss him.

Seeing that Xue Ci was still hesitating, Lu Bo'an patiently said, "You said there would be a reward for being a dog."

I've been very well-behaved lately.

*

Lu Zhoucheng was making the bed when there was a knock on the door.

More stray dogs came and started bothering them.

His face darkened, and he went to open the door.

The three roommates were outside.

The ghost lingers.

Lu Zhoucheng didn't let them in, and opened the door only slightly. "What are you doing?"

"I came here to see Xue Ci," Duan Zeran said calmly. He peered through the crack, but unfortunately couldn't see Xue Ci's bed. "What are you doing here?"

"Xue Ci scared, so I'm staying here with him." Lu Zhoucheng gave him a dismissive look. "He's already asleep, so keep your voice down."

Duan Zeran clearly didn't trust Lu Zhoucheng and stood outside the door without leaving.

Yu Cheng suddenly said, "He's not here."

Everyone looked at him.

"I can smell it."

It's really perverted for a decent person to say such lewd things...

If Xue Ci were there, she would probably be too embarrassed to speak.

Where did Xiao Ci?

The group demanded the person from Lu Zhoucheng, unaware that a dog was rewarding itself in the bathroom just a few dozen meters away.

Xue Ci was easily lifted and placed on the sink.

The cold tiles made my steaming skin shiver.

Xue Ci's lips were completely enveloped in her mouth.

Lu Bo'an's kisses were heavy and passionate.

The lips should cover the mouth, while the tongue should be pulled out.

The suffocating kiss left Xue Ci's eyelashes wet and sticky, her cheeks squeezed, rubbed, and licked...

He has more vitality than a pretty doll.

The man's bony hand slipped between the boy's fingers and pressed against the mirror.

Xue Ci's hand brushed against the words "like," leaving behind a misty spray of water.

It was as if she were truly responding to his confession.

She's willing to be his wife.

Author's Note:

They gave the older brother a bit more screen time.

And I have to start writing the plot for the next chapter, which is really giving me a headache...