The Cowardly Sidekick (19)

Ten minutes later, everyone standing at the door of Xue Ci's room looked in the same direction.

The slender figure they longed for was now standing side by side with Lu Bo'an.

Lu Bo'an's large hands were still holding a washbasin, clearly indicating that he had just gone to the bathroom to help someone wash clothes.

The group scoffed inwardly, their expressions complex.

Lu Zhoucheng, in particular, never expected his brother to be so brazen.

I'm not even going to pretend anymore.

As the two approached and their faces became clear, the expressions of the crowd shifted from displeasure to barely concealed jealousy.

Xue Ci's cheeks were bruised and pale from the impact, her nose was red, and her lips were plump and beautiful, with her small lip bead now swollen several times its original size.

It had clearly been sucked very hard.

"Why are you all here?" Xue Ci was surprised, fearing they would think she was enslaving the doctor, so she immediately took the basin from Lu Bo'an's hands.

Duan Zeran's gaze fell on Xue Ci's face before he looked away. "I couldn't sleep, so I came to chat with you."

Xue Ci with an "Oh".

Everyone knows what the two of them did in the bathroom just now, or rather, what Lu Bo'an tricked Xue Ci into doing. Only Xue Ci is stupid enough to pretend that nothing happened and that she was just doing laundry.

I thought I was putting on a good act.

I didn't even realize my face looked like it had been kissed so intimately.

Like a plump, ripe peach, ready to be picked.

It smells so good that everyone wants to take a few more bites.

Xue Ci carried the basin into the house. The small house usually looked spacious, but with so many men coming in at once, it became so crowded that even the air felt thin.

Duan Zeran got down to business. "The signal stations in several cities have been taken over by zombies. It seems unlikely that we can get help by phone. We'll have to drive around the area ourselves."

"We've already cleared several locations, and I suspect there aren't any clean spots left. We might just have to coexist with zombies and endure this for the rest of our lives," Wu Feng said, then chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Besides, they've already turned into humans and developed their own thoughts; they might replace us someday."

"You mean they want to dominate the world?" Lu Zhoucheng frowned. "Dream on."

Wu Feng retorted, "But think about it, they evolved brains and are incredibly hard to kill, what an awesome species! Besides, we were originally transformed from them, it's just a pity we lost our memories, sigh... What's it like to become a zombie, remembering nothing?"

After he finished speaking, Chao Xue Ci glanced at him and said, "I don't want to forget you."

Hearing his disheartened words, Xue Ci comforted him, "No, we'll all be alright."

Yu Cheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, "Perhaps we could go to the Biochemistry Building."

Everyone looked at him.

Yu Cheng is usually very quiet, but when he does speak, it's always important, and everyone listens attentively.

"Huh? Going to that place is just suicide!" Wu Feng reminded him. "Didn't we go there the day before yesterday? Forgot? That building is gloomy, with tons of zombies, especially as you go up."

Yu Cheng: "It's Duocai who should go."

Lu Bo'an suddenly said, "I'll go with you tomorrow."

The group looked at him, and although they disliked each other, they still came up with a plan for tomorrow.

Duan Zeran, Wu Feng, and the other superhumans went outside to search for rescue, while the remaining three went to the biochemical building to investigate the situation.

In terms of danger level, the Biohazard Building is even more dangerous.

But zombies don't appear out of nowhere.

Perhaps, there's some secret research hidden inside.

If you don't want to coexist with zombies, someone has to take the risk.

Seeing that Xue Ci's eyelids were about to droop, the others didn't disturb his rest any further. The people dispersed, leaving the room spacious, with only Lu Zhoucheng remaining.

Xue Ci didn't care that the other person agreed to sleep on the floor. She lay down herself and covered half of her body with a thin blanket.

Their eyelids felt sticky and came together.

Xue Ci sleepy; her eyelashes drooped, and the flesh on her cheeks was distorted from lying on her side, but she didn't look bad at all.

Lu Zhoucheng stared at him for a while. "It seems like your relationship with my brother has improved."

Xue Ci to earn money, then lowered her head and let out a soft murmur from her throat.

The room fell silent again.

Just when Xue Ci thought Lu Zhoucheng had fallen asleep, a few seconds later, he suddenly asked, "So, which man will you use to solve your problems in the future?"

These words instantly snapped Xue Ci out of her daze.

Wh-what?

Realizing what he'd said, he awkwardly changed the subject. "Sleepy..."

Lu Zhoucheng opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't ask anything.

With so many men around, when Xue Ci is feeling unwell, her first choice would definitely be Lu Bo'an and Duan Zeran.

The thought of other men helping Xue Ci eat there, swallowing Xue Ci's food, made him feel uneasy, and jealousy spread from his limbs.

Irritable.

The number of dogs captivated by Xue Ci will only increase, not decrease.

Lu Zhoucheng comforted himself.

At least he can still Xue Ci for now.

*

A crucial plot point was about to unfold, Xue Ci couldn't sleep well, waking up early the next morning.

Lu Zhoucheng woke up even earlier than him, and had even made the bed neatly and placed it on the cabinet.

The superpowered team was busy searching for a new way out. Meanwhile, their companions, who were responsible for security patrols, had become complacent and relaxed their attitude, failing to notice that a corner behind the stadium had been breached by zombies.

Zombies will breach the stadium's safe haven today, shattering our relatively peaceful life.

No one seemed to notice the unease; they all relaxed and stayed in the venue while getting their breakfast.

Only Xue Ci knew about the zombie ambush plot beforehand, but he couldn't affect the fate of the others.

I had no choice but to find some wooden sticks in the warehouse and place them in a prominent position before sharing the dried honeysuckle petals with everyone.

No one knew what these petals were for, but they smelled pleasant, so no one threw them away carelessly.

"Bang"--

A loud bang!

The sound of the wall cracking!

A terrified scream erupted from the crowd, "What's that noise!"

"It looks like a back door!"

"Are the zombies about to get in? Are we doomed?!"

The surroundings immediately became noisy.

Various sounds mingled together.

Xue Ci nervously grabbed a wooden stick and ran towards the gate, praying that she could survive this ordeal.

Realizing what was happening, everyone rushed towards the main gate.

However, the zombies moved even faster, bursting in through the collapsed wall and attacking the humans in droves—running or crawling, bizarre shapes, each one filthy.

Some people have already started crying out, "I don't want to become like that, please! Don't make me look like that!"

The superhuman was nowhere to be seen; only a few strong boys remained in the crowd. The boys, armed, stood before the group, reminding everyone to remain silent.

Unfortunately, in this situation, the body is already out of control.

Soon, screams rang out, and after one person took the lead, everyone scattered and fled like frightened birds.

Xue Ci was so jostled that she almost fell over.

He had been well protected during this time, and when he saw the zombies again, he couldn't help but be terrified by their appearance.

"Smack him on the head! Smack him hard!" someone shouted from the crowd.

The strong ones grabbed wooden sticks and smacked the zombies on the head!

Brains splattered everywhere, the scene was nauseating, but compared to lives, it was nothing.

Several zombies died quickly, splattering filth all over the ground. Unfortunately, there were too many zombies, and somehow one of them bit the arm.

"Aaaaaah--"

A wail rang out, and the person whose arm had been bitten was quickly located. A dozen zombies swarmed over, and the person convulsed from being sucked and bitten, his skin instantly turning pale, then gradually darkening and turning bluish.

He writhed in pain on the ground, then leaped up, his eyes unfocused.

In just one minute, everyone witnessed their companion turn into a zombie.

"Ah! He's turned into a zombie!!"

The people were psychologically overwhelmed and scrambled to hide in corners, their footsteps sounding chaotic and disorganized. The zombies followed the sounds to search for people.

Xue Ci so nervous that she broke out in a cold sweat.

He hid next to the container house.

The stadium is a natural base, as it is surrounded by sturdy walls. But precisely because of this, their escape route has become difficult.

The gate was chained up, and there were few heavy objects piled up nearby; it would take quite a while just to open the gate.

Xue Ci gripped the wooden stick tightly and smacked the head of the zombie that lunged at him.

Half of his head was cut off.

Zombies have resilient limbs; even if broken, they can recover and run and jump freely. However, they lack brains, making their minds fragile.

It feels softer than a normal head when tapped.

11 even took a moment to ask, "[Has the host hit any other heads?]"

"..."

Xue Ci speechless by his question.

He tried his best not to miss, making sure every swing hit the zombie.

Unfortunately, there were just too many zombies. Xue Ci's strength was gradually waning, her lips were turning pale, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead and the tip of her nose.

The heat intensifies the aroma, spreading it into the air.

The zombies stopped what they were doing and sniffed the air intensely.

Soon, they identified a new target.

--A human whose scent perfectly matches their aesthetic.

The zombies swarmed forward, terrifying Xue Ci so much that his legs went weak. He braced himself and, realizing that they were all coming for him alone, he tried to run towards the door to lure the zombies away.

Xue Ci was panting heavily, her breathing labored.

He was quickly knocked to the ground by the zombies.

Seeing this, some of the others went to help.

Xue Ci's ankle was grabbed. The zombie seemed to like the sweat on his body, and rolled up his trouser leg, staring at his calf.

11 screamed in terror: [Host, they want to lick you!]

Being bitten by a zombie and then having its protective charm makes 11 less afraid, but being licked by it would leave anyone with psychological trauma.

Why do all the zombies that pass by think his host smells so good, and want to come over and lick him a couple of times?

Xue Ci so frightened that he desperately pulled his legs back. He could hardly breathe, and his face was flushed with an unnatural redness, revealing a terrified expression.

Unfortunately, he was too tired and quickly ran out of energy.

The next second, the force on his calf was suddenly released.

Xue Ci looked up and saw several cars driving in from not far away, crushing zombies as they went, sending the zombie horde flying into the air!

"We're saved!"

"They're back!"

Xue Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

A car quickly pulled up in front of him.

Two voices called out to him at the same time.

Lu Zhoucheng and Duan Zeran reached out their hands to him.

Xue Ci pursed her lips and quickly made a decision--

Lu Zhoucheng's body stiffened slightly, and his hand, which had been hovering in mid-air, suddenly turned and unleashed a bolt of lightning, instantly knocking down the zombie that had been trying to lick Xue Ci's calf.

Here, Duan Zeran firmly protected Xue Ci.

He had already mastered water-based superpowers. A sharp, icy blade appeared in his palm, and with swift, decisive movements, it pierced straight into the zombie's brain.

Xue Ci was almost lifted off the ground by him. He didn't expect Duan Zeran to be so strong that he could lift him up with one hand.

His expression, however, remained unchanged.

It seems quite easy.

"Go from the back!" Lu Zhoucheng tossed out a few car keys. "Drive away!"

He was usually called Captain Lu, but now he had to shoulder the responsibility, and soon he cleared a path for everyone.

Opening the main gate now took even longer, so everyone mustered all their strength and ran toward the entrance that the zombies had knocked down.

During a break from fighting zombies, Lu Zhoucheng glanced in Xue Ci's direction.

However, Xue Ci was no longer in the venue.

His heart sank, and he had a feeling that he would never see Xue Ci again.

*

Thanks to the protagonist's supernatural abilities, Xue Ci successfully escaped.

He looked back, only to be met with a zombie lunging at him from the side.

"Careful!"

Duan Zeran shaken by the danger he had just faced.

He urged Xue Ci, "Lu Zhoucheng has special abilities; he can protect himself. Let's leave first!"

He carried Xue Ci on his back as they ran.

Before the mission even began, he had already become a burden.

The venue is getting further and further away.

Perhaps it was the protagonist's halo, but they managed to find a drivable car before their stamina ran out.

Even as the car door closed, zombies were still clinging to the window, their faces terrifying, baring their teeth.

The car was shaking, and in the rearview mirror, you could see a group of zombies jumping onto the vehicle.

Duan Zeran stepped on the gas and braked sharply several times, easily throwing them off.

Xue Ci heard the sound of the progress bar moving forward.

He was still in shock, and could still hear his own heart pounding as he sat in the chair.

Excessive exertion caused my limbs to ache.

The zombies were gradually left behind.

Xue Ci hadn't seen the sun in a long time, and he noticed that the weather outside was gloomy and there was no sunshine.

As the car drove toward the school gate, the environment outside was even worse than he had imagined. All the green plants had become enormous and ugly, with vines constantly waving and searching for signs of living people.

Xue Ci took some honeysuckle flowers out of her pocket and sprinkled them on the car.

What are you doing?

Duan Zeran's tone became slightly more relaxed.

"Use it to mask our smell."

The car had reached the vicinity of the school, but traffic was paralyzed, and all the shops were dilapidated, making it look like an abandoned city.

Xue Ci startled by what she saw and shrunk listlessly in her seat.

11. Reassure him that the main characters will win in the end, and humanity will defeat the zombies.

Xue Ci's mood improved slightly.

After driving for a while, Duan Zeran stopped by the roadside to rest. He took bread and water from his seat and gave Xue Ci a piece of chocolate.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here, I'll protect you."

Compared to Xue Ci's unease, Duan Zeran didn't seem to dislike the current situation.

It's a bit like two people wandering the world together.

It carries a tragic romanticism.

Xue Ci.

Duan Zeran grasped Xue Ci's hand with his large hand, conveying warmth and comfort little by little.

They continued their journey in the afternoon; the roads were empty, and they did not encounter any more large-scale zombies.

The road seemed to stretch on forever. Xue Ci asked, "Where are we going? Where is the others?"

"Let's go find rescue," Duan Zeran said slowly. "If we're lucky enough, we might run into other people."

Duan Zeran and was very familiar with it. As it was getting late, seeing that Xue Ci's face was pale, he chose to stop at a gas station.

A few days ago, when they were investigating, they came to this gas station and checked the interior. It was empty, but there was plenty of food.

There is a small rest area in the gas station.

Duan Zeran got out of the car first, opened the door, and held Xue Ci's hand tightly.

He carried Xue Ci out of the car.

I thought it was just a hug when we got off the bus, Duan Zeran didn't let go after that and kept holding him.

Xue Ci reminded her sheepishly, "I can walk by myself."

"I'm sorry, I was afraid you'd feel uncomfortable." Duan Zeran let go.

It's a small gas station, but the food selection is plentiful and not spoiled. It's just that it hasn't been cleaned in a long time, and the floor and shelves are covered with a thick layer of dust.

Xue Ci choked softly.

Duan Zeran found a chair and had Xue Ci sit down, while ensuring that she remained within his sight.

He tidied up the lounge and took some instant noodles from the outside shelf.

The steaming hot noodles chased away their fatigue, and the two sat side by side on the old iron plate, sharing a touch of warmth and camaraderie.

It got completely dark.

After confirming that it was safe, Duan Zeran went out to refuel the car and put a lot of food in it.

A search of the vicinity revealed no zombies.

When they returned to the lounge, Xue Ci was still awake.

Duan Zeran assumed he was scared. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you. Do you want me to massage your legs?"

Having been tense for so long, Xue Ci's delicate skin must be sore and aching by now.

Xue Ci her head. "It's not very sour."

His lips moved slightly, and finally, embarrassed, he whispered, "I want to take a shower."

In this situation, survival is the priority, and asking for a bath would obviously be pretentious. However, this is the first burden task the system has given Xue Ci.

Duan Zeran get hurt because of him taking a shower.

Upon hearing the consequences, Xue Ci quickly changed her mind. "Maybe we shouldn't wash it at all."

His voice was weak and listless; the long escape had stained his fair cheeks with ash, making him look like a stray house cat.

That's right, Xue Ci such a precious cat, it's obviously a domesticated cat.

Domestic cats have no survival skills in the wild and can only rely on the stray dog that helps them.

Duan Zeran's breathing suddenly quickened at this thought.

He told Xue Ci to sit and wait, and found clean clothes and a large bucket at the gas station.

The advantages of being a water-based ability user are immediately apparent.

--Humans can have a basic supply of water.

Xue Ci tested the water temperature; it was still hot.

"Thanks..."

He glanced at Duan Zeran.

Duan Zeran was also in a sorry state.

Stray hair fell across her forehead, her clothes were torn in several places, and her body was stained with the filth of zombies.

But the other party didn't seem to care about any of that.

He remembered that Duan Zeran was a germaphobe.

They probably couldn't care less about these things in order to protect him.

Xue Ci instantly guilty. "Why don't you wash first?"

His voice seemed to remind Duan Zeran, whose tone stiffened slightly. "No need, you go wash, I'll go to the door."

Seeing that Duan Zeran to leave, Xue Ci immediately grabbed his sleeve.

It's dangerous outside.

It was definitely more dangerous outside than inside, Xue Ci was right. In addition, he was afraid that Duan Zeran would be seriously injured because of his unreasonable request, so he forced him to stay inside.

The voice even softened.

"I'm a little scared. Can you stay here with me?"

Xue Ci is very good at feigning weakness.

Clutching at the man's sleeve, with her pretty face upturned, she pitifully uttered these words.

Which man could stand that?

Duan Zeran naturally couldn't stand it either, and returned stiffly.

He managed to maintain a calm and composed demeanor.

However, upon closer inspection, bulging veins were visible on his forehead, and his lips were chapped.

The sounds of breathing varied in depth.

Xue Ci was unaware of any of this. He asked 11 to remind him when the zombies were approaching, and then quickly took off his clothes.

The cramped and crowded lounge was fine for Xue Ci when she was alone, but with the addition of a boy who was nearly 1.9 meters tall, the air seemed to be stolen away.

Xue Ci slightly opened her mouth, her cheeks flushed from the lack of oxygen.

Duan Zeran seemed to be having even more difficulty breathing.

The rustling of the fabric was almost deafening. He broke out in a sweat, his mouth dry.

The sound of running water soon began.

Duan Zeran's eyelids twitched. He had his back to Xue Ci and couldn't see anything, but he couldn't help but imagine the scene.

That's excessively beautiful.

I guess it's either white or pink.

Duan Zeran a deep breath, lost in thought, when Xue Ci suddenly called out to him, "You have to protect me, okay?"

Unable to control himself, Duan Zeran swallowed hard. His voice was low and hoarse. "... Yes."

I will protect you as if you were my own life.

He thought to himself.

His breathing became increasingly labored, and the sound of flowing water, like feathers, lingered in his ears, making his heart itch.

pain.

I can bear the pain.

He needs to do something to relieve this painful and tense feeling.

Since showering wasn't an option, Xue Ci dried himself with a towel, but he was already quite content to fall asleep cleanly like this.

As she bent over to wipe her stomach, Duan Zeran, who had been waiting by the door, suddenly asked, "Is it bloated there?"

Wh-what?

Xue Ci didn't react immediately, but subconsciously felt that what he said was a bit strange.

Duan Zeran realized that his question was too abrupt, "There in your chest."

"... Oh." Xue Ci straightened up and stopped wiping. In the darkness, his body seemed to glow on its own, like a piece of warm, smooth jade.

"I don't feel bad now."

"If you feel unwell, I'll ask you to help you eat."

Just as Xue Ci finished speaking, they heard the sound of the mission being completed.

Um?

But not a single zombie has appeared yet...

11 Reminder: [Host, he has a nosebleed.]

Xue Ci: "?"

It's no surprise that it's 11; the host is reminded to quickly put on clothes to prevent the other party from dying from excessive blood loss.

"..." Xue Ci thought that the nosebleed wouldn't be too much, but she still didn't refute it and quickly put on clean clothes.

I never expected the mission to be accomplished this way.

Regardless of the process... it's done.

When Duan Zeran turned around to help him clean up the bucket and dirty clothes, the nosebleed had already been wiped away.

Xue Ci he was just feeling hot and told him to rest, "I can wash myself."

Finally Duan Zeran successfully persuaded Xue Ci to stay home by arguing that she would sweat more if she took a shower before working.

Xue Ci hated the sticky feeling on his body. He lay down, turned to his side, and stared at the boy sitting on the low stool washing his clothes.

Over these few worlds, it seems everyone is quite willing to help him with these things.

Xue Ci could vaguely sense something, but more than that, she felt that these men were kind-hearted and inherently helpful.

He closed his eyes peacefully.

The "helpful" protagonist, seeing that he was asleep, lowered his head and brought his prominent nose close to his clothes.

A soft murmur.

"It smells so good..."

"Xue Ci."

He called the handsome boy's name over and over again.

The breathing sounds grew heavier.

The room was filled with various smells: hot sweat, stuffiness, and humidity.

Dirt splattered onto Xue Ci's clothes.

But the person lying in bed was completely unaware.

Duan Zeran washed the clothes again and hung them to dry in an open space inside the outer room.

Water-based abilities allow for automatic body cleansing.

A few seconds later, Duan Zeran was clean again, as if he hadn't done anything dirty.

But the smell inside the room still reminded him of everything that had just happened.

In the darkness.

Duan Zeran squatted at the head of the bed, his fingers intertwined with Xue Ci's, tightly clasped together.

The usually gentle and calm "good person" stared at the boy's eyes and brows, revealing an infatuated and possessive attachment.

He raised his other hand as well.

She traced the outline along her beautiful brow bone.

It was quiet outside, but heavy breathing could be heard inside.

It's like there's a wild beast lurking inside.

"Xue Ci..."

Duan Zeran called out softly, his emotions fully revealed in his eyes.

"How many people have eaten Xue Ci there?"

His voice held a hint of jealousy; if the boy were to wake up now, he would surely tremble with fear at his appearance and tone.

Her shoulders trembled, her eyelashes trembled, and she bit her lips tightly.

He revealed a pitiful and endearing appearance.

Duan Zeran disguised himself very well and never told Xue Ci.

As long as I see that half-crying expression...

Then an idea will pop into your head.

"I want to make you cry."

Author's Note:

Another pervert...

I've been working on an outline for an ancient Chinese marriage to bring good luck these past few days, but it's not going very smoothly. Instead, the dramatic, melodramatic world of wealthy families is really getting to me.

The little world is called "Xiao Ci, You Don't Want To Either."

I'm currently debating which one to open first. I'm quite inspired by the "wealthy family" theme, with keywords like debt, dual personality, and three brothers.