The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 25

The reason Xie Cheng and Jiang Yi were able to find Xu Le’s hiding place so quickly was thanks to intelligence provided by the Central Base.

After the initial negotiation “failure,” the high-ranking Captain of the Central Base quickly came to his senses. The very next day, he showed up at their door with full sincerity. In the apocalypse, the most important factor in cooperation between two bases is mutual benefit; survival and development are always the first priorities for those in power.

Fortunately, Zhou Yan provided a perfect answer.

Thus, on the night the cooperation agreement was signed, Xie Cheng and Jiang Yi were already seated in a bulletproof SUV provided by the Central Base. Armed with new-model weapons, they broke through several scattered zombie hordes and reached their destination.

The place Xu Le and Dr. Ming had chosen was interesting—they intentionally sought out the most dangerous spots. It was a small supermarket that had long since fallen. Most of the initial infected were employees and customers, and it now housed many high-level zombies who had claimed the area as their own.

Their newly built laboratory was located right in the underground garage.

****

Because the air had been stagnant for so long, the underground garage was filled with a mixture of various foul odors. Even with his plush puppy mask on, Xie Cheng couldn’t block out the pungent, nauseating stench.

The overhead lights flickered intermittently, casting their long, strobing shadows against the walls. Jiang Yi’s ear remained pressed tightly against the wall, not letting a single useful piece of information escape. Gradually, the conversation on the other side grew quieter, replaced by a different kind of noise.

What  is that?

Jiang Yi’s body stiffened instantly. His neck turned toward Xie Cheng in a series of mechanical, rusty jerks.

Xie Cheng was crouching on the ground, studying the newly drawn map of the garage. Without looking up, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“They”

“What did they say?” Xie Cheng was multi-tasking, pulling a pen from his space to circle locations on the map.

“They’re doing that kind of thing inside.” Jiang Yi squatted down too, covering his ears. He looked at Xie Cheng with eyes that were shimmering with moisture. There was a lot of awkwardness and a hint of shyness.

That kind of thing.

Just as Xie Cheng was processing the term, a series of rhythmic, rising and falling groans drifted through the wall. It seemed someone was being forced; the commotion was exceptionally loud. Xu Le’s voice was mixed in, repeatedly saying things like “I love you” and “don’t hide from me.”

Xie Cheng: 

“Is it really possible between a human and a zombie? Won’t they get infected?” Jiang Yi acted fidgety. “Then. what about a person and a flower? What would that be like?”

Xie Cheng: 

Realizing his words were a bit too blunt for the current situation, Jiang Yi quickly changed the subject. “How about we go hide somewhere else first?” He mimicked a frog, hopping a few paces away.

Underground, they couldn’t see the sky, so Xie Cheng couldn’t judge how long it would take for the person and the zombie next door to finish. If he were alone, he certainly wouldn’t have thought about hiding; he would have stayed put, pretending to be deaf. But now, he had someone else with him.

Xie Cheng folded the map, patted Jiang Yi’s shoulder, and stood up to head out with quiet steps.

When they had first entered the garage, they moved swiftly to scout every area. The place was actually quite eerie; the upper floors were packed with zombies, but down here, not a single one was in sight. In this massive space, only Xu Le and Dr. Ming were hiding, completely unharmed.

Xie Cheng guessed it was because of Xiao Yu.

The plot had collapsed significantly. The Protagonist Gong, who was supposed to be the “Savior,” had turned into a total zombie. His level was likely between 5 and 6, enough to intimidate any zombie in the supermarket. As Xu Le had put it—the Zombie King.

So, the Protagonist Sh受 had gone to all this trouble just to create a more powerful zombie. to unify the world?

Hah.

Xie Cheng stopped in front of a private garage labeled “C25.” His fingertip transformed into a slender flower stem, which probed into the lock, opening it with ease.

Jiang Yi clapped softly. “So cool, so cool!”

Xie Cheng: 

“By the way, with this much space and only two of them here, aren’t those two bastards afraid?” Jiang Yi asked.

“What would they be afraid of?” Xie Cheng sat on the floor, his voice muffled by the mask. “With Xiao Yu here, other zombies don’t dare approach the garage. Since the zombies are gathered upstairs, they act as their exclusive guards. Who would dare come in here just to die?”

Jiang Yi patted his chest. “We would.”

Xie Cheng looked up. “We aren’t here to die.”

“Oh, right, right.” Jiang Yi sat down beside him.

Xie Cheng spread the folded map on the ground and pointed out several scattered private garages. “They fled in a hurry; their supplies are just piled on the floor.”

Jiang Yi propped his chin on his hands, listening intently.

“Kidnapping Xu Le and the doctor won’t be hard,” Xie Cheng paused. “The hidden passage we found when we came in is useful; we don’t have to leave through the upper floors. But Xiao Yu, now a zombie, is a major problem.”

Jiang Yi nodded. “Yeah. Trying to take Xiao Yu away will definitely trigger a zombie riot. Our tracks will be exposed, and with that many zombies, it’ll be hard to escape.”

“Mm.” Xie Cheng tapped the ground with his knuckle. “How about we just kill him?”

Jiang Yi clapped again. “Well said.”

You absolutely cannot.

The voices of the man and the system rang out simultaneously. Xie Cheng patted his head, which felt like it was about to explode from 222’s noise, and heard Jiang Yi say in a small voice: “But the Central Base said Xiao Yu has great research value. They hope we can bring him back in one piece.”

You really can’t! The romance plot isn’t finished yet! The Protagonist Gong cannot die.

 222 wailed like a ghost.

Xie Cheng frowned and muted 222. “In that case, we’ll split up. My physique is special; I can lure the zombies away while you take the chance to kidnap them.”

“No!” Jiang Yi blurted out. His hands unconsciously gripped his knees, his knuckles turning white. He kept opening and closing his mouth, repeating the words, “No, no.”

Xie Cheng was not a patient man. He usually never explained his actions to others, but seeing Jiang Yi’s anxious, almost frantic state, he spoke up anyway: “My power has increased. I can control my scent well. Once I lure the zombies away, I’ll hide.”

“Still no. It’s too dangerous.” Jiang Yi took a deep breath. “Let’s just kill Xiao Yu directly.”

“Jiang Yi,” Xie Cheng’s voice grew heavy. “Do you still not understand what I’m implying?”

“What?” Jiang Yi looked at him with reddened eyes.

“What I’m implying is: go meet up with the Central Base team quickly. I’ll be waiting for you to come and get me.” Xie Cheng stuffed the map into Jiang Yi’s hand. “Do you understand now?”

Jiang Yi sniffled and nodded forcefully. “I understand. I’ll come get you as fast as I can.”

“And this.” Xie Cheng pulled a syringe from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Yi. “Even though Xiao Yu is in a weakened state, a high-level zombie shouldn’t be underestimated. I swiped this from another garage; it’ll temporarily paralyze him.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yi said firmly.

Xie Cheng didn’t delay any further. He rolled his wrist. “Time is tight. Good luck with the mission.”

“Xie Cheng.” Jiang Yi took a deep breath.

“What”

His voice was lost in Jiang Yi’s tight embrace. Jiang Yi’s hand supported the back of Xie Cheng’s head, gently pressing him against his own neck.

“Xie Cheng,” Jiang Yi called out again. His voice was as fervent as the day they first met. “I like you.”

****

The night was quiet, the wind slow. A clean moon hung in the sky, its silver light flowing down to wrap Xie Cheng in a thin veil as he leaned against a broken wall.

There were a few zombie roars in the distance, but they never drew closer. Xie Cheng didn’t mind; he just propped up his long legs to sit more comfortably.

The way Jiang Yi spoke earlier made it sound like a life-and-death farewell. But it was just a bunch of zombies; there was really no need to worry. He had seen far more vicious creatures and had walked away from their nests unscathed.

And yet.  that man’s reaction was a bit intense.

Xie Cheng lowered his gaze, staring blankly at the simple bracelet on his wrist. This was something Jiang Yi had forced onto him when they split up, claiming it was a treasure he’d searched long and hard for.

It was a plain silver bangle, not very heavy, so he barely felt it. Carved into the metal were the letters “X” and “J,” linked together. Xie Cheng’s fingertip touched it, tangling the red string on his wrist with the bracelet.

Both were gifts from Jiang Yi. Usually hidden beneath his sleeve, Xie Cheng often forgot about them, but he wore them constantly.

“Constantly”

How long would that last? Xie Cheng didn’t know. But if Jiang Yi were here, he would undoubtedly say, “Forever, of course!”

The corners of his mouth quirked up involuntarily.

Immortal New Lead.  222 spoke up weakly.

The smile on Xie Cheng’s face faded. He hid the red string and bracelet back under his sleeve. What is it?

What does it feel like to be in love?

Why would a system ask such a thing? Wait.

When did I ever fall in love?

Aren’t you and Jiang Yi in a relationship?  222 asked in surprise.

There is no completed romance plot, so it doesn’t count as being in love, Xie Cheng replied.

222: “?” Wait, all that kissing and hugging doesn’t count?

If this doesn’t count as being in love, are you two exploring the ‘mysteries of life’ instead? 222 searched its big data for an answer and asked with clinical precision.

Xie Cheng was preoccupied. Mm.

222 had a sudden realization and began jotting down important notes in its little book. It then brought up the mission again: By the way, New Lead, don’t forget the mission.

Did you record the romance plot from earlier?

“The Protagonist  gave a soulful confession, and the Protagonist Gong accepted it.” Yes, yes, I’ve recorded it.

Xie Cheng shook his head. Not that one. Back in the garage, record a ‘deepening of affection’ milestone. A romance story needs completeness from becoming lovers to the deepening of feelings, to the final ending.

They reached a ‘deepening of affection’ in just that short moment?

Xie Cheng glanced at the little light ball jumping around. Why wouldn’t they? They’ve slept together and were intimate; haven’t their feelings deepened?

222 blurted out: But you and Jiang Yi have slept together who-knows-how-many times, yet you don’t even have a relationship status.

Xie Cheng was silent for a long moment. That’s different.

Since we haven’t gone to the final step, it doesn’t count.

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