Looking back at the group of zombies trailing behind her, Chu Muge was dazed, feeling as if she had become invincible in this apocalyptic world.
Gu Yao’s ability, if Chu Muge guessed correctly, was likely the same one that future zombie queens—those who devoured each other to consolidate power—would possess.
It was incredibly powerful, but also incredibly dangerous.
Zombie queens were like queen bees. In any given area, two queens would fight until only one remained.
But Chu Muge didn’t want Gu Yao to be dragged into such perilous circumstances.
Her wish was simple: to become strong enough to protect Gu Yao, to hide her away like a precious treasure, and to retreat to a secluded mountain to live in peace.
In the silence of the rain, the only sound was the crisp splashing as they stepped through puddles.
The residential complex didn’t have many zombies. Most were probably still inside their homes, with only a few scattered outside.
As they walked, Gu Yao captured one zombie after another. By the time they reached their destination, eight zombies were trailing behind them.
Chu Muge’s eyes sparkled. “Senior, you’re amazing!”
Gu Yao couldn’t help but lift her head a bit in pride.
Ahem… but to be honest, she was starting to feel a bit strained. Her head was pounding, and she wasn’t sure she could handle many more zombies.
The apartment complex where Gu Yao and Lu Boyuan lived was quite high-end, with excellent architecture and landscaping.
European-style villas were spaced apart, each with its own small garden or pond. In the rain, the sound of droplets on the smooth stone paths added a unique charm to the surroundings.
“A16, Unit 101…”
Chu Muge mumbled, following the signs as she turned onto a smaller path.
“Ah, found it.”
The path was lined with weeping willows and pine trees. As Chu Muge walked, hand in hand with Gu Yao, she couldn’t help but marvel, “The lives of the rich are really something.”
Gu Yao followed her gaze, spotting the grand villa.
Even within the complex, the villas were ranked by level, and Lu Boyuan’s was one of the highest.
As everyone knew, the male lead in a story was usually either downtrodden, average, or wealthy. Lu Boyuan fell into the last category.
The iron gate outside the villa had a doorbell and options for entering a password or using fingerprint recognition.
Chu Muge thought for a moment, then her eyes flashed red. She lifted her leg and kicked the gate.
The iron gate couldn’t withstand the force and, with a sharp creak, bent out of shape, left ajar and ready to welcome them inside.
Gu Yao was momentarily startled but quickly regained her composure.
She was already used to Chu Muge’s “physical” methods of opening doors.
When they reached the front door and saw the fingerprint scanner on the handle, Chu Muge closed her umbrella, coughed, and lifted her foot again.
Her supernatural strength easily knocked the door off its hinges, sending it crashing to the ground and kicking up dust.
Lu Boyuan is a good person, Chu Muge thought. He’ll forgive us for breaking into his house.
With the door “open,” Gu Yao quickly called the few zombie followers to come inside and escape the rain. Then, she turned her attention to the interior of the house.
The male lead’s home!
Apart from the dust, everything was pure white.
Really white—the walls were white, the ceiling was white, the floors were white, even the tables and chairs were white.
The decor was simple and modern, with minimalist furniture and a few withered plants. Despite the desolation, there was a certain comfort to the place.
It seemed that Lu Boyuan was a fan of minimalist style.
“Let’s go, let’s go. We should head to the underground garage.”
Chu Muge had no interest in the decor. “Let’s see if his off-road vehicle is still there. After that, we can go to your house, Senior?”
That last part was clearly the focus, given Chu Muge’s excitement, like a school kid about to go on a field trip.
Gu Yao was also curious about her original home. Would it be very girlish? Or would it have the same minimalist style?
Leaving the zombies outside, Chu Muge and Gu Yao found the stairs leading to the underground garage. They opened the door and stepped inside.
However…
Nothing.
Chu Muge frowned, using her phone’s flashlight, which was on ultra-power-saving mode, to search around the garage.
How could it be empty?
She had expected to find the steel beast in the garage, but there was no sign of it, leaving Chu Muge puzzled.
Hadn’t Lu Boyuan said that there was a modified off-road vehicle here?
Gu Yao, with nothing better to do, looked around in the dim light.
As she scanned the room, her gaze suddenly froze on something.
Noticing her odd behavior, Chu Muge directed the light towards the object Gu Yao was staring at.
Silence.
Chu Muge wasn’t sure what expression to make or if she should be pulling a long face right now.
—A toy off-road vehicle.
It was impressive, with modifications and a powerful motor.
…A motor, really?
Chu Muge had thought Lu Boyuan was joking, but it turned out he was serious about the motor!
The toy off-road vehicle Lu Boyuan had been so proud of was sitting quietly on the table, as if mocking Chu Muge’s naivety.
Chu Muge: …Damn it.
She’d been tricked.
“Senior,” Chu Muge forced a smile, “let’s go to your house.”
-
On the way there, Gu Yao had never seen Chu Muge look so defeated.
She looked like someone who had just lost five million yuan, radiating a deep sense of humiliation and frustration.
Well played, Lu Boyuan. Well played. Though they had never met, he had successfully become Chu Muge’s enemy.
Chu Muge remained expressionless until they reached Gu Yao’s house. Only then did she smile. “Senior.”
Gu Yao silently watched as Chu Muge took her hand and placed it on the fingerprint scanner at the iron gate.
Beep, beep.
The green light flashed, and the gate opened.
Gu Yao’s villa seemed to have its own power supply, with photovoltaic panels on the roof that converted sunlight into electricity for later use.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough for short-term needs.
Chu Muge gently pushed the door open and walked inside, her demeanor completely different from how she had behaved at Lu Boyuan’s house—like she was reborn.
Gu Yao’s villa was also top-tier, complete with a small bridge and a fish pond below.
As Gu Yao walked across the bridge, she glanced down at the decayed fish carcasses in the pond, their skeletons still clinging to rotting skin, and silently looked away.
Poor fish.
“Senior, senior, I’m going into your house, okay?”
Chu Muge’s eyes sparkled as she put away her umbrella. It was almost like a ritual as she stood at the door, looking at Gu Yao with cautious anticipation. “Can I?”
Gu Yao nodded, her inner thoughts flat.
Chu Muge, knowing she had turned into a zombie, surely understood that regaining her consciousness didn’t mean she was the same person she once was. There was no need to say things like this.
Chu Muge cheered, took Gu Yao’s hand again, and placed it on the fingerprint scanner.
Beep, beep.
The door opened.
Chu Muge hugged Gu Yao tightly, as if they were about to get married.
Gu Yao instinctively glanced at the zombies trailing behind them.
They stood in the rain, and through their eyes, Gu Yao could see the scene of Chu Muge lifting her up.
Gu Yao: …
What are you looking at! Don’t look!
Ordering them to turn away, Gu Yao sighed softly and patted Chu Muge’s head, signaling for her to put her down.
…How childish.