The sight of the couple openly displaying their affection felt like a barrage of cold dog food hitting the faces of those around them.
Yu Hao's expression was one of loss, his eyes complex, but gradually shifting to acceptance.
Wang Yang, on the other hand, found it amusing and watched with keen interest, even feeling a desire to find a girlfriend and fall in love.
Xu Wei's gaze, however, darkened slightly.
This pretty boy was a real actor!
He'd constantly told them not to tell Qiao Ci the truth for fear of her worrying, yet here he was, faking misery and weakness, all to gain Qiao Ci's pity and comfort. He even used the opportunity to get handsy.
Truly despicable!
An Ran was also furious. She had just controlled two mutated zombies and was truly exhausted, yet Xu Wei showed no concern for her, only fixated on Qiao Ci and Su Ye ahead.
Little Spoon watched these people with their varied expressions and remarked, "Do you think the host can't see he's faking it?"
"It's just that the host is willing to indulge him. It's a case of willing victim and willing perpetrator."
"The host is obsessed with male beauty, unable to extricate herself!"
Back at the base, after handing over the supplies, Qiao Ci hastily dragged Su Ye home to clean his wounds. Xu Wei couldn't even get a word in.
Seeing this, An Ran's feelings of grievance intensified. While she knew it was all an act, watching her man actively pursue another woman still brought waves of bitterness.
Back in their quarters, they found Xu Wei sitting heavily in a chair. An Ran finally gave up on seeking comfort from him and proactively asked, "Brother Wei, what's wrong? What happened today that Su Ye is completely unharmed?"
In her eyes, even a minor scratch wasn't considered an injury, especially since her intention was for him to die.
Xu Wei looked up at An Ran, scratching his head in annoyance. His voice was low as he said, "I think Su Ye has at least three special abilities."
"What?" An Ran exclaimed in disbelief.
It was precious enough to awaken one special ability. Xu Wei awakening two was already rare, making him one in a thousand among ability users. Now, she was being told that pretty boy likely had three?
Was he kidding?
Knowing it was hard to believe, Xu Wei analyzed, "At the time, I sent Yu Hao away, leaving Su Ye alone. When I heard unusual noises, I deliberately confused things so Yu Hao wouldn't rush over immediately.
By the time we arrived, one mutated zombie had already been completely dealt with. The other was lunging at him ferociously, and Yu Hao and I killed it together.
Later, I examined the mutated zombie that died earlier and found that the dagger inserted into its brain had directly pierced the skull. A normal person wouldn't have that much strength, unless he was a strength-type ability user.
Furthermore, a mere strength ability wouldn't be enough to so quickly and silently eliminate one of the two mutated zombies. So, I suspect he definitely has other abilities. Combined with his spatial ability, that's at least three."
An Ran pondered this, then asked doubtfully, "If he's so powerful, why would he pretend to be helpless?"
"To gain a woman's sympathy, of course. Qiao Ci really falls for that kind of act," Xu Wei scoffed.
An Ran complained resentfully, "What's so great about Qiao Ci that he has to humble himself like this, giving her juice and shawls? He's truly the ultimate simp."
"Envious?" Xu Wei glanced at her meaningfully.
"Not at all! I like imposing men, not those greasy puppy-dog types." She then pouted plaintively, "To help you get rid of Su Ye, I tried controlling mutated zombies for the first time today, and I even vomited blood. And you say this to me? *Sob sob*, do you like Qiao Ci and don't love me anymore~"
Xu Wei finally noticed An Ran's pale face and quickly pulled her into his arms, comforting her tenderly.
After a brief moment of intimacy, Xu Wei stroked An Ran's hair and discussed their next steps. "In the next few days, I'll try to find a breakthrough with Qiao Ci. If that fails, it will be up to you.
Until the last resort, I really don't want you to control a large number of zombies. Otherwise, you'll fall into a coma again to recover... it breaks my heart."
An Ran nuzzled his palm obediently. "Anything I do for you is willing. It's just sleeping, it's nothing~"
The two then became affectionate again.
*
Qiao Ci and Su Ye returned to their living quarters, and Qiao Ci tended to her arm. Su Ye looked at her, wanting to confess about his abilities. "Don't you have anything you want to tell me?"
Qiao Ci looked blank. "What?"
"Today, after Yu Hao explained what happened in the warehouse, your expression was a little off. Were you suspecting I had other abilities? Actually..."
Before Su Ye could finish, Qiao Ci interrupted, "No suspicion, I was just unhappy seeing you injured."
Su Ye beamed at this, then looked at her seriously. "Actually, besides space, I have other abilities. Would you like to know what they are?"
Qiao Ci shook her head. "No matter what abilities you possess, in my eyes, you are weak...!" useless.
With a timely reminder from Little Spoon, Qiao Ci pursed her lips and didn't utter the last word.
Su Ye looked confused, "??? "
Weak what?
Facing Su Ye's bewilderment, Qiao Ci explained, "What I mean is, whether you are strong or weak, I will protect you. So, it doesn't matter if you have abilities or not. You just need to know that I will always be here, accompanying you, protecting you. I will shield you from hunger, hardship, displacement, and homelessness..."
As she spoke, Qiao Ci's expression grew increasingly strained. Where had Little Spoon found these cheesy lines? Her tongue felt numb.
Su Ye's eyes lit up. "Ah Ci, you're so cute, haha. Then, from now on, you have to protect me, okay?"
The cub was appeased, but Qiao Ci felt deeply uncomfortable after reciting the lines. She promptly banished Little Spoon to the solitary confinement chamber.
Upon finding herself in the solitary confinement chamber again, Little Spoon began to cry pitifully.
"The host is heartless!
Truly a heartless, fickle, and monstrous woman!"
For the next few days, Xu Wei acted erratically, frequently seeking Qiao Ci's attention.
He would either strip off his shirt and pour a basin of water over his head in her path, or suddenly approach her when she went out, reminding her of danger in his magnetic voice, or he would often gaze at her with deep, unrequited longing...
It was truly nauseating!
Since Su Ye possessed spatial abilities, he was often called upon to help load and unload large quantities of supplies. Sometimes, when Qiao Ci felt lazy, she would stay at the base and not accompany him.
One day, Qiao Ci moved a lounge chair to bask in the sun, looking quite content. Beside her on a small table sat the juice and snacks Su Ye had prepared for her before leaving.
An Ran saw this as she stepped out, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. What was so good about Qiao Ci, such a vicious and selfish woman? She didn't understand what Su Ye liked about her, showering her with favors and catering to her every whim. Was it merely her beauty that attracted him, blinding him to her low character?
Such a superficial man!