Song Shi’s face looked a little sour, but thinking of Gu Chi’s current attitude, she had no choice but to swallow her pride. She forced a smile, dropped her businesslike tone, and said softly, “I took it for granted.”
Just like that, she brushed off the accusation.
When Gu Chi looked away without a word, she finally let out a breath.
That’s fine. Chi Ying was already infected—she wouldn’t live much longer. There was no point making Gu Chi unhappy over someone who’d turn into a zombie soon anyway.
But Chi Ying didn’t know what Song Shi was really thinking.
She was too busy admiring the +1 added to her Holy Mother score on the system panel.
Apparently, what Gu Chi said earlier made the others believe she had risked her life to save him. So, the system rewarded her.
【Holy Mother Points +1】
Mu Yu glanced around awkwardly. “Then… what do we do now?”
What could they do?
Chi Ying’s fate was already sealed, and everyone knew it. Aside from waiting for her to turn… what else was there?
Gu Chi stayed quiet for a while before speaking in a low voice. “We treat the wound first.”
“Some people mutate quickly—within a few hours. Others take longer. In some cases, it’s taken up to three days.”
“Her wound isn’t small. If she takes longer to mutate, the pain will be unbearable.”
Lu Yunfei gave a dry chuckle. “Healing, huh… what’s the point?”
Gu Chi didn’t respond to the sarcasm. “Song Shi, I’ll leave it to you.”
“But…” Song Shi frowned slightly. She looked uneasy. “You know I’m not an offensive-type. If she suddenly mutates, I won’t be able to hold her off.”
“She’s already handcuffed,” Lu Yunfei said. “Captain’s cuffs are made of special material. She won’t break free.”
Just then, a quiet voice spoke.
“I’ll keep watch.”
Song Shi blinked in surprise.
It was Gu Chi.
“I’ll stay beside her the whole time. Nothing will happen.”
—
Chi Ying followed them to the side. Gu Chi released the cuffs, and the moment her arms were freed, she felt the relief down to her fingertips. She wanted to stretch her wrists but held back.
In their eyes, she was a ticking time bomb.
Gu Chi’s eyes landed on the wound on her arm.
Her skin was fair—so fair that the bloody gash stood out sharply. It was shocking to look at.
Song Shi stepped forward. Hovering her hand above the wound, she closed her eyes. A soft green glow shimmered from her palm and wrapped around the injury.
Bit by bit, the bleeding slowed. Then, the torn flesh began to heal—until finally, the skin returned to its usual pale smoothness.
“All done,” Song Shi exhaled and looked at Gu Chi.
“Thank you,” Chi Ying said obediently.
She raised her arm again. “Do you want to handcuff me again?”
Gu Chi held the cuffs in his hands. The cold metal clicked softly as he hesitated.
Then, he noticed the red marks on Chi Ying’s wrist—left by the cuffs earlier.
“…No need for now. I’ll stay and watch.”
Song Shi, who had just turned to leave, paused mid-step.
“Brother Gu, are you planning to stay here all night?”
She glanced out the window.
“It’s getting dark. We should eat.”
Gu Chi shook his head. “Go ahead. Save a portion for Chi Ying.”
Song Shi’s eyes flickered. She quickly looked away, hiding her discomfort.
She’s just an outsider… Yet Gu Chi is treating her like this?
Still, she kept her expression calm. “Okay,” she murmured and left.
—
After eating, Chi Ying stretched and yawned lazily.
It was already late—past their usual bedtime. But the man beside her didn’t move. He leaned against the wall, eyes open and alert.
“You’re not sleeping?” she asked. “Just cuff me to something next to you. Don’t worry, I don’t have the strength to break free. Even if I turn into a zombie, I won’t be able to do much.”
Gu Chi glanced at her.
“I’m not tired. I don’t want to sleep.”
“Oh…” Chi Ying stretched again. “Then I’ll sleep first?”
“…Sorry.”
“Hm?”
Chi Ying, who had just started to drift off, blinked.
Realizing what he meant, she smiled. “It’s okay. I told you—it’ll be fine.”
She looked at him with a bright, warm gaze. The soft light in her eyes seemed to shimmer.
“Even if something happens, I won’t blame you.”
【Holy Mother Points +1】
The system watched her and felt like Chi Ying was radiating Madonna-level glow. She really looked like some saintly protagonist right now.
And clearly… the villain liked it.
After a long silence, Gu Chi finally spoke in a soft voice.
“You… what do you want to do?”
Chi Ying almost laughed. Was this him asking her to make a dying wish?
She couldn’t say “collect points and save the world,” so she thought for a second and said seriously, “I want to try lemon.”
Gu Chi looked confused. “Why lemon?”
Because… “Cha Lemon.”
She blinked slowly.
Back when she was still in the system game, players would sometimes form teams to beat her. Whenever someone unlocked a hidden reward, the chat would explode with “Cha Lemon! Cha Lemon!”
She had always wondered what lemon tasted like.
Too bad the system mall didn’t sell any.
【…This is your dying wish?】
The system: …Speechless.
Chi Ying: Just a passing thought.
She didn’t explain any of that, and Gu Chi didn’t press.
He just gave a tired smile.
Even that simple wish… I can’t grant it.
—
The next morning.
Chi Ying woke slowly, eyes bleary. The office space was quiet. Gu Chi sat in the corner, upright but clearly exhausted.
He hadn’t slept a wink.
Mu Yu was also there. He’d come in the middle of the night but had already dozed off against the wall.
Gu Chi stood up and approached, eyes scanning her carefully. “No signs of mutation.”
Right then, Song Shi walked in carrying a med kit. Seeing Chi Ying perfectly fine, her expression was complicated.
“Brother Gu, are we staying here another day?”
Gu Chi hesitated. He looked at Chi Ying, guilt flickering in his eyes. “Zhang Bin’s body won’t keep much longer. We need to hit the road today.”
Chi Ying blinked. “You mean… we’re taking his body with us?”
“Yes. He’s the first leader-level zombie the Human Alliance has discovered. He’s important for research.”
“We need to deliver him to the headquarters along with Professor Lin.”
She nodded, showing no objection.
“Song Shi, I’ll keep watching Chi Ying until she mutates. Professor Lin will go with your vehicle.”
“…Got it. But Brother Gu, today’s her second day. She could mutate any time…”
“I know. Don’t worry—I’ll handle it.”
—
On the road again, Chi Ying sat in the backseat, Gu Chi beside her.
Her hands were cuffed behind her back, pressing into her lower spine. She winced.
“Can I get cuffed in the front? This is kind of uncomfortable.”
“Or… just tie me up?”
Lu Yunfei, driving in front, chuckled. “Captain, she’s not showing any signs of mutation. Just cuff her in front.”
Gu Chi frowned slightly, then nodded. “Okay. Lean forward.”
Chi Ying obeyed. He swiftly switched the cuffs to the front, helping her adjust.
But as he looked at her, his brows knit.
It had been a full day. Most infected people mutate within half a day. Why… was she still fine?
A ridiculous thought flashed through his mind.
One in ten thousand?
Impossible.
—
It was the fifth day since Chi Ying was infected.
Gu Chi stared blankly at her across the campfire.
She was eating rice from a bowl, handcuffed, but perfectly normal.
After watching her for five days straight without sleeping, he could only mutter to himself numbly:
…This girl’s immune system is too damn strong.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1
😂😂