Chapter 145

“`

In the car, Lu Ran lay on the back seat.

The tall body of the youth curled up on the seat, his knees bent, pressing against his chest, in a most uncomfortable position.

His forehead was burning hot, and the side of his face that was showing was frighteningly red.

“Being bitten by a zombie, is it like this?” Brother Bao and the others had never seen such a thing, and didn’t know the process.

But this fever seemed abnormally high.

How would I know! I haven’t seen it either! Why ask me!

Chuzheng calmly directed Brother Bao to go ask Brother Yong.

Brother Yong came over personally, he hadn’t expected there to be another person in Chuzheng’s car.

“He was bitten?”

He Cheng replied, “Yes, he hasn’t turned into a zombie, not sure if he’s awakening a Special Ability.”

Brother Yong signaled that he would take a look, and Chuzheng made some space.

After checking Lu Ran’s pupils and pulse, he said, “You need to bring his temperature down, or else before he awakens a Special Ability, he’ll burn himself out.”

This is also why only a very few out of those who are bitten are able to awaken.

Many can’t withstand such high temperatures; without awakening a Special Ability, they burn themselves out, eventually turning into zombies.

“With the weather like it is now, how do we bring down his temperature?” asked He Cheng.

Even the water was warm.

“We need to find an Ice Series Special Ability User,” Brother Yong said. “It’s a variant ability, no one in my team has it, but I can lend you a Water Series Special Ability User for the time being.”

Chuzheng handed him a Crystal Core: “An Ice Series Special Ability User.”

Brother Yong: “…”

Even with the Crystal Core, I don’t have one!

Brother Yong turned to Captain Huo: “I’ll go ask for you.”

After asking, Captain Huo’s team also didn’t have an Ice Series Special Ability User.

Brother Yong was at a loss.

“You guys get out first,” Chuzheng ordered Brother Bao and the others with calm.

“Miss Chuzheng?”

“Get out.”

“…”

–

Captain Huo watched Brother Yong and the others standing outside the car, somewhat puzzled.

Ning You approached: “Big brother Huo, what are they looking for an Ice Series Special Ability User for?”

Captain Huo shook his head, speculating: “Searching for an Ice Series Special Ability User at this time of night, someone might be awakening a Special Ability after a bite.”

Finding an Ice Series Special Ability User in the middle of the night, that could be the only reason.

“Awakening a Special Ability… who could it be?” Ning You felt an inexplicable unease.

Captain Huo’s eyes narrowed: “The few people we just saw are all outside the car, only the little girl is not.”

The little girl… Chuzheng!

Ning You grew even more anxious.

She had thought Chuzheng would surely die under the onslaught of zombies and hadn’t disguised it, but unexpectedly, Chuzheng had survived.

If she had known it would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have acted so ruthlessly.

But there was no way to have known in advance.

“What’s wrong, you look pale?”

“Ah? No, nothing, I’m fine, probably just a bit tired.”

Ning You covered her inner panic and looked to the side: “Big brother Huo, how long will it be before we reach Qingan Base?”

She had been separated from the main force, but she knew that the group would head to Qingan Base first, and she needed to find them before anyone else did.

“From Z Province, at our current pace, without any mishaps, we should arrive in about six days,” he replied.

The present was not like the pre-apocalyptic times, many roads were destroyed, others were blocked by long queues of cars, six days was the time estimated under the assumption that the entire group wouldn’t encounter any incidents.

–

When Lu Ran came to, the car had already resumed its journey, first opening his eyes quietly and looking straight ahead.

A few seconds later, he realized something was amiss.

“Awake?”

A pleasant female voice sounded above him.

Lu Ran abruptly raised his head, and his gaze fell upon the cold profile of the girl.

At this moment… he was hugging the girl.

Lu Ran: “…”

“`

What happened?

Why was he holding her in that position?

Cold fingers touched his forehead, “The fever’s gone.”

“What special ability did you awaken to?” He Cheng looked back at him, appearing very curious.

But he seemed not the slightest bit interested in his current position.

The person he was holding was chilly all over, a refreshing coolness in the sweltering air.

Lu Ran reluctantly let go of Chuzheng, sat up straight, and created a slight distance between them, while the girl watched him with complete indifference.

“…Seems like I didn’t.” Lu Ran lowered his gaze, his attractive lips moving slightly.

Brother Bao, who was driving, displayed a small flame with a swish, “Do you feel a different power inside your body, like you can wield your special ability if you concentrate?”

Following Brother Bao’s advice, Lu Ran shook his head: “No.”

Brother Bao: “…”

So what did he awaken to?

“Maybe, it’s one of those rare special abilities?” He Cheng cautiously suggested, “Maybe you just haven’t discovered it yet.”

“Maybe so.” Lu Ran didn’t seem too bothered about not having awakened a special ability.

The young man wasn’t wearing a hat at the time, his face fully exposed in the air.

It was a face one wouldn’t forget at a glance.

Beautiful as a work of art.

His lips curved in a slight arc, but for no reason, it seemed to carry a mocking smile.

Yet no one felt he was unlikable.

Instead, it seemed like a bit of mischief, the light swirling in his starry eyes could easily ensnare someone.

“Where’s my hat?” Lu Ran reached for his hair.

Yi Xiao handed him the hat, “Aren’t you hot?”

“A calm heart keeps one cool.” Lu Ran put on the hat, feeling like he was about to die from the heat. He really wanted to hug the little girl beside him; she was so cool.

Of course, that was just a thought.

After all, they weren’t familiar with each other.

The fact that Lu Ran hadn’t awakened to a special ability left the three of them somewhat disappointed.

But since he hadn’t turned into a zombie, they breathed a sigh of relief internally, no longer having to constantly worry about whether the person beside them would suddenly take a bite out of them.

Lu Ran was quite easy to get along with, seemingly able to become friends with anyone.

“How did you get hurt?” He Cheng asked curiously.

“Got caught by accident.” Lu Ran revealed a smile, “Walking in a post-apocalyptic world, who doesn’t get bitten.”

Chuzheng, resting her chin in her hand, spoke indifferently, “Those people drove you out, aren’t you angry?”

Something seemed to cross Lu Ran’s mind, but after a moment, he shook his head, “I wasn’t really acquainted with them, so it’s hard to talk about being angry or not.”

Lu Ran and they were classmates, but indeed not very close.

It was just that they started moving together after the apocalypse began.

“You saved me back then because you thought I might awaken to a special ability, right?” Lu Ran’s eyes paused slightly, and he seemed regretful, “It’s a pity, I didn’t awaken any special ability, I must have disappointed you.”

Chuzheng neither confirmed nor denied.

The other three tactfully kept their mouths shut.

Lu Ran observed Chuzheng for a moment, then continued, “Although I am very grateful that you saved me, if possible, I hope you can let me off at the next resting point.”

“You want to run?” Chuzheng glanced at him.

What to do if Good Person Card wants to run?

Should I break his legs or break his legs?!

“You are headed for Qingan Base.” Lu Ran shrugged, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, his voice still pleasant, “It’s not on my way, I’ll remember your great kindness, and I’ll repay it when we meet again.”

“Where are you headed?”

Lu Ran felt the girl becoming somewhat fierce, but her expression was unreadable, cold and distant, as if it were just his imagination.

He suppressed that strange feeling, his beautiful starry eyes looking outside, “I’ll head north.”

“No,” she said.

Lu Ran looked at her.

Chuzheng stared straight ahead, her tone leaving no room for refusal, “You have to follow me.”

Lu Ran: “??”

Chuzheng: “I saved you, so you have to listen to me.” If Good Person Card runs away, where would I go to be a good person!?

Lu Ran: “??”

That might be true, but shouldn’t he be free to choose what to do with it!?