ISWTDB Ch161

Chapter 161: The End of the World (21, 22)

Deng Wendong heard Situ Yuan’s words and immediately nodded in agreement.

He chuckled and said, “You can rest assured about this matter! The antidote for the zombie virus is a huge deal, as it can save all of humanity. How could we possibly let only the Northern Base do the work?”

“In fact, we at the Southern Base have been considering this for a long time. We always believed that in such a post-apocalyptic environment, all of humanity should unite!”

“That’s why, upon learning that the Northern Base had developed such an important zombie antidote, I brought almost all of our base’s leaders to meet with you and discuss this.”

“Once the Northern and Southern Bases merge, we will definitely rely on the Situ family for support!”

Deng Wendong deliberately lowered his posture when he said these words.

Moreover, he referred to the “Situ family” rather than the “Northern Base.”

This indicated that he recognized the Situ family as the ones in control of all the power in both bases.

At the same time, the others he brought along listened to him without expressing any objections.

Naturally, this made Situ Yuan feel extremely delighted. If things went according to the way Deng Wendong described, it seemed like the Southern Base intended to submit to the Northern Base.

Originally, he had planned to use the zombie virus antidote as leverage to gain some benefits from the Southern Base.

But to his surprise, an unexpected bonus came: the Southern Base seemed willing to surrender without much effort.

How could this not make the Situ family feel satisfied and proud?

The atmosphere in the room instantly became lively.

Everyone from the Situ family showed great enthusiasm, driven by profit, completely changing from their earlier aloof attitude.

Now, both parties were chatting happily, but Ying Zhao found the situation quite strange.

Because even without any plot assistance, he could tell that Deng Wendong was an ambitious man—how could he willingly submit?

The Southern Base’s intent to annex the Northern Base had always been blatantly obvious, and they had even made some moves toward that in the past.

He didn’t believe a word of Deng Wendong’s insincere nonsense about humans needing to unite.

Of course, Situ Shuyao also didn’t believe Deng Wendong.

In their previous life, Deng Wendong had kidnapped her to threaten Situ Ran, all in an attempt to annex the Northern Base.

No one understood better than Situ Shuyao how important power was to Deng Wendong.

So, she didn’t believe a single word of what he said and was certain it was a scheme he had devised.

However, she couldn’t reveal this immediately.

Thus, she kept frowning, intending to discuss it with her father once they returned.

Due to the Southern Base’s display of goodwill, Situ Yuan warmly hosted them, insisting they stay for a while.

And Deng Wendong and his people readily agreed.

Although most of the high-ranking officials of the Southern Base were present, it was clear that, over there, things must have been in a state of chaos without their leadership. Normally, they shouldn’t be away for too long.

However, the reality was that none of these people refused to stay. In fact, they agreed with smiling faces.

They even settled in comfortably under Situ Yuan’s arrangements.

This behavior made Ying Zhao feel even more uneasy.

But in his current role as the head of the research institute, he only spoke about matters related to his responsibilities.

Since no one asked him anything, he didn’t get involved in other affairs.

However, privately, he instructed Xiaobai in his consciousness to closely monitor the situation around the base.

When things were almost wrapped up and everyone was preparing to leave, Ying Zhao also intended to make his way out.

He quickly stood up, planning to return to his residence.

Perhaps due to his character’s influence in this life, Ying Zhao realized that during his time away, he had already started to miss Situ Ran.

However, he hadn’t gone far after leaving the building when he saw Deng Wendong standing under a tree, deliberately striking a relaxed pose.

It seemed like Deng Wendong had been waiting for a while. As soon as he saw Ying Zhao, he immediately walked up with a big smile and greeted him, “A-Heng, you finally came out!”

Ying Zhao raised an eyebrow at Deng Wendong’s words.

He heard him continue, “I’m new here and unfamiliar with the Northern Base. Would you mind showing me around, A-Heng?”

Seeing the determination in Deng Wendong’s eyes, Ying Zhao only felt deeply annoyed.

Before he could refuse, Pei Yuebin hurried over from behind and interrupted.

Pei Yuebin glared at Deng Wendong with displeasure and gruffly answered on Ying Zhao’s behalf, “Of course, he minds!”

“Our Professor Ying is extremely busy! Do you think everyone is as idle as you?”

But Deng Wendong paid no attention to Pei Yuebin’s words, treating him as if he were invisible. He kept his eyes fixed on Ying Zhao, as if waiting for his response.

Seeing this, Ying Zhao shook his head and, with a blank expression, said, “Sorry, I have a lot of work at the institute.”

Upon hearing Ying Zhao’s reply, Pei Yuebin finally relaxed his tense nerves and provocatively lifted his chin toward Deng Wendong.

Earlier, after finishing his business with the Southern Base, Pei Yuebin had planned to quickly return to report the situation regarding their boss.

But after taking a few steps, he felt uneasy.

Thinking that people from the Southern Base had arrived, he decided it was better to escort their “sister-in-law” home first.

After all, better safe than sorry. So, Pei Yuebin had taken a few extra steps to catch up.

And sure enough, that “what if” moment had indeed occurred!

When he caught up, he saw that Deng Wendong was still shamelessly waiting there.

He had the audacity to try flirting with their sister-in-law and even wanted to steal their boss’s love interest!

They all knew how much their boss liked their sister-in-law.

If she got stolen right under his nose, their boss would undoubtedly kill him.

Luckily, he had arrived in time, or who knows what sweet-talking lies Deng Wendong would have used to deceive her.

Just thinking about it made Pei Yuebin break into a cold sweat.

Deng Wendong was clearly unhappy with Pei Yuebin interrupting him repeatedly.

But seeing the situation and Ying Zhao’s polite refusal, he couldn’t insist any further.

He gave Ying Zhao a polite smile and said, “I understand. A-Heng, take care of yourself and don’t overwork!”

“I’ll be here for a long time anyway. I’ll come find you another time. You must show me around then!”

Deng Wendong was skilled at finding a way out, speaking to Ying Zhao as if they were old friends.

Ying Zhao merely nodded slightly in response, unwilling to engage any further, and left with Pei Yuebin.

After what had just happened with Deng Wendong, Pei Yuebin walked right next to Ying Zhao, step for step.

Pei Yuebin kept muttering along the way: “Professor Ying, let me tell you, when you’re looking for a partner, you can’t choose a slick-talking, hypocritical scoundrel!”

“These pretty boys are up to no good! If you’re going to find someone, find a real man, someone strong and straightforward!”

Pei Yuebin talked like this the whole way, practically taking the opportunity to praise Situ Ran in a roundabout manner. Ying Zhao barely held back his laughter, thinking that his lover’s subordinate was quite amusing.

Pei Yuebin nagged for a long time and only relaxed when he saw Ying Zhao nod in agreement. Dutifully, he escorted him to the door of his house before planning to leave. Just as he was about to go, Ying Zhao patted his shoulder and smiled, saying, “Thank you.”

Pei Yuebin was caught off guard by the gesture, feeling that Ying Zhao had forgiven him for his previous ignorance. He didn’t notice that as Ying Zhao withdrew his hand, his palm brushed against his sleeve, almost casually.

After entering, Ying Zhao hurried straight to the room where Situ Ran was. He saw his man still sitting obediently by the window, as if waiting for him the entire time. Finally, he felt at ease. Seeing his lover, Ying Zhao felt his whole body relax, and he strode over to him.

Situ Ran, upon seeing Ying Zhao, immediately broke into a joyful smile. Truthfully, since the two of them had moved in, this was the first time Ying Zhao had been away from the house for so long. Though it was just a morning, Situ Ran felt as if a long time had passed.

It turned out that not being able to see the one you love, not being in the same space with them, was sheer torment. Normally, when Ying Zhao went to the research lab and Situ Ran couldn’t see him, he always had to restrain himself from going to find him. Now that Ying Zhao had left the house, Situ Ran felt even more uneasy inside. He suddenly understood the young man’s anxious and insecure feelings when he was around him.

So when he saw Ying Zhao walking toward him, he couldn’t help but stand up and meet him halfway. Situ Ran looked at Ying Zhao, unable to resist reaching out and touching his cheek, speaking softly: “Baby, you finally came back! Your hubby missed you so much. Did you miss me?”

Ying Zhao nodded vigorously and hugged his lover tightly around the waist, burying his head deep in his embrace, breathing in his scent deeply. Seeing the young man so reliant on him, Situ Ran’s heart softened. He couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, saying, “How come you’re acting all clingy? Did you miss me that much?”

Although it was meant as a joke, Ying Zhao nodded earnestly in his arms, his voice muffled, “I did! I missed you very, very, very much!”

“Hubby, if only we could be together every minute and every second without ever being apart!”

Ying Zhao said this with the utmost sincerity. After he finished speaking, he wrapped his arms around his lover’s neck and offered his lips. The warmth pressed against his lips, surrounded by the familiar scent, made Situ Ran’s heart tremble slightly. Instinctively, he tightened his embrace and deepened the kiss.

The two stayed close and sweet for a while before Situ Ran finally pulled back. Seeing the young man’s confused gaze, he smiled and said gently, “Are you hungry? Your hubby made lunch for you.”

Ying Zhao was surprised when he heard this. He hadn’t expected his lover to personally prepare lunch for him, especially since this had never happened in this world before. His eyes immediately widened with joy, and they sparkled as he eagerly glanced in the direction of the kitchen, clearly looking forward to it.

Seeing Ying Zhao’s eager expression, Situ Ran’s heart itched even more. He kissed the bright eyes of his lover before turning to the kitchen to bring out the food. After all, having been single for so many years, Situ Ran knew how to cook simple meals. During his time working as a mercenary, he had even spent long periods in the wilderness. If he didn’t know how to cook, he’d probably starve himself to death.

It was only because of his injured arm that he hadn’t cooked recently. However, Situ Ran was aware that his cooking skills were nowhere near Ying Zhao’s. Still, knowing that his lover was already exhausted and always prepared elaborate meals for him, he thought he could seize this opportunity, while Ying Zhao was out, to make a meal himself for when he returned.

So, he went to the kitchen and found the ingredients Ying Zhao had already prepared, managing to put together a passable lunch. When Ying Zhao saw the ordinary-looking dishes on the table, his smile grew wide, and his joy was unmistakable. He even complimented each bite, excitedly exclaiming, “Delicious, really tasty!” It was clear he was overjoyed.

Situ Ran watched Ying Zhao’s easily satisfied expression, his gaze growing softer. He reached out to ruffle his lover’s soft hair and smiled, saying, “If you like it, your hubby will cook for you more often.”

“Really?” Ying Zhao’s eyes lit up at Situ Ran’s words. He grinned broadly and gave Situ Ran a big kiss on the cheek, exclaiming happily, “Hubby, you’re the best!”

Seeing Ying Zhao so happy, Situ Ran felt like this was the kind of homey happiness he had always wanted. He took great pleasure in Ying Zhao’s praise, thinking his partner was the cutest person in the world, and he could never get enough of him.

However, he also realized how easily his little one could be satisfied. Despite the obvious difference in their cooking skills, the young man still made such a fuss over it. It seemed he would need to improve his cooking skills in the future.

In reality, Ying Zhao hadn’t overthought it; he genuinely thought the food tasted good. After all, it was cooked by his lover, so how could it not be delicious?

To Ying Zhao, this wasn’t just an ordinary meal. It was infused with the man’s overwhelming love for him. Every time he looked at his lover, his heart filled with joy.

After the two finished their sweet lunch, Ying Zhao returned to his home laboratory to continue researching the antidote for the zombie virus. After all, slowing down was one thing, but he needed to stay on top of things too.

Later in the evening, Xiao Bai from his mind space sent back news: many teams from the Southern Base were secretly approaching the Northern Base, clearly forming a surrounding formation. This made Ying Zhao furrow his brows. As expected, the Southern Base’s group didn’t have simple intentions. Their show of submission was likely a facade to lull the Northern Base into complacency. They probably planned to seize the antidote formula, then work with insiders in the city to take over the entire Northern Base.

Unfortunately, the Northern Base was under the control of those fools from the Situ family.

They were still feeling smug about making the Southern Base bow down without any effort, completely unaware that danger was slowly approaching.

Since that was the case, he couldn’t continue living so comfortably anymore.

After Ying Zhao met Deng Wendong today, he had already set his sights on the Zombie King.

No matter what, he had to confront this Zombie King.

Therefore, he absolutely couldn’t let Deng Wendong’s plan proceed smoothly on the Northern Base’s side.

He couldn’t let his underlings outshine him, overshadowing the leader’s role.

Now that people from the Southern Base had arrived, he feared he would have many things to handle next.

That meant he wouldn’t be able to stay in this house day and night, being with his lover.

Thinking of this, Ying Zhao felt that some of his previous thoughts had to be acted on earlier than expected.

After all, he couldn’t keep letting his man stay cooped up in a house forever.

He needed to let Situ Ran go out, stretch his wings, and it would also make it easier for him to take action.

After making up his mind, Ying Zhao had dinner with his lover that evening and didn’t return to his research.

Instead, he said he was tired today and wanted to rest early and talk with him.

Upon hearing this, Situ Ran was naturally very pleased.

The two sat close to each other, chatting casually and occasionally sharing kisses.

Perhaps it was the intoxicating night, or perhaps it was deliberate.

Very soon, Situ Ran was captivated by the brilliance in the young man’s eyes.

He became deeply engrossed, unable to pull himself away.

Seeing the man so infatuated with him, Ying Zhao’s gaze also became somewhat hazy.

However, that was only on the surface.

Ying Zhao was very clear about who had been in the room today.

He was fortunate to have been cautious when parting ways with Pei Yuebin earlier.

Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared in Ying Zhao’s eyes.

While obediently leaning on his lover, his fingers subtly flicked a gentle force in a spot Situ Ran couldn’t see.

He tossed something onto the bed while Situ Ran was distracted.

Then, the two continued in their intimacy. When lovers are together day and night, it’s hard to suppress emotions.

They kissed clumsily, and Ying Zhao stood up, deliberately leading the way. Situ Ran, as expected, followed closely.

But when they fell onto the bed, Ying Zhao suddenly furrowed his brow and let out a soft whimper.

Then he reached out, pretending to fumble around on the bed for a while.

After a moment, he seemed to pick something up and brought it to his eyes.

Once he saw it clearly, Ying Zhao deliberately put on a stunned expression.

It was a black coat button. His pupils shrank suddenly, and he immediately sat up, staring directly at Situ Ran.

Though Ying Zhao didn’t say a word, cold sweat was already trickling down Situ Ran’s back.

He recognized the button, it was from the clothes Pei Yuebin had been wearing when he came today.

But why was this button here?!

When they met earlier, Pei Yuebin hadn’t sat on the bed.

Situ Ran couldn’t figure it out, but remembering that the other man had been in the room, and given how small the room was, maybe it had accidentally fallen when he passed by the bed?

But why on the bed?

Looking at the young man’s calm eyes, Situ Ran, for once, felt guilty.

After all, the young man was so meticulous, he must have already noticed that the button didn’t belong to either of them.

Now, how should he explain this?

Ying Zhao just kept staring at the man, not saying a word.

He seemed like an outsider, watching his lover’s shifting expressions.

Only after a long time did Ying Zhao pull at his disheveled clothes, suddenly stand up, and turn to leave.

Seeing this, Situ Ran’s heart tightened.

He quickly grabbed Ying Zhao’s arm and hurriedly said, “Dear! This button isn’t mine!”

Hearing this, Ying Zhao turned his head, his gaze icy, as if saying, “That’s just nonsense.”

The man also realized how absurd his words had been, having blurted them out in a panic.

Feeling embarrassed, he gave Ying Zhao an awkward smile, seeing his lover’s displeased expression.

He felt that if he didn’t come up with a satisfactory explanation soon, he’d be in serious trouble.

So, he gritted his teeth and half-heartedly explained to Ying Zhao, “Baby, here’s the thing. Today, a stranger did barge into this room.”

“He told me his name was Pei Yuebin, and he said he was my brother. We’ve been through life and death together, and he even wanted me to go out with him.”

“But you know, I don’t remember him at all. And even if I did, I couldn’t bear to leave you!”

“Besides, dear, you’ve already warned me before, not to go out casually.”

“There’s no way I’d listen to him. I didn’t want him to know I’ve lost my memory, afraid it might cause unnecessary trouble. So I pretended to remember him and told him I stayed here voluntarily.”

“Then I told him, you are my wife!”

As he spoke, Situ Ran cautiously observed Ying Zhao’s face.

Seeing that his lover’s ears had turned a little red at this point, he felt a surge of joy.

He quickly continued, “I told him you were protecting me, letting people think you were using me for research.”

“We’re deeply in love and planning to spend the rest of our lives together! After I said that, I sent him away!”

“Baby, don’t be mad, I didn’t mean to hide it from you, I just didn’t want you to worry!” Situ Ran coaxed him gently, showering him with sweet words.

Ying Zhao inwardly mocked the man for his smooth talking, but in reality, he thoroughly enjoyed those confessions.

On the surface, however, he remained expressionless, staring into Situ Ran’s eyes for a long time.

He stared so long that the man began to feel uneasy, only then did Ying Zhao lower his eyes slightly and softly ask, “Then why is the button on the bed?”

After all that, it turned out the location where the button was found had still caught the young man’s attention.

Situ Ran was so frustrated he could’ve strangled Pei Yuebin, deciding he’d make the guy switch all his clothes to pullover or zipper ones the next time they met!

Now he was in trouble. His loyalty was being questioned by his beloved!

Situ Ran felt deeply wronged but didn’t know how to explain. He couldn’t just say the button appeared out of thin air!