Chapter 55: Her Boyfriend Could Slap a Flirt to Death (18)

Bai Yao spoke directly, “Why were you staring at another woman?”

Xue Yan tilted his head, “Another woman?”

“The one we just met in the shop. She seems to be a new visitor, right? You kept staring at her face. Do you think she’s pretty?” Bai Yao’s tone was fierce. “Are you tired of my face?”

Xue Yan quickly shook his head. “No, I wasn’t paying any attention to how that female looks. Yao Yao, I was only looking at her head!”

Bai Yao stamped her foot in annoyance. “So now you like her head?”

Xue Yan replied, “I only like your head! Yao Yao, really, I only like your head. I love when you bury it in my arms to sleep. Only when I’m holding your head can I fall asleep!”

Bai Yao regarded him skeptically, but seeing that his expression was sincere, her own softened. “I knew it, born beautiful and flawless as I am. Heaven never closes all doors, but always leaves a window. If you don't appreciate my head, you’re blind with your eyes open!”

Such a conversation would make any normal person feel unsettled, their skin crawling, but neither seemed to notice anything amiss.

Bai Yao pressed on, her aura unyielding. “So why were you staring at her head?”

Xue Yan answered meekly, “There was something inside her head.”

Bai Yao considered this. She controlled the household finances; Xue Yan’s pocket money came from her. He depended on that ten yuan every Monday, hardly daring to lie to her.

Besides, Xue Yan was no ordinary person. She didn't doubt his ability to see beyond appearances to the truth.

Bai Yao stroked her chin, recalling that the delicate woman was quite young, and sighed with sympathy. “So she has a tumor in her brain at such a young age? How pitiful.”

Xue Yan’s expression was odd, but he wisely chose to agree. “Yes, very pitiful.”

Life never stands still; no one knows if accident or tomorrow will arrive first. Bai Yao was suddenly seized by the urge to cherish every moment.

Meeting Xue Yan was fate. She would treasure every tomorrow with him.

Her heart softened completely. She pulled him up, touched his cheek, and said gently, “Sorry, I misunderstood you. What would you like to eat tonight? I’ll make it for you.”

He replied without hesitation, “I want to eat Yao Yao.”

Bai Yao’s face remained expressionless. “No, I’m pregnant.”

Xue Yan let out a disappointed “Oh.”

Mentioning her pregnancy, Bai Yao remembered something important. She spoke solemnly, “Xue Yan, we need to start practicing.”

Xue Yan was confused.

Practice what?

That night, rain fell, large drops beating against the inn’s glass windows, their harsh sound adding a sinister touch to the atmosphere.

The survivors gathered in the lobby. Now only seven remained: four men and three women. As their numbers dwindled, everyone’s nerves stretched taut. They had to accept that goodness, truth, and beauty could not survive here.

Unconsciously, Jiang Xun had become their leader. His composure in crisis and calm nature inspired trust.

Jiang Xun organized the day’s collected information and summarized, “The town’s attractions are the cinema, the wax museum, the zoo, and the botanical garden. Since we haven’t entered any of them yet, we can’t be sure what makes each place special.”

A woman spoke anxiously, “I think every place is dangerous.”

Her name was Mei Yun. She’d entered this strange town with a friend, but her friend was long dead. Mei Yun lived every day in terror. In such dire straits, it was only natural she craved the protection of someone strong.

The person she had her eyes on was Jiang Xun, but unfortunately, he was always with Tian Sushu. Tian Sushu was so appealing to men; Mei Yun couldn’t hope to compete.

A bald man said, “Just because we know there’s danger, does that mean we can avoid going? The rules say attractions are free to visit, so obviously we’re supposed to go in and look for clues!”

Another man shouted irritably, “Damn it! Where on earth is the Rose Manor?”

Jiang Xun turned to Cha Lan. “Mr. Cha, you went to the Neighborhood Committee today. Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?”

Cha Lan smiled. “The people there seemed perfectly normal: warm and friendly. They even served me tea.”

Cha Lan seemed to have changed. Previously, he’d shown his dislike for Jiang Xun openly, but now he spoke to everyone with a smile, as if oblivious to their fear and rejection.

Tian Sushu found this new Cha Lan unfamiliar and glanced away.

Yin Huanmian was sipping tea, apparently unconcerned with the others’ discussion. Her attitude suggested she’d resigned herself to never leaving the town, and was now simply letting things go.

Jiang Xun said, “We should discuss whether to visit these attractions together as a group or split up.”

Splitting up would save time, but increase the risk.

Everyone had their own thoughts and remained silent.

Jiang Xun continued, “Let’s vote, then. Minority will yield to majority.”

It was a reasonable way to avoid having the responsibility placed on him should anything go wrong.

The final vote was four to three in favor of moving together tomorrow.

It was late. Though no one would be checking rooms, they were exhausted after the day’s ordeal and needed rest.

Tian Sushu remembered the system’s instructions and approached Mei Yun. “Can we sleep together tonight?”

Mei Yun was surprised. “Why?”

Tian Sushu replied shyly, “I’m afraid alone at night. With two of us, I won’t be scared.”

There were only three women present. Tian Sushu and Yin Huanmian didn’t get along, so Mei Yun was her only option.

Truthfully, Mei Yun was a bit scared herself. Besides, Tian Sushu was the group’s favorite; befriending her could only be beneficial. After some consideration, Mei Yun agreed.

As everyone went to their rooms, Cha Lan approached Yin Huanmian. Uneasily, he said, “Thank you. And…I’ll protect you.”

He seemed ashamed to face Yin Huanmian, and hurried up the stairs after dropping those words.

Yin Huanmian watched his retreating figure until it vanished, yet felt no emotional stir.

The inn’s front door was pushed open from outside; it was Manager Shu, returning.

His clothes were damp from the rain. He set down an umbrella and entered, carrying a bundle of freshly picked roses. The vivid red petals glistened with water, making them look almost like blood.

Manager Shu spotted Yin Huanmian instantly and smiled with narrowed eyes. “Miss Yin, you’re still up?”

Yin Huanmian replied, “I slept a lot during the day, so I’m not tired now.”

Manager Shu smiled slightly. “The roses bloomed well today. It’d be a shame not to pick them. I plan to make rose cakes. Would you like to join me?”

Yin Huanmian hesitated only briefly before smiling back. “Certainly.”

She knew perfectly well the manager was some sort of terrifying existence, but she allowed herself to get close anyway.

The reason was simple: he was interested in her, and she wanted to survive.

Yin Huanmian followed Manager Shu into the kitchen and asked, “Where did you pick such beautiful flowers?”

Manager Shu lowered his gaze and smiled softly. “From a friend’s garden.”

The rain brought a chill to the night.

Xue Yan sat on the bed and sneezed.

Bai Yao touched his head. “Not catching a cold, are you?”

Xue Yan hugged his pillow and rubbed his cheek against hers. “Yao Yao, can we sleep together tonight?”

“No,” Bai Yao replied, “You haven’t finished today’s assignment!” She held her phone up to his face. “See? According to Thousand Degrees Science, some python eggs need to be incubated.”

Xue Yan pouted.

Bai Yao opened a science video. “Look, this is how mother snakes incubate their eggs. Now, take this as our egg.”

She swapped his pillow for a balloon. “Come on, turn into a big snake and incubate the egg properly.”

Under her watchful eyes, he reluctantly transformed. The large bed sank as a massive white python coiled atop it, drooping its head, eyes dim.

Thunder crashed outside, making his presence even more frightening.

But Bai Yao simply lifted his bulky body and tucked the balloon underneath, then stroked his head. “Today’s task is to find the feeling of egg incubation. It can’t be helped—who knows if I’ll give birth to a child or an egg? If it’s an egg, the duty of incubation will be yours alone.”

His enormous body circled a tiny pink balloon, resting his head upon his coils and flicking his tongue with boredom. Clearly, he had no interest in incubating eggs.

Bai Yao had once loved sleeping at his side, but since the baby, she neither played with his tail nor let him hold her to sleep.

He’d secretly checked with her phone—on a wedding night, newlyweds should consummate their marriage. Yet here he was, learning how to incubate an egg.

How dull.

Bai Yao shifted, hugged the tip of his tail, and asked with concern, “Well? Have you found the feeling yet?”

He looked at her plaintively, his tail moving gently in her arms, rubbing against her chest.

Bai Yao slapped his tail. “Stop fooling around and incubate the egg properly.”

She actually struck his tail for the sake of egg incubation!

She used to say his tail was her favorite!

He had a temper, too!

With a crisp pop, the pink balloon burst under his massive body.

Bai Yao wailed in anguish, as if mourning her own child. “You crushed our egg!!!”

He felt a twinge of guilt and wanted to slip away, but Bai Yao, transforming into a jungle warrior, threw herself at him, her hands gripping his “neck” and shaking him. “Xue Yan! Give me back my egg!”

He was so big that her hands couldn’t even encircle him. If he didn’t cooperate, she couldn’t budge his head at all.

The white serpent carefully wrapped her body, ensuring she wouldn’t tumble off the bed, his dark green slit pupils twinkling with delight.

This was how it should be—she ought to play with him more. Playing with him was far more interesting than playing with an “egg”!