Chapter 302- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (07)
Chen Shuyun, however, felt a bit displeased by Mu Jin’s attitude. Jian Mingyuan explained on the side, mentioning that Mu Jin had killed many zombies that day and was likely tired and wanting to rest. Only then did Chen Shuyun manage to ease her expression.
Knowing that if Mu Jin indeed had such skills, they would have to rely on him for the journey, she suppressed her discomfort. She thought that once they reached the base, she could talk to Jian Zhengqing about it—after all, it was his subordinate, and he showed her no respect.
Ignoring Chen Shuyun’s dark look, Jian Minghui, noticing Mu Jin had gone upstairs, went directly to Aunt Wang. “Aunt Wang, we’re setting off again tomorrow. Do you think we could make tonight’s dinner a bit more hearty?”
These past days had been spent frugally, and having managed to gather a fresh batch of supplies, a good meal would be a nice change and quite meaningful to everyone. Most importantly, Jian Minghui thought Mu Jin must have been eating poorly on his long journey to find them, with makeshift meals along the way. A warm, home-cooked meal would be a much-needed comfort.
Understanding Jian Minghui’s meaning, Aunt Wang nodded knowingly. She had overheard the returning team talk about how capable Mu Jin was in protecting them. With someone like him joining, the team’s safety was significantly boosted.
She gave him a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder, saying, “Don’t worry! Don’t you trust my cooking? I promise you’ll all eat to your heart’s content tonight!”
After chatting and laughing with Aunt Wang for a bit, Jian Minghui headed upstairs to check on Mu Jin. He knocked on the door a few times but didn’t get a response, so he simply opened it.
As soon as he stepped in, he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Walking quietly over, he saw that the bathroom door was left open. There was Mu Jin, standing shirtless by the sink, wiping down his skin with a water-soaked towel.
A month into the apocalypse, the water supply in small cities like this had long since stopped. The water in the basin must have come from bottled water Mu Jin had retrieved from his storage space. Although this simple wash wasn’t enough to maintain full cleanliness, it was the best solution under the circumstances.
However, at this moment, Jian Minghui’s attention was completely captivated by Mu Jin’s bare skin and slender waist.
From the moment they met, Jian Minghui had known that Mu Jin looked strikingly good; even with smudges on his face, his allure was undeniable. But now, with that fair, unblemished skin directly exposed before him, it was even more enticing than he’d imagined.
Though Mu Jin had only removed his shirt for washing, the sight of his well-defined muscles, elegant shoulder blades, and lean waist drew Jian Minghui’s eyes irresistibly.
Mu Jin’s skin wasn’t a sickly pale but rather a warm ivory, akin to fine jade, inviting one to reach out and touch it.
Jian Minghui’s heartbeat quickened as he looked, and he could hardly resist the urge to place his hand on that skin, wondering if his palm would feel glued to it.
But his distraction was brief, as Mu Jin quickly noticed someone entering the room. He turned his head, saw it was Jian Minghui, and continued washing, seemingly unconcerned by his presence.
Seeing Mu Jin’s calm reaction left Jian Minghui feeling both frustrated and acutely aware of Mu Jin’s complete lack of guardedness around him. Did Mu Jin not have the slightest sense of caution when others looked at him like this? Even if Jian Minghui was a man, relationships between men had long since become commonplace.
The thought that someone else might have seen Mu Jin’s bare skin ignited a flicker of possessiveness within him.
Yet, just as his irritation grew, the young man turned around, casually waving his towel and saying, “Come here, help me wash my back.”
Mu Jin’s tone was so matter-of-fact that it was as if asking him to wash his back was the most natural thing in the world.
Jian Minghui felt his bubbling frustration deflate, as if Mu Jin had just punctured it with a needle. With a sigh, he resignedly stepped over, took the towel, and began to help Mu Jin wash.
As he set to work, Jian Minghui couldn’t help but feel a surge of quiet joy. While he didn’t dare touch Mu Jin’s skin directly, he occasionally brushed his hand lightly over the warm skin, savoring the comfortable warmth and pleasing texture.
Just as he imagined, if he could really touch that skin fully, he wondered what it would feel like.
Mu Jin enjoyed his lover’s service, his expression showing no hint of what he felt. However, through the mirror, he noticed Jian Minghui’s reddening ears and slightly heavier breathing.
A soft laugh formed in his heart; he was fully aware of how attractive he was to Jian Minghui. With the atmosphere so ideal, he began to consider if he should give him even more chances to enjoy his touch.
Just then, a knock on the door broke the moment, the tapping sound scattering the mood he’d been enjoying. Annoyed, he turned to the door, only to find that the visitor was Wei Xuezhen.
Wei Xuezhen was in the same program as Jian Mingyuan, the main protagonist, and was considered his junior. Before the apocalypse, she’d been the “cold goddess” of the campus—a top student with many admirers.
After the apocalypse, she awakened water-based abilities, which proved essential in a world where water was scarce. Despite her abilities, Wei Xuezhen remained humble, often joining the team to gather supplies and fight off zombies.
Wei Xuezhen was level-headed; she understood that as a woman in the apocalypse, survival required her to improve her combat skills. Although water abilities were helpful, she was determined to become strong enough to protect herself and live independently.
So, even when scared, she charged into fights with zombies. Through her determination, she’d significantly improved her water abilities compared to when she first awakened them.
Today, Mu Jin had saved them, and for Wei Xuezhen, he was unquestionably their lifesaver. Busy collecting supplies earlier, she hadn’t had a chance to thank him properly. Given her unique water abilities, she was eager to befriend this powerful figure.
When the door opened and she saw Jian Minghui, she wasn’t surprised. After all, this room was unlikely to have a single occupant, so she leaned slightly, hoping to spot Mu Jin inside.
However, Jian Minghui thought of Mu Jin still in the bathroom, fresh from a wash. The idea of Wei Xuezhen casually catching a glimpse of him undressed was unwelcome, so he promptly positioned himself in front of her.
With a calm smile, he said, “Xuezhen, what brings you here? Do you need something?”
Wei Xuezhen glanced into the room and raised her voice a little. “Mu Jin is here, right? I came by to see if he needed any water.”
As she spoke, she saw Mu Jin stepping out of the bathroom, freshly dressed, his damp hair still showing traces of water—obviously, he had just finished cleaning up.
Mu Jin knew Wei Xuezhen was the heroine of the story, someone who secretly admired the male lead. Later in the apocalypse, they would eventually come together, making her a strong and resilient female character in the plot.
He had no ill feelings toward her role in the story, so he was open to her friendly gesture. Grabbing an empty bucket, he replied, “Thank you.”
Wei Xuezhen smiled at Mu Jin and lifted her hand, sending a steady, though thin, stream of water into the bucket. Her ability level was still low, limiting the water she could create.
Seeing the empty bucket, she assumed Mu Jin had just used up the last of the room’s water. Wanting to help their savior, she gave her all to fill it up. The effort nearly drained her water ability, requiring a bit of recovery time before she could summon more.
A light sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead, but her face still held a gentle smile as she looked at Mu Jin, even offering her thanks for his help.
Mu Jin’s impression of her improved, and he exchanged a few polite words with her. But Jian Minghui immediately felt a twinge of displeasure. Mu Jin had only just joined the team, and already he seemed to be attracting attention—first, watching the girl cooking, and now, interacting so warmly with Wei Xuezhen.
Looking again at Wei Xuezhen’s pretty face, Jian Minghui felt an unexpected wave of irritation. Normally, he held no strong feelings toward her; in fact, because of her water ability, he had always looked out for her and even tried to maintain a friendly connection. But now, an intense annoyance surfaced.
Seeing that Mu Jin seemed genuinely interested in chatting with Wei Xuezhen, Jian Minghui quickly stepped in, mentioning that Mu Jin must be exhausted from his journey and should get some rest.
Wei Xuezhen recognized that traveling alone was likely much harder for him than for those with a team to rely on. A hint of guilt crossed her face as she excused herself, smiling and saying goodbye before leaving the room.
However, to Jian Minghui, her demeanor looked like a young woman harboring a fresh crush, reluctant to leave Mu Jin’s side, perhaps even trying to flirt with him.
Frustrated, Jian Minghui felt his usual smile slipping, barely maintaining his composure until the door closed. Only then did he let his face show his irritation.
Hearing a rustling from the bed, Jian Minghui took a deep breath to calm himself. Then, with a smile, he turned to Mu Jin. “Rest for a bit. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
Mu Jin gave a noncommittal nod. Despite his strength, the long journey had left him truly exhausted. The familiar scent of his lover in the room made him feel at ease, and before long, he was drifting into a light sleep.
Meanwhile, Auntie Wang, accompanied by a few efficient young women, quickly prepared dinner. In just over an hour, she bellowed for everyone to come eat.
Jian Minghui, resting on the sofa with his eyes closed, turned at the sound of her call. Seeing that Mu Jin was still deeply asleep, he decided to let him rest a while longer and headed downstairs alone.