What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms – CH193-195

Chapter 193| Chapter 194| Chapter 195

Chapter 193: I Dare Not

Life in the village was simple and plain.

There were no sudden storms or unexpected waves.

In the blink of an eye, Pei Xiqing had lived here for half a month. The ordeal she had endured in the Ghost Market had previously left her as weak as could be, but now, she could walk Xiaobai from the village entrance all the way back to their doorstep several times over without losing her breath.

After devouring those parasites, Xiaobai’s appetite and physical strength had increased dramatically. His daily exercise volume was easily three or four times what it had been back at the base. If he hadn’t been so obedient, she wouldn’t have been able to hold onto his leash using her own strength alone, especially with his rapidly growing body. Walking the dog had become a daily workout in itself.

Whenever the villagers saw her, they all knew that her household kept a dog bigger than a grown man. He had a massive frame and a matching appetite, perfectly capable of tearing an intruder apart or guarding against thieves. He was also incredibly sharp, responding only to Pei Xiqing and Duan Xiaolin. If anyone else approached, they couldn’t budge him an inch.

Pei Xiqing was walking back with Xiaobai when she crossed paths with a few men who had just finished working in the fields. They looked at Xiaobai, wandered over, and patted his broad head. “Wow, he’s really shot up, hasn’t he? He looks even bigger than he did a few days ago!”

“Sister Pei, your dog is an absolute glutton. It hasn’t been long at all, but he’s already grown a whole size. If he keeps eating like this, he’s going to be as massive as that wild boar we harvested last time.”

Pei Xiqing smiled warmly. “He’s fine. He just needs a lot of exercise every day. I take him out a few times, and Brother Duan handles the more rigorous training. He runs him ragged so he won’t tear the house apart or wander the village getting as fat as a pig.”

“Hahahaha! Sister, what breed is your dog anyway?”

“A Husky,” she replied deadpan. “A very pure one.”

“Really? Why does he look a bit off to me? Look at those eyes—one is blood-red and the other is vibrant green…”

Pei Xiqing offered a quick explanation. “He’s admittedly grown a little crooked during his development recently, but it’s not a big issue. It’s likely just the environmental influence.”

“Well, as long as he doesn’t get sick. If he falls ill, there isn’t a veterinarian in our entire village to treat him, and the poor thing will suffer.” There was only one doctor in the community who could treat human ailments; there was absolutely no one who knew how to handle animals.

“Come here, Xiaobai! I’ll give you a piece of meat!” one of the men called out, tossing a scrap toward him.

Xiaobai merely sat squarely beside Pei Xiqing, his tongue lolling out. He waited patiently for her nod of approval before he trotted over, sniffed the offering, and devoured it.

“Where’s Brother Duan? Didn’t he come along to walk the dog with you?”

“It’s supposed to rain in a few days,” she said, “so he’s busy harvesting the ripe vegetables in our plot before the storm hits.”

“Ah, true. They’re predicting a pretty heavy downpour this time. It looks like it’ll pour for several days straight. Hopefully, it won’t ruin our crops.”

Pei Xiqing noted, “The terrain of our village is relatively low-lying, so whenever it rains heavily, it’s highly prone to flooding. We really need to figure out a way to dig a proper drainage channel to redirect the water.”

“Heh, we’re well aware of that,” one of the men sighed. “If it floods again, everyone’s going to have a rough time, but we’ll manage if we just grit our teeth and bear it. People have been dragging their feet on fixing it, and I don’t think it’ll be resolved anytime soon.”

“Why is that?” Pei Xiqing asked, puzzled. “This is where you all intend to live for the long haul. Repairing the infrastructure will only benefit you, and it would guarantee your safety for at least the next month.”

“Hah!” the man muttered, shaking his head. “Haven’t you heard? One of our boys from the outside is coming back. It’s Old Liu’s son. Word is he’s doing incredibly well out there—apparently, he’s an officer at a powerful survivor base. He sent word that when he returns, he’s going to relocate all of us to a much better place. Because of that, nobody’s in the mood to bother with drainage ditches anymore. Everyone just wants to follow Old Liu’s son and live the good life.”

Pei Xiqing recalled Ma Mengxiang mentioning this a couple of weeks ago. Back then, the girl had claimed he would be back momentarily, yet two weeks had passed without a single sign of him. She hadn’t expected to hear the villagers still actively gossiping about it.

She asked, “When exactly is he supposed to arrive?”

“Sometime over the next two days. Honestly, he should have been back a while ago, but he got held up by official business. Who knows? Personally, I don’t care much about major bases or official military titles. Living out there is dangerous. We’ve been cut off from the outside world for so long; if we leave this valley, we’ll probably find ourselves completely out of touch with how things work now.”

The local villagers didn’t even know the first thing about killing zombies. They had only ever seen the undead once, let alone learned how to defend themselves if they were caught in a siege. Life inside a major base came with its own complex politics and environments; if they relocated, they would likely struggle to adjust to the climate and fall ill.

Yet, even though he harbored these reservations, he couldn’t stand against the relentless demands of his wife and the village elders. After living in a remote, primitive valley for so long, who wouldn’t yearn to see a proper, advanced city? Especially after hearing rumors that the survivor bases had developed by leaps and bounds over the last few years, boasting all kinds of miraculous ability users. Everyone was dying to see it for themselves.

“Do you happen to know which base his unit belongs to?”

“Uh… we don’t know, we aren’t entirely sure. You’d have to go ask Old Liu. His son only established contact with him directly.”

“Alright, I understand.” Pei Xiqing patted Xiaobai’s flank. Watching the men walk away, she turned around and guided the dog toward Old Liu’s house at the edge of the village.

After inquiring about the general situation, she slowly led Xiaobai back home. By the time she approached their yard, evening had fallen, and she could see a thin wisp of smoke curling lazily from their chimney in the distance.

She quickened her pace. The moment she pushed the front door open, she nearly collided with a masked man who was preparing to leave.

The man’s tactical mask was cold and rigid, completely obscuring his features. Upon seeing her, he instinctively took a step back, looking as though he wanted to avoid an encounter.

“…Brother Shadow?” she called out, surprised.

The man tried to slip past her, but Pei Xiqing quickly moved to block his path.

Shadow froze in his tracks, giving her a stiff, subtle nod. “Miss Pei.”

“Hey, what are you doing here? Have you eaten yet?”

She hadn’t seen Shadow in ages. She had almost assumed he had returned to Central Headquarters, or that he didn’t even realize she and Brother Duan were staying in this hidden valley.

“Not yet,” he admitted automatically.

“Perfect timing, then! Brother Duan should be finishing up dinner right about now. Why don’t you stay and eat with us?”

“…I, no, that would be far too much trouble,” he stammered, an edge of panic in his voice. The absolute last thing he wanted was to sit at a dinner table with Chief Judge Duan.

“Don’t be silly! You’ve finally traveled all this way to see us, you absolutely have to stay for a meal.” Without giving him a choice, Pei Xiqing grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him inside. “Come on, you need to try Brother Duan’s cooking.”

Shadow wanted to decline, but by the time Pei Xiqing dragged him across the threshold, it was already too late. He looked up, his eyes colliding directly with Duan Xiaolin, who was currently carrying a fresh dish out of the kitchen.

Shadow stood rooted to the spot, completely mortified, wishing the floor would swallow him whole.

Duan Xiaolin merely cast a brief glance at him and said smoothly, “Sit down.”

Pei Xiqing hurried over with a fresh set of bowls and chopsticks, setting them firmly on the table before pulling at his arm. “Hurry up and sit.”

Shadow cleared his throat nervously. “I… I still have duties to report. Perhaps—”

“There’s no need to rush,” Duan Xiaolin interrupted, setting down three distinct dishes and a bowl of soup. “There is more than enough time for a meal.”

“Oh… alright. Thank you, Brother Duan, Miss Pei.”

“Calling me Miss Pei sounds so formal,” she teased, sitting down. “It makes it feel like we never went through all those chaotic schemes back at the Black Market.”

Shadow lowered his head. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Pei Xiqing genuinely felt as though a massive amount of time had passed since she last saw him. She had only been living in this valley for about a month, but every single day had been entirely carefree. Free from the constant strain of survival and calculations, the days had bled together until she had almost managed to convince herself that she and Duan Xiaolin were just an ordinary couple, and that the brutal world outside had nothing to do with them.

“Brother Shadow?”

“Yes? Is something wrong?”

“Are you really going to keep your mask on while you eat?”

“…” Shadow’s hand froze in mid-air, his chopsticks hovering over the table.

Pei Xiqing giggled. “How are you even going to manage that? There isn’t exactly a mouth hole cut into the bottom of that thing.”

Shadow let out a dry cough. “I usually only eat when I’m completely alone.”

“But you aren’t alone right now. Do you really want to go sit in a corner by yourself just to eat a bowl of rice?”

“That… that won’t be necessary.”

Pei Xiqing deliberately teased him further. “Then why not just take it off? Unless you’re secretly incredibly handsome and you’re worried that seeing your face will make our hearts flutter?”

“Pfft—cough, cough, cough!” Shadow choked violently on his own breath. “No! That is absolutely not what I meant!”

He hesitated for a long, agonizing moment, but under Pei Xiqing’s bright, intensely curious gaze, he finally raised his hands to the clasps of his tactical mask and pulled it free.

Pei Xiqing had only intended to tease him a bit; she hadn’t actually expected him to comply. The moment the mask came away and she saw the face hidden beneath it, she froze in absolute shock.

It was only when Shadow broke into another round of frantic, embarrassed coughing that she was finally jolted back to reality.

Chapter 194: Then You Are Breaking the Rules

Shadow had a spiky buzz cut, a simple, honest face, and a habitually blank expression.

The operatives of Franlun were generally known to be the strongest of the strong. Except for the Chief Judge and Qiu Chao, the members never showed their faces to the world unless it was absolutely necessary. They practically welded their tactical masks to their skin.

Pei Xiqing chuckled. “Brother Shadow, you’re actually quite handsome. How come you don’t have a girlfriend?”

Shadow cleared his throat awkwardly. “…Let’s not talk about that. This is the first time I’ve ever taken off my mask in front of anyone. I’d be genuinely surprised if any girl actually liked me.”

“That’s not true.”

Pei Xiqing wasn’t entirely familiar with the internal regulations of Franlun, but if their identity concealment wasn’t explicitly mandated by law, there had to be a practical reason for it. Showing their faces in their line of work offered very little benefit.

She smiled. “Well, you can always try winning someone over with your personal charm.”

“I…” Shadow suddenly broke into another fit of frantic coughing, as if his chest were about to explode, while furiously winking at her.

Pei Xiqing didn’t understand why he had suddenly become so flustered. Turning around, she nudged Duan Xiaolin with her elbow. “Is it true, Brother Duan? People in Franlun aren’t allowed to fall in love? If that’s the case, aren’t you breaking your own rules?”

The man couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. “Who told you that? I never made a rule forbidding the members of Franlun from falling in love.”

“You scared me,” she huffed. “I thought you were knowingly breaking the law.”

“Franlun has no such restrictions. Love is entirely free. Furthermore, the mask is only meant to be removed in front of those we deeply trust.”

“So, Brother Duan and I are both people you trust, right, Brother Shadow?” she asked, turning back to him.

Shadow nodded instantly. “Of course.” There was absolutely no doubt about it. If anyone else were to casually see his face, either he would have to die or the onlooker would have to be permanently silenced.

“Eat up, eat up, Brother Shadow. Have some more,” Pei Xiqing urged, piling more food onto his plate. “Brother Duan’s cooking skills have been getting better by the day. If you don’t believe me, taste it.”

Shadow braced himself and stiffened his neck. “…Alright.”

The moment he took a bite, the corners of his mouth twitched subtly. He was desperately suppressing a wave of profound, internal shock. If only he could take a photo right now to show the rest of the squad; who would have ever believed that he would actually eat a meal personally cooked by Chief Judge Duan?

He quickened his pace, frantically shoveling rice into his mouth.

Pei Xiqing smiled. “Eat slowly, there’s plenty more.”

“Mhm.”

A short while later, Shadow finished his bowl of rice and politely took his dishes to the kitchen sink.

Pei Xiqing followed him. “Did you already know we were living here?”

“Yes.”

“Are Long Yan, Ling Lang, and the others doing well?”

“They’re fine. They’re all currently stationed back at headquarters, though things have been a bit chaotic there lately.”

“Brother Duan, did you come out here because of some official matter?”

“…Cough, cough… No, nothing like that…” Shadow stammered.

Pei Xiqing narrowed her eyes, studying his tense posture with a lazy, knowing smile.

Sensing the scrutiny, Shadow finished up as quickly as possible and stood straight. “I’m done. Brother Duan, Miss Pei, please take your time. I’ll be taking my leave first.”

He hurried to the front door and pushed it open, only for a sharp woman’s scream to instantly erupt from the porch. Shadow immediately began sputtering apologies.

“I am so sorry! I didn’t see you there. I didn’t mean to bump into you. Are you alright?”

“Who are you?! What are you doing sneaking out of Brother Duan’s house? Are you a thief?!”

Pei Xiqing raised her eyebrows. She recognized that sharp, entitled voice immediately.

Sure enough, Ma Mengjia was standing on the threshold, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she glared at the masked figure with intense vigilance. Pointing a finger at his face, she yelled, “Hey! That mask is hideous! You weren’t wearing that a second ago, and now you’ve got this weird, terrifying thing on. Who the hell are you? You must be an outsider trying to steal from Brother Duan!”

“I am not,” Shadow mumbled, lowering his head. “You’ve misunderstood.”

“But you just—”

Duan Xiaolin walked out of the kitchen, casting a sharp, silent glance at Shadow.

Shadow caught the signal, gave a respectful nod, and vanished into the evening shadows with blinding speed.

Ma Mengjia wanted to shout after him, but before she could even spin around to track where he had gone, Pei Xiqing gently caught her arm and pulled her into the house.

Looking at the flustered girl, Pei Xiqing said smoothly, “He’s a close friend of ours, Ma Mengjia, not a thief.”

Ma Mengjia looked at her suspiciously. “Really?”

“Yes, really. We’ve known him for a very long time. He’s just incredibly shy and dislikes showing his face, which is why he wears that mask.”

“…Well, your friend is definitely a weirdo.”

“Never mind him. Have you eaten dinner yet?”

“I have,” Ma Mengjia sighed, her irritation returning. “Originally, Ma Mengxiang was supposed to come over, but she got so starstruck by the newcomers she couldn’t even walk straight. So, I came instead to let you know that Old Man Liu’s son has finally arrived. He’s holding a mandatory meeting for all the villagers tomorrow, and he might come looking for you two. When he does, just pretend you’re locals. That way, he won’t grill you with a million questions like he’s doing a military census.”

“They arrived so suddenly?”

“Yeah, the whole squad just rolled in,” Ma Mengjia muttered bitterly. “I have no idea what they’re so proud of. They look like a bunch of arrogant street thugs from who-knows-where. Do they think they’re superior just because they’re carrying firearms?” She rolled her eyes.

In truth, that wasn’t what was actually bothering her. She had to admit that the mercenary squad seemed to come from a prominent background—they were remarkably handsome, heavily armed, and clearly powerful ability users. However, absolutely none of them had paid her any attention. When they passed her by, they hadn’t even bothered to initiate a conversation, choosing instead to focus all their attention on her simple-minded cousin, Ma Mengxiang. She absolutely couldn’t stand it.

Why? she thought furiously. How am I inferior to that fool?

Frustrated and slighted, she had marched over to find Pei Xiqing and Brother Duan to vent. Still, considering the sheer size and presence of that military squad, they were clearly dangerous. Brother Duan and his wife were just ordinary traveling merchants; it was better for them not to cause unnecessary trouble.

“We understand,” Pei Xiqing said calmly. “If they come looking for us, we’ll see what they want.”

“Mhm.” Ma Mengjia turned toward the door. “Well, there’s no place for me here anyway… you two can go back to your dinner.” She took a few steps, then paused, turning around to whisper, “Is that masked man from earlier really just a friend? He’s not dangerous?”

“Don’t worry,” Pei Xiqing smiled warmly. “What kind of dangerous characters could we possibly know?”

“True. But if that squad shows up tomorrow, hide if you can. Don’t confront them. They look like the type to deliberately make life miserable for outsiders.”

“Aren’t they technically outsiders too?”

“That’s different. They have the numbers and the weapons. Anyway, I’m leaving.”

“Wait a moment.” Pei Xiqing stepped forward, gently placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Ma Mengjia, don’t mention what you saw here tonight to anyone, alright?”

Ma Mengjia blinked, caught off guard. “…What?”

“Don’t tell a soul about our friend. Can you promise me that?” Pei Xiqing offered her a soft, sweet smile.

Ma Mengjia suddenly grew incredibly tense under the weight of the request. She stumbled backward, her voice trembling. “I… I…”

Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden, precise strike connected with the back of her neck. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed onto the floor, completely unconscious.

The next second, Shadow materialized right beside Duan Xiaolin, his posture stiff with remorse. “I was negligent, Chief Judge.”

Chapter 195: You’re Not Going to Be a Father Soon, Are You?

Pei Xiqing caught Ma Mengjia’s collapsing body and asked urgently, “Did she see Brother Shadow’s face just now?”

“No,” Shadow replied instantly. “She only saw the mask.”

Pei Xiqing took a deep breath.

Even if she hadn’t seen his face, based on what Ma Mengjia had just blurted out, the operatives of Franlun would likely not let her off easily. With Franlun’s methods, there were countless ways to make a civilian like Ma Mengjia quietly disappear without a trace.

She raised her head slightly, her gaze meeting the man’s cold eyes. “Brother Duan, she…”

As the evening sky darkened, the fading light of the setting sun fell faintly across the man’s profile. She could see a distinct hint of ruthlessness flashing deep within his eyes. If it weren’t for the fact that they couldn’t risk firing a weapon rashly in this quiet valley, Ma Mengjia would have likely been greeted by a bullet the exact moment she arrived.

Duan Xiaolin leaned over, his face emerging from the shadows as he reached out to help her stand. “It’s fine.”

Pei Xiqing pursed her lips, waiting.

“I won’t kill her for now,” he said.

Pei Xiqing looked at him but remained silent. This was an internal matter concerning Franlun’s absolute confidentiality. Even if this was just a remote, isolated village, it was entirely reasonable for him to eliminate anyone who posed a potential threat to his organization. Therefore, she had no intention of interfering with how he chose to handle Ma Mengjia. She would leave everything to him and let him make the final call.

“But she did see him slipping out,” she noted softly.

“Leave it to me.” Duan Xiaolin turned his head toward Shadow. “Has Long Yan developed anything new recently?”

Shadow lowered his head respectfully. “Yes, she’s been deep into research and development lately, uncovering a lot of new mechanics… What are your orders, Chief Judge?”

“Make her completely forget everything that just happened tonight.”

“Understood.”

Pei Xiqing patted his chest lightly and chided, “Don’t let Brother Shadow take his mask off so easily in the future. That was far too close.”

Fortunately, his reflexes had been incredibly fast, so Ma Mengjia likely hadn’t processed anything substantial. She turned her eyes back to Duan Xiaolin. “Has Sister Long Yan actually invented something like that? It seems like she’s been working incredibly hard lately.”

“She has. If you’re interested, I’ll take you to visit the laboratory when we have time.”

“You said you’d take me to see the host parasite too, but you still haven’t done it,” she pouted.

He chuckled. “It’s not very convenient right now.”

“Inconvenient for us, or for it?”

“It’s inconvenient for the parasite.”

“Why?”

Duan Xiaolin pinched her cheek playfully, guiding her back toward the house. “Because it sustained some rather severe injuries. It needs time to recuperate, so it has fallen back into a deep hibernation.”

“Who could possibly injure a parasite that powerful?” Pei Xiqing asked in surprise. “Did it accidentally hurt itself during that horrific battle with the ugly monster last time?”

“Essentially.”

Pei Xiqing sat back down at the table and continued eating her dinner, though she remained deeply worried about the mysterious life-link between him and the creature. She kept pressing him with questions.

Duan Xiaolin answered her with absolute patience, but he hesitated briefly when she asked for the second time to clarify their exact relationship and why the parasite’s death would inherently claim his life as well.

After a moment, he spoke with deliberate care. “The existence of the parasite is not a disadvantage to me.”

At least, for the version of him in the past, the survival or destruction of the host was merely a metric to gauge his own power development—a stepping stone to elevate his supernatural capabilities. He hadn’t cared that the parasite’s demise would take him down with it, nor had he ever bothered to plan a way out.

But things were different now.

“I will be significantly more cautious than I used to be,” he stated solemnly. “I will find the absolute best solution.”

Pei Xiqing froze for a second, a profound warmth spreading through her chest. Some words simply made a person’s heart race, while others highlighted the daunting complexity of his responsibilities. She stared unblinkingly into his eyes.

Duan Xiaolin smiled softly. “Is there anything else I haven’t explained clearly?”

“No,” she said softly. “I understand exactly what you mean.”

“Oh?”

Before the man could say anything more, Pei Xiqing balled her hands into determined little fists and said firmly, “As long as I am by your side, nothing will go wrong.”

“That sounds entirely reasonable.” Duan Xiaolin looked at her with a half-smile. “Baby, you truly are my lucky star.”

“How am I a lucky star? I haven’t actually done anything to help you. You achieved everything you have through your own sheer brilliance and hard work.”

“Without you, I wouldn’t even be standing here today,” he murmured softly. “I don’t need you to achieve things for me. On the contrary, I want to do everything for you.”

Pei Xiqing choked slightly on her soup. A few strands of her hair had fallen messily across her face, and the man gently reached out to tuck them behind her ear.

He stroked her hair, his voice steady and calm. “I will give you everything you want.”

—Including systematically eliminating every single ‘uncertainty’ in this world.

Early the next morning, Pei Xiqing was nudged awake by Xiaobai.

She rolled over in bed, her arm lazily draping over the man beside her. She gave him a weak, half-hearted push. “Go… go feed the pup. He’s throwing a tantrum because he’s hungry again.”

Her hand pressed flat against his bare chest, her lack of strength making the push feel like a gentle tickle.

The bedroom curtains weren’t drawn completely shut, allowing a few bright rays of morning sunlight to stream into the room, illuminating the rugged mountain view outside and dancing across the man’s chest. The most prominent marks left on his skin were the clear, distinct scratches trailing along his neck and shoulders—especially on his collarbone, where several long, thin scabs had formed. The marks on his arms were even more intense, a violent collection of light bite marks and deep scratches.

Duan Xiaolin caught her wandering hand, brought it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles. “If you don’t plan on sleeping with me anymore, then I suggest you stop touching me like that.”

Hearing the underlying promise in his raspy voice, Pei Xiqing jolted awake from her lingering sleepiness. She rapidly snatched her hand back, curling herself tightly into the safety of the duvet, and closed her mouth.

She was still so incredibly exhausted, but outside the door, Xiaobai was letting out pitiful, dramatic whines. She shut her eyes tight and gave him one last nudge. “Go on… Xiaobai is waiting.”

“Right away.” The man stood up and began throwing on his clothes. The structured fabric and crisp collar effortlessly concealed the violent array of scars the woman had scratched into his skin during the night. He opened the bedroom door, looking down at the massive pup sitting expectantly on the threshold. “Go wait outside.”

Xiaobai immediately complied, trotting out to the porch.

As Duan Xiaolin began preparing the food, Shadow was already standing silently behind him like a ghost.

The Chief Judge moved with fluid, casual grace, wielding a sleek tactical dagger to effortlessly slice through the fresh meat. “What’s the status?”

Shadow reported smoothly, “The woman’s memory has been securely wiped. I’ve already delivered her back to her home. Long Yan noted that if she somehow manages to bypass the suppression and speak of it, the trigger will execute her instantly. However, the probability of her memory restoring naturally is less than ten percent.”

“Ten percent is still a margin.” Duan Xiaolin placed the chopped meat into a clean bowl and, strictly adhering to the dietary instructions Pei Xiqing had given him, began mixing it with a balanced selection of nutritious vegetables. He turned to the counter, pulling two fresh carrots from the bin. Staring down at them, he added flatly, “Have a micro-crystal implanted into her spine to monitor her vitals at all times.”

“Understood.”

The localized energy within that specific crystal would be more than enough to detonate her core the exact second she attempted to breach protocol.

Shadow added, “I’ve also compiled intelligence on the mercenary squad that just rolled into the village.”

“Let’s hear it.”

Shadow was just about to open his mouth when he noticed Duan Xiaolin pick up his dagger and meticulously begin peeling the skin off the carrots.

Shadow paused, completely bewildered. “Um… Chief Judge, do you truly have to be this fastidious about preparing a dog’s breakfast?”

The carrot was fresh and organic; it was perfectly normal for a mutated pet to consume it raw, but peeling a root vegetable for a dog seemed entirely out of character for the legendary head of Franlun.

Duan Xiaolin had only just rolled out of bed, and his wire-rimmed glasses were still resting on the nightstand inside. Without them, the cold, calculating edge that usually defined his features had completely melted away, replaced by an unfamiliar, domestic softness.

“She told me this is my son,” Duan Xiaolin replied evenly, without tracing a single hint of shame. “I need to acclimate myself to the responsibilities of child-rearing as early as possible.”

Shadow’s jaw dropped. He stared at his commander, utterly shell-shocked.

“Chief Judge… You! You’re not about to become a father soon, are you?!”

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