Chapter 53: Ninth Day Morning
It sounds ridiculous, but it’s actually very possible.
After all, I recently saw a case of someone substituting for another person. That’s right, didn’t he rely on the power of magic to switch with another male classmate?
This world has many Anomalies with special abilities. It’s even possible that someone is behind Zi’ai coming to this world.
So, does this person have the ability to switch with people from other parallel worlds?
This is already a borderline cheating level.
And what is the purpose of this person doing this?
After the switch, what was the point of deliberately taking Zi’ai’s exam?
…However, this is just speculation. I’m not entirely sure what happened.
“You’re right, things like this have completely gone beyond the scope of imagination.”
“Judging by your tone, you seem to be completely used to it…”
Used to it?
I scratched my head and replied.
“Maybe I am indeed used to it.”
…It must be tough.
“Huh? No, it’s not tough at all. I’ve been having a great time recently.”
A truly great time.
“I see… No wonder you’ve become more of a man… You’ve lost your virginity.”
“Uh, you can tell that?”
“Yes, I could tell at a glance.”
…Is it that obvious?
I looked down at myself. It didn’t seem like anything had changed. It seems like women’s loss of virginity can be seen from their posture and bearing, but there’s no change in men after losing theirs, is there?
So, how many have you had?
“Four… Please don’t use that phrasing…”
I blurted it out and only then realized that this wasn’t something that should be said out loud. Speaking of which, how did Zi’ai guess there was more than one?
“So you were the one who was had? Well, it must have been you being seduced. Your personality isn’t the proactive type, so it must have been the women who made the first move. Let me guess who it was… Hmm, Ji Lianbing? But if it was only her, Xiao Lan would have caused trouble. That means, it was these two together? They formed some kind of alliance… But since there are four, it means this alliance has already broken. Otherwise, with these two working together, other women shouldn’t have gotten close to you. Who are the other two? The most likely are Yuhui Bai and Jiang Xueqing… You didn’t actually make a move on a Loli, did you?”
To this string of endless analysis, I could only admire and choke out these two words, unable to offer any other praise.
Your analytical skills are truly remarkable. With just my few words, you’ve almost reconstructed the entire situation.
And it’s pretty close to the truth. When it comes to these kinds of things, Zi’ai, as a woman, is much more sensitive than I am.
“Because I know myself so well? Heh~”
“I thought you would call me scum and then despise me a little.”
“…Because I also pushed you a bit, so I feel like it’s not just your problem. Besides, what’s there to… Rather, I feel a little inferior.”
“Inferior?”
Zi’ai didn’t continue the topic. Instead, she changed the subject and said with a relaxed smile.
“However, being able to see you again is a good thing for me. Come.” Her expression seemed a little displeased, as if questioning why I was avoiding her.
Ever since I learned that she was me, that we were the same existence, the distance between Zi’ai and me had always been very close. We were very casual when we interacted… I can’t do that anymore.
So, this time, I stood up and sat across the campfire, showing a strange expression and said.
“Um, could you stay a little further away from me for now?”
“….”
Zi’ai was stunned when she heard my words.
Ah, that was too direct… It makes it seem like I’m intentionally distancing myself from her.
“No, um, it’s because the effect of the antidote is about to wear off. If we get too close, you might get infected by the zombies… Yes, about one meter apart should be fine.”
“Ah.”
I opened my mouth in a daze. Seeing Zi’ai puff up her cheeks and stand up to go around me, I quickly stood up and moved away. So, the two of us started a chase around the campfire.
“I said you would get infected!”
“There’s still some time left!”
“I don’t know the exact time, I don’t have a watch! It might have already expired!”
Zi’ai stopped and lowered her head. I thought she had been persuaded, so I also stopped and stood in front of her, intending to pat her shoulder. But then I saw her take a big stride and close the distance between us. I instinctively stepped back and looked up. Zi’ai, however, jumped up in one go!
She lunged over and threw her arms around my neck.
“Hey!”
After pulling Zi’ai away, I wiped my lips and shouted.
“Heh, quite skilled, aren’t you?”
With a carefree smile, it almost felt like I was the one being teased.
Novel
First, let’s check on Zi’ai’s situation!
I nervously pried open her eyelids. No bloodshot eyes; her skin was not pale; her pulse was very fast, but her blood vessels… Was she infected or not!
Zi’ai didn’t resist, letting me check her thoroughly. Using the verification method Li Nai taught me, I confirmed that Zi’ai was indeed not infected, and only then did I relax.
…Thank goodness, it seems the antidote’s effect is still there, but it shouldn’t last much longer!
If I misjudged the time, it would be over!
I was a little angry at her careless action and was about to scold her when I saw Zi’ai, with her hands behind her back, lean towards me and say with that beautiful smile.
“See? I haven’t changed, have I?”
I sagged instantly, and just sighed helplessly.
“Don’t do that next time.”
“No problem!”
Zi’ai immediately put on a smile and sat in my lap. It turns out her wronged expression earlier was just an act. But even knowing that, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. There won’t be any bodily fluid contact, or mucous membrane contact either. Is that okay now?”
“Well, you should still be careful…”
“Ah, right. While the antidote is still effective, why don’t we do it now?”
“Hah?!”
What kind of joke is this!
“…Last time, I left before we finished, and I regret it. I dream about it every night. Let’s finish what we started last time and make up for my regret.”
“Wait! Hey! I’m really begging you, stop fooling around!”
Zi’ai didn’t listen to me and had already turned and sat in my lap. The moment she sat down, I suddenly felt something and shouted in panic.
“Hey, hey! Stop fooling around!”
“But if you turn into a zombie midway, it won’t be an adult film, but a horror movie.”
That’s exactly what I would say…
“But even so, it would be worth it, right? It would be like sacrificing myself for love~”
“Zi’ai! What do you want to do! Why are you doing this!”
I really can’t understand it. She knows the seriousness of the situation, but she’s not taking it seriously. Our ways of thinking should be the same…
Why are you messing around like this!
“Heh heh, because I fell in love with you at first sight.”
“…”
“Love is blind, and impulse is everything. R pk ACO. Out”
Zi’ai’s cheek touched mine, then slid away. We looked at each other and kissed. I couldn’t refuse her.
After the kiss, she said with a faint smile.
“It’s truly despair. I actually fell in love with someone I absolutely shouldn’t have. Because we can never be together.”
She has her world and can’t stay here forever… How…
“So, it must be that Heaven heard my prayers, and that’s why it gave me this chance to drift to this island together… So, let me fulfill my wish. Let me have your child, okay?”
I closed my eyes and was silent for a moment. When I opened them again, I said with difficulty.
“It’s almost time.”
I really couldn’t bear to refuse, but I couldn’t back down on this matter.
To my surprise, Zi’ai shook her head and said.
“It won’t be. I have medicine.”
She suddenly took out a small bottle of medicine from my jacket pocket. The cylindrical medicine box was only about three centimeters long, and it contained four or five pills. It was indeed an antidote.
“Huh? When…”
I remember there wasn’t any medicine in my jacket… I thought you would use this as an excuse.
Ah, was it that time?
So Zi’ai wanted to push me down then, and she only got this bottle of medicine as a precaution in case I used it as an excuse.
But she didn’t use it and kept it with her?
“But why are you holding this bottle of medicine? Where did you hide it…?”
Seeing Zi’ai lying on the beach, there was nowhere on her body to keep this bottle of antidote…
“Heh heh, guess. Where do you think I put it? Shall we check?”
…Gulp.
My breathing became heavier. In this atmosphere, I could already predict what would happen. After all, it wasn’t the first time. But if I’m really going to…
I can only accept it… Zi’ai, she is me. I have to reciprocate her feelings…
“Ah, that’s enough. If we keep this up, the gun will go off.”
Zi’ai moved away from me and sat to the side. She crossed her arms and said.
But from this joking remark, I understood that she didn’t really want to continue what was left unfinished last time. I couldn’t help but sigh.
“I’m sorry. It’s because I have such a troublesome woman like me by your side that you’re… But I’m only doing this because I want to be close to you. I think they… Therefore, I hope you don’t dislike it.”
“Huh? I already said I’m not tired, and how could I possibly dislike it?”
“But I think you’re tired.”
“I’m a zombie. I’m a monster that doesn’t know fatigue.”
“No, you are tired and need to rest well.”
Zi’ai said stubbornly.
Normally, I would have stopped there and said something like, ‘Well, maybe so,’ and brushed it off.
But seeing her, seeing another me looking at me with such a serious gaze and saying such things, I could no longer ignore it. I couldn’t say, ‘What do you understand about me?!’ because she truly understood me, arguably better than I understood ‘myself.’
So, I asked.
“I can’t see ‘happiness’ on your face, Juncheng. This proves you have no ‘satisfaction’.”
“How can that be… I’ve received several times the happiness of others. So many people love me, how could I…”
“Is that really true? But I feel like you’re falling into a quagmire.”
“So, come on! Lie down. You need to rest!”
Zi’ai patted her thigh and said with a command.
I thought about it and lay down.
“Juncheng, you’ve tried your best. In order to consider everyone, you must have been desperately thinking alone, racking your brains and constantly thinking.”
“You’ve been acting cautiously, considering everyone’s feelings. You don’t need to be so strong.”
“Being strong?”
“Let go of the idea that you have to do something and come to me for pampering.”
“Heh, if this goes on, I’ll become a good-for-nothing…”
Zi’ai just smiled and retorted.
“What’s wrong with becoming a good-for-nothing?”
I was stunned, my eyes wide open, not knowing what to say.
If I wanted to refute, there were plenty of things I could say, but at this moment, I couldn’t say anything at all.
“I won’t laugh at you, because… you are me.”
Zi’ai opened the medicine bottle, took out three pills, put them in her mouth, and then fed them to me mouth-to-mouth.
Ah, that’s right. Kuuga also said I needed rest… My spirit had reached its limit…
The sunlight that had just risen shone.
Looking at her warm smile, I closed my eyes in peace.
