“Boss! We’ve arrived. Are we going into the mountains?”
“Tang Yao, the boss has to be awake first before he can answer you.”
Tang Yao scratched his head. “Oh… then Boss, are you awake?”
Xu Zimo: “……”
“Let’s stop here for now. We still haven’t fully analyzed those monsters we just encountered. It’s not wise to enter the mountains rashly. We’ll wait until the captain wakes up.”
The speaker was about 185 cm tall. Even under the sunlight, his skin remained fair, and his facial structure was exceptionally refined.
His features were like a painting, but his frame was slightly thin. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose bridge, adding a sense of distance to his already scholarly temperament, making him appear even more elegant and refined—like a true gentleman.
He was Gu Ming, deputy captain of the Jingyun Team.
In the back seat of a black “George Patton” vehicle lay a man.
His facial features were sharp and deeply defined. Fine beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. His eyelashes were thick and long. Beneath a straight nose, his thin lips were tightly pressed together, tinged with a deep red.
His firm jawline tilted slightly upward as sweat slid down his tense neck, leaving a damp trail that soaked into his pure white short-sleeved shirt. Beneath the fabric, his distinct collarbones and chest muscles were faintly visible.
In the cramped space, Captain Zhou Nuocheng had broad shoulders and narrow arms, his muscle lines smooth and powerful. He wasn’t overly bulky, but his body was long and lean—nearly 190 cm tall. One leg was bent, and his hand had to rest on his slim waist just so he could lie flat.
The Jingyun Team was jointly founded by Zhou Nuocheng and Gu Ming. Upon reaching adulthood, Zhou Nuocheng rejected his grandfather’s demand that he enter politics and instead coaxed his good friend Gu Ming into forming a special task force that handled classified missions.
Because of its status and capabilities, the team was not bound by government restrictions, but it still served the government—more of a mutually beneficial relationship.
They were often sent to the most dangerous places to retrieve critical documents, and their contributions to the country had long been enough for them to retire in comfort.
Because of this, Old Zhou and Old Gu often met for tea, each displeased with the other, both convinced that it was the other’s “troublesome grandson” who had led their own precious heir astray.
This mission involved investigating the presence of “monsters” in the deep forests of multiple southern cities.
If these “monsters” truly existed, they were to head to the Kangquan Research Institute in Yuning City of Y Province to retrieve a document and bring it back to the central authorities.
This was a top-secret mission, one that had to be completed personally by the leader of the Jingyun Team. All other ordinary members remained in the capital.
Zhou Nuocheng felt as if his entire body was being roasted in fire. The discomfort made it impossible for him to open his eyes, and the strange sensation in his mind kept his whole body tense.
The wound on the back of his hand had already been bandaged, but black blood was still slowly seeping out.
Yes—just moments ago, during their fight with those frenzied animals, Zhou Nuocheng had pulled Xu Zimo back when he was about to fall off a cliff—and in the process, he was bitten.
A battle raged in his mind. A dark, bloodthirsty consciousness intertwined violently with his own will. In the end, the pain became unbearable, and he lost consciousness.
No one noticed that beneath his hand, something shifted slightly—a faint spark of fire flickered in his palm…
After the holiday ended, on May 6th, Shi Ran and Ye Shuyao returned to Y University to apply for a one-month leave from their academic advisor. They were “fortunately” lectured for two hours before being let go.
Holding their approved leave forms, the two walked toward the school gate chatting—until someone suddenly blocked their way.
“Shi Ran! I heard you two took a one-month leave. What are you planning to do?!”
A girl suddenly jumped out from the side, blocking them with one arm raised.
Shi Ran nearly instinctively used the combat move she had just learned that morning and almost threw her over her shoulder.
Ye Shuyao also raised a hand into a fist… then awkwardly touched her own head instead.
They exchanged a glance—both a little embarrassed.
Shi Ran vaguely recognized this girl. She was from the same major, named Xia Yun.
She usually targeted the original host for no apparent reason, though the original host never cared enough to figure out why.
“This classmate, let me correct you—you didn’t ‘hear,’ you were eavesdropping.”
Shi Ran stepped back with Ye Shuyao, blinking innocently.
Xia Yun ignored her completely and continued on her own.
“Are you joining a competition? Take me with you! Just give me a main team spot and I’ll study hard. I know you’re the best~”
Ye Shuyao flicked her long wavy hair, raising her brows as she looked at her.
“Let me translate: you don’t know anything, but you still want a main position. If we don’t give it to you, we’re the bad ones? Our plates aren’t even as big as your face.”
Xia Yun’s face flushed red, her lips trembling like she was about to cry.
“I wasn’t talking to you… Shi Ran~ I know you secretly want to work hard so Zhou Yang will notice you, so you’re hostile toward me. I won’t compete with you. If you think he likes me, I can’t help that…”
Zhou Yang?
Who?
Shi Ran had no memory of this person at all.
Not wanting to waste more time, she said flatly, “If you can’t help it, do as I say. Now—go back where you came from. Eat properly, stay indoors less, and try to live a little longer.”
Apocalypse countdown—wasn’t that basically a competition too?
Only someone tired of living would bring her along.
Just as she was about to leave with Ye Shuyao, another boy walked over. The moment he spoke, it made fists itch.
“Xiao Ran, don’t say that. Xia Yun didn’t mean it. She’s just worried about you.”
Shi Ran looked up and saw a clean, sunny-looking boy staring at her intensely. Xia Yun was hiding behind him, acting as if she had suffered some great injustice.
She immediately guessed this was Zhou Yang.
“Zhou Yang, right? Perfect timing. Both of you—get lost.”
Shi Ran’s patience was already gone.
“Xiao Ran! What did you call me? I thought you didn’t care about me—but it turns out… you secretly like me too!”
Shi Ran went blank.
Could this guy understand human language at all? How did this turn into her liking him?
Ye Shuyao suddenly remembered something and leaned in to whisper, “Oh, I remember now. He’s the Y University campus heartthrob… I think his name is Li Zhouyang.”
Shi Ran: “……”
What kind of nonsense situation was this? It was like a damn bee buzzing into an electric fence—completely fried.
Li Zhouyang tried to grab her wrist.
Shi Ran had already lost all patience. She grabbed his arm and twisted hard.
“AH!! SHI RAN!!”
“Sorry, classmate Li. I’ve got strong hands. You seem pretty aggressive—how about coming to my house to watch the gate?”
Ye Shuyao was done entertaining them too and linked arms with Shi Ran as they walked past.
“Ranran, why are you rewarding him?”
Just after passing them, Shi Ran suddenly felt her right palm heat up, as if something was pulling at it. The leave form clung tightly to her hand, almost trying to sink inside.
She examined the strange sensation in her body—but it disappeared as quickly as it came.
Was it just emotional fluctuation?
It couldn’t be… an early awakening of abilities, could it?
But in the book, aside from the male lead, no one else had ever shown anything like this.
No time to think further.
The two of them left Y University without looking back.