Chapter 91: The Young Boyfriend

Zhong Chen had first met Wu Yongxin three years ago, and ever since then he had followed in her wake. Yet every time, she would slip away in silence. So he cast a tracking spell on her; no matter where she went, this rat would always find her, and he would even save her when she was in the greatest danger.

"Thank you. Without your help, the two of us would have been finished."

"Oh, nothing. I just happened to save you."

Chen Xiong broke out in a cold sweat when he heard that. What did he mean, happened to save them? Though displeased, he did not show it. Seeing that the girl before him was rather pretty, his mind filled with all manner of filthy fantasies, and he was practically delighted with himself. Zhong Chen caught the look in the rearview mirror and felt an instant flicker of annoyance.

"Why have you gone quiet?"

"Nothing." Wu Yongxin leaned against the window, letting the cold wind sweep across her youthful face.

"I know you were angry when I stopped you just now. But if I hadn't, that winged vampire would have killed you."

She said nothing. She knew she had indeed been too impulsive just now. Zhong Chen knew her temper well; he knew she would rush into dangerous places without a second thought. Who told him he liked a girl like that?

"Listen, you two. Once we get into Haizhu District, it's none of your business anymore. Be good and stay put."

Soon they entered Haizhu District. After dropping the two off, they continued toward the South China Bridge. Defensive lines had been built on the far side of the bridge, and the two of them passed only after a security check. After returning to Tianhe District, Wu Yongxin was about to leave, but the other man gripped her hand tightly and would not let go. Of course he did not want her thrown back into the fighting so soon.

Wu Yongxin shook him off hard. She wanted to keep her distance from this man.

"The battlefield is on the other side of the river. What did you bring me here for?"

"Don't look at me like that. It scares me. A girl should be gentler." As Zhong Chen spoke, he moved closer. Just as he reached out to put an arm around her, Wu Yongxin glared at him. Helplessly, he said, "All right, all right. Listening to my girlfriend is the right thing to do."

Wu Yongxin turned away coldly. Zhong Chen smiled and chased after her. Several times she tried to turn back, but he found excuses to keep her there. He would never give up such a chance to be alone with her.

"Yongxin, can you tell me why you always hide from me? Do you know how worried I am about you?"

He could no longer suppress his desperate need for an answer. He wanted to know the reason.

"It's been three years already. Why can I still never get into your heart? I know you have your reasons. I want to hear the truth from you."

Wu Yongxin turned to face him. "Do you really have to know the reason?"

"Yes." Zhong Chen nodded.

Seeing his childlike determination, she sighed and found a random excuse. "I'm sorry. The reason is that I can't accept a younger brother, especially not someone as clingy as you."

Zhong Chen froze. He had not expected her reason to be that. Age really was not important, and a relationship between an older woman and a younger man was hardly strange anymore; in this world, it had even become something of a trend.

"Stop making excuses for yourself, all right? I was only born one year after you. That reason doesn't matter at all. What matters is that I mean it sincerely."

Her words were blocked by him. Since she had already said it, she had no choice but to force herself to continue.

"It's because of that one year. That gap is enough. It proves that time itself stands in the way."

Zhong Chen gave a soft laugh, equal parts helpless and amused. A single year made no difference to him; he would break through that barrier no matter what.

"If that one year stands in the way of your heart, then I'll prove it to you with my actions. I'll break through that barrier and make you accept my love with your true feelings."

No matter how many excuses Wu Yongxin found, he still pressed forward, relentless. He had only one conviction, and that was her.

"Ugh! No matter how I explain it to you, it's useless. You don't care about my feelings at all, and you don't respect my decision either."

With those words, Wu Yongxin turned and left, leaving Zhong Chen frozen in place.

As she walked, she caught sight of a familiar figure getting into a car on the main street. She immediately bounced over with bright steps. "Aunt Lan!"

Ye Lan, about to get into the car, heard someone calling her name. She looked over, saw that it was Wu Yongxin, and before long the girl was in front of her, hugging her. Ye Lan lovingly stroked her head and said, "It's you, Xiaoxin. What are you doing here? Weren't you in Italy with your mother?"

"I came back with Mom a week ago. We were just about to head back when we ran into this kind of trouble."

When Ye Lan heard that her mother was also here, she asked, "Right, where is your mother?"

"I think I left her over in Panyu District, hahaha." Wu Yongxin laughed awkwardly. Then she glanced at the two strangers in the car and asked in confusion, "By the way, where's Sister Xiaotang?"

"She is fighting those people. You'll see each other soon enough." Ye Lan wore a faintly wry expression. The city was shrouded in smog, and the signal had been affected. Aside from the most basic functions, nothing worked properly.

Standing some distance away, Zhong Chen watched them. Seeing her happy smile, he grinned foolishly too. Ye Lan noticed and asked, "Xiaoxin, that boy is your friend, right?"

Wu Yongxin naturally knew whom her aunt meant. "Just a regular friend."

"Ha, just a regular friend? I thought he was your little boyfriend!" Ye Lan teased.

Wu Yongxin flushed red with irritation. "Aunt Lan, don't talk nonsense."

Ye Lan then motioned for Zhong Chen to get in the car. He was naturally more than willing. Seeing that everyone was present, Hu Guozheng said, "Aunt Lan, where to?"

"Panyu District."

"All right." Hu Guozheng immediately drove toward their destination.

On the other side, Du Bin and Ye Tang were moving toward the center of that power. When they entered Yuexiu District, they finally saw civilians, but they were all fleeing toward Tianhe. With the smog growing thicker, the entire city had gone dark. Everyone was using flashlights, and the price of batteries had soared. Beyond that, many other things were being marked up by profiteers as well. The police had no time to care, while rapists committed crimes one after another. Some even took the opportunity to rob banks. The city had become a place of panic and fear.

Just as the two of them were sighing over it, a fireball fell from the sky. Du Bin dodged at once. In the rearview mirror, he saw a winged vampire chasing after the back of the car, hurling one fireball after another at them. Du Bin swerved left and right through the alleys, alarming many of the civilians.

"At last I've found you, my mother." The winged vampire wore a white cloak and laughed with his mouth stretched wide, his fangs bared.

"Damn it, who is your mother? You've got the wrong person!" Du Bin was speechless at the sight of him.

"No, wait... isn't that the chief physician I killed yesterday? How is he... still alive?" A wave of fear suddenly washed over Ye Tang, and she dared not think further.

"I've heard that anyone bitten by a vampire becomes a vampire themselves. Is that really true? Then doesn't that mean he was turned by you..." Du Bin stopped short. Even if someone were bitten, they should not have power like this. Could it be because she was of vampire blood? The more he thought about it, the more chaotic his mind became.

At that moment, the chief physician made a great leap and appeared before them. Du Bin slammed on the brakes in panic, but the other man simply threw a fireball at them. There was no chance of backing up now. The two of them jumped from the car to evade it, and the vehicle was struck by the fireball and exploded at once, setting off a blaze across the area.

"I heard that as long as you kill the one who turned you into a vampire, you inherit all of that person's powers." The chief physician's pupils turned red, and he himself began to go mad.

"Is that so? Then come on!" Du Bin said anxiously, "Xiaotang, your powers aren't working. Let me deal with him!"

"No. I caused this trouble myself, so I'll settle it myself."

Ye Tang rose from the flames. With a loud snap, her wings spread open, and the membranes still bore many marks where bullets had pierced them. In the reflected firelight, she looked like a demon.