Chapter 0038: Bewitched by Beauty, Mind in Turmoil

Yu Shujie inwardly cursed herself for being shameless, but she couldn't help but enjoy the way Di Ping would glance at her furtively, as if torn between wanting to look but not daring to. Each time his eyes flicked toward her, he quickly lowered his gaze and drank from his tea, almost as if he were desperately thirsty. He finished the cup in a few gulps.

"Slow down, it's hot!" Yu Shujie admonished softly, her face flushed. She stepped forward to take the cup from Di Ping's hand, then walked over to the tea table to pour him a fresh cup.

"Yu… Yu Jie, I… I'm not thirsty," Di Ping stammered, though he immediately took the new cup from her and drained it in two quick swigs.

"Ha!" Yu Shujie couldn't hold back a soft giggle, covering her mouth with one hand. Her eyes crinkled into crescent moons, and her long lashes trembled with her smile. Looking at Di Ping's flustered expression, she couldn't help but think: is this the same invincible warrior who was once ruthless and decisive?

No, it was just a shy, awkward young man from next door…

Her laughter drew Di Ping's gaze again, and as he looked at her, he felt his heart race. Her charm, the faint fragrance surrounding her, the alluring curves of her body, and the unmistakable sensuality of her figure—all these things stirred something deep inside him. His breathing grew rapid, and his vision blurred slightly, overtaken by desire.

"Yu Jie…"

The intensity of his gaze startled Yu Shujie. She saw the heat in his eyes and her breath caught in her throat. Though she had come here today intending to tease him, she was not prepared to face such a response. While her relationship with her husband had been going through a rough patch, and she felt an undeniable attraction to Di Ping, she was not ready to accept a man right now. As a mature woman, she knew exactly what Di Ping's reaction meant.

"Alright, you rest for now. I'm going to join Nanni," she said in a flustered voice, rushing to open the door and nearly running out of the room. Her steps were unsteady, as though something were chasing her.

Seeing Yu Shujie flee in such a hurry, her eyes filled with fear, Di Ping suddenly snapped back to reality. He quickly moved to the tea table, pouring himself water like a thirsty animal, then exhaled deeply. He collapsed into the wicker chair, lying on his back, breathing heavily. It took several minutes for his breaths to calm down.

Di Ping silently cursed himself for his lack of self-control. He had almost lost control of the situation. With his current strength, had he acted on his impulses, Yu Shujie wouldn't have had any chance to resist. But that wasn't what he wanted. If he had done so, how would he be different from people like Wang Delin?

At that moment, he realized his lack of self-control was not as simple as he thought. Since the outbreak of the apocalypse, Di Ping had been through countless life-and-death struggles. First, the constant pressure of survival, living in fear of whether life would last another day, coupled with the crushing isolation and dread. Then, the continuous battles for survival that tested his mind and will. All of these experiences had built up inside him, hidden beneath the surface, but when the pressure reached a certain point, it could explode. This is why so many people, who once seemed kind-hearted, became the worst villains in the apocalypse—people who, overwhelmed by their internal struggles, gave in to their darker impulses and did things far worse than the true evildoers.

Just earlier, Di Ping had been on the edge of losing control, but thankfully, Yu Shujie's sudden escape broke his focus. His strong will kicked in, helping him regain control. Although he had feelings for her—who wouldn't be attracted to a beautiful, gentle woman like Yu Shujie?—he could not have acted on those feelings. He simply couldn't bring himself to do anything.

Di Ping stayed in the room for nearly half an hour, letting his emotions settle. He realized something was off about his mental state. He sat in the wicker chair, breathing steadily, trying to regain inner peace.

After finally calming himself, Di Ping took a pack of cigarettes from the side table, lit one, and took a deep drag. He was still shaken by the intensity of his earlier feelings. For a moment, he had feared losing control. What if he had done something he would regret? How would he face Yu Shujie afterward? Di Ping was an intelligent man, and his years of experience had taught him to be self-reflective. He was concerned about the uncontrollable urges he had felt earlier.

When he saw Yu Shujie, he felt an overwhelming impulse to rush toward her, overpower her, and take what he desired. It was almost as if his body had moved without his mind's consent. If it weren't for the last vestige of his moral boundaries, Yu Shujie would have had no chance to escape.

Finishing the cigarette, Di Ping sighed. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. He felt as if something was wrong with his state of mind, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

"Di Ge! Di Ge!"

At that moment, a loud, exaggerated voice echoed from outside the door, followed by a loud crash as the door was violently flung open.

"What's wrong, Fatty?"

Di Ping quickly stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and looked up to see Fatty, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, bursting into the room.