Chapter 97: The Moonlight is Beautiful Tonight

After a night of work, the two had almost completely cleared the fourth floor.

Holding four ​**[M Virus Essences]** in his hand, Zhao Kuo hesitated.

Bai Qi had already consumed three ​**[M Virus Essences], but there was still no reaction. Not only had he not undergone further mutation, but his physical condition hadn't improved in the slightest.

Was he really wrong about this?

For the first time, Zhao Kuo began to doubt himself. Looking at the sky outside, which was gradually brightening, he and Bai Qi blocked the escalators with tables and chairs before returning to the kitchen of the Western restaurant.

By then, Tang Yingying had prepared breakfast for the three of them, ensuring they could fill their stomachs as soon as they returned.

As they ate heartily, Tang Yingying asked, "How did it go last night? Any accidents?"

Zhao Kuo shook his head. "It was fine. There were a lot of zombies, but they're easier to deal with at night. The only issue is that the three knives we brought are all dull now."

With that, he handed over the three knives.

"Mine too," Bai Qi said, producing his own three knives.

"No problem, I'll sharpen them," Tang Yingying replied with a smile. Since they had an automatic knife sharpener, it wasn't much trouble.

"There's one more thing," Zhao Kuo added. "Bai Qi has hit a bottleneck like us. After consuming three ​[M Virus Essences], he didn't evolve further."

Earlier, Zhao Kuo had told Bai Qi that he and Tang Yingying didn't use the ​[M Virus Essences]** because they were stuck at a bottleneck. Naturally, this explanation needed to be maintained.

Tang Yingying promptly put on a look of regret. "That's a shame."

When it came to playing along, Tang Yingying's acting was almost flawless, rivaling her cousin's skills.

Bai Qi also wore a regretful expression. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Brother Zhao and Sister-in-law. Sigh…"

"It's fine," Tang Yingying said with a smile, pouring them each a bowl of thick soup. "Everything is predestined. You can't force it. This is already good enough."

The soup was made from beef bones, skimmed of fat, and was both flavorful and light. A touch of pepper made it unexpectedly delicious.

Even Bai Qi praised, "Sister-in-law, your cooking is amazing."

Zhao Kuo wanted to clarify that she wasn't his sister-in-law, but seeing Tang Yingying's smiling face, he felt that if he denied it, she might not open the door for him next time.

Oh well, no need to make a fuss over such a small matter. It was just a title, after all.

After breakfast, the two who had worked all night lay down to rest. Soon, Bai Qi's snores filled the room.

Zhao Kuo, however, couldn't sleep. He lay awake, watching Tang Yingying clean up the dishes, then got up and pulled her into the bathroom.

Don't get the wrong idea—this wasn't the start of an R-rated scene.

Zhao Kuo whispered, "Something feels off. Aside from the sudden outbreak of the zombie virus at the beginning, everything in this mall seems too simple."

"Also, the fact that we can only evolve once doesn't seem right either."

Zhao Kuo spoke seriously, looking at Tang Yingying, hoping to hear her thoughts.

But Tang Yingying simply pushed him down, making him sit on the toilet, then sat on his lap herself.

The moment her softness touched his legs, Zhao Kuo felt a reaction.

Oh no, oh no. Did she not realize how good her figure was? Who could resist this?

For a moment, Zhao Kuo's thoughts were in disarray.

But Tang Yingying acted as if she hadn't noticed his discomfort. "Actually, I also feel something's not right. Even with our skills and inventory stripped away, this difficulty level is still too easy for professionals. Could it be that the subway world is trying to buy time?"

Time was the Sword of Damocles hanging over every player's head.

Eternal Station was a full 10,000 kilometers from the next stop, and they only had 15 days. Most players, even if they didn't waste a single minute, would struggle to cover 10,000 kilometers in 15 days.

If they wasted a few days in the mall, even if they got out, they might still face the fate of being erased.

Unless there was some special reward in the mall that could increase their subway speed, like the steam engine in the abandoned station!

But no matter how he looked at it, Zhao Kuo felt there were some inconsistencies he couldn't explain.

This mall wasn't as simple as it seemed. Perhaps something he didn't know about was quietly unfolding.

At that moment, Tang Yingying shifted her hips slightly, a sly smile appearing on her face. "Hehe, you're reacting."

Zhao Kuo's face instantly turned red, and he coughed. "It's just a normal physiological reaction. Nothing unusual."

"So, if another woman sat on you like this, would you have the same reaction?" Tang Yingying blinked.

Another woman… Zhao Kuo thought about it and shook his head.

He wasn't a saint who could remain unmoved in such situations, so no other woman would ever sit in his lap.

When it came to emotions, Zhao Kuo had always maintained a certain level of restraint, especially in the desperate environment of the subway world. Women could sometimes slow down his ability to draw his sword.

But what use was drawing a gun quickly?

Tang Yingying's smile grew even more sly. She wrapped her arms around Zhao Kuo's neck, breathed into his ear, and whispered, "Admit it. You definitely like me already."

As she spoke, she wiggled her hips a couple of times.

This woman really knew how to play her cards! Zhao Kuo recalled the previous times she had been in his arms and glanced down.

Hmm, her cleavage was as deep as ever.

Tang Yingying was the cute type, but her figure was downright unfair. Even though Zhao Kuo prided himself on his self-control, he couldn't help but sneak a peek now and then.

It couldn't be helped—she was truly eye-catching. She had the perfect proportions, large where it mattered and small where it should be.

But did he really like Tang Yingying?

At the very least, he didn't dislike her. After going through so much together, he had grown accustomed to her presence. He had gotten used to having a companion to rely on during the dark journey.

He had also grown accustomed to the warmth Tang Yingying brought, a feeling that was undeniably intoxicating.

Tang Yingying had gone this far, so what reason did he have to refuse?

Just as Zhao Kuo was about to forget everything and lose himself in the moment, the bathroom door was knocked on. "Sister-in-law, are you in there?"

The two were startled. Tang Yingying reflexively jumped off Zhao Kuo, nearly slipping, but he caught her in time.

Tang Yingying calmed herself. "Yes, it's me. What's wrong?"

Outside, Bai Qi scratched his head. "Uh, I need to use the bathroom… Oh, where's Brother Zhao? I didn't see him."

Tang Yingying panicked for a moment but quickly regained her composure. "Ah, he… he went out just now to get something."

"I see…" Bai Qi, still half-asleep, nodded. "Alright… I'll go back to sleep. Let me know when you're done, Sister-in-law…"

With that, he returned to his spot and lay down.

Tang Yingying facepalmed. This guy really had no sense of timing.

After this interruption, both of them calmed down, and the atmosphere became awkward.

After a long silence, Zhao Kuo finally spoke. "Um, let's talk about this when we're back on the subway. I'll… I'll go out first."

But just as he was about to open the bathroom door, Tang Yingying pulled him back without hesitation.

Her soft lips pressed against his heart.

…