Chapter 98: The Evolved

Two hours later, the two finally emerged from the bathroom.

Tang Yingying felt her legs were a bit weak. Initially, she had been the one taking the lead, but Zhao Kuo had quickly turned the tables.

It turned out this guy wasn't just good at theory—his practical skills were impressive too…

Tang Yingying rubbed her sore thighs and gave Zhao Kuo's solid chest a light punch. "You jerk. Alright, let's rest now. It's already noon, and soon we'll have to head out again."

"You're feeling tender now? That wasn't the case earlier," Zhao Kuo raised an eyebrow.

After what had just happened, the two of them seemed to get along much more harmoniously.

Tang Yingying rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, alright. You should rest now. The priority is still figuring out how to get out of here."

Zhao Kuo nodded and didn't linger on the topic, lying down to rest.

He was indeed tired. Not only had he spent the night killing zombies, but he'd also "battled" Tang Yingying for two hours. Even the toughest guy would be worn out by now.

Soon, Zhao Kuo fell into a deep sleep.

Tang Yingying, who was cleaning up the dishes, paused and glanced back at Zhao Kuo lying on the floor. A hint of a smile appeared in her complex gaze.

As a reincarnator, though her awakened memories were limited, she had more experience than the average player.

She understood the cruelty of the subway world better and the loneliness of traveling alone.

The reason she had tied herself to Zhao Kuo was because he was ahead of all the other players in terms of progress. She needed a strong ally like him to deal with future challenges—or, to put it bluntly, a form of parasitism.

But gradually, she found that this parasitism had turned into dependence.

She knew this dependence was an emotional habit formed in the dark and lonely environment. But like someone falling off a cliff, once this habit took root, it was impossible to stop.

So, she began to showcase her strengths, such as her cooking skills and her considerate personality.

Tang Yingying knew what Zhao Kuo needed.

Zhao Kuo was already strong enough. Among all the players at this stage, there were probably only a handful who could even see his back.

Even if all the top players from different worlds who could enter the dimensional auction house were gathered together, there likely wouldn't be anyone qualified to stand beside Zhao Kuo.

Therefore, Tang Yingying began to shine in the areas where Zhao Kuo needed her most, like a gentle spring rain nourishing everything silently.

But she always knew that her use of Zhao Kuo outweighed her dependence on him.

Perhaps Zhao Kuo understood this too, which was why he had kept pushing her away before.

After spending so much time together, Tang Yingying gradually realized that even if this relationship hadn't happened, Zhao Kuo, given his personality, would still have done everything to save her if she were in trouble.

Was what she felt for Zhao Kuo love? Definitely not. At most, it was affection.

But in the subway world, this level of affection was enough.

No one could guarantee they'd see the sun again someday, not even Tang Yingying as a reincarnator. So, she decided to hold onto the moonlight tonight.

Zhao Kuo, in his deep sleep, had a dream.

In the dream, he held Tang Yingying's hand as they walked into a white hall. The cute girl in a white wedding dress looked up and planted a deep kiss on his chin.

But Zhao Kuo couldn't see her face clearly.

He woke up with a start, wiped his face, and turned to look at Tang Yingying, who was chopping vegetables to prepare dinner.

Bai Qi wasn't on the floor, and the bathroom light was on, so he was probably in there.

Zhao Kuo got up and hugged Tang Yingying from behind.

Tang Yingying tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and scolded softly, "Don't mess around, I'm chopping vegetables. What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

"Not exactly. I just dreamed about you," Zhao Kuo admitted honestly.

Tang Yingying smiled. "Did you dream that I devoured you?"

"Didn't you already do that earlier?" Zhao Kuo chuckled.

"You!" Tang Yingying's knife slammed onto the cutting board. "I didn't realize you were such a rascal before."

"People change. What's for dinner tonight?" Zhao Kuo asked.

"Broccoli with shrimp, Longjing beef, and stir-fried Shanghai greens," Tang Yingying replied.

"Longjing beef? That doesn't sound very appetizing," Zhao Kuo frowned.

"That's because restaurants don't make it right. This dish was taught to me by my grandma. It's definitely delicious. And keep your hands to yourself," Tang Yingying warned him with a glance, then gave him a quick kiss.

Zhao Kuo was satisfied and let go when he heard the sound of the toilet flushing.

Bai Qi came out and, seeing Zhao Kuo awake, asked happily, "Brother Zhao, did you go out last night?"

Zhao Kuo nodded without changing his expression. "Yeah, I went to get something. Did you sleep well?"

"Mhm. I feel like after the mutation, my sleep quality has improved a lot. I used to have insomnia often," Bai Qi said.

Huh? The mutation had that effect? Zhao Kuo was surprised.

Half an hour later, Tang Yingying finished preparing dinner. Zhao Kuo took a bite of the Longjing beef. It was indeed good—the beef was tender with a unique, refreshing sweetness that reminded him of late spring.

He praised Tang Yingying's cooking skills once again. The little chef was truly impressive.

After dinner, it was already 6:30 PM. The sky outside was likely dark, and it was time for their nightly hunt.

As Zhao Kuo prepared to leave, Tang Yingying's eyes showed a hint of worry.

Even though she knew there might not be any danger, she couldn't help but feel concerned.

Zhao Kuo noticed her unease and patted her head. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen. Wait for me to come back."

Bai Qi, watching from the side, wondered why his brother and sister-in-law were being so affectionate today.

After giving Tang Yingying a reassuring look, Zhao Kuo slowly opened the steel door and peeked through the crack to check the situation outside.

The Western restaurant was pitch black, and there was no movement.

Before returning last night, they had blocked all the escalators leading to the fourth floor, even sealing the elevator doors. It was normal for there to be no activity.

Zhao Kuo carefully pushed the door open and glanced back at Tang Yingying.

At that moment, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.

"Brother Zhao, watch out!" Bai Qi's roar echoed beside him.

Zhao Kuo instinctively turned his head, but the next second, he saw Tang Yingying rushing toward him at an incredible speed, pushing him out of the way.

Tang Yingying saw it clearly—the attack wasn't aimed at Zhao Kuo's head but at his heart!

In Zhao Kuo's stunned gaze, a purple tongue pierced through Tang Yingying's shoulder.

Her shoulder was exactly where his heart would have been.

Zhao Kuo's pupils dilated for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He grabbed the boning knife and severed the sudden tongue, then turned on the flashlight.

A deformed creature, resembling a spider, clung to the ceiling. Its long tongue swayed in the air, and the wound healed almost instantly, growing a new tip.

An evolved one!

…