Chapter Twenty-Seven: An Unexpected Shelter

A blue light flickered abruptly in the stairwell. Mu Chen had already pulled Chen Si with him, teleporting inside Building 11.

"Hah... hah..."

Chen Si gasped for air, still shaken, and hurriedly looked back toward the door. Through the glass, a massive cow-patterned cat was pacing unhurriedly outside. Its amber pupils scanned everything around it. It did not choose to force its way in, seemingly wary of or waiting for something.

"Why... why isn't it coming in?" Chen Si's voice trembled, her fear yet to dissipate.

Mu Chen leaned against the cold wall, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Mutated animals have their own rules. To them, the interior of a building might be some kind of forbidden zone."

He had used teleportation three times in quick succession to escape, and his mental energy was severely depleted. Now, his head throbbed violently, as if countless needles were pricking at him, and his vision began to blur.

"Are you alright? You look terrible," Chen Si noted, keenly sensing that something was wrong with him.

"Small problem, I'll be fine after a rest," Mu Chen said, waving a hand weakly as he tried to steady himself.

Chen Si hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to support his arm. "Let me help you. Don't try to be a hero right now."

The warmth from her hand touching his arm caused Mu Chen to stiffen slightly. It had been far too long since he had experienced such direct concern. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Don't mention it. You saved my life," Chen Si said softly, a hint of shyness in her tone.

The stairwell fell into a deathly silence, save for the sound of their breathing. Outside, the cow-patterned cat continued to pace nearby, occasionally emitting low, rumbling purrs that made one's skin crawl.

"We must head upstairs. It's not safe here," Mu Chen said, forcing himself to stand.

Chen Si nodded vigorously. "That Xie Youyou you mentioned, she’s on the eighteenth floor, right?"

The two began their slow ascent. Chen Si held the cold wall with one hand and clutched Mu Chen tightly with the other. Their pace was slow, but it carried an undeniable sense of determination. By the time they reached the tenth floor, Chen Si was completely out of breath. She was unaccustomed to physical exertion, and having to support Mu Chen made the climb doubly arduous.

"Rest for a moment; I can manage on my own," Mu Chen said, trying to pull his arm away.

"No!" Chen Si gripped his arm stubbornly, her tone brooks no refusal. "What if you suddenly pass out? What would happen then?"

Mu Chen offered a bitter smile. "I'm not that fragile."

"Men's words are empty lies! Especially when it comes to their own health, you can't believe a word of it," Chen Si retorted, gasping for air. "I'm supporting you, and nothing bad will happen."

Her stubbornness reminded Mu Chen of Chen Jiahe. Both were the type who refused to yield, though they expressed it in entirely different ways.

They continued to climb. When they reached the fifteenth floor, Chen Si's legs began to tremble uncontrollably. She bit her lower lip, enduring as sweat rolled down her forehead like falling beads.

"You really don't have to push yourself like this," Mu Chen urged again.

"I told you, don't worry about me!" Chen Si snapped, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "I'm not a porcelain doll; climbing a few floors is nothing."

Mu Chen fell silent. He could sense that behind her stubbornness lay a strong sense of pride—she refused to be seen as weak.

Finally, they reached the eighteenth floor. Just as Mu Chen was about to knock, a heavy, dull thud echoed from the stairs above.

*Thump... thump... thump...*

Every sound felt like it was stepping on their hearts. They both tensed and looked back simultaneously. An exceptionally large bulldog was waddling down from the floors above. Its frame was like a young calf, its muscles bulging and taut, saliva dripping from its jaws.

Seeing this, Chen Si turned pale. "A... another mutant!"

Mu Chen quickly pushed her aside. "Hide behind the door; I'll handle this!" As he spoke, he drew his sharp military dagger from his waist.

The bulldog saw Mu Chen and initially bared its fangs in a ferocious display. But when it caught the scent of Mu Chen in the air, its massive body suddenly stiffened. A look of sheer, disbelieving terror flashed across its fierce expression, and it began to back away involuntarily.

"Huh?" Mu Chen was stunned.

The bulldog took a few more steps back, let out a low, muffled whimper, and then turned abruptly, tail tucked, and fled back upstairs.

"It... it ran away?" Chen Si couldn't believe her eyes.

Mu Chen slowly sheathed his dagger, thinking rapidly. "It probably smelled the scent of other mutants on me and decided I wasn't worth the trouble."

But deep down, he knew the reason was likely far more complex. There seemed to be a strict hierarchy among these mutated creatures, and he likely still carried the lingering, unique scent of "Little White," the cow-patterned cat.

"Fine by me; saves me the trouble," Mu Chen said, knocking on the door of Room 1804.

A moment later, the door cracked open. Xie Youyou’s face, etched with caution, peered through the gap. "You?"

"I brought someone. She needs a place to hide for a while," Mu Chen said, getting straight to the point.

Xie Youyou glanced at Chen Si and, after a moment, stepped aside. "Come in."

The room was simple but meticulously organized. Xie Youyou looked much better than she had earlier that day, and the redness on her arm had almost completely faded.

"And she is?" Xie Youyou asked, looking at Mu Chen.

"Chen Si. Met her on the way; she ran into some trouble. I was hoping she could stay here for a few days," Mu Chen said concisely.

Chen Si quickly expressed her gratitude. "Thank you so much. I’ll try not to be a burden."

Xie Youyou nodded readily. "No problem. The more the merrier; it’s certainly dull being alone."

Mu Chen rested briefly, his mental energy recovering slightly. "I have to go back. Chen Jiahe is still waiting for me."

"Chen Jiahe?"

Hearing that name, Chen Si’s expression shifted. Mu Chen noticed the subtlety in her tone. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," Chen Si forced a smile. "Just didn't expect her to be with you."

Xie Youyou, sharp as ever, immediately caught the tension between the two. "Do you know each other?"