Chapter 28: A Three-Way Game

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“From the same university,” Chen Si answered vaguely, though an indescribable look flickered through her eyes.

Mu Chen did not press her further. He rose to leave. “Contact me if anything happens. The phone signal is still working for now.”

“Wait.” Xie Youyou stopped him. “Those mutated creatures downstairs…”

“They won’t come up for the time being, but you should still be extra careful tonight.” With that, Mu Chen turned and left.

Back in Room 3001.

As expected, Chen Jiahe was still sitting on the sofa, seemingly waiting for him.

The instant Mu Chen pushed open the door, the unmistakable delight that had just bloomed across her face was swiftly replaced by an inexplicable tension.

“You’re back?” She rose to her feet, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

“Mm.” Mu Chen took off his coat, fatigue evident in every movement.

Chen Jiahe had barely taken two steps toward him when her nostrils twitched. She stopped abruptly, and her voice turned cold.

“You… smell of perfume.”

Mu Chen stared blankly. “What?”

“A woman’s perfume. It’s very faint, but I can smell it.” A chill entered Chen Jiahe’s voice. “Where did you go?”

Only then did Mu Chen realize that the scent had probably rubbed off on him when he supported Chen Si earlier.

“I ran into an unexpected situation,” he answered honestly.

“What kind of situation?” Chen Jiahe’s tone was laden with scrutiny. “One that required physical contact with another woman?”

Mu Chen frowned slightly. “Chen Jiahe, what are you imagining?”

“I’m wondering whether I’ve been too foolish and naive.” Chen Jiahe let out a cold laugh. “I actually thought you were risking your life to gather supplies. Turns out you went on a date?”

“A date?” Mu Chen was so exasperated by her bizarre logic that he nearly laughed. “In this wretched weather and this wretched world, who would still have the leisure to go on a date?”

“Then explain where this perfume came from.” Chen Jiahe folded her arms across her chest, making it clear that she expected an answer.

Mu Chen was silent for several seconds before deciding to tell her the truth. “I rescued a girl named Chen Si. She’s temporarily taking shelter near Building Eleven.”

At the mention of the name Chen Si, Chen Jiahe’s expression changed abruptly.

“Chen Si? Which Chen Si?”

“You know her?” Mu Chen asked in return.

Chen Jiahe drew in a breath, seemingly struggling to suppress something. “The Chen Si who’s a sophomore? The one who used to hang around with Chen Xiaoxiao all the time?”

“It should be her.” Mu Chen nodded.

“So you rescued her and let her lean against you?” Anger simmered uncontrollably in Chen Jiahe’s voice.

Mu Chen’s patience was wearing thin as well. “She was supporting me. My mental strength was exhausted. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” Chen Jiahe repeated each word slowly. “Mu Chen, do you know what Chen Si used to say about you?”

“I don’t care.” Mu Chen walked straight toward the kitchen. “This is the apocalypse. Whatever petty nonsense happened before no longer matters.”

“It may not matter to you, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter to her!” Chen Jiahe hurried after him. “Have you forgotten how many vicious things she used to say about you behind your back?”

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Mu Chen stopped and turned to look at her, his tone turning colder as well. “So what? She’s in trouble now. Is it wrong for me to lend her a hand?”

“It’s completely wrong!” Chen Jiahe’s emotions finally broke loose. “Do you know why she’s suddenly being so polite to you? Because you have supernatural abilities and supplies now! She’s nothing but a thoroughly shallow opportunist!”

“Enough.” Mu Chen’s voice was cold as ice. “Don’t use your own filthy thoughts to judge other people.”

“Malice?”

Chen Jiahe gave a mocking laugh, her derision entirely undisguised.

“Mu Chen, when did you become so easy to fool?”

“Or is it that playing the hero and saving a beauty today made you feel pretty good about yourself?”

Mu Chen halted. Then he turned around.

“Chen Jiahe, are you jealous?”

Chen Jiahe froze completely, the color draining from her cheeks.

“I… Jealous? What would I have to be jealous of?”

Her voice trembled, yet she stubbornly refused to admit it.

“I was only kindly reminding you not to let someone make a fool of you without even realizing it!”

“Is that so?”

Mu Chen took a step forward, and the distance between them suddenly narrowed.

“Then explain something to me. Why are you reacting so strongly?”

Their breathing was clearly audible. The air around them seemed to congeal, pressing down with oppressive weight.

Chen Jiahe bit her lower lip hard, tasting something faintly metallic in her mouth.

“I’m not reacting strongly!”

“I just think you’re far too willing to trust other people!”

“Trust people?”

The corner of Mu Chen’s mouth curved into an expression touched with inexplicable self-mockery.

“Chen Jiahe, there have never been many people I could trust.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’d stand by and watch someone die over those trivial grievances from the past.”

“What about me?”

Chen Jiahe’s voice suddenly rose, sharp enough to pierce through something.

“Mu Chen, what am I to you? What do I count as in your heart?!”

Mu Chen’s Adam’s apple moved, but he did not answer at once.

The living room was terrifyingly quiet. Only the two of them remained, their slightly labored breathing echoing through the silence.

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Chen Jiahe’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared fixedly at him, as though waiting for a final verdict.

After a long while, Mu Chen finally spoke, his voice somewhat dry.

“You’re an important companion.”

“Companion?”

Chen Jiahe slowly turned the word over in her mind. The warmth gradually faded from her face, and the disappointment in her chest seemed almost ready to spill over.

“Ha. Just a companion?”

Mu Chen did not respond. He avoided the repetition, which carried an unmistakable accusation.

He truly did not know how to answer.

In these wretched days when tomorrow was never guaranteed, what was the point of talking about feelings? It was too extravagant, and far too ill-timed.

“Fine. I understand.”

Chen Jiahe abruptly turned her head away, no longer looking at him. Her voice was utterly devoid of warmth.

“Since we’re only companions, then I really have no right to meddle in your private life.”

She spun around and headed for the bedroom. At the doorway, she stopped, but did not turn back.

“Mu Chen, if one day you decide that I’m nothing but a burden, weighing you down…”

“Please give me some warning in advance. I’ll leave on my own. You won’t have to trouble yourself.”

Bang!

The bedroom door slammed shut, making even the walls seem to tremble.

Only Mu Chen remained in the living room, along with the deathly silence filling the space.

He stared at the tightly closed door, an oppressive unease building in his chest.

Every word Chen Jiahe had said at the end had been edged like a blade, digging painfully into his heart.

Bzzz—

The phone in his pocket suddenly began to vibrate, pulling him back from his tangled thoughts.

The screen lit up. It was a message from Xie Youyou.

“Chen Si is crying. She’s really upset. She said she used to misunderstand you about so many things and deeply regrets it now.”

Mu Chen stared at the message, his brows knotting together.

Almost at the same moment, the faint sound of muffled sobbing drifted from the bedroom, intermittent and restrained.

Mu Chen’s mood sank straight to the bottom.

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