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Ye Yin and Zhuo Chenglan were left speechless for a long while by Zhe Hui’s bold performance, but there was someone in the audience even more stunned than they were—Ding Xia.

Since her engagement to Zhuo Zelian fell apart, every time she saw him, an unavoidable sadness welled up inside her. Even when he greeted her casually, she would respond only briefly and leave before her eyes could well up with tears. The previous afternoon, unable to find Zhuo Chenglan anywhere, she had forced herself to ask him directly. With just a few words, he had revealed everything, and in a daze, she had agreed to help keep it from Xiao Die, even accepting the invitation to watch this so-called spectacle.

At first, she didn’t understand why he was doing this, but soon a cold sweat broke out on her brow: if the person attending the rendezvous was Zhuo Chenglan instead of Zhuo Zelian, things would be disastrous—and she would become an unwitting sinner.

Most of the attendees were Zhuo Zelian’s dissolute acquaintances; at the crucial moments, those privileged young men watched with gleaming eyes, some even hooting and whistling. She wished she could disappear into the ground.

The usually proud Zhe Hui, upon realizing the truth, rolled her eyes back and fainted. Several long-waiting waiters outside scrambled to carry her off as if she were mere trash.

Zhuo Zelian changed back into his own clothes, and his friends gathered around, making jokes.

“Didn’t expect it—she looks so cold and indifferent, but behind closed doors, she’s so passionate and uninhibited!”

“Isn’t she drugged or something? How come you’re unaffected?”

…

Zhuo Chenglan remained silent from beginning to end. Ye Yin gently asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my fault,” Zhuo Chenglan said. “I shouldn’t have brought her back.”

“That’s not your fault. You never can tell what people are truly capable of.” Ye Yin, trying to lighten the mood, lightly patted his shoulder. “Say, if it were you, would you be able to sit there unmoved and remain chaste for your beloved wife?”

Zhuo Chenglan glanced at Ye Yin, and suddenly she realized something, her face flushing deeply.

“You’re blushing.”

“Not at all.”

“Pfft.”

“What’s so funny?”

Zhuo Zelian, surrounded by his friends, looked toward the two in the nearby corner and smiled slightly. That smile, laden with hidden meaning, was keenly observed by Ding Xia.

“Thank you for today,” after everyone dispersed, Zhuo Zelian deliberately stayed behind and gently draped a coat over Ding Xia’s shoulders. “I’ll walk you home.”

If this had been in the past, Ding Xia would have stammered a refusal, but this time she hesitated before agreeing.

Shouyuan was close to the Ding family’s home, and the scenery along the way was beautiful. Riding a car seemed a waste, so they strolled side by side, the atmosphere like that of a couple growing weary of each other.

“Actually, I’ve always felt inferior around you,” Ding Xia suddenly said softly. “In my eyes, you’re perfect—smart, gentle, outstanding… Even the parts others criticize, I like them deeply. The more I like you, the harder it is to hold my head up when I see you laughing with your sisters. It hurts.”

Zhuo Zelian looked surprised and smiled. “Why so bold today?”

“Because I’ve decided to try not liking you anymore.” Tears welled up in Ding Xia’s eyes. “I really like Miss Ye. She’s an outstanding woman, protecting so many people with her own hands at such a young age without arrogance. Unlike me, a parasite who’s an ability user but depends on her family for a life of luxury, pouting and almost forcing you to marry me… I don’t really know you. The person I liked all this time was just a figment of my imagination. That illusion shattered just now—you’re not perfect at all, just a cowardly, insecure man putting on a front.”

Zhuo Zelian stopped walking, looking at Ding Xia as if she were a stranger.

Having said the most important words, the rest was easier. Ding Xia wiped away her tears carelessly and smiled brightly. “Why are you looking at me like that? It’s just that I discovered your weakness—I won’t tell anyone. Honestly, you’re pathetic, just as timid as me. But today, at least I said it out loud. You’ll probably never dare to confess your feelings your whole life, right?”

“Are you drunk?”

“Not at all!” Ding Xia said angrily. “Even if that person were you…”

Suddenly, Zhuo Zelian embraced Ding Xia, his voice gentle. “Alright, alright, I’m really scared of you. You’re right about everything.”

Ding Xia softened. “Don’t worry, this will stay buried in my heart forever. I was serious about giving up on you. Let’s just be friends. I’ll find the right person, and you have to keep trying.”

“Okay.” Zhuo Zelian let her go, regretful. “Why did I only realize how adorable you are just now?”

“Too late.” Ding Xia made a silly face. “Men are all fools who only know to cherish what they’ve lost. I’m no backward horse eating old grass!”

Zhuo Zelian tapped her head, and both laughed heartily.

Though Ye Yin vaguely knew someone else had defeated the corpse king that day, since Zhe Hui had dragged them back to the camp, they didn’t finish her off. Instead, they sent her back to that civilian base, threatening to distribute the video recording to every base and have the film squad show it repeatedly for free, to enrich the masses’ spiritual lives.

This struck at Zhe Hui’s fatal weakness. She could never allow such shameful history to be public. Without exposing it, she could still be the base flower and marry their rich, handsome guy. If it blew up, it would be all over. So she accepted the terms immediately and left the first base in a hurry, a complete transformation from her previous arrogant self.

As for Xiao Die, seeing Zhe Hui thrown back like a dead dog wrapped in a tablecloth, she knew things had gone badly. She resigned silently and never showed up again.

Time flew. Before long, it was the end of the month—the day Ye Yin and Zhuo Chenglan were to leave the first base.

The night before their departure, Ye Yin and Zhuo Chenglan were discussing the journey ahead when Zhuo Zelian walked in, smiling. “Big brother, can you step out for a moment? I want to talk to her.”

Zhuo Chenglan nodded. “We’ve almost finished discussing. Don’t stay up too late; she has to get up early tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry.”

After Zhuo Chenglan left, Ye Yin curiously asked, “What’s going on?”

Zhuo Zelian placed a file folder in front of her. “These are senior officials from various bases. On the surface, they seem unrelated, but behind the scenes, they all have tangled connections to a mysterious organization. If I’m right, they’ve subtly fanned the flames of conflicts among the bases in recent years.”

Ye Yin shivered and quickly flipped through the documents.

Sure enough, the last file was the vice president of the Ability Users Association—Nangong Le, a sudden emergence of a tenth-level ability user with no records before the apocalypse.

So besides her and Xi Yu, others had noticed the masterminds behind the scenes?

“Our great-grandfather’s generation started in intelligence. By our generation, big brother and father walk the path of righteousness, while I inherited this job from my uncle and still serve a major figure in the capital base,” Zhuo Zelian said. “After the apocalypse, our methods have changed greatly. Want to hear?”

Ye Yin looked up and met Zhuo Zelian’s eyes, nodding slowly.

“Unlike before, when we could interrogate anyone freely, now we hide in the shadows, exchanging blood, bodies, or lives for what we want.” Zhuo Zelian glanced at his hands. “Even I have had to personally kill many people, secretly socialize with high officials’ wives and daughters, play the part, even manipulate events, just to obtain critical intelligence.”

Ye Yin said nothing.

“Remember I told you a long time ago?” Zhuo Zelian smiled. “I have no lover and am not suited for a long-term partner because I’m destined to be entangled with all kinds of people and can never belong purely to anyone. Yet I’m possessive—I can’t bear the woman I care about having ties with others. So no matter how much I like her, I won’t expect to keep her by my side. That wouldn’t be fair.”

Ye Yin listened quietly, her expression tinged with sadness.

“Why that look?” Zhuo Zelian’s smile faltered. “Aren’t you supposed to cut me off and change the subject?”

“I don’t know why you’re telling me this,” Ye Yin said, “but I want to hear it. So please say everything on your mind.”

“Why do you want me to say this? You really don’t know?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Ye Yin clearly felt Zhuo Zelian’s anger, but his face remained calm. “Then after I say it, what can you do? Comfort me like big brother does children, or just take off your clothes and soothe me now?”

The atmosphere froze.

Zhuo Zelian’s expression changed; he took a small step back, surprised that someone usually so good at hiding emotions could say such terrible things.

“You don’t have to be so angry,” Ye Yin said. “Even closest family might not understand your pain. You’re no different, so there’s no need to be upset.”

Zhuo Zelian leaned against the wall, sighing softly.

“Keep talking,” Ye Yin urged. “You’ve held this in too long; it’s good to let it out.”

“Forget it, get some rest early,” Zhuo Zelian was about to leave, but Ye Yin grabbed him firmly. Her grip was strong, like a crab’s pincers, holding him tight.

“Finish telling me.” Ye Yin’s face was stern. “Teasing me is the most annoying thing.”

Zhuo Zelian’s mouth twitched, helplessly sitting back down.

“It’s just venting,” he said. “I accepted this long ago, just been restless lately. Also… don’t take my earlier rudeness to heart.”

“It’s okay. People say foolish things when angry, and with your personality, nothing surprises me.” Ye Yin said, “That job… do you have to keep doing it?”

“Probably.” Zhuo Zelian shrugged. “My uncle went through the same.”

“I don’t know what others think,” Ye Yin said. “To me, no one is unlovable.”

“Including me?”

“Yes.” Ye Yin said. “You never know who you’ll meet or what will happen. There must be someone who loves you simply for being you, no strings attached. You’re excellent, better than most.”

Zhuo Zelian smiled quietly, feeling both disappointed and relieved.

“Thanks. Though you’re several years younger, you advise like an older sister.” He smirked. “But with no experience, you’re probably just theorizing.”

Ye Yin gave him a sharp look. “That’s called clear sight from the sidelines!”

“It’s late.” Zhuo Zelian stood. “Destroy those files after reading. I’ll notify you if there are new leads. Be careful with big brother outside, and take care of yourself.”

“I will.” Ye Yin said. “But don’t rush off yet—I want to say something.”

“Hm?”

“If you haven’t decided what to do yourself, I can’t interfere. But once you have a plan, tell me. Whether you leave intelligence or sever ties with the family, I’ll support you. Though limited, I want you to be happy. If I can help, it’ll make me glad.” Ye Yin said. “That won’t change.”

Zhuo Zelian smiled faintly.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”