As Chen Du suddenly appeared, a flicker of shock crossed Bai Xi's eyes. However, she remained composed, neither struggling against the ropes binding her nor showing any panic. Calmly, she spoke: "Agent 1945, capturing me won't do you any good. The blueprint may be in my backpack—go ahead and kill me if you wish—but let me tell you, there's a backup video stored with my father. If I die, he'll release it immediately. Your best option now is to release me so we can sit down and negotiate peacefully."
Upon hearing this, Chen Du chuckled, revealing a set of pristine white teeth. He reached out and tilted Bai Xi's chin upward, his tone indifferent. "And what if I refuse to let you go? I don't see how you hold any leverage over me. Do you really think exposing my identity would have much impact on me? You're mistaken. Plenty of people in my gated community know exactly who I am. That video means nothing to me."
With her chin still held by Chen Du, Bai Xi smirked slyly, her small fang glinting playfully. "You're lying!"
Chen Du's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm. "Oh? And why do you say that?"
Bai Xi's smile widened as she replied slowly, "If it were just about an arming sword blueprint, why would you go through such lengths to track me down? Why didn't you kill me outright the moment you had the chance? Clearly, it's because of the video. But you're worried about the possibility of a backup leaking, so you intend to interrogate me first, don't you? At first, I wasn't certain—but your reaction and the look in your eyes confirmed everything."
For a brief moment, Chen Du was at a loss for words. He hadn't expected Bai Xi to unravel his intentions so effortlessly. Gently pinching her cheek, he narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint trace of murderous intent flickering within them. This woman… she's dangerous.
"Well then," he said coolly, "since there's no other way, I suppose I'll have to kill you. Afterward, I'll head home, take a shower, and wash away this bad luck."
Bai Xi sneered dismissively at his threat. "Go ahead, then. Do your worst—kill me, torture me, it makes no difference to me."
But then her expression shifted abruptly to one of disbelief. "Wait—what did you just say? You can actually take a shower? How is that even possible? Such luxury in this world…"
Bai Xi found it hard to believe—and yet, she couldn't deny it. Ever since entering this post-apocalyptic wasteland, bathing had become an unimaginable privilege. The most she could manage was wiping her face every few days and carefully rationing water to wash her hair. Yet Chen Du claimed to bathe regularly?! It seemed impossible.
However, upon closer inspection, she noticed the subtle scent of shampoo and body wash lingering on him—a clear sign that his claim was true.
Chen Du shrugged casually, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Nothing's impossible. Are you telling me someone could survive weeks in this world without bathing? Surely not. Or are you suggesting some people are simply that unhygienic?"
Bai Xi clenched her jaw in irritation. His words were clearly aimed at her! Just as she opened her mouth to retort, Chen Du leaned forward unexpectedly, his face mere centimeters from hers. Pressed against the tree behind her, Bai Xi felt trapped. Her pulse quickened—she had never been this close to a man before, and the sudden intimacy made her uneasy.
"W-what… What are you doing?" she stammered nervously.
Chen Du, however, was focused on the peculiar bite mark on her neck. When he finally pulled back slightly, his voice was laced with suspicion. "You mentioned earlier that you'd expect a man to act when faced with a beautiful woman. Very well—I'm acting now. But tell me this: that bite mark on your neck… it's from a zombie, isn't it? So why haven't you been infected?"
The bite mark on Bai Xi's neck was indeed evidence of a zombie attack. Normally, such wounds led to infection almost immediately. Yet Bai Xi showed no signs of illness—she wasn't dead, nor did she appear affected in any way. Did she possess antiviral serum? Had she taken some kind of antidote? Chen Du was desperate to uncover the truth.
Instinctively, Bai Xi recoiled slightly at his question, then stubbornly shot back, "W-what zombie bite? That's just a hickey from my boyfriend!"
Chen Du blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter. Pulling down his collar, he revealed a fresh, unmistakable hickey on his own neck. "A boyfriend? A hickey? Bai Xi, have you ever actually seen one before? A bite mark and a hickey are two entirely different things. This is what a hickey looks like."
Speechless, Bai Xi stared at the bruise on Chen Du's neck. She had always assumed hickeys were simply bite marks. Clearly, she had been wrong. After all, she had never experienced one herself…
Straightening his collar, Chen Du fixed her with a piercing gaze. "Enough games. Tell me the truth—how is it that you remain uninfected after being bitten?"
However, Bai Xi remained silent, refusing to utter a single word.
Just then, the footage from the drone overhead revealed a group of people approaching their location.
Chen Du frowned slightly and asked in a probing tone, "Were they called by you?"
Regaining her composure instantly, Bai Xi responded with an air of confidence, as if it were obvious: "Who else would it be?"
Without Chen Du realizing it, Bai Xi had already discreetly sent out a message using her own methods.
Now, her teammates had arrived on the scene.
Chen Du let out a quiet sigh, silently pulling on a mask and adjusting his baseball cap before settling into a patient wait.
Soon enough, a group of figures emerged from the distance.
At the forefront was a middle-aged man—elegant and poised, exuding a calm scholarly aura that seemed to come naturally to him.
Upon closer inspection, one could see a striking resemblance between him and Bai Xi.
True to expectations, the moment the leading man caught sight of Bai Xi, he called out anxiously, his voice filled with concern:
"Bai Xi! Are you all right? Are you hurt?!"
"Dad, I'm fine!"
Bound hand and foot by Chen Du, Bai Xi raised her voice loud enough for her father to hear, hoping to ease his worry.
The middle-aged man turned his gaze toward Chen Du, his expression hardening as coldness seeped into his features.
"Everyone, charge forward! Save Bai Xi at once!"