After Marking the Villain Professor (ABO, GL) - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The road ahead had only a few scattered zombies, none particularly strong, easily knocked away by the group driving their vehicles. As the fog gradually dissipated, the road became clearer, allowing them to arrive at Zhou Yutao’s residence in the Starlight Community, located in the center of Di Du City, slightly earlier than anticipated.

The area consisted of standalone villas, home to many wealthy and influential people, with a highly sophisticated security system.

But now, it was clear that the community’s main gate was broken, and pools of bl00d stained the surrounding ground, giving an ominous feeling.

It was quiet, too quiet, and something unusual was afoot.

Xu Si instinctively stopped the car and turned to Zhou Yutao for instructions. “Madam Boss, do we go in?”

Having witnessed her capabilities, everyone regarded Zhou Yutao as their backbone.

“Go in,” Zhou Yutao said, appearing as calm as ever, as if nothing was a big deal to her.

Xu Si didn’t hesitate and drove into the community.

The scene inside was even more shocking, with severed limbs scattered everywhere, far more gruesome than at Di Du University.

After all, Di Du University was in the suburbs, less densely populated.

Seeing the limbs on the ground, Xu Man’s face turned pale, and she averted her gaze.

Perhaps because the head Zhou Yutao had bagged earlier was even more terrifying and bloody, she didn’t vomit this time.

Xu Man’s averted gaze met Zhou Yutao’s.

“You’ve improved, not bad, Boss Xu is impressive,” Zhou Yutao said with a smile in her eyes.

Xu Man’s heart skipped a few beats.

Ah, the formidable villain was praising her.

For a moment, like a student praised by a teacher, Xu Man almost felt that for Zhou Yutao’s approval, she could pick up the limbs on the ground and offer them to her.

Of course, it was just a thought; Xu Man couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“No, Yutao, you’re more impressive,” Xu Man said, her pale face gradually gaining a faint blush. She awkwardly looked out the window, only to be frightened pale again by the limbs.

This time, though, she didn’t look away.

Thus, she missed the deepening smile on Zhou Yutao’s face.

How amusing, clearly scared yet pretending to be calm because of her praise, looking more and more adorable.

Zhou Yutao suddenly felt an itch to pat the obedient puppy’s head.

So, she cleared her throat and said, “Manman…”

Xu Man’s heart skipped again. She turned to Zhou Yutao. “W-What?”

Oh no, the villain called her Manman again, her voice so soft and captivating.

But why the sudden nickname?

Zhou Yutao’s hand landed on Xu Man’s head. “There’s something dirty.”

Xu Man didn’t doubt her words, instead tensing slightly, wondering what was dirty.

But in the end, Zhou Yutao withdrew her hand, and Xu Man never found out what was supposedly dirty on her head.

Soon, she had no time to dwell on it.

As Xu Si parked the car at Zhou Yutao’s villa, a gunshot shattered the deathly silence of the Starlight Community.

The bullet hit the ground near the car’s wheel, more like a warning.

“Madam Boss, there’s someone here. You and the boss be careful,” Xu Si said, his eyes sharpening as he grabbed a weapon.

“It’s fine, I’ll go check,” Zhou Yutao said, reaching for the car door to get out.

Without thinking, Xu Man grabbed her arm and shook her head.

Zhou Yutao smiled. “It might be my protection team.”

Her gaze fell on Xu Man’s hand gripping hers. “Is Boss Xu worried I’ll die and no one will serve you?”

Xu Man then recalled that Zhou Yutao was vital to the nation, her developed serums highly valuable, so the state had assigned people to protect her.

She remembered the book mentioning ten elite guards, each capable of matching Xu Yi, her strongest fighter.

Xu Man’s face flushed, nodding then shaking her head. “Yutao, you won’t die, and I don’t need you to…” She couldn’t bring herself to say “serve.”

As the major villain who survived until the book’s later stages, how could Zhou Yutao get into trouble here? Xu Man thought she must be crazy to consider protecting her. In this story, Zhou Yutao was the last person needing protection.

By all accounts, Xu Man was the one who needed it most.

After all, she was just a cannon fodder who wouldn’t survive a single chapter in the book.

Though she had avoided her original fate, without a protagonist or villain halo, she could lose her life at any moment.

“Oh,” Zhou Yutao’s expression darkened. “I hope Boss Xu means it this time, lest you bite me again after a while.”

Biting her twice without even a temporary mark—what a fool.

It seemed she’d need to find a way to teach her first, or she’d always be the one in pain. Zhou Yutao sought Xu Man for enjoyment, not suffering.

If someone didn’t need her to serve, she certainly needed someone to serve her.

Before stepping out of the car, Zhou Yutao’s neck, marked with bite marks, was fully visible to Xu Man.

Xu Man: “…”

She couldn’t tell if she felt more guilt, embarrassment, or fear.

She could only silently vow not to make the same mistake again.

“Boss, Madam Boss seems angry. Aren’t you going down with her?” Xu Si’s voice suddenly broke in.

Xu Man sighed, muttering softly, “After offending her repeatedly, she’s definitely angry. It’s good enough she lets me live. I shouldn’t linger in her sight and annoy her further. I just need to quietly be good to her.”

Though she said this, Xu Man got out of the car but didn’t stand with Zhou Yutao, instead lingering about a meter behind, watching her.

Ensuring Zhou Yutao had enough food and staying mindful of her safety should count as taking responsibility, Xu Man thought.

Xu Si’s mind slowly formed a question mark.

Was that how it worked?

He didn’t quite understand.

It felt like what the boss said, what Madam Boss said, and what Xu Wu and the others said were all different.

Relationships were too complicated. Big Brother and Xu Wu were right; he shouldn’t meddle in the boss and Madam Boss’s affairs.

When Zhou Yutao appeared, the villa’s gate opened automatically. Two fully armed men ran out, the leader being Qi Rui, the deputy captain of Zhou Yutao’s protection team.

“Professor Zhou, you’re back,” Qi Rui said, visibly excited, though his gaze toward Xu Man and the others remained wary. “Professor Zhou, who are they?”

Zhou Yutao glanced at Xu Man, who obediently followed her out. “My people.”

“Have them park the cars in the garage. We’ll talk inside.”

“Yes, Professor Zhou,” Qi Rui replied, relieved, not overthinking it. He turned to his companion. “Do as Professor Zhou says. It’s not safe outside; hurry.”

He assumed Zhou Yutao’s “my people” meant those working under her.

“Where’s Zheng Rong? In the basement?” Zhou Yutao asked as she walked.

Qi Rui: “The captain took two men to Di Du University to fetch you, Professor Zhou. Didn’t you meet them?”

After the zombie virus outbreak, their last order was to ensure Professor Zhou’s safe delivery to South City at all costs.

With communication devices down, he couldn’t contact the captain and could only wait here for news, not expecting to see Professor Zhou first.

Zhou Yutao shook her head and asked, “Was the Starlight Community attacked by a zombie horde before?”

“Yes, Professor Zhou, but your residence is in a secluded location, so it wasn’t heavily affected. However…”

Qi Rui’s expression turned troubled.

“However what?” Zhou Yutao asked.

Qi Rui: “However, people keep coming to seek help. We’ve ignored them, which has caused some trouble.”

For instance, some tried to force their way in, but they couldn’t kill them, only tying them up and throwing them out.

Yet this only led to more intruders.

Their mission was solely to protect Zhou Yutao.

If they failed because of these people, their existence would be meaningless.

Professor Zhou was the most likely to save the world; she must not be harmed. If those people kept coming, they’d have no choice but to kill.

“Handle it as you see fit. I trust you,” Zhou Yutao said, not dwelling on the matter.

Her conversation with Qi Rui was quiet, so Xu Man and the others didn’t hear. Watching Zhou Yutao walk into the villa without looking back, Xu Man’s feelings grew more complex.

Then, one of the armed men approached her. “Hello, are you Miss Xu? Professor Zhou asked you to park the cars in her private garage. Follow me.”

Xu Man nodded immediately, parking the car under his guidance before entering Zhou Yutao’s home.

Upon entering, she saw a woman clinging tightly to Zhou Yutao, crying pitifully. “Peach, you’re finally back. I missed you so much. I thought I’d never see you again. It’s so good you’re back.”

Zhou Yutao patiently comforted the woman for a while before looking at the male alpha beside her. “Why is he here?”

Her tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Her friend Lin Sha being here was fine, as Lin Sha also owned a place in the Starlight Community and often stayed when she had family disputes.

Before the apocalypse, Zhou Yutao had received a message from Lin Sha saying she was coming over.

But that didn’t mean she could tolerate Lin Sha bringing outsiders, especially this blind date who had been relentlessly pursuing her recently.

Sensing Zhou Yutao’s displeasure, Lin Sha hurriedly explained, “Peach, it was a coincidence. I came to find you yesterday, then the zombie virus broke out. I almost got bitten, but Zeng Zhu saved me and got his leg scratched by glass. So I brought him here. Ask him if you don’t believe me.”

Qi Rui, pointed out by Lin Sha, nodded immediately. “That’s right, Professor Zhou.”

Since Lin Sha was Zhou Yutao’s friend, they made an exception to let them in.

But only to the residence; even Lin Sha wasn’t allowed near the basement, unaware of its existence.

Zhou Yutao’s expression softened. To Zeng Zhu, she said, “Thank you for saving Lin Sha.”

She was her only friend in Di Du, so naturally, she was special.

Zeng Zhu waved it off, smiling. “It’s what I should do. I’m just glad Professor Zhou took me in, or I’d have been eaten by zombies outside.”

Zhou Yutao nodded, not engaging in further pleasantries. She turned to Qi Rui. “Arrange everyone.”

Then, to Xu Man alone, she said, “You, take the thing I picked up earlier and follow me.”

Qi Rui understood, addressing the group. “Everyone, Professor Zhou has matters to attend to. Please follow me to the second floor; it’s safer there.”

Xu Man: “…”

Already uncomfortable because of how Zeng Zhu looked at Zhou Yutao, she now felt entirely uneasy.

With so many people here, why did she have to carry that terrifying head?

Xu Man desperately wished someone would save her.

Her pleading gaze shifted from Xu Yi to Xu Liu, but none came to her rescue. All six subordinates looked helpless.

Xu Si even said, “Boss, you bullied Madam Boss earlier. It’s only right she punishes you. Just accept your fate.”

The words “bullied” and “Madam Boss” changed many expressions. Qi Rui’s gun aimed at Xu Man’s head, Lin Sha incredulously muttered, “What nonsense are you saying?” and Zeng Zhu’s gaze toward Xu Man carried killing intent.

Xu Man’s face was lifeless. “I-I’ll get the thing.”

She was done for. She felt she’d die because of Xu Si’s clever mouth.

So be it. She’d fetch the head. Others might not succeed in killing her, but Zhou Yutao’s chances were 100%.

Against the latter, she didn’t even have the heart to resist.