After Marking the Villain Professor (ABO, GL) - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The living room on the first floor of the villa fell into an eerie stalemate.

With about twenty people present, no one spoke or moved. Xu Si belatedly realized he might have said something wrong. Just as he opened his mouth to salvage the situation, Xu Wu clamped a hand over it.

Finally, Zhou Yutao’s soft chuckle broke the oppressive silence. She waved at Xu Man. “Go on, Boss Xu. I’ll wait for you.”

The address wasn’t particularly warm, but she didn’t deny what Xu Si had just said either.

“Alright.”

Xu Man bolted faster than she would have at the sight of a zombie.

She couldn’t help it—the atmosphere here was too stifling. She had the nagging feeling that too many people wanted to kill her.

That head, at least, was a dead thing. Sure, it looked terrifying and smelled awful, but it was bagged up. As long as she didn’t think about it too much, it wasn’t that scary.

Besides, Xu Si had already brought it to the doorstep. It was just a few dozen meters away—hardly a big deal now.

Xu Man didn’t even consider asking for help. In fact, she regretted glancing at her subordinates a few too many times.

Xu Wu and Xu Liu immediately dragged Xu Si up the stairs, chuckling apologetically. “Misunderstanding! Our fourth brother’s a bit simple-minded. Sometimes he just spouts nonsense.”

Xu Si could clearly feel Xu Wu’s needle pressed against his neck. He nodded repeatedly, signaling that he was, indeed, talking nonsense.

Heaven knows he’d spoken the truth. Back in the car, hadn’t the boss been bullying Madam Boss? Didn’t everyone see the bite marks on her neck?

He couldn’t wrap his head around it—human relationships were just too complicated.

But if his brothers thought he’d said something wrong, then he was wrong.

“Since it’s a misunderstanding, everyone, please follow me.”

Qi Rui, connecting Zhou Yutao’s earlier claim that Xu Man was “her person” with Xu Si’s words, formed some new suspicions. He lowered his gun and, with a calm expression, continued leading the group upstairs.

Lin Sha, however, could no longer stay composed. When she’d first noticed the marks on Zhou Yutao’s neck, she’d asked if someone had hurt her. Zhou Yutao had said no, which eased her mind slightly.

But now, hearing Xu Si’s words, it was clear that female alpha had bullied their Peach.

Was this the price Peach paid for coming back?

Lin Sha’s eyes reddened with anger. She wanted to speak but, mindful of the many outsiders present, swallowed her words.

“Professor Zhou, were you really bullied by that alpha?”

A voice sounded near Lin Sha’s ear.

She turned, displeased, and saw it was Zeng Zhu speaking. Her face darkened.

She used to think this male alpha was humorous and charming, but asking Peach such a question in public? No wonder Peach didn’t like him—there was a reason for it.

Before Zhou Yutao could respond, Lin Sha snapped at him. “What’s it to you? Who are you to Peach? Who could possibly bully our Peach?”

“You saved me, and I’m grateful, but what’s the meaning of asking something like that?”

“Speak up. What do you want? I’ll give it to you. Now get out of Peach’s house.”

Even if she, too, suspected Peach might have been bullied by an alpha, no one was allowed to tarnish her Peach’s reputation.

In her heart, Peach was forever pure, forever invincible.

Xu Man, who had returned with the head and was hesitating at the door, nodded in agreement.

Exactly. Who could bully Zhou Yutao?

She, at most, was an accident. And she hadn’t meant to do it.

Zeng Zhu faltered, quickly explaining, “Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant that if Professor Zhou was bullied, she should tell us. We can all help deal with that person.”

His words angered even Zhou Yutao’s guards.

Qi Rui aimed his gun at Zeng Zhu. “Professor Zhou has our protection. Are you questioning our ability? She doesn’t need your help. Get out!”

The implication was clear: he was to be thrown out of the villa.

Zeng Zhu panicked, looking at Zhou Yutao. “Professor Zhou, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I just want what’s best for you.”

This wasn’t what he’d expected.

He thought everyone would turn their anger toward the alpha suspected of bullying Zhou Yutao. Instead, they were trying to kick him out. He couldn’t leave.

Whether it was his fondness for Zhou Yutao as an omega or something else.

Zhou Yutao ignored Zeng Zhu and looked toward the door. “Come in.”

Xu Man stopped hesitating and walked in, carrying the head.

“Professor Zhou, I brought it for you,” she said ingratiatingly. Despite her pale face from fear, she managed a smile.

Feeling the murderous glares of several people, Xu Man quickly abandoned the overly familiar “Peach” that seemed to draw too much hostility.

But when she saw Zhou Yutao’s brows furrow, Xu Man instinctively called out twice more. “Peach, is there anything else you need me to do?”

Fine, the villain’s frown was more intimidating than the others’ murderous looks. After all, this was the villain.

Zhou Yutao turned and headed toward the kitchen on the first floor. “Follow me.”

To an outsider, it might seem like she was about to cook that zombie-virus-infected head in the kitchen.

Xu Man hesitated but followed.

In the novel, Zhou Yutao’s basement entrance was in the kitchen. She knew that’s where they were going.

But bringing her along—would she really not be silenced afterward? Some things in that basement weren’t meant for her eyes.

Unless she tied herself to Zhou Yutao, which, given their current relationship, seemed close enough.

After some thought, Xu Man obeyed Zhou Yutao’s instructions.

At the kitchen door, Zhou Yutao paused and tilted her head. “Mr. Zeng, since you say it’s for my own good, please leave.”

“Qi Rui, see him out.”

Her tone wasn’t cold, but her words were ruthless.

Often, her emotions didn’t match her outward demeanor. Cold words didn’t always mean she was truly angry, and a calm appearance could hide extreme displeasure.

Like now, for instance.

Qi Rui gestured, and two fully armed men stepped forward, escorting Zeng Zhu out of the villa. The rest were led upstairs by Qi Rui.

Xu Man, caught off guard, bumped into Zhou Yutao and sensed her unusual mood. Panicking, she blurted, “Sorry, Peach! I shouldn’t have offended you. I’ll keep my distance from now on and do whatever you ask.”

She thought Zhou Yutao was angry because of her accidental offense.

This didn’t improve Zhou Yutao’s mood, but she did smile.

Opening the kitchen’s hidden door and entering the basement, Zhou Yutao motioned for Xu Man to set the head down. “There’s disinfectant and hand soap over there. Wash your hands clean.”

The basement was large, but this was just one room with a simple dissection table and a few reagents. Nothing forbidden was visible, and Xu Man quietly sighed in relief.

She couldn’t wait to put down the terrifying thing and immediately complied.

Xu Man washed her hands thoroughly, using both soap and disinfectant multiple times. Her already fair hands became even paler, the skin slightly wrinkled.

She couldn’t help it—she still had a psychological shadow from that head.

After finishing, Xu Man was about to say she’d leave if there was nothing else.

But when she turned, she saw Zhou Yutao holding her unbuckled belt in one hand while quickly unbuttoning her shirt with the other.

The beauty stood tall and elegant, every action graceful.

But this was undressing!

And so fast!

Xu Man felt like in the blink of an eye, Zhou Yutao’s black training uniform hit the floor. She feared another blink would see the matching black inner layer gone too.

“Professor Zhou, don’t—”

Xu Man’s voice cracked.

She quickly turned away, eyes squeezed shut, hands nervously gripping her pants.

What was Zhou Yutao doing now?

If this went on, she’d end up offending her again.

“What’s this, Boss Xu? Not even allowing me to change clothes?”

After hanging up her clothes, Zhou Yutao slipped on a white lab coat and approached Xu Man from behind. Her hands lightly brushed Xu Man’s waist as she said ambiguously, “Next, are you going to make me serve you again?”

“It seems I was wrong. Boss Xu’s courage isn’t small at all, wanting to be served in front of a head.”

Xu Man’s breath hitched, her face flushing red as she stumbled away. “No, no, no! I’m timid, very timid, really!”

Something so perverse was beyond her.

Zhou Yutao rubbed her fingers, savoring the feel of the alpha’s soft skin, and smirked. “Boss Xu, what did I say before? In the apocalypse, being timid won’t do. You need to toughen up that courage.”

“How about this: when I dissect that head later, you stand by and watch.”

!!!

Xu Man was so horrified she wanted to run on the spot, but under Zhou Yutao’s unwavering gaze, she didn’t dare.

Too bold wasn’t okay, too timid wasn’t either. What was she supposed to say?

Wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, Xu Man spotted the training uniform Zhou Yutao had hung up. Inspiration struck, and she darted over, grabbing the clothes. “Peach, your clothes are dirty. I’ll wash them for you.”

Please, let her leave. She really couldn’t watch.

“Oh?”

Zhou Yutao crossed her arms. “Is Boss Xu sure about wasting water like that? We might not even have enough for cooking later.”

She was thinking quite far ahead, admittedly.

Xu Man immediately said, “Then I’ll cook for you, Peach. You must be hungry after so long, right?”

A flicker of surprise passed through Zhou Yutao’s teasing eyes. “Boss Xu can cook?”

According to Xu Si, this woman was a pampered lady who never touched a chore, let alone cooked. She probably couldn’t even tell salt from sugar.

Seeing a chance to escape, Xu Man quickly nodded. “Yes, I can. It tastes pretty good. Try it, Peach.”

She’d been cooking for herself since high school—how could she not know how?

Anything was fine as long as she didn’t have to watch Zhou Yutao dissect that already terrifying head.