After Marking the Villain Professor (ABO, GL) - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Little Four (Brother Four), what did Deputy Captain Qi say to you?”

As soon as Qi Rui left, Xu Yi and the others crowded around Xu Si.

The two had spoken in low voices, so they hadn’t caught the full conversation, only picking up a few fragmented words.

Thinking of Madam Boss’s order to keep it secret, Xu Si quickly said, “Nothing much. He asked about the material of my knife. I told him it’s just standard stuff with a bit of gold added.”

“Oh, and he also said they could provide us with weapons.”

Qi Rui had indeed mentioned this before leaving, so Xu Si wasn’t exactly lying.

“Is that so?” Xu Yi and Xu Wu immediately lost interest. “We don’t need them for now.”

They knew Qi Rui meant guns, but they preferred close combat.

Xu San, who was skilled with firearms, quickly chimed in, “If you guys don’t want them, I do.”

Xu Si nodded. “Got it. I already told Deputy Captain Qi, Third Brother.”

Xu San was satisfied.

Xu Liu, meanwhile, asked, “What about the thing? Did you give it to the boss?”

In an instant, the gazes of Xu Yi, Xu San, and Xu Wu all landed on Xu Si, their expressions a bit peculiar.

Xu Si could only make out a hint of anticipation in his brothers’ eyes; any other emotions were beyond him.

He just had a vague feeling something was off.

“You all saw, didn’t you? Because of what I said before, the boss isn’t happy with me. She said we’d talk when she gets back.”

“Little Six, be honest with me. What’s on that USB drive?”

Xu Si asked with a trace of suspicion.

Yes, what Xu Liu had asked him to give Xu Man was a USB drive, claiming that once the boss saw its contents, she’d definitely forgive him.

Xu Liu’s eyes flickered slightly. “Just something to bring the boss and Madam Boss closer together, that’s all. Come on, Fourth Brother, you think I’d screw you over?”

Xu Yi, Xu San, and Xu Wu immediately nodded in agreement. “Yeah, would your brothers set you up? If it weren’t for you offending the boss, Little Four, would we have given you this chance to win her over?”

“If you don’t want this opportunity, let Little Six give it to the boss himself later.”

Clearly, they all knew what was on the USB drive.

Their unified front successfully dispelled Xu Si’s doubts. “No need. I can handle a small task like this.”

He was someone Madam Boss valued highly, after all.

Having grown up together, Xu Si didn’t believe his brothers would put his life at risk. Based on past experience, the worst they’d do was prank him a bit. But delivering something to the boss—what was there to prank about?

Maybe he’d win over both the boss and Madam Boss in one go and even get some benefits.

Xu Si thought smugly to himself.

Upstairs, as they talked, Xu Man, who had just gone downstairs, inexplicably felt her nose itch and let out a sneeze.

“Boss, did you catch a cold?” Xu Er asked immediately.

Qi Rui added, “The weather’s changed outside. Boss Xu, you should be careful.”

It didn’t matter much if Xu Man got sick, but they couldn’t let it spread to Professor Zhou.

“I’m fine,” Xu Man said, waving it off, though her brows furrowed slightly. “Deputy Captain Qi, you said the weather’s changed?”

“Yeah.”

She didn’t need Qi Rui’s reply to confirm it. Pulling back the curtain and looking through the glass, Xu Man saw hail falling outside, and it was getting worse.

The weather had changed too quickly.

There was a dedicated passage from the villa to the garage, so they didn’t have to face the harsh weather outside. Still, when they left the villa, Xu Man felt the cold.

It was like stepping into winter, cold enough to make her shiver. She instinctively pulled her clothes tighter.

In the novel, the weather was only briefly described as extremely harsh and unpredictable, which hadn’t seemed like much at the time. But now, experiencing it firsthand, she realized that even with preparation, surviving in such conditions was tough for ordinary people.

This was part of why Xu Man hadn’t been in a hurry to leave Di Du University.

Now, it seemed the trip to South City would have to be delayed.

She’d take it one step at a time. Their supplies were still sufficient, and as long as there was sunlight, the RV would have power. Sticking with Zhou Yutao meant her chances of dying were much lower.

Xu Man thought this over as she headed to the garage.

The garage was large, holding not only the six vehicles Xu Man had brought but also several luxury cars and a few military vehicles.

Their cars were parked near the exit, visible as soon as they walked in.

Xu Er led the way, opening the cargo truck first.

Seeing the truck packed to the brim with supplies, even Qi Rui couldn’t help but be surprised. He couldn’t resist saying, “Boss Xu, you’re so foresighted to have stocked up this much.”

No wonder Professor Zhou said to borrow whatever they needed from Xu Man.

Xu Man shrugged. “I just happened to own a supermarket. Pure coincidence.”

To avoid Qi Rui asking too many questions and exposing her, Xu Man quickly followed Xu Er onto the cargo truck. Standing in front of some frozen goods, she asked, “Which fish is good for steaming?”

Xu Er was slightly surprised but answered, “Many fish work for steaming. Generally, ones with tender meat, few bones, and a mild flavor are best. The yellow croaker and sea bass in front of you are good choices.”

Having always handled the boss’s daily needs, he knew her taste leaned toward heavier flavors. Steamed fish was something she wouldn’t even glance at before. Had her taste changed?

“Alright,” Xu Man said, grabbing two sea bass and heading to the vegetable section to pick up two bundles of baby bok choy and other needed ingredients. She turned to Xu Er. “I’m taking these. You’ll teach me later. See if there’s anything else we need and grab more.”

It sounded like she intended to cook herself.

This shocked Xu Er. “Since when did the boss learn to cook?”

Back then, wasn’t it always him cooking wherever they went?

Xu Man lowered her eyes. “I don’t really know how, so I need you to teach me.”

She was, after all, a bit different from the original owner, so she had to tell small lies occasionally.

Xu Er didn’t quite understand. “Boss, you don’t need to do it yourself. I’ve got it covered. Cooking’s a hassle.”

Especially for someone like the boss, who’d never set foot in a kitchen.

Xu Man insisted, “I’ll do it.”

She didn’t want the trouble, but compared to watching Zhou Yutao dissect a zombie head, she’d rather cook.

Xu Er gradually caught on and tentatively asked, “Is the boss cooking for Madam Boss?”

Xu Man didn’t answer, but her expression said it all.

Xu Er thought to himself that the boss really loved Madam Boss, learning to cook for her even in the apocalypse.

So he reminded her, “Boss, whatever Little Four gives you later, it’s best to look at it with Professor Zhou.”

It seemed his brothers’ analysis was spot on.

The boss loved Madam Boss dearly but, lacking experience, didn’t know how to handle things, which was why she’d bitten her like that without marking her.

Xu Er’s serious expression led Xu Man to misunderstand. She grew nervous. “Is it important?”

Could Xu Si actually be reliable this time? Was what he had really that significant?

Something about the zombie virus?

“Very important,” Xu Er nodded firmly.

It concerned the boss and Madam Boss’s happiness and whether the future little princess could be born. Of course it was important.

“Got it. I’ll check with Xu Si when we get back,” Xu Man decided.

In the end, besides the ingredients Xu Man took, Xu Er and Qi Rui grabbed a large pile of food and drinks.

Before leaving, Qi Rui said politely, “Boss Xu, Professor Zhou said she’ll repay these borrowed items later when she’s free.”

Xu Man waved it off repeatedly. “No need to repay. Whatever Professor Zhou needs, just take it.”

If she could win Zhou Yutao over with these supplies, that would be ideal. She wouldn’t dare ask for repayment.

“It needs to be repaid. Our Professor Zhou isn’t the type to take advantage of others,” Qi Rui said, giving her a meaningful look.

Whether to repay and how to repay was entirely up to Professor Zhou. It seemed this alpha hadn’t quite grasped the situation yet.

They smoothly returned to the villa with the supplies. Under Xu Er’s guidance, Xu Man quickly prepared steamed fish and stir-fried vegetables, which looked quite good.

Smelling the aroma, Xu Er couldn’t help but praise, “I didn’t expect the boss to have such a talent for cooking.”

It was as if she’d always known how to cook.

It wasn’t common for someone to cook this well on their first try.

Xu Man smiled, a bit guilty, and said to Qi Rui, who had just walked over, “The food’s ready. Could you please let Professor Zhou know, Deputy Captain Qi?”

If possible, she didn’t want to step foot in that terrifying basement again.

Qi Rui raised an eyebrow, finding it slightly amusing. “I think it might be better if Boss Xu goes herself.”

Xu Man was about to come up with an excuse when the hidden door to the basement opened, and Zhou Yutao walked out. “What, does Boss Xu not want to see me?”

She had changed out of her white lab coat and was back in her original training uniform.

The aloof beauty now had a touch of heroic charm, her presence still commanding. Xu Man instinctively took two steps back. “No, I was just worried about disturbing you, Yutao.”

Qi Rui and Xu Er tactfully left the kitchen.

Zhou Yutao smiled and stepped closer to Xu Man. “So, having Deputy Captain Qi come doesn’t disturb me?”

“No, that’s not it,” Xu Man stammered, her heart tightening, her palms sweating.

Facing Zhou Yutao, she was always nervous, her heart racing.

She wasn’t sure if it was fear or something else.

Just as Xu Man thought Zhou Yutao might do something to her, she saw Zhou Yutao tilt her head and glance at the steamed fish and stir-fried vegetables behind her.

“Not bad. Looks like Boss Xu really knows how to cook. You didn’t lie to me.” The light compliment made Xu Man’s face flush.

“Yutao, try it,” Xu Man said, her hands moving faster than her brain. By the time she realized it, she’d already handed Zhou Yutao a pair of chopsticks.

Zhou Yutao took the chopsticks and, as she picked up some vegetables, suddenly said, “This amount of food Boss Xu made doesn’t seem enough for everyone.”

Xu Man didn’t even think. “Yutao, you eat it alone. The others can have something else. I already ate some instant food earlier, so I’m not hungry.”

She’d only made enough for one person anyway. The others could make do with what they had; she wasn’t about to cook more.

Zhou Yutao put the vegetables in her mouth, her smile deepening. “Tastes as good as I imagined.”

She was clearly talking about the food, but for some reason, Xu Man’s face grew even hotter.

However, Zhou Yutao’s next words made Xu Man’s face pale.

“But in the apocalypse, just knowing how to cook won’t cut it. I think Boss Xu and my students are a bit weak physically. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have Qi Rui take you all outside for training. What do you think, Boss Xu?”

As she spoke, Zhou Yutao kept eating, quickly finishing a steamed sea bass and a plate of stir-fried vegetables with some rice.

Xu Man desperately wanted to refuse.

But she also understood that, right now, she was a burden to everyone. So, after a moment’s hesitation, she agreed.

Zhou Yutao was satisfied with her attitude. After finishing the meal, she said she was going upstairs to talk to everyone, and Xu Man naturally followed.

But as soon as they got upstairs, Zhou Yutao remembered the borrowed ingredients and said, “I’ll find a way to repay Boss Xu for the stuff we borrowed as soon as possible.”

Xu Man hurriedly said it wasn’t necessary.

Xu Si, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up, pointing his knife at Zhou Yutao with a menacing look. “That’s life-saving food! Without our boss, we’d all starve!”

“You have to repay it—tenfold! Go serve our boss tonight as interest first.”

Xu Man’s vision went dark, unsure what kind of madness had possessed Xu Si this time.