After Marking the Villain Professor (ABO, GL) - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

“Little Peach is so impressive, yet she’s actually asking for my opinion. I’m truly flattered,” Qi Lin said, her tone laced with mockery.

Zhou Yutao leisurely ate her mango smoothie, casting a sidelong glance at Qi Lin. “Your lips got bitten by Big Banana, and now you can’t even speak properly?”

Qi Lin faltered. “…From what we’ve seen, Liu Ming’s bl00d isn’t very effective. The zombie virus’s ability to mutate on its own is too strong. I don’t have any leads for now. What about you?”

“Pretty much the same.”

Zhou Yutao set down the half-eaten mango smoothie, her expression darkening.

The two fell silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts, no longer clashing as fiercely as they had in the beginning.

Xu Man brought over the reheated beer chicken and saw Qi Lin and Zhou Yutao sitting together, both looking grim. She immediately misunderstood. “Qi Lin, Big Banana’s the one who bit you, not our Sister. If you’re angry, take it out on Big Banana.”

“Of course, she didn’t commit some huge crime. Just punish her lightly and don’t go for her life.”

Xu Man set down the beer chicken and sat next to Zhou Yutao, subtly putting distance between her and Qi Lin.

Then she smiled and handed Zhou Yutao chopsticks. “Sister, eat while it’s hot.”

Zhou Yutao naturally picked up a piece of chicken, tasted it, and commented, “Not bad.”

Xu Man’s mood visibly brightened. “If Sister likes it, I’ll make it for you often.”

It was as if she’d completely forgotten about Qi Lin, the living person sitting there.

Qi Lin didn’t get angry; instead, she laughed. “Boss Xu and Miss Big Banana are truly friends. With Boss Xu around, Miss Big Banana is lucky.”

“Miss Big Banana always says Boss Xu prioritizes romance over friendship. It’s well-deserved.”

Xu Man: “…Big Banana often speaks without thinking. Dr. Qi doesn’t need to take her too seriously.”

“I heard Dr. Qi doesn’t like beer chicken. Why don’t you go join Xu Yi and the others…”

Xu Man’s attempt to shoo her away was cut off asOGGLE

System: mercilessly by Qi Lin, who quickly grabbed a pair of chopsticks. “Who said that? I like it.”

At this moment, even if she didn’t like it, she’d make herself like it.

If someone didn’t want her to stay, she’d stay just to spite them.

Xu Man was successfully irritated by Qi Lin but could do nothing about it.

In the end, the three finished eating and went to check on the others’ preparations.

There wasn’t enough time to cook, so everyone made do with instant noodles or bread.

As Xu Man, Zhou Yutao, and Qi Lin entered the back of the RV, they saw Tan Juan and Fang Lingyun sitting at a table, eating noodles and chatting.

“Don’t worry, Sister Fang. Everyone here is my crew. Qi Lin wouldn’t dare do anything to me.”

“Saving you? Obviously because you’re pretty, Sister. No need to thank me.”

“Tch, tch. You’re even prettier now that you’ve differentiated into an Alpha. Who knows how many innocent little Omegas you’ll charm in the future?”

Tan Juan winked at Fang Lingyun across the table.

Fang Lingyun’s fair face flushed with embarrassment. “You’re… too kind. Anyway, thanks to you, Miss Tan, for today.”

Having just differentiated into an Alpha, she wasn’t quite used to interacting with Tan Juan, an Omega.

Mainly, Tan Juan’s overly enthusiastic demeanor, unchanged from before, was a bit overwhelming.

If she didn’t know Tan Juan’s personality from the start, she’d think Tan Juan had a crush on her.

Tan Juan quickly finished her bowl of noodles and leaned closer to Fang Lingyun. “No need to be so formal, Sister Fang. Call me Big Banana. That’s the nickname my mom gave me, and I only share it with my good friends.”

“Since we’re good friends now, tell me honestly, Sister Fang—do you have any family heirlooms or treasures?”

Tan Juan was working hard to get closer.

She’d been closely observing Fang Lingyun for days but hadn’t found anything special about her.

The key to going back was proving hard to find.

Catching the sweet Omega scent on Tan Juan, Fang Lingyun choked and hurriedly put some distance between them. “Okay, okay, Big Banana, don’t get so close. I’m an Alpha now—it’s not appropriate.”

Tan Juan didn’t care. “So what if you’re an Alpha? I know you’re a good person, Sister Fang. I trust your character. Unlike that pervert Qi Lin… ugh, never mind her. Bad luck.”

“Let’s talk about that family treasure, Sister Fang.”

The female lead’s character in the book was impeccable, so Tan Juan had always thought Chen Xing wasn’t worthy of Fang Lingyun.

Fang Lingyun looked confused. “Treasure?”

“My family’s just ordinary people. What kind of treasure would they leave me?”

“But my grandma did leave me a gold bracelet for my future Omega. She always hoped I’d become an Alpha. It’s worth maybe ten thousand or so—not exactly a treasure.”

A gold bracelet? Who says that’s not valuable?

Tan Juan’s eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed Fang Lingyun’s arm, shaking it. “Your gold bracelet—can I see it?”

“Sure.”

Fang Lingyun hesitated briefly before pulling a small gold bracelet from her pocket and handing it to Tan Juan. “Here, take a look.”

Her frame was too large to wear the bracelet, so she kept it in her pocket.

Just as Tan Juan’s hand reached for the bracelet, a shadow loomed over them.

Qi Lin’s sarcastic voice followed. “Miss Fang, giving away a bracelet meant for your future Omega to someone with ulterior motives so easily—aren’t you afraid your grandma will jump out of her coffin to settle the score?”

Tan Juan’s hand froze in place.

A chill ran down Fang Lingyun’s spine. The bracelet—she shouldn’t take it back, but she couldn’t just leave it either.

She regretted mentioning it.

But facing someone who saved her, she didn’t want to lie.

Besides, she was only showing it to Tan Juan, not giving it away. What was the big deal?

The atmosphere turned eerily tense.

In this strange tension, Tan Juan’s hand stayed frozen for a few seconds before stubbornly reaching for the bracelet.

Nothing would stop her determination to go back—not even a killing machine like Qi Lin.

But before she could touch it, her hand was pulled away.

Not by Qi Lin, but by Xu Man.

Fang Lingyun quickly tucked the bracelet away.

Xu Man dragged Tan Juan to a corner. “Big Banana, I know you’re desperate to go back, but you need to read the room.”

Qi Lin’s glare looked like she wanted to devour Big Banana. Was she really not scared at all?

Plus, it wasn’t just Tan Juan and Fang Lingyun in the RV—Xu Er, Wang Kang, Qi Rui, and John were there too.

What would people think of their closeness?

Tan Juan didn’t care, but seeing Qi Lin’s murderous expression, she finally toned it down. “Got it.”

She winked at Fang Lingyun.

The message was clear: ‘Next time we’re alone, show me that bracelet.’

Fang Lingyun: “…”

She didn’t quite get Tan Juan’s meaning.

But she had a bad feeling about it.

Xu Man lowered her voice. “What’s going on with you and Qi Lin? Don’t tell me you like her, so you provoked her on purpose.”

The suspicion came from the bite mark on Qi Lin’s lips.

Who bites someone’s lips if they hate them?

“Like her?”

Tan Juan’s face twisted. “Am I crazy? Like her?”

“She’s a cold-blooded killer villain. My morals are solid, okay? I’d never like a pervert like Qi Lin.”

Her emotions surged, raising her voice.

She was telling the truth.

Tan Juan despised all law-breaking, immoral people.

Honestly, Xu Man didn’t like them either. If Zhou Yutao had already turned into a full-blown villain when they met, they probably wouldn’t be together.

Xu Man felt relieved.

Qi Lin glanced their way, her face darkening further.

“Manman, come here. What did I just say?”

Zhou Yutao coughed lightly and beckoned Xu Man.

Truth be told, she didn’t like other Omegas getting close to her Manman. As for Big Banana, she was purely worried she’d lead Xu Man astray or even steal her away.

After all, both of them came from a place she didn’t know.

Xu Man didn’t hesitate to leave Tan Juan and return to Zhou Yutao’s side. “Sister, I was just worried Qi Lin would hurt Big Banana.”

Her girlfriend didn’t want her getting too close to Tan Juan, but she was concerned for Tan Juan’s safety.

Zhou Yutao didn’t dwell on Xu Man’s actions and turned to Xu Er. “How’s the situation with the research team?”

Xu Er: “I was just about to tell you, Madam Boss. That person turned into a zombie, broke free of the restraints, and smashed some potions. Luckily, we got there in time. Madam Boss, should we keep bringing him along?”

As expected, the potion that delayed the zombie virus wasn’t very effective against the current strain.

Zhou Yutao wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“Since he’s turned, deal with him.”

“Have everyone eat quickly. We leave in three minutes.”

He had no more research value, and with the dangers ahead, they couldn’t afford such an unstable factor.

Xu Er ran out the door and quickly returned. “Madam Boss, the zombie’s been dealt with. We can leave now.”

He grabbed Wang Kang from the corner. “Go, take your people and lead the way.”

Wang Kang looked like he wanted to die. “No, don’t drag me. I’ll go.”

He couldn’t escape or fight them, so he had to comply.

But before leaving, Wang Kang glanced back at Xu Man. “Xiao Man, your brother’s going to clear the path for you. If I die out there, remember to collect my body and take it to South City.”

Xu Man: “…”

Zhou Yutao sneered. “Don’t worry, go die. Manman and I will make sure to whip your corpse.”

Xu Er, ever perceptive, kicked Wang Kang out of the RV.

Wang Kang, supported by John, got into their SUV and drove off from the service area first.

Xu Man’s RV followed at a steady distance behind the SUV.