After Marking the Villain Professor (ABO, GL) - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

“Miss Big Banana, I originally had no interest in saving people, but if you insist on eating sh1t, I’m willing to spend some time watching,” Qi Lin’s words stung Tan Juan deeply just before she was ushered out of the RV.

Not only did she call her an idle person, but she also told her to eat sh1t?

Tan Juan’s face turned green with anger.

She wanted to fire back with something mocking, but Fang Lingyun tugged at her. “They’re willing to save someone now, which is already great. Don’t scare her off, Big Banana.”

It had to be said, after these past few days, Fang Lingyun had gained some understanding of Tan Juan’s personality.

Tan Juan swallowed her anger and stormed off the RV.

Qi Lin, on the other hand, was in a good mood. Even looking at the severely injured Wang Kang felt oddly pleasant.

This was the first time she thought saving someone could actually be a mood-lifter.

The others stifled their laughter and followed her off the RV.

What should have been a tragedy turned somewhat comical because of Big Banana.

Once they boarded another RV, Xu Man finally couldn’t hold it in. Seeing Tan Juan’s sour expression, she let out a chuckle.

Tan Juan, like a cat with its tail stepped on, bristled all over. Her eyes glinted dangerously as she looked at Xu Man. “You’re laughing at me too?”

Xu Man immediately suppressed her smile. “No, I think you’re impressive.”

There was some sincerity in her words.

It seemed only Big Banana could make Qi Lin change her mind about saving someone.

Tan Juan’s expression softened slightly. “That’s more like it.”

If even her best friend mocked her, how could she face living in this world?

After a pause, Tan Juan continued, “I wasn’t going to tell you all, but since you asked so sincerely, Manman, I’ll reluctantly let everyone know.”

“Actually, I deliberately provoked Qi Lin earlier. It was to make her save someone, got it? Wang Kang hasn’t done anything bad right now, and as a sunny, upright girl with strong morals like me, I absolutely can’t stand by and let someone die, right?”

“Someone like Qi Lin, all high and mighty, can’t stand people challenging her. So, I casually called her a pervert, and she went to save him.”

Xu Man: “…Alright, sunny big girl.”

She hadn’t even asked.

Besides, wasn’t Tan Juan always butting heads with Qi Lin?

Whatever, she’d let her roommate save face and not call her out.

Since Xu Yi and the others were taking turns driving, Xu Si was currently resting.

Hearing Tan Juan’s words, he laughed without restraint. “So Qi Lin didn’t save him because Miss Big Banana said ‘eat sh1t’? Haha, that’s hilarious.”

Honestly, even though Big Banana thought she was speaking quietly, anyone with decent hearing could’ve caught it.

He certainly did.

The others: “…Pfft.”

It was, admittedly, kind of funny.

Tan Juan, furious and embarrassed, snapped, “Xu Si, who gave you permission to call me Big Banana? Have you no manners? Believe me, I’ll have Manman deal with you!”

Turning to Xu Man, she said, “Manman, whose friend are you? Who’re you siding with?”

Xu Man hid her smile and said to Xu Si with mock seriousness, “Xu Si, don’t call her Big Banana. Go get everyone some drinks to calm them down.”

The convoy turned back, and the zombies behind didn’t catch up. After all the commotion, everyone was sweating.

Thanks to Tan Juan’s liveliness, the atmosphere wasn’t as heavy as before.

Over an hour later, the convoy had retreated to the previous service area. Qi Lin stepped out of the RV carrying Wang Kang and said to John, who was standing guard outside, “Keep an eye on him. Any issues, go to Little Peach.”

The surgery was a success, and Wang Kang was out of danger.

But due to excessive bl00d loss earlier, he was still unconscious.

Once the surgery was done, Qi Lin wanted nothing more to do with it.

She hadn’t saved Wang Kang because she wanted to.

She didn’t care about his life or death from the start.

“Alright, thank you, Dr. Qi,” John said, immensely grateful.

With so many people on this trip, if they couldn’t even bring Young Master Kang back, he probably wouldn’t survive either.

Qi Lin waved him off, a faint excitement crossing her tired face as she thought of a certain banana. “No, you should thank Miss Big Banana, who’s willing to eat sh1t. Which RV is she in?”

John hesitated for a moment before pointing to the RV on the left. “Don’t say I told you.”

“Miss Big Banana seems unwell and has gone to sleep.”

Was Tan Juan unwell?

No, she felt perfectly fine, but to avoid Qi Lin, she decided to “sleep” first.

Because Tan Juan had a gut feeling that, with Qi Lin’s perverse nature, she’d come looking for her after the surgery to make good on her “promise.”

In plain terms, Qi Lin might actually force her to eat sh1t.

It had to be said, after clashing with Qi Lin for a while, Tan Juan understood her somewhat.

Hearing John’s words, Qi Lin wasn’t disappointed. Instead, she walked toward the RV he pointed to in good spirits.

“No problem, I can wait for Miss Big Banana to wake up.”

At that moment, Zhou Yutao, Xu Man, Xu Yi, Zheng Rong, Qi Rui, and others were in the RV where Tan Juan was “sleeping,” having just heard John recount what happened.

Tan Juan, claiming a headache, was actually alone on the upper level playing on her phone.

With no internet, she was playing a pre-installed offline game, Candy Crush.

And, true to its name, it was pretty fun.

Sisters had it good—no shortage of food or clothes, and there was electricity. In three days, they’d prepared quite well.

The only pity was the lack of internet.

If those annoying zombies outside didn’t keep trying to break in, she wouldn’t be in such a rush to leave.

Tan Juan had been playing for nearly half an hour, getting more and more into it, unable to sleep.

She played while listening to the conversation below.

The group sat around a table, their expressions grave.

Xu Man: “No matter how fast zombies evolve, they can’t blow up a vehicle. Based on John’s description, it feels more like human sabotage.”

Xu Yi nodded in agreement. “It’s too coincidental, almost like they were waiting for us.”

“If Wang Kang’s men hadn’t scouted ahead, we might’ve been the ones blown up. Their intentions are truly sinister.”

At that moment, everyone felt a mix of lingering fear and relief.

Zheng Rong’s face darkened as he concluded, “More accurately, they’re targeting Professor Zhou. It seems many don’t want her to reach Nancheng.”

Qi Rui: “Captain, do you think it’s the same group that ambushed us at Starlight Community?”

Zheng Rong: “Doesn’t seem like it. This time, the methods are even more despicable.”

Xu Yi: “That makes things trickier. The road ahead is more dangerous than we thought.”

They didn’t even know who their enemy was or what the situation in the city was.

Whether it was just zombies or people too.

Xu Yi looked at Xu Man. “Boss, any thoughts on this?”

He noticed her expression was different, prompting the question.

Xu Man was indeed thinking about the novel’s plot.

Novels usually focused on the main characters, so there wasn’t much detail about Zhou Yutao’s journey back to Nancheng.

But the protagonists also went to Nancheng and passed through here. Xu Man clearly remembered the book saying there were no living people in the city ahead.

Although the protagonists lost many people, there was no mention of a vehicle being blown up.

With the female lead, Fang Lingyun, on the RV, this shouldn’t have happened.

Xu Man thought for a moment before saying, “What if the city ahead really has no people, and the vehicle exploded because someone set something up beforehand?”

“I’m thinking, if we go now, it might be safer.”

“But this is just my guess. I don’t know the exact situation ahead, so just take it as a suggestion.”

“Let’s discuss how to proceed.”

She felt they shouldn’t send people to scout alone anymore—that was just sending them to die.

Honestly, Xu Man couldn’t bring herself to do that.

But Zhou Yutao might…

Xu Man glanced at Zhou Yutao, worried she’d suggest sending John and his team to the city again.

Zhou Yutao raised an eyebrow. “Manman, got something to say to me?”

Xu Man quickly shook her head.

“Alright,” Zhou Yutao said, glancing at her phone’s time. “It’s 10:01 PM now. At midnight, we all enter the city together. That’s two hours from now, so rest up.”

“Okay,” Xu Man agreed, quietly relieved.

As expected, an untainted Zhou Yutao was still humane.

Zheng Rong and Qi Rui objected simultaneously. “Professor Zhou, we don’t know the situation in the city. How about this: we go check it out first.”

“That’s the plan,” Zhou Yutao said, leaving no room for argument.

Knowing they couldn’t sway her, Zheng Rong and Qi Rui turned to Xu Man. “Boss Xu, are you just going to let Professor Zhou walk into danger?”

Zhou Yutao narrowed her eyes, displeased.

Xu Man: “I support whatever decision Sister makes. Worst case, we die together.”

That was her genuine thought.

Besides, Zhou Yutao was a major antagonist who survived until the story’s later stages. She wouldn’t die here easily, so there must be a reason for her decision.

Perhaps, clever as she was, Zhou Yutao also sensed the city ahead would be relatively safe next.

Zhou Yutao’s lips curved slightly, her gaze sweeping over Xu Man seductively. “So obedient, willing to die with me?”

“But I won’t let you die, Manman. I think what you said makes a lot of sense.”

Xu Man’s face flushed.

Saying that in front of so many people was a bit embarrassing.

But had Zhou Yutao made this decision because of her words?

Zheng Rong wanted to say more, but Qi Rui stopped him. “Professor Zhou, we’ll go prepare and won’t disturb your rest.”

He knew nothing would change Zhou Yutao’s mind now, so they might as well get ready.

As the two left, Qi Lin walked in.

“I heard Miss Big Banana, who loves eating sh1t, is asleep. I came to check.”

Zhou Yutao pointed upward. “Go ahead.”

Upstairs, still playing her game, Tan Juan’s hand trembled, and her phone fell on her face.

No way, Manman’s partner still didn’t like her? Was she really that bad?

Wasn’t Zhou Yutao supposed to be at odds with Qi Lin?

That must be fake.

It seemed she could only pretend to sleep.

Tan Juan pulled the thin blanket over herself, covering her entirely.

No matter what Qi Lin did later, she wouldn’t wake up. Surely Qi Lin wouldn’t kill her in front of Manman.

Tan Juan thought resolutely.