It's Hard to Be the Female Lead's Best Friend (Apocalypse) GL - Chapter 28
The commotion in the civilian area drew many people to crane their necks and watch. Although Shu Jingyun wasn’t tall, and usually seemed unremarkable when overshadowed by Gu Qingli, at this moment, her aura soared. She held her head high and chest out, taking small steps as she began to check people one by one. When she saw Cheng Ziyu, she lightly passed her by, moving on to the next person to check.
Cheng Ziyu breathed a sigh of relief. Just as Gu Qingli had said, Shu Jingyun’s infiltration of their group did provide some convenience for them. This showed that Shu Jingyun was quite loyal; otherwise, she could have easily reported them, not only gaining credit but also earning the trust of these people.
The man gently touched the grip of his gun, constantly observing Shu Jingyun. Her expression had subtle changes, though almost imperceptible; but her eyes hesitated for a moment.
“Wait.”
Cheng Ziyu stiffened.
The man’s gaze turned cold. He strode behind the two and reached out, pulling her up. His strength was immense, showing no gentleness: “Similar height and build, and injured. Are you sure it’s not them?”
Her arm was squeezed painfully, but Cheng Ziyu had to endure it, pretending to be weak and innocent. She had no doubt that if Shu Jingyun so much as nodded or hesitated for a moment, her head would burst open.
Shu Jingyun decisively shook her head: “No.”
The man frowned, not quite believing her words, especially since she had just joined the team. He looked around and shouted to one of the soldiers: “Xiao Liu, come here.”
Cheng Ziyu followed his gaze, her heart pounding. The person coming was the one who had let Gu Qingli and her into the wooden house yesterday. He had clearly seen Gu Qingli’s face.
Shu Jingyun lowered her eyes, also growing tense.
“Captain Zheng, what’s up?”
“You two, stand up.” Captain Zheng pointed at them. “Do you know them? Are they the group that was locked in the wooden house yesterday?”
Soldier Liu tilted his head, carefully scrutinizing them. Cheng Ziyu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. Gu Qingli’s expression was calm. As she stood up, her body tilted slightly, ready to defend against any sudden attack from the man.
Xiao Liu nodded: “I know them.”
Captain Zheng glanced at Shu Jingyun, immediately reaching for the gun at his waist. Cheng Ziyu initially thought a fierce battle was about to erupt.
But then Xiao Liu added: “But they’re not the ones who were locked up yesterday. It’s just that I thought they looked pretty yesterday and wanted to make friends, but they ignored me.”
Cheng Ziyu was taken aback. Soldier Liu’s tall stature combined with his sunny smile was quite comforting; but she didn’t understand why he would lie.
She didn’t believe it was out of kindness.
Captain Zheng lowered his hand from his waist, sweeping his gaze back and forth over the group. Finally, he waved his large hand: “Let’s go check somewhere else.”
Soldier Liu followed behind Captain Zheng. He turned back, winked at them, grinned, and waved, then hurried away.
A strange feeling arose in Cheng Ziyu’s heart. Soldier Liu must have winked and waved at her, right? What did he mean?
Gu Qingli watched his retreating back thoughtfully.
Qin Qingyan teased: “My Sister Qing is still the most charming. This Soldier Liu was looking at Sister Qing the whole time. I think he’s a good guy, Sister Qing, why not consider him?”
Huh?
Is that right? Was he not looking at me?
Qin Qingyan nudged Cheng Ziyu: “Stop staring. The handsome guy is interested in Sister Qing.”
Interrupted in her thoughts, Cheng Ziyu paused for a moment. She then reacted, quickly retorting: “Don’t play matchmaker. He’s clearly a scumbag.”
Qin Qingyan giggled: “Sister Qing hasn’t said anything, why are you so nervous? Did you fall for that Soldier Liu? Is that why you’re so tense?”
“Nonsense.” Cheng Ziyu immediately jumped up, then calmed down after a moment. Her eyes darted around, thinking it was a good opportunity, and declared solemnly: “I don’t like men.”
Perfect timing! It perfectly showed that she wasn’t interested in men, so the female lead should no longer be hostile towards her.
Qin Qingyan was stunned: “You like women?”
Cheng Ziyu, feeling her plan was perfectly executed, happily nodded, but quickly realized something was off and wanted to change her answer, but felt that was wrong too.
Gu Qingli raised an eyebrow: “What did you say last time?”
Cheng Ziyu cleared her throat, her face flushed red, and nodded: “Yes, it’s a girl.”
“You really like women!” Qin Qingyan’s eyes widened. She crossed her arms and said, “I’m telling you in advance, I don’t have that preference.”
Cheng Ziyu: “…” So annoying.
Gu Qingli’s distracted appearance clearly showed her mind was elsewhere. She stared blankly at Cheng Ziyu’s opening and closing lips, a layer of pink like jelly, looking very elastic.
She unconsciously recalled the feel of the small scar that night, though it burned her hand; it had a strong magnetic pull on her, especially Cheng Ziyu’s hesitant expression, with subtle tears in her eyes, wanting to push away but not daring to.
Truly like a small kitten, making one want to bully it.
Wanting to see her beg and cry.
Cheng Ziyu felt a burning gaze. As if sensing it, she looked sideways. Gu Qingli’s gaze faintly flickered with light, like a cold viper that had found its prey, quietly waiting for the moment to hunt.
Cheng Ziyu felt a chill in her heart. She had clearly said she didn’t like men, so why was the female lead even more terrifying? Was it because she hadn’t shown that she liked women, so the female lead didn’t trust her?
Cheng Ziyu sighed inwardly, looking at Qin Qingyan’s giggling expression. They were both female supporting characters meant to contend for the male lead, so why was she being treated so differently?
So unfair!
“So you’d better not get any ideas about me.” Qin Qingyan stopped her chattering, sweeping her gaze back and forth between the two. She simply stood in the middle, cutting off their unspoken communication: “What is Sister Qing thinking?”
Gu Qingli snapped back to attention. She didn’t know what she had been thinking about. She awkwardly coughed and said, “Let me ask you, did those people in hazmat suits carry anything?”
“They each carried something… similar to an oxygen tank,” Qin Qingyan recalled.
Gu Qingli moved past Qin Qingyan, pulling Cheng Ziyu towards the hospital: “Try using your ability to see if you can find out any information.”
“Okay!” Cheng Ziyu stared blankly at Gu Qingli holding her hand. Her fingers were long and slender, with rounded fingertips. At this moment, joy permeated her heart.
“Wait for me.”
The hospital entrance was guarded by soldiers, and patrol soldiers occasionally surveyed the area. It would be unrealistic for them to sneak into the hospital unnoticed.
Gu Qingli led them to hide in a nearby bush: “Your ability might be plant-based. Calm down, don’t rush, see if you can communicate with the flowers and trees.”
Cheng Ziyu nodded and closed her eyes.
The cool sensation within her body began to gather and flow, like a spring breeze revitalizing, making her feel comfortable and at ease. She opened her eyes, looked at a small chrysanthemum in the grass, and softly opened her mouth to greet it: “Hello!”
Cheng Ziyu waited for a while, but there was no response. She immediately felt a bit disappointed in herself. Perhaps she was the weakest plant-type ability user!
Qin Qingyan approached and asked: “How was it?”
Cheng Ziyu smiled bitterly and shook her head: “Sorry.”
[It’s just an ordinary flower. With your current ability, you can’t communicate with it yet. You can ask me if you have questions.]
Gu Qingli had to think of another way, when she saw a joyful expression on Cheng Ziyu’s face. She swept her gaze back and forth across the ground, and another chrysanthemum bent its stem: “Do you know what these people are doing in the hospital?”
[Give me a crystal core and I’ll tell you.]
Cheng Ziyu tilted her head: “It wants a crystal core.”
Gu Qingli walked to the small flower. She squatted down and looked around. With a reach of her hand, a crystal core lay quietly within it. The small flower’s petals stood up, like sharp teeth, resembling a miniature Venus flytrap.
Gu Qingli threw the crystal core. The flower closed, catching it. It shook its leaves and actually grew a little taller. Soon, the crystal core lost its color.
Cheng Ziyu knew that most plants would mutate after the apocalypse, but she didn’t expect them to be so human-like.
[All I know is that when they first came to the hospital, they didn’t clear out the zombies, and they’re still collecting various plants for research.]
“When was ‘at first’?”
[I don’t know. When I became conscious three days ago, they were already here.]
“Then can you help us steal some data?”
[I could have gotten in before, but now I can’t. Their main force just moved into the hospital, and basically every few meters there’s someone guarding. But I heard from Tree Brother that they’ll be going into the forest later to collect more plant samples. You can quietly follow them.]
“Thank you.”
Cheng Ziyu informed Gu Qingli of the situation: “Should we follow them to the forest?”
“Yes!”
Gu Qingli was contemplating when suddenly, gunshots rang out not far away: “Come on, let’s go check it out first.”
They headed towards the sound of gunfire. The sound was intense, suggesting a group of soldiers had encountered zombies.
A soldier, clutching his stomach, came around the corner. He had already dropped his gun. When he saw them, he reached out, groaning in pain: “Help me…”
The soldier walked slowly, his stomach bulging like a pregnant woman. His face was ashen, and his expression was slightly distorted.
Gu Qingli reached out to block Cheng Ziyu.
The soldier’s mouth overflowed with bl00d, his face so contorted in pain he couldn’t speak. And even with his clothes covering his bulging stomach, one could clearly see something wriggling within his abdomen!
Cheng Ziyu swallowed hard, almost doubting if she had transmigrated into a horror movie. Despite her fear, she stood steadfastly beside Gu Qingli, neither retreating nor advancing, quietly observing the soldier’s changes.
No longer acting rashly.
His face contorted, sweat pouring down his forehead from the pain. Soon, he couldn’t bear it and collapsed, convulsing. He gasped for air, but couldn’t utter a single word.
The soldier’s eyes gradually rolled back, bloody foam spewed from his mouth, and his body convulsed wildly. Like a puppet, his limbs flailed as his stomach wriggled.
Finally, the soldier breathed his last in extreme agony. A faint smile touched his lips, expressing a sense of relief and comfort.
Although Qin Qingyan was accustomed to strange sights, facing this unknown situation with the soldier still made her nervous: “How about we take this chance to escape?”
Cheng Ziyu nodded in agreement!
Gu Qingli shook her head, took out daggers from her spatial ability, and handed one to each of them: “Where would we escape to? This kind of scene is everywhere now. Escaping is useless.”
“Look quickly!” Cheng Ziyu took the dagger and saw the soldier’s mouth move. “Look at his mouth.”
The soldier’s mouth slowly stretched open. His throat bulged into a large sphere, even tearing the sides of his cheeks. It grew wider and wider, his cheekbones snapping, and a small hand emerged from inside.