Chapter 44 Wanting to Repay You

"You chose me to go with you to the transaction, not Chen Si." Her voice was extremely soft yet every word was crystal clear, piercing straight into Mu Chen's ears. "At that moment, I understood that I hold some weight in your heart too."

She leaned down, her warm breath brushing against Mu Chen's cheek. "I want to repay you."

Mu Chen looked at Chen Jiahe, who was close enough to touch, and his heartbeat skipped a beat uncontrollably.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like flowing silk, spilling through the gap in the curtains to cast a hazy, ethereal radiance upon her lace nightgown.

"Jiahe, have you thought this through?" Mu Chen's voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

Chen Jiahe did not speak; she gave her answer through action.

She slowly lowered her head, and her soft, warm lips gently pressed against Mu Chen's.

This kiss was unbelievably tender and cautious, yet imbued with a desperate, all-or-nothing passion.

Mu Chen reached out an arm, wrapped it around her slender waist, and pulled her entire body into his embrace.

Chen Jiahe's body trembled imperceptibly, yet she offered not the slightest bit of struggle.

"I am different from Chen Si," Chen Jiahe whispered by his ear. "I don't know how to say sweet words, nor do I understand romance. I only know that I want you."

Her straightforwardness caught Mu Chen somewhat off guard.

This girl, who usually always carried a trace of timidity, was bursting with astonishing courage at this moment.

"Then say nothing more." Mu Chen rolled over, caging her beneath him.

"Tonight, there are only the two of us here."

Bathed in the melting moonlight, the room gradually grew still.

Only the sound of shallow breathing and the friction of clothing was infinitely amplified in the silent night.

...

The edge of the sky was just beginning to turn the pale color of a fish's belly when Mu Chen opened his eyes.

Chen Jiahe beside him was fast asleep, her cheeks still lingering with a flushed hue of fulfillment.

His fingertips grazed her smooth shoulders, and the taste in his heart was somewhat complex.

Everything that had happened last night was too fast and too unexpected, leaving him still somewhat dazed.

"Awake?" Chen Jiahe's muffled voice sounded in his arms, carrying the nasal tone and laziness of just waking up.

"Mhm. How did you sleep?" Mu Chen lowered his head, gazing intently at her.

Chen Jiahe lifted her face, her eyes sparkling with an unusual radiance. "Very well. Much better than I anticipated."

She sat up, casually pulling a thin blanket over her body, her expression suddenly turning much more solemn.

"Mu Chen, there is something I want to ask of you."

"Speak."

"I want to ask you to save someone for me." Chen Jiahe bit her lower lip slightly. "My younger sister, she is trapped at Jinhai University."

Mu Chen's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly. "A younger sister? You have a sister?"

<div>"Mhm, my sister's name is Lin Qingxue, and she's just a freshman this year."</div>

Chen Jiahe fished her phone out from the bedside table drawer, swiped the screen, and handed a photo to Mu Chen.

"When the apocalypse broke out, she was right there at the university. I tried contacting her a few times, but the signal was always bad, cutting in and out. The last time I managed to get through was already three days ago."

Mu Chen took the phone.

The face in the photo was exquisitely flawless, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

The girl in the picture was around eighteen or nineteen, her features as delicate as if drawn with a fine-brush stroke, and her large eyes were clear and pure, as though they could reflect a person's soul.

She was wearing a school uniform, smiling sweetly, untainted by the dust of the world.

[Special Goddess detected: Lin Qingxue]

[Rarity: SSS-Rank]

[Romance Reward: Spatial ability upgrade, massive rare supplies, several mysterious items]

[Warning: This Goddess possesses an extremely high difficulty for romance, please proceed with caution, Host!]

The system prompt exploded in his mind, and Mu Chen's heartbeat accelerated abruptly.

SSS-Rank rarity!

This was the first time he had ever encountered a Goddess with such a high rating!

"Jinhai University, how far is it from here?" Mu Chen forcibly calmed his emotions, his voice sounding relatively steady.

"If we drive, assuming things go smoothly, we can get there in about forty minutes." Chen Jiahe stared fixedly at him, a trace of imperceptible trembling in her voice. "I know this is dangerous, but... she is my only family left in this world."

Mu Chen stroked the edge of the phone for a moment. "With monsters everywhere outside right now, rushing so far away on a whim indeed carries too high a risk."

The radiance on Chen Jiahe's face instantly dimmed. "I understand, it's all my fault for being too willful."

"I didn't say I wasn't going." Mu Chen handed the phone back to her. "However, this matter needs a proper plan. Do you have any idea what the situation is like over at Jinhai University?"

"She said a lot of students are trapped in the school, and their food is almost running out." A faint glimmer of hope rekindled in Chen Jiahe's eyes. "Moreover, a lot of monsters have appeared over there too, and the situation is extremely bad."

"It seems yet another hard-fought battle is awaiting us." Mu Chen got up and began to get dressed. "Rest assured, though. Since I promised you, I will definitely bring her back safely."

Chen Jiahe nodded heavily, glittering tears shimmering in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Room 1203 on the 12th floor.

Pan Guang leaned against the head of the bed with a gloomy face, his complexion ashen.

Xiao Mu stood off to the side, not daring to breathe loudly, trembling with fear.

"Those trash tigers haven't sent back any news at all up to now!" Pan Guang gnashed his teeth, every word seemingly squeezed out from between his jaws. "Nine times out of ten, they've been done for!"

"Brother Guang, could it be... could it be that brat Mu Chen found out?" Xiao Mu shrank his neck and asked cautiously.

"Most likely!" Pan Guang slammed his fist against the bed board, producing a dull thud. "Damn it! I originally wanted to take care of him without a sound, but now look—we've only startled the snake in the grass!"

Xiao Mu's eyes rolled around and he stepped a bit closer. "Brother Guang, actually, things turning out this way might not be a bad thing after all."

"Oh? How so?"

"Just think about it, since a sneak attack is out of the question, we'll just confront him openly!" Xiao Mu rubbed his hands together, a flattering smile plastered across his face. "Isn't there a trading meeting today? With so many people mingling and the scene getting chaotic, it'll be the perfect convenience for us to make our move!"

A chilling, sinister gleam flashed through Pan Guang's eyes. "You mean..."

"Killing two birds with one stone!" Xiao Mu lowered his voice, his tone reeking of sinister ruthlessness. "First, take care of that brat Mu Chen amidst the chaos at the trading meeting, and then seize the opportunity to snatch all those ability fruits! Once that's done, won't you be the one calling the shots in this building, Brother Guang? We'll be the local emperors right here!"

Pan Guang narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and slowly cracked a ferocious grin at the corner of his mouth. "That plan is not bad. Go arrange it, and call upon every brother who can move."

"Yes, Brother Guang!" Xiao Mu's spirits lifted, he responded excitedly, and turned to head out.

"Wait." Pan Guang called him back.

"Remember, this time when we make our move, make sure it's clean and decisive." His voice dropped very low, carrying an unquestionable ruthlessness. "No loose ends must be left behind."

Xiao Mu grinned, revealing white, gleaming teeth. "Rest assured, Brother Guang, I guarantee I'll send him off so thoroughly that not even dust will be left behind!"