My Girlfriend's a Monster - Chapter 42

Exhausted and mentally drained, Zhong Qingxiao just wanted to sleep today. He could fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but his rest was far from peaceful. Layered nightmares kept him from truly relaxing even in slumber.

Luo Ke watched him for a while before taking the cup and plate out of the room.

Seeing her daughter emerge again, Luo Meihua asked in surprise, “Where’s Qingxiao?”

“He caught a cold,” Luo Ke replied without a change in expression. “He’ll stay in the room for a few days to avoid spreading it.”

Zhong Shuping hesitated, wanting to check on his son, but Luo Ke blocked his way.

“I already said, he has a cold. It’s contagious,” Luo Ke explained word by word.

With no way to visit a hospital now, falling ill could be troublesome. Zhong Shuping hesitated but ultimately didn’t insist.

However, a woman’s intuition is often sharper than a man’s. Luo Meihua stared at Luo Ke for a moment and asked, “Is something wrong with Qingxiao?”

“What do you think could be wrong with him?” Luo Ke squinted, wondering what her mother had discussed with Zhong Qingxiao yesterday. Was she really planning to abandon her?

“If he’s sick, let me take a look. I’m practically a doctor,” Luo Meihua insisted. She didn’t know what was wrong with her prospective son-in-law, but she sensed something odd between the two.

What if… What if he showed signs of becoming a Monster?

Luo Ke, annoyed, opened the door to let Luo Meihua peek inside. “He’s sleeping, okay? Can you stop bothering us? It’s really annoying.”

Seeing Zhong Qingxiao on the bed looking normal, albeit a bit tired, Luo Meihua finally refrained from saying anything more.

It seemed like just another ordinary day. With no Monsters discovered in the building for now, everyone’s spirits relaxed a bit. People from Baoliyuan planned to go out and search for food.

“My car?” Yan Cheng shook his head at the man asking to borrow it. “I can’t lend it. Who knows if you’ll come back?”

The advantage in numbers and natural distrust towards outsiders made Yan Cheng’s attitude unpleasant. But indeed, the car was essential for their outings; how could he lend it to these people?

“You!” The man asking for the car was a suave young man, looking quite refined. On the surface, he seemed to have a subordinate relationship with another middle-aged man named Chen Ming, who ordered him around effortlessly.

Ge Hailong took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and smiled ingratiatingly. “Brother, that’s a bit harsh. We’re just asking to borrow the car to find supplies. You don’t have to curse us not to return.”

“I couldn’t care less about cursing you. I can’t lend you the car. What will we use if you take it?” Yan Cheng replied, displeased. “There are plenty of cars in the underground parking lot. If you have the skills, go and pry one open yourself. Don’t waste your breath on me.”

With no other choice, Ge Hailong returned, frustrated.

“Useless waste! Can’t even borrow a car!” Chen Ming cursed him smoothly, clearly a common occurrence.

Yan Cheng glanced at the situation and sneered. Even in the apocalypse, some people were willing to be lackeys.

“Enough.” A heavily made-up woman interrupted Chen Ming’s one-sided tirade, her eyes showing impatience. “Why not check the underground parking lot first?”

Chen Ming didn’t stop, continuing to complain: Why did we have to follow Su Sheng’an, that brat? Now he’s comfortably snuggled up with a woman, while we have to scrounge for food.

The woman rolled her eyes, her makeup making her look stunning, even her eye-rolling seemed charming.

Yan Cheng withdrew his gaze. Since yesterday, these three had been together almost constantly. What was their relationship?

“Should we bring Haiyue?” Ge Hailong asked.

But neither of the other two responded. Ge Hailong chuckled, “Why not bring her along? She might come in handy.”

He suggested it, but no one agreed or opposed. Ge Hailong didn’t seem upset, merely calling out to the pale-skinned woman sitting in the corner.

“Miss Hai, we’re going out to find food. Let’s go.”

The silent woman stood up from the corner and followed.

Watching their reactions, Yan Cheng suddenly felt relieved. These outsiders from Baoliyuan clearly weren’t united, which made things easier.

Yan Cheng’s SUV had been modified by him, with excellent anti-theft measures. Instead of wasting time trying to pry open his car, these people would be better off finding another vehicle. He wasn’t worried and was about to take another nap.

However, ten minutes later, a heart-wrenching scream echoed through the building, startling everyone. Some instinctively reached for their flamethrowers.

“What happened?” Yan Cheng asked.

Grandma Zhong’s expression was serious. “The sound came from the underground garage.”

The answer was obvious; those people had encountered trouble.

In Chunfeng Community, the ages varied widely, and Yan Cheng was more of a leader. The others instinctively looked to him, wondering if they should go down to check.

But Grandma Zhong was already heading forward with her flamethrower.

Yan Cheng watched the elderly woman’s determined back in surprise, then signaled for a few others to follow.

“They’re so funny, guarding against us like we’re thieves,” Ge Hailong remarked in the stairwell. “That Su Sheng’an kid sure is lucky.”

Chen Ming snorted disdainfully behind him. “Just a bunch of low-class people, a group of ignorant fools.”

His words made Ge Hailong’s eyes turn cold. Trash, what are you? Always ordering people around. If it weren’t for the stash of gold bars he had, Ge Hailong wouldn’t bother with this damned man.

“Ah!”

As they spoke, Haiyue, who was at the back, suddenly cried out, collapsing on the stairs, her body convulsing.

Zheng Xiangyu, in front of her, was startled and instinctively stepped aside, turning to see Haiyue rolling her eyes and convulsing.

“What the hell is wrong with her?” Ge Hailong exclaimed in surprise, while Chen Ming frowned in disgust, stepping back a few paces.

Zheng Xiangyu hesitated. “Is this… epilepsy?”

The symptoms seemed similar.

Ge Hailong was instantly troubled. “She didn’t seem to have this illness these past few days. Why is it acting up now!? What do we do?”

“Let’s go, let’s go.” Chen Ming urged impatiently, clearly not wanting to deal with it.

Zheng Xiangyu glanced at the two, then used her bag to mimic aiding an epileptic patient, fanning Haiyue’s face. “Are you okay?”

“Ah… ah…” Haiyue moaned weakly, sounding like a mindless creature mumbling. Even in broad daylight, the sound was eerie.

“…Hey.” Zheng Xiangyu was unnerved by her cries but figured it was just typical of someone having a seizure. She continued fanning.

“Let’s go!” Chen Ming shouted. “No need to bother with her. It’s her bad luck to have a seizure now.”

Unexpectedly, as Chen Ming’s words fell, Haiyue slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at Zheng Xiangyu’s face with bright red lips, first confused, then apologetic. “I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well.”

Zheng Xiangyu sighed in relief, waving her hand. “It’s fine. Why don’t you head back? We’ll go ourselves.”

“No, no.” Haiyue stood up. “I’ll go with you.”

“Unlucky!” Chen Ming sneered at her, turning to head downstairs.

The group reached the first floor. From there, they needed to go through another stairwell to reach the underground parking lot. It was windowless and unlit, with dim lighting. Once in the parking lot, Chen Ming ordered Ge Hailong to find a car they could pry open, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket.

Zheng Xiangyu glanced at him. “You can’t smoke in the underground parking lot.”

“Shut up,” Chen Ming retorted, not even bothering to look at her.

Zheng Xiangyu ground her teeth, smirking as she turned away from Chen Ming. But then she suddenly realized-Haiyue was gone.

The realization sent chills down Zheng Xiangyu’s spine. Haiyue had been walking right behind her, and she hadn’t heard anything unusual. How had she disappeared?

“Chen Ming.” Zheng Xiangyu backed away in fear. “Haiyue’s gone.”

Chen Ming turned impatiently, seeing Haiyue was indeed missing. He hesitated, then said, “Forget her, maybe she died somewhere.”

But Zheng Xiangyu felt it wasn’t that simple. Her eyes darted around, her body tense with vigilance.

“No cars,” Ge Hailong’s voice suddenly came. Zheng Xiangyu turned to look.

“Useless waste,” Chen Ming cursed. “Pick an old car to pry open. Do I have to teach you?”

Ge Hailong pursed his lips. “Where are there old cars these days…”

Before he could finish, Ge Hailong’s face suddenly changed.

Zheng Xiangyu was alarmed by his frozen expression, a bad feeling rising in her gut. She quickly turned to see-a long-haired figure crawling out of the stairwell they had just descended.

On all fours, the figure crawled rapidly. Zheng Xiangyu immediately recognized Haiyue’s clothes. She screamed sharply and started running.

Ge Hailong also sprinted, while Chen Ming was the last to react. When he turned, the crawling woman was only two or three meters away. Chen Ming let out a shrill scream and stumbled as he began to run.

Extreme fear made human legs weak, but both reason and instinct screamed at them to keep running, never stop.

But the underground parking lot wasn’t very large, and there was even a corpse, mostly eaten, rotting nearby. Zheng Xiangyu ran, terrified.

However, her stamina was too poor. She was soon overtaken by Ge Hailong, and not long after, by Chen Ming.

“Zheng Xiangyu.” Chen Ming suddenly called her. Zheng Xiangyu instinctively looked up.

Then she saw Chen Ming reach out, pushing her shoulder with all his strength. Zheng Xiangyu stumbled, falling to the ground.

The rustling sound of crawling followed. The Monster woman quickly caught up.

“Premium… premium meat, so hungry, ah…” The Monster pounced, biting into Zheng Xiangyu’s terrified face.

“Ah!!!”

The scream echoed through the parking lot, sounding particularly tragic. When Yan Cheng and the others arrived, they heard it.

“It’s… the woman with the makeup,” Yan Cheng identified.

Grandma Zhong had already prepared her flamethrower, ready to strike the Monster.

Along with them were Zhao Xucheng and a young woman named Qin Mei. They looked around, and Yan Cheng said, “Don’t scatter. Move together.”

Soon, they saw two people running towards them-Ge Hailong and Chen Ming.

Seeing these two, Yan Cheng’s heart sank, but he still asked, “Where are the other two women?”

“Forget the women! Just run!” Chen Ming cursed and tried to dash away, but Yan Cheng grabbed his clothes and pushed him to the ground.

Ge Hailong, however, noticed the machines in their hands and curiously asked, “What are those?”

No one answered Ge Hailong. Yan Cheng cautiously watched the surroundings, signaling the others to follow, then kicked Ge Hailong and said, “Where did you lose them? Lead the way.”

Ge Hailong hesitated but, seeing their confident demeanor, said nothing and led the way.

Every step he took was filled with fear until they reached where Zheng Xiangyu had been pushed. But aside from a pool of blood, there was nothing.

This made Ge Hailong’s face turn exceptionally grim. Invisible dangers were often more terrifying than visible ones.

“Where are they?” Yan Cheng asked.

Ge Hailong panicked, answering in terror, “I don’t know! They were right here!”

What happened? Where was Zheng Xiangyu? She must have been eaten by the Monster. But where was the Monster?

“Is anyone there?” Yan Cheng shouted.

The parking lot was deathly silent. After a while, slow footsteps sounded, and someone stood up from behind a car, dragging heavy steps towards them…

Everyone was instantly on guard, hands ready on the flamethrower switches.

The person’s chest was stained with blood. She lifted her hair, blood pouring down her face, the lower left side of her face eaten away, bone visible.

The woman with red lips walked a few more steps, close enough for everyone to see her face clearly, before she collapsed unconscious.

“Someone died,” Luo Ke said softly to the half-awake Zhong Qingxiao.

Her voice was crystal clear, as if it could penetrate his dreams. Zhong Qingxiao opened his eyes.

“It was someone from Baoliyuan, a woman,” Luo Ke squinted.

Haiyue? Zhong Qingxiao looked at Luo Ke’s expression, instinctively thinking the deceased was Haiyue.

But he didn’t get the chance to ask. As he was about to speak, Luo Ke leaned down and kissed him. Zhong Qingxiao didn’t resist, letting Luo Ke kiss him, even as she playfully extended her tongue. He merely frowned slightly.

He was very obedient now. While he slept, Luo Ke touched him several times. Once, she accidentally used too much force, waking him, but he didn’t remove her hand.

Luo Ke finished the kiss, still unsatisfied, and suggested-or rather, commanded, “Tonight, I want to continue.”

She saw Zhong Qingxiao’s eyes widen slightly, but he still said nothing, seemingly accepting it easily.

Luo Ke suddenly felt annoyed. She didn’t know what she was upset about. Her dear wife was so obedient, almost at her beck and call. Wasn’t that her favorite state?

Her eyes flickered, then she reached under the blanket, mischievously pinching hard. But even then, Zhong Qingxiao didn’t make a sound. He only breathed more heavily, closing his beautiful eyes again.

Luo Ke was genuinely angry now. He was like a puppet, making her dislike him.

“You’re very cold to me,” Luo Ke said softly. “Don’t you care about your father?”

The straightforward threat made Zhong Qingxiao instantly open his eyes, his bewildered gaze meeting Luo Ke’s, filled with helplessness and bitterness.

“What do you want me to do?”

Wasn’t he cooperative enough?

Luo Ke pursed her lips, realizing she couldn’t answer that question. Zhong Qingxiao hadn’t refused to mate with her, nor had he rejected her touch. He hadn’t done anything wrong, yet Luo Ke was unhappy.

“Someone died,” Luo Ke emphasized again. “Don’t you want to know who?”

Zhong Qingxiao had no choice but to ask, “Was it Haiyue?”

Luo Ke chuckled softly.

Ten minutes later, the door to Room 1801 was knocked on, and a bloodied woman was brought in.

“Auntie,” Yan Cheng said, “Can you see if she can be saved?”

Luo Meihua saw the wound on the woman’s face, eaten by a Monster, and trembled. She didn’t answer Yan Cheng’s question but said, “She needs to be disinfected first.”

Yan Cheng knew Luo Meihua agreed to help. He was about to carry Zheng Xiangyu inside when a cold voice stopped him.

“Get out,” Luo Ke stood a few meters away. “This is my territory. You’re not allowed to enter.”

Luo Meihua, used to it, waved her hand at Yan Cheng. “Go to the corridor.”

The commotion outside was clear to Zhong Qingxiao. He felt he had rested enough. Though still tired, he wasn’t too exhausted to get out of bed and see. Since Luo Ke treated him, he felt much better.

He got up and dressed. The weather was hot, so he only needed a simple T-shirt. But when Zhong Qingxiao changed, he realized it wasn’t that simple.

His chest was swollen, the place pinched earlier already bruised. Wearing just a T-shirt looked odd and obvious.

He was silent for a moment, then took off the T-shirt and put on a thicker jacket.

After a tense series of wound cleaning and bandaging, Zheng Xiangyu survived for now. Her injuries weren’t too severe, but the lack of medicine meant serious inflammation could threaten her life.

However, her face was ruined, the lower left side completely eaten away, wrapped in layers of bandages.

Luo Meihua sighed in relief. “You really have a big life, surviving this.”

Zheng Xiangyu lowered her head, murmuring thanks.

With such a commotion, Rooms 1802 and 1803 came to check. Without makeup, Zheng Xiangyu looked plain, even ordinary. Chen Ming seemed to see her like this for the first time, and despite the crowd, sneered, “If I knew you looked like this, I wouldn’t have kept you.”

His words revealed their relationship. Chen Ming left, and Zheng Xiangyu heard it like a joke. She chuckled, indifferent, and looked at Ge Hailong. “Do you think the same?”

Ge Hailong was stumped, scratching his head, unsure what to say. After a while, he said, “Don’t overthink. Just focus on healing.”

After inquiries, everyone learned the woman named Haiyue had become a Monster.

“And then?” Bai Lan listened, terrified.

“Then I killed her,” Zheng Xiangyu said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it, taking a deep drag. Her right hand trembled, as if suppressing inner fear.

“…Bare-handed?” Bai Lan was even more shocked.

“Yes,” Zheng Xiangyu nodded. “Bare-handed.”

At that moment, she was truly scared to death. But what good was fear? People ultimately had to save themselves.

So she didn’t know where the strength came from, tearing the Monster’s hair and pulling her away. She almost watched her own face being torn off, but felt no pain. She punched the Monster’s head repeatedly until it stopped moving.

She had to live. Just a face, if she had to lose it, so be it.

“Monsters can’t be killed by humans like that,” Luo Ke’s voice suddenly appeared, always ethereal and distinctive, drawing everyone’s gaze.

“What do you mean?” Zheng Xiangyu frowned.

Luo Ke laughed. “It means it’s not dead. Maybe it was playing dead. It was scared of you.”

Hearing her words, Zheng Xiangyu’s hand trembled even more. She took another deep drag, walked to a window, and exhaled heavily.

Yan Cheng glanced at Luo Ke, then at Zhong Qingxiao beside her. Zhong Qingxiao’s face was so pale that Yan Cheng was stunned, but he said nothing, turning to Zheng Xiangyu.

“You and Chen…” Yan Cheng started but was interrupted by Zheng Xiangyu.

“Mistress, you heard it, didn’t you?” Zheng Xiangyu glanced at him, speaking calmly.

Yan Cheng paused, then asked instinctively, “What’s your relationship with Ge Hailong?”

Zheng Xiangyu looked at him, her lips curving into a faint, casual smile. “Him? He’s my lover.”

Yan Cheng was stunned. “Chen Ming’s?”

Zheng Xiangyu: “Mine.”

“…” Yan Cheng almost choked, speechless at the tangled relationships.

“But…” Zheng Xiangyu continued, “Chen Ming doesn’t know. If you don’t want trouble in the coming days, keep quiet.”

She extinguished the cigarette and asked, “Did you need something?”

“…Nothing now.” Yan Cheng replied dryly.

Zheng Xiangyu didn’t look at him again, turning to leave.

“Brother, you don’t look well,” Zhao Xucheng smiled at Zhong Qingxiao.

Zhao Xucheng always appeared smooth, smiling with everyone, never making mistakes. But Zhong Qingxiao just couldn’t like him.

He shook his head, indicating he was fine, then turned to find Luo Ke gone.

Where did she go? Zhong Qingxiao felt a void. Though he knew Luo Ke didn’t need his protection, her sudden absence made him uneasy.

He searched around, finally hearing familiar footsteps in the stairwell.

As Zhong Qingxiao approached, he heard Luo Ke say, “Go find it. Are you defying me?”

“Am I bullying you? Haha.” Luo Ke laughed, slapping Huo Sisi, her head spinning on her neck.

The scene unfolded before Zhong Qingxiao’s eyes, shocking him into covering his mouth.

“After being a Monster for so long, you can speak human language,” Luo Ke looked down at Huo Sisi. “You low-level creature, you’ve wanted to eat people for a while, haven’t you?”

“That’s a ready-made Monster. Don’t you want to devour it?”

Huo Sisi’s face showed reluctance, but she couldn’t resist the temptation, swallowing hard. Monsters were meat too… Monsters, ah, she was starving!

“Go find it,” Luo Ke’s face turned cold. “That low-level Monster should be easy for you to handle. I’m giving you one chance.”

Huo Sisi dared not speak against her, gritting her teeth but forcing a smile. “Of course I’ll listen to big sister.”

With that, she headed downstairs.

Zhong Qingxiao watched the young girl’s back in a daze. Huo Sisi, was she a Monster?!