Chapter 5: Snatching Someone
Her in-laws despised her for failing to capture Xiao Yi’s heart; after eight years of marriage, they hadn’t even been able to have a child.
As for Xiao Yi, there was no need to mention him—he had never even looked at her properly. His heart had always belonged entirely to Fu Yue. He never even touched her; how could there be a child between them?
Now, in this unfamiliar world, someone had praised her generously upon their first meeting. It might have been just a polite remark, but for Shao Leyan, it was an expression of kindness.
Someone who had never experienced warmth would instinctively approach even the smallest spark of it.
“Thank you. Your name is nice, too.”
Fu Xingyan let out a light chuckle, maintaining his dignified and elegant demeanor. He exuded more refined gentlemanly charm than the young masters of the wealthy families in Shao Leyan’s world.
Shao Leyan avoided Fu Xingyan’s gaze, her lowered cheeks tinged faintly red.
Observing everything, Old Li stored all of it in his mind, just about ready to help nudge things along—when a sharp, impatient voice erupted from behind.
“Since you found the car, why aren’t you returning to the main group?”
Hearing the familiar voice made Shao Leyan feel as if she were in hell.
The pain in her neck still rooted itself in her heart, and encountering anything related to that person automatically triggered a brief but excruciating memory.
Fu Xingyan noticed Shao Leyan’s abnormal reaction immediately. He stepped forward, long legs placing him in front of her, shielding her from Lu Chuchen’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Since the problem was with the dungeon car, it has nothing to do with Central City. If you feel we’ve wasted your time, you can go ahead first.”
“I’d like to, but if something happens to you on the way, how do I explain it to Master Fu and Jiao Jiao?”
Fu Xingyan was momentarily speechless. The composed and reliable image he had been projecting collapsed instantly.
All his vulnerabilities were laid bare; it was as if she were forcing him to surrender.
Fu Xingyan turned, bending slightly, meeting the eyes of Shao Leyan sitting in the front passenger seat.
“Describe what your brother looks like, and I’ll send someone to find him.”
With Fu Xingyan no longer blocking the view, Lu Chuchen naturally saw clearly who was in the car. His already-large eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
“It’s you?”
Shao Leyan recounted the situation again, even tacitly agreeing to the description of her healing ability.
Lu Chuchen furrowed his brows, his mind working at lightning speed.
“Something’s off. Even a high-level healer like Bing Shan couldn’t save someone who had their throat cut. Your ability must be more than it seems.”
Fu Xingyan agreed with this thought, nodding.
“Perhaps it’s a newly discovered power even stronger than healing—definitely worth researching.”
Research value?
Shao Leyan cast a glance at Fu Xingyan.
The curiosity and interest buried deep in his eyes made her extremely uneasy.
She felt as if she were lying completely exposed on an operating table, waiting for a doctor to manipulate her body at will.
Ever since her eyes were gouged out, she had developed a deep-seated fear of doctors that had spread to her very bones.
Lu Chuchen fixed his gaze on Shao Leyan’s expression. Seeing her trembling with fear, he lightly tapped Fu Xingyan’s shoulder in a somewhat ambiguous gesture.
“Just think about it. Don’t direct your ideas toward an innocent person. The zombies we captured this time will be enough for your research for a while.”
Fu Xingyan frowned, displeased that Lu Chuchen interrupted his thoughts, but he couldn’t deny that he was right.
Shao Leyan was a special ability user, and selecting a test subject for someone with abilities required extreme caution.
Until now, he had never had the chance to study a true ability user.
More precisely, before encountering Shao Leyan, no ability user had ever appeared that fit his criteria for research.
For a moment, the four of them were lost in their own thoughts, silent.
The quiet was broken by a cheerful voice.
“Yo! Yan Yan, why are there so many people gathered here?”
Le An’s voice sounded like a heavenly blessing. Shao Leyan, who had just been worried about becoming an experimental subject, felt completely at ease.
“Brother, why are you just back now?”
Le An smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I’m not very familiar with this area and took a few wrong turns.”
Shao Leyan didn’t blame him; she was just venting the frustration of being left behind.
“It’s okay, as long as you’re back safely.”
Le An nodded and then shifted his gaze to the two male leads.
Fu Xingyan regained his noble, aloof demeanor and nodded slightly to Le An.
“Fu Xingyan.”
Le An confidently introduced himself. “Le An.”
“I need your car. I can trade supplies for it. But more than that, I want to ask if you’d be interested in joining the dungeon?”
Shao Leyan hadn’t expected Fu Xingyan to be serious. She exchanged a knowing look with Le An, worried he might impulsively accept the male lead’s offer.
Le An slapped his thigh in excitement.
“Sure! To be honest, Yan Yan and I are tired of wandering around and want a place to settle down. Mr. Fu, this is exactly what we need!”
Shao Leyan rubbed her forehead helplessly.
But she wasn’t the only one opposed to this idea.
Lu Chuchen said in a low voice, “If you want to settle down, Central City is better for you two. Dungeons focus mainly on research, machinery, and stockpiling resources, which doesn’t match your abilities.”
“But Central City is vast and resource-rich. Even low-level ability users can find a way to survive there.”
“Pfft!”
A disdainful laugh suddenly interrupted Lu Chuchen.
All eyes turned toward him. Fu Xingyan clenched his fists, lightly covering his lips as he coughed—a futile attempt at concealment.
Lu Chuchen asked coldly, “Do you find my words funny, Director?”
“I just think your persuasion skills are even better than mine,” he replied.
“You—!”
Lu Chuchen clenched his jaw, but seeing Fu Xingyan’s calm face again, he relaxed.
Le An quickly tried to mediate.
“Let’s all be reasonable. You’re both right. I’ll discuss it with my sister and get back to you.”
Lu Chuchen remained serious, saying nothing. Fu Xingyan smiled and nodded.
Once they were at a distance, Shao Leyan finally dared to speak.
“Both of these male leads are trouble. One tried to kill me, the other wants to experiment on me. Can we not go with them?”
Le An didn’t answer, lowering his gaze to the torn shoulder and bloodstains on Shao Leyan. His heart ached.
“I’ve noticed that whenever I’m not by your side, you get hurt. What kind of mysticism is this?”
“Old Li thought I was a zombie, so it’s fine. But that Fu Xingyan must be related to the Fu Xingchen you wanted me to win over, right? Are they brothers or uncle and nephew?”
“They’re identical twin brothers. Fu Xingchen is the older brother and the dungeon’s leader. Fu Xingyan is the younger brother and the director of the dungeon’s ability research institute.
Fu Xingyan is cold, aloof, and has terrible empathy. In contrast, his brother is the typical ‘dad-type’ boyfriend—secure, protective, and better suited for a woman like you who craves love and tends to please others.”
