Chapter 121: Design
Wang Qiang remained silent in the darkness for a few seconds, taking time to digest Lin Xiao’s messy, contradictory confession.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice carrying an edge of sharp criticism. “Look here, Brother Lin, the way you handled this… is really lacking some backbone.”
“From what you’re saying, you don’t even like Lin Weiwei. Or at least you don’t like her enough to build a life with her. So why on earth did you sleep with her?”
“Isn’t that just messing around?”
“Life in the apocalypse is brutal enough as it is, which makes keeping your moral compass all the more important. How could you be so reckless!”
Wang Qiang paused. Feeling that he might have been a bit harsh, he still had no intention of softening his point. Instead, his voice took on a hint of quiet pride and absolute conviction. “Look at me. I love Little Yu, so my heart and eyes are reserved only for her. My body and soul belong entirely to her. I’d never be like you—stumbling into bed with another woman in a drunken haze, only to torture yourself over your feelings for someone else the next morning… What kind of mess is that?”
Stung by the words, Lin Xiao felt a flare of defensive anger. He lowered his voice, snapping back, “What are you even imagining?! I had a complete blackout last night! I was totally unconscious! When I opened my eyes, she was lying right beside me, crying her eyes out and swearing that I… that I did that to her! Tell me, what was I supposed to do in that situation?! Tell her, ‘Sorry, I don’t remember, so it doesn’t count’?!”
“Oh? Is that so?” Wang Qiang’s tone turned dead serious, dropping any hint of teasing. “Then did it ever cross your mind… that you might have been set up?”
“Set up?” Lin Xiao froze.
It wasn’t that the thought hadn’t flickered in his mind earlier, but he hadn’t dared to examine it. Deep down, he hadn’t wanted to believe Lin Weiwei could be so manipulative—after all, she had always seemed so fragile and innocent before…
“Think about it,” Wang Qiang murmured, breaking it down logically. “You’re an Ability User now with serious combat skills, and you’re good-looking. In a cutthroat world like this, you’re the ultimate prize—a reliable protector and a long-term meal ticket.”
“It’s completely natural for a woman like that to target you and look for any angle to latch on. Besides, about last night…” He paused, recalling the details. “Little Yu told me that Brother Little Bai was the one who helped you upstairs and took you back to your room.”
“Think it through. You were practically dead to the world, and Brother Little Bai carried you all the way up to your room on the third floor and tucked you in. Lin Weiwei was staying on the second floor. How did she just ‘coincidentally’ end up in your room on the third floor?”
“It’s not like you sleepwalked downstairs, dragged her up, and brought her to bed, right? She had to have snuck up there herself!”
Lin Xiao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His head buzzed with a deafening ring.
That’s right! His room was on the third floor! Lin Weiwei was down on the second! He had been dead drunk, hauled upstairs by Brother Little Bai! How could Lin Weiwei have gotten in? Unless… unless she took advantage of his drunken stupor to slip through the door herself!
Unaware of Lin Xiao’s inner turmoil, Wang Qiang pressed on with absolute certainty. “And think about how much we drank yesterday. Mixing hard liquor and beer—by the end, we were slumped over the table, barely conscious. When a guy is that wasted, he’s completely out of commission down there. How could you possibly have the stamina to pull off something like that? Brother Lin, you’re a man. Be honest with yourself—is that even physically possible?”
Lin Xiao went utterly numb.
That’s right! He had been so hammered that his memory was completely gone. His body had been completely out of his control; he didn’t even know how he ended up in bed. How could he have possibly had the energy or awareness to do anything like that?!
Yet… last night…
He vaguely remembered holding someone tight in his arms. And there was a kiss… That texture, that scent… soft, faint, and carrying a distinct, crisp cleanliness…
Could it be… Was it really…?
An absurd, heart-pounding realization exploded in his mind. Lin Xiao bolted upright, his voice tight with sheer adrenaline. “You… you just said… Brother Little Bai took me back to my room last night?! Are you absolutely sure?!”
“Of course I’m sure!” Wang Qiang jumped, startled by the sudden movement, and instinctively leaned back. “Little Yu told me herself. She saw Brother Little Bai helping you up the stairs. What’s wrong? Why are you freaking out?”
Everything was wrong! Lin Xiao’s heart thundered violently against his ribs, the blood rushing straight to his head.
Last night… that hazy, warm embrace… that gentle kiss… It wasn’t a drunken dream after all?!
The person he had held and kissed in the dark… had been Brother Little Bai?!
Shock, confusion, an overwhelming burst of relief, and cold, lingering fear crashed over his senses all at once.
“Brother Lin? What are you doing? Aren’t you going to sleep? We have to hit the road early tomorrow!” Wang Qiang called out in bewilderment as Lin Xiao scrambled to his feet and pushed through the tent flap.
How could Lin Xiao possibly sleep now? His mind was spinning out of control, reduced to a single, burning imperative: he had to see Brother Little Bai right now.
Standing outside Su Mubai’s tent, Lin Xiao’s palms were soaked with cold sweat. Inside, it was dead silent—not even the sound of breathing filtered through the fabric.
Drawing a deep breath, he fought to steady his voice, though a slight tremor broke through as he called softly, “Brother Little Bai… can I come in?”
Inside the tent, Su Mubai—who had been lying awake all along—stiffened the moment he heard that familiar voice. He didn’t answer. Lying motionless in the dark, his eyes remained fixed on the nylon ceiling above, his fingers unconsciously clutching the edge of his sleeping mat.
Beside him, Little Yu was also awake. Blinking in the dark, the boy whispered, “Brother Little Bai, I think Brother Lin is calling for you outside.”
Lin Xiao waited a few agonizing seconds, but no reply came. The night wind swept past, rustling the tall grass in the distance, making the heavy silence feel completely suffocating.
The desperate need to confirm the truth and explain everything obliterated any lingering hesitation. Lin Xiao reached out, found the zipper, and with a sharp zip, pulled the flap open and crawled inside.
The compact space inside the tent instantly grew tighter, filling with Su Mubai’s familiar, clean scent.
Little Yu had already sat up. By the faint starlight filtering through the open flap, he recognized the intruder and murmured, “Brother Lin? What’s going on?”
Lin Xiao’s eyes, however, locked instantly onto the slender figure lying on the other side of the tent, facing away from him.
His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. Forcing a strained, awkward smile toward the boy, Lin Xiao said in a rough, dry voice, “Little Yu, do you mind… heading over to Brother Wang Qiang’s tent to sleep for tonight? I… I really need to talk to your Brother Little Bai.”
Daily Life of Being Turned Gay by the Male Lead After Transmigrating into an Apocalypse
