Chapter 11: Bad Human! Why Bully a Zombie?
“Little Zhang, clear away what’s left on the coffee table. I’ll take the trash out while I’m at it.”
Qin Jianye: “…”
Little Zhang froze for a moment but didn’t dare say anything.
Before long, Qin Zelin left the hospital room with Cen Miao, carrying a bag in one hand. Before leaving, he coldly tossed one last remark at Qin Jianye.
“Your mouth is covered in grease. Wipe it.”
The door slammed shut with a bang.
Qin Jianye stared blankly for a moment, then turned to Shao Siheng with wide eyes.
“That little brat figured it out ages ago, didn’t he?!”
Shao Siheng shook his head helplessly. “I kept signaling you, but you were so immersed in your performance that you didn’t even look at me.”
Remembering his own impassioned performance just now, Qin Jianye’s ears grew hot, and his aged face flushed red.
“…”
On the ride home, Cen Miao stared at the bottle of cola one of the nurses had slipped him before he left. He licked his lips and reached out with a sinful little hand.
Pss… Pssssssht~
Cola sprayed everywhere.
Qin Zelin had just finished instructing his assistant to hire two nutritionists to manage his grandfather’s daily meals when he was sprayed all over.
“Ah… Mmph.”
Cen Miao froze, then instinctively covered the bottle opening with his mouth. However, cola continued spilling from the corners of his lips.
“Mmph… Mmph.”
The driver and bodyguard sucked in a sharp breath.
“!!!”
Hiss—The boss’s germaphobia…
Qin Zelin: “…”
He silently stared at the sticky cola splattered across himself and the car. A spark of anger suddenly flared within him.
He took a deep breath and frowned at the culprit.
Yet the moment he saw Cen Miao’s bedraggled state and the helpless panic flickering in his dark eyes, the anger inexplicably vanished, leaving only resignation.
Qin Zelin took the bottle, which was still fizzing over, screwed the cap back on, and set it by his feet. Then he dampened a towel with mineral water and handed it to Cen Miao.
“Wipe yourself.”
“Oh. Why did that big sister give me… a bomb?” Cen Miao muttered as he wiped his face.
Qin Zelin remembered faintly hearing liquid sloshing as they came down in the elevator.
“…You secretly shook the bottle just now, didn’t you?”
Cen Miao: “…?”
Shaking the bottle made it explode?
“I-I didn’t.”
His dark eyes trembled before he guiltily turned to look out the window.
He smacked his lips. His tongue felt sweet and pleasantly tingly.
This explosive water… tasted pretty good.
Qin Zelin nearly laughed at the way he stubbornly denied it despite looking so guilty.
He reached out, pinched Cen Miao’s cheek, and forcefully turned his face back. His dark eyes fixed on the guilty person before him.
“Did you shake it or not?”
“I didn’t… Mmph.”
The moment he spoke, his cheek was pinched, making his lips pout.
The skin beneath Qin Zelin’s fingers was warm, soft, and smooth as fine porcelain.
It felt far too pleasant.
As though possessed, Qin Zelin released Cen Miao’s cheek, pinched it again, let go, then pinched it once more, like he was teasing a puff-cheeked little hamster.
It was quite fun.
Having another younger brother wasn’t so bad.
At least Cen Miao was much more entertaining than Qin Zexi.
“I didn’t… Mmph… didn’t… Mmph… didn’t… Mmph… Mmph?”
Cen Miao’s voice came out muffled from all the pinching.
“???”
Despicable bad human!
Why was he bullying a zombie?
?(??´)?
“Bad person!”
His brows twisted into knots with anger. He opened his mouth with an awoo and fiercely bit down on the web between Qin Zelin’s thumb and forefinger.
Having forgotten that he no longer possessed sharp teeth, Cen Miao instinctively held back, afraid he might bite straight through his caretaker.
The little force he did use landed on Qin Zelin’s hand, feeling more like a half bite, half lick.
Qin Zelin’s expression turned unnatural for a moment.
“…?”
Why was he… acting spoiled with him again?
The driver pursed his lips.
“…”
So all that cold aloofness before was an act, huh?
You’re clearly dying from how cute he is.
Back at the villa, Butler Lin was admiring the newly completed art studio when he finally realized the two of them were gone. After asking around, he learned that they had gone to the hospital together.
He anxiously slapped his thigh.
“This is bad! This is bad!”
Butler Lin hurriedly pulled out his phone. Before he could send a warning, he saw a string of messages from the Old Master.
Phew.
Fortunately, they hadn’t been exposed.
The next morning, Monday, Cen Miao followed the navigation Little Li had set up for him and wobblingly rode his little electric scooter to school.
Honk—
A piercing horn sounded behind him, followed by the screech of brakes.
Startled, Cen Miao’s hand jerked. The scooter swerved sharply, nearly throwing him off.
He turned around and saw a purple car.
It was short, ugly, and somehow even uglier than his husband’s black one.
The door opened.
Cen Ning deliberately let his gaze linger for two seconds on Cen Miao’s obviously cheap padded coat before feigning surprise.
“Oh, it’s you? I saw you from far away and thought, who would wear something so…”
Before he could finish, he caught sight of Xu Jianian approaching from the corner of his eye.
His voice immediately rose, and his tone shifted into one of concern and thoughtfulness.
“Brother, Mom was probably only angry because you secretly hid some money. Once she calms down, she’ll take you home again. Don’t be too upset.”
Images from the original owner’s memories flashed through Cen Miao’s mind.
It had clearly been Cen Ning who cut his clothes, yet he had lied to their mother and claimed Cen Miao had done it himself because he was angry that they had taken back the money Grandpa left him.
That was what ultimately got Cen Miao thrown out.
The bad younger brother who used to bully the original owner!
“What happened last time was my fault,” Cen Ning softened his voice, his expression carrying just the right amount of seemingly genuine regret. “I only wanted to bring them over to support you, but they disliked the coffee you made and filed a complaint. Don’t be angry.”
Cen Miao replied, “Oh. It’s good that you know you were wrong.”
Cen Ning’s expression cracked for an instant before he smiled again.
“I’m so glad you’re willing to forgive me, Brother.”
Cen Miao: “…?”
When had he said he forgave him?
“I don’t forgive you. I hate you.”
“You…” Cen Ning glanced behind Cen Miao and suddenly softened his voice. “I know you hate me because you think Mom favors me. Why don’t I let you drive my car, Brother? But be careful with it. Mom only just bought it for me.”
Cen Miao frowned at the sports car, his gaze full of distaste.
“I don’t want your car. It’s ugly. It doesn’t look nice.”
It wasn’t nearly as cute as his scooter.
His scooter had several pictures on it.
Cen Ning clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his palms. Then he looked pitifully behind Cen Miao.
“Brother Jianian.”
As though he had suffered some enormous grievance.
Xu Jianian gave a quiet “Mm,” but his gaze barely lingered on Cen Ning.
“Miaomiao, do you have time right now? I’d like to talk to you about the part-time job.”
“!!!”
It was Senior Xu, the one who would pay him to be a zombie!
A good human!
Cen Miao turned around at once, a smile appearing on his face and revealing both dimples.
“Yes! I have time!”
A trace of surprise flashed through Xu Jianian’s eyes before he smiled gently.
“Great. You have an exam this morning, right? I happen to be heading toward that teaching building too. Shall we go together? I’ll push your scooter for you.”
“Mm! Thank you… Senior Xu.”
Seeing the two of them talk as though he didn’t exist, Cen Ning dug his nails deeper into his palm, jealousy driving him nearly mad.
Why did this unwanted bastard, abandoned from birth, keep stealing things from him?
He had stolen Grandpa’s affection when they were children, spent all day pretending to be obedient in a delusional attempt to win their parents’ love, and now he even dared to compete with Cen Ning for the person he liked.
“Brother Jianian, what kind of part-time job is it? My mom has been telling me to get some real-world experience lately. She’d definitely feel reassured if I worked with you.”
“We’ve already filled all the positions.” Xu Jianian’s expression turned distant as he gave Cen Ning a slight nod. “We’ll be going now.”
Cen Ning gritted his teeth as he watched them walk away.
His expression shifted, and a strange feeling suddenly rose in his heart.
