Forbidden Land – CH 127

The next day was Monday, and a major event occurred: the devastating 512 Wenchuan earthquake of 2008.

Although the tremors were barely felt in Zhejiang, Zhang Chao, like most others, followed the news online for the next few days.

He skipped self-study for the next few days but kept in touch with Zhu Xiaoyu daily. Seeing that Zhu Xiaoyu showed no signs of distress, he gradually began to doubt the prediction in the text message. However, he also vaguely sensed that Zhu Xiaoyu wasn’t as fierce as before; on the contrary, she seemed increasingly gentle towards him, sometimes even unintentionally acting coquettish.

Could Zhu Xiaoyu have feelings for him?

Zhang Chao felt neither happy nor unhappy.

Three days later, on Thursday evening, the earthquake news had died down, and those not directly involved began to pay less attention.

This time, Zhu Xiaoyu took the initiative to invite Zhang Chao to self-study.

After self-study, it was already 10 PM. Zhu Xiaoyu suggested going out through the back gate of the school to get a late-night snack.

The two arrived at a barbecue restaurant in Wenzhou Village and ordered some meat skewers and two large cups of cola.

Zhang Chao suddenly thought, Lin Yi’ang was a buddy; it wouldn’t be good to go out for late-night snacks without him. If Lin Yi’ang found out, it would create another scandalous news story. So he said, “By the way, should I call Lin Yi’ang and ask him to come out and eat with us?”

Zhu Xiaoyu immediately shook her head and said, “No way! Letting such a sleazy guy come along to eat? You two can eat; I’m going back.” With that, she stood up to leave.

Zhang Chao quickly said, “Okay, okay, don’t get excited. Sit down, sit down, we won’t call him.”

Zhu Xiaoyu smiled casually, then shrugged back in her chair and sat obediently, saying, “I have a question for you; I don’t know if you can answer it.”

Zhang Chao said, “Go ahead and ask.”

Zhu Xiaoyu said, “How many girlfriends have you had?”

“This…” Zhang Chao hesitated for a moment, then said, “Why are you asking this?”

Zhu Xiaoyu said, “Just asking.”

Zhang Chao said, “A few, I guess.”

Zhu Xiaoyu wouldn’t let it go. “How many exactly?”

Zhang Chao said, “Two or three.”

Zhu Xiaoyu shook her head. “You said two or three, so it must be four or five.”

Zhang Chao frowned and shook his head, looking helpless, then changed the subject: “Why isn’t it ready yet? Boss, hurry up, or we are leaving!”

Zhu Xiaoyu said, “Just tell me.”

Zhang Chao said, “I need to go to the toilet; I really need to pee.”

Zhu Xiaoyu sighed and said, “Then go ahead. If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine too.”

Five minutes later, Zhang Chao returned. The barbecue was ready. Zhang Chao devoured the skewers and gulped down his drink, eager to finish this late-night snack so he could send Zhu Xiaoyu back to her dorm.

But Zhu Xiaoyu seemed to eat with unusual care, chewing each bite carefully for a while and frequently glancing at Zhang Chao’s face, her eyes sparkling.

Zhang Chao felt a little embarrassed by her gaze, and his face seemed to flush slightly.

In no time, his entire face felt slightly hot.

Zhu Xiaoyu suddenly asked, “You live alone in the dorm; um… are you lonely?”

Zhang Chao was startled, looking into Zhu Xiaoyu’s bright eyes. He seemed a little thirsty and quickly drank a few more sips of his drink.

Zhu Xiaoyu said softly, “Why…why aren’t you answering me?”

“I…” Zhang Chao felt his mind go blank, and his body felt increasingly hot, a surge of heat coursing through his lower body. His face flushed, he lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhu Xiaoyu smiled. After a while, they finished eating, paid the bill, and the two stood up and walked towards the school.

When they reached the main road outside Wenzhou Village, where there were few people, Zhu Xiaoyu suddenly took Zhang Chao’s hand.

Zhang Chao was startled but felt his entire body burning hot. He wanted…wanted…

Zhu Xiaoyu murmured, “Actually…I…quite like you.”

Zhang Chao stood there, his hand unconsciously tightening its grip on Zhu Xiaoyu’s.

Such a small hand, soft and boneless.

A gentle night breeze blew, and Zhu Xiaoyu, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, possessed a hazy, alluring charm.

The night was cool and still. “My beauty, are your arms cold?” he asked.

Zhang Chao placed his other hand on Zhu Xiaoyu’s arm, then pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

Staring at her moist lips, wasn’t she…wasn’t she incredibly alluring?

At this moment, Zhang Chao’s mind felt increasingly chaotic, and his body grew hotter.

This… didn’t seem right.

“I don’t like Zhu Xiaoyu, do I? Isn’t this happening a bit too fast?”

“Is it because I drank cola earlier? The meat skewers must have had a lot of MSG in them. Some people say that cola and MSG can act as a catalyst, like an aphrodisiac.”

“Was it really because I drank cola and ate MSG?”

“What should I do?”

Zhang Chao looked at Zhu Xiaoyu, somewhat at a loss. One thought told him that Zhu Xiaoyu wasn’t his type. But another thought craved a taste of her.

“How about… how about… we don’t stay in the dorm tonight?”

Zhu Xiaoyu remained silent, offering no response.

Zhang Chao gritted his teeth, a surge of excitement and intense impulse rising within him. He then pulled her along, heading back towards the return route to Wenzhou Village.

However, at this moment, he had completely forgotten Du Xuemin’s instructions.