Chapter 73 My Boyfriend

Chapter 73 My Boyfriend

After exchanging pleasantries, they began to talk about their experiences over the past few months. As Shenchi had predicted, Xia Yi was saved by Gu Yibei, along with Qi Zicheng, who had returned a day earlier with injuries.

Xia Yi asked, "Did you know he was a spatial ability user?"

Cao Kun raised an eyebrow, "He sure kept it well hidden."

Not only did Qi Zicheng return, but he also brought back research materials and samples on solar energy technology. Unfortunately, the next day, a horde of zombies arrived.

Qi Zicheng was severely injured and lost his combat ability. Gu Yibei carried him and supported him as they fled Jiu Zhou City under the cover of Chen Jinglin and others, escorting Qi Zicheng north to Kongji City. However, halfway there, they encountered the relocation of Kongji City and ended up back in Luyi City.

"Qi Zicheng completed his mission, so Yibei and I decided to stay in Luyi. Yibei participated in search and rescue missions, flying around all day, while I continued my research. Later, because of Anna..." Xia Yi explained, "Anna is the dual-element earth and wood ability user; you must have heard about her, right?"

Shenchi nodded, and Xia Yi continued, explaining that he and Gu Yibei once went out to find zombies for experiments and rescued Anna, who was heavily pregnant and being chased by several high-level zombies. His abilities were discovered by the authorities, but fortunately, the information was protected by the state, and he joined the Research Institute afterward.

Cao Kun asked, "Where is Anna and the child now? I heard they were being kept for your experiments."

Xia Yi sighed, "Don't believe those rumors. Anna is on a mission, but regular sample analysis does occur. Not just Anna—every ability user in Luyi City, including Yibei and me, undergoes regular health checks."

"Do you want to see her?" Gu Yibei spoke up, making a video call.

After a few rings, a breathless female voice came from the other end: "Damn it, Gu Yibei! Are you trying to get me killed so you can inherit my adorable son?!"

Gu Yibei chuckled softly, moving his fingers to project the video onto the table, allowing everyone to see a woman with a high ponytail wearing combat gear running across grass, chased by a horde of zombies. Just as the zombies were about to tear her apart, she stopped, turned around, and looked smugly triumphant.

Boom...

The ground collapsed, and thousands of zombies fell into a deep pit. Several people in camouflage uniforms immediately rushed out to clear the battlefield.

Anna took out a cracked mirror from her bag, looking at her emerald green eyes in the mirror before carefully cleaning her face.

"You're truly a valiant woman, Ms. Anna, as brave and beautiful as ever."

Upon hearing this, Anna finally looked directly at the camera, seeing only Gu Yibei and the background wall behind him. Recognizing where they were, she yelled, "Damn it, Gu Yibei! We're fighting for our lives here, starving for days, and you're still eating and drinking like kings!"

A few people nearby gathered around, "Captain Gu, that's not very brotherly..."

Gu Yibei replied, "Don't worry, when you come back, I'll treat you to three days of feasting."

Everyone cheered, working harder with renewed vigor.

Anna rolled her eyes, "You waste precious communication time on such nonsense? You pervert, Gu Yibei!"

"Snap!" The communication cut off.

Everyone looked at Gu Yibei with a strange expression.

Gu Yibei shrugged, "You know how it is, sometimes couples need a little spice..."

"Gu Yibei, shut up!" Xia Yi threw his chopsticks at him.

The chopsticks stopped mid-air, and Gu Yibei smiled without saying a word, placing them neatly for Xia Yi.

Shenchi said, "Xia Yi, I have something important to tell you."

Gu Yibei, understanding the situation, stood up and said, "You guys eat. I'll go have a smoke outside."

Xia Yi watched his tall figure leave, feeling a sudden discomfort.

Gu Yibei turned back, noticing Xia Yi holding his hand. Xia Yi, facing everyone, felt unsure how to speak.

Gu Yibei sighed, interlacing their fingers, "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Gu Yibei, Xia Yi's boyfriend."

Xia Yi felt both embarrassed and happy, nodding, "He can be trusted."

"I agree," Ming Jing smiled.

Cao Kun snapped, "Stop smiling like an idiot."

Xia Yi laughed, dispelling the last bit of awkwardness. Indeed, a college student-like kid with a mysterious smile was amusing.

After the joke, Xia Yi reached for his wristwatch and tapped it a few times. Everyone present felt a "buzz."

Xia Yi explained, "This is a micro jammer that blocks auditory ability users from eavesdropping."

Ming Jing said, "But wouldn't long periods of silence be suspicious?"

Gu Yibei replied, "No worries, I've set some audio tracks to distract them."

With the jammer activated, Xia Yi felt relieved and could finally ask his most pressing question.

He looked at Shenchi's flat belly, "The child..."

Shenchi instinctively touched his stomach, then laughed bitterly, "That's what I wanted to tell you."

Xia Yi waited for more, but suddenly Shenchi disappeared. Both Xia Yi and Gu Yibei were startled, but Shenchi reappeared a second later, holding a crying baby.

Shenchi had entered the space, and the child woke up, kicking and staring. Upon reappearing, the baby started crying.

Shenchi felt pained, wondering how long he would have to leave the child alone in the space.

Cao Kun noticed Shenchi's mood and squeezed his shoulder, taking the baby to prepare milk, while he cleaned and changed the diaper. Ming Jing took the small pants to wash in the bathroom.

After the commotion, the baby calmed down. Xia Yi held Xiao Ping'an, feeling deeply moved.

Xia Yi kissed Xiao Ping'an's cheek, "I didn't expect you to be a dual-element ability user. No wonder your energy color is completely different from ice ability users."

Gu Yibei was puzzled: "But isn't it true that all spatial abilities can only store items?"

Shenchi said: "I think it might be because mine is a Level 5 spatial ability."

Everyone was startled.

Shenchi then shared his speculations about spatial abilities, and Xia Yi nodded in agreement after listening. "That's right. So far, almost all abilities have undergone qualitative changes after upgrading. For example, the most common strength ability users; we have a Level 4 one who can now giantize. Earth ability users can also alter soil quality and apply it in various ways."

Shenchi then took out a cup of water from his spatial ability. He had tried once and found that the water inside seemed inexhaustible, no matter how much he took out.

Shenchi didn't go into detail about what happened on the day of the incident with Sheng Ping'an. He simply mentioned that this water appeared after his spatial ability upgraded and had the property of rapidly healing wounds.

Xia Yi's eyes lit up as he took the cup of water Shenchi handed him and examined it closely, wishing he could dive into the laboratory right away.

He returned the cup to Shenchi and said: "Let's do it tomorrow. Come to the Research Institute tomorrow, and I'll give you a thorough examination and test the composition of this water. Today won't work; there are too many people around."

Cao Kun recalled the mysterious comment made by the hotel staff and asked: "I heard you're currently researching crystal cores as a new energy source?"

Xia Yi smiled. "Yes, the research is still in its first phase. I don't know who leaked it, but Jiang Zhendong and others came here because of that."

Shenchi: "Again?"

"Previously, they came when Anna's identity was exposed. They wanted to meet Anna and her child and conduct research using their blood samples and hair." Xia Yi shook his head. "Their Dr. Zhong has some remarkable ideas, but some are too extreme. He refused to stay in Luyi. How did you end up in conflict with them?"

Shenchi asked: "Do you know the young man with Jiang Zhendong?"

"I don't know much about him; I've only seen him twice. But... he looks a lot like you."

Shenchi: "His name is Shen Tian, my former cousin."

Xia Yi was enlightened.

Gu Yibei: "Former?"

"I severed ties with my parents and have unresolved conflicts with him. So, if I get the chance, I will kill him." Shenchi looked at Xia Yi. "Including Jiang Zhendong and that doctor."

Shenchi said this partly out of concern that killing them might bring trouble to Xia Yi.

Xia Yi was taken aback. He could see that Shenchi was serious. Recalling what Shen Tian hadn't finished saying earlier, he had a vague idea.

Xia Yi said: "Killing them now might not be possible. You probably don't know that Jiang Zhendong is the leader of Hongshan Base in ChuanShan Province and a Level 4 lightning ability user. Dr. Zhong is affiliated with the Research Institute, though he hasn't officially joined. His actions are still monitored by higher-ups. What just happened here has likely already been reported."

Gu Yibei: "Xia Yi is right. Whether you can kill them is one thing, but whether you should is another. If something happens to Jiang Zhendong, it would be disastrous for the hundreds of thousands of people in Hongshan Base. The country wouldn't allow it."

"Although the country has long had intentions to take control, it's hard to make such a decision quickly. Unless... you have something incriminating against him, which could accelerate their concerns and help you indirectly."

Cao Kun and Ming Jing looked at Shenchi.

Gu Yibei raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Shenchi: "I have the experimental subject of that doctor."

Xia Yi's expression turned serious. "Experimental subject? In your spatial ability?"

"Yes," Shenchi saw Xia Yi's gaze and knew he wanted to see it. "It's too big to take out here."

Xia Yi felt disappointed and confused. "Is it a giantized strength ability user?"

Shenchi: "It's a Level 5 zombie."

Xia Yi drew a sharp breath, immediately understanding where this Level 5 zombie came from. A few days ago, Luyi received the last encrypted communication from Yushan City's safe zone, detailing their attack by giantized Level 5 zombies. However, they had no specific information about the Level 5 zombies.

Gu Yibei: "How do you know this corpse was used in illegal experiments and is related to Dr. Zhong?"

Shenchi: "Xia Yi can verify the experimental traces. As for its connection to that person, the corpse itself holds the answer."

Gu Yibei nodded and stopped asking questions, instead resting his chin on his hand and looking at Xia Yi thoughtfully.

After finishing their discussion and meal, everyone stood up. Xia Yi invited Shenchi and his companions to stay at his place, but Cao Kun declined.

Xia Yi persuaded: "Given the deep-seated conflict between Shenchi and Shen Tian, they might strike first. Stay at my place; I bought an apartment there with high security. It's safer."

Cao Kun: "We don't need to stay at your place; finding us a house would be enough. Crystals are not a problem."

Gu Yibei smiled. "No problem, I'll arrange it by four o'clock this afternoon."

---

**Xia Yi x Gu Yibei Interlude:**

As night fell, under the lamp, Xia Yi was still writing at his desk. Gu Yibei, wearing a silk robe after his shower, wrapped his arms around Xia Yi from behind, partially blocking the light. Xia Yi pushed him away, but Gu Yibei grabbed his hand and caressed it. "You still care about me, otherwise why would you ask me to stay tonight?"

Xia Yi turned his head. "I was worried you'd hold a grudge and cause trouble later."

Gu Yibei's eyes sparkled with amusement as he buried his wet head in Xia Yi's neck. "You know me so well..."

Gu Yibei's actions grew bolder, and Xia Yi pushed him away. "Stop it, I have to see people tomorrow..."

Outside, the drizzle continued, and faintly, a man's low voice could be heard: "Give me a child too..."