Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Shen Muyun felt a subtle unease, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why. The story seemed almost custom-made for them, making him wonder if the village itself harbored something sinister.

Lu Huainan clapped Shen Muyun’s shoulder. "Brother Yun, it’s just a story. No need to fret. Bad things don't keep happening over and over. What's past is past, right?"

Shen Muyun nodded, casting a glance back at the well as they departed.

A little further on lay a forest. Perhaps due to the rain, it exuded an eerie aura when viewed from the outside.

Lu Huainan casually plucked an unknown wildflower from the roadside and placed it in Shen Muyun’s palm. "We'll be lucky. Even the flowers seem to be blessing us in their own mysterious way."

Shen Muyun, not quite understanding, simply followed Lu Huainan deeper into the woods. The forest proved less intimidating than it appeared from afar. Occasionally, they spotted squirrels peeking from trees, and once, a deer, its large eyes blinking at them before vanishing into the dense foliage.

"Brother Yun, what do you think of this place?"

"Ah, well, this place... it could work as a campsite, but we'd need to assess its suitability and ensure it wouldn't harm the local ecosystem."

Lu Huainan smiled. "Yes, that's true."

Perhaps because of the rain, they encountered no one in the forest. The deeper they ventured, the darker it became. To avoid any mishaps, they turned back after a short while.

"Brother Yun, it seems the heavens aren't cooperating. It looks like we're in for a heavy rain tonight."

Shen Muyun nodded. "Perhaps. Are you afraid of rain?"

Lu Huainan, walking ahead, waved a dismissive hand. "Not at all. When I was a kid, I used to play in the rain all the time."

Neither had an umbrella, so they hurried back to their lodging. This time, the front desk was unattended, and no one gave them that intense stare. The awkward feeling vanished without a trace.

Lu Huainan tugged at Shen Muyun’s damp clothes, which clung to him. Outside, the rain intensified as dusk settled.

"Brother Yun, go take a shower quickly. You've always been delicate. Getting caught in the rain might make you catch a cold."

Shen Muyun initially thought nothing of it, but at those words, he felt a sudden tightness in his throat and coughed.

Lu Huainan quickly patted his back, asking with concern, "Are you getting sick? It's all my fault. We shouldn't have gone into that forest."

Shen Muyun shook his head, his voice slightly hoarse. "It's nothing. I'll be fine after some sleep. Don't worry, I'm not that fragile."

Shen Muyun retrieved clothes from his backpack by the entrance and darted into the bathroom. Looking at his flushed face in the mirror, he shook his head helplessly. This body truly was too weak.

Yet, he hadn't seen the System all day. Could it be that there were no tasks here?

"Ding! Host Master, you have a letter from the Time-Space Administration. Please check it. Hope you're enjoying yourself!"

Shen Muyun stared intently at the display screen. Speak of the devil—it never worked that way before.

"Dear Player, greetings from the Time-Space Administration, responsible for task assignments. Based on your performance, this is a temporary task. Location: Baitou Village. Task: Flash flood alert. Lead the villagers to safety."

Shen Muyun was startled. Through the vent window, he saw the heavy rain outside. A flash flood? How?

"System! When did this task appear?"

The System hovered innocently. "I don't know either. I just found the email and notified you right away."

"People could die, System! Is there any way to warn the villagers? They need to evacuate, at the very least."

The System blinked. "Respected Host Master, villages usually have broadcast stations. They'd hear it, but with this rain, even if you warn them, no one will believe you."

"Alright, I understand. You can go now. I need to shower. Any longer and I might really catch a cold."

The System flapped its wings twice and vanished into thin air.

Shen Muyun pulled off his wet clothes, revealing a well-toned physique in the mirror—defined pecs, sculpted abs. Sheesh, was this really what "weak" looked like? More like a clever disguise.

The shower water soaked his body, easing some of his earlier anxiety. The burning sensation in his throat also subsided a bit.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

There was a knock at the door. No need to guess—it was Lu Huainan.

"Brother Yun, are you okay in there? I don't hear anything."

Shen Muyun shook his hair, rinsed off quickly, and walked straight to the door. He opened it, a towel loosely covering his lower body. Water droplets dripped from his wet hair, and his chest was still glistening.

Lu Huainan’s eyes widened instantly, and he took a step back. Shen Muyun suddenly remembered something and grabbed a robe from the hanger, slipping it on casually. The loose garment, combined with the flush at the corners of his eyes, was quite suggestive.

"Uh, Brother Yun, how are you feeling?"

Shen Muyun smiled. "I'm fine, much better. You should go clean up now."

Trying to suppress the inexplicable surge of emotion within him, Lu Huainan ducked into the bathroom and turned on the cold water. "Stay calm, get it together."

Shen Muyun quickly dried his hair and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the heavy rain outside. In the distance, lights flickered, and smoke rose from chimneys—dinnertime. The rain didn't seem too threatening yet, but what if it poured all night?

Shen Muyun opened the window halfway. A strong gust of wind made him close his eyes. The rain carried the damp, earthy smell, instantly flooding his mind with childhood memories.

"Brother Yun, there's a little snail here! Want to see?"

"Huh? Where?"

"Right here. Do you think it'll rain heavily tonight?"

"Maybe."

Bits and pieces of memories flashed before Shen Muyun’s eyes. For a moment, he wasn't sure if it had really happened or if they were scenes from a dream.

Before he could react, a strong arm wrapped around his waist, and the scent of roses enveloped him.

Lu Huainan dropped his head, his chin resting on Shen Muyun’s shoulder. "Brother Yun, what were you thinking about so deeply? You didn't even notice me calling you. The wind is strong here, and you just showered. You'll catch a chill."

Shen Muyun tried to struggle but found himself weak. His head felt dizzy and heavy. There was no denying it—he might actually be getting a fever.

Shen Muyun turned slightly. "Um, Huainan, let go of me. The wind is strong, and I'm not feeling well."

Lu Huainan smiled and released him, then reached up to feel Shen Muyun’s forehead. His smile vanished instantly.

"Brother Yun, are you getting a fever? Crap, I didn't notice earlier, and I was holding you like that."

Lu Huainan quickly closed the window.

Shen Muyun sat down on the bed, his body feeling really out of sorts.

Lu Huainan brought a glass of water from the bedside and held it to Shen Muyun’s lips. "Brother Yun, drink some water. Let me see if there's something for the fever. We should treat it before it gets worse. And let me check your cuts too."

Shen Muyun grabbed Lu Huainan’s hand, his face flushed. Whether it was from the fever or something else, it was hard to tell.

"That, Lu Huainan, go check the front desk. They should have some medicine there."

Lu Huainan hurriedly threw on some clothes and headed out.

Shen Muyun's heart raced, a strange feeling washing over him.

"System, get out here. What's going on?"

The system floated out leisurely, glanced at Shen Muyun on the bed, and said, "Nothing much, Host Master. The original host's body was already weak, and with all the strain you've put on it these past few days, it's bound to get sick. However, Host Master, there's another possibility—your task completion hasn't met expectations, so this is part of the punishment mechanism."

Shen Muyun widened his eyes. This hadn't been mentioned before—what punishment mechanism? "System, you never said anything about this."

"Host Master, you never asked before. The task to win over Lu Huainan was assigned over half a month ago, and you still haven't taken action. Meanwhile, Lu Huainan's favorability has been skyrocketing. Host Master, are you two..."

Before the system could finish, "Shut it! None of that nonsense. Don't let your imagination run wild. Even if it's about winning him over, it's just an act."

Lu Huainan pushed the door open abruptly. The system heard it clearly and immediately vanished, leaving only Shen Muyun behind.

"Brother Yun, I checked the front desk—still no one around. But there's a pharmacy nearby. I checked, and they have ibuprofen."

Shen Muyun calmed himself. "Well, Lu Huainan, do you feel it? The rain is getting heavier."

Lu Huainan nodded. "A bit, but Brother Yun, have you forgotten? It's the rainy season in Jiangcheng. This amount of rain is nothing."

Shen Muyun took the medicine, glanced at the instructions, and took one pill directly. "Lu Huainan, better safe than sorry. I think we should talk to the villagers. I've got this weird, uneasy feeling."

Seeing that Shen Muyun had taken the medicine, Lu Huainan helped tuck him in. "Alright, I'll talk to the village chief later. Originally, we were supposed to speak with him together tonight since the development project involves both the Lu Group and Shen Group. But now, it looks like Brother Yun needs proper rest, so I'll handle it."

After taking the medicine, a wave of drowsiness washed over Shen Muyun. For some reason, he yawned. Lu Huainan can handle things; it should be fine. He closed his eyes, feeling at ease.

Seeing that Shen Muyun had fallen asleep, Lu Huainan finally checked the messages on his phone.

"Village Chief, I'll be there soon, but there's been an unexpected issue here. The representative from Shen Group is unwell, so I'll discuss the development plans with you first."

Lu Huainan sent the message but didn't get a reply for a bit. He decided to go directly to the village chief's house, as it had been arranged earlier and the timing still worked.

Lu Huainan glanced at Shen Muyun on the bed, grabbed an umbrella, and turned to leave.