Chapter 31 Seaside Villa

Chapter 31: The Beach Villa - All Because You Protected Me Too Well...

Despite the serene scene, their vigilance remained unbroken. Holding their breath, the group meticulously pushed open each half-closed door, every movement executed with utmost caution. Ten pairs of keen eyes swept over every inch of the rooms—from windows to cabinet interiors, from wall corners to tabletops—leaving no detail unchecked. Each space, without exception, was found to be impeccably neat and clean.

After confirming the first floor was clear, they swiftly devised their next course of action. Bai Suizhi and Kahn were assigned to guard the first floor, while the remaining three proceeded to check the second. This arrangement ensured mutual support in case of emergencies, preventing them from being caught in a pincer attack.

As the immediate tension eased, a pervasive ache began to spread through Bai Suizhi's body. He raised a hand to massage the back of his neck, then rotated his head from side to side, trying to clear his mind.

Kahn watched Bai Suizhi intently, his lips pressed into a thin line. Noticing his gaze, Bai Suizhi paused his movements and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Why the long face?"

Kahn replied, "You know why."

Bai Suizhi, of course, understood Kahn's concern for his injuries, but he wanted to hear it directly from him. So, feigning ignorance, he pressed on, "How would I know if you don't tell me? What is it? Did you spot anything unusual?"

Kahn lowered his gaze, concealing the turbulent emotions in his eyes, and played along with Bai Suizhi's words: "When the window exploded, my mind went blank. I had no idea what was happening. Then I saw you bleeding—so much blood that for a moment I wondered if the sea had always been red. In that instant, I wished those shards had hit me instead, or pierced through me, so I wouldn’t have to feel this awful."

Kahn's words felt like sharp daggers, mercilessly carving into the tenderest part of Bai Suizhi's heart. This emotional pain even eclipsed the agony from his own gruesome wounds.

Bai Suizhi took Kahn's wrist, pulling him into a tight embrace, and said with heartfelt remorse, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry... Please don't be sad..."

He had only intended to elicit a word of concern from Kahn, but when Kahn laid bare his pain, worry, and self-blame, Bai Suizhi found himself overwhelmed. Seeing those bloodshot eyes, he suddenly realized how utterly despicable it was to force Kahn to expose his suffering just to satisfy his own selfish curiosity.

Kahn's eyes were tinged with an unhealthy red, his Adam's apple bobbing in his tense neck as he instinctively tried to pull away from Bai Suizhi's embrace. But Bai Suizhi held him tightly, and Kahn, fearing he might aggravate Bai Suizhi's injuries, dared not struggle further.

Leaning gently against Bai Suizhi, his forehead resting on his shoulder, Kahn whispered, "I hate you, Bai Suizhi."

Bai Suizhi's heart constricted. He tightened his hold on Kahn, his voice trembling as he said, "This was my fault. I made a mistake. I apologize. Please don't hate me."

Kahn rubbed his eyes against Bai Suizhi's clothes—a subtle movement, but Bai Suizhi keenly sensed the scorching heat and faint dampness through the fabric.

He quickly released Kahn, cupping his face in his hands. Sure enough, those beautiful amber eyes were now veiled with a misty sheen. Bai Suizhi's fingers gently traced the corner of Kahn's eye, sending a tingling sensation through him. Kahn subtly avoided the touch, blinking uncomfortably.

Seeing Kahn pull away, Bai Suizhi grew anxious, thinking he still didn't want to engage. Unconsciously, his grip tightened slightly, causing the corner of Kahn's eye to instantly redden. A soft, pained whimper escaped Kahn's lips.

Bai Suizhi immediately let go, standing frozen and at a loss, unsure what to do with his hands and feet. His shoulders slumped, like a golden retriever awaiting punishment after misbehaving.

Silence descended between them, the room deathly still.

Suddenly, Kahn chuckled softly and stroked Bai Suizhi's lowered head. "What's wrong? Why the long face?" He threw Bai Suizhi's own words back at him.

Bai Suizhi shot him a reproachful look. "You're so vindictive." Then he gently nudged Kahn's hand with his head.

Kahn's smile widened, his damp eyes seeming to catch a ray of sunlight, so bright it was mesmerizing. "Yes, I am vindictive."

Bai Suizhi's mood lifted with that smile. Seizing the moment, he asked sheepishly, "So... you don’t hate me, right?"

Kahn patted his head again and said softly, "Guess."

Bai Suizhi pouted unhappily. "You don’t, right?"

Kahn replied calmly, "Maybe."

Bai Suizhi groaned in frustration, "Ahhh, just tell me!"

Seeing he’d teased enough, Kahn relented, "I don’t hate you. I not only hold grudges, but I also remember love." He clearly remembered every kind thing Bai Suizhi had done for him—how could he bear to hate someone who treated him so well? But Bai Suizhi was such an idiot for needing to ask something so obvious.

To Bai Suizhi, the words carried a different, more profound meaning. His ears burned, and he looked shy as he replied after a pause, "Me too."

Kahn was puzzled. *Me too?* As in, you don’t hate me either? Or you hold grudges too?

Before he could figure it out, the scouting team returned excitedly. The two quickly snapped back to attention and went to greet them.

Ao Xifeng reported, "Kahn, Brother Bai, there are no zombies upstairs either. And there’s a swimming pool on the rooftop terrace—it’s really luxurious."

Bai Suizhi smiled. "Seems we got lucky this time."

Oliver added, "I can’t believe it either. Everything’s gone smoother than expected! It feels like a dream..."

Chen Yi wondered, "Is this considered smooth? I feel like there were too many mishaps—first the mutant bird attack, then the helicopter crash. Surviving alone is a miracle."

Gu Ze, who had had a relatively smooth journey, couldn’t relate to Oliver’s excitement, but he was pleasantly surprised that the villa was zombie-free. He had expected at least one or two.

Oliver suddenly fell silent.

He remembered their late-night talk when they first met, where he’d realized a bleak truth: the gap in their luck was wider than that between Musk and Grayson. Who was Grayson? Oh, Grayson was his dear father.

Amid Oliver’s silence, Chen Yi recalled something and demanded sharply, "Oliver, didn’t you say there wouldn’t be any mutant animals in the sky, just a few cute little birds at most?" He gritted his teeth as he uttered the last five words.

Oliver retorted, "Why is your memory so good at times like this?"

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes at him.

Oliver raised his hands in surrender. "I won’t speak carelessly anymore."

Chen Yi stroked his chin, deducing like Detective Conan, and exclaimed, "I get it now! Our bad luck is because of you, you unlucky charm! We could’ve made it straight to the survivors' base, but we ended up stranded here because of you."

Seeing his carefully hidden truth exposed, Oliver quickly changed the subject. "Brother Bai, we need to treat the wounds on your face quickly."

Gu Ze stepped forward with a first-aid kit he’d found upstairs. He had intended to give it to Bai Suizhi immediately, but the two fools kept interrupting, leaving him no chance to speak.

Kahn naturally took the kit from Gu Ze and had Bai Suizhi sit on the sofa, carefully cleaning his wounds.

The others acted in unison to lock all the doors and windows, then gathered on the first floor.

They had previously agreed that if the villa was safe, they would all stay on the first floor for easier evacuation in case of danger. Staying together offered a higher safety margin than splitting across two floors.

The well-trained team quickly locked everything down, reinforcing the doors with heavy objects to create a simple safe house. With that done, they could finally relax their tense nerves and rest properly.

But now, none of them felt like sleeping or eating to regain energy. Instead, they lingered in the living room, watching Dr. Kahn’s treatment and chattering away.

Oliver praised, "Kahn, your bandaging skills are getting more and more professional."

Chen Yi remarked, "That doesn’t sound like something to be happy about."

Oliver sighed, "...True." Two simple words conveyed endless sorrow.

Bai Suizhi reminded them, "After that crash, you must be injured too. Check yourselves for injuries."

Hearing this, they finally remembered they had just survived a helicopter crash. They focused inward to check how they felt and indeed felt dull, aching pains.

Chen Yi lifted his shirt to reveal a large bruise on his ribs. Gu Ze also rotated his arm, while Kahn continued tending to Bai Suizhi.

Oliver remained silent.

Chen Yi noticed Oliver’s unusual silence and asked worriedly, "Oliver, where are you hurt?"

The others turned to look at Oliver, who grew embarrassed under their gaze and mumbled, "Nowhere..."

Seeing this, Chen Yi grew even more anxious. Without a word, Gu Ze lifted Oliver up, who frantically threw his hands up to block him. Gu Ze restrained his flailing arms and signaled for Chen Yi to come check him over.

After the examination, it turned out Oliver wasn’t injured at all—not even a minor scratch.

Once the results were clear, Gu Ze released Oliver, who said somewhat sheepishly, "It’s just that you all protected me too well." Back in the helicopter, everyone had shielded him. Even though he was sitting in the worst spot, he ended up being the only one without a single injury.

Chen Yi grinned, flashing a bright, toothy grin. "So, are you touched? So touched you cried?"

Oliver: "Who’s crying?"

Chen Yi: "Back in the helicopter. I saw you crying."

Oliver instinctively retorted, "Nonsense."

Gu Ze said calmly, "I saw it too."

Kahn: "Mm."

Bai Suizhi: "Ohhh～"

Oliver: "You still had time to watch me in such a critical moment?!"

The others: "Yeah."

Oliver: "...Just kill me now."

After bandaging the wound on Bai Suizhi’s face, Kahn applied medicated liquor to the bruises on his body. You had to hand it to the villa—the medical kit was incredibly well-stocked, offering a full range of both Chinese and Western medicines.

Once Bai Suizhi was treated, Dr. Kahn proceeded to tend to the other patients one by one. Oliver, who was still at full health, took on the role of assistant, learning and helping as he went.

The quick-learner Oliver soon mastered Master Kahn’s treatment techniques and even got to practice on Kahn, who had also gotten hurt, with great success.

And so, Oliver, still at full health, and his four injured companions found temporary refuge in this beautiful beachside villa.