Chapter 79.2 Savage Expansion (12)
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His eyes scrutinized Lin Zhaohe, evaluating something. After a moment, the man smiled softly and said, “We warmly welcome readers like you.”
Lin Zhaohe smiled faintly in response.
The man turned and vanished into the darkness. Huo Nanjing was dumbfounded and about to ask questions when Lin Zhaohe covered his mouth abruptly, dragging him forcefully to the restroom before releasing his grip.
“Damn, damn, damn!” In the restroom, Lin Zhaohe’s reaction was even more exaggerated than Huo Nanjing’s. He hopped around and spun in circles, his eyes reddened, muttering incomprehensible words.
Due to the recent encounter, Huo Nanjing dared not speak too loudly. He cautiously tugged at Lin Zhaohe’s sleeve and asked, “Brother Lin, are you okay? Who was that person just now?”
Lin Zhaohe replied, “Didn’t he already answer? He’s the library administrator!”
Huo Nanjing muttered, “So he’s the one in charge of the entire library.”
Lin Zhaohe was so excited because he recognized the person’s identity.
He had written quite a few popular novels, and that character was one of his most beloved antagonists. Just like now, in the original story, he was a library administrator, and even the main character couldn’t match up to him in his library.
Every person who entered his library had to follow his rules—no loud noises, no damaging items, no attacking others, and so on.
When that person appeared, Lin Zhaohe knew he was saved. All those monsters combined couldn’t stand a chance against this character in the library. Lin Zhaohe’s task was to remain quiet and enjoy the victory.
“The library is safe now. Don’t make any noise and don’t damage the books,” Lin Zhaohe took a deep breath and solemnly reminded Huo Nanjing of the library’s rules. “As long as he’s here, the monsters can’t get in.”
Huo Nanjing listened, feeling a bit confused, but obediently nodded in agreement.
Lin Zhaohe examined his communicator, which was completely broken. He wasn’t sure if the chip inside was damaged or if it could still be used for tracking. He planned to tend to his wounds and rest in the library before setting off again.
Monsters didn’t need to sleep or rest, but humans did. The intense escape had exhausted them both. Huo Nanjing applied medicine to Lin Zhaohe’s back wound and asked if it hurt. Lin Zhaohe gritted his teeth and said he could bear it.
Huo Nanjing looked at the grim wound on Lin Zhaohe’s back, frowned, and said, “Wait here. I’ll go out and buy some bandages, then come back.”
Lin Zhaohe nodded in agreement.
Huo Nanjing left, and Lin Zhaohe sat in the corner of the restroom, closing his eyes to rest. Unknowingly, he drifted into a drowsy state and fell asleep. In a half-dream, half-awake state, he was forcefully shaken awake by Huo Nanjing. Opening his eyes, he was met with Huo Nanjing’s expression, as if he had seen a ghost.
Lin Zhaohe was startled by his expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Brother… Brother Lin,” Huo Nanjing said, “Why are you out here?”
Lin Zhaohe replied, “Hmm?”
Huo Nanjing explained in a jumbled manner, but Lin Zhaohe managed to understand. Basically, Huo Nanjing went downstairs to buy the bandages Lin Zhaohe needed and discovered that the previously messy first floor had completely transformed. It had returned to its clean and orderly state, with even the lights above shining brightly. The hall was quiet, and the bookshelves displayed a vast collection of books, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and harmony.
After a bad experience, Huo Nanjing was afraid of unexpected occurrences. He took the bandages and planned to return to the second floor. As he turned the corner of the stairs, his peripheral vision caught sight of a figure that shouldn’t be there.
Lin Zhaohe, who should have been waiting in the second-floor restroom, appeared in the corner of the first floor. He wore a clean shirt and held a pen in his hand, writing furiously. Standing beside him was a tall and slender man. The man picked up his coffee and took a sip, then handed another cup to Lin Zhaohe. The only difference between them was that the man didn’t have the furry ears that Lin Zhaohe had on his head.
Lin Zhaohe took the coffee cup and naturally leaned over to kiss the man’s cheek.
Watching this scene, Huo Nanjing was dumbfounded. His first thought was when did Lin Zhaohe start dating someone and come down here? But he quickly realized that the person in front of him was definitely not Lin Zhaohe. What was happening? Could it be that Lin Zhaohe’s imagination had turned into reality?
With that thought in mind, Huo Nanjing sprinted back to the second floor at full speed and shook Lin Zhaohe awake.
Lin Zhaohe was baffled after listening to Huo Nanjing’s description. He thought, “What kind of ghost story is this? It’s one thing to write a novel downstairs, but how could a morally upright person like me get involved with another man?” Startled awake, he quickly pulled Huo Nanjing and anxiously urged him to go and see for himself.
When they reached the first floor, they indeed witnessed the scene that Huo Nanjing had described. No, to be more precise, the situation was even more outrageous than Huo Nanjing’s description. Lin Zhaohe had already been embraced by the boss, and the two of them were intimately entangled.
Huo Nanjing asked in a hushed voice, “Brother Lin, is this your boyfriend?”
Lin Zhaohe’s eyes turned red as he whispered, “No!”
Huo Nanjing questioned, “Then what is this?”
Lin Zhaohe had no idea what this was, but before he could speak, that annoying kid Huo Nanjing blurted out, “Could it be your wet dream?”
Now, not only Lin Zhaohe’s eyes but his entire face turned red. His fair skin seemed like it would start bleeding. He and the boss were innocent, and they never shared such intimate memories. However, if it had to be called a wet dream… it seemed…
Lin Zhaohe showed a hint of guilt and immediately retorted, “Nonsense! How could I possibly have such dreams?”
Huo Nanjing: “Then what is this?”
Lin Zhaohe: “Come on, let’s go and have a look.” He wanted to see what the identical version of himself was writing.
The two of them walked with lighter steps and approached the scene. As they got closer, they could see more clearly. Huo Nanjing, without giving Lin Zhaohe any face, lowered his voice but couldn’t resist exclaiming, “Wow, Brother Lin, you’re already married?”
The two of them wore identical rings, placed on their ring fingers, naturally indicating wedding bands.
Since the fusion, the laws regarding human requirements had become much more relaxed. Same-sex marriages were no longer a surprise, as long as the species were the same, there wasn’t much of an issue.
Marrying Zhuang Lao? This was truly something Lin Zhaohe couldn’t even dare to imagine. However, at this moment, such a scene appeared before him, filled with such harmony.
Lin Zhaohe fell silent. Anything he said now would make him feel embarrassed. He could only pretend to be calm and approach to see if the two people before him were illusions or a real existence. However, before he could step forward, he was stopped by the librarian who appeared from nowhere. The librarian stretched out his hand to block Lin Zhaohe’s path and said, “I’m sorry, that area over there is the faculty section of the library. Students and outsiders are not allowed to enter.”
Lin Zhaohe was stunned and said, “I am a faculty member here!”
The librarian shook his head and said, “Please show me your faculty ID.”
Naturally, Lin Zhaohe didn’t have it, and he couldn’t argue with the librarian. He could only be kept outside, unable to see what his other self was writing inside.
Huo Nanjing consoled him, “It’s alright, Brother Lin. I won’t tell anyone about the contents of your dreams.” As he said he wouldn’t, when Lin Zhaohe wasn’t paying attention, he quietly took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of the scene before him.
Lin Zhaohe said, “I’ve already told you it’s not a dream—”
Huo Nanjing patted his shoulder. “Which young man doesn’t daydream?”
Lin Zhaohe: “……”
Although he denied it being his own dream, the works in this library seemed to be all about him. Could it be that in some secret, unknown corner of his heart, he harbored feelings for Zhuang Lao… Lin Zhaohe began seriously reflecting on himself.
“Hey, where did that guy go?” Huo Nanjing asked.
Lin Zhaohe lifted his gaze and noticed that the person who looked exactly like him had stopped writing and instead lit a cigarette, silently taking a puff.
Amidst the swirling smoke, his features became hazy, a hint of melancholy thickening between his brows, his gaze falling upon the window.
“You two seem to be somewhat different,” Huo Nanjing frowned. “He seems to have a lot on his mind.”
Lin Zhaohe: “Actually, I have concerns too.”
Huo Nanjing: “What concerns?”
Lin Zhaohe: “The person beside him is actually my boss…”
Huo Nanjing: “Oh? An office romance?”
Lin Zhaohe: “But we are innocent now.”
Huo Nanjing: “So it’s an office daydream.”
Lin Zhaohe: “……” Why are kids these days so sharp-tongued?
“Oh no,” Huo Nanjing said, “How did a daydream turn into a nightmare? They’re arguing now.”
Upon hearing Huo Nanjing’s words, Lin Zhaohe looked again at Zhuang Lao and the other version of himself. It seemed like they were engaged in a heated argument, both wearing exceptionally serious expressions. Although Lin Zhaohe couldn’t hear their conversation, he could vaguely sense an air of unwavering determination. In the end, Lin Zhaohe appeared to be at a disadvantage, his face turning pale as he sat down. On the other hand, Zhuang Lao softened his expression and gently leaned in, whispering words of appeasement into his ear. Lin Zhaohe’s expression finally relaxed slightly, and the two of them reconciled.
“Thank goodness, they made up,” Huo Nanjing said, moved.
Lin Zhaohe: “Should I give you some sunflower seeds so you can crack them while watching?”
Huo Nanjing: “Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?”
Lin Zhaohe: You have plenty of nerve.
Being in a romantic relationship with his boss was a highly uncomfortable situation for Lin Zhaohe. It wasn’t that he didn’t like it, but rather, he felt a sense of shame from having his private feelings exposed. Lin Zhaohe recalled Zhuang Lao’s gentle expression when he turned into a puppy. He wondered if something truly happened between him and his boss, something he had forgotten.
“Lin Zhaohe.” As if his thoughts had conjured it, Lin Zhaohe actually heard Zhuang Lao calling his name. Huo Nanjing also heard it and exclaimed in excitement, “There’s a voice! It’s not a silent play!”
“Wait,” Lin Zhaohe furrowed his brows, “Why is the voice coming from the window?”
Huo Nanjing exclaimed, “Huh?”
“Lin Zhaohe—” The voice did indeed come from outside the window. Lin Zhaohe followed the sound and saw Zhuang Lao standing under the moonlight. His intense gaze pierced through the window and fell upon Lin Zhaohe, carrying a heavy weight that settled in his heart.
“Your husband is here!” Huo Nanjing exclaimed in delight.
Lin Zhaohe said, “Shh… Keep your voice down! This damn guy is not my husband. No, wait! Ugh! He’s my boss!”
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