Level 1 Little Zombie Doomsday Growth Diary - Extra 4

Extra 4 – Hmm?

Before returning to the Small Wooden Cabin, Little Cabbage had proactively suggested to Sunflower that it relay a message to Nan Tingjin: it was time to give Qian Hui a bath. If convenient, Little Cabbage, Apple, and several other plants could come over to help.

Nan Tingjin simply replied, “Alright,” without agreeing to let Little Cabbage come.

Outside the Small Wooden Cabin, Little Cabbage crouched beside the water pipe, carefully feeling it with its hand.

Finding the pipe warm and the cabin quiet, Little Cabbage concluded that Nan Tingjin could handle things alone.

Relieved, Little Cabbage bid farewell to the Carnivorous Flower guarding the perimeter and returned to sleep with Apple and Soft Vine.

Inside, Qian Hui squatted curiously beside the wooden bathtub, reaching out to touch the continuously flowing hot water.

Nan Tingjin adjusted the water temperature. Seeing Qian Hui didn’t object, he undressed him and gently placed him in the tub.

A few seconds later, water splashed everywhere as Qian Hui, his face filled with panic, clung tightly to Nan Tingjin, refusing to stay in the tub.

Nan Tingjin tried to soothe him, coaxing, “It’ll be over soon.”

Qian Hui whimpered in protest, still clinging tightly to Nan Tingjin as he burrowed deeper into his arms.

Nan Tingjin could have used his ability to make Qian Hui sit obediently in the bathtub, but that would only terrify him further.

He stroked Qian Hui’s water-dampened hair and relented, “Then we won’t use it.”

Recently, the Black Ridge Mountain Base had sent people to renovate the bathroom. In addition to the bathtub, they had installed a simple shower.

Nan Tingjin spread several towels on the floor, turned on the shower, and began bathing Qian Hui, including washing his hair.

As long as his body wasn’t submerged in water, Qian Hui wasn’t as frightened, but he still clung to Nan Tingjin, trying to avoid the water.

By the time they finally finished the clumsy bath, Nan Tingjin was almost completely soaked himself.

He gently pushed Qian Hui away, took off his coat, and wrapped him in a large bath towel he had prepared. Then he carried him out of the bathroom.

Qian Hui’s hair was also wrapped in a towel, leaving him completely swaddled and unable to move freely.

He struggled weakly against the bed, but couldn’t break free.

Nan Tingjin leaned down and kissed him. “Wait for me a moment.”

He repeated the words patiently, and Qian Hui responded obediently, “Mmm…”

Then Nan Tingjin entered the bathroom, closed the door, and the sound of water began again.

Outside, darkness had fallen. Qian Hui quieted down, leaning against the pillows at the head of the bed, drifting off to sleep.

The moment the bathroom door opened, Qian Hui immediately perked up, struggling to look over.

Nan Tingjin had also showered and changed, his hair dripping wet. He casually wiped it with a towel, tossed the towel aside, and helped Qian Hui sit up.

The room had an external power source. Nan Tingjin held Qian Hui and began blow-drying its hair.

Qian Hui was restless, still wrapped in a bath towel. He leaned in, sniffing the dampness at Nan Tingjin’s neck, then bit a strand of wet hair, licked off the water droplets, and moved to bite Nan Tingjin’s throat.

Nan Tingjin remained unmoved, as if he didn’t even notice, carefully drying Qian Hui’s silver hair.

Getting dressed went smoothly. Qian Hui yawned, watching Nan Tingjin button his clothes.

After finishing, Nan Tingjin kissed Qian Hui’s cheek. “Time for bed.”

Though Qian Hui seemed sleepy, he didn’t want to sleep, likely still overstimulated from playing all day. He tilted his head back, following Nan Tingjin’s scent, and leaned in to lick his lips.

Under the potion’s influence, Qian Hui had become much more assertive than before. Even though he hadn’t fully recovered and might not understand the implications of his actions, he simply wanted to do it, so he did.

They kissed slowly, their breaths mingling. After a long moment, Nan Tingjin reluctantly pulled away.

He turned his head to avoid further contact and repeated softly, “Sleep.”

Qian Hui, still a little disgruntled, likely remembering the forced bath from earlier, bit Nan Tingjin hard, leaving a faint tooth mark on the side of his face.

Nan Tingjin pinched Qian Hui’s chin, felt the blunt teeth, and chuckled, “Doesn’t it hurt anymore?”

Qian Hui had already forgotten about biting the Nut earlier that day. He licked Nan Tingjin’s fingertip and mumbled, “Hungry…”

Nan Tingjin released Qian Hui, lifted the hem of his robe, and patted his belly. He was full.

He stood up and went to the table, retrieving the thermos cup. The water inside had been prepared in advance with a touch of fruit juice, making it slightly sweet and more palatable than plain water.

Qian Hui didn’t refuse. He drank half the cup from Nan Tingjin’s hand and stopped complaining about being hungry.

He nestled obediently against Nan Tingjin’s chest, nuzzling his lips against the spot where he had bitten him earlier.

Nan Tingjin held Qian Hui close, stroking his soft silver hair. But the smile on his face gradually faded.

Qian Hui told him everything, including what he had seen at the Plot Point and the “Zombie King 01” mentioned in the notification after killing the Giant Corpse.

Neither of them remembered these events clearly, and the memories they had recovered were devoid of any negative emotions.

Yet Nan Tingjin could still piece together the full story from these fragments.

To revive him, Qian Hui had essentially traded his own life for Nan Tingjin’s. Had the outcome been different, Nan Tingjin might have been completely transformed into a zombie.

If Qian Hui had encountered him in that state, he might not have recognized him or remembered their past.

But even if Qian Hui didn’t remember, it wouldn’t matter. Nan Tingjin would still keep him by his side, caring for him as tenderly as he did now.

Nan Tingjin held Qian Hui close, lowering his head to gently kiss his silver hair.

Qian Hui yawned again, finally agreeing to sleep, and nestled quietly in his arms.

—

The next morning, Qian Hui woke up a little later than usual.

Just like the previous day, he pounced on Nan Tingjin and nibbled at his Adam’s apple. However, his interest in “biting his prey” quickly waned.

Nan Tingjin, sensing Qian Hui had regained some of his faculties, gently prompted, “Do you know who I am?”

Qian Hui stared at him for a moment, then nuzzled closer, mumbling, “Boyfriend…”

His words were slurred, but Nan Tingjin understood immediately, a smile curving his lips.

Outside the small wooden cabin, several plants were already waiting for Qian Hui to wake up.

White Hydrangea squatted beside Timothy, occasionally glancing at the cabin door.

Little Cabbage dragged a small box containing several freshly steamed pastries.

Pineapple and Strawberry whispered, betting on which plant Qian Hui would grab first when he emerged.

Strawberry believed it would be Sweet Pepper, known for its speed. Although Sweet Pepper hadn’t arrived yet, it was certain it would be the first to reach Qian Hui once the door opened.

The cabin remained silent, and more plants began gathering nearby.

Mango followed Little Mushroom, covering its mouth to cough a few times before strutting around the area with its head held high.

Two dark marks, resembling human bite marks, were visible on its forehead.

Little Lotus Root, who had just emerged from the lake, wiped its head with a towel and peered over curiously.

Hmm? Why does it look like they’re painted on again?

The original bite marks on Mango’s forehead had long since faded, leaving the surface smooth. Now, only two brushstroke-like marks remained, painted with surprising realism.

Little Lotus Root pressed down on its right hand, suppressing the urge to touch them, and casually averted its gaze.

Nearby, a vibrant green shadow hopped toward Lettuce.

The plants looked closer and recognized Nut.

It was wearing a small, grass-woven outfit that Little Cabbage had stayed up all night to make. The outfit nearly covered its entire shell, leaving only two small holes: one for its eyes and mouth, and another at the bottom for stability.

Nut, impatient, waited by the cabin door for Qian Hui to emerge.

The thick, grass-woven outfit wouldn’t make it hot. This way, if Qian Hui still wanted to bite it, his teeth wouldn’t hurt.