Chapter 167: "You have a fever?
Night fell. Rainwater pooled on the ground. The once-bustling Gold Street was now deserted. Many businesses had chosen to close for the day, and even the lights seemed dim and desolate.
Fortunately, Wang Daguo had brought a flashlight, so the two of them weren’t forced to search for someone in the pitch-black, rainy night.
After searching back and forth for two hours, Shen Lu’s legs were aching terribly. Her whole body felt like it had been soaked in water, and the stench had numbed her nose to the point where she didn’t even care about taking off her mask.
"Boss, why don’t you head back first?" Wang Daguo asked, looking at Shen Lu with a worried expression.
He was afraid they wouldn’t find Fang Peng, but would instead wear Shen Lu out completely.
"I’ll be fine after a short rest."
The physical exertion was immense. Shen Lu reached into her pocket, but she was actually exchanging points for a chocolate bar from the System Mall.
She needed to replenish her calories, or she’d really have no choice but to head back.
The chocolate melted in her mouth. Its rich sweetness held a hint of bitterness, and combined with the crunch of the nuts, it provided Shen Lu with much-needed energy.
Suddenly, a wet hand clamped around Shen Lu’s wrist and snatched away the half-eaten chocolate bar.
Shen Lu cried out in alarm. Wang Daguo quickly turned, his flashlight illuminating a figure scrambling to escape behind her.
"Fang Peng!" Wang Daguo broke into a run, giving chase. Shen Lu wanted to follow, but she was a step too slow. Without Wang Daguo’s flashlight, she could only grope her way forward slowly to avoid tripping and falling.
She sent a message to Ye Fan and Lin Zhou, telling them to come over and help Wang Daguo.
Half an hour later, the three men caught Fang Peng.
Ye Fan graciously provided a titanium alloy rope that his Mercenary Corps used specifically for restraining people. Only then could they drag him back to the shop.
Shen Lu had Ye Fan take him to the third floor. The first floor was the shop, and the second was her residence. Shen Lu didn’t want any accidents with Fang Peng dirtying her rooms. The floors above were all unfinished, so it didn’t matter if they got messy.
She turned on a few emergency lights, making the lighting conditions decent enough. Shen Lu curiously sized up Fang Peng. The man was filthy, and his eyes were completely filled by his pupils, with not a speck of white to be seen.
She was too tired today. Shen Lu had no energy to pull an all-nighter studying Fang Peng. She told Ye Fan and Lin Zhou to watch him for now; she was going to take a shower and go to sleep.
Wang Daguo trailed after her, stammering, "B-Boss... are you really going to keep him here?"
"I am."
"But what are you keeping him for? Maybe I should take him with me."
"Still worried I’ll hand him over to a research institute?" Shen Lu smiled. "I said I wouldn’t, and I mean it. I won’t call the police either. You can relax."
"Boss..."
"Besides, are you sure the Fang family can keep an eye on him?" Shen Lu waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, you should head back, too."
Wang Daguo had to admit that Shen Lu was right.
Fang Ming and his mother couldn’t handle him. If Fang Peng could escape once today, he could do it a second time. It was better to leave him here with Shen Lu.
Opening the door to her apartment, she was greeted by fresh, clean air. Shen Lu instantly felt refreshed, and the stuffy feeling in her chest vanished.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she ran into the bathroom and took a hot shower.
Only after she was done did she remember she hadn’t brought her pajamas.
’It doesn’t matter. It’s just me and Fu Cheng in the house, and Fu Cheng is a bedridden patient. It’s practically the same as being alone.’
Shen Lu wrapped a towel around herself and walked out, planning to change into her pajamas back in her room.
Having been worried for a long time, Fu Cheng’s consciousness had been following Shen Lu ever since she returned. He only stopped probing with his consciousness when she entered the bathroom, waiting just outside the door.
Shen Lu had said in the evening that she was just going to deliver a meal to Granny Jin, but she was gone for several hours. Later, Ye Fan and Lin Zhou also left the shop. Although Fu Cheng didn’t know what had happened, he was certain it must have been something tricky.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have called away two Superpower Users like Ye Fan and Lin Zhou.
Moreover, Shen Lu had brought back a man with a very complex aura, thrown him on the third floor, and had Ye Fan guard him.
’What on earth happened?’
Fu Cheng wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to disturb Shen Lu’s rest. He decided to just confirm she wasn’t injured and wait until the next day to ask.
But then Shen Lu walked out of the bathroom wrapped in nothing but a white towel. Her lovely shoulders, dotted with water droplets, were exposed, as were her straight calves. Her small face was flushed from the steam, and she looked soft, fragrant, and... delicious.
Fu Cheng’s face instantly turned beet red, and he hurriedly withdrew his consciousness.
’Why... is she wearing that?’
Shen Lu crossed the living room and entered the master bedroom, completely unaware of Fu Cheng’s consciousness.
Or rather, it had never occurred to Shen Lu that Fu Cheng’s consciousness could act as his eyes, allowing him to "see" everything happening around him.
If Shen Lu had known, back when they were in the rental house, she would have died before changing clothes in the room, let alone squeezing onto the same bed to sleep with Fu Cheng.
After changing into her pajamas, Shen Lu climbed into the warm, comfortable bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.
After a good night’s sleep, the first thing Shen Lu did upon waking up was check the weather outside.
It was still raining, a light to moderate drizzle. The standing water on the street showed no signs of receding. Shen Lu sighed softly. It seemed today’s business was a lost cause as well.
’Might as well take another day off. I was exhausted from yesterday anyway.’
Shen Lu lay back down on the bed, opened her Light Brain, and scrolled through some videos.
Because of the heavy rain and her trip to the Bai Family’s home to cook, she had only posted one video in the past two days—a notice that the shop was closed for a break.
Now that she had some free time, she edited the video of her cooking at the Bai Family’s home and uploaded it.
Before filming, she had asked Bai Wanwan for permission. If she hadn’t agreed, Shen Lu wouldn’t have filmed.
"It’s fine, go ahead and film."
Only then did Shen Lu film the video. While recording, she was careful not to get anyone else in the shot. The camera only focused on her and the various ingredients.
To distinguish it from her other videos, Shen Lu categorized this one as a "vlog" to prevent customers from seeing it and thinking the shop was adding new dishes to the menu.
After uploading the video, Shen Lu stopped lazing in bed. She washed up, got dressed, and went downstairs. Cai Su was busy in the kitchen making breakfast: a simple noodle soup.
Shen Lu’s stomach was empty, so a bowl of simple noodle soup was perfect.
"Oh, right, Sister Cai, could you make an extra bowl?" Shen Lu said.
"Is Wang Daguo coming for breakfast today?" Cai Su asked curiously. She had assumed the shop wouldn’t open in this weather.
"Probably not, but it’s for someone else."
’There’s still Fang Peng, right? People have to eat.’
Shen Lu didn’t have a cruel streak. Since she had captured Fang Peng, she would, of course, give him something to eat.
"Oh, okay, I’ll make it right now." Cai Su didn’t ask any more questions and turned back to cook more noodles.
Shen Lu sent a message to Ye Fan, asking him to feed Fang Peng when he got a chance.
Ye Fan scratched his hair in annoyance. ’How did the chore of feeding someone fall to me again? Do I look that domestic?’
Glancing at his biceps, which were over 50 centimeters in circumference, Ye Fan wondered if he needed to bulk up even more.
Noodles weren’t like steamed buns; Fu Cheng couldn’t just grab them with his hands to eat. So, this morning, Shen Lu was the one feeding him again.
The moment he saw Shen Lu, Fu Cheng couldn’t help but recall the scene from outside the bathroom last night, and the tips of his ears quietly turned red.
His injuries were much better now, so he didn’t need to be wrapped in so many bandages. The entire lower half of his face was exposed, allowing Shen Lu to easily spot the unusual flush on his cheeks.
"Do you have a fever?" Shen Lu touched his cheek with the back of her hand. "Your face is abnormally red."