Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 67 – Late Night Conversation

“Come in.” Lin Fan’s voice betrayed no emotion.

The door was pushed open, and Zhou Ming walked in, looking a little reserved.

The moment he saw Lin Fan, he froze completely.

The Lei Li before him wasn’t wearing her signature black leather suit. Instead, she had changed into a light pink silk nightgown.

Zhou Ming was all too familiar with this nightgown.

It was Liu Ruyan’s.

The soft silk clung to her perfect curves.

Under the light, her skin seemed to glow, her collarbones were delicate, and her legs were long and straight.

She was like a completely different person from the decisive, powerful queen.

Right now, she was more like a languid, charming woman at home.

Zhou Ming’s face flushed crimson in an instant. His heart began to race uncontrollably, and his flustered eyes didn’t know where to look.

“You were… looking for me?” Lin Fan broke the silence, her tone casual.

“I… I…” Zhou Ming stammered, his mind a complete blank.

His gaze darted uncontrollably around the room, trying to find a place to rest his eyes and alleviate his own embarrassment.

And then, he saw it.

Right there on the headboard…

Zhou Ming’s pupils dilated in an instant, and his breath caught in his throat.

Is that…

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The air seemed to freeze.

The awkward atmosphere was so thick you could almost wring water from it.

Lin Fan noticed his gaze, followed it, and cursed inwardly.

An awkwardness permeated the room.

Damn it, I forgot to put it away.

Zhou Ming’s mind raced, and an absurd yet seemingly plausible idea popped into his head.

On the surface, she was so formidable, the undisputed queen of Fragrant Hills International.

But in private, did she feel lonely too?

He looked again at the nightgown she was wearing, the one that belonged to Liu Ruyan.

Zhou Ming’s heart jolted.

He suddenly understood.

Liu Ruyan was never coming back.

This was a reality he had to accept.

Wallowing in the sorrow of the past was meaningless, serving only to torture himself.

And this woman before him—she was strong, she was decisive, and she had led everyone to establish a sanctuary in this apocalypse.

But she… was also a woman.

A woman who could feel lonely.

An unprecedented desire to protect her surged within Zhou Ming’s heart.

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He wanted to protect her.

Not just because she was wearing Liu Ruyan’s clothes now, but because of who she was.

This strong yet inwardly lonely woman.

“Lei-jie.” Zhou Ming took a deep breath as if he had made a momentous decision, his eyes becoming firmer than ever before. “I want to join the exploration team.”

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised he had recovered from his embarrassment so quickly.

“I want to do more for the stronghold,” Zhou Ming’s voice was steady and powerful. “I don’t want to be useless anymore, just watching others fight. I want to become stronger, strong enough to protect the people I want to protect.”

His gaze was scorching as he looked directly at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan looked back at him, a playful smile gracing the corners of her lips.

It seemed this tool had completed another round of self-motivation.

“Alright,” she agreed readily. “You’ll set out with Ah Hu’s team tomorrow.”

“Yes!” Zhou Ming nodded emphatically, as if he had received the greatest encouragement.

He turned to leave, but his footsteps paused when he reached the door.

As if possessed, he glanced back at the bedside table one more time.

“What?” Lin Fan’s teasing voice sounded. “Want to stay and join me?”

Zhou Ming’s face instantly turned the color of pig liver. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he nearly jumped.

“N-No! I didn’t!” he waved his hands frantically, his words jumbled.

Lin Fan chuckled lightly. She leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, her long legs partially visible beneath the hem of her nightgown.

“Also,” her voice dropped a little, carrying a hint of warning, “don’t go blabbing to others about what you saw my room today. Otherwise…”

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She didn’t finish, but the threat in her eyes was self-evident.

“I understand! I didn’t see anything! I swear!” Zhou Ming immediately raised his hand to promise, then bolted out without looking back, as if a zombie was chasing him.

Listening to his frantic, retreating footsteps, the smile on Lin Fan’s face grew even brighter.

Very good.

A tool who shared a “secret” would have higher loyalty.

She closed the door and locked it.

Her gaze shifted to the headboard…

Since the mood had been set…

The night was deep and quiet.

…

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window into the room.

Lin Fan opened her eyes to the familiar sight of the leaky ceiling.

Feeling the powerful energy surging within her, she felt refreshed and invigorated.

After breakfast, she went straight to the garage.

The exploration team led by Ah Hu had already assembled, and Zhou Ming was among them.

He had changed into a tactical vest and was checking the ammunition in his rifle, his eyes resolute. He looked like a new man.

Upon seeing Lin Fan, he subconsciously averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing slightly.

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Lin Fan paid him no mind and walked straight to the black Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

“Lei-jie, are you heading out?” Ah Hu came over to greet her.

“Yeah, going for a spin,” Lin Fan swung herself onto the motorcycle and skillfully started the engine.

“Do you want to take a few people with you?”

“No need.”

Lin Fan put on her helmet. Today, she wasn’t wearing the heavy leather suit.

She had discovered that with her enhanced body, the need for defense had been greatly reduced.

And while Lei Li’s leather suit was cool, it sometimes hindered her from performing some high-difficulty, extreme maneuvers.

After wearing so many different outfits, she still preferred her original combination of yoga pants and a sports bra.

The tight black yoga pants perfectly hugged her figure. On top, she wore a white sports bra, revealing her flat, toned abdomen and elegant abs.

On her feet, she wore a pair of extremely breathable black pantyhose with high-top boots.

This outfit not only maximized her body’s flexibility but also showcased its best features to the fullest.

She decided to make a trip to the vicinity of the previous military camp by herself.

That white-haired zombie queen—she had coveted her for a long time.

Remembering her hasty retreat last time, she decided to first scout the area around the camp, hoping to get a better understanding of the zombies’ movements.

Her power now was enough for her to retreat unscathed from the siege of the several thousand zombies at the camp.

The engine roared to life, and the Harley, like a black bolt of lightning, shot out of the gates of Fragrant Hills International, speeding toward the city’s depths.