Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator

Chapter 23: Beautiful Dream! Leaving Quietly
”Why do you keep sneaking peeks at my chest? Have you no shame?”

”SLAP! What are you talking about? I am a once-in-a-millennium gentleman. If I want to look, I do so openly, never with a sneaky glance. That is pure slander.”

”Then can you stop rubbing my feet? You’re hurting them.”

”The morals of this world are in decay, and people have lost their integrity. Your big brother here is an old master of traditional medicine, specializing in difficult and unusual ailments. The secret technique I’m performing is called foot reflexology. If you don’t understand, you shouldn’t run your mouth, okay?”

”Chen Pingchuan, have the effects of the drug worn off?”

”What are you saying? I don’t understand!”

”Ugh, stop staring at me.”

”Nope. I love to look. Don’t block the view. It keeps me up at night.”

”Tonight’s barbecue was delicious. Will you take me out for more tomorrow?”

”What’s so good about barbecue? I have something even tastier right here.”

”Chen Pingchuan, you’re a liar! This isn’t tasty at all!”

”Woman, you truly have no common sense. This is a delicacy that enhances beauty and preserves youth...”

Chen Pingchuan had a bizarrely wonderful dream. In it, he did unspeakable things to a girl of divine beauty, but the scene felt so real he couldn’t distinguish whether it was a dream or reality. Of course, it wasn’t perfect; the experience was brief, leaving him wanting more.

But that girl’s face was so familiar. Who was she?

”Ah!”

Chen Pingchuan’s eyes flew open, for he had finally seen the girl from his dream clearly. It was none other than Xia Qingxue.

Waking from his slumber, he first glanced around the room. His gaze froze when he saw Xia Qingxue nestled beside him. Then, he carefully lifted the blanket and tiptoed out of bed, picking up the clothes scattered across the floor and putting them on.

Without Chen Pingchuan to lean on, the still-sleeping Xia Qingxue subconsciously stretched out her fair, smooth, and flawless jade-like legs, pulling the part of the blanket that had been covering him under her body.

Xia Qingxue’s lips moved slightly, letting out a soft, sweet murmur. It startled Chen Pingchuan, who had been secretly admiring her serene, sleeping face.

Just as Chen Pingchuan was about to offer an explanation, he noticed Xia Qingxue’s eyes were still shut tight. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The young lady must have been thoroughly exhausted by me last night. She’s even started talking in her sleep.

So, Chen Pingchuan carefully crouched down to listen intently.

”He really does like my legs, huh.”

”No, wait, he seems to like my feet more.”

”That’s not right either. He likes making me call him ’Daddy’.”

”While we’re... you know... he makes me call him that.”

”Hmph! Jerk!”

Xia Qingxue’s voice was soft and tender, but to Chen Pingchuan’s ears, it was so embarrassing he wanted to flee the scene immediately.

He stood up and gazed at the sleeping Xia Qingxue with a complicated expression, an indescribable emotion welling up inside him.

I forgive you for leaving without a word, so please forgive me for my own secrecy.

At this moment, Chen Pingchuan finally understood why his simulated self would get lost in indulgence for half a month, a full month, or even longer. So this was the root of it all.

Spring nights are too short for the sun that rises so high; no wonder the emperor forsook his morning court.

For a moment, Chen Pingchuan felt a flicker of understanding for the emperors of old. He didn’t dare look at Xia Qingxue any longer, afraid he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to leave. But he had more important things to do now. For the sake of their future, he had to go and take care of other matters.

He scanned the room a couple of times and found a pen and paper. Then, Chen Pingchuan scribbled a few lines.

[You’re a mature young lady now, so you have to learn how to find your own food.]

[Old Li’s bun shop downstairs should be pretty good. When I arrived yesterday, I noticed he had way more customers than the place next door. While a crowd doesn’t guarantee deliciousness, it definitely means it won’t be bad.]

[As for dinner, wait for me. I’ll come pick you up, and we’ll eat together.]

[—Chen Pingchuan]

”CLICK!”

The sound of the door closing wasn’t loud and shouldn’t have woken a sleeping person, but Xia Qingxue, who had been lying in bed, sat bolt upright. Her face was beet-red as she stared at the closed door, her gaze gradually going vacant.

Chen Pingchuan walked out of the apartment building, looked back up at the window of Xia Qingxue’s apartment, and let out a deep sigh.

「Midsummer」

The most unbearable part was the heat. It was hot. Incredibly hot. The early morning sun was already ridiculously powerful, its heat fraying one’s nerves.

Chen Pingchuan didn’t take the bus as he usually did. He wasn’t short on money anymore. If he hadn’t been so busy, he would have already bought himself an SUV. But for now, he had to settle for a taxi.

On the way back, Chen Pingchuan first stopped at a farmers’ market and bought a large bag full of chilled meat. He suddenly remembered the Black Demon back in his rented room. A pang of guilt hit him, but he quickly rationalized it.

Going hungry for a day is fine. It won’t starve to death.

Just as Chen Pingchuan was tiptoeing back to his room with the large bag, he ran into an unexpected snag.

”Chen Pingchuan, just what is your situation?”

Indeed, he was caught red-handed by his landlady, Huang Yujia, who was dressed in a nightgown that did little to hide the magnificent scenery of her chest.

”Sister Jiajia, what are you talking about? I don’t get it.”

This time, Chen Pingchuan wasn’t playing dumb; he genuinely didn’t understand what Huang Yujia was getting at.

Seeing his candid expression, Huang Yujia’s previously stormy face softened slightly.

”I’m not an unreasonable person, little brother. I understand that a young man has... needs. But you can’t bring those shady women back here overnight. That was part of our agreement.”

”Sister Jiajia, don’t you know me by now? I’m a man of principle. There’s no way I’d just bring someone back for the night.”

”Hmm, I was just asking. Seeing as you were clearly out all night, I figured either your room has mice, or you left the window open and a cat got in.”

At this, Huang Yujia changed the subject. ”You know, you’re a great guy in every way, except you’re too straightforward. It must be inconvenient for a young man living alone. Since I’m usually free anyway, why don’t the two of us...”

Chen Pingchuan quickly cut off Huang Yujia’s self-promoting speech.

Him, straightforward? If anyone else heard that, they’d think he was putting on an act. He wasn’t straightforward in the slightest.

Chen Pingchuan deliberately let his gaze linger on the domineering power on display on Huang Yujia’s chest. ”Sister Jiajia, I’ll go clean the room right now. I’ll make sure it’s spotless so no outside critters get any ideas. Look, why don’t you head back first, before someone sees your... magnificent assets...”

Startled by his words, Huang Yujia quickly glanced around. Seeing no one else, she let out a silent breath of relief. Then, she tilted her head back with a lazy expression, her small, fair hand gently covering her rosy lips as she yawned.

Having failed to achieve her goal yet again, she shot Chen Pingchuan an irritated glance. ”Hmph! You naughty boy, all lust but no guts. I’m going back to get some more sleep.”

Then, Huang Yujia turned, swaying her ample, pert bottom as she walked back to her room.

Another narrow escape.

Chen Pingchuan also breathed a sigh of relief. Logically speaking, even if they did get together, he wouldn’t be the one losing out. But for some reason, he felt a natural, instinctive fear of his enigmatic landlady.

The moment Chen Pingchuan opened the door to his room, he was stunned by the sight that greeted him.