AMBTMS Chapter 166

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin subconsciously looked at Li Shu. He hadn’t thought it through, when he heard something related to that lab, he lost his composure.

Li Shu was also thinking about matters related to the lab. In the original plot, the lab was one of the villains, always stirring up trouble. It became truly active in the middle of the apocalypse. At that time, it developed many drugs related to the infected, even creating drugs that could turn ordinary people into evolvers. After the conflict between ordinary people and evolvers erupted, the lab became a place that the ordinary people flocked to.

In the early days of the apocalypse, the lab’s presence wasn’t strong, perhaps because the plot followed the protagonist’s rise, and the highlight was always on him. Since the protagonist didn’t have much interaction with the lab in the early stage, the original plot didn’t mention much about it.

But unexpectedly, the lab was already active so early on and had even developed a drug that specifically attracted the infected. Coincidentally, this drug was used on him and detected by the male protagonist. It wasn’t surprising to Li Shu that Gu Lin wanted to ask Tan Chu about the drug, especially since it concerned him.

When Li Shu came back to his senses, he realized the scene was very quiet. He looked at Gu Lin in confusion, not having heard what he said earlier. He blinked and asked, “What’s going on with you all?”

“Ahem,” Lin Xuan coughed, drawing Li Shu’s attention. “It’s like this: Tan Chu did such a thing, and I think we should take him back and deal with him. After all, he’s part of our team, and he hurt one of our people. Now that there’s also the matter of the drug, it’s even more important to get to the bottom of it.”

Gu Lin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he closed it. He knew this was Li Shu’s “family matter”. Even if he wanted to know what was going on with the lab, he had no right to demand for the man who might be connected to the lab, especially since this person had hurt Li Shu. No matter what, he didn’t want to let him off easily.

His fingers moved slightly, and he lowered his gaze, thinking quietly. At worst, he would find a way to bring the person out after Li Shu and the others had dealt with him. As long as the person was in his hands, he would always find a way to make him talk.

Li Shu glanced to his side, just in time to see the man curl his lips slightly. Whatever he was thinking about brought a smile to his eyes. “I don’t want to see this person again. Since Mr. Gu wants him, let’s give him to Mr. Gu. After all, Mr. Gu has saved me once again, so consider this person a small gift.”

He didn’t make it clear, but just listening to it sounded like he was giving someone to Gu Lin. There were many different reasons for giving someone away. Afraid that Li Shu might misunderstand, Gu Lin hurried to explain, “I just want to ask him about the drug, nothing else.”

With a smile in his eyes, Li Shu nodded. “I understand. Mr. Gu doesn’t need to explain. Now that the person is yours, how you deal with him is entirely up to you.”

This sentence directly gave Gu Lin control over Tan Chu’s fate. In just three months of the apocalypse, the original laws had already collapsed. No laws that suit the apocalyptic environment had been established yet, and everything was in chaos. At this point, as long as you were strong enough, no one would care what you did.

Tan Chu had done these things. If he had the ability or someone to protect him, he could have escaped unscathed, just like in the original plot. But now, he was alone and no one was willing to back him up. The only person who might have was now filled with hatred for him, so how could they possibly help him?

Tan Chu knew that his actions had been exposed, and if he fell into these people’s hands, his fate was predictable. But when Lin Xuan said he wanted to take him back, his eyes lit up. Compared to Gu Lin, who clearly wouldn’t be swayed by him, he naturally preferred Lin Xuan, whom he had successfully seduced before.

If he ended up in Gu Lin’s hands….Tan Chu shuddered. In the apocalypse, news still traveled quickly. A new and powerful figure like Gu Lin was naturally well-known. Although Gu Lin hadn’t revealed his true identity, stories about his recent deeds had spread widely in the area.

Along with the fact that he was an evolver who was no less powerful than Lin Xuan, his ruthless style of doing things also spread. He was able to form a team in a very short time, most of whom were evolvers, and even managed to tame some notorious “troublemakers”. To be able to suppress the older established factions in such a short time showed the man’s capabilities.

Tan Chu paid close attention to external information, especially concerning Gu Lin, who had risen to power so suddenly. Lin Xuan was already considered an advanced evolved human, but it was rumored that Gu Lin was even stronger. Naturally, Tan Chu paid attention to him, though he never expected that this man would be Li Shu’s protector.

When the man learned that what had happened to Li Shu was his doing, the man looked at him as if he wanted to kill him. It was true murderous intent, bone-chilling coldness that was unavoidable.

He couldn’t fall into this man’s hands. Tan Chu was very aware that if he did, he would really have no chance of survival. He might live, but it would not be a life he wanted.

His only hope now was Lin Xuan. Tan Chu hated Li Shu deeply, but he couldn’t show it now. Especially after hearing what Li Shu said, what did he mean by that? Before, Li Shu wanted to send him to his death, and now, he wanted to cut off his last hope.

Li Shu!

He was restrained by Xu Yanqiu, unable to harm Li Shu. Otherwise, even if he died here, he wouldn’t let Li Shu have it easy.

He lifted his head, and the hatred in his eyes was tangible, all directed at Li Shu. “Li Shu, why? Why can you get everything so easily while I, no matter how hard I try, end up like this? Do you know? Every time I see those people treating you with such respect, I feel so unconvinced. Why? Just because of your relationship with Lin Xuan? Back then, I thought, if I could take Lin Xuan away from you, would everything you have become mine?”

“Tan Chu, you’re wrong.” Where he was wrong, Li Shu didn’t want to say. There was nothing to say to this person. His mind was already twisted, there was no point in spending more energy on him.

“Hahaha, I’m wrong? Li Shu, tell me, isn’t it because of Lin Xuan? If you weren’t in that kind of relationship with him, would the people in the team still treat you like this?” Tan Chu pressed on relentlessly, hating Li Shu’s calm demeanor. He wanted to see him lose control, to make him fall from the clouds. They were both ordinary people, so why could Li Shu remain untouched, while he was stuck in the dirt?

“I never thought you’d see it this way,” Lin Xuan clenched his fists. “I don’t know what made you think this way. Xiao Shu has earned that respect because he deserves it. It has nothing to do with his relationship with me. You’ve been in the team for a while now. You’ve seen how Xiao Shu acts. I don’t see anything wrong with the way people treat him.”

Of course Tan Chu had seen it, but with his malicious thoughts, all he saw was filth. He believed Li Shu was doing it on purpose, putting on a show for others, manipulating them. He never considered that if Li Shu were trying to win people’s hearts, why would he repeatedly put himself in danger? What was there to gain?

Perhaps he had seen the truth long ago but refused to acknowledge it. To admit it would be to deny everything about himself. Rather than accept that he was wrong, he’d rather keep going down this path.

Lin Xuan wanted to take Tan Chu away, not because he still had feelings for him, but because he didn’t want there to be any more ties between Li Shu and Gu Lin.

Seeing Li Shu and Gu Lin standing together, while he was alone on the side, made Lin Xuan feel like he was being excluded by the two of them. In the future, he could no longer stand beside Li Shu as he once had. Never had Lin Xuan felt so clearly as he did now that perhaps, he had truly lost Li Shu.

The last time he suggested breaking up, it wasn’t an impulsive decision or a joke. It was a decision reached after much deliberation. After all, the young man had been nurtured so carefully from birth and had a certain unyielding spirit deep in his bones. Lin Xuan just didn’t want to admit that from the moment he made his first mistake, Li Shu had drawn a clear boundary between them. He once had the chance to erase that line, but he hadn’t seized the opportunity.

Yes, Li Shu had given him the chance to put aside his pride and forgive him. And what did he do? Not only did he fail to repent, but with his actions, he had pushed Li Shu further and further away. The outcome now was entirely his own doing.

Even though he clearly realized this, he still held on to a sliver of hope. After all, he and Li Shu had gone through so much together and overcome countless difficulties. It hadn’t been easy for them to walk this far. He didn’t want to, and couldn’t bear to, let go, much less hand Li Shu over to another man. That was something he could never do!

The people Lin Xuan brought with him had all been blocked by Gu Lin’s men outside. This was arranged by Xu Yanqiu, so in this place, there were only a few of them. To be honest, Xu Yanqiu felt that he shouldn’t be here. However, there was Tan Chu, and the boss was focused on Li Shu, while Li Shu and Lin Xuan were lovers. He couldn’t rest easy.

As for the boss falling in love with someone who already had a boyfriend, Xu Yanqiu had no particular opinion. Liking someone was the boss’s business, something he couldn’t meddle with. He had a good impression of Li Shu and also knew about the messy affairs between Li Shu, Lin Xuan, and Tan Chu. Deep down, he thought the boss was much better than that Lin Xuan.

He had a great impression of Li Shu, and it would be even better if the boss could successfully bring him over. What, he has a boyfriend? Well, wasn’t it his boyfriend who made the mistake first? Their boss was excellent, upright, and absolutely wouldn’t mess around with a third party.

This had evidence to back it up. In the post-apocalyptic world, a strong figure like Gu Lin was always approached by all sorts of people seeking protection. There were also good looking young men and women who, relying on their looks, tried to get close to him. But Gu Lin had always been indifferent toward these people. Even if they stood naked before him, he could still throw them out without changing his expression.

If they hadn’t later discovered that the boss had someone in his heart, they might have suspected that the boss had some unmentionable illness.

But if he had someone in his heart, then everything made sense. He wasn’t moved by beauty because he was staying loyal for love. He was strong and devoted, which was very attractive.

With no one to help him, Lin Xuan had to do it himself. He walked over to Tan Chu: “Hand him over. He’s part of our team, so naturally, it’s up to us to deal with him.”

Xu Yanqiu didn’t move and looked to his boss for guidance.

Gu Lin’s eyes darkened. He knew he didn’t have much say in the matter. Just as he was about to signal Xu Yanqiu to release Tan Chu, Li Shu stopped him.

“Lin Xuan, I think I have the right to decide what happens to Tan Chu. After all, I’m the one he wronged. But before that, I want to ask, why do you insist on taking him back, and what do you plan to do with him once you do?”

Lin Xuan opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word. He hadn’t thought it through at all. He simply didn’t want to hand Tan Chu over to Gu Lin. Letting an outsider like Gu Lin deal with someone who had hurt Li Shu—it didn’t sit right with him.

After a moment of silence, he spoke: “Xiao Shu, this is a matter for our team. There’s no need to trouble Mr. Gu, an outsider.”

“Is it just because of that?” Li Shu smiled. “I thought you couldn’t bear to let him go. After all, you two have been flirting under my nose for some time now.”

“I didn’t!” Lin Xuan raised his voice, shocked that Li Shu would think this way. “Xiao Shu, you know that’s not what I meant. I…”

Of course, Li Shu knew that wasn’t what he meant. He was doing it on purpose to irritate Lin Xuan. As if startled, Li Shu took a small step back, moving closer to Gu Lin and lowering his gaze.

“Lin Xuan, why are you so eager to deny it? This isn’t the first time it’s happened. Do you need me to remind you of each instance? How about we start with the most recent one? Not long ago, I almost fell into the hands of the infected and was brought back unconscious. The first thing I heard was that I had to apologize because I ‘framed’ Tan Chu. I was the injured one, but I also had to apologize. Shall I go further back…”

“Stop.” Lin Xuan interrupted Li Shu. He had already been tormented by these matters these days, and hearing Li Shu spell them out one by one made him realize just how wrong he had been and how much his actions had hurt Li Shu.

“Fine. I don’t want to keep bringing up these things either. Every time I mention them, it only reminds me of how foolish I was.” Li Shu sighed. Saying these things was partly for himself, but also to give the original owner some justice. At least Lin Xuan should understand the damage he had caused to the original Li Shu.

“I’ve wronged you, Xiao Shu. Let’s go back. I won’t do this again. I…” He paused, “I won’t interfere with Tan Chu’s fate anymore. You can decide what happens to him. Let’s go home, alright?”

He humbled himself to the dust, just begging for a chance to make things right with Li Shu.

But he would never know that the one who had the right to forgive him was already gone. He would never hear that “forgiveness”.

Li Shu wasn’t the original owner. He wasn’t the one who had suffered so he didn’t have the right to forgive on behalf of the original owner. As for the original owner, who had died so miserably and even given up on reincarnation to hand over the body to him—his attitude was already clear.

He glanced at Gu Lin from the corner of his eye. Gu Lin was tense. This man, who had never known what it meant to be nervous, was now experiencing it for the first time. Even when he was betrayed, captured, and strapped to an operating table, he had never felt like this.

“Lin Xuan, I believe I’ve made my position clear. I can’t pretend none of this ever happened. Let’s end things on good terms.” Li Shu’s voice was calm, marking the end of this relationship on behalf of the original owner. “And there’s one more thing. I might as well say it now.”

Realizing what he was about to say, Lin Xuan tried to stop him: “Don’t—”

But Li Shu had already spoken: “I’m leaving.”