Chapter 15 - Zhanbo's Wild Imagination

Chapter 15: Zhanbo’s Wild Imagination

“Maybe they left in a hurry. Yuze didn’t even take his car, probably didn’t need it. Otherwise, someone as careful as him would’ve planned better. Relax, Yuze can definitely take care of Yifei.” WanYu tried to console Zhanbo, though secretly, she wished she’d gone too. But at the time, she hadn’t made up her mind, and Yuze hadn’t explicitly invited her. As a girl, she didn’t want to seem too eager.

“But what about their phones? Why haven’t they answered any calls? Even if Yifei went along for fun, she’d at least leave a message, right? What if their plane crashed? It’s happened before! If the plane went down, their phones would be useless, or maybe they were separated from them, and then wild animals attacked—” Zhanbo’s imagination spiraled into full-blown panic.

Teacher Zeng couldn’t take it anymore. He clapped a hand on Zhanbo’s shoulder. “Is Yifei even your sister? Can’t you think of one good outcome for her? And if wild animals did attack, we should be worried about them. God forbid they’re endangered, knowing Yifei, she’d probably eat them before they got the chance to maul her.”

The moment he said it, everyone realized he was right. At this point, they should probably pray for the animals. If a rampaging Hu Yifei stumbled upon a zoo, the entire place wouldn’t survive the encounter. Poor creatures, may they never cross paths with her.

“Logically, I know it’s unlikely, but after hearing Teacher Zeng say that, I’m not worried about Yifei anymore. Now I’m just concerned for the wildlife.” WanYu let out an awkward laugh, immediately feeling guilty. People were missing—this wasn’t the time for jokes. But Teacher Zeng’s scenario was just too vivid.

“Whatever. You guys are terrible. I’m calling my sister.” Zhanbo grabbed the landline and dialed Hu Yifei’s number.

“The number you have dialed is currently out of service. Please try again later.”

The robotic voice did nothing to ease their worries.

“Still no answer? Did they actually elope?” Zeng Xiaoxian muttered from the couch, nearly knocking the phone out of Zhanbo’s hand.

The others stared at him with the kind of pity usually reserved for small, confused children.

“Why are you all looking at me like that?! I didn’t hire a hitman! Their disappearance has nothing to do with me! Don’t frame an innocent man!”

“Hired a hitman?!” WanYu gasped. “Teacher Zeng, I never took you for the type!”

“Wow, Zeng. Couldn’t handle rejection, so you resorted to murder? Should’ve thought of that before wasting your youth—and money. So, who’d you hire? How much did it cost?” Lü Ziqiao smirked, pretending to be genuinely curious.

“Hey! You can’t seriously believe I’d do that!” Zeng Xiaoxian recoiled under their accusatory glares. “I’m a celebrity, a public figure! Do I look like someone who’d stoop that low?”

“Wouldn’t put it past you,” Meijia mused between bites of popcorn. “A man scorned is capable of anything. Jealousy’s a nasty thing.”

They hadn’t lived together long, but everyone had noticed the tension between Teacher Zeng and Yifei. Lately, though, Yifei had been glued to Chen Yuze—who, compared to Zeng, was younger, more handsome, and frankly, just better in every way.

Zeng shot to his feet, indignant. “Jealous? Me? Of Yuze? I’m a star! What does he even have that I don’t? Ziqiao, back me up here, as a fellow man, be honest. Is there anything about Yuze worth envying?”

Ziqiao took his time, considering deeply. “…Yeah. A lot of things, actually.”

“What?! Name one!” Zeng sputtered. He’d never consciously compared himself to Yuze—they were roommates, brothers-in-arms. Why would he care?

“Yuze’s good-looking. Young. Basically a prodigy.” Ziqiao didn’t hold back.

Meijia delivered the next blow. “And loaded. One job of his probably pays more than your entire year’s salary.”

“Plus, he’s adventurous. Girls love that. And he’s got connections.” Zhanbo piled on mercilessly.

Teacher Zeng crumpled onto the couch, utterly defeated. His last hope was WanYu—surely she would say something nice about him.

“Alright, that’s enough. Stop bullying Teacher Zeng.” WanYu scolded the others, who just shrugged. Were they wrong?

She turned to the devastated Zeng, thought for a moment, then said brightly:

“Honestly, one reason is enough. Yuze has Yifei now. You? You’ve got nothing.”

THUD.

Teacher Zeng collapsed, his HP hitting zero. He lay there, barely breathing, as Zhanbo gave WanYu a thumbs-up. Critical hit.

WanYu smiled sheepishly.

Deep down, everyone in Love Apartments had a sadistic streak, even sweet, innocent-looking WanYu.

And now, the poor, black-hearted Teacher Zeng had been thoroughly broken.

He didn’t even want to speak anymore.

He was scared.