Chapter 31: The Counter-Experiment
Fu Xingyan’s reflexes were fast; he immediately wrapped Shao Leyan in his arms, holding her close, using his strong, firm thighs as a seat for her.
A lingering tickle remained on his side of the face, the familiar warmth of her lips hadn’t dissipated, and now with such a beauty in his arms, Fu Xingyan curled his lips into a smug smile, looking like a satisfied little cat.
“You still say you don’t have any improper thoughts about me? You just sent me a kiss and even faked a fall to make me hold you. You didn’t need to go through so much trouble. If you want kisses and cuddles, just say so—I can give you all that you want.”
Shao Leyan’s small face turned as red as blood, her lips trembling, unable to find words.
She could swear—it really was an accident!
How could she have known Fu Xingyan would suddenly turn his head?
Shao Leyan looked at him as if he were some terrifying beast, shocked and afraid. She pushed against his solid chest and abruptly stood, sitting back down in the chair behind her.
“Aiya, you’re so annoying. It was just an accident—stop overthinking it! Watch out, or I’ll slap you again!”
Fu Xingyan’s lips curved slightly, his laughter as clear and pleasant as a spring stream.
“You bit my tongue and it still hurts, just now you slapped my face… this face of mine is as precious as my experimental techniques. Luckily, your hand must hurt as much as my face, so it’s not like I’m at a loss. Since that’s the case, then hit me all you want, punish me with kisses as much as you like—how about that?”
Shao Leyan glared at him fiercely, a chill crawling up her spine, and she pouted with disgust, accusing, “Pervert!”
Fu Xingyan raised the corner of his mouth, unfazed.
“Pervert? Or do you feel my experiments are too cruel, and that’s why you misunderstand me, secretly blaming me in your heart?”
Shao Leyan froze, not expecting him to bring up the experiments.
Perhaps those experiments had indeed been a bit bloody and cruel, but Shao Leyan had endured treatment a hundred times harsher than his experiments. Besides, the concept of the experiment was pre-established—since it was tailored for her abilities, she wouldn’t believe Fu Xingyan’s experiments were truly ruthless or inhumane.
She neither confirmed nor denied, evasively replying, “They are cruel, but still within what I can bear.”
Fu Xingyan raised an eyebrow, then suddenly lowered his head and chuckled softly twice.
Shao Leyan, seeing him not refute her but actually laugh so happily, was even more confused.
But when Fu Xingyan looked up and met her gaze again, his glassy eyes sparkled like stars. Before she could even appreciate it, a shiver ran through her scalp and a bad feeling crept into her heart.
Fu Xingyan seemed oblivious to her sudden alertness, playfully blinking like a child scheming mischief with a friend, sincerely inviting Shao Leyan.
“If I were your experimental subject, how would you treat me? Someone as gentle and kind as you—would you be even kinder to me than I am to you?”
Would she be gentler to him than he was to her?
Shao Leyan recalled how Fu Xingyan had treated her during the experiments—gentle, professional, caring for every detail. He was like a perfect combination of researcher and nanny.
But if the roles were reversed, with her as the experimenter?
Absolutely not!
Shao Leyan shook her head vigorously, her expression screaming: I can’t do it! I won’t! I refuse!
Fu Xingyan didn’t care whether she agreed or opposed; he simply looked down at her in silence, amused by her full-body resistance.
“How will you know you can’t do it if you don’t try? Today, it’s your turn to experiment on me—what do you say?”
Shao Leyan sighed helplessly, resting her chin on her hand, speaking jokingly, “Forget it, you can’t resurrect. Aren’t you afraid I might accidentally kill you?”
Fu Xingyan frowned, stroked his chin, pretending to ponder for two seconds, then stood, walked to the storage locker, and took out a tray full of various small crystalline cores from the central crystal vault.
Shao Leyan, having conducted experiments for several days, was familiar with many types of ability cores. Seeing these significantly smaller cores, obviously smaller than those used in her experiments, she couldn’t help but be curious.
“Why are these cores so small? Are they from low-level zombies?”
Fu Xingyan carried the tray back to his seat, lightly curling his lips. “Not only low-level, but these are newly mutated zombie cores.”
Shao Leyan nodded in understanding, then picked up an ice-type ability core and examined it. Upon contact, her fingertips were covered with a thin layer of fragile ice, but that was the full extent of this core’s power.
Fu Xingyan seized the opportunity. “Using this on me won’t threaten my safety.”
Seeing that Fu Xingyan was determined, Shao Leyan realized hesitating would only make it seem like she was worried about his safety. Resolutely, she tossed the core back onto the tray, stood, and gestured toward the lab, chin raised.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go in!”
As soon as they entered the lab, Fu Xingyan began to unbutton his white shirt with neatly trimmed fingers: one, two, three…
His clearly defined abs were revealed, muscles tensing and flexing. The last barriers came off as he tossed aside his thin shirt and his large hands moved to his black belt…
Shao Leyan had been watching with interest but, realizing what was happening, quickly raised her hand to cover her eyes, shouting:
“Ah! What are you doing?!”
Fu Xingyan glanced at her panicked expression, smiling mischievously.
“Conducting an experiment!”
“N-no need, just take off your shirt.”
Seeing Shao Leyan’s embarrassment, Fu Xingyan’s mind turned mischievous. “That won’t do—you’ve taken off yours, and I’ve only taken off half. How unfair is that to you?”
“Fine, unfair it is.”
Shao Leyan, cheeks flushed, lowered her hand from her eyes and instead grabbed his arm, pushing him onto the smart bed.
“Hurry and lie down properly, I don’t have much time.”
Fu Xingyan didn’t insist—forcing her to act might make her angry, and if she stormed off, all his efforts would be wasted. So when Shao Leyan pulled him, he went along, lying back with his long legs stretched out.
The perspective of the subject and the researcher was completely different.
Previously, Fu Xingyan had looked down at Shao Leyan, observing every change on her body, feeling in control.
Now, lying on the smart bed where Shao Leyan had sweated and bled before, he felt the warmth and softness as if lying on her, the subtle fragrance of her lingering around his nose.
