QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots-Chapter 291 - 9.37

Jiang Jiamian had gone to Fang Jing’s office. At the same time, Chen Ran also seemed unusually preoccupied.

Even after hearing Xiao Jinfeng’s news that he had successfully absorbed a crystal core last night and advanced his supernatural ability, Chen Ran didn’t seem particularly happy.

"Chen Ran, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so absent-minded today?"

Xiao Jinfeng had a vague feeling that ever since Chen Ran came back from inviting Jiang Jiamian and the others to dinner last night, his mind hadn’t been at ease.

He suspected the reason was Jiang Jiamian, but the thought left him feeling helpless.

Just as Chen Ran had said before, even if there had once been a hint of fondness between them, it was never clearly established. They were far from being in any kind of relationship.

Even if he reasoned with himself, what grounds could he have for accusing or even questioning Chen Ran?

But today, Xiao Jinfeng could sense that Chen Ran’s uneasiness wasn’t only because of yesterday’s incident related to Jiang Jiamian. It felt like Chen Ran was particularly anxious about something else, something he wanted to say, yet didn’t dare to voice.

"I..."

Hearing Xiao Jinfeng’s question, Chen Ran felt the urge to speak. But when the words reached his lips, they stalled and refused to come out.

What could he say?

In his previous life, on this very same day, a large number of advanced zombies had appeared in B City, the city closest to their base.

Logically, the correct response should have been to avoid them and urge everyone to strengthen themselves. Yet, inexplicably, a team had been sent out on a mission anyway. It wasn’t until much later that Chen Ran learned the team that was completely wiped out that day had been one Fang Jing wanted to get rid of.

And because in his previous life, Xiao Jinfeng, Shen Hao, and the others had never formed the Gale Squad due to their connections with him, Fang Jing had chosen a different team to sacrifice.

In this life, ever since the Gale Squad was formed, and Xiao Jinfeng rejected Fang Jing’s attempt to recruit them, Chen Ran had immediately assumed that this deadly mission would fall on the Gale Squad instead.

He had already been preparing a reason to stop the Gale Squad from accepting the task. But unexpectedly, even by the afternoon, Fang Jing showed no sign of sending them to City B to die.

Could he have misjudged?

Had Fang Jing selected another team to sacrifice this time, or... did he not intend to take the opportunity to eliminate a threat at all?

No.

Chen Ran’s pupils suddenly contracted.

No! This time, the target wasn’t the Gale Squad. It was Jiang Jiamian!

"Jiang Jiamian!"

He shot to his feet in shock and rushed toward the door.

"Chen Ran! Where are you going?"

Hearing Chen Ran shout Jiang Jiamian’s name as he rushed out, Xiao Jinfeng frowned instinctively. But when he saw the unprecedented panic in Chen Ran’s expression, he froze and silently stepped back, choosing not to follow.

Forget it.

Some things couldn’t be forced, especially matters of the heart.

Knock knock, knock knock knock!

Meanwhile, in Room 303, Ling Zhuang was in the kitchen dissecting a chicken... using a scalpel.

Wearing a white coat and an apron, he looked gentle and domestic, if one ignored the dissection tools. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"What’s wrong?"

When Ling Zhuang opened the door, the tip of the blade was still dripping with blood.

Chen Ran froze upon seeing him like that. But remembering Jiang Jiamian’s imminent danger, he forced the scene out of his mind. "Where’s Jiang Jiamian?"

Ling Zhuang pulled out a white cloth from his coat pocket, one Chen Ran swore hadn’t been there a moment ago, and calmly wiped the scalpel clean.

"Chief Fang’s people came to take him. Why?"

Chen Ran’s suspicion was instantly confirmed the moment he heard ’Chief Fang’.

"Oh no... No! I’ll wait for him to come back. I must tell him something!"

Jiang Jiamian couldn’t go on that mission. He definitely had to return here first. Chen Ran must stop him, no matter what.

Even though Jiang Jiamian was strong, that strength still came mostly from physical combat. His 98 score included poison and space abilities, but neither was particularly effective against zombies.

This time, it wasn’t one or two advanced zombies. It was an entire group. Even if someone had already evolved the strongest attack-type ability, they would still die!

He remembered too clearly: after advanced zombies appeared, humanity was forced to avoid them for eight months, relying on guerrilla tactics.

Only when the number of advanced users increased did people dare fight them head-on again. But just as they began to adapt, at the beginning of year two, third-level zombies appeared, then fourth-level.

By the time Chen Ran died in the third year, both humans and zombies had reached seventh-level evolutions. Zombies that were once scattered had formed structured hordes under a Zombie King, aligned with several major bases.

A balance had formed, with less chaotic battles, but each clash caused catastrophic destruction. The destructive power of seventh-level beings was incomparable to the early stages.

"If you have something to tell him, tell me. I’ll pass it along." Ling Zhuang said calmly, raising the scalpel to eye level as if checking whether it was spotless.

A faint chill ran through Chen Ran, but his worry for Jiang Jiamian suppressed the feeling. "I’m sorry, Professor Ling. This matter is very important. I must tell him personally."

Ling Zhuang lowered his gaze, "Then come in and wait."

"Thank you, Professor Ling."

Chen Ran breathed in relief and stepped inside. But just as the door closed behind him, a cold and emotionless voice sounded beside his ear...

"Rebirth. Doesn’t it feel good?"

Chen Ran jolted violently, like a startled rabbit. His face drained of color. "Ling... Professor Ling... what did you just say?"

"Rebirth." Ling Zhuang repeated calmly. "I couldn’t find a suitable explanation for your strangeness until yesterday, when Jiang Jiamian reminded me that I should browse the internet more often."

By coincidence, he had come across the concept of ’rebirth’ in a locally saved novel on their extremely limited network. That single word illuminated everything, explaining all the oddities about Chen Ran.

Chen Ran’s mind went blank. His face turned ashen.

All the calm, confidence, and sense of control he had accumulated since his rebirth shattered in an instant.