A Fake Holy Mother in the Zombie Apocalypse

Lu Xingchi said, “Wait for me a moment.”

He went out and returned a short while later, carrying a golden box.

The box, clearly crafted by him from gold bars, was exquisitely made. Its body was hollowed out, allowing glimpses of the contents within.

The entire box and lid were covered with gold filigree flowers, some in bud, others in full bloom, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Lu Xingchi placed the box on the bed, pressed a hidden mechanism, opened the lid, and took out the contents.

Bei Nuan was stunned.

The most prominent item on top was a crown made of pure gold.

It was a spitting image of the falcon crown of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, with a crown on top and two sides resembling outstretched bird wings, each adorned with layers of intricately crafted golden feathers.

Rows of feathers formed graceful curves, protecting the sides of the ears.

The style was classical, imbued with a rich exotic charm.

Bei Nuan picked up the crown. The delicate feathers hanging at the bottom rustled softly against each other.

Underneath the crown lay a breastplate, also in the Egyptian style. It was made of layers of tiny beads strung together, arranged in a wide ring, like a smaller version of an ancient cloud collar.

There was also a snake-shaped armlet. The snake's body twisted into several loops, with one delicate snake head pointing upwards and the other downwards, both flicking tiny tongues.

Beneath these items was a stack of something else. Bei Nuan couldn't tell what it was and reached out to pick it up.

It turned out to be a complete outfit.

The top was made of the same golden feathers as the crown, resembling two wings curving to cover the chest.

Below was a very wide belt and a long skirt woven from gold thread. The skirt, surprisingly, was like several layers of light gauze, semi-transparent, not stiff, and very flowing.

He had spent the entire afternoon making such an exquisite outfit. It was simply miraculous, showing his increasing control over metal.

This whole ensemble seemed to have transported Cleopatra's wardrobe directly to her, perhaps even more exquisite than the original.

Bei Nuan had always loved the luxurious and mysterious style of ancient Egyptian jewelry, and this outfit couldn't have been more perfect.

Lu Xingchi had been carefully observing Bei Nuan's expression. Now, seemingly relieved, he smiled at her. “Do you want to try it on?”

Bei Nuan quickly ushered Lu Xingchi out of the room and changed into the outfit.

She immediately realized that this stunningly beautiful attire was also incredibly heavy.

The weight that had nearly broken her foot earlier was now mostly on her body.

But it was truly beautiful.

Bei Nuan twirled in front of the wardrobe mirror.

Lu Xingchi knocked on the door, and Bei Nuan remembered to let him in.

He looked Bei Nuan up and down, his ears slightly red.

Bei Nuan thought, Why are you shy? You made this, didn't you? It seems intentional, low-cut and revealing the waist.

The areas where scars should have been were now exposed, the skin smooth and flawless, without a trace of imperfection. She wondered how expensive scar removal surgery would have to be to achieve such an effect.

It was a bit of a giveaway, but Bei Nuan didn't care anymore.

Who would worry about that when they had beautiful clothes to wear?

Lu Xingchi's gaze also flickered over those areas, but he was talking about something else.

“It seems a bit… um… not quite right. Let me adjust it for you.”

Bei Nuan knew he was talking about the feathered part on her chest. He had underestimated her size, and it was too tight, the shape a little strange.

The belt was also a bit loose, as if it was about to fall off.

Bei Nuan wasn't demanding.

As a man, a single man at that, being able to make something like this was already quite impressive.

Lu Xingchi glanced at Bei Nuan again, hands in his pockets, long eyelashes lowered. He didn't move, but Bei Nuan felt the clothes on her body shift, subtly changing shape.

Without any visible movement, he remotely fine-tuned her clothes.

Now it was much more comfortable and fit much better.

Bei Nuan twirled in front of the mirror again.

“Lu Xingchi,” she blinked at him, tentatively asking, “Can I… have one more thing?”

Lu Xingchi looked at her smiling face in the mirror. “Tell me.”

“I also want a pair of falcon earrings like this.” Bei Nuan grabbed a pen and paper from the desk and sketched a bird with outstretched wings.

Bei Nuan tilted her head, examining her masterpiece.

Although the head was a bit big, the wings a bit small, and the beak a bit flat, it didn't look like a falcon at all, more like a duck. But Lu Xingchi was so smart, he should understand, right?

Lu Xingchi came over to look, nodding readily. “Okay, I'll make them.”

Ever since he had admired her "Autumn Elephant Maple Leaf Painting" yesterday, he hadn't held any high expectations for her artistic talent.

He picked up the paper and went out the door.

Before closing the door, he saw Bei Nuan twirling in front of the mirror again.

Lu Xingchi smiled, watching her back.

Last night, when he saw her reading A History of World Civilizations, he noticed that she had written three small words next to the picture of Cleopatra—"So beautiful," followed by three exclamation points.

He hadn't given her the wrong gift after all.

After he left, Bei Nuan happily admired herself in the mirror, but a thought gradually surfaced in her mind.

So, does this world also have Cleopatra?

If even the world map is different, is there still ancient Egypt? Is there still the Ptolemaic dynasty?

If not, how did Lu Xingchi make such an outfit?

Bei Nuan was staring blankly at the mirror when someone knocked on the door.

It must be Lu Xingchi. He must have encountered some unclear details while making the earrings and needed to come back and ask.

“Come in,” Bei Nuan said.

The door opened, but it wasn't Lu Xingchi who entered. It was Jiang Fei and Tang Tang.

Jiang Fei said, “Bei Nuan, Du Ruo said she wanted taro and red bean soup. I came to ask you for some taro and red beans…”

Before he finished speaking, he saw Bei Nuan's new outfit from head to toe. Jiang Fei smiled. “Very beautiful.”

Tang Tang's eyes lit up. “Oh my god! Sister Nuan Nuan, this outfit of yours…” She took a deep breath. “…How much is it worth? You're practically walking money!”

Bei Nuan: “…”

Did you praise the wrong thing?

A good idea suddenly occurred to Bei Nuan.

She casually asked, “Do I look like Cleopatra in this outfit?”

Then she quietly waited for Jiang Fei and Tang Tang's answer.

Jiang Fei carefully looked her over again and nodded, not sparing any praise. “Yes, very much like Cleopatra. Very beautiful, a true beauty.”

Tang Tang also said, “Yes, stunning!”

Bei Nuan breathed a huge sigh of relief.

There was no need to overthink it anymore.

It seemed that this world also had Egypt, and that courageous, gold-loving beauty.

Jiang Fei carried a bag of red beans given by Bei Nuan, and Tang Tang held several taros as they left her room.

After closing the door, Tang Tang quietly asked Jiang Fei, “Brother Jiang Fei, what does 'A-level Cleopatra' mean? Are there also B-level Cleopatras? C-level Cleopatras? It doesn't sound like a good term.”

Jiang Fei smiled at Tang Tang and gently replied, “I don't know either. But as long as she likes it.”

As it turned out, Lu Xingchi was exceptionally talented and skilled. The pair of falcon earrings he made were perfect.

They were completely different from what Bei Nuan had drawn on paper, but exactly as she had envisioned them in her mind.

The design was intricate and extravagant, and the earrings were exaggeratedly large. Bei Nuan loved them so much that even after reluctantly changing out of the heavy outfit, she continued to wear them.

She would shake her head from time to time, listening to the soft rustling of the feathers hanging below against her ears.

She even refused to take them off until she went to bed after dinner.

After dinner, Lu Xingchi finished washing up and, as usual, followed Bei Nuan to her room.

He had promised to wait for her father with her last night, but he hadn't slept a wink. Tonight, Bei Nuan wouldn't let him stay up again no matter what.

Moreover, Bei Nuan had a feeling that the existence of this room was meant for her to discover the past of her adoption by her parents, and nothing would actually happen; her father wouldn't really come back.

Lu Xingchi, however, refused to leave.

He sat down on the chair by the desk. “I'll stay with you for a while, and I'll leave after you fall asleep.”

He was probably still worried about her being alone.

He rested his head on his elbow on the desk, his beautiful eyes half-closed, looking hazy under the candlelight because of his sleepiness, unlike his usual sharp and alert gaze. He resembled a sleepy big cat.

He had gone out of the city this morning, driving and killing zombies, helping Bei Nuan search for bank safe deposit boxes everywhere. He should have taken a nap in the afternoon, but he had been busy making Bei Nuan a birthday present instead of resting, which had taken a lot of effort.

He hadn't slept for over thirty hours, so it was obvious that he must be extremely tired.

He was so kind. Bei Nuan's heart softened, and she reached out to him. “Come and lie down for a while.”

Lu Xingchi smiled, not hiding the triumphant look on his face at all. He stood up and moved to Bei Nuan's bed.

The bed was small, and Bei Nuan moved inwards.

Lu Xingchi didn't let her lean against the wall. He reached out and pulled her into his arms before finally closing his eyes.

Bei Nuan suddenly remembered the things he had quietly put into his backpack at the supermarket warehouse.

Bei Nuan whispered, “Lu Xingchi, let's be clear. I'm just letting you sleep here for a while, not anything else…”

Lu Xingchi closed his eyes, his voice languid. “Okay.”

He must have been really tired. Holding Bei Nuan, he fell into a deep, even sleep in less than a minute.

Bei Nuan, on the other hand, couldn't sleep at all.

She had never imagined that one day, this small wooden bed she had slept in since childhood would have a man almost as long as the bed itself on it.

Because of her illness, Bei Nuan had never considered dating, let alone marriage.

The doctor had said that her heart condition wasn't very good and might not be able to handle the additional burden of pregnancy and childbirth. In principle, she couldn't have children.

There had been people who pursued her despite her illness, but she had firmly rejected them all.

Bei Nuan often joked, “I'm naturally destined for a loveless life.”

She felt that someone like her, who might not wake up any given morning, would become a burden to anyone she was with.

Living alone for a lifetime, free and unrestrained, wasn't so bad.

But after coming to this world, at some point, Lu Xingchi, with a resolute and forceful attitude, had become a wedge, driven into her loveless life.

He had staked his claim in her life, becoming her king.

Unconsciously, he had become an important part of her life.

Her reason kept saying no, but her emotions were wearing headphones, completely ignoring what reason was saying.

Day after day, Lu Xingchi gradually became the most trustworthy and reliable person in her world after her father's death.

Bei Nuan knew very well that when the plot of this book ended, whether or not the Saintess mission was completed, she would be thrown back to her original world by the system.

She didn't know how he would cope then.

And Bei Nuan had absolutely no idea what she would do then either.

Bei Nuan wrapped her arms tightly around Lu Xingchi's waist, buried her head in his shirt, and sniffed.

The candlelight on the table flickered, emitting a faint fragrance. In his warm embrace, Bei Nuan gradually fell asleep.

Even in her dreams, she couldn't escape Boss Lu.

Boss Lu had turned into a big cat, chasing her relentlessly. Bei Nuan ran desperately in front, panting, sweating profusely.

In the end, he pinned her down with a paw.

“Where do you think you're going?” He twitched his cat ears.

Bei Nuan felt like a little mouse, trembling as she said, “Your Majesty Cat, please spare me…”

The big cat took a bite of her slender neck, humming, “Spare you? I'm going to eat you until there's nothing left but bones.”

The soft fur on his head rubbed against her chin, tickling her. The paws holding her down were burning hot.

Bei Nuan hazily thought, This spring dream is a bit strange.

Then she realized it wasn't a dream at all.

Her whole body was really hot, really sweating. Someone was really holding her down with burning hands. Her chin was really itchy, and her neck was really being bitten painfully.

Bei Nuan opened her eyes and saw Lu Xingchi's hair rubbing affectionately against her face.

His entire body, so large, was pressing down on her firmly.

“Bei Nuan, Bei Nuan…” He called her name, his voice soft and seductive, with a trailing tone that sounded unusual.

What was wrong with him?

Bei Nuan realized that something was wrong with her too.

She felt feverish and thirsty, but it wasn't like a fever because she was sweating profusely, her clothes soaked.

Her mind, however, was very excited and inexplicably confused. Time seemed to be moving very fast, and then very slow. A thought would flit through her mind before she could grasp it.

Bei Nuan felt incredibly high, her mood lighter and happier than ever before, as if she were about to fly. Everything before her eyes was bathed in a halo, and she liked everything she saw.

Especially Boss Lu in front of her.

She especially liked him.

His hair was shiny in the candlelight, looking touchably soft, making her want to rub it.

Bei Nuan reached out and stroked his hair.

Lu Xingchi felt it and raised his head.

His eyes met Bei Nuan's, his eyes burning. He also seemed unusual. Realizing that she had been awakened by his nibbling, he propped himself up on top of her.

Several buttons on his collar had come undone at some point, his white shirt half-open, revealing the delicate lines of his collarbone. The shirt, damp with sweat, was semi-transparent in the candlelight, faintly revealing the contours of his muscles.

He was incredibly beautiful.

Bei Nuan inexplicably wanted to touch him. Her hand was much faster than her brain. The thought had barely crossed her mind when her hand had already moved up uncontrollably.

Having been taken advantage of, he seemed unwilling to let it go and pressed down, kissing her.

The two of them entangled on the narrow bed, inseparable.

His whole body was burning hot, so gentle, so passionate, and so beautiful. Bei Nuan unresistingly hugged his broad shoulders and back, thinking, Just like this.

Lu Xingchi, however, propped himself up slightly, looked down at her, and uttered two words: “Candle.”

Bei Nuan: ?

He let out a long sigh, sat up, and said, “The candle is wrong.”

Only then did Bei Nuan realize that tonight's aromatherapy candle wasn't the scent of food like smoked meat, nor was it a fruity or floral fragrance. It was a strange, sweet, and greasy scent she couldn't quite describe.

What did he mean?

Bei Nuan's brain was still not functioning properly, still excitedly racing. After a while, she suddenly understood.

“Are you saying we've been drugged? Like in novels? Something like Yin Yang Harmony Powder? Really?”

Her tone was like she had won the lottery.

Lu Xingchi was speechless. “Yin Yang Harmony Powder?”

“That's how it's written in novels.” Bei Nuan lay comfortably on the pillow, happily inquiring, “Do we need an antidote?”

Lu Xingchi looked at her from above for a while, his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he said, “Why don't you help me with the antidote?”

Bei Nuan, under the influence of the candle, was still giddy and not thinking clearly, so she discussed it frankly with him.

“Don't be silly. You don't need me. I've never understood why in novels, after being poisoned, one has to find a woman to administer the antidote. Can't they do it themselves?”

Lu Xingchi was beyond speechless.

“'Do it themselves'? I don't know how to 'do it myself.' Why don't you teach me?”

Although he said so, he didn't seem to want her to teach him. He got off her, reached out to snuff out the candle, got out of bed, opened the curtains, and threw open all the windows in the room.

A gust of cool night air immediately blew in, bringing the fresh scent of the outside air. The thin curtains billowed and swirled in the room.

Lu Xingchi stood by the window, hands on the windowsill, looking out, breathing in the fresh night air.

The lines of his profile were as sharp and beautiful as a carving, and his eyes seemed to have regained their clarity.

As the cloying scent of the candle dissipated, Bei Nuan's mind cleared considerably.

She knew he was a reserved and proud person and didn't want to take advantage of her in this situation.

Now that her mind was working again, Bei Nuan quickly took out a camping lamp from her space and turned it on, placing it on the table.

Lu Xingchi walked over and, by the lamplight, picked up the candle on the table and examined it.

The packaging was different from the candles from the previous two days. This candle didn't have a glass container or a fancy metal casing. It was just a short, milky white lump with no markings whatsoever.

“It's probably a candle factory that takes all kinds of orders. This kind of unregulated place, who knows what kind of order they received, adding something shady to the candles.”

He went out, brought back two glasses of water, handed one to Bei Nuan, and drank one himself.

His eyes were clear, but his shirt was still damp.

Bei Nuan sat on the bed, looked at him, and suddenly said, “Lu Xingchi, come here and bend down.”

Lu Xingchi didn't understand what she wanted to do, but he obediently bent down.

Bei Nuan took out a small, snow-white towel, gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then brushed it against his sweaty neck.

She said softly and considerately, “You sweated so much just now, and now you're standing in the night breeze. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Author's Note:

The falcon crown is the one Elizabeth Taylor wore in Cleopatra. I've posted a picture on Weibo, or you can search for Cleopatra to see the movie stills. It's very beautiful and very extravagant, lol.

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