Chapter 10: Acute Feverish Cold

A cold? Zhuang Zhou sniffed hard, terrified that his nosebleed would gush out. These two women had no idea how much he was struggling right now.

Rose was laughing even harder, her whole body shaking with mirth. She was quite confident in herself, and Zhuang Zhou’s composure was already remarkable under such circumstances.

“Sister Lin Wen, I’m fine, really. Maybe I just didn’t cover myself enough with the blanket last night?” Zhuang Zhou tried his best to hide his discomfort, then shot Rose an unceremonious glare.

Rose’s smile grew even brighter. “Yes, little brother, in the future be sure to pile on more blankets when you sleep, so you don’t catch a chill!”

Now Zhuang Zhou was certain—this woman was doing it on purpose.

He hurriedly recited the “Purity Incantation” twice in his mind, suppressing the evil urges within him. “You’re right, Sister Rose, more blankets for sure, and plenty of clothes too. Too few blankets just makes you catch a cold, but if you don’t wear enough clothes, well, you risk more than just a cold. I’m a doctor, so you have to take my advice—can’t go wrong!”

“You!” Rose was at a loss for words. Was this guy questioning her fashion sense?

“But you still have school. How could you possibly have the energy to manage this internet café? Besides, you don’t have any experience. Maybe you should just give it back to that Yu guy? He’s a gangster, and we can’t afford to cross him.” Lin Wen worried for Zhuang Zhou—she’d heard of the fearsome reputation of the Triad Society, even though she was sheltered.

Before Zhuang Zhou could reply, Rose volunteered herself. “How about this—you let me manage the internet café for you?”

Zhuang Zhou couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “Sister Rose, who are you? Are we that close?”

“Once isn’t enough for a friendship, but twice and we’re practically old friends! Little brother, don’t be so distant with your big sister. Around here, I’m a bit of a local celebrity, and I know all about running an internet café. Besides, you saw it yourself—I’m not afraid of the Triad Society, and that little punk Zhang Yu? He’s nothing to me!” Rose patted her chest confidently.

Zhuang Zhou felt his blood surge again. Yes, she truly was “fearless”—and how!

No, no, this woman was pure trouble. If he looked at her any longer, he’d practically start drooling again.

He shook his head, forcibly dispelling all the dirty and wicked thoughts tumbling around in his mind. Thinking calmly, he had to admit she was right—she really was the best choice.

But she was so determined to get close to him, she must have some ulterior motive. Could she be interested in him? Impossible! Zhuang Zhou couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

The way Rose laughed had a wild allure, but he had to admit she was very beautiful.

“So, are you tempted? Someone as attractive and experienced as me, and nobody dares mess with me—you won’t find another like me even if you searched with a lantern. Just hand the place over to me and rest easy!” Rose said with utmost confidence.

While Zhuang Zhou hesitated, Lin Wen tugged gently at his sleeve and said softly, “I think it’s a good idea. She’s so pretty—someone like that could never be bad!”

Never be bad? If that were true, why was he still fighting back nosebleeds? Sister Lin Wen, do you even know the meaning of the phrase “femme fatale”? It fits Rose perfectly, no doubt about it.

“Well? Have you made up your mind? Don’t dawdle, or you’ll miss your chance!”

Not good—the beautiful enchantress was trying to bewitch the upright Poison Immortal again.

If he let this enchantress run the place, he’d have to see her nearly every day. Zhuang Zhou didn’t have that kind of self-control. If he ever lost it—well, when dry wood meets a raging fire, it’s bound to be trouble. She was stunning, but as deadly as any toxin he’d ever encountered. If the Poison Immortal died of his own poison one day, it would be a tragic irony.

Seeing him hesitate, Lin Wen had already made up her mind. She’d witnessed everything that just happened and knew this girl was no pushover. People like Zhang Yu required someone like Rose to keep them in check, and with her around, the internet café wouldn’t fall into Zhang Yu’s hands again.

“Rose, I’ll decide for Zhuang Zhou. The internet café is yours to manage,” Lin Wen said, not waiting for Zhuang Zhou to speak.

“See? Sister Lin Wen has good judgment. It’s settled, then.” Rose didn’t bother with Zhuang Zhou anymore, striking a deal with Lin Wen instead. Then she held up a finger and said earnestly, “Let’s talk about salary. My demands aren’t high—ten thousand a month.”

“Ten thousand?” Zhuang Zhou was stunned. Any amount over five thousand was huge to him—ten thousand was daylight robbery!

“What? Too expensive? Look how stingy you are.” Rose pouted, pulling a lollipop from who-knows-where, unwrapping it, and popping it into her mouth.

That was it—his nose was about to erupt again!

Zhuang Zhou felt another red alert brewing and decided to avoid her gaze. He couldn’t take much more of this. If he stayed with this enchantress any longer, his medical record would list his cause of death as “acute exsanguination.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get your money’s worth. I can’t guarantee anything else, but this internet café will bring in at least fifty thousand a month to start—and it’ll only go up from there. So, now tell me: is ten thousand for my salary really that much?” Rose rolled her eyes impatiently.

Zhuang Zhou refused any further interaction with Rose, not even speaking to her.

“Settled, then!”

Seeing Rose about to escalate, Zhuang Zhou quickly agreed. Even the Poison Immortal, Supreme Overlord from another world, feared enchantresses. Better to yield now, or who knows what tricks she’d pull next.

Rose chuckled, then, with the lollipop in her mouth, gave Zhuang Zhou a deep curtsy, her manner uncannily like that of a devoted maid. “Good day, Boss! Thank you for your hard work!”

Pop!

Faced with the taut leather bustier, Zhuang Zhou’s nose could bear it no longer—it erupted in a torrent, utterly overwhelmed.

At this moment, Lin Wen’s professionalism as a healer shone through. She pulled two tissues from her pocket and handed them to Zhuang Zhou, all the while frowning in confusion. “Huh? Didn’t it just rain a couple days ago? The weather isn’t dry, so why the nosebleed? Was I right, and you really have an acute fever?”

The “dangerous” enchantress was laughing so hard she could barely straighten up, that captivating beauty making Zhuang Zhou’s head spin.

Zhuang Zhou knew his reputation as the Poison Immortal was in tatters!

He fled the internet café, leaving Rose giggling uncontrollably behind. What a mess! But she had to admit, his skills with the Steel Shadow were truly impressive.

Once outside, his nosebleed finally stopped.

“Zhuang Zhou, I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have made that decision for you. I just thought that with Rose watching over the café, those gangsters wouldn’t dare try anything, and we could all have some peace.” Lin Wen spoke softly in explanation.

Zhuang Zhou smiled and sniffed habitually. “It’s fine, Sister Lin Wen, thank you for thinking of me. It’s just that Rose, well…” He couldn’t finish the sentence. How could he tell Lin Wen that the nosebleed was entirely that enchantress’s fault? A cold-blooded “female demon”!

“I think Rose is great!” Lin Wen said innocently.

Zhuang Zhou smiled helplessly. He liked Lin Wen’s quiet, easygoing nature—she was beautiful and so pure that he didn’t even know how to respond to her.

If only Lin Wen knew that the seemingly “great” girl hid at least a dozen throwing knives on her body, and if anyone dared to cross her, her blade would move faster than their words. This was no ordinary woman—she was a demoness few could ever tame.

“She’s ‘really’ great,” Zhuang Zhou replied awkwardly.

Lin Wen pondered for a moment, then suddenly said softly, “Zhuang Zhou, remember to cover yourself well tonight when you sleep. Don’t actually catch a chill!”

Zhuang Zhou wished he could crawl into a hole right then and there.

Lin Wen might be pure, but she was still older than him and no fool—at least when it came to matters of the heart, girls matured earlier than boys.

Zhuang Zhou felt a sudden toothache and said with a sheepish grin, “Sister Lin Wen, so you were just pretending all along!”

A faint blush crept onto Lin Wen’s cheeks. She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and glared at Zhuang Zhou, a hint of playful stubbornness in her pretty face. “I get it—you’re mocking me for pretending to be innocent?”

Zhuang Zhou waved his hands quickly. “No, I misspoke, really!”

Lin Wen’s delicate fist landed on his arm as she grumbled, “Still, I think Rose is a lot better than that cold fish Ye Song. Rose is beautiful and approachable, but Ye Song always has that frosty expression. She’s very pretty, too, but nobody dares get close to her.”

At the mention of Ye Song, the last vestiges of heat in Zhuang Zhou’s heart vanished without a trace.

“To be honest, I think someone like you, Sister Lin Wen, is the most beautiful. Compared to those two, they’re plain as mud, ugly as sin!”

Lin Wen’s face flushed again, and she replied shyly, “There you go again, talking nonsense. Ye Song and Rose are both rare beauties—how could they be ugly? I can’t compare to either of them.”

Though she denied it, her heart was full of secret delight. All women love to be told they’re young and pretty.

Lin Wen’s charm lay in her gentle grace, Rose’s in her seductive allure, and Ye Song’s in her icy beauty.

If Zhuang Zhou had to pick, he would always choose Lin Wen—after all, she was his childhood friend, his companion through thick and thin.