Yama Reborn-Chapter 495 - 492 [0 is an old pervert]

Chapter Four Hundred and Ninety-Two: Zero is an Old Pervert

Sun Keke was eating noodles at a ramen shop in an alley near the school’s south gate. There were many restaurants and snack bars near the school, and since entering college, Sun Keke had tried several in the vicinity. In the end, however, she found herself particularly fond of this shabby-looking noodle shop. It was simply because the taste of these noodles was very similar to that of the shop Chen Nuo used to frequent.

Thin hand-pulled noodles, sliced beef, topped with a few coriander leaves. The fragrant bowl of noodles sat before her. Sun Keke quietly picked up her chopsticks, daintily lifting the noodles and taking small, delicate bites.

There were also some garlic cloves in a bowl on the table. After a moment’s hesitation, Sun Keke finally abandoned her restraint, put down her chopsticks, peeled a clove of garlic, and gently bit into it. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. The spicy taste on the tip of her tongue, and that somewhat punchy flavor...

Actually, few girls from the south enjoy garlic. Sun Keke, in fact, hadn’t liked garlic since she was young. Not to mention garlic, she didn’t even particularly care for coriander.

But...

After chewing the garlic a few times, she picked up a few strands of noodles, put them into her mouth, chewed absently, and then swallowed...

Well, in truth, she had gotten used to it.

What was that saying that damned mutt always used?

’Eat noodles without garlic, miss half the flavor’?

As she ate, Sun Keke sniffled hard, raised a finger, and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

I... I’m not crying because of that jerk! It’s just that the garlic is too spicy! Yes, that’s right, the garlic is just too spicy!

Girls usually have small appetites, and Sun Keke, conscious of her appearance and afraid of gaining weight, was actually full after eating less than half the shop’s bowl of noodles. But, having been taught not to waste food since childhood, she forced herself to take a few more bites, still remembering Old Sun’s lessons from home. Even if you couldn’t finish the noodles, you should at least eat the beef in the bowl—this was generally the kind of upbringing instilled in children from ordinary families.

After stuffing a few more slices of beef into her mouth with her chopsticks, Sun Keke felt she couldn’t eat another bite. So, she stood up, paid, and left.

To the left was the way back to school. Behind her... seemed to be a commercial street where one could browse a night market in the evening.

However, Sun Keke chose neither direction and instead walked deeper into the alley. Further down the alley was a small grove of trees, not very large. Usually, around this time, there should still be some old men playing chess or practicing Tai Chi there.

Sun Keke had often strolled here during her year at school.

This was probably another habit that rascal had instilled in her life.

Every time she wandered to this place, watching the old men sitting on small stools playing chess, watching groups of elderly men and women practicing Tai Chi under the sparse trees... Sun Keke always felt as if, in a daze, she could see a certain guy with a roguish laugh among them.

Like today.

Sun Keke sat beside a cement post, her chin resting in her hands, watching a group of old men practicing Yang-style Tai Chi. She felt as if, somehow, in the next instant, that heart-breaking guy would suddenly appear among them, smiling and waving to her.

What a jerk! Such a damn jerk!! Making me feel like crying again. Sigh!

She forcefully wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.

However, at that very moment...

PLOP!!

A figure fell straight from a tree, along with a shower of leaves and twigs, and landed right on his butt on the ground, smack in the middle of a group of elderly men and women!

This sudden event startled the elderly folks!

Sun Keke was also taken aback, staring wide-eyed. Huh?

She rubbed her eyes hard and looked again!

Huh?!!

The one sitting on the ground, a strange expression on his face, scrambling to his feet... that guy...

Chen Xiaoguo!!!!!!

Sun Keke was dumbfounded.

"You young rascal! How old are you, still climbing trees like a child! Aren’t you afraid of breaking your legs if you fall?"

The surrounding old men and women were angry, surrounding Chen Nuo and scolding him in the Jinling dialect.

"Are you a blockhead? Is your brain not working? Even if you didn’t hurt yourself, what if you’d hit someone? This place is full of us old folks; you couldn’t afford to compensate any of us if you hit one!"

Chen Nuo swallowed hard, got up, and quickly forced a smile, apologizing to the angry elders around him. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I climbed the tree to cool off and take a nap. I must have fallen asleep and then tumbled down. Dear Uncles and Aunties, I didn’t scare you, did I?"

"No way! You can’t leave without explaining yourself! This is a residential area. Who knows where you’re from? A grown man like you, sneaking up a tree in broad daylight—what mischief were you up to? Were you a lookout for a thief? Or trying to peep at some young girl?"

"Right, right! Don’t let him go! Call the police!"

As several old ladies grabbed Chen Nuo’s clothes and arms, he wore a helpless, wry smile.

Sun Keke, however, had already turned her head away with a loud hmph, stood up, and was about to leave.

That damned brat! He must be peeping on me again! Still not willing to let me go, huh! I’ll ignore him! Serves him right! Besides... with his skills, this little situation is hardly a challenge for him.

With steely resolve, Sun Keke was about to depart when she suddenly heard Chen Nuo shout from behind.

"Sun Keke!!"

Sun Keke’s body jolted. She quickened her pace, intending to ignore him and leave quickly.

But then...

"Sun Keke!!" Chen Nuo shouted loudly again from behind her. "Sun Keke from the 2001 cohort of the Foreign Languages Institute at the Normal University! ID number 3201..."

Sun Keke’s scalp tingled instantly!!

She quickly turned around and glared at Chen Nuo, snapping, "What nonsense are you spouting!!"

Chen Nuo sighed. "Come help me explain that I’m not a bad person."

"You *are* a bad person!" Sun Keke shook her head, but her feet had already involuntarily taken two steps back. "It would be best if the police took you away!"

The surrounding uncles and aunties, each one a shrewd old hand wise to the ways of the world, observed the tone and expressions of the young pair. Those who had been holding Chen Nuo back now let go, their faces showing peculiar expressions.

Indeed, one old lady even sat down on a small folding stool to watch the unfolding drama.

"Young lady, do you know him?"

Sun Keke replied, "...I don’t."

"If you don’t know him, how does he know your name and even try to state your ID number?"

Chen Nuo had already scurried over like a monkey and began apologizing to the curious elders. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry. We young folks were having an argument, and I just followed her here secretly. I’m not a bad guy, I just..." As he spoke, he scratched his head with a look of utter helplessness, appearing like a naive young man inexperienced in the ways of the world.

Sun Keke’s face flushed red, and she stared at Chen Nuo through clenched teeth.

This bastard... he’s still the same! He sweet-talks humans and spins tales for ghosts! He’s a natural-born liar!

"Young lady, you’d better make it clear. Do you know him or not? If you do, we’ll leave you two young people to your argument... If you don’t know him, don’t be afraid! There are many of us here; we’ll call the police to handle it!"

"Don’t!" Sun Keke panicked.

Call the police? Wouldn’t that be even more troublesome?

Taking a deep breath, Sun Keke nodded reluctantly. "I know him. He’s my... classmate."

Perhaps it was the way she gritted her teeth when she said "classmate," or her flushed and embarrassed appearance, but it made the old ladies understand the situation.

Oh... "classmate," huh...

"Alright, break it up, break it up. The young couple is just having a spat, let’s not crowd around... But young man, you can’t go climbing trees anymore, hear! It’s too dangerous... you could fall and hurt yourself, or scare people..."

Chen Nuo showed no impatience, continuing to smile and offer a dozen more apologies.

Seeing that Sun Keke was turning to leave, he quickly bid farewell to the group of elders and hurried after her.

"Keke..."

"..."

"I’m sorry, just now I..."

"..." Sun Keke continued to walk with her head down.

"That, it really was an accident just now."

Sun Keke suddenly stopped walking!

She turned around, her eyes red, and stared at Chen Nuo!

"You just won’t let me go, will you, Chen Nuo?!"

Chen Nuo gave a wry smile and said nothing.

"You’ve already... you and her... with *her*... and you still won’t let me go?" Sun Keke’s voice trembled with sobs. "You’ve come to my school again, secretly following me, spying on me! What on earth do you want? I haven’t even gone home recently; I’ve been staying at school. I refuse to go home... all to avoid seeing you! I’ve already been trying to stay as far away from you as possible! And yet you still come to bother me! What do you really want!!! How do you want me to be!!"

Chen Nuo still remained silent.

Sun Keke grew more agitated as she spoke. "Chen Nuo! Say something! Just what is your purpose for persistently pestering me! You’re already with her! You even have a child with her!! Why are you hounding me! What do you expect me to do! Am I supposed to just swallow it and endure it? Or am I supposed to happily join your little family of three! Chen Nuo! Don’t you think you’re being shameless!!"

Reaching this point, Sun Keke suddenly burst into tears, squatted down, held her head in her hands, and buried her face in her knees.

"Why did you have to meddle with me in the first place... why did you give me so much false hope! I... I’ve put up with so many things for you. Chen Nuo... I’m just an ordinary girl. I’m not you, and I’m not Lu Xixi! I can’t enter that world of yours, and I don’t want to! I just want to live an ordinary life, study hard, have a man who loves me and treasures me, and I would give him my whole heart and soul! Even if you had no money, no house, even if you couldn’t get into university, I wouldn’t care. I’d still be willing to be with you. Just an ordinary life: school, graduation, find a job, build a small home together, you work, I work, you come home from work, I cook... That was my entire hope, Chen Nuo. Don’t you understand? I don’t want anything else! I don’t want things I can’t bear, things I can’t accept!!"

Chen Nuo sighed, said nothing, and crouched down beside Sun Keke.

His raised hand hovered over Sun Keke’s head for a moment, but ultimately, he didn’t touch her.

There’s no way to explain...

He had never intended to disturb or hurt this girl again.

Today...

Chen Nuo sighed again and looked up at the sky.

Why did he have to arrive back in this Time right beside Sun Keke?

Could it be...

A thought struck Chen Nuo!

The anchor! His anchor in this time-space was Sun Keke! That’s why, when he left this time-space and jumped back, he would inevitably land near Sun Keke!

After crying for a few more minutes, Sun Keke finally stemmed her tears, took a deep breath, and stood up.

Chen Nuo immediately rose to his feet, looking at Sun Keke in silence.

"Chen Nuo, that time in Suzhou, I wavered. You were holding me as we rode horseback, and you said... forget it, let’s not talk about that." Sun Keke shook her head. "I wavered then, and I agonized over it after I came back. I felt the whole situation was too absurd. How could... three people be together?! I kept vacillating. Sometimes I thought I could accept it, but then I’d remember, and my heart would be in turmoil, so I’d force myself not to think about it. This happened several times. She loves you very much, I can see that. And you love her and care for her deeply too; I can see that as well. So even though I had my moment of weakness in Suzhou, I was just confused by you that day. And I’ve been obsessively thinking about it ever since. I can’t imagine being by your side, watching her by your side as well... How could I accept that scene? I... But in the end, when I learned you even had a child with her, I just... I just thought that maybe this outcome is for the best. It’s better if it makes me give up completely."

Chen Nuo’s expression darkened. He gave a low, bitter smile. "I won’t say much more. In short, I’m the one who has wronged you."

After a pause, Chen Nuo said quietly, "I... never mind, let’s not talk about this anymore. I’ll take you back to school."

Sun Keke looked deeply at Chen Nuo, then started walking.

Chen Nuo walked beside her.

Just like that, Chen Nuo followed Sun Keke onto the campus, across the sports field, through the school grounds, and to the entrance of the girls’ dormitory.

"Well, you should go in. I... I’m sorry. I won’t disturb your life anymore."

Chen Nuo let out a wry chuckle.

Sun Keke stood frozen, her body rigid, unmoving.

Chen Nuo sighed, slowly turned, and walked away. After rounding a tree, his figure vanished.

Only then did Sun Keke’s body begin to tremble. She turned around, her face already streaked with tears.

Asshole... asshole... asshole... Why didn’t you lie to me one more time... just one more lie...

After using his teleportation ability, Chen Nuo reappeared by the lake at Niushou Mountain. The time was just over ten minutes after his great battle with Chen Jianshe.

Chen Jianshe still lay motionless on the ground by the lake. He was already dead. After his Consciousness Space shattered, he had become nothing more than a corpse.

At that moment, looking at the 2002 version of "Dong Juan" Chen Jianshe lying on the ground, Chen Nuo didn’t quite know what to feel.

If not for his trip back to 1982, Chen Nuo would have felt no psychological burden in killing Chen Jianshe. After all, that "Dong Juan," besides abandoning his wife and child, had also committed many bloody deeds—during his recent trouble-making in Jinling, he had caused several disasters, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people. Chen Nuo wouldn’t have felt any qualms about killing such a despicable man.

But now, things were different.

After his return to 1981.

In Chen Nuo’s eyes, Chen Jianshe was no longer "Dong Juan." Instead, he was the fellow from 1981 who had smiled obsequiously, acted submissively, and cheerfully called him "Big Brother." He was that cowardly and slick young man who, nonetheless, hadn’t entirely lost his conscience.

Realizing this, Chen Nuo felt a chill in his heart!

This, perhaps... was the terrifying aspect of Zero! Human emotions stem from experience. Once experiences give rise to emotions, those emotions cannot be dismissed as non-existent; they will inevitably influence you! That was the terror of Zero! His experiences in 1981 had made him feel a trace of pity even for Chen Jianshe. So... what about Louise? And Lu Xixi? These intensified emotions would undoubtedly exert a more profound influence on many of his future choices.

After a moment of silence, Chen Nuo waved his hand.

Chen Jianshe’s body silently disintegrated.

Then, as Chen Nuo was turning to leave the lake, his phone suddenly rang.

Looking at the caller ID, Chen Nuo’s heart stirred.

"Hubby~~"

Lu Xixi’s warm, soft voice came from the other end of the call.

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "Yes, I’m here."

"Did something happen over there?" Lu Xixi’s voice held a hint of worry. "I just looked at my phone, and you sent me so many identical text messages."

Chen Nuo was taken aback, then realized what had happened. Those were the messages he had repeatedly sent to Lu Xixi while battling Chen Jianshe, who had been reversing Time again and again. Although Chen Nuo had later reacted to the Time reversal, it must have seemed very strange to Lu Xixi.

"Hmm..." Chen Nuo initially wanted to tell Lu Xixi to wait until he got home to explain...

But as the words reached his lips, he suddenly changed his mind. "It’s nothing, probably just some issue with the phone or the mobile company; a single text message was resent many times. I’m fine now, really good. Don’t worry, I’ll be home in a bit."

"Okay, then come back soon~"

After hanging up, Chen Nuo’s face wore a complex expression.

Lu Xixi... Louise... Humans aren’t unfeeling like grass and trees; who can be devoid of emotion? Over a month of living together, that girl who followed him around every day, looking at him with boundless admiration and attachment, calling him ’Sir’ again and again... That little girl...

When Chen Nuo returned home, Ou Xiuhua had also returned and had been settled back into her own house across the way to rest.

Chen Nuo briefly told Lu Xixi what had happened, omitting the part about returning through Time. He only said that Chen Jianshe had come back to pester Ou Xiuhua, then accidentally ran into him, and it turned out Chen Jianshe was Dong Juan...

"And then?"

"I killed him and disposed of the body," Chen Nuo shook his head, his tone very calm.

Lu Xixi nodded. She sighed softly, stood up, walked behind Chen Nuo, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gently hugged him, whispering, "Are you... feeling very upset about it?"

"...Hmm?" Chen Nuo’s body stiffened slightly.

"Biologically speaking, Chen Jianshe was, after all, your father and Ou Xiuhua’s husband. Killing him with your own hands... I’m worried it must have a huge psychological impact on you."

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "He wasn’t my father, merely the DNA donor for this physical body. And after all the unforgivable things he did, I have no qualms about killing him."

Pausing for a moment, Chen Nuo pretended to turn and get up, casually disengaging from Lu Xixi’s embrace. After some thought, he said quietly, "We need to keep this from my mother. After all... Chen Jianshe was her husband. Although she despises Chen Jianshe, the fact that her own son killed her husband would surely drive her mad. So... just tell her I drove Chen Jianshe away. That should be enough."

Lu Xixi nodded. "Alright, I’ll be careful with my words."

Saying this, Lu Xixi took two steps forward and hugged Chen Nuo again. "At least this matter is resolved now. Getting rid of Dong Juan means one less problem."

Chen Nuo felt increasingly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and once again freed himself from Lu Xixi’s embrace. "Well, I did get into a fight. I’m going to take a shower and change clothes first."

With that, Chen Nuo turned, went into his room, entered the bathroom, and closed the door.

A flicker of confusion crossed Lu Xixi’s eyes. ? Perhaps... Chen Nuo seems a bit resistant to physical contact with me?

Chen Nuo stood inside the bathroom, leaning against the door, his mind racing with curses for Zero!!

You bastard!! You’re a fucking pervert!!! What do you mean, ’deepen character relationships, increase bonds, and let me and Lu Xixi live happily ever after in love’?! Damn it, you aliens don’t understand human emotions and ethics at all, do you!!! Lu Xixi is Louise!! How much of an impact has this had on me?! Just think about it!! Just yesterday, she was like a little shadow, following you around, calling you ’Teacher’ and ’Sir’ all day. A little girl you treated like a child, like a junior of your own daughter’s generation, to be educated and cared for. She admired you, revered you... You cherished her, nurtured her... And what happens? A few hours later, in the blink of an eye, you tell me this five-year-old girl has transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman, cooing and cuddling up to you, calling you ’Hubby’?! Isn’t that perverted?!!!! I’m not a sicko pedophile!!! Now, with even a little physical contact with Lu Xixi, Chen Nuo feels completely uncomfortable! It feels like I’m not hugging that captivating Star Sky Empress! Instead, it’s like I’m hugging a five-year-old girl, a little girl who still needs me to tell her bedtime stories!! Damn it! Perverted!! Zero is an old PERVERT!!

After hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, Lu Xixi shook her head, dispelling the doubt in her mind.

Maybe it was just my imagination. Perhaps Chen Nuo was just shaken from personally killing Chen Jianshe. Yes, that must be it. I need to comfort Chen Nuo properly tonight.

Thinking this, Lu Xixi even opened a bottle of red wine and specifically went across to instruct Little Candy, "Don’t come over and disturb us tonight!"

But upon returning, Lu Xixi’s expression suddenly changed.

Chen Nuo, who should have been in the bathroom, was gone!

Frowning, she stepped into the bathroom and saw a line of words left on the steam-fogged mirror.

"I’m going to ask that cat some questions. Don’t wait up for me tonight."

Lu Xixi’s eyes narrowed.

"MEOW?"

The Gray Cat, seeing Chen Nuo suddenly appear before it, quickly leaped onto a tree branch. "Your teleportation skill is getting more and more proficient."

Chen Nuo shook his head, his expression serious. "Cut the crap. I have something to ask you!"

The Gray Cat sighed. "It’s not nice to always bully a cat, you know."

Chen Nuo walked straight over, leaped up, grabbed the Gray Cat by the scruff of its neck, lifted it down from the branch, and placed it on a stone table. This was a park, deserted at night.

Chen Nuo then sat down on a stone bench, looking seriously at the Gray Cat.

The Gray Cat sighed again. "Alright, it seems to be something very important. So... you definitely won’t accept me beating around the bush, right?"

"Answer my questions seriously, Gray Cat. I’m being very serious! This is extremely important to me!"

The Gray Cat shook its head. "What do you want to ask? Regarding the other Seeds, you already know most of it."

"I want to ask about a person."

"A person?"

"Yun Yin!" As Chen Nuo uttered this name, the Gray Cat’s body visibly tensed!

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "Yes, Yun Yin! Tell me everything you know about her!"