Wen Xinyu observed the man before her with careful deliberation. His neatly trimmed hair, excessively handsome features, and a smile capable of making any woman's heart race radiated charm. His voice, deep and rich with the allure of a mature man, added to his magnetic presence. Forcing herself to suppress her fluttering emotions, Wen Xinyu focused on her objective.
"Since we're all headed to Yun'an Base, why not travel together for mutual protection?" she suggested softly. Her delicate face carried a mix of shyness, curiosity, and sincerity—an expression designed to be irresistible.
Gao Rui smiled faintly. This woman knew how to leverage her advantages. Her demeanor, coupled with that disarming expression, could bend any man's will. But, unfortunately for her, Gao Rui's interest lay elsewhere. He preferred roses with thorns over fragile white lilies.
As if summoned by his thoughts, the thorny rose herself appeared.
Gao Rui's attention shifted as he noticed a man animatedly addressing Ruyi, his eyes lighting up with familiarity. Did she know this group?
"Ruyi, you're alive?" Lian Zichen, who had been uneasily watching Wen Xinyu converse with Gao Rui, turned his head and spotted a familiar figure. Disbelief washed over him as he approached.
Ruyi shot him a cool glance and took a deliberate step back. What's with the enthusiasm? My misery in the novel was partly thanks to you.
Lian Zichen faltered at her guarded demeanor. Shouldn't she be happy to see him?
Wen Xinyu, noticing Gao Rui's lack of response and his diverted gaze, felt a flicker of irritation. She quickly masked it with her usual gentle demeanor and followed his line of sight.
"Ji Ruyi?!" Wen Xinyu's voice pitched higher, filled with surprise but void of genuine delight.
Ruyi inwardly cursed her misfortune before plastering on an overly joyous expression. Trembling with mock emotion, she whispered, "Xinyu… Sister…"
Tears welled in Wen Xinyu's eyes as she pushed through the crowd to embrace Ruyi tightly.
Ruyi's face turned red—not from emotion, but from sheer discomfort. "Xinyu-jie, you're going to suffocate me!" she gasped, struggling to break free.
They stood facing each other, their gazes locked in what appeared to be a heartfelt reunion. To the onlookers, it was a scene dripping with sentimentality—two long-lost sisters reunited amidst the chaos of the apocalypse.
For those who knew the truth of their relationship, as revealed through Shiliu's loose tongue, the display was nothing short of astonishing.
Some couldn't help but marvel at Wen Xinyu's boundless kindness and tolerance, while others envied Lian Zichen's good fortune. One woman with an angelic demeanor and another with striking beauty, both seemingly devoted to him.
Yet the reality of the apocalypse brought its own ironies. Wen Xinyu, with her formidable lightning ability capable of dispatching six zombies at once, had risen as a leader. Meanwhile, Lian Zichen remained an ordinary man, no more remarkable than the disheveled and dejected An Yang, whose growing despair was evident to all.
Amid the whispers and side glances, the forced reunion finally drew to a close. But before Ruyi could catch her breath, she spotted a familiar figure waiting with an imperious air—Qiao Huixin, her mother.
Hesitating for a moment, Ruyi reluctantly approached and muttered, "Mother."
Qiao Huixin's expression was a mix of complexity. Initially relieved when Ruyi didn't return, her absence had meant no reminders of her youthful folly. Marrying a rogue for his good looks had been the greatest mistake of her life. Yet now, seeing her daughter alive, conflicted emotions surfaced.
"Hmm," Qiao Huixin finally responded with a strained smile, her tone as distant as ever.
Ruyi, long accustomed to her indifference, remained unfazed and turned away without another word.
The surrounding crowd exchanged uncertain glances. Was this truly a mother-daughter relationship? Even unrelated sisters seemed closer.
However, with the world as it was, few had the luxury to dwell on such matters.
The gas station, previously quiet, grew lively with the arrival of Wen Xinyu's group. Unlike Gao Rui's disciplined military unit, Xinyu's companions bickered constantly, even over food and rest. Several disputes nearly escalated into physical fights.
Ruyi skeptically observed Wen Xinyu's leadership. Is this the power of a protagonist's halo? How else could such a chaotic group have survived this long?
Her thoughts were interrupted when her gaze accidentally locked with An Yang's. His expression was laden with unspoken frustration and contempt—not directed at her, but at Wen Xinyu's unruly team.
Ruyi noted his disheveled appearance, unkempt beard, and the defeated air hanging over him. This was a far cry from the polished, confident An Yang of the past.
They exchanged a brief look of mutual understanding—an acknowledgment of the absurdity of their circumstances.
Even the once-arrogant Lian Zichen now seemed painfully aware of his reduced significance, and his thoughts frequently strayed to Li Ziyu, whose charming smile haunted his mind.
Despite agreeing to travel together, Gao Rui had made one thing clear: while they could share the burden of fighting zombies, supplies like food and vehicles were strictly separate.
Gao Rui's group, which included Ruyi, five other women, and a family of three, numbered twenty-four. Wen Xinyu's team, with only twenty members, lagged behind in resources.
Naturally, in a world dictated by survival of the fittest, Gao Rui's side fared better.
As the evening settled, Ruyi, weary of the noise and pettiness around her, quietly climbed onto the roof of the gas station to escape.
To her surprise, she wasn't alone. Someone was already sitting there, bathed in the fading light of the setting sun.