Ruyi hesitated, watching An Yang sit quietly nearby. She wasn't sure whether to stay or leave.
"If you don't mind, join me for a bit. It's quieter up here than down below," An Yang offered, his voice calm and tinged with exhaustion.
After a moment's thought, Ruyi moved closer, though keeping a respectful distance.
"You've changed a lot," An Yang said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Ruyi raised an eyebrow in confusion. Was he trying to start a conversation? Hadn't he always disliked her?
Sensing her skepticism, An Yang gave a self-deprecating smile. "Maybe it's not that you've changed but that I never really understood you. In my mind, you've always been the person Xiaoyu described—selfish, reckless, and even foolish. I hope that doesn't offend you."
Ruyi's lips twitched into a faint smirk. Of course Wen Xinyu would have painted her in the worst possible light. Not that the old "Ruyi" didn't have her faults, but still.
"But at the Wen house, I noticed something. You weren't clinging to Zichen the way Xiaoyu always claimed. In fact, you barely paid him any attention," An Yang mused before abruptly shifting topics. "Tan Hui, Peng Le, Ziyu, Yajing… They're all gone now. They didn't have to die."
Ruyi sighed inwardly. It seemed An Yang had been bottling up his frustrations and had chosen her as his sounding board. Well, why not? He had treated her injuries once; listening to his grievances was a small price to pay.
His words reminded her of faces she hadn't seen in a while. Two girls from the Wen house, particularly Ziyu, with her pretentious demeanor resembling Wen Xinyu's. And those three boys from the villa district—none of them were around anymore. Clearly, they hadn't survived.
"Seeing you today, so different from how I remembered, made me wonder—maybe it's not Xiaoyu who's changed. Maybe I never really understood her, either," An Yang continued, his voice heavy with regret.
Ruyi nodded silently, her agreement hidden behind a neutral expression. Finally figured it out, have you?
While the novel painted Wen Xinyu as kind, magnanimous, and admirable, Ruyi's firsthand experience told a different story. Xiaoyu was petty, vengeful, and fiercely possessive—traits most evident in her treatment of Lian Zichen. Yet she played her role well, her flawless acting bolstered by what Ruyi could only assume was the protagonist's halo.
Below, Ruyi's attention was drawn to Wen Xinyu and Gao Rui, who had just climbed into Gao Rui's vehicle.
It was past 9 PM, and the dim crescent moon was partially obscured by clouds. Only someone with Ruyi's exceptional vision could see clearly in the darkness; to ordinary people, even silhouettes would be difficult to discern.
Ruyi glanced at An Yang. He remained oblivious, his head bowed, lost in melancholy.
Her curiosity piqued. If Gao Rui became ensnared in Wen Xinyu's halo, her situation could grow precarious. And anything involving Wen Xinyu was worth keeping an eye on.
Muttering an excuse, Ruyi left An Yang and crept toward the vehicle. She moved silently at first but eventually dropped to her hands and knees, crawling closer. Gao Rui's military background likely made him hyper-aware of his surroundings, so she proceeded with caution.
Finally, she crouched by the rear door and pressed her ear to the thick metal. Closing her eyes, she focused all her attention, as if hunting zombies in the blood-red space.
The vehicle's reinforced structure muffled the voices inside, but Ruyi caught snippets of the conversation.
"Once I've safely escorted these people to Yun'an Base, my duty will be fulfilled. After that, would you let me come with you?" Wen Xinyu's voice was soft and saccharine, sending shivers of revulsion down Ruyi's spine.
Wait, what? Ruyi frowned. Gao Rui hadn't been mentioned in the original storyline, so his presence had already raised questions. Now Wen Xinyu wanted to leave Yun'an Base with him?
"You'd leave your boyfriend behind?" Gao Rui asked, his tone laced with amusement.
"Can't we all go together?" Wen Xinyu's voice wavered with feigned vulnerability.
Gao Rui chuckled. "Your boyfriend doesn't seem to have any abilities, and he's hardly equipped to fight zombies. Bringing him along would only slow us down. You, on the other hand—beautiful and powerful—I'd be happy to have you."
There was a long pause before Wen Xinyu replied, her voice trembling with desperation. "Gao-ge, please. I can't abandon him. I'll do anything you ask—anything—if you agree."
"Anything?" Gao Rui's voice dropped an octave, a dangerous edge creeping into his tone.
Ruyi grimaced. She hadn't expected Wen Xinyu to go this far. Was she actually willing to sell herself for Lian Zichen's sake?
But before Ruyi could feel any genuine sympathy, Wen Xinyu's voice broke the moment.
"Gao-ge, don't misunderstand me. My first time is for my future husband. What I meant is… I'll do whatever else it takes, but not that." Her tone shifted from seductive to self-righteous, laden with indignation.
Are you kidding me? Ruyi struggled to suppress her laughter. How can "anything" not include… you know, anything?
Apparently, Gao Rui shared her incredulity. "Are you playing games with me?"
"Of course not," Wen Xinyu protested, her voice tinged with tears. "I'm not like those other girls in your team. I won't trade my body for survival, even if it means killing zombies with my bare hands."
"And what do you want me to do about it?" Gao Rui asked, his patience wearing thin.
"I want to fulfill my duty to Zichen and then leave him when we reach the base. He's betrayed me before—he and that girl you rescued, Ruyi. They hurt me deeply. But I won't abandon him now because I have a responsibility. After that…" Her voice softened, carrying a hint of longing. "Well, I think you understand what I mean, Gao-ge."
Ruyi almost gagged. Wen Xinyu was a master manipulator, spinning lies so effortlessly that even a seasoned military man like Gao Rui might fall for them.
But before Ruyi could slip away, Gao Rui shifted the conversation. "Tell me more about Ruyi. What kind of person is she?"
Ruyi froze, her mind racing. She didn't need to hear Wen Xinyu's response to know it wouldn't be flattering. But before she could flee, her muscles cramped from holding her position too long. The faint noise of her movement alerted Gao Rui, and she barely had time to react before the car door opened.
In a panic, Ruyi's instincts took over. With a single thought, she vanished into the safety of her space.