You Rong glared at Lin Qinghe, lost in thought, his breathing somewhat rapid.
Lin Qinghe sighed, knowing she couldn't rush things. Coupled with a full day of driving and Jiang Chuhe's commotion, she was truly exhausted.
Lin Qinghe said, "It's getting late, let's rest. You… you lie down on the bed, I won't come over."
Lin Qinghe walked to the bedside, picked up a mildewed quilt, and casually wrapped herself in it. She went to the bedroom door and sat down by the door, closing her eyes to rest.
Fortunately, the room was carpeted, so she wouldn't be cold sitting on the floor.
As for why she chose to sleep by the door instead of using the sofa in the room, it was partly to feign weakness for You Rong to see, and partly because she was afraid You Rong might sneak away in the middle of the night, so she needed to guard the door.
Lin Qinghe was genuinely exhausted. Within moments of closing her eyes, her breathing gradually steadied, and she fell asleep.
You Rong looked at Lin Qinghe with complicated eyes. Suddenly, that unfamiliar longing surged again. He awkwardly averted his gaze, not daring to look at Lin Qinghe again.
You Rong sat on the bed, looking down at his pale hands, devoid of any color, a sickly pallor. When he clenched his fist slightly, his fingers were stiff, and he couldn't even hold it properly.
You Rong closed his eyes, a wave of despair washing over him.
He wanted to bite, to tear Lin Qinghe apart bite by bite, to consume her flesh and blood, warm and sanguine. He would slowly turn into a monster just like a zombie. Could he still maintain his sanity if this continued?
You Rong didn't know.
Lin Qinghe claimed to love him, and he remained unmoved. But he didn't want to eat people, he didn't want to become a walking dead zombie.
He would never stay with Lin Qinghe again!
The night passed silently. Lin Qinghe jolted awake abruptly. Her first reaction was to look towards the bed.
Seeing You Rong's figure, she let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness You Rong hadn't left.
Lin Qinghe's nerves relaxed, and she realized she had slept with her head tilted all night. Her neck ached. She massaged her neck and saw You Rong also open his eyes. She then smiled at him and said, "You're awake too. Did you sleep well last night?"
You Rong merely glanced coldly at Lin Qinghe and said nothing.
Lin Qinghe didn't mind. She could tolerate You Rong, who was like a statue, before, let alone now.
Lin Qinghe stood up and stretched. She spoke to You Rong as if to herself, "I brought some food. The kitchenware in the house seems usable. Shall I make you some porridge? Or do you want meat? I can open a couple of cans for you?"
You Rong remained silent.
Although Lin Qinghe didn't know if You Rong could eat human food now, she thought about it. When he was unconscious, she had fed him porridge. So, she decided to go and cook porridge for him.
Lin Qinghe went to the living room and cooked the porridge. Ignoring the half-eaten corpse in the living room, she walked out with anticipation and said to You Rong, "The porridge is ready. Would you like to sit down and have some?"
You Rong lowered his gaze, looking at the steaming bowl of porridge with an unreadable expression. He had no appetite for it; in fact, he felt a faint sense of nausea and aversion.
Seeing You Rong's silence, Lin Qinghe's expression gradually darkened. She frowned, puzzled, "You Rong? What's wrong? You… don't want to eat?"
You Rong gritted his teeth, as if in defiance or to prove something. He dragged his slow steps over, picked up the bowl, and poured the steaming white porridge into his mouth.
As soon as the porridge entered his mouth, You Rong felt a wave of nausea. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but vomit it back up. (Sudan Novel Network)
Lin Qinghe was startled. "You Rong! What is going on with you?"
You Rong's pupils contracted, and he said hoarsely, "...It's hot."
"Hot?" Lin Qinghe thought for a moment. "You mean the porridge is still hot?"
You Rong remained silent.
Lin Qinghe had a feeling something was wrong with You Rong, but she went along with his words, "I just finished cooking it and brought it out, so it must still be hot. I forgot to remind you. Are you alright? Are you scalded?"
You Rong shook his head with a grim expression.
"Then… there's more porridge in the pot. Shall I serve you another bowl?"
You Rong's gaze uncontrollably drifted to Lin Qinghe's fair neck again. He felt a surge of irritation and said, "No need!"
Lin Qinghe frowned, subtly glancing at the remaining white porridge in the bowl.
Was You Rong unable to eat it?
Before Lin Qinghe could figure it out, You Rong stiffened and began to walk outside with slow steps. Lin Qinghe, not wanting to waste time, abandoned the remaining porridge, grabbed her things, and hurried after him.
Once she caught up to You Rong, Lin Qinghe asked, "You Rong, where are you going?"
You Rong stared at Lin Qinghe with dark, menacing eyes and warned, "Don't… follow!"
Lin Qinghe's small face became serious and resolute. "I told you last night, it's impossible! Even if you hate me, I have to stay by your side. You can't move freely now, and it's too dangerous to be alone!"
You Rong suppressed his anger. He couldn't reason with Lin Qinghe, so he simply continued walking, intending to shake her off.
But he was walking like a zombie now, his steps slow and deliberate. Lin Qinghe stubbornly followed behind, staying close, making it impossible for him to lose her.
After leaving the residential complex, Lin Qinghe tried to reason with You Rong, "You Rong, the car is parked over there… If you want to go somewhere, why don't we drive?"
The main reason was that most of the food was in the car, along with a submachine gun and grenades. Although she had hidden the car well, it would be a huge loss if other survivors found it.
You Rong walked forward with a grim expression, as if he hadn't heard Lin Qinghe.
Lin Qinghe stood still, looking in the direction of the car and then at You Rong, who was stubbornly walking forward. After weighing her options, she gritted her teeth, hardened her heart, and followed You Rong.
If You Rong disappeared, possessing a pile of supplies would be meaningless.
Silently following You Rong, he noticed and glared back at Lin Qinghe in anger, gritting his teeth, "...Don't follow me, get lost!"
Lin Qinghe feigned a disappointed and hurt expression and said softly but firmly, "I can't possibly leave you alone. Don't even think about it…"
You Rong was furious and helpless. Suddenly, he hurriedly averted his gaze again, forcing himself to drag his stiff legs and quicken his pace.
But no matter how fast he walked, it was still slow. He couldn't shake off Lin Qinghe behind him.
After walking for a while, they suddenly encountered a zombie head-on. The zombie let out a roar and charged at You Rong without hesitation.
Lin Qinghe's heart tightened. She quickly drew her handgun and aimed it at the zombie's head. With a "bang," the charging zombie fell to the ground. Its body twitched a few times before becoming still.
Lin Qinghe hurried forward, asking with concern, "You Rong, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
You Rong pursed his bloodless lips, feeling a sense of sorrow and amusement.
He had clearly felt that this zombie had lunged forward to bite him.
So, what was he now?!
Not human, not zombie!
What kind of neither-human-nor-ghost creature was he now?!