Chapter 64: Human Bonds—Give and Take

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When the chaos outside finally died down, someone knocked on the repair shop’s door. “Is anyone in there? Is Captain Yue inside?”

Everyone was overjoyed. They hurried to move the car blocking the entrance and swung open the two heavy doors.

Outside stood several soldiers in camouflage uniforms. More people were clearing the battlefield, mostly digging out zombie crystal cores. All around were the remains of zombies, interspersed with human corpses. Blood and viscera had splattered the walls in dark red and black stains, and the air was thick with a pungent, choking stench.

Bian Changxi had planned to wait until the others left before going out herself to avoid the crowd, but the group was already jammed at the doorway. At the front, Yue Li called out, “Captain Gu!”

“Mm.”

A low, deep voice—just a single syllable, and a hard one at that—yet it rang out with a clarity and strength that seemed to reach out like a powerful hand, instantly gripping everyone’s senses and thoughts.

“Have you seen Miss Bian?” the voice continued. The crowd parted, opening a path down the middle, revealing a tall figure standing at the far end of the doorway.

……

For a moment, Bian Changxi felt as if she were dreaming. Scenes like this only happened in movies: the male and female leads, or two people bound by deep ties, gazing at each other across a crowd, drawing closer as if their hearts were moving toward one another—a warm, moving, stirring moment.

She watched Gu Xu approach, and for some reason, her mind flashed back to their bitter parting in her previous life, when he’d thrown out a line: “Zhu Yunhua isn’t a good person. You’ll regret this!”

That nearly ruthless voice had echoed in the air, following her through countless days and nights. In the quiet hours, she’d ask herself: Did I regret it?

She didn’t dare think about it.

She was good at lying to herself: I’m doing fine. He’s doing well, too. There was no one around her to distract her anymore, and the people around him were all stronger, more capable, gentler, and more beautiful than she was.

It wasn’t until the moment of her death that she finally sensed the helplessness and pleading in his words, finally dared to let herself wonder—what if she’d stayed by his side? What would have happened then?

There are no “what ifs” in life, and yet, sometimes, fate gives you another chance.

Fate had given her a do-over, a chance at the connection they never had in their previous life. Yet she still didn’t dare do anything, hypnotizing herself into believing he was just an ordinary acquaintance, retreating and avoiding…

She steadied herself and looked up at him. “Why are you here?”

He was in uniform, the dark green lines of his military clothes making him look even taller and more upright, exuding a calm, disciplined air. His chiseled face was taut in the sunlight, his thick, heroic brows seeming ready to soar at any moment. His stride was steady and even, every movement powerful and confident—he was the very picture of masculinity.

It was like a wave of awe-inspiring authority crashing against the rocks, stirring the heart. For a moment, all the women nearby were transfixed.

Bian Changxi was momentarily stunned too, but she’d seen Gu Xu at his most dazzling before and quickly recovered, smiling as she teased, “You’re looking awfully formal today.”

Seeing she was still in the mood to joke, Gu Xu relaxed a little, took off his earpiece, and said, “You didn’t answer my calls, and I happened to be free, so I came to check on you myself.”

Free, dressed like that? Bian Changxi didn’t buy it for a second, a swirl of mixed emotions rising in her heart.

Gu Xu asked, “You’re all okay?”

Lin Rongrong and the others hurriedly nodded. “We’re fine, we’re fine.”

“That’s good.” The commanding aura he’d shown earlier faded, and he returned to his usual, more approachable self. Still, with his good looks and tall, striking figure, the uniform only made him more magnetic—it was hard to look away.

“Rest for a bit. They’re still clearing zombies outside. Once that’s done, you can head back.”

As Gu Xu spoke, Yue Li came over and signaled for a private word. The two of them stepped aside. Bian Changxi noticed that the more Gu Xu listened, the quieter he became, his expression darkening, his eyes flickering with unreadable emotion.

If she didn’t know him so well, she might not have noticed the subtle changes in his face.

After a while, someone began to turn into a zombie, and both men rushed off to handle it.

It was a long time before Gu Xu returned.

“What’s wrong? You look worried,” Bian Changxi asked casually, noticing his mood was even heavier than before.

Gu Xu glanced at her and sat down nearby. “The appearance of the mutant rats was odd. Captain Yue wants my help investigating the source. Earlier, when I was in Zone A, I vaguely heard something about an underground space being discovered. Do you know anything about that?”

Bian Changxi’s heart skipped a beat. “Why are you asking?”

“I’m just curious.”

Bian Changxi studied his face, hesitated, then recounted the strange behavior of Yue Li, Su Chensi, and Liu Meng’s group—leaving out her own involvement. “I don’t know if there’s really an underground space.”

Gu Xu’s expression grew more serious as he listened. After a moment’s thought, he stood up. “Don’t mention this to anyone else. You all stay here and rest. I’m going to check it out.”

Watching him leave in such a hurry, Bian Changxi felt her own unease deepen.

Had she unwittingly stirred up another hornet’s nest?

What Gu Xu discovered in that empty underground exhibition hall, Bian Changxi didn’t know. On the way back, she, Lin Rongrong, and the Chen father and son rode in Gu Xu’s car. Han Li, who’d only been a companion for half a day and didn’t live with them, went her own way.

The atmosphere in the car was heavy. Worried about crowding, Gu Xu had sent the army-assigned driver to help Yue Li and drove himself. Bian Changxi sat in the front passenger seat, sneaking glances at him.

His brows were slightly furrowed, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly, the elegant lines of his hands standing out.

She rubbed her forehead in frustration, sighing inwardly.

The artificial river, which had no bridge before, now had a wide road built across it, allowing cars to pass easily. Because everyone returning from missions had to be checked for zombie infection, Gu Xu dropped the four of them off at the inspection station before driving off again—he was extremely busy now.

After the check, the four returned to their residence. They still lived in the same building, but now the surrounding area had been completely cleared and taken over by the military as their main base. Their building was in the middle-to-outer section—a prime location, one of the safest and most orderly places in the entire new district. Others couldn’t get in, and those who’d lived there before had been moved elsewhere.

From a distance, they saw Grandpa Chen and Mrs. Chen waiting anxiously at the street corner. Chen Haitao and his son rushed over eagerly. Lin Rongrong sighed, “How nice… Why is there never anyone waiting for me?”

“Same here,” Bian Changxi replied offhandedly. Lin Rongrong shot her a look. “You? Please. Who doesn’t know Captain Gu came all this way just for you? He even chauffeured you home. Still not satisfied?”

Bian Changxi was speechless, feeling even more irritable. She washed her hands and face downstairs, then headed upstairs. “I’m going to rest for a bit.”

Lin Rongrong hurried after her. “Hey, you forgot—the Chinese medicine you asked me to get. Here, I don’t need it, so it’s all yours.”

She pulled out a pile of medicine packets and jars from her space, dumping them all onto Bian Changxi’s bed. “What do you need all this for? It’s not easy to carry, and with things the way they are, even brewing medicine is a hassle.”

“I have my reasons.” Bian Changxi pushed her out and locked the door. Looking at the bed piled high with medicine, she sighed, but didn’t deal with it right away. Instead, she leaned out the fourth-floor window, gazing down at the streets of the new district.

The place was bustling now. Many people had nowhere to stay and had pitched tents by the roadside. Fights broke out over tiny sunlit patches of ground. Complaints and arguments were everywhere. Small gangs were starting to carve out their own territories, bullying others in secret. Sometimes, there were even small-scale brawls, but whenever that happened, soldiers would quickly show up to handle it.

In her area, though, military vehicles came and went, squads of soldiers in camouflage uniforms hurried past, and the sound of them coming to attention or standing at ease would instantly quiet an area.

All in all, things were relatively harmonious.

Bian Changxi gazed out, letting the sunlight pour over her face until it grew hot and her head felt heavy. She stared at the distant glint of sunlight off tall buildings, at the endless sky, her thoughts drifting. After a long while, she gently pulled out a photo.

In it, a tall, handsome boy stood holding an umbrella, his shirt white as snow, his smile bright and pure, almost unreal.

It was taken in her second year of high school, when she and Bai Heng went on a trip together. Young love is always so pure and innocent. They’d grown up together, their friendship blossoming into love. They thought they’d be together forever, planned to travel the world, stroll under willows in the mist… But in less than a year, her parents died, Bai Heng was forced to leave, and she was left alone.

And from then on, she was always alone.

After the apocalypse, everyone changed. She changed too—became colder, more calculating, numb, willing to sacrifice anything, even marriage, just to survive. This version of herself felt so heartless and fake, it seemed almost an insult to even think about the boy in the photo.

Yet, this was the only beauty and hope she’d kept from the world—a reminder that she’d once been young, happy, and warm.

Now, given a second chance at life, she’d decided never to compromise again, never to give up this pure place in her heart. She would live well, think of him well, and, separated by an ocean, keep living together with him in her heart.

No matter how the world changed, this feeling was what she wanted to protect forever.

But…

Bian Changxi’s gaze grew lost.

“If I told you I might be falling for someone else, would you be sad? But Ah Heng, how can people be so fickle? I swore to you with my life, I still think of you, so how can I let someone else into my heart?”

ps:

Yesterday I got so excited, I kept rolling around reading my favorite manga over and over—it’s just so beautiful, full of that classic vibe, the author is amazing! Especially the young master’s eyes—so expressive! After so many years, my idol Rong Daren is back in the world, I’m so happy I could faint. If you like “Feng,” go check it out on Sina Weibo’s micro-manga section.

Okay, I admit I’m advertising. Not sure if this breaks any rules and the system will punish me ╮(╯▽╰)╭"