Even though it was night, the temperature was still very high. Lu Ran walked for a while and then stopped, his body drenched in sweat. He took off his hat to fan himself.
A car approached from behind, its lights illuminating the middle of the road and brightening the path ahead.
Lu Ran put his hat back on and stood by the roadside, tilting his head as he waited for the car to pass.
But the car stopped right beside him.
Lu Ran raised his eyebrows in surprise.
The car window rolled down, revealing a strange yet pretty girl, with smooth hair draping over her shoulders. Despite the stifling heat, she looked cool and refreshed.
Her face, however, was expressionless, almost as if she had facial paralysisâ¦
The girl regarded him with an indifferent gaze. Maybe it was Lu Ranâs imagination, but he thought he saw the word âtroubleâ flash in her eyes.
âLu Ran?â
âYeah.â Someone in the group had called his name earlier. Hearing it again didnât strike him as odd. âIs there something you need? I donât have anything on me, so if youâre trying to rob me, youâve got the wrong guy.â
Everyone knew he had been bitten, and they were still chasing after him; this was the only reason he could think of.
âGet in the car.â Chuzheng rested her hand on the car window and flicked her chin upward.
âHuh?â
Lu Ran was certain he didnât know this girl with the expressionless face.
âGet in the car,â Chuzheng repeated. Did Good Person Card have hearing problems, or had the bite already made him start to not understand human speech?
If he turned into a zombie⦠How am I supposed to make a zombie think Iâm a good person?
Should I capture people to feed it?!
Lu Ran pushed the brim of his hat upward with his fingertips, revealing eyes that shone like brilliant stars. He crossed his arms in front of her. âIâve been bitten, and you still want me to get in the car?â
The young manâs voice rose slightly at the end, exceedingly handsome, but the words he spoke took the three others by surprise, causing them to startle.
The atmosphere suddenly became eerie.
âGet in the car,â Chuzheng said for the third time.
If she had to say it one more time, sheâd be ready to use force.
Lu Ran stepped back a bit. âWe donât know each other, do we?â
âWe do now.â
Lu Ran: ââ¦â
Know what?
Theyâd exchanged fewer than five sentences.
âWhy do you want me to get in the car?â Lu Ranâs starry eyes shifted, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking smile. âYou donât really think I can awaken a special ability, do you?â
Chuzhengâs anger began to show. âAre you getting in or not?â
Lu Ran pressed down slightly on the edge of the hat, the light gleaming in his half-lowered eyes. âWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do.â
All he had now was his life, which was close to being lost, and there wasnât much else on him worth coveting.
And he wasnât sure if he was going to die in a few hoursâ¦
There was someone in the passenger seat, so Lu Ran sat in the back.
Yi Xiao and He Cheng huddled together, occupying just one seat, and watched him with terrified expressions.
Lu Ran appeared amused by the two. âYouâre scared like this but still let me get in. Arenât you afraid Iâll bite you all?â
âKnock him out,â Chuzheng ordered Brother Bao.
So noisy.
Lu Ran: ââ¦â
Brother Bao was quick; he turned around and chopped Lu Ran on the neck.
Lu Ranâs vision went dark, and his last thought wasâI hope this isnât some black car, right?
â
The car jostled, the lighting was somewhat dim, and occasionally burning beams of light swept across his cheeks.
Lu Ran gradually regained consciousness.
There was a cool sensation beside him. Lu Ran subconsciously shifted toward it, pressing against the coldness.
But he was quickly pushed away.
Lu Ran leaned in again, only to be pushed away once more.
âMiss Chuzheng, I think heâs waking up.â
A voice sounded close to his ear.
As Lu Ranâs consciousness fully returned, he opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the girlâs cold profile, which meant that he must have been lying on her shoulder just before.
On the other side was a friendly-looking young man wearing glasses.
Lu Ran found that he was intact, feeling only a bit dizzy and no other symptoms.
Luckily, I wasnât dismembered.
âStill alive, huh.â Lu Ran raised his eyebrows.
I thought I had gotten into a black cab, facing dismemberment or something even more cruel.
âHow are you feeling?â Yi Xiao was still somewhat afraid of him, speaking with caution, âDo you have any urges to bite people?â
Lu Ran pursed his dry, cracked lips and nodded with ill intent, âA little.â
Yi Xiao pressed himself against the car window instantly.
He Cheng and Brother Bao, who was driving, both had their attention fixed on him as if waiting for him to make a move, ready to subdue him immediately.
Only that girl looked ahead with a cold expression, as steady as Mount Tai.
âHahaha.â Lu Ran laughed loudly, his handsome, well-defined chin barely visible under the brim of his hat, as if coated in a fetching halo.
Yi Xiao: ââ¦â
Realizing they had been played, Brother Bao gave him a menacing glare, âThat joke isnât funny at all.â
Lu Ran curbed his laughter and apologized sincerely, âSorry, I couldnât resist teasing you guys, after all, you seemed to be quite brave.â
He Cheng à Yi Xiao: ââ¦â Where did you get the idea that they were braveâthey were scared to death, okay!
Lu Ran wasnât really in the mood to bite anyone; he was just a bit thirsty and dizzy, with waves of nausea.
Yi Xiao kindly gave him water.
After moistening his throat, Lu Ran felt much better.
âHow long have you been bitten?â He Cheng asked cautiously.
âHmm⦠how long was I out?â Lu Ran reflexively pressed down on his hat, shielding most of his face.
Although, while he was asleep, He Cheng, Yi Xiao, and Brother Bao had all gotten a good look at his appearance.
He was truly handsome.
Just like a celebrity.
âThe nose is a nose, the eyes are eyesâ¦â When Brother Bao described him like that, he was looked down upon by Yi Xiao and He Cheng.
As if anyone isnât born with their eyes as eyes, their nose as a nose.
If not, they wouldnât be human.
Brother Bao: ââ¦â He suffered from his lack of culture.
âItâs now past three in the afternoon,â Yi Xiao said after checking his watch.
âTwenty-eight hours,â Lu Ran said.
Yi Xiaoâs paternal instincts kicked in again as he comforted him, âLook on the bright side, maybe you could awaken a special ability.â
âIt could also be a long incubation period,â a cold voice interjected.
Being bitten and turning into a zombie could take as little as a few minutes or as long as several hours.
Some could last even longer, and others took several days to turn into zombies after being bitten.
Lu Ran: ââ¦â That hits home.
Yi Xiao: ââ¦â So, Miss Chuzheng, what exactly are you picking him up for?
Lu Ran turned to the girl beside him, eyeing her with a mix of curiosity, âWhy did you let me get in the car?â
âBecause I have to be a good person,â Chuzheng pointed earnestly at herself, âDo you think Iâm a good person?â
Lu Ran first stared at her for a few seconds, then burst into laughter a moment later.
The other three wore expressions of complex emotion.
Could someone who watches indifferently as others are chased by zombies and suggests waiting for oneâs entire team to be wiped out before looting their equipment be a good person?
What kind of misunderstanding does Miss Chuzheng have about herself?
âTo claim to be a good person in a post-apocalyptic world, thatâs bold of you.â In the apocalypse, what good people are there: âI donât even know what kind of person you are, and yet you dared to bring me on board, youâre really brave.â
Chuzheng: âKicked out with nothing to my name but half a life left.â
Lu Ran: ââ¦â
The trio: ââ¦â
Missâs words can sometimes be⦠really piercing.
Lu Ran was already feeling a bit dizzy, but talking to Chuzheng made him feel even dizzier.
Suddenly feeling weak, Lu Ranâs complexion grew pale, âWhere are we?â
âHmm, heading to Qingan Base,â said Yi Xiao.
Lu Ran looked ahead,âWhat about those people out front?â
âWe didnât take the same route as them,â Yi Xiao explained, âWeâre taking a different road to get there.â
Lu Ran appeared puzzled, âDo you know the way?â