Chapter 143: Chapter 143: A Merle Border Collie with a Banner Head
The feeling he’d had all this time had finally come true.
Chi Wan’s words swirled in Zhou Huaijin’s mind, leaving him unsure how to react.
Not until Chi Wan called out to him, "Huaijin, we’re here."
Only then did Zhou Huaijin snap back to reality, numbly following Chi Wan inside.
Once seated on the sofa, he finally found his voice and spoke awkwardly, "Wanwan, but... he lives in the apocalypse."
Chi Wan was using the refrigerator as cover to take things out of her space. Although she was preparing to build a bridge of communication between the apocalypse and her reality, that didn’t mean she needed to reveal all her cards.
What Professor Zhang and Zhou Huaijin knew for now was this: Chi Wan and Li Xingye could each open a small spatial passage on their respective sides, allowing Chi Wan to go directly to his base and trade for things she needed.
But it would only work if they both opened it at the same time.
As for the storage space itself, there was no need to reveal it completely. After all, the less trouble, the better. It might even serve as her escape route someday.
She took a fresh steak out of the "refrigerator," looked at Zhou Huaijin, and said with conviction, "It’s fine. He’ll find a way to come here and find me."
’Even if he really can’t come over, I can go find him.’
’Once Li Xingye finds a way to completely deal with the zombies, what difference will there be between the apocalypse and reality?’
Although they currently had no leads on how to end the apocalypse, Chi Wan simply had great faith in Li Xingye.
But to Zhou Huaijin’s ears, those words tasted entirely different.
He lowered his gaze, feeling that the words he wanted to say were laced with too much of his own selfish desire. He didn’t dare say them to Chi Wan.
He wanted to tell Chi Wan that someone struggling in the apocalypse had probably witnessed countless dark sides of human nature. He wanted to remind her that this "Brother Xingye" might just be interested in the value she could provide.
But the question he most wanted to ask was, ’Can you really have a future with someone a world apart?’
Zhou Huaijin had so, so many worries he wanted to share with Chi Wan, but the words died on his lips.
Because he couldn’t help but ask himself: ’Are you just genuinely worried about Chi Wan, or are you trying to despicably steal her away by slandering someone else?’
And he didn’t quite dare to face the answer. So he thought, ’Perhaps I have no right to say these things to Chi Wan.’
But deep down, he was still unwilling to give up just like that.
Chi Wan had no idea that her simple sentence had nearly tied Zhou Huaijin’s mind in knots. She just started cheerfully pan-frying the steak.
Actually, she had a faint feeling that Zhou Huaijin’s concern and care for her seemed to have exceeded the scope of a "senior."
But the line was a bit blurry; it could still be explained away as just looking out for a younger classmate. Besides, Zhou Huaijin had never expressed any romantic interest or intention to pursue her. Abruptly rejecting his kindness would seem harsh and unfeeling.
So Chi Wan decided to take the opportunity presented by Zhou Huaijin’s earlier question to tell him directly about Li Xingye’s existence. Perhaps this was the best solution.
Placing the prepared steak on the dining table, she called Zhou Huaijin over to eat. Seeing his distracted and downcast look, Chi Wan sighed inwardly.
’It seems my feeling from before was right. Zhou Huaijin might really have some feelings for me. But, given his personality, he probably wouldn’t risk a sudden confession without being sure of my feelings first.’
’Oh well. He’ll give up on his own once he thinks it through.’
Just as she was thinking this, Li Xingye’s voice came through right on cue, "Wanwan, didn’t you say you were coming over today?"
Seeing that Zhou Huaijin was still quietly eating with his head down, Chi Wan went back to her bedroom and replied, "Something came up. My senior forgot his keys, so I’m letting him stay for a bit. I’ll come over as soon as he leaves, okay?"
Sure enough, upon hearing Zhou Huaijin’s name, Li Xingye’s voice instantly drooped. "Wanwan, Zhou Huaijin is a grown—and annoying—adult. He won’t get lost. Just make him leave after he’s done eating, okay?"
’Wow, Li Xingye isn’t even pretending anymore.’
Perhaps feeling more secure after he and Chi Wan had confessed their feelings for each other, the Li Xingye of today was slowly starting to let his true self show.
Chi Wan could almost picture Li Xingye’s expression right now—a perfect picture of a sad puppy.
She said, amused, "What’s this? Has a certain someone’s ’green tea’ act completely faded? Decided to take the direct approach now?"
Li Xingye huffed lightly. "This is the confidence of the one and only."
Chi Wan: ???
She was at a loss for words. "Brother Xingye, did you eat some kind of hallucinogenic mushroom? What on earth have you been watching lately?!"
Li Xingye cleared his throat, saying a bit sheepishly, "Qianyu fixed a TV tower recently, so now everyone at the base watches TV in their free time. Especially Qianqian and that group of young girls. They put up a screen in front of the base headquarters building and have *Huanhuan Chuan* on a loop all day..."
Chi Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’It makes sense when you think about it.’ After the apocalypse, something like television was a bit too much of a luxury for people busy trying to survive.
Now that their survival at the base was guaranteed, it was natural for people to seek more spiritual and mental fulfillment, rather than being steeped in the apocalyptic atmosphere, living in constant fear.
’But repairing a TV tower all on her own... Sister Qianyu’s technical skills are really something else. She’s a one-woman army...’
But what surprised Chi Wan more than that was that Li Xingye would also be drawn in by these things.
She sighed dramatically. "Brother Xingye, the cool, powerful boss image I had of you in my head has been pretty much squandered."
Li Xingye hadn’t intended to cultivate any particular image in the first place, but hearing Chi Wan say that, he asked curiously, "Then what kind of image do I have in Wanwan’s heart now?"
Chi Wan thought for a moment, then burst out laughing at the image in her mind. "Nope, I absolutely can’t tell you."
If Li Xingye found out that her first reaction to his question was the image of a meteorite-patterned border collie wearing a Qing-dynasty headdress, he would definitely use it as an excuse to "punish" her again.
As for the method of punishment... Ahem, those who know, know.
She had to admit, she liked the current Li Xingye more than his overly stoic previous self. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for a young man to enjoy watching TV shows? After all, he hadn’t seen any movies or shows since he was ten.
Besides, sometimes, these things could also bring people a different kind of hope.
The post-apocalyptic world would eventually get better and better. When everything returned to how it used to be, the apocalypse would naturally come to an end.
With that in mind, Chi Wan decided to find a way to buy them some shonen anime and healing-type drama series. At the very least, it would let the children get a taste of a belated childhood.
Li Xingye was about to press her about what unspeakable image she had of him, but Zhou Huaijin’s voice came from outside. "Wanwan, Jiayou is back, so I’m leaving now. I’ve washed the bowl and put it on the rack."
