The book only touched briefly on Wu Chen’s past, mentioning his difficult childhood: an abusive father, a mother who fought just as fiercely, a home on the brink of collapse, and the broken boy he became.
When he first appeared, he saved the heroine from a horde of zombies. However, he didn’t become her companion, only because he was keeping a disfigured, squat zombie.
He couldn’t integrate into human society.
Wu Chen chose to wander with the zombie.
The heroine had once asked him who it was.
He said it was his adoptive mother and that he wanted to keep her until she rotted away completely.
That zombie also had a spark of sentience and would only eat other zombies.
Unfortunately, the heroine had exhausted her healing superpower to save her own life, and it had vanished.
The heroine promised him that if her healing superpower ever returned, she would try to help cure his adoptive mother.
The book described him as having a wild, handsome look, with a burn mark shaped like a gold ingot on the back of his neck. His father had made it with a cigarette butt, supposedly as a prayer for wealth.
No one knew the real reason why. In any case, his parents had always beaten him black and blue as a child. It was his adoptive mother who raised him, and he owed her for giving him a new life.
’Could the Ah Chen in front of me be Wu Chen?’ Ye Yunyun wondered.
’Is the owner of the wonton shop his adoptive mother?’
Ye Yunyun found it hard to believe such a huge coincidence was possible, but it was true that heroines were more likely to stumble upon hidden experts.
If that was the case, it would explain why Wu Chen saved the heroine from the zombie horde in the book. The heroine loved this wonton shop, so they must have known each other in the past. It was just that later, the boy had grown into a young man and his adoptive mother had been disfigured, so they didn’t recognize each other when they met face-to-face.
’I’m not sure. I’ll have to observe him a few more times to be certain.’
Ye Yunyun thought with a deadpan expression, ’If Wu Chen joins us, our family will definitely grow bigger and stronger!’
Ah Chen misunderstood Ye Yunyun. He thought her constant glances toward the back of his neck meant she didn’t like being held and wanted him to carry her on his back instead.
"Does Bao Bao want to switch positions? Want me to carry you on my back?"
Ye Yunyun didn’t speak, her chubby little hands tightening around Ah Chen’s neck.
That meant she didn’t want to switch.
Ah Chen understood and carried her closer to the window. Ye Yunyun peered down curiously and quickly spotted her aunt.
Carrying two large handfuls of snacks, she weaved between the cars and food stalls. It looked like she was putting the items in her car, but she was actually placing them in the Jade Pendant Space.
After the incident with the cheese sticks, Ye Yunyun had started to actively think about the space. Sure enough, she could now see its contents as well.
As expected, it was piled high with stinky tofu, grilled cold noodles, grilled gluten skewers, lean pork meatballs, grilled sweet potato skins, Jinyun shaobing, octopus balls, ice jelly, malatang, jianbing guozi, crinkle-cut spicy potatoes, and more. The pile next to it was what her uncle had put in: top-grade foie gras, matsutake mushrooms, roasted suckling pig, Australian lobster...
A napkin appeared before her mouth. ’Oops, I’m drooling again.’
By the time Bai Jiao was done, the sky had already grown dim. There was no time to take Ye Yunyun to the dorm today, so they would have to reschedule.
"Thank you, young man." Bai Jiao took Ye Yunyun from Ah Chen’s arms.
She affectionately gave Xiao Yunduo a kiss and asked her usual question, "So, does Xiao Yunduo like him?"
’That depends on what Ah Chen’s full name is...’
’What kind of bizarre standard is that?’
However, Bai Jiao decided to humor Ye Yunyun. She asked, "Young man, what’s your full name?"
Ah Chen’s voice was hoarse, and his hair was so choppy it looked like a dog had chewed on it. It was obviously a self-inflicted haircut.
"My name is Wu Chen."
’Oh my heavens! I really, really, really, really, really managed to pick up a future powerhouse.’
’This kid is going to be powerful in the future?’
Bai Jiao observed him, her expression doubtful.
While she was downstairs ordering ten large bowls of wontons, she had chatted with the owner. She’d learned that the boy’s grades were excellent. Even though he came to do odd jobs right after school and came from a poor family, he was ranked in the top ten of his grade. He attended a well-known local public middle school and had even won a top-tier scholarship in his first year.
The owner had also told her—stressing that she was only saying this because they’d gotten to know each other—to tell anyone who asked that the boy was a distant relative. After all, hiring child labor was illegal.
It wasn’t that the owner couldn’t afford to feed him. The boy was just too proud to accept handouts.
Alright. Looking at the boy, who was as skinny as a stick, Bai Jiao felt a pang of sympathy. ’Such a poor kid. Even if he isn’t some future powerhouse, I have to help him out.’
"Would you be interested in receiving financial aid from the Bai Group?" Bai Jiao pulled two business cards from her pocket—one belonging to her father, the other to her brother.
"The Bai Group has a program for sponsoring gifted students from low-income families."
Seeing the wary look in his eyes, she continued, "Of course, it isn’t free. After you graduate, you’ll be required to work for the Bai Group for three years. Basically, it means the Bai Group gets first dibs on you as a recent graduate!"
Of course, Bai Jiao was making up that last condition on the spot. The apocalypse was just around the corner; it would be nice to let the boy have an easy few dozen days.
Bai Jiao patted the boy’s shoulder. "You can discuss it with the owner. You’re still young, so you should definitely ask an adult about a big decision like this. Besides, not just anyone gets approved. We have to take a comprehensive look at the student’s family situation and grades. If you pass, you’ll get a monthly stipend of one thousand five hundred."
’Wow, my aunt is amazing! Our family actually has a program like this! Wait... this sounds familiar. I remember now, the person in charge of this project was a beast in human skin. He ruined a girl’s life. I didn’t expect that she would survive the apocalypse and hold the Bai family responsible for it...’
’My aunt fought with her for a long time. It wasn’t until they worked together to defeat a Level 8 Zombie that they finally made peace and cleared up the misunderstanding.’
Bai Jiao blushed. No matter how many times it happened, she always felt a secondhand embarrassment from the "badass" version of herself that existed in Ye Yunyun’s thoughts.
’But... our family always puts relatives in charge of charitable projects like this. How could something like that happen?’
’Looks like I’ll have to investigate this thoroughly.’
’In that case, it would be better if he wasn’t sponsored. Just let him be my playmate! Bao Bao really likes him. He’s so gentle and considerate.’
’Oh, right.’
Bai Jiao added, "If you’re interested, you can call the number on the business card. And if you have any extra time, I’d also like to invite you to be Xiao Yunduo’s playmate."
"Xiao Yunduo really likes you."
’Not *really*, hehe.’
Ye Yunyun hugged her aunt’s leg and hid behind her.
Ah Chen looked a little surprised. "But she didn’t react to me at all."
Bai Jiao said, "No reaction means she doesn’t dislike you. You were holding her when I came in, and she was willing to let you. That’s a rare thing for this little one!"
Ah Chen was completely taken in, looking stunned.
Bai Jiao grabbed the little rascal and asked, "Tell me, do you like him? If you do, just nod."
Ye Yunyun couldn’t help but give a tiny eye-roll.
’Auntie is so childish! I’m not nodding.’
"See? If she disliked you, she would have rolled her eyes. But she didn’t, which proves that Xiao Yunduo really likes you."
’!!! Auntie’s baiting me.’
Hearing Bai Jiao’s words, Wu Chen couldn’t help but break into a faint smile, his gaze toward Ye Yunyun filled with fondness.
Bai Jiao thought to herself, ’Looks like the plan to win over this future powerhouse is in the bag.’