Rong Yuxuan had been standing there for an entire night.
Bloodshot veins filled his tired eyes. A faint layer of stubble shadowed his jaw, and dried black-red blood stained his windbreaker. Yet none of it distracted him in the slightest.
His gaze never left the villa across the street.
Not even for a moment.
Throughout the night, three wandering zombies had staggered over from the lakeside and approached Lin Qingtang’s villa.
Each time, he reacted immediately.
A bolt of lightning froze them in place.
Then he rushed over and crushed their skulls with his steel baton.
He deliberately kept his movements quiet.
He didn’t want to frighten the girl inside.
Silently, he eliminated every threat before it could get close, snuffing out every possible danger before it had the chance to reach her.
“Brother Xuan, you’ve been standing there all night. At least get some rest.”
Yawning, Li An came upstairs carrying two cartons of milk he’d found in the villa’s refrigerator.
He handed one toward Rong Yuxuan with a helpless expression.
“Miss Lin and her dad are doing just fine. Their windows and doors are completely barricaded, they’ve got electric fencing and surveillance everywhere. That place is safer than most military compounds. You don’t have to watch it every second.”
He honestly couldn’t understand it.
Rong Yuxuan had an entire villa to stay in, yet he insisted on standing by the window all night in the cold.
He hadn’t even managed to get through the front door.
So what exactly was he hoping for?
Rong Yuxuan ignored the milk.
His eyes remained fixed on the opposite villa.
His voice was rough from exhaustion.
“She’s timid.”
“She’s afraid of things like this.”
Li An twitched the corner of his mouth.
Timid?
Her father was inside with a loaded gun.
The villa was practically a fortress.
And here Brother Xuan was, worrying himself sick from across the street.
Still…
He wisely kept those thoughts to himself.
Shrugging, he opened the milk himself and took a sip.
Even so, he couldn’t resist speaking again.
“Brother Xuan… you’ve been guarding this place all night. They didn’t even open the door for you. Miss Lin doesn’t even remember who you are. Isn’t this…”
Before he could finish…
Rong Yuxuan slowly turned his head.
One icy glance was enough.
Li An instantly snapped his mouth shut.
Not another word came out.
By now, he understood perfectly.
Lin Qingtang was Rong Yuxuan’s one untouchable weakness.
Forget saying anything bad about her.
Even frowning at the wrong moment could make his usually quiet roommate turn hostile.
Rong Yuxuan looked away again.
Pressing a hand against his throbbing temple, he slowly reached into the inner pocket close to his chest.
Then he carefully took something out.
It was a tiny knitted glove.
Resting in his large hand, it looked almost child-sized.
Yet he held it as though it were the greatest treasure in the world.
His fingertips gently traced the worn, fuzzy yarn.
All the coldness in his eyes melted away.
Only tenderness…
And obsession…
Remained.
It was the glove Lin Qingtang had forced into his pocket that winter.
The only light…
In an otherwise dark childhood.
That winter had been brutally cold.
The wind cut across the streets like knives as temperatures dropped well below freezing.
He wore nothing more than a thin, worn cotton jacket while selling roasted sweet potatoes from a roadside stall.
His fingers were swollen red with frostbite.
The blisters hurt so badly that he could barely hold the metal tongs.
He was an orphan.
Every yuan of tuition.
Every meal.
Every necessity.
Had to be earned with his own hands.
Then…
A black sedan stopped beside his stall.
The window rolled down.
A tiny face peeked out.
It was Lin Qingtang.
She wore a thick pink down jacket and a fluffy scarf wrapped around her neck.
She looked like a delicate porcelain doll.
Her sparkling eyes were fixed on the roasted sweet potatoes.
She wanted one.
But then…
She noticed his frozen hands.
She saw how thin he was.
The excitement in her eyes immediately became sympathy.
She asked why someone so young wasn’t in school.
Why he was selling sweet potatoes instead.
He answered honestly.
“I’m earning money for tuition.”
Then she innocently asked,
“Where are your mom and dad?”
“Why don’t they buy you warm clothes?”
“Why don’t they pay your school fees?”
He quietly replied,
“I’m an orphan.”
“I have to earn my own living.”
He remembered every detail.
The little girl’s eyes instantly turned red.
She tugged on her father’s sleeve and pleaded in her childish voice,
“Daddy… this little brother is so pitiful.”
“Can we help him?”
Uncle Lin asked what grade he was in.
Then he offered to sponsor all of his education until university.
But back then…
His pride refused to bend.
He stubbornly shook his head.
“I don’t need charity.”
“I can do it myself.”
The little girl became anxious.
She climbed out of the car and ran over to him.
Then…
She took his hand.
Her tiny palm was warm.
Like a little heater.
His own hand was ice cold.
She looked at him with worry.
“My daddy can help you.”
“You won’t have to work so hard.”
“Look how red your hands are.”
“They must hurt.”
As she spoke…
She removed the pink knitted gloves from her own hands…
And stuffed them into the pocket of his worn jacket.
“Wear these first.”
“Then you won’t be cold.”
“You’ll be able to sell sweet potatoes and study properly.”
“When you grow up and become successful…”
“You can pay my daddy back.”
The wind blew fiercely that day.
Her cheeks were rosy from the cold.
Her eyes shone brighter than stars.
He stood alone in the freezing wind.
Holding the warm glove inside his pocket.
Watching her family’s car disappear into the distance.
He remained there…
For a very, very long time.
The next day…
She came back.
This time carrying two brand-new down jackets and a pair of padded winter pants.
She ran happily to his stall.
“Little brother!”
“I bought you new clothes!”
“Put them on so you won’t be cold anymore!”
He refused.
She puffed out her cheeks.
“We’re friends now.”
“You can’t refuse a present from a friend.”
“I want roasted sweet potatoes.”
“Will you treat me?”
He picked the biggest…
Sweetest…
Roasted sweet potato he had.
After peeling it carefully, he handed it to her.
She sat on a tiny stool.
Then broke it in half.
She gave one half back to him.
Her eyes curved into little crescents as she smiled.
“This is the best roasted sweet potato I’ve ever eaten.”
It was also…
The sweetest sweet potato he had ever tasted.
And the brightest light…
He had ever seen.
Afterward…
He accepted Uncle Lin’s sponsorship.
He finished middle school.
Graduated from high school.
Entered one of the country’s top universities.
He studied desperately.
Worked tirelessly on technology projects.
Everything he did…
Was to become someone worthy of standing beside her.
He wanted to thank her in person.
But before he ever had the chance…
The apocalypse arrived.
When he finally found news of her…
All he learned…
Was that she had been pushed into a zombie horde by her own best friend.
His hair turned white overnight.
He hunted down every one of those responsible.
Then…
At the same roasted sweet potato stall where they had first met…
He ended his own life.
His only wish…
Had been to protect her sooner in the next life.
Now…
He had been reborn.
He stood only one street away from her.
Yet his precious girl remembered nothing.
She wouldn’t even open the door.
Rong Yuxuan tightened his fingers around the old pink glove.
His eyes reddened once more.
It’s okay.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember.
It doesn’t matter if you won’t open the door.
I can wait.
I’ll wait until you remember me.
Until you trust me.
Until you finally allow me to protect you.
No matter how long it takes…
I’ll wait.
…
Inside the villa…
Lin Qingtang sat before the surveillance monitor, staring at the motionless figure standing in the second-floor window across the street.
Her brows remained tightly furrowed.
She hadn’t slept well all night.
The man called Rong Yuxuan had stayed in the opposite villa without moving.
Whenever a zombie wandered anywhere near her property…
He rushed out immediately.
The surveillance cameras captured everything.
His movements were clean.
Efficient.
Merciless.
He killed zombies without the slightest hesitation.
But every time he finished…
He only looked quietly toward her villa from a distance…
Then returned to the house across the street.
Never once did he try to approach.
“Tangtang, stop watching.”
Lin Shaoan walked over carrying a mug of hot milk and placed it beside her.
With a quiet sigh, he spoke.
“I had someone investigate him.”
“Rong Yuxuan really is one of the students we sponsored.”
“Since he was fifteen, the company’s charity foundation has paid his tuition and living expenses every year.”
“All the way until he entered university.”
“I confirmed everything last night.”
He had asked Assistant Zhang to investigate overnight.
Other than being somewhat withdrawn…
Nothing about the young man appeared suspicious.
Lin Qingtang blinked.
“So… we really did sponsor him?”
Lin Shaoan nodded.
“Assistant Zhang sent me all of his records.”
“It matches.”
“It really was you who asked me to help him after seeing him selling roasted sweet potatoes.”
“I simply forgot over the years.”
“We’ve sponsored too many students.”
“I couldn’t remember every name.”
Lin Qingtang’s fingertips paused.
A blurry memory gradually surfaced.
That winter…
When she was fourteen…
It really had been bitterly cold.
While driving with her father, she’d seen a frail boy selling roasted sweet potatoes by the roadside.
His hands had been frozen red.
His clothes had been heartbreakingly thin.
She had felt sorry for him.
So she’d begged her father to sponsor his education.
Afterward…
Life continued.
School.
Friends.
Countless new experiences.
Eventually…
She forgot all about the boy she’d only met twice.
She had even forgotten his name.
Rong Yuxuan.
“Even if we sponsored him before…”
Lin Qingtang slowly shook her head.
Her guard remained unchanged.
“We still can’t lower our defenses.”
“In the apocalypse, you never truly know what’s in someone’s heart.”
“Long Juanli was my best friend for four years.”
“I trusted her with everything.”
“And she still pushed me into a zombie horde.”
The betrayal from her previous life remained like a thorn buried deep inside her heart.
She no longer dared trust anyone.
Not even the boy she’d once helped.
Lin Shaoan looked at the caution in his daughter’s eyes.
His heart ached.
“All right.”
“We’ll do whatever Tangtang decides.”
“I’ve reinforced every door and window.”
“The electric fence is running at maximum power.”
“Every gun is loaded.”
“Even if he has bad intentions…”
“He isn’t getting inside.”
As father and daughter spoke…
The surveillance monitor suddenly showed movement.
The front door of the villa across the street opened.
Rong Yuxuan stepped outside.
The steel baton remained in his hand.
His clothes were neat despite everything.
His steady footsteps carried him toward their villa once again.
Lin Qingtang’s heart leaped into her throat.
She immediately stood.
Picked up her hunting rifle.
Released the safety.
Lin Shaoan moved in front of her at once, lifting his own rifle toward the entrance.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The same measured knocking echoed once more.
Outside…
Rong Yuxuan spoke gently.
His voice carried unmistakable nervousness.
Yet not a trace of hostility.
“Qingtang.”
“Uncle.”
“I truly mean no harm.”
“I only want to say a few things.”
“Then I’ll leave.”
Lin Qingtang bit her lip.
She remained silent.
Sweat dampened her palms.
Lin Shaoan answered coldly through the door.
“Whatever you have to say, say it from out there.”
“We’re not opening the door.”
“All right.”
Rong Yuxuan agreed immediately.
His voice carried clearly through the heavy door.
“Uncle.”
“Qingtang.”
“I know you don’t trust me.”
“I know you’re wary of me.”
“That’s okay.”
“I can wait.”
“I only came today to ask one question.”
“Qingtang…”
“Do you really not remember me?”
A faint tremor entered his voice.
“That winter…”
“Near the university district…”
“You stopped at my roasted sweet potato stall.”
“You asked why I wasn’t in school on such a cold day.”
Outside…
He continued speaking softly.
Then he raised the faded pink knitted glove.
Pressing it gently against the door…
His voice caught with emotion.
“Qingtang…”
“I’ve kept this glove all these years.”
Inside the villa…
Lin Qingtang froze.
“…You?”
“The little brother selling roasted sweet potatoes?”
Outside…
Rong Yuxuan’s entire body trembled.
His eyes instantly turned red.
Fighting back the tears in his throat…
He smiled.
His voice was impossibly gentle.
“Yes.”
“It’s me, Qingtang.”
“But…”
“I’m not actually younger than you.”
“I’m one year older.”
“I was fifteen that winter.”
“I only looked eleven or twelve because I’d been malnourished for so long.”
Lin Qingtang stood there in stunned silence.
She had always believed he was younger.
That was why she’d kept calling him “little brother.”
She never imagined…
He had actually been older than her.
She bit her lip.
Her emotions became impossibly complicated.
“So what if it was you?”
She took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm.
“My father sponsored you because it was the right thing to do.”
“You don’t owe us anything.”
“We’re safe here.”
“We don’t need your protection.”
“You should leave.”
Hearing her tell him to leave again…
Rong Yuxuan felt another sharp pain in his heart.
He had expected this.
After everything she’d suffered…
How could she possibly trust him after only a few words?
“Qingtang…”
“I know you don’t believe me yet.”
“That’s okay.”
He spoke each promise with unwavering sincerity.
“I won’t force you to open the door.”
“I’ll never do anything to hurt you.”
“I’ll simply guard this place.”
“If you don’t want me inside…”
“I won’t take a single step closer.”
“No.”
Lin Qingtang rejected him immediately.
“We don’t need you guarding us.”
“Leave.”
“You make us uncomfortable.”
“Qingtang…”
“The apocalypse is too dangerous.”
His voice carried quiet pleading.
“It’s only you and your father here.”
“Even with guns…”
“There will be times you can’t handle everything.”
“I’ll stay outside.”
“I won’t come closer.”
“I won’t disturb you.”
“If zombies…”
“Or dangerous people…”
“Come near…”
“I’ll take care of them.”
“When you’re finally willing to trust me…”
“When you’re willing to open the door…”
“I’ll leave.”
“Please?”
“No!”
Lin Qingtang gritted her teeth.
“We don’t need it!”
“Leave now!”
“If you don’t…”
“I really will shoot!”
She raised the hunting rifle.
The barrel pointed directly toward the front door.
Her finger rested on the trigger.
Yet deep down…
She knew she couldn’t pull it.
Outside…
Listening to her tearful threat…
Rong Yuxuan’s heart hurt unbearably.
“All right.”
“I’ll go.”
“I won’t stay by your door.”
He compromised immediately.
His voice softened even further.
“I’ll return to the villa across the street.”
“I won’t disturb you.”
“I won’t come close.”
“But Qingtang…”
“Believe me.”
“I’ll never hurt you.”
“If you ever need anything…”
“Just call for me.”
“No matter what time it is…”
“I’ll come immediately.”
With that…
He quietly turned around.
His footsteps remained light as he walked back toward the villa across the street.
Watching through the surveillance monitor…
Lin Qingtang saw him disappear into the opposite house.
Only then did she slowly lower her rifle.
Her legs gave out beneath her.
She leaned weakly against the wall.
Lin Shaoan also lowered his weapon.
With a quiet sigh, he gently patted his daughter’s back.
He said nothing.
He had lived long enough to know people.
He could tell.
The way Rong Yuxuan looked at his daughter…
It was impossible to hide.
There was love.
Obsession.
And the determination to protect her with his life.
It was exactly the same look…
He himself had once worn…
Whenever he looked at his late wife.
But he also understood…
The wound in his daughter’s heart…
Would not heal so easily.
All he could do…
Was stay by her side…
Until she was ready to make her own decision.