Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Shen MO touched his nose, feeling he had been too gentle.
…maybe next time he could try being a bit tougher.
He left the wheelchair at the entrance of the cubicle and turned to leave.
While waiting for her outside the women’s restroom, he occasionally heard thuds and bangs, as if a crutch had bumped into something, or perhaps she had knocked against something?
What other people might do with ease is a battle for her.
His slight annoyance faded gradually.
What was there to be upset about? She was just a child, after all. Sickly since young and insecure, she used to live in luxury without a care. Now, however, she had to eke out a living in such times. Her tantrums were understandable. She was only truly powerful in her words.
Shen MO stood at the door, listening for noises inside.
The sounds of collisions, flushing, rustling of clothes, the crutch scraping the floor and the cubicle door being banged open! —
Bai Youwei emerged, leaning on her crutch, with a tight knit brow, “Take me to wash my hands quickly! This place stinks to high heaven!”
Shen MO smiled, walked over and helped her into the wheelchair, then pushed her towards the washbasin.
The sensor tap was difficult to operate, and Bai Youwei struggled with it unsuccessfully several times, nearly resorting to strong language, when the tap spluttered out a few weak streams of water like an octogenarian lady with a cough.
She washed her hands twice with a great deal of distaste, only slightly easing her dark mood.
“The facilities here are limited, bear with it for a while, it’ll be better once we reach Yangzhou.” Shen MO said.
Bai Youwei grimaced but didn’t reply, thinking to herself: It might not be any better in Yangzhou.
Shen MO moved to the back of the wheelchair to push her.
However, she reached out to grab the hem of his clothing.
Her hand was still moist from washing, the pale skin glowed with the remnants of water, the soft and delicate fingers tinted with cherry blossoms.
Shen MO glanced at his own hand on the handle of the wheelchair, the distinct joints, the profound texture, every contour and line exuding masculine strength.
The same hand, yet so different. The difference of gender reflected in every single detail.
Bai Youwei frowned while speaking, “Are we still going to the supermarket? There’s no signal in this service area, and all the food and water have been cleared out. It doesn’t feel good, maybe we should leave soon before it gets dark.”
It was already dusk, and she didn’t want to travel by night.
Shen MO contemplated it, then nodded, “We won’t go to the supermarket then. If we set off now, we should be able to reach Yangzhou before dark.”
Once they reach Yangzhou, with internet connection and shelter, things would be easier to arrange.
The pair returned to the parking area.
Unexpectedly, they saw from a distance a man and a woman by their car, waving at them.
When they got closer, they could see that the pair were likely middle-aged, looking like an honest and dependable husband and wife.
“Are you going to Yangzhou?” the woman asked kindly. “We are also heading there, but there’s a blockage ahead, so everyone is staying put for now. It’s not safe for you to set off now.”
“Blocked badly?” Shen MO asked.
The man answered, “It’s blocked for over a hundred meters, the vehicle is full of dolls, no one dares to pass.”
“If the cars can’t pass, what about going through a detour on foot?” Bai Youwei inquired, “Has anyone tried walking to Yangzhou?”
The man and woman looked at each other, both seemed a bit lost, apparently they had not considered this.
“All our things are in the car…” the woman spoke hesitantly, “Food, toiletries, change of clothes…everything is in the car.”
The man also added, “What if something happens to Yangzhou too? We wouldn’t be able to flee without the car.
Sometimes a car isn’t just a means of transportation, it also functions as a safe haven. Unless a major crisis occurred, people wouldn’t just abandon their vehicles.
However, in Bai Youwei’s view, walking to Yangzhou in a matter of several hours was better than being stuck here indefinitely.
Besides, they would eventually have to abandon the car.
Because if the world continues to spiral into chaos, gasoline would soon become a scarce resource..