“We have to share. This one is for Xiaotiao and Ming Ming to eat…”
Can Can handed the other melon to Wei Cheng: “Gege and Can Can will share this one…”
“Can Can is so good.” Wei Cheng split the melon in half and placed one piece in his hand, setting the other half of the green melon aside without touching it. It wasn’t that he was reluctant to eat it—he simply had never liked sweets.
If it were anyone else who had returned from the Apocalypse, regardless of whether they liked sweets or not, just seeing such fresh, juicy fruit would likely make them devour it ravenously. But after Wei Cheng turned fifteen, due to his outstanding abilities and his search for Can Can, he had accumulated points in several major Bases. The following years hadn’t been quite so difficult or desperate for him.
The sound of crunching echoed in his ears. Wei Cheng snapped back to reality and saw Can Can closing his eyes and taking big bites, but his row of tiny teeth only managed to inflict superficial damage on the melon flesh.
Can Can’s mouth was covered with sweet, sticky melon juice, his eyes confused: “Gege, this melon is so hard to kill.”
Wei Cheng smiled and took the melon from his hand: “That’s Gege’s fault. Let me break it into smaller pieces for you.”
“Okay!” Can Can clapped his little dirty hands and waited obediently.
The melon was ripe yet still crisp. Wei Cheng didn’t use much force to break the green melon into several smaller pieces: “Go ahead and eat.”
Can Can eagerly grabbed the soft, sandy, and juicy melon and began munching, shaking his head in amazement as he ate: “So sweet, so sweet!”
On the opposite bunk, Wang Xiao Tiao turned over, sniffing the air: “What’s that smell? It’s so fragrant!”
Hearing this, Can Can grabbed the intact melon and was about to scramble down from the bed, but Wei Cheng whispered: “We don’t know when Ming Ming will be back. It’s so hot today—once the melon is split open, it won’t keep. Give this half to Wang Xiao Tiao to eat.”
Can Can clasped his hands behind his back: “But this is Gege’s!”
Wei Cheng felt a warm glow in his heart and gave him a meaningful look: “Gege can go buy more later if he wants to eat.”
“Where can we buy it?”
Can Can was confused again. After waking up, he only remembered that he needed to eat something delicious.
Wei Cheng reminded him quietly: “Can Can and Gege’s secret base.”
Can Can remembered now. Standing on tiptoe, he covered Wei Cheng’s mouth with his little dirty hand, his brows furrowed into a small “八” shape: “We can’t tell anyone.”
With his other little hand, he made a horizontal motion across his neck, rubbing it back and forth, then tilted his head and stuck out his tongue: “Or we’ll get killed!”
“Huh? Who’s a sand sculpture?” Wang Xiao Tiao sat up, eyes still closed, straddling the blanket.
Rubbing his eyes, he saw the melon in Can Can’s hand and jumped down from the bed with a clatter, the old iron bed emitting a piercing screech.
“A melon! Where did the melon come from! Did Dr. Chen bring Ming Ming back?”
“I sneaked out to buy it. Don’t be too loud.”
Wei Cheng said: “We saved one for Ming Ming. If you let others know, sick Ming Ming won’t get to eat any sweet melon either.”
Wang Xiao Tiao immediately hushed: “I won’t tell, I won’t tell.”
Can Can handed the melon to Wang Xiao Tiao: “It’s really sweet. Eat it.”
Wang Xiao Tiao took the melon and bit into it, his eyes shining brightly: “It really is sweet! Even sweeter than the strawberries this morning!”
Can Can held his melon and clinked it against Wang Xiao Tiao’s: “Cheers!”
“Cheers!” Wang Xiao Tiao suppressed his loud voice.
Though it was a warm and adorable scene, Wei Cheng couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.
The reason six-year-old Wang Xiao Tiao got along so well with three-year-old Can Can was largely due to the congenital defect Wang Xiao Tiao had carried since birth.
Wang Xiaotiao could manage daily life without issues, but his learning ability was extremely poor. At six years old, an age when he should have been starting elementary school, he couldn’t even handle kindergarten. He couldn’t understand anything related to learning or thinking. As for Ming Ming, who was seven this year, he had witnessed his entire family die in a car accident at the age of four, leaving the child unable to speak ever since.
In truth, orphans at the welfare home who were even slightly normal were quickly adopted. For example, Can Can had been adopted and then returned. But children like Wang Xiaotiao and Ming Ming were essentially rejected at the first stage of adoption. They struggled so much even in peaceful, prosperous times—surviving in the Apocalypse would be even more difficult.
Suddenly, without warning, a thunderclap exploded outside the window.
Wei Cheng was startled. He rushed to the window in a few quick steps, staring intently at the clear, cloudless sky.
Soon, the sound of scattered raindrops could be heard.
Can Can, who had somehow made his way to the window, cheered, “It’s raining!”
Wang Xiaotiao also came over. “Rain is good! When it stops, we can go splash in the puddles!”
Wei Cheng frowned. Had there been this much rain at this time in his previous life?
Today was July 20th. Normally, frequent rains wouldn’t start until late August.
A sense of unease settled in his heart. They needed to start completing tasks and stockpiling supplies immediately.
The light rain continued from afternoon until evening. With the rain unceasing, Teacher Xiao Mei wouldn’t let them go outside to play. After dinner, she showed them two episodes of cartoons, and then the children returned to their dormitories early.
However, Zhou Zihao and a few other boys were defiant. Swaggering, they insisted on going out to play. No matter what Teacher Xiao Mei said, it was useless. The group began arguing loudly in the hallway.
Can Can, who had been playing cards with Wang Xiaotiao, sprang up from the bed like a little chubby spring. “Can Can will protect Teacher Xiao Mei!”
Wei Cheng put down the towel he was using to dry his hair. “I’ll go check. You keep playing with Xiaotiao.”
He pushed open the door and left the dormitory, walking silently over to the group of boys.
For some reason, Zhou Zihao found this person’s gaze a bit frightening. His bravado from arguing with Teacher Xiao Mei instantly vanished. He grumbled to his companions, “Fine, we won’t go out then!”
Seeing the children obediently return to their dormitories, Teacher Xiao Mei sighed in relief. “I’m not letting you go out because I’m worried you’ll catch a cold. If you get sick, you’ll feel miserable, and I’ll also get in trouble with the director.”
Wei Cheng nodded. “Teacher, I think with all this rain lately and so many children in the home, shouldn’t we stock up on more cold medicine and fever reducers?”
“When Dr. Chen brings Ming Ming back, I’ll remind him,” Teacher Xiao Mei said with a smile. “You talk like such a little grown-up.”
Wei Cheng gave a slight smile and added, “Teacher, do you think there could ever be another illness like that pandemic?”
Teacher Xiao Mei laughed. “Don’t worry, that won’t happen. That illness was so many years ago. How old were you back then? Do you even remember it?”
“I remember some of it,” Wei Cheng said, lowering his gaze, his tone tinged with sadness. “Lately, I’ve been dreaming about things from during the pandemic. Back then, it was just my grandmother and me at home. Luckily, Grandma always liked to stock up on rice, flour, and oil, and she helped a lot of neighbors too. I think keeping extra medicine, rice, flour, and oil at home isn’t a bad idea.”
Teacher Xiao Mei also recalled those chaotic days: “Actually, since then, I’ve also preferred to stock up on rice, flour, and instant noodles. But don’t worry, those illnesses are gone now. You little flowers will grow up safe and sound. Go back to sleep now.”
“Okay, Teacher Xiao Mei.”
Wei Cheng turned around and saw Zhou Zihao sneakily pulling his head back from behind the wall. The door to dormitory 308 slammed shut heavily.
Wei Cheng suddenly remembered this child’s fate in his previous life.
August was rainy. Zhou Zihao often sneaked out to play after arguing with Teacher Xiao Mei. Within a few days, he caught a cold and eventually died from illness on the third day when the temperature rose abnormally.
He was the first body carried out of the orphanage.
When Wei Cheng returned to the dormitory, he heard two alternating snores.
Wang Xiaotiao and Can Can were asleep, heads touching.
He carried Can Can back to the small bed and tucked Wang Xiaotiao in.
The rain grew heavier at night, but Wei Cheng was trapped in a nightmare, unable to break free. He dreamed of scorching heat melting his skin, poisonous mist corroding his internal organs, and hordes of Zombies lunging at him…
Suddenly, he heard the sound of “Gege” ringing in his ears, over and over.
Wei Cheng snapped his eyes open and saw Can Can quietly sobbing.
“Gege, Gege…”
“Can Can.”
Wei Cheng was still shaken, sweating profusely, as if he had just emerged from water.
“Gege, crying all the time.”
In the darkness, Can Can wiped tears with small hands: “Gege, crying so sadly, Can Can is sad too.”
Wei Cheng’s body still trembled from the nightmare: “Gege is fine. Gege just had a dream.”
Can Can asked: “What dream? Can Can will protect you!”
Wei Cheng closed his eyes and said with difficulty: “The world was destroyed, order collapsed. Many people died from illness, and many starved to death. They turned from living people into man-eating monsters. I, I…”
Can Can grew a little scared and burrowed into his arms: “Where was Can Can?”
Wei Cheng didn’t answer.
Can Can whispered: “Can Can didn’t listen, played too much and got lost.”
“Can Can listened.”
Wei Cheng choked up: “It was… it was me who lost you. I searched for you for many years. I… I just couldn’t find you.”
He cried bitterly, as if from the moment he lost Can Can, Wei Cheng, still a child himself, had also died at the age of nine.
From then on, he could not grow up.
“It’s okay, Gege.” Can Can patted his shoulder with small hands. “Can Can runs very fast. Monsters can’t bite Can Can. Can Can must have been looking for Gege too.”
Wei Cheng wiped away his tears: “Okay, Can Can. Starting tomorrow, we must actively complete tasks. This time, we must survive.”
.
Early the next morning, the first thing Wei Cheng and Can Can did after waking up was to check the [Task Board] on the System Panel.
Sure enough, there was a bright red dot.
Can Can quickly tapped to open it: “Gege, what are all these little ants saying?”
The illiterate little Can Can voiced his confusion.
[Task Board]
[Beginner Tasks]
(1) Learn five Chinese characters [1 Twisty Coin per character]
(2) Little Water Bottle Collector [1 Twisty Coin per bottle]
(3) Help an elderly person
Looking at the beginner tasks, Wei Cheng suddenly thought of the educational resources section in the Mall. Was this System training Can Can’s survival skills for the apocalypse?
Can Can had no idea about the upcoming lesson, his big eyes wide open: “Gege, how many broccoli is Can Can going to eat today!”
“No broccoli today.” Wei Cheng patted his head. “Can Can, you might have to start studying.”
Can Can looked as if struck by lightning: “Gege, Can Can is only three years old! What does a three-year-old need to study?”
Three was the age where even learning to pee deserved praise.
Wei Cheng thought for a moment and said, “Don’t you want to learn how to recognize the words for ‘apple-flavored candy’? Otherwise, what if you go to the Mall someday and accidentally pick broccoli-flavored candy?”
Can Can’s expression changed instantly. Clenching his little fists, he declared, “Gege, three is exactly the right age to study! Let Can Can learn more!”
Wei Cheng held back a laugh. “Alright, then let’s go wash up and have breakfast. Today, Gege will teach you how to recognize words.”
After breakfast, Teacher Xiao Mei led the children in singing nursery rhymes and learning about animals as usual. When she heard that Can Can would be learning characters with Wei Cheng today, Teacher Xiao Mei was surprised but still let him go.
Can Can clutched his little pencil but didn’t leave, his eyes fixed on Teacher Xiao Mei’s ears. “Teacher, why are your ears so shiny? Will Can Can be shiny too someday?”
Teacher Xiao Mei laughed. “These are earrings. Girls wear them.”
Can Can touched his own earlobes. “Oh, okay. Then Can Can will wear them when I become a girl.”
Teacher Xiao Mei burst out laughing. “Boys can get their ears pierced too, but it depends on what job Can Can does when he grows up.”
Can Can lifted his chubby little face. “Oh, Can Can might work picking up trash in the future.”
Wei Cheng happened to walk over just then. “Can Can, time to learn characters. Gege still has homework to do.”
“Wei Cheng,” Teacher Xiao Mei said with a smile, “my husband and child are coming to visit, so I probably won’t be at the institute for the next couple of days. Director Wang and Dr. Chen will bring Ming Ming back this afternoon. While I’m away, please take good care of Can Can.”
Wei Cheng carried Can Can to their seats and whispered, “With Teacher Xiao Mei gone, we can go out to collect bottles.”
Teacher Xiao Mei was a very responsible teacher and rarely let the children run outside the welfare institute to play.
Can Can clapped his hands. “Yay!”
“Alright, now let’s start learning characters.”
Wei Cheng opened the book, only to hear Can Can exclaim, “Gege, this little horse is trapped inside a door!”
Wei Cheng looked closely—it was the character “to break through”.
He smiled. “This character is pronounced ‘chuǎng.'”
Can Can nodded seriously. “Zhuang.”
Wei Cheng decisively gave up and took out the grid paper to teach Can Can other Chinese characters.
It had to be said that food-related words were much easier to remember. In no time, Can Can had completely memorized “apple-flavored candy” and could recognize it no matter how Wei Cheng tested him.
It was also at this moment that a voice echoed in their minds: [Congratulations! Little House Owner has earned 5 Twisty Coins! Keep up the good work!]
As soon as Teacher Xiao Mei left, Director Wang’s daughter-in-law came to watch the children. However, the woman spent the whole time scrolling on her phone and didn’t notice that several children were missing from the classroom.
Wang Xiao Tiao and Qi Qi stayed behind to wait for Ming Ming’s return, so they didn’t join them. Wei Cheng took Can Can and slipped out through the back door of the welfare institute.
Zhou Zihao and the others had already run off to an internet café.
Behind the welfare institute was a middle school sports field, with a police station not far away. Vehicles were prohibited from passing through here, which greatly ensured the children’s safety.
At this time, there was no one on the field, but there were plenty of bottles.
“Stay close to Gege and don’t run off. We can complete these two tasks simultaneously—we just need to give the bottles we collect to an elderly person…”
Wei Cheng turned around and didn’t see Can Can. Looking down, he found Can Can obediently squatting in front of a shop entrance, standing guard beside a round, chubby stone pillar.
Wei Cheng suppressed a laugh: “Can Can, why are you squatting here?”
Can Can gently patted the little stone pillar: “It seems a bit lonely.”
“Alright, do you want to keep it company a little longer?”
“No.”
Can Can wobbled as he pushed himself up from his knees: “Can Can’s legs grew a little bit.”
Numb, more like.
Wei Cheng picked him up: “It’s fine, Gege will carry you.”
After carrying Can Can for a while, he spotted bottles scattered inside and outside a sports field. Can Can darted forward in a flash: “It’s bottles!”
“There are some here too!”
“Here are more bottles!”
As numerous bottles filled the plastic bag, Wei Cheng and Can Can continuously heard the System’s voice in their ears.
[Congratulations on obtaining 1 Twisty Coin!]
[Congratulations on obtaining 3 Twisty Coins!]
…
[Congratulations on obtaining 40 Twisty Coins!]
Author’s Note:
I’ll definitely post a big update tomorrow because I still have 10,000 words left for the rankings [sobbing].