Le Huan woke up to find that it was already dusk. The car had arrived in the city. The sight that greeted her was devastation everywhere; only the tall buildings hinted at the city’s former prosperity.
After circling the outskirts, they stopped in front of a shop. The door was sturdy, so they went inside, only to find it completely emptied, the shelves bare. From the layout, it seemed to be a small department store.
They avoided wandering into the city center—it was too dangerous. Undoubtedly, many zombies lurked in the urban ruins, and even though zombies were generally easy to handle, sheer numbers would overwhelm them.
The shop’s second floor served as a sleeping area. After checking the space was safe, Zhao Yan set up the bed for Le Huan. Even the bedsheets had been looted; it was clear that many other small teams had passed through this city.
“Are you hungry? Want something to eat?” Zhao Yan looked at her small face, smaller than his palm. She was picky and didn’t eat much; he worried he might end up starving her unintentionally.
Le Huan shook her head. “Zhao Yan, I want to take a bath.”
“Speak properly.” How could she always speak like this, whining and spoiled? He could tolerate it now, but at the base, speaking like this would get her eaten alive by all the hooligans.
“But I just want to bathe! You useless big oaf, you can’t even let me bathe!” She gestured toward the car windows, pointing south to the river she had seen. After days without washing, she could no longer bear it.
Hearing her fearless outburst, Zhao Yan’s forehead veins twitched. His eyes flicked toward the door, where Wu You was standing, shocked at their interaction.
“Sorry, sorry, you guys continue,” Wu You stammered.
Then the door slammed shut with a bang.
Zhao Yan’s face turned crimson, full of embarrassment. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Just wait.”
Downstairs, he saw Wu You and the others chattering in a group. He caught faint words like “bath” and “satisfy.” Zhao Yan’s expression had become calm and unreadable, if one ignored the redness creeping up his neck. “Wu You, search the nearby area for supplies. If you can’t find anything, don’t come back.”
“Ah?! But we’ve searched nearby several times…” Wu You groaned, cursing his own mouth.
“Yes, go,” Zhao Yan said, unmoved.
Le Huan sank comfortably into a bathtub over a meter long. Zhao Yan had cleaned it meticulously and boiled water several times to fill it. He even found her soap pods. Le Huan didn’t know how to use them, so Zhao Yan showed her how to lather before leaving the room.
“Pretty thoughtful, Little Six. Zhao Yan is way more useful than you,” Le Huan teased 66 even while soaking.
“Hmph! When I’m at full energy, I’m much stronger than him!” 66 protested, indignant.
“Don’t waste your energy, understand? This is all for me to get home,” Le Huan scolded him like a nagging child.
66 grumbled but stayed silent. When had his energy ever been wasted? It was always used for trivial tasks like cleaning up after Le Huan—a true waste of potential.
After her bath, Le Huan realized she had no clean clothes. She called for Zhao Yan in an almost desperate tone.
Hearing her voice, Zhao Yan hurried upstairs, worried for her safety. He didn’t enter but knocked on the door:
“What’s up?”
“I don’t have clean clothes. Help me find a set.” Le Huan only had two outfits—her own and the dress Zhao Yan had found for her.
However, Le Huan only changed clothes; she never washed them herself, nor asked 66 to clean them. She always felt that unwashed clothes were never truly clean, a bit picky and fussy.
Zhao Yan’s head ached. At this hour, where could he even find clothes? The city’s food, water, and supplies had already been stripped bare.
“Wear my clothes. They’re clean,” Zhao Yan relented.
Le Huan frowned but had no choice—he couldn’t conjure a dress.
The bathroom door opened slightly. Steam swirled, and a tender, pale hand reached out to take the clothes from Zhao Yan.
Zhao Yan was stunned by the faint fragrance drifting from the crack of the bathroom door, barely able to speak for a while. “Put on your clothes, then come downstairs to eat.”
“Wait a moment.”
Zhao Yan froze, standing at the door, waiting.
Sounds of rustling clothes came from inside. Le Huan opened the door. “Can you help me dry my hair?”
Zhao Yan, enveloped by the fragrance, felt his mind stall. The scent was indescribably pleasant. Le Huan wore his clothes loosely; the neckline fell wide, revealing her smooth, pale skin. Droplets clung to her glossy hair, and as their scents mingled…
A sudden pain in his leg made Le Huan frown, glaring at him. “Are you crazy? What are you staring at?”
Zhao Yan swallowed and picked up a towel and comb to tend to her hair. They sat on the bed side by side, Le Huan humming softly with her back to him as he carefully dried her hair.
Her hair was like the finest silk, not a tangle or split in sight. Knowing she couldn’t see him, he lifted a strand and inhaled, leaning closer—almost close enough for his lips to brush the back of her neck.
A bold thought crossed his mind—he wanted to extend his tongue and trace her hairline.
66 watched, horrified, as if witnessing a pervert, and reported everything to Le Huan in real time.
Le Huan’s lips curved mischievously as she turned her head.
Zhao Yan hadn’t expected her to look back. Before he could retreat, their noses touched. At the close proximity, their eyes met, and before Le Huan could fully read the desire in Zhao Yan’s eyes, he stepped back, gaze wandering chaotically.
“Zhao—” Le Huan began to speak, but Zhao Yan turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him.
“Le Huan, he likes you,” 66 stammered. It didn’t know what else to say. Normally, Zhao Yan was proud and cold, expressionless. This obsessive look was completely new.
“You only just noticed, little fool. Looks like everyone else here can read him,” Le Huan said. Though no one openly mentioned it, Zhao Yan liking Yu Lehuan had become tacit knowledge among the team.
1066 was determined to closely monitor Zhao Yan from now on.
Le Huan let her hair dry and then went downstairs to eat, ignoring Zhao Yan sitting silently by the door. She directed Xiong Gang to serve her, and dinner, once again, was cooked by Zhao Yan.
Wang Ni saw the Team Leader’s dark expression and guessed something must have happened upstairs with Le Huan. He didn’t dare pry into the quarrels and teasing of the young couple.
In his mind, they were already dating. The Team Leader treated Miss Yu like a wife—how else could it be? Little did he know, it was only the Team Leader’s one-sided love.
Wang Ni called the Team Leader to eat.
Zhao Yan saw Le Huan eating happily, not acknowledging him, and felt tangled inside—his mischief had been discovered. He stole a glance at her; she continued as if nothing had happened.
A bitter sensation rose in his chest. He alone was troubled, having fallen for such a carefree girl. He had long known she was lighthearted—how could he expect any response from her?