By the time Zhao Yan had managed to push all his thoughts aside, Le Huan had already gone upstairs. He didn’t even have the appetite to eat, finding a corner to set up a makeshift bed. He lay there, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he got up and walked upstairs.
Le Huan was lying on the bed, her face covered with a mask that 66 had made for her. 66 was chirping proudly, trying to show off how useful it had been.
Le Huan peeled off the mask and looked at her smaller face in the mirror by the head of the bed. She thought the mask worked well, even better than the ones she had used in modern times, and casually praised it. 66 puffed up with pride, its white, plump body almost appearing to float.
Just as she was about to lie down and sleep, there was a knock on the door, followed by Zhao Yan’s voice:
“Are you asleep?”
Le Huan hadn’t responded when 66 blurted out, flustered: “That perverted scoundrel! What does he think he’s doing at this hour!”
Le Huan smiled. She knew Zhao Yan didn’t dare do anything to her.
Zhao Yan, hearing no reply, assumed she had fallen asleep. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Le Huan’s voice came:
“Come in.”
He pushed the door open and saw Le Huan leaning on the bed, holding a book she had somehow found. It looked like a comic, and she was reading it with full interest.
She didn’t look up. Zhao Yan, noticing her eyes so close to the book in the candlelight, said, “Don’t read at night; it’s bad for your eyes.”
“Oh.” Le Huan said casually, but she still put the book down. She looked up, meeting Zhao Yan’s eyes, silently asking why he was here so late.
“You have no clean clothes left. Are you planning to head to the base wearing the same outfit tomorrow?”
In truth, Zhao Yan had come upstairs to retrieve the clothes she had changed out of, intending to wash them and dry them by the fire so she could wear them the next day. He didn’t say this outright. He knew Le Huan would never do laundry herself, and he was confident she would coax him to do it.
66 watched, stunned, as Zhao Yan said such domestic words with that cold, killer expression on his face.
Le Huan clearly understood the underlying meaning in his words and laughed without mercy. Zhao Yan’s awkwardness amused her; the contrast between his words and his expression made him appear a little endearing.
Hearing her laugh, Zhao Yan, normally so cold and composed, could no longer keep his face neutral. She could wear whatever she wanted! And he had been foolish enough to come here to be mocked—his pride wouldn’t allow him to continue like this. Angrily, he glared at her and turned to leave.
Just as his mind boiled with frustration, he suddenly felt a pair of soft, delicate hands wrap around his tightly clenched fists, and all his tension drained away.
Le Huan stood by the edge of the bed. She looked down at Zhao Yan, who stood stiff as a wooden post. Gently, she guided him closer, her warm, fragrant hands cradling his face. She saw the anger in his eyes fade, replaced by a glimmer of light. In the flickering candlelight, his eyes shone like stars.
“Heh.”
Le Huan thought Zhao Yan now resembled a fierce wolfdog, showing loyalty and affection only to his master. She didn’t mind rewarding him a little more.
Le Huan bent down and hugged Zhao Yan. The sudden warmth and gentleness overwhelmed him. A whirlwind of sweetness enveloped his heart. He inhaled the scent from her neck, dizzy from the warmth, wanting only to stay pressed to that familiar, captivating spot.
Zhao Yan’s hands instinctively moved to wrap around her waist, but he felt her lips near his ear, soft and teasing. A faint, undefined anticipation stirred in him as he heard her say, “Alright, go wash the clothes now.”
Before he could fully enjoy the embrace, Le Huan released him and yawned, pulling back the covers. Zhao Yan had no choice but to turn and gather the laundry for the bathroom. As he washed, he replayed the evening’s embrace in his mind, remaining sleepless all night.
“Le Huan, you like him?!” 66 exclaimed.
Le Huan yawned again, tears glimmering in her eyes. “I don’t like him.”
“Then… why did you hug him? Look at how dumbfounded he looks!” 66 couldn’t understand.
“Just say my goodwill points went up, alright?”
66 finally understood. Seeing the increase in goodwill points, it realized it had accumulated enough for one-sixth of Le Huan’s return home.
“Goodwill points rise a lot, plus he listens and helps out, and he has influence at the base. One hug can solve so much—why not?”
Le Huan knew she could earn plenty of goodwill points from Zhao Yan. The key to returning home might very well lie with him. The best person to protect her right now was Zhao Yan. She needed him completely devoted to her to ensure she could go home soon.
As for liking him? She didn’t. Compared to others, he was just more convenient. No one in the world deserved her genuine affection. Were it not for being in an unfamiliar post-apocalyptic world, she would never lower herself to “placate” Zhao Yan.
Wang Ni, usually the earliest riser of the team, found someone even earlier today.
He looked at the Team Leader, whose face was still the usual expressionless mask, yet the aura around him had changed, radiating warmth. He was stirring porridge by the pot.
Scratching his head, Wang Ni couldn’t figure out what had happened. Yesterday, the Team Leader’s face had been stormy, yet today he seemed like a completely different person.
“Team Leader, up so early today?”
“Mm, couldn’t sleep. Go wake them up for breakfast.” After saying this, he went upstairs, his steps unusually eager.
Wu You rubbed his eyes and got up. “Ah, breakfast is ready? Team Leader is surprisingly diligent today.”
“It was Team Leader who cooked,” Wang Ni clarified.
“Ah?! Why did Team Leader decide to make breakfast?” Wu You was shocked. Normally, since Yu Lehuan couldn’t get up in the morning, breakfast wasn’t made; only lunch and dinner were prepared.
They exchanged dumbfounded glances.
Zhao Yan carried the two freshly washed clothes upstairs. Le Huan’s door remained shut. Not wanting to disturb her sleep, he neatly folded the clothes, placed them in a bag, and hung it on the doorknob.
Yesterday, he had been overflowing with joy and shyness, unable to express it. After finishing the laundry, he ran two kilometers along the river just to calm his mind.
He had only hoped for a few soft words from Le Huan, like “You’re so nice” or “Please help me with laundry.” He hadn’t expected to receive a hug that made his chest swell with happiness.
If this was just a tactic to make him obedient, that was fine. Truly, it was enough. Zhao Yan didn’t hope to win her affection. As long as there were no other men around her, he could accompany her. That was enough.
Being much older, it was only natural for him to indulge and care for her. Imagining their days together at the base, even just the thought softened his heart.