Yu Lehuan’s little curls were a complete mess from sleep. She frowned and glared at Zhao Yan with her large, watery eyes, trying her best to look fierce as she pouted and shouted, “Why won’t you let me sleep?!”
She was obviously being unreasonable, but Zhao Yan had no desire to argue with her. It was already daytime, and they needed to set out as soon as possible so they could find a place with fewer zombies to make camp before nightfall.
“Now that you’re awake, come downstairs. Get ready. We’re leaving soon.”
As Zhao Yan stood beside the bed, his gaze fell on the photo frame on the bedside table.
The photograph showed a family of four smiling brightly.
One of them was clearly Yu Lehuan as a child. Her hair was tied into two little buns, and she was just as fair and adorable as she was now. There was also a young boy, who was presumably Yu Lehuan’s younger brother.
However, Zhao Yan’s attention remained fixed on the couple in the photograph.
Seeing him stare at the photo for so long, Yu Lehuan leaned closer to look at it.
Zhao Yan came back to his senses and asked her, “What is your relationship with these two?”
Yu Lehuan looked at Zhao Yan as though he were an idiot.
“Obviously, they’re my parents.”
Yu Lehuan did not actually know who the people in the photograph were. She curiously examined the little girl in the picture and spoke to Little Six.
“Hey, this girl looks exactly like I did when I was little.”
Little Six told her that the people in the photograph were her parents in this world.
The little girl had already died at the beginning of the apocalypse, which was why Yu Lehuan had been given a reasonable identity in this world. The system had replaced every photograph in the house with images of Yu Lehuan as a child.
During the darkest year of Zhao Yan’s life at the orphanage, he often did not have enough food or warm clothes.
The city leaders and owners of various factories organized a charity initiative called “Sending Warmth.”
Each business owner would sponsor a group of students. By providing a small amount of tuition every month, they could support students while also promoting a positive corporate image.
Naturally, none of the business owners objected.
The Yu couple stood on the stage and selected several children.
Zhao Yan was one of them.
From that moment on, Zhao Yan received financial support. He was able to attend school, eat properly, and wear warm clothes instead of wasting away in the orphanage while constantly worrying about survival.
At that thought, Zhao Yan returned to the present and glanced at Yu Lehuan.
He had always regretted receiving the Yu family’s kindness for so many years without ever having the chance to repay them.
Then Yu Lehuan appeared.
She said that she had become separated from her family, and there was a strong possibility that something had happened to the Yu couple.
Now that Zhao Yan had the ability to protect her, he was even more determined to take good care of Yu Lehuan.
Zhao Yan was looking at Yu Lehuan as though she were a stray puppy.
Yu Lehuan was furious.
She stood up, moved close to Zhao Yan, and angrily scolded him in her soft voice.
“Zhao Yan! Are you even listening to me? I want to wash up! I want to wash up!”
“Wait here.”
Zhao Yan turned and went downstairs to get some water.
Little Six was confused.
【Why is Zhao Yan being so obedient today?】
“Isn’t it good if he’s obedient? I hope he stays this obedient forever.”
However, when Zhao Yan was angry and silent, he looked rather frightened.
Of course, Yu Lehuan was not afraid of making him angry. She was afraid that she would anger him too much and he would slap her to death.
Yu Lehuan knew very well how annoying she could be when she started causing trouble.
Therefore, she decided that she should become friends with more people. That way, before Zhao Yan ever lost his temper, she would have someone else deal with him first.
【Hehe, you’re so impressive.】
Zhao Yan returned with a bag and a basin of water. Inside the bag were a new toothbrush and a towel.
There was a bathroom in Yu Lehuan’s room, and she happily went inside to wash up.
Zhao Yan had barely breathed a sigh of relief when Yu Lehuan’s voice sounded again.
“Zhaaaao Yaaaan… Zhao Yan… Zhao Yan…”
Yu Lehuan slowly drew out his name, calling him again and again.
Zhao Yan felt a headache coming on.
“What?”
“I want to change clothes. Can you find me something to wear?”
He knew Yu Lehuan would not stay quiet for long.
She was currently wearing a white dress with puffed sleeves and lace trim, making her look like a life-sized porcelain doll.
Zhao Yan searched through the wardrobe for quite some time.
Some of the clothes had faded, while others smelled musty. He knew very well that Yu Lehuan would never wear clothes like that.
By now, he had already learned exactly what kind of person she was.
Frowning, Zhao Yan searched through the wardrobe and eventually found several new clothes still sealed inside packaging. They had been stored with moisture protection, and the clothes still looked brand new.
The only problem was that the dress had rather generous fabric around the chest.
He was not sure whether Yu Lehuan would be able to wear it…
After washing up, Yu Lehuan came out and saw the clothes placed on the bed.
It was a light purple long-sleeved dress with lace around the collar, and the skirt reached all the way to her ankles.
By the time Yu Lehuan came out, Zhao Yan had already left the room.
She liked the dress very much. After putting it on, she stood in front of the full-length mirror and happily admired herself.
Then she heard someone knock on the door.
“Are you dressed? We’re leaving soon.”
It was Zhao Yan.
“Come in.”
Zhao Yan had found her such a beautiful dress, and it even fit her perfectly.
Yu Lehuan immediately found him much more pleasing to the eye.
When she turned around, Zhao Yan was standing at the doorway, watching her.
Yu Lehuan spun around in front of him.
“Does it look good? Does it look good?”
Zhao Yan watched her twirl in front of him like a butterfly.
The dress suited her perfectly. The fitted waist accentuated her slender figure, and she had even styled herself well. Her little curls had been arranged into a half-up princess hairstyle.
If this were not the apocalypse, their lives might never have crossed paths.
“You silent blockhead, you’re not saying anything again. Will it kill you to say something nice?”
Yu Lehuan became irritated whenever she saw him standing there silently.
She loved being praised.
System 1066 could praise her for ten minutes straight without repeating itself, and it always made her feel quite pleased.
Zhao Yan finally understood.
This woman was nothing less than a demon who could drive people to death.
Yesterday, she smiled and told him that he was wonderful. Today, she was calling him a silent blockhead.
Zhao Yan gave her a long, deep look and decided that once they reached the base, he would stop waiting on her.
He would hand her over to the base administrators and have them arrange somewhere for her to live. As long as he made sure she had food, drink, and protection from being bullied, that would be enough.
He could not, and had no intention of, allowing her to treat him like a servant.
In the apocalypse, protecting her safety was already more than enough.