Wasteland Rebirth

Chuxiang was taken aback, his thoughts scattering as he hurriedly abandoned any musings about Zhang Jingyao's voluminous attire or the sweet scent of the sweet potato rice. Without a moment's hesitation, he thrust the bowl into Zhang Jingyao's hands and dashed toward the watchtower. Sure enough, a mass of zombies, black as a swarm of crows, was heading toward them. There were at least four to five hundred of them, filling every road and alleyway in their path.

This was not the first time Chuxiang had encountered such a horde. The last time he faced a similar situation with Song Jun, they had barely escaped with their lives. If it weren't for their timely capture of a cargo truck, they might have joined the ranks of the undead by now.

"Start the vehicle and get us out of here, NOW!" Chuxiang shouted, quickly hoisting Zhang Debing onto his back and pulling Su Yulian along as they ran. Song Jun, well aware of what needed to be done, had already prepared. By the time Chuxiang reached the sentry post, the car was waiting. He shoved Zhang Debing and Su Yulian into the Pajero, and before long, Wang Bin was in as well. Hea Er climbed aboard Zhang Hongbing's bus.

Chuxiang turned the car around and sped toward the workshop. Zhang Jingyao, standing by the bus door, called out to him, "Chuxiang, hurry, get in!"

Chuxiang replied, "You go first, I'll ride the motorcycle!"

The reason Chuxiang insisted on taking the motorcycle was strategic. The number of zombies in the city was overwhelming, and in the future, he would need the motorcycle to scour the countryside for food. The small stash of sweet potatoes and flour would not last long. The issue of sustenance was something he could never afford to neglect.

What surprised Chuxiang was that Zhang Jingyao did not board the bus but stubbornly jumped off, declaring, "I'm coming with you!"

Before Chuxiang could protest, Zhang Hongbing floored the accelerator, and the bus rolled behind the Pajero. In no time, Chuxiang had the motorcycle revving to life, and Zhang Jingyao, without hesitation, threw her arms around his waist and sat behind him. The engine roared to life as they sped out of the workshop.

Following the predetermined route, the Pajero veered onto the bypass road. Along the way, zombies appeared in droves. Fortunately, they had spotted them early enough. Had they waited for the horde to fully close in, the bus might not have been able to break through the undead ranks. The number of zombies in this small town was becoming increasingly apparent.

With the vehicle, they no longer had to be as cautious as when they were on foot. The zombies wandering on the streets could now be run over without hesitation. No one would fault them for a traffic accident. It didn't matter how broken the bodies were beneath the wheels; the splatter of blood and the popping of eyeballs only fueled the primal instincts in humans.

Chuxiang remained unshaken by the gruesome scene unfolding in front of him. Perhaps it was due to the many large-scale encounters he had faced recently. In contrast, Zhang Jingyao, sitting behind him, had her head pressed tightly against his back, unwilling to face the bloodbath around them. Chuxiang was acutely aware of the soft pressure of two familiar lumps pressing against his back. Although he hadn't felt such sensations since his teenage years, he couldn't help but be reminded of his college days when his dorm mates had often stored "educational videos" for their own entertainment.

Chuxiang was a sentimental person, and despite his resolve to avoid beautiful women, memories of his first love lingered in his mind. The current situation—riding with Zhang Jingyao, feeling the soft contours against his back—was reminiscent of those fond memories, particularly of Fang Su. 

What could possibly connect Fang Su and Zhang Jingyao in Chuxiang's mind? Their busts. Fang Su's figure had been legendary in college, and though Chuxiang had never truly seen her in such a way, rumors circulated that she had a pair of F-cup breasts—so impressive they overshadowed even the famous Taiwanese "F4" girl group. The point was, her figure was one that would require both hands to fully appreciate.

Now, the presence of these ample forms against his back seemed no less impressive. The sensation was as real as it was overwhelming. When he pursued Fang Su back then, he hadn't even had the chance to hold her hand, let alone feel the weight of her chest against him. The juxtaposition of memories and sensations stirred something in Chuxiang's mind, bringing back vivid flashes of his past.

"Chuxiang, am I really so ugly, so detestable?" Zhang Jingyao's voice came from behind him, her words almost a whisper, as if she were biting at his ear.

"Huh…" Chuxiang was momentarily stunned, the perverse thoughts that had been creeping into his mind immediately fading away. "No… I've never thought that."

Having distanced themselves from danger, the convoy's speed slowed due to the numerous obstacles ahead. This gave Chuxiang and Zhang Jingyao a chance to converse. She sighed deeply and spoke again, her voice tinged with sadness, "I know I'm so ugly that even Zhang Hongbing turned me away. He handed me off for a few packs of cigarettes. Honestly, I've been clinging to you because I'm scared…"

Tears began to well in Zhang Jingyao's eyes. A woman who once lived a comfortable life, courted by men, now found herself in a world turned upside down. No longer the object of desire, she had become prey in a world where survival was uncertain. With spoiled food and empty bellies, some of the weaker ones had already succumbed to despair and suicide.

In this new reality, women could only survive by attaching themselves to powerful men—unless, of course, they were stronger than the men. But Zhang Jingyao was not strong. Until now, she had depended on Zhang Hongbing, enduring his crude "teasing" because she had no choice. If not for the men's disdain for her appearance, she would have had to make herself available for the night.

Her sobs tugged at Chuxiang's heart, and without thinking, he reached back and gently wrapped his arm around her slim waist. "Don't cry, don't cry. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I will lead everyone to safety."

Zhang Jingyao continued to cry, her voice trembling. "What if I want to be your girlfriend? Would you look down on me because I'm ugly?"

"Girlfriend?" Chuxiang was momentarily caught off guard. He had never even considered such a thing. Women, after all, were such emotional creatures. In this world, where survival was the only focus, they still thought of love. Yet, even Chuxiang himself couldn't fully let go of the memories of his four ex-girlfriends. Did that count as love?

Seeing that Chuxiang did not respond, Zhang Jingyao assumed rejection and let go of his waist, her voice now heavy with disappointment. "I'm sorry… I was too presumptuous. A woman like me, so ugly, has no right to ask such things. Don't feel burdened."

Realizing her misunderstanding, Chuxiang quickly reassured her, "No, that's not it at all. I just thought it was a bit sudden. We've only known each other for two days. To be honest, I'm not interested in beautiful women. I think outer beauty doesn't matter. What really counts is inner beauty."

Zhang Jingyao chuckled softly, clearly pleased with his response. She once again wrapped her arms around his waist. "Chuxiang, you know, I've noticed how you care for Su Yulian. You don't treat me the same way. That's why I believe you. Do you know that my heart feels at peace now? I don't have to be afraid of being eaten by monsters or starving to death anymore, because I know you won't abandon me, even if I'm not your girlfriend."