Chapter 8: Call Him Daddy — The Man in Uniform

“You must stay close to me!”

Chu Yue shoved a fragrant scallion pancake into Lu Yuanbao’s mouth while holding his hand tightly as they moved through the crowd.

The two of them were traveling light — just one backpack, nothing more. But the train station was packed to the brim. From inside to outside the building, even in the dead of winter, they were sweating from being squeezed in by the crowd.

Having grown used to the post-apocalyptic world, Chu Yue felt a bit dazed seeing so many living, breathing people all at once.

She protected Lu Yuanbao as he clung tightly to her hand.

It was his first time in the city, and even more so, his first time at a train station. The sheer crowd terrified him into silence. All he could think of was what Chu Yue had said: “Don’t get lost.”

The makeshift “mother and son” duo finally managed to board the train.

Chu Yue had only one train ticket — just for herself. Lu Yuanbao was still a child, and there was no way the stepsister would spend money on a ticket for him.

Thankfully, the stepsister wasn’t entirely heartless — she at least bought a seated ticket. With more than 600 kilometers and over twenty hours of travel ahead, at least Chu Yue wouldn’t have to stand the whole way.

One adult and one child squeezing into one seat — they could make it work.

Chu Yue found her seat halfway down the carriage — a two-seater.

Her seat was on the aisle, and on the window side, there was already a man sitting there.

The man was leaning slightly, his head resting against the inner wall of the carriage. His eyes were closed, as if he were asleep.

From Chu Yue’s angle, she could see the sharp lines of his face — deeply carved brows and features.

A prominent nose, lips pressed into a line, brows drawn tight — his entire face exuded a kind of cold arrogance.

He wore a long black trench coat, and it was obvious he was tall — possibly around 190 cm. His long legs had nowhere to stretch in the narrow space.

From beneath the coat, she could see black leather boots, emanating a subtle but powerful sense of intimidation.

This man…

Was handsome — and deadly.

If he’d been in the apocalypse, he’d absolutely have carved his way to survival in a sea of blood.

Chu Yue hadn’t seen a man so striking in a long time.

Her eyes lingered on the man’s face, then dropped to his collar — and there, faintly visible beneath his coat, was a hint of military green.

Military uniform.

“So he’s a soldier — no wonder he gives off such a dangerous vibe.”

Chu Yue withdrew her gaze and sat down in her seat, then lifted Lu Yuanbao onto her lap.

The train was noisy and crowded. People were constantly walking back and forth through the carriage.

Some were carrying heavy bags, others had bundles of bedding or shoulder poles with loads. Some were even bringing live chickens and ducks in cages, their squawking mingling with the human chatter.

The air was thick with a nauseating smell.

But Chu Yue had survived the blood-soaked apocalypse, so this kind of environment didn’t faze her in the slightest. She held Lu Yuanbao with ease.

After a brief stop, the train started moving again.

Clank… Clank…

The green train began pulling backward, and scenery flitted past the glass windows.

Lu Yuanbao’s eyes went wide in amazement, watching the landscape zip by.

He had no idea where they were going, or what kind of man his adoptive uncle would be. All he could do was hold tightly to Chu Yue’s hand and refuse to let go.

This woman — the one who gave him a hot bath, clean clothes, water, and biscuits — was the only person who had ever been kind to him.

“Make way! Make way! Everyone move aside!”

A middle-aged auntie’s voice rang out through the train. She was carrying multiple large bags and pushing her way through the crowded aisle until she finally reached her seat.

Right across from Chu Yue.

“Move! Move! That’s my seat! Hurry up and get up!”

The middle-aged woman chased away the person originally sitting in the seat, stuffed her large and small bags onto the train’s luggage rack, then clapped her hands and plopped herself down onto the seat.

After sitting, she didn’t rest. Her sharp, shrewd eyes began darting around the cabin.

Then her gaze landed on Chu Yue, who was sitting directly across from her.

In the entire carriage, there were only dusty, smelly men or elderly women. Chu Yue was the only young girl. Although the original owner of this body had been weak, her face was delicate and fair—about eighteen or nineteen years old, with skin so soft it looked like it could be pinched and water would come out.

An oval-shaped face, almond eyes, a straight and high nose bridge, a dainty nose tip, and rosy lips.

Chu Yue had drunk plenty of Lingquan spring water the night before, which made the previously pale and exhausted original owner appear fresh-faced and glowing with vitality.

She had her black, shiny braids tied into two neat plaits, draped obediently over her shoulders, and in her arms was a little boy wearing a bright red scarf—a sight that easily drew attention.

The middle-aged woman’s eyes kept circling around Chu Yue, and she eagerly struck up a conversation.

“Young lady, how old are you? Why are you taking the train alone? Going to visit relatives? Or maybe to meet a suitor?”

“You’re so young and beautiful, I bet loads of young men are chasing after you, right? Ah, youth is such a blessing. Your hair is so dark and thick. Auntie really envies you!”

“That child—he’s your little brother, right? You two look so alike! I can tell at a glance, you must be siblings. Auntie here has a sharp eye!”

Chu Yue gave the woman a sideways glance, her expression cold and distant. She didn’t respond at all.

But the woman wasn’t one to give up easily—she remained extremely enthusiastic.

She rummaged through her pocket, pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds, and offered them to Chu Yue.
“Young lady, have some sunflower seeds! Don’t be shy with auntie, let’s eat together. It’s such a long ride—over twenty hours—it’d be boring without chatting.”

Still, Chu Yue didn’t respond, didn’t even lift a hand.

This was a train, full of all kinds of people, and this was a stranger she was meeting for the first time. Where would such kindness come from without strings attached?

Seeing that Chu Yue wasn’t taking the bait, the woman turned her attention to Lu Yuanbao.

“Little brother, want some sunflower seeds? Here, take them—these are really tasty! Go on, take them!”

But to her surprise, even though Lu Yuanbao was just a child, he seemed to be cut from the same mold as Chu Yue. His little face was cold, his hands didn’t move, and he didn’t say a word.

The middle-aged woman had no choice but to place the sunflower seeds on the small table between their seats.

She lowered her head, her brow twitching slightly, but when she looked up again, her face was still full of cheer.

“I’ll just leave the sunflower seeds here. Help yourselves if you want. Don’t be shy with auntie—I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

“Young lady, this train goes to the south, right? You must be heading south to find work, huh? What kind of job are you looking for? Tell me!”

“Auntie here has worked down south for decades—I know the ins and outs. I can help you get any kind of job you want. I even know people at the post office. A girl like you—clearly educated—is perfect for sending telegrams at the post office. I happen to know a post office that’s short-staffed right now. You interested?”

The woman’s tone was warm and heartfelt—she looked like she was about to grab Chu Yue’s hand and call her “daughter.”

At first, Chu Yue just thought this woman was overly friendly and annoyingly chatty.

But the moment she heard the phrase “looking for work,” she immediately understood.

This woman is a human trafficker!

Traffickers love to prey on young girls desperate to earn money, feeding them a load of sweet talk, luring them away, and finally selling them off to remote mountain villages they’ll never escape.

And they don’t just target women—they like children too.

A young girl like Chu Yue, traveling with a little boy, was the perfect prey for someone like her.

Chu Yue lifted her eyes and finally gave the middle-aged woman a proper look.

“Auntie, is the job really that good?” she asked.

Just as Chu Yue spoke,

the man in military uniform by the window—who had been seemingly asleep—opened his eyes silently, revealing a pair of deep, dark pupils.

His gaze fell on Chu Yue’s delicate, fair, and youthful face.

His expression was serious, his brows furrowed slightly, and he let out a low cough.

“Cough, cough.”