Chapter 5

Wen Jiuze’s voice was low and gentle, giving off a warm feeling.

Hearing this, Xue Ling fell into deep thought.

She was pondering a question—why did Wen Jiuze act as if he truly loved her?

If she remembered correctly, during the year and a half from when they met to becoming a couple and then breaking up, the most he had ever done was either infuriate her or make her jump in annoyance.

Every cell in his body seemed to exude a sense of mischief and dark humor.

He often wore that smiley face, treating everything casually, and she had always thought she was just a casual girlfriend to him.

He had never once confessed his feelings, and when they broke up, it was he who brought it up first, and the parting was far from pleasant.

She had been so angry that she smashed her milk tea on his head, but he nonchalantly wiped the spilled tea off his face, shrugged lazily, and walked away.

He didn’t care about her and had no deep feelings for her.

Xue Ling had always believed this.

Yet why was he able to recognize her at a glance after three years apart? Why did he insist on bringing her along after seeing her turn into a zombie? Why was he not at all bothered by her zombie appearance and still held her closely? Why did it seem like he missed her and cherished her?

He even abandoned his cousin and the human convoy to choose to leave alone with her, a dangerous zombie. Anyone who saw this would say that he was crazy.

Xue Ling thought about it over and over again, but couldn’t figure out what this person was thinking.

It had always been this way. She could never figure out Wen Jiuze’s thoughts, yet he could see right through her after just a short time together. He had a unique talent for deliberately provoking her anger.

After pondering for a long time, Xue Ling couldn’t help but doubt if she had lost her memory.

However, when she carefully recalled the past, she found her mind clear, her memories intact, and she had not missed anything. Instead, she revisited Wen Jiuze’s “checkered past” and “numerous wrongdoings.”

…One really shouldn’t start dating a neurotic boyfriend too early in life. Otherwise, you would remember him for a lifetime, unable to forget, just like Xue Ling.

In the gaps of her contemplation and self-doubt, Xue Ling didn’t forget to maintain her zombie persona. She would occasionally let out a growl, claw at the seat cushion and the seatbelt, or scratch at the car window and door.

Damn it, Wen Jiuze treated the commotion she made as white noise, humming along to her movements while driving. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel, perfectly syncing with the creaking sounds she made while scratching the back of her seat, creating quite a beat.

Xue Ling: Am I entertaining you?

Wen Jiuze now seemed quite skilled at amusing himself.

He said, “Let’s find a place to take a shower. The tap water has been shut off, but some houses in remote areas don’t use tap water. They rely on well water from their homes, which is still usable.”

“Can you handle cold water? Oh, it doesn’t matter if you can’t. It’s so hot out that even cold water won’t be too cold, right?”

He made these decisions without needing Xue Ling’s input.

Xue Ling kicked the back of his seat hard, making a loud thud. He bounced in his driver’s seat and happily nodded, saying, “Oh, as long as you agree.”

They hadn’t gone far, still within a town on the outskirts of Anxi City.

Xue Ling was locked in the car, watching Wen Jiuze through the window as he searched for a place to bathe.

His movements were very skillful. Whether exploring abandoned houses, evading zombie attacks, or taking them down one by one, he was swift and efficient.

Xue Ling noticed that he wasn’t just unafraid of her as a familiar zombie. He showed no fear of other unfamiliar zombies either. He faced a menacing zombie head-on and calmly drew his knife to slice its neck without flinching.

Although he had a gun holstered at his waist, he never used it, opting instead for the short knife.

Xue Ling had seen many people fight zombies, and almost everyone preferred longer weapons to keep a safe distance.

But Wen Jiuze was different. He wielded a short knife, barely the length of his arm. Each time he reached out to strike a zombie’s head, it felt like he was inches away from being bitten.

This made Xue Ling feel tense.

Wen Jiuze surveyed the layout of the street, searching for houses with yards that might have wells, entering those that seemed relatively undamaged.

He forcefully broke open locked doors, rummaging around before coming back out. He occasionally carried a zombie’s body or picked up other items.

“Look, isn’t this dress pretty? I’ll clean it up for you to wear later,” he said, holding up a dress covered in sunflowers and showing it through the car window.

Xue Ling never had any expectations regarding Wen Jiuze’s taste. The ugliest dress in her wardrobe was one he had bought, and she could never bring herself to wear it.

“I found a few boxes of unopened skincare products. I remember you used this brand before, so I’ll let you use it later,” he added, tossing a few boxes of cosmetics into the car.

Xue Ling was bewildered. Here I am, a zombie, and he thinks I need skincare… Should I commend your thoughtfulness?

“Don’t worry, I checked, and it’s not expired yet.” Wen Jiuze replied, sounding both puzzled and nostalgic. “How can these cosmetics have such a long shelf life? They’re still good after three years.”

He tossed various items into the car, including clothes, skincare products, towels, soap, and shampoo, but he also threw in an Elizabethan collar. What’s that supposed to mean?

This collar is typically used on cats and dogs to prevent them from licking their wounds.

If you’re thinking of putting that on me, go to hell!

Wen Jiuze searched two whole streets but couldn’t find a suitable place to bathe.

Finally, he found one on the third street.

He walked out of a house and came over to open the car door, smiling as he said, “This bathroom has water and is quite clean. Come on, let’s go.”

Xue Ling didn’t want to get out, but he dragged her down.

He crossed one arm over Xue Ling’s chest and pulled her back. She struggled to grip the sides of the car seat, her sharp nails scratching the leather.

But Wen Jiuze was too strong, easily pulling her out without letting her feet touch the ground. With his other hand, he held a bag filled with various items.

“Alright, you’re a zombie, not a cat. Why are you scared of taking a shower?” Wen Jiuze urged.

She wasn’t scared of bathing; she just didn’t want him to help her wash!

They had dated for a year, and while Wen Jiuze was undeniably handsome and charming, the thought of him helping her bathe was truly embarrassing.

However, zombies have no rights, and Wen Jiuze showed no mercy. Xue Ling found herself pushed into the bathroom.

The place had been simply cleaned by Wen Jiuze, and the floor was still wet.

When Xue Ling saw him holding the Elizabethan collar, she attacked him with her head, making it clear she absolutely would not wear it.

“Alright, alright, no collar. Ouch, your head is really hard.”

He tossed the collar aside, tying one of her hands to the grab bar next to the toilet. He then pressed her down to sit on the toilet while he pulled out a nail clipper, taking hold of her other hand to trim her nails.

Xue Ling’s zombie nails were black, sharp, shiny, and tough. Wen Jiuze focused on her nails, shaping them into a smooth and rounded state.

Although Xue Ling had wanted to trim her nails for a while, she felt annoyed and didn’t cooperate, often pretending to bite Wen Jiuze unexpectedly.

It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He braced himself, and the small wheeled stool under him slid away, just out of Xue Ling’s reach.

Despite Xue Ling’s attempts to distract him, Wen Jiuze managed to efficiently finish trimming one of her hands.

He held her hand for a moment, examining it closely.

A zombie’s skin was pale blue, with blood vessels more visible than in humans, appearing dark red and forming a web-like pattern on her hand. The skin was slightly taut and dry.

Xue Ling felt that her diligent care had paid off. Her hands were not as rough as other zombies, making them appear as if she had recently passed away, only slightly thinner.

Wen Jiuze’s hands, which were significantly larger than hers, gently caressed her hand, sharing the warmth of his palm with her.

“Alright, let’s do the other hand,” he said after a brief silence, his tone cheerful again.

During the second half of the process, Xue Ling didn’t cause much trouble. Finally, while he was tidying up the bathroom, she took a careful look at her two hands and felt quite satisfied.

Previously, she had thought her nails were too long and cumbersome. She had tried to trim them, but her zombie joints were stiff, making it impossible for her fingers to bend easily. She had resorted to biting them, only to make them even more ragged and unsightly.

The showerhead sprayed cool water onto the white tiles, sending up splashes.

Xue Ling wore the pants for a long time, and the gray and blackened trousers and long sleeves were torn into rags and thrown aside.

She was seated on a small stool under the shower, and the water flowed over her pale, emaciated back.

Xue Ling curled up, feeling so embarrassed that she didn’t want to lift her head.

Wen Jiuze sat behind her and asked a strange question, “Are zombies afraid of water?”

If they weren’t, then why had she been so restless before, yet now, under the water, she wouldn’t even budge?

Staying still was actually a relief. It saved him the trouble of having to tie her up. Wen Jiuze didn’t want to constantly keep Xue Ling restrained.

The mint-scented shower gel produced bubbles as it lathered on her head. Having her hair rubbed felt surprisingly pleasant.

With her chin resting on her knees, she squinted her eyes to prevent the water from getting in.

His hands kneaded her scalp, inch by inch.

Xue Ling felt his fingers exploring a certain spot on the back of her head, lingering there for quite some time.

“Why does your head feel a bit flat? It’s not as round as it used to be,” Wen Jiuze wondered aloud.

Of course, he didn’t expect a zombie to answer him, so he continued to feel around for a while longer, jokingly adding, “Could it be that you’ve been using your head to attack people and flattened it?”

Xue Ling took a moment to react amid the sound of water.

Wait, is the back of my head flat?

Maybe it was from that time three years ago. She had just turned into a zombie and discovered that she could still think, unlike other zombies, which had thrown her into a panic.

She wanted to go to her uncle’s house to find her cousins, and coincidentally, her mother and stepfather were there too. When they saw her, they were all terrified.

She had been struck on the back of the head with a stick. At that moment, she thought, “Is my head going to be flattened?” But after touching it a few times, she couldn’t feel any difference.

So it really had been flattened—how amusing.

How did Wen Jiuze figure that out so quickly?

Xue Ling recalled that he used to enjoy touching the back of her head. Sometimes, while walking, he would suddenly lift his hand to press on the back of her head, pushing her forward.

In the mornings, when she had just woken up and rolled over, his large hand would go straight for the back of her head, instantly waking her up.

She would angrily ask him why he kept grabbing the back of her head, and he would smile and say, “Your head is especially round, it’s amusing.”

What a nerve!