Chapter 5 – Changing Her Mind

“Big sister, I can’t drive. Can you take me and my brother with you? I can give you the supplies I just gathered as payment…”

Lin Yu frowned. Truthfully, she didn’t want to drag along two burdens. What’s more, the place she was headed next was the city center. Alone, she could handle it, but bringing two extra people would complicate things. Without hesitation, she refused:

“Sorry, but the place I’m going is too dangerous. I can’t take you with me.”

Pei Linlang had been holding out all this time, but her body was already growing weary.

She couldn’t drive, and her brother was still unconscious. Who knew when he’d wake up—or when those monsters, no, zombies, might return? Rather than sit and wait for death at the gas station, she thought it better to follow this strong, knowledgeable woman.

She had already decided to stick with Lin Yu. Afraid Lin Yu would leave without her, she quickly lifted her brother from the ground and pleaded:

“Big sister, my ability—it can help you! I won’t hold you back. Please, help us. My brother, Pei Yan, and I will repay you.”

Lin Yu froze mid-step.

What did she just say? Pei Yan?

Lin Yu hadn’t expected to hear that name here.

In her past life, the man who founded the Dawn Base was named Pei Yan.

Even when she had still been in Yun Province, she’d heard of him from other survivors—how the Dawn Base had already grown into the most powerful stronghold in the southwest, and how its leader was called Pei Yan.

She’d seen photos of him before. She had heard countless stories of his deeds.

And now, this girl was telling her that her brother’s name was Pei Yan.

Could the unconscious man before her really be that Pei Yan, the future leader of Dawn Base?

Lin Yu stopped and studied him more closely.

The man’s long phoenix eyes were shut tight, his pale face flushed unnaturally. His thin lips were pressed together in a proud, cold line. He wore a white shirt buttoned neatly to the very top. Even unconscious, his whole being radiated an aloof, icy distance.

Her heart jolted—this really was the future leader of Dawn Base.

Earlier, his face had been buried against Linlang’s shoulder, and she had been too busy looting supplies to notice more than half his profile. She’d found him familiar but brushed it aside.

Now, in Linlang’s arms, his face was fully visible.

He was still young, much less intimidating than in the photos she remembered. For now, his expression was cold but lacked the suffocating aura of authority he would one day possess.

Linlang noticed Lin Yu’s gaze lingering. Looking at her unconscious brother, something flashed in her heart.

“They say a life-saving grace must be repaid a hundredfold. From today on, my brother and I are yours. We’ll serve you faithfully, whatever you command.”

Lin Yu immediately changed her mind. After all, this was the future leader of Dawn Base. Doing him a favor now could only benefit her.

Still, Linlang’s choice of words—serve like beasts of burden—made Lin Yu’s mouth twitch.

She cleared her throat. “That won’t be necessary. But I will take you both with me.”

The young girl’s face, though innocent, showed a composure far beyond her age.

Now that Lin Yu looked closely, Linlang’s skin was flawless, as if it could be pinched to yield water.

Linlang, glancing between her brother and Lin Yu, thought to herself: this big sister was not only beautiful but also incredibly powerful. She would never forget the sight of Lin Yu smashing zombie skulls with her spiked club—it had shaken her to the core.

Maybe… maybe her brother could repay this sister with more than gratitude.

Meanwhile, feverish and unconscious, Pei Yan had no idea his sister was already planning to “offer him up.”

Lin Yu, unaware of Linlang’s inner thoughts, gestured for her to follow.

Linlang collected herself, nodded obediently, and strained with all her strength to support Pei Yan as they walked.

Earlier, in her panic to save her brother, Linlang’s latent strength had erupted. Now that the immediate danger had passed—and coupled with her overuse of her ability—her legs trembled with each step.

Seeing this, Lin Yu stepped forward and took Pei Yan’s other arm.

Linlang looked up in surprise. Perhaps this sister wasn’t as cold as she seemed.

“Thank you… By the way, I still don’t know your name. I’m Pei Linlang. What should I call you, big sister?”

Her voice was cool. “Lin Yu.”

Linlang nodded, sensing it wasn’t the right time for chatter. She stayed quiet after that.

Together, the two girls supported Pei Yan out of the gas station and toward Lin Yu’s Hummer parked outside.

Linlang strapped her brother securely into the seat and buckled his belt. To keep him close, she sat beside him in the second row.

After cooling Pei Yan down with bottled water, Linlang finally exhaled, realizing how ravenous she was. She tore into bread and gulped water, feeling alive again.

“Do you know where you’re going?”

Lin Yu drove fast, the Hummer roaring down the road. The windows were down, wind rushing in, making her words sound faint, almost unreal.

Linlang’s heart tightened. Quickly, she declared: “I’ll go wherever you go.”

Her parents had died in a plane crash when she was five. Her grandfather, devastated by the news, passed away soon after. Since then, she had lived with only her brother.

For her, home was wherever Pei Yan was. She didn’t care where they went, as long as they were together.

Lin Yu was silent for a moment before saying slowly:

“I’m heading into Linchuan City’s center. There will be many zombies there—like the ones you just saw. It’s dangerous. Are you sure you and your brother want to follow me?”

In the early days of the apocalypse, zombies were weak and sluggish. They were easy to deal with. Because of money constraints, when she was reborn, she had stockpiled food, water, seeds, and miscellaneous goods. But she hadn’t been able to buy many critical supplies.

Weapons, vehicles, medicine, fuel—these she still needed.

If she didn’t collect them now, when zombies evolved later, obtaining them would be nearly impossible.

Pei Linlang’s invisibility ability could indeed help. But with her dragging along an unconscious brother, who knew when Pei Yan would awaken?

Lin Yu did want to earn goodwill from the future leader of Dawn Base. But she couldn’t bring herself to risk their lives dragging them both into the city center.