Chapter 5 The Scumbag is Coming

“From now on, eat obediently and no more being picky, okay? Then I’ll help you heal your legs, hmm?”

“Okay!”
Xie Yu’s voice trembled slightly with excitement, even sounding a bit hoarse.

Chang Suisui chuckled softly, unable to resist reaching out to ruffle his hair. “Good boy~”

Feeling the softness and warmth of her palm on his head, Xie Yu’s ears instantly turned beet red. If the lighting hadn’t been so dim, the girl would’ve definitely teased him about it.

Seeing the light return to Xie Yu’s once-dim eyes, Chang Suisui couldn’t help but smile. “Remember to finish the medicinal water in the canteen. I’ll come again tomorrow to treat your legs.”

“Alright.”
Though his voice was calm, his tone carried an undeniable hint of joy. His gaze followed her petite figure until it disappeared into the night.

He had originally wanted to walk her back, but thinking about the nature of their relationship… A glint of deep thought flashed through Xie Yu’s dark eyes.
If his legs could really be healed—did that mean he might also… become worthy of having her?

Chang Suisui’s room was the one closest to the edge of the educated youth commune, so she returned without any trouble, silent as a shadow.

The reason she had a room to herself was actually thanks to her dear cousin.
Ever since arriving at the commune, the original host had been isolated, labeled a “troublemaker,” and assigned the furthest room. The original Chang Suisui had been timid, easily frightened by the dark and by the supposed thieves who climbed walls at night—she even ended up hospitalized from fright.

Of course, all of this had been part of Chang Meili’s plan—to make the original host miserable enough to give up and agree to swap marriage partners.

But these little schemes meant nothing to someone from the apocalypse.

Wall-climbing thieves? Please. Compared to the mutated zombies that scaled buildings, this was child’s play.

She had worried a bit about sharing a room with others—but now, having a whole room to herself? It was paradise.

Chang Suisui fell asleep quickly.
And for the first time in ages, knowing that this world no longer had zombies, she slept deeply and peacefully.

Until she was abruptly woken by someone pounding on the door.
“Chang Suisui! Get out here!”

Her brow furrowed. Being woken up like that instantly put her in a foul mood.

She flung open the door to see a man glaring at her menacingly. He was on the shorter side, a bit over 170 cm, skinny, with glasses—he looked like a typical intellectual of the era.

When Zhao Hang saw her appear, he opened his mouth to scold her—but froze.
The girl stood there with her slightly loosened braids falling over her shoulders, dressed in a light pink lace-trimmed nightgown. Her relaxed, pretty face made his mouth go dry.

He stared in a daze.

He and Chang Suisui had been childhood friends, even engaged with the approval of both families. The idea was that they’d look after each other during the countryside placement.
Zhao Hang had always known she was beautiful. But after hearing rumors that she bullied Chang Meili, he had become disgusted. How could his wife be a vicious woman? She had to be gentle and kind.

But now…
Maybe she had only bullied Chang Meili out of jealousy? Because she liked him too much?
If she were softer, he might be able to forgive her.

Chang Suisui leaned lazily against the doorframe, clearly annoyed.
“You needed something?”

She frowned, not making a move. She still couldn’t connect faces to names from the novel—only once someone said their name did she know who they were.

Zhao Hang snapped out of his trance and cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem… Suisui, Meili told me you hit her yesterday. Is there some kind of misunderstanding between you two?”

Even though he had come to scold her, his tone turned surprisingly mild. His gaze even kept drifting to her face.

Not far away, Chang Meili had been waiting to watch the show—but to her shock, Zhao Hang was actually being nice to her cousin.
Ugh! Disgusting!

She remembered how in her last life, after three years of marriage with Zhao Hang, she still hadn’t conceived. He had started beating her, even saying out loud how good Chang Suisui had been.
Eventually, he would even scream her name while drunk and forcing himself on her.

Only then did she realize—he had always loved Chang Suisui. He’d blamed her for seducing him and ruining his chance to marry Suisui.

Well, this life, she’d never let that scumbag have his way!

When she saw Zhao Hang speak so gently to Chang Suisui, she immediately rushed over and said tearfully:
“Brother Hang, don’t blame Cousin. I’m sure she didn’t mean it…”

Chang Suisui had just been about to probe him for more info when Chang Meili graciously gave away the whole situation.
How thoughtful!

Scumbag and backstabber, both present? Perfect.
Let the show begin!

Without hesitation, Chang Suisui slapped Zhao Hang across the face, then kicked him to the ground.

Caught off guard, Zhao Hang landed on his butt, completely stunned.
Chang Meili gasped, too shocked to even try helping him up.

“Cousin, you—ah!”
Before she could say another word, Suisui gave her a big slap too.

Still reeling from yesterday’s beatdown, Chang Meili clutched her face in disbelief.
“You’re crazy—completely crazy!”

Other educated youths, who had just woken up, began to gather around the ruckus.
Yesterday, it had been two girls fighting, and as men, they hadn’t wanted to interfere. But today, the one being beaten was a man…

Still, no one tried to break it up—they just whispered among themselves.

“Did Chang really go mad? She hit a girl yesterday, and now she’s hitting a guy…”

“If this keeps up, we might need to inform the village chief. She’s dangerous.”

“I’m not sure… maybe we should listen a bit more before judging?”

Most of them were students and had more education than rural folks, so they were trying to stay reasonable.
Still… that didn’t stop them from enjoying the drama.

Seeing more and more people arrive, Chang Meili quickly played the innocent card again.

“If you’re angry, Cousin, you can take it out on me. There’s no need to hurt others…”

Chang Suisui’s delicate little face bloomed with a cold smile.
“Well, since you insist, guess I’ll just have to hit you.”

Chang Meili flinched in terror. She hadn’t expected Suisui to completely ignore social cues.

As Suisui took a step forward, she panicked and threw herself into Zhao Hang’s arms.
“Brother Hang, save me… sob sob sob…”