"Qiao Ci, you're sunbathing," An Ran said, her tone outwardly enthusiastic despite her growing dislike for Qiao Ci.
"Mhm," Qiao Ci replied lazily, taking a sip of juice.
An Ran pulled up a small stool nearby, seemingly forgetting her accusations against Qiao Ci in the hospital just days prior. She chatted with Qiao Ci without any reservations.
"I envy you so much, having a boyfriend who adores and cherishes you. Seeing your daily state, I feel like it's still before the apocalypse. This apocalypse hasn't affected you much at all, that's really good."
"He is indeed very good," Qiao Ci nodded, affirming her partner.
An Ran clicked her tongue. What did she mean, 'he is indeed very good'? Did she only hear what she wanted to hear after all this talking?
"By the way, what do you think of my brother? Isn't he tall, handsome, and capable?" Recalling what Xu Wei had instructed her, An Ran, despite feeling uncomfortable, asked Qiao Ci with feigned interest.
"Ordinary," Qiao Ci replied with her eyes closed, dismissively uttering two words.
"What?" An Ran, thinking she misheard, asked in surprise, her voice rising slightly and becoming a bit sharp.
Qiao Ci, unfazed by her astonishment, continued to enjoy the sun with her eyes closed, enunciating clearly, "Truly ordinary. He's not as good-looking as Su Ye, nor as fair-skinned, nor as tall. His personality isn't as good as Su Ye's either, and Su Ye's cooking is superb. In short, he can't compare to my Su Ye in any way."
Hearing her beloved being belittled so thoroughly by Qiao Ci, An Ran felt her lungs about to explode. However, she knew she couldn't fall out with Qiao Ci yet. After a brief contortion of her features, she managed to regain her composure. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"But my brother is very strong! He has dual abilities, and he doesn't have other women around him; he's very self-disciplined..."
"Aren't you a woman?" Qiao Ci interrupted, asking.
"What are you talking about? I'm his sister. In the future, my brother will definitely find a sister-in-law for me. I think you're very suitable, and my brother has a good impression of you. How about you?" An Ran, steeling herself, finally voiced her proposal.
"I have Su Ye," Qiao Ci didn't even bother to refuse. She felt An Ran was truly desperate, trying to find women for her own man.
"It doesn't matter. It's the apocalypse anyway, and there are no more moral constraints. While you like Su Ye, you can also like my brother. My brother said he doesn't mind Su Ye's existence. He will protect you well and won't let you wander aimlessly in the apocalypse. After you marry my brother, Su Ye can stay with you." An Ran, finding the suggestion herself to be outrageous, still endured the disgust and tried to persuade.
"When you have the best, why settle for second best? Besides, you're trying to poach my man while Su Ye is away. Do you have any morals, sister?" Qiao Ci was utterly shattered by her words.
Listen to that! Could a normal person say something like this? An Ran was really going all out to help Xu Wei.
Having said all that, An Ran knew her plan had failed. She immediately put on a gentle smile, "Just kidding, hehe, calm down, calm down." To cover her embarrassment, she reached out, picked up a mung bean pastry from the small table, and ate it.
Her mouth felt like chewing on wax. Thinking about how Xu Wei had been constantly forcing her to do things she disliked, An Ran felt a surge of sadness, and tears began to fall.
Hearing her whimpers, Qiao Ci opened her eyes, "What's wrong? Why are you crying after eating a mung bean pastry?"
An Ran couldn't possibly tell her about Xu Wei, so she replied, "I was almost bitten by a zombie that time, and it scared me so badly I developed a high fever. Ever since then, I lost my sense of taste, and everything I eat tastes the same. I was always a glutton, and now it's truly unbearable. Sob sob sob, if only I had left with you that day."
"It must be quite painful not to be able to taste delicious food," Qiao Ci agreed earnestly.
"If only I could regain my sense of taste, then everything would be perfect," An Ran said with longing in her eyes. That way, she would be no different from a normal person, and she could even control zombies.
"You really want to regain your sense of taste?" Qiao Ci sat up with interest.
"Absolutely! As you know, I was always the most gluttonous. If I could regain my sense of taste, I would give anything!" An Ran knew she couldn't recover it, but she still hoped for a miracle.
Qiao Ci looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I happen to have a folk remedy that can help you regain your sense of taste."
Hearing this, An Ran looked at her suspiciously, "Really?"
"Mhm," Qiao Ci took a white, round pill from her pocket and handed it to her. "It can dispel a hundred poisons."
As soon as Qiao Ci took out the pill, An Ran smelled a pleasant, fragrant scent. She took the pill and examined it carefully. She asked the question that even a small spoon would want to know, "Where did this pill come from? It looks quite nice."
"Does it matter where it came from?"
"It's honeyed snow lotus flavored," Qiao Ci added.
An Ran was indeed a little tempted. Primarily, the color and smell of the pill indicated it was something good. Anyway, she was now immune to all poisons and had already died once; could she die a second time? Under Qiao Ci's gaze, she put the pill into her mouth. The pill dissolved instantly. She didn't taste any honeyed snow lotus flavor, but her entire body felt warm and she experienced a long-lost warmth.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Ci would give her such a good thing, a trace of guilt flashed through An Ran's mind, but it was not significant nor lasting, disappearing in an instant. Seeing the pill, she decided that after they captured the base, she wouldn't kill Qiao Ci immediately. Instead, she would disfigure her and give her to the men of the Lone Wolf pack as a plaything. After all, a bad life was better than death. It would also serve as a closure for herself. As for whether she would be played to death, that would depend on her own fate.
Since Qiao Ci's path was blocked, she had to proceed with the zombie plan. An Ran felt it was necessary to rest more. Now that there was no need to flatter Qiao Ci, she said she was a bit tired and returned to her room.
Xiao Shaozi, scratching its ears in curiosity, couldn't help but ask, "Host, that pill just now seemed extraordinary..."
"Little children shouldn't ask so many questions. Be good," Qiao Ci replied lazily.
Xiao Shaozi immediately shut up obediently, trembling and waiting for her to confine it to the dark room. Seeing its demeanor, Qiao Ci found it amusing. After all, it had been with her for some time; how could it still be so timid?
"What are you trembling for?"
"I'm afraid of displeasing you," Xiao Shaozi's cute electronic voice was choked with emotion.
"You don't need to be so cautious. We are one now, aren't we?" Qiao Ci's tone softened slightly, with a hint of helplessness in her calm voice.
Xiao Shaozi was quick to seize the opportunity. Seeing Qiao Ci's good attitude, it became full of energy, "Hehe, Host, you're the best~"
Qiao Ci chatted idly with Xiao Shaozi. As the sun began to set, Su Ye also returned.