Chapter Thirty-Seven: Closer
"Josie, sit in my seat so it's easier for you to reach for the food."
Lu Yuyang stood up before he finished speaking, giving Qiao Xi no chance to refuse.
Josie instinctively tried to pull her hand away from Feng Ye's grasp, but Feng Ye held it even tighter.
She couldn't understand what was wrong with Feng Ye today. He hadn't touched any of the delicious food on the table, but was fixated on holding her hand.
Time passed in an eerie stalemate.
Feng Ye didn't let go, and Lu Yuyang didn't sit down either; the air seemed to freeze.
Those around noticed the commotion and began to look on with curiosity.
Unable to break free, Josie smiled and said to everyone, "Everyone, eat, keep eating."
She moved her foot onto Feng Ye's foot and pressed it down slightly.
To everyone's surprise, the man next to her didn't even flinch.
"Xiao Ye, why aren't you eating?" Chen Qiurong asked with concern.
The table was laden with delicious food, and everyone had almost finished eating; she felt a pang of regret.
Taking advantage of Feng Ye turning his head, Qiao Xi suddenly exerted his strength.
This time she successfully pulled her hand out of his grasp and stood up directly.
She could feel Feng Ye's burning gaze on her, but she braced herself and avoided his eyes, moving to sit down beside him.
Seeing Qiao Xi take her seat, Lu Yuyang smiled.
He turned his head and met Feng Ye's sharp gaze.
His smile was gentle and warm, but his eyes held a hidden sharpness.
Josie had no idea how she finished the meal.
The two people next to me seemed to be secretly competing with each other.
Actually, Josie had weighed the options in her mind.
Both Feng Ye and Lu Yuyang are very rational and intelligent.
She couldn't give her heart and found it difficult to manipulate them, so she didn't want to have too much emotional involvement with either of them.
The rain outside the cave intensified, and a misty spray seeped into the cave.
After everyone finished their meal, their clothes and hair were damp.
And this rain lasted for three days straight.
Despite their repeated refusals, the old village chief insisted on serving them eggs at every meal.
"Don't be so polite. We raise chickens in the cave, so we don't lack eggs. Besides, these are nothing compared to your life-saving medicine!"
Feng Ye turned back from the cave entrance and walked to Qiao Xi and the others. "The rain has lessened. I'll go scout ahead."
"Has the rain lessened? Be careful, the roads are slippery," Grandma Chen cautioned.
After responding, Feng Ye turned and walked out of the cave. His figure, covered in camouflage, was quickly swallowed up by the rain.
The mountain fog was so thick that it was difficult to see people after only ten or so steps.
Who knew that he would not return for half a day after he left.
As if blessed by the heavens, around noon, the clouds suddenly parted and the sun shone through, its rays breaking through the clouds.
"The rain has stopped!" the children cheered as they rushed towards the cave entrance.
"Keep your voice down, or you'll attract monsters!" the adults quickly stopped them.
Qiao Xi and Lu Yuyang also arrived at the cave entrance.
"Shall we go for a walk?" Lu Yuyang suggested.
Spending days wandering around in cramped mountain caves was indeed quite tedious.
Josh nodded: "Okay."
The two carefully made their way towards the nearby mountains, stepping on the slippery rocks.
The air in the mountains was fresh after the rain, and Josie squinted her eyes contentedly.
If she hadn't experienced the apocalypse, and wanted to become stronger, she would have preferred to live a secluded life in the mountains.
Human nature is treacherous, and in the end times, humanity is even less able to withstand the test.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice the mud on my feet.
Suddenly, his foot slipped, and he fell to the side.
"careful!"
Lu Yuyang reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back forcefully.
Josie bumped into his arms unexpectedly, and smelled a faint scent of pine wood.
She raised her hand to rub her sore cheek, and then subconsciously rubbed his chest, which had been bumped, but... she touched firm muscles.
Her fingertips froze, and when she realized what was happening, she tried to back away to create some distance, but the hand around her waist gripped her tightly.
Looking up, she met Lu Yuyang's clear and gentle gaze.
The possessiveness surging in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.
As their breaths mingled, an ambiguous feeling quietly grew.
"Shouldn't you let go now?" Josie steadied herself and looked away.
Lu Yuyang stared at her evasive eyes, finally sighed softly, and slowly let go.
Josie felt a sense of relief.
If he were a frivolous person, she could still have an ambiguous entanglement with him.
But throughout the entire journey, he did everything he could to protect her.
It's uncertain how long this sincerity will last, and she's also unsure if she has the ability to manage another relationship.
"Should we continue or go back?" Lu Yuyang changed the subject at the right moment.
"Let's walk a little further..."
"good."
Lu Yuyang stared at her fair earlobe and silently followed her forward.
"Lu Yuyang, haven't you thought about going to find your family?"
"If a safe zone exists, they are most likely there."
"That's good."
It's so good that there are still loved ones alive in this world!
And she... although she has close relatives still alive, she feels it would be better if they were dead.
Lu Yuyang noticed her emotional fluctuation and looked down at her, "What about you? Besides your father, do you have any other relatives?"
"Yes, but I don't know where they are."
She had thought about looking for her maternal grandparents, but her mother left suddenly without leaving her any clues, so she had no way to find them.
Before she could even feel sad, the once clear mountains and fields were suddenly shrouded in thick fog again.
"What's going on?" Josie asked in surprise.
In the blink of an eye, the white fog had obscured all vision.
She couldn't even see Lu Yuyang, who was right next to her.
"Lu Yuyang?"
"I'm here." A clear voice came from beside me. "This fog is strange."
Josie immediately noticed something was wrong; the previous rain and mist were damp, but the current white mist was very dry.
Besides, the rain had just stopped and the sky was clear and bright, so how could fog suddenly appear out of nowhere?
"Let's move closer." She frowned and moved closer to Lu Yuyang.
Having experienced the apocalypse, she knew that any abnormality meant danger.
Her meager shapeshifting ability was utterly useless in this situation.
Lu Yuyang shielded her in front of him, his eyes also wary of everything around him.
"Let's move slowly and see if we can get out of this fog."
Lu Yuyang held her hand tightly, "This way we won't get separated."
Josie hummed in agreement, but didn't pull away. The two walked forward slowly, almost touching.
They followed their instincts and walked back the way they came.
They walked for nearly an hour, and still hadn't emerged from the fog.
A chill ran through Josie's heart.
"Lu Yuyang, we may really be trapped by evolved zombies."
Lu Yuyang squeezed her hand tightly. "Don't be afraid, I'm here. I'll protect you."
Just then, Josie saw a shadow flash past quickly in front of her.
Did you see that just now?
Lu Yuyang hummed in agreement. He was also tense, because he was not alone; he also had to protect Qiao Xi.
Supernatural power surged between his fingers, ready to attack at any moment.
Suddenly, Lu Yuyang turned around, and the ice arrow in his hand swiftly shot into the fog.
They seemed to hear some sound, but they still couldn't see clearly.
They were speculating whether they had stabbed an evolved zombie.
Qiao Xi suddenly shoved Lu Yuyang aside, shouting, "Watch out!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
