Chapter 21
For Xu Zhou, the zombie identity did not bring any changes. She adapted well. After changing her identity, she even felt that the zombies became more handsome. She used to feel a little uncomfortable, but now she can go up to the zombies and high-five them with a smile.
If she could speak zombie language, she would have started chatting with zombies a long time ago.
The system was greatly surprised by her change.
Xu Zhou thought that this might be the confidence brought by her identity, making her fearless. After all, zombies don't attack their own kind, so what is there for her to be afraid of?
In addition, she also paid attention to an inappropriate and biased point: "System, you said, there are three people in my family, and none of them escaped the virus. Is this probability reasonable?"
The system racked its brains: "Hmm...why don't you say you are a family?"
"Thank you," Xu Zhou smiled, "Don't say that again next time."
System: "Received."
After a quick stroll around the area, Xu Zhou suddenly remembered the plant trampoline she'd visited the other day. She immediately jumped in, excited to try it out. The rockery wasn't very high, and the wind mitigating the feeling of weightlessness when she fell from it was quite springy. The vines were quite springy, and as she was thrown upward, she felt a brief moment of suspended animation, a light and free feeling.
I jumped several times during the day and my mood gradually became relaxed and happy.
It’s so fun, no wonder those three zombies played for a long time.
The sun was warm on her body, and she remembered something that had been bothering her for a long time.
Xu Zhou took advantage of his good mood to ask Xun Chun: "Why did you break up with me on the day of doomsday?"
Xunchun, who was acting as a background board below: “?”
Break up? Him?
Xunchun is confused.
The memories of the old times were very vague, but he tried hard to recall, but he still couldn't find the memory of breaking up. Besides, why would he say break up for no reason when they were talking so well?
Xunchun didn't admit it: "I never said we broke up."
Xu Zhou jumped down from the vine web, and Xun Chun stepped forward and held her up.
After she stood firm, she approached Xunchun, leaned forward, looked directly at him, and asked again: "Are you sure you didn't break up with me?"
"I'm sure, I didn't say that." Xunchun was very sure.
"Really?" Xu Zhou was confused. In fact, she also believed in Xunchun, but this was like a thorn in her heart. She felt uncomfortable if she didn't get to the bottom of it. There was nothing she could do; she just cared deeply.
"Really." Xunchun's serious expression didn't seem fake.
The two zombies began to review what they had done that day.
Xu Zhou's doomsday experience had been less than a month old, but the memory was still vivid. She first told him what happened that day. After they finished communicating in the afternoon, she received a message from him in the evening, and she could no longer contact him.
Xunchun thought about what happened that day. After a while, he said, "In the evening, my phone was left at home. I think someone in my family used their phone to send it to you."
He didn't talk about what happened that day, only about the issue of sending the message.
Such a suspicious answer made Xu Zhou look at Xun Chun for a second longer. She didn't refute him, but followed his words and said, "Your family... probably doesn't have any candidates, right?"
She thought for a moment. Knowing Xunchun well, she knew what had happened that day must have been bad, which was why he hadn't spoken. Judging from his state, it was probably related to his family.
She knew something about his past.
Xunchun's parents divorced when he was in elementary school, and he lived with his father. His father remarried during junior high, and that same year, he had a younger brother, a generation younger than him. He wasn't very dependent on his family; otherwise, he wouldn't have rented a place on his own and worked part-time to earn money right after graduating from the college entrance exam. Even though he was earning money, his family still sent him money regularly.
She had met his family before, but it was an accidental encounter.
At that time, his father took his stepmother and younger brother out for a trip. It happened to be a holiday, and she also dragged him out to relax. He saw them in the square of the scenic area, and they greeted each other and went their separate ways.
Her first impression was that his family was quite approachable and didn't seem to have any conflicts. His younger brother, in particular, was the sweetest of all. There was admiration in his eyes when he looked at her, and he even wanted to invite them to play. Xunchun also said that this was how they got along.
He had never met his mother in person, only seen photos and videos. Sometimes he would hear Xunchun mention that he had visited his mother one day.
Generally speaking, even though his parents formed another family after their divorce, both sides treated him well, unlike the broken single-parent families she had seen.
It’s just that there is too much love. He has a lot, but it’s not complete.
“…”
"Help--"
Xunchun opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a sudden cry for help.
The conversation definitely couldn't continue. Xu Zhou and Xun Chun looked at each other and ran towards the source of the sound.
As they ran, Xu Zhou looked at Xun Chun's profile, unable to discern a thing. As a zombie, he was just like a human, his emotions expressionless. She sighed silently, realizing it would be difficult to create a conversation if she tried to find the right atmosphere.
System gossip: "Why?"
"You don't need to know this. Why would you know so much about eating melon?"
"Okay, okay, then remember to talk about this next time." The system left with regret, but did not forget to make a good wish.
Xu Zhou: "...I can't be satisfied."
She made a blind guess that it had something to do with his mother. Xu Zhou settled on her guess and moved on from the conversation.
What matters now is the person who shouted for help.
But after listening to the calls for help along the way, he felt full of energy and didn't seem to be in any danger at all. Xu Zhou frowned and subconsciously slowed down his pace. Turning around, he saw Xunchun also slowing down.
Xu Zhou winked and communicated with his eyes: Do you find it strange too?
Xunchun nodded.
Xu Zhou added body movements: Me too, I felt something was wrong a long time ago, how could the sound be so bland? Fortunately, I’m smart and won’t be tempted.
Xunchun gave a thumbs up.
Looking at the system in its entirety: What is it plotting? Doesn’t it deserve to be heard?
The two zombies, mocked by the system, continued to act as they pleased. Xu Zhou's body language was so rich it looked like she was performing a Tai Chi routine. But they didn't stop and quickly reached the source of the noise.
This place is close to the coast. Not far away, there is a man standing on the reef. Waves hit the reef and wet the man's trouser legs.
Xu Zhou took a closer look and found the man more and more familiar. Before she could figure out who he was, Xun Chun beside her called out his name: "Xun You?"
Xunyou, his half-brother who is one year younger than him.
…
Xunyou came down from the reef by himself, lowered his head and followed the two zombies home.
Xu Zhou looked back every three steps and could only see the top of Xun You's head. She was so curious that she touched Xun Chun with her arm and signaled to him with her eyes: What do you think?
"Let's talk about it when we get home." Xunchun shook his head and whispered in Xuzhou's ear. He didn't know either. He hadn't seen Xunyou since the apocalypse, and didn't know what had happened to him. He could only ask when he got home.
Xu Zhou also knew that now was not a good time to ask questions, so he could only chat with the system in his mind.
"System, guess why Xunyou is here?"
System: "If he wasn't being chased by zombies, then he ran here on his own."
…
Xu Zhou specifically asked the system to guide her home along a zombie-free route. With the system chatting with her, the journey wasn't boring; she even felt like she was home in the blink of an eye.
After entering the yard, Xu Zhou closed the gate.
These past few days, she and Xunchun had nothing to do, so they cleaned up the house and pulled out the weeds in the yard. Now it looks no different from the old days, neat and beautiful.
It's such a blessing to travel, Xu Zhou thought happily.
Xunyou's pants were wet, so Xunchun got him a pair of pants to change into. When he came out after changing his pants, Xuzhou and Xunchun were already sitting on the sofa.
Xunyou sat cautiously on the single sofa, lowered his head, and looked very timid.
Xu Zhou kept observing Xun You's movements until he sat down on the sofa. She was completely sure that he was not in good condition and it seemed impossible to ask him any questions. However, she still had to go through the process. She glanced at Xun Chun and spoke first: "Can I call you Xiao You?"
Xunyou looked up at Xunchun first, then turned his gaze to Xuzhou and replied, "Of course, sister-in-law."
"Okay, Xiaoyou, why are you shouting for help on the rocks?"
The reef was very close to the coast, the waves were small, and it was only a few steps away from reaching the shore. There were no zombies around, so there was no need to shout for help.
Xunyou lowered his head again, rubbing the corners of his clothes with his hands. After a long while, he finally spoke: "I escaped. I stood on the reef and shouted for help just to attract others to come to me."
"Where did you escape from?" Xu Zhou asked.
Xunyou was no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. His hair was so long that it covered his eyes. His eye sockets were sunken, his face was pale, and his body was thin. It was obvious that he was malnourished and he looked very haggard.
Hearing the question, Xunyou pursed his lips and turned from rubbing the corner of his clothes to picking his fingers.
"Why do you want to attract others to come to you?" Seeing that he didn't speak, Xu Zhou changed the question.
Xunyou is silent.
Later Xu Zhou asked many other questions, but Xunyou remained silent, not looking at anyone and not saying a word.
Xu Zhou shook his head helplessly at Xunchun, his expression exhausted. He knew he couldn't get anything out of her now, so he could only ask her another time.
Xunchun touched Xuzhou's head and asked Xunyouxi to go to the room on the first floor to rest first.
The door of the room faced the long sofa. Xu Zhou stood beside the sofa and watched while Xun Chun led Xun You over.
Xunchun patted Xunyou's shoulder and said, "Let's take a rest first."
"Okay." Xunyou nodded, went into the room and closed the door.
Hearing the door closing, Xu Zhou suddenly collapsed on the sofa.
She sighed, "No wonder you're brothers. You're both so tight-lipped, each one saying nothing no matter what you ask." She turned over and continued, "Unlike me, who was born with a talkative mouth."
Xunchun came over and sat on the edge of the sofa. He moved her head to his lap and covered her with a thin blanket. He lowered his eyes and said, "I'll tell you next time."
"When is the next time?" Xu Zhou moved and found a more comfortable place for himself.
"Next time."
"...What a great way to procrastinate," Xu Zhou was speechless. "Okay, then remember to tell me as soon as possible."
The afternoon sun was perfect for a nap, especially now that I had nothing to do. Xu Zhou rested his head on Xun Chun's legs, closed his eyes, and fell asleep soon after.
Xunchun leaned back on the sofa, watching her fall asleep. The sun shone on her face. He gently brushed her hair away from her face, raised his hand to block the sun for her, his expression gentle.
In fact, he also wanted to say it, but now was not the time.
"Brother?" After a while, Xunyou opened a small gap, stuck his head out, and called Xunchun in a low voice.
Xunchun tilted his head and looked at Xunyou, who obviously had something to say. He shook his head and said softly, "Your sister-in-law is asleep. If you have anything to say, wait until she wakes up."
Xunyou looked at Xuzhou who was sleeping on the sofa, then looked at Xunchun who was concentrating on blocking the sunlight for her. He stood at the door for a while before entering the room.
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