Chapter Nine: I Don't Want to Hold Everyone Back

“If she doesn’t want to come up, then let her be. No need to waste our time,” the crew-cut boy in the lead scoffed disdainfully. Their rescue team valued efficiency above all else—if someone wouldn’t listen and got bitten by zombies, that was their own fault. Useless people weren’t worth saving anyway.

The boy who had called out to Qin Sheng earlier was clearly displeased by this. He adjusted his glasses and argued with the crew-cut boy, “Li Chengbin, our rescue team’s purpose is to save as many as we can. How can you say something like that?”

No one ever dared to talk back to Li Chengbin, the team leader, but now his temper flared. He grabbed the boy with glasses by the collar and snarled, “What’s the point in saving her? All she’ll do is drag us down. Wang Yu, don’t try to act tough in front of a girl. Who do you think you are?”

Wang Yu’s own temper was quick to ignite at those words. “You’re a complete waste as a team leader,” he shot back.

“You—!”

“Enough, Li,” someone interjected. “Wang Yu, that goes for you too. If we want to help more people, we need to work together. If zombies get attracted over here, it’ll be a mess.”

“Yeah, he’s right,” others chimed in, quickly stepping forward to pull the two apart before things escalated.

Downstairs, Qin Sheng had been about to follow their instructions and head up, but the infighting among the rescue team piqued her interest. Judging by the looks of it, the crew-cut boy was probably the scapegoat Qin Mengchun had found.

Suddenly, two stray zombies appeared not far from Qin Sheng, likely drawn by the commotion above. With gaping, blood-soaked maws, they lunged at her.

“Run!” Wang Yu shouted from an upstairs window as soon as he saw, while the rest of the rescue team instantly bolted for safer ground.

But in a flash, Qin Sheng drew her Tang sword. Before the zombies even brushed the fabric of her clothes, their heads hit the ground, splattering brains and blood everywhere. The sight was so gruesome that Wang Yu, who hadn’t had time to hide yet, doubled over and retched.

Unhurried, Qin Sheng pulled out a tissue and wiped her sword clean before swiftly leaving the scene.

“Where is she?” As the noise died away, Li Chengbin and the others rushed out, demanding to know from Wang Yu what had happened. Wang Yu could only point in the direction Qin Sheng had gone before running off to vomit again.

They had expected to find Qin Sheng devoured by zombies, but instead, all they found was blood and carnage, with more teammates joining the retching Wang Yu.

Qin Sheng paid them no mind. She only wanted to wait at school until the safe zone opened. The army would come for them eventually—she wouldn’t have to waste energy searching for it herself.

“Miaomiao, you’re awake?” Upon entering, Qin Sheng saw Jiang Miaomiao propped weakly by the bed. She hurried over to check her temperature.

Jiang Miaomiao managed a faint smile but said nothing more.

After feeling her forehead and confirming the fever had broken, Qin Sheng handed her a cup of freshly heated porridge. “Eat something.”

Jiang Miaomiao nodded obediently, leaning against the bed as she slowly ate the porridge. Gradually, her complexion grew rosier and healthier.

The snail noodle soup was ready as well, and as soon as Qin Sheng opened the lid, its unique, pungent aroma filled the room.

Jiang Miaomiao, an avid fan of snail noodles, instinctively licked her lips at the smell. Compared to the bland porridge, the noodles were infinitely more tempting.

Qin Sheng noticed the small gesture and chuckled. “When you’re better, I’ll make you a bowl too.”

Jiang Miaomiao looked at Qin Sheng, who had been caring for her so patiently, and her eyes reddened again. The certainty in her heart only deepened.

“Shengsheng.” The first word Jiang Miaomiao uttered was Qin Sheng’s childhood nickname.

Qin Sheng, in the midst of slurping her noodles, paused at the sound. No one had called her by that name in ages—not since the day her grandfather disappeared.

“Hm?” Qin Sheng quickly composed herself, set down her chopsticks, and walked over to Jiang Miaomiao’s side. Seeing the space made for her on the bed, she didn’t hesitate to sit down.

Jiang Miaomiao gave her a gentle hug. “Thank you.”

Qin Sheng was never good with such moments and could only offer a shy smile, saying nothing.

In tacit understanding, neither mentioned Jiang Ming.

“Shengsheng, what should we do while we’re at school?” Jiang Miaomiao finally voiced the question that had been nagging at her.

Qin Sheng wiped her mouth and explained, “The army will come for us soon. The country won’t abandon its children.”

“Are you sure?” Jiang Miaomiao was still uneasy.

“Don’t worry. The nation won’t forsake its flowers,” Qin Sheng reassured her while tidying up.

After their meal, as usual, Qin Sheng went to the bathroom. Sitting by the window, she surveyed the outside—something she had done constantly since the apocalypse began. Every detail had to be accounted for.

“Shengsheng.” The bathroom door opened from outside, and Qin Sheng quickly put away her binoculars, looking at Jiang Miaomiao with a hint of confusion.

Jiang Miaomiao pursed her lips, her voice firm. “Will you teach me some moves? I don’t want to be a burden…”

Qin Sheng had thought of this before but worried Jiang Miaomiao’s health and mental state couldn’t take rigorous training.

After considering, Qin Sheng replied, “I can—but you have to promise me one thing.”

Before Qin Sheng could specify, Jiang Miaomiao answered, “I’ll live well for both myself and Brother Jiang Ming.” Just saying it made her heart ache, her voice hoarse yet determined.

Satisfied, Qin Sheng said nothing more. She suddenly thought of the dagger Song Qing’an had given her days ago.

“Here. Keep this with you in case you need to defend yourself.” Qin Sheng reached into her pocket, discreetly retrieving the dagger from her storage space.

Seeing the dagger inlaid with red and blue gems, Jiang Miaomiao quickly shook her head. “You should keep that for yourself.”

Her gaze lingered on the dagger. From her eighteen years of experience in the kitchen, she could tell it was no ordinary blade, and the gemstones looked undeniably real. Something this precious, she couldn’t accept.

“If you really don’t want to be a burden, then take it. Bare hands are no match for zombies.” Qin Sheng pressed the dagger into Jiang Miaomiao’s hand.

Obediently, Jiang Miaomiao accepted it, her gratitude for Qin Sheng deepening.

“Shengsheng, I promise I won’t hold you back.” The words were a vow to Qin Sheng, and to herself—a promise to live on resolutely.

Qin Sheng nodded, gently nudging Jiang Miaomiao out of the bathroom. “By the way, we’ll be living here from now on.”

Hearing the simple explanation, Jiang Miaomiao’s face flushed with anger. “How could Yu Ziyue and Huo Ran do this?”

Unbothered, Qin Sheng sipped a Sprite from her storage and replied blandly, “There’s no humanity in the apocalypse. It’s normal.”

Jiang Miaomiao cursed Yu Ziyue and the others several times, then, suddenly worried, looked at Qin Sheng. “Doesn’t that mean they’ll take all your food?”

Qin Sheng nodded.

Jiang Miaomiao grew even angrier, pounding the bed with her fists.

“It’s nothing. I’m not short on food,” Qin Sheng thought of her space packed with supplies and tried to reassure her.

Jiang Miaomiao, thinking Qin Sheng was just comforting her, puffed up with indignation, silently cursing Yu Ziyue and her group over and over.

“Alright, get some rest. We’ll start training when you’re better,” Qin Sheng said, unable to suppress a laugh at Jiang Miaomiao’s puffed cheeks, though she quickly composed herself.

The mention of training piqued Jiang Miaomiao’s interest. “I’m fine now—we can start tomorrow,” she said eagerly.

Qin Sheng didn’t reply, simply lay down and began to rest.

Realizing silence meant no training tomorrow, Jiang Miaomiao obediently lay down and closed her eyes.

After a while, Qin Sheng opened her eyes and quietly got up, returning to the bathroom window. Many dorm rooms still glowed with light—proof that many survivors remained. Perhaps, when pieced together, these scattered lights could banish the darkness.

The next morning, Jiang Miaomiao was roused by the aroma of milk tea and pork buns.

“Shengsheng, where did you get pork buns?” she exclaimed, almost drooling at the breakfast Qin Sheng had prepared.

Qin Sheng handed her a portion, her tone steady. “I picked up a couple from a convenience store near the supermarket yesterday.”

She certainly wasn’t going to admit they’d come fresh from her storage space.

“Wow, and milk tea too!” Jiang Miaomiao took a sip, her features scrunching up in delighted exaggeration.

Seeing Jiang Miaomiao in high spirits, Qin Sheng felt reassured. She couldn’t help but flick her on the forehead. “Stop goofing around—eat up. We’ll head out once you’re done.”

“Are you taking me to train, Shengsheng?” Jiang Miaomiao asked, her mouth full of bun.

Qin Sheng only smiled, offering no clear answer.

She had never promised training. If there was to be fighting, it would be real combat.

“Change into these clothes,” Qin Sheng said, handing over prepared outfits in Jiang Miaomiao’s size, before changing herself.

Without question, Jiang Miaomiao put on the clothes and waited to go out with Qin Sheng.

“Don’t forget your dagger.”

“Oh, right.”

Having already scouted the route, Qin Sheng walked calmly ahead. The road was littered with grotesque sights—severed limbs, dark red flesh. But what unsettled Jiang Miaomiao most was the corpse with only half a head left, swarming with maggots feasting on the face. She couldn’t hold back and vomited against the wall.

The pork bun from breakfast made its exit in one swift heave.