The soldier pressed the young man back into his embrace: “Fine, fine… don’t tell anyone.”
“Mm.”
“…My surname is Zhou.”
“Zhou what?”
“…”
“Zhou One, Zhou Two, Zhou Three, Zhou Sunday…”
“Zhou Rong!” The soldier was exasperated, lightly patting the young man’s head as punishment: “Rong, as in military warfare.”
The young man seemed somewhat satisfied, responding with an “Mm.”
“Call me Rong-ge if there’s danger next time,” the soldier paused, his face slightly red in the firelight, speaking softly: “No matter where, I’ll come rescue you.”
No matter how far, I’ll always come.
★ Chapter 43
06:08 AM Third day at dawn. Zhou Rong lay on the roof eaves, exhaling a white breath exhaustedly at the moment the eastern sky turned fish-back blue. Bullets left only twenty-one, four grenades, one tactical knife, one dagger, one assault rifle.
Although at the end of his strength, he had survived two long nights in the zombie city, and even Zhou Rong felt some mysterious force was protecting him.
But was Sima Nan still alive? Looking across the vast sea of corpses, in which hidden corner of the city was he hiding? Zhou Rong glanced at his watch – thirty-six hours had passed since Sima Nan disappeared. Had he given up, and perhaps already… died?
No, impossible – Zhou Rong inexplicably felt Sima Nan wouldn’t be killed so easily. Most likely, he was unarmed, unable to break through, gradually losing confidence in 118 squad returning to rescue him, hiding somewhere crying; or preparing to set out walking to the suburban helicopter airport.
“Hold on,” Zhou Rong bit his back teeth, forcing himself to sit up. If no results after 48 hours of searching, he’d gamble on heading to the airport, deciding based on circumstances whether to wait or return to the city in an armored vehicle to continue searching.
“Hang in there,” he murmured, unsure if to himself or to Sima Nan smiling and waving at him in the void. “As long as we hold on, we’ll meet again.”
Si Nan turned his head away.
“Drink it!” No response.
“Just like chocolate, right?” Luo Mu’er finally gave up his efforts and asked coldly.
Si Nan had no intention of responding and closed his eyes.
This silent rejection left Luo Mu’er at a loss. He violently smashed the maple syrup glass, and glass shards scattered all over the floor.
