“Asshole!”
“Fu Cheng, you asshole!”
“You’re the biggest asshole in the world!”
Lin Zao stood in front of Fu Cheng, his chest heaving, his eyes red-rimmed.
He flailed his arms and legs wildly, hitting with his hands and kicking with his feet, venting all his resentment and anger on Fu Cheng.
Fu Cheng knew he was in the wrong. He kept his head lowered, his gaze downcast, standing motionless like a mountain in front of Lin Zao.
He didn’t dare refute, didn’t dare dodge, and certainly didn’t dare grab Lin Zao’s hands to stop his flailing.
He even deliberately relaxed his muscles so Lin Zao could hit him without straining, ensuring his hands wouldn’t hurt afterward.
It was his fault.
His mistake.
He accepted the blame and the punishment, letting Lin Zao hit and curse him as he pleased.
But Lin Zao was a kindergarten teacher by trade—gentle and soft-spoken at the best of times. His hands were small, his strength feeble; his blows barely stung. He didn’t even know many curse words, repeating “asshole” over and over.
Fu Cheng glanced up, meeting Lin Zao’s reddened eyes.
His body didn’t hurt at all. Instead, the heart infected by the zombie virus began to throb faintly with pain.
After some time, Lin Zao grew tired of hitting. He shook out his hands and lifted his head, locking eyes with Fu Cheng’s sharp, unwavering stare.
But the overwhelming concern and pity in Fu Cheng’s gaze were misinterpreted by Lin Zao as defiance—”unrepentant” and “ready to do it again.”
Lin Zao flared up instantly, grinding his molars. He grabbed Fu Cheng’s collar in a flash, lunged forward, wrapped his hands around Fu Cheng’s neck, and opened his mouth wide as if to bite him.
Fu Cheng jolted in alarm, snapping back to his senses. He quickly clapped a hand over Lin Zao’s mouth and barked, “Little Zao!”
No biting!
If a human bit a zombie, they’d turn into one.
If a zombie bit a human, the human would definitely get infected!
He, the zombie, was holding back from biting anyone—yet here was a human chasing down a zombie to bite it. What kind of logic was that?
Lin Zao craned his neck stubbornly, his head pressing against Fu Cheng’s hand like a little bull inching forward relentlessly.
Fu Cheng wasn’t about to let him succeed. He clamped his hand tightly over Lin Zao’s mouth, pinched his cheeks, and pushed him back.
“Little Zao! Lin Zao!”
After a few sharp reprimands, Fu Cheng finally subdued him.
One arm wrapped around Lin Zao’s waist, the other pressing the back of his head, Fu Cheng pinned him securely against his chest.
Lin Zao struggled a couple of times, realized he couldn’t break free, and went still.
“Don’t bite me! Don’t do this, don’t…”
Fu Cheng spoke with lingering fear, his heart pounding wildly, his chest rumbling with each beat.
“Little Zao, don’t be stupid.”
“You’re the stupid one.” Lin Zao buried his face in Fu Cheng’s chest and mumbled it again, muffled. “Fu Cheng, you’re the stupid one.”
Fu Cheng ruffled his hair and looked up at the window overhead.
Before he could speak, Lin Zao cut in. “You’re not allowed to leave. Stay home.”
Fu Cheng held his patience and explained softly, “Little Zao, I was scratched by a zombie.”
“So what?” Lin Zao wriggled free from his embrace and looked up at him. “No one’s said that getting scratched by a zombie means you’ll definitely turn into one.”
“No one’s said that turning into a zombie means you’ll definitely lose your memories and your mind.”
“No one’s said there’s absolutely no medicine that can turn a zombie back into a human.”
“This thing’s only been around for a little over ten days. No one knows for sure what it’s really like.”
“Right?”
Fu Cheng pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Lin Zao stared at him intently and pressed on. “From start to finish, it’s all been your own wild imagination, hasn’t it?”
“You cooked up this whole tragic drama in your head and then ditched me and Little Bao to star in it all by yourself.”
“You think you’re the stoic lead in some melodrama—the tragic hero who shoulders everything in silence and rides off into the sunset, right?”
Hearing that description, Fu Cheng felt a mix of exasperation and amusement.
“No, Little Zao. I didn’t think that.”
“You did!”
Lin Zao wasn’t buying it. He kept pushing. “Fine, let me ask you this: what happens after you leave like that?”
“You turn into a zombie, all ragged and torn up, shambling around with the rest of them?”
“What if you can’t find food and starve to death? What if you find someone to bite, but their buddies beat you down first?”
Fu Cheng murmured, “That won’t happen. Even if I turn into a zombie, I’ll be the strongest one there is.”
“Then what about me and Little Bao?”
“Even though… even though you brought back a ton of supplies last night, they’ll run out eventually. What then?”
“Little Bao’s so young, and I’m so… so weak. What are we supposed to do?”
Without hesitation, Fu Cheng replied, “Even if I turn into a zombie, I’ll go out and find food for you two. Okay?”
“Not okay. Once you’re a zombie and wandering off with the others, your brain’s gone—you won’t even remember us.”
Lin Zao took a deep breath and turned his head away.
“Looks like I’ll have to find Little Bao a stepdad. Someone stronger than you, tougher, more reliable. That Xiao Liu who rode with you before seems pretty good.”
“He’s not as tall as me.”
“Then Xiao Gao. Xiao Gao’s really tall.”
“He’s not as buff as me.”
“Then Xiao Zhuang.”
“He’s got a wife.”
“It’s a new world, a new era—one man, one wife. He’s got his ‘wife,’ but he’s missing one more—”
Lin Zao puffed out his chest deliberately, patting his slender frame.
The next moment, Fu Cheng’s face darkened. He swatted Lin Zao on the butt.
“Little Zao, don’t say things like that.”
“Then stay.”
Lin Zao grabbed his hand, looking at him earnestly, his expression solemn, his gaze unwavering.
“Stay here with me and Little Bao.”
“Even if you turn into a zombie, Little Bao and I will stick by you. I’ll cook for you, and Little Bao will play toys with you.”
“We three can work together as a family. Maybe we can awaken your reason as a zombie, or hold out until they develop a cure for the virus.”
“You promised me and Little Bao—we’d always stay together as a family of three, never apart. You can’t go back on your word.”
Fu Cheng’s eyes flickered under Lin Zao’s shining gaze, a momentary waver crossing his face.
“Little Zao, things are different now.”
“I know!”
“You’ll regret it.”
“I won’t!”
“You and Little Bao will both turn into zombies because of me!”
“I’m not scared!”
Lin Zao’s eyes brimmed red, his neck craned stubbornly, resolute and unyielding.
“I’m not scared! I’d rather all three of us turn into zombies together than have you out there alone!”
“Those zombies outside… their guts spilling out, limbs torn off, dragging their intestines everywhere—I don’t want you turning into one of those!”
“Even if we turn into zombies, the three of us turning at home is better than out there!”
“I’d rather get bitten by you than by any other zombie!”
Fu Cheng’s heart shook. He stood stunned for a long moment, speechless.
“Brother Cheng, I know what you’re worried about.”
“If you stay home, Little Bao and I will be extra, extra careful. We absolutely won’t let you bite us.”
“You can have your own room, doors and windows locked tight. I’ll keep the keys—no way we’ll let you out.”
“Trust me. Don’t worry, okay?”
Lin Zao gazed at him, holding his hand. He pried open Fu Cheng’s clenched fist, threading his fingers through one by one until their hands clasped tightly together.
Fu Cheng reminded him softly, “Little Zao, this isn’t like keeping a dog.”
“Of course it’s not like keeping a dog. I won’t put a leash on you. At most, I’ll make you wear a bite guard, okay?”
Fu Cheng fell silent.
Lin Zao’s final question: “Who has the highest education in our family?”
Fu Cheng looked at him and rasped, “You.”
“Who’s the most cultured in our family?”
“You.”
“Then who should our family listen to?”
Fu Cheng remained silent.
“Fine. In that case…” Lin Zao thought for a moment. “According to family rules, we’ll vote. I’ll go upstairs and get Little Bao.”
Lin Zao turned to leave.
Fu Cheng opened his mouth to stop him.
Just then, Lin Xiaobao’s voice echoed from the stairs—
“I support Dad!”
They both looked up. Lin Xiaobao was crouched on the pig-liver-red staircase, gripping the stainless-steel railing, peeking out with his little head.
“How did you get out here?” Lin Zao was startled and hurried over to scoop him up. “Didn’t Dad tell you to stay in your room?”
Lin Xiaobao pouted, looking pitiful. “Dad and Big Daddy are fighting. You’re so loud.”
“No, we’re not fighting.”
The next second, Lin Xiaobao raised his little hand. “But I support Dad!”
Fu Cheng frowned. “Do you even know what we’re talking about? And you support him?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Xiaobao declared confidently. “But Big Daddy said before—if Dad and Big Daddy ever fight one day, I have to side with Dad.”
He announced loudly, “Because Dad is always right!”
Fu Cheng choked up, rubbed his face, and turned away to lean against the wall.
Damn it—he’d dug this pit for himself.
Lin Zao held Lin Xiaobao as they sat on a small stool. He didn’t hide anything, explaining the situation in careful detail.
“Big Daddy went out exploring a few days ago and got scratched by a monster by accident.”
“Ah?” Lin Xiaobao’s mouth fell open. “What do we do? Will Big Daddy die?”
“Probably… not. But Big Daddy’s infected with the monster virus. He might turn into a monster.”
“No way! I don’t want Big Daddy to turn into a monster!”
“Now, Big Daddy wants to go outside to recover, but Dad wants him to stay home. Who do you support?”
“Go outside to recover?” Lin Xiaobao asked. “To the hospital? Or to…”
“Not the hospital—just outside.” Lin Zao glanced at Fu Cheng, grinding his teeth deliberately. “Like a stray little dog, running around out there, refusing to come home!”
“How can that be?” Lin Xiaobao was shocked. “Big Daddy will die!”
“Exactly.” Lin Zao nodded. “There are tons of people outside like Big Daddy, all infected. They hang together, spread it to each other, fight and scrap until they drop dead quick!”
“No!” Lin Xiaobao shouted. “I support Dad! Big Daddy has to stay home! Me and Dad will take care of…”
Fu Cheng straightened up, turned around, and walked over to Lin Xiaobao. “Big Daddy will turn into a monster. He’ll go berserk and bite you two.”
Lin Xiaobao’s little face paled, his words catching in his throat.
He bowed his head, pinching his chubby arms and legs thoughtfully.
Fu Cheng went on. “Big Daddy going outside to recover is the same. He’ll take good care of himself and won’t die. Don’t worry.”
Lin Xiaobao looked up, glancing at Lin Zao, then at Fu Cheng. Finally, he spoke cautiously. “Then…”
Fu Cheng lowered his gaze and murmured, “Side with Big Daddy. Once Big Daddy leaves, you and Dad will be safe, yeah?”
Lin Zao glared at him but said the same. “Little Bao, it’s okay. You decide. Dad and Big Daddy will both listen to you.”
“Then…” Lin Xiaobao whispered, “Can Big Daddy not bite my hand?”
Lin Zao whipped his head around. Fu Cheng stared at him in disbelief.
Lin Xiaobao poked his round little belly, as if summoning great resolve.
“Big Daddy, bite my belly instead. There’s more meat there. Even two bites won’t matter.”
Lin Zao clutched Lin Xiaobao close. Father and son sat together, gazing up at Fu Cheng with their identical big eyes, brimming with pitiful plea.
—Stay.
