Black Sky - Chapter 22

You Yuyi pressed on Bai Zi’s shoulders, letting her sit cross-legged by the stove.

Mao Mao, draped in a blanket, curled up into a ball, leaning against Bai Zi’s back, and fell asleep.

When she saw You Yuyi kneeling in front of her, holding a cotton swab dipped in medicine and poking at her head, Bai Zi’s body immediately leaned back warily.

“Don’t move,” You Yuyi directly reached out and grabbed Bai Zi’s neck, pulling her towards herself, her lips almost touching Bai Zi’s ear. “If you don’t want your body to continue to rot, then be a good girl and sit still for me.”

Bai Zi frowned, and asked in a low voice: “What do you mean?”

“The literal meaning.” You Yuyi said, and began to carefully apply medicine to the wound on Bai Zi’s forehead with the cotton swab.

For Bai Zi, whose body was decaying, this behavior was undoubtedly useless.

She didn’t know if it was because she had used perfume, but Bai Zi always felt that You Yuyi, who had just taken a shower, had a faint scent of roses on her body. Although it wasn’t strong, it made Bai Zi feel like she wanted to sneeze.

“Wild…”

Just as You Yuyi started to say a word, Bai Zi immediately interrupted her: “I’ve said it before, my name is Bai Zi.”

“Heh,” You Yuyi chuckled softly, and continued to apply medicine to Bai Zi, “Names are the most boring things in this world. It’s as if a few words can summarize a person.”

Bai Zi didn’t want to let her ramble on any further: “What exactly did you mean by what you said just now?”

Not wanting my body to continue to rot?

Do I still have a choice about whether or not my “body rotted”?

“I like to use small animals to describe every person I meet,” You Yuyi said to herself. “In my opinion, you’re like a little white rabbit, especially well-behaved, and a little wild, but…” Saying this, she raised her eyes as if unintentionally, and made eye contact with Meng Yilan, who was frowning and looking over here from not far away.

Although she had been discovered peeking, Meng Yilan didn’t feel guilty. Instead, she calmly looked back at You Yuyi, but the expression on her face was a little colder.

You Yuyi curled the corners of her mouth, and continued to say in a low voice: “…but, in front of Meng Yilan, you really seem like a little puppy.”

Although she had been called a dog by someone, Bai Zi didn’t feel angry. Instead, she moved her butt, widening the distance between her and You Yuyi, which was getting closer and closer.

You Yuyi grabbed Bai Zi’s neck again, and raised her eyebrows to ask: “What exactly is your relationship with her?”

Bai Zi immediately stared at the other party warily, and asked back in a bad tone: “What exactly is wrong with you and You Xin?”

Why were these two people repeatedly questioning the relationship between me and Meng Yilan?

“You Xin?” You Yuyi glanced at the person on the sofa, and rolled her eyes. “That stinky girl always likes to pair people up randomly. Before, when she was in high school reading novels, she would only realize at the end that she had been shipping the wrong CP, and it happened several times.”

Bai Zi, who didn’t want to listen to You Yuyi’s nonsense any further, gradually lost her patience. She raised her voice and replied: “Meng Yilan and I have no relationship.”

“Oh?” You Yuyi looked at Meng Yilan again. The other party was tidying up her clothes, seemingly no longer paying attention to this side, and hadn’t heard what Bai Zi had just said at all. “…No relationship, is the best relationship.”

Bai Zi really couldn’t stand it anymore, and stood up, wanting to leave, but You Yuyi took the opportunity to grab her hand, and also stood up: “Your wound is more serious, I have to help you put on some bandages.” After saying that, she dragged Bai Zi towards the stairs.

Having lost her backrest, Mao Mao immediately woke up, yawned, and slowly swayed to Meng Yilan’s side, who had a wooden expression on her face.

The clothes that Meng Yilan had been folding in her hand had been crumpled into a ball.

“Miss Meng,” Shi Lei and Sister Hua, who was sitting by the pillar, exchanged a glance, and then quickly walked to Meng Yilan’s side, saying in a low voice, “About that ‘goods’…”

Meng Yilan frowned, and her already unpleasant expression growing even colder, but she heard Shi Lei continue to say: “Maybe, we’ve found another ‘goods’.”

Seeing that Meng Yilan had rarely shown a surprised expression, Shi Lei glanced at You Xin, who was sleeping soundly on the sofa, and smiled slightly: “Shall we find a place to talk about it in detail?”

Meng Yilan looked towards the direction where Bai Zi and You Yuyi had left, and after a long while, nodded.

And on the other side, in a small corner on the first basement level, Bai Zi was looking at the two bags of dark red liquid that You Yuyi had handed her, with a blank expression.

“This is, your very own ‘bandage’.” You Yuyi leaned against the wall, with an expression that said she was waiting for Bai Zi to open her mouth and ask.

Bai Zi looked at the bags in her hand, and after a long while, asked: “Where did you get these?”

You Yuyi’s face suddenly became solemn. She took a breath, and said in a low voice: “You Xin and I, ran into a human blood factory.”

Bai Zi: “?”

You Yuyi: “There were hundreds of people locked inside, and a certain amount of blood was drawn from their bodies every day, for people like us to drink.”

Bai Zi: “…”

You Yuyi laughed, and even reached out to pinch Bai Zi’s face: “Oh dear, wild rabbit, I’m just joking.”

Bai Zi frowned, and turned around, wanting to leave.

“In this kind of place, it’s really surprising,” You Yuyi’s voice suddenly sank, “What do you think of, Meng Yilan?”

Almost immediately, Bai Zi became vigilant.

You Yuyi curled the corners of her mouth, her eyes soft and charming: “Ah, Meng Yilan really is your little tail.”

The perpetrator, who had deliberately stepped on her tail, had an innocent expression on her face.

“What exactly do you want to do?” Bai Zi asked.

“Nothing,” You Yuyi curled her lips. “I’m just a little curious about the relationship between you two, but since you’re not willing to say, then forget it. I’m just kindly reminding you that people like us, it’s best to stay away from the people from ‘Hongya’.”

Bai Zi frowned: “What do you mean?”

“You don’t even know this?” You Yuyi looked helpless, and narrowed her eyes. “Wild rabbit, you’re really strange.”

“You’re stranger than me,” Bai Zi couldn’t help but retort, but didn’t realize that she had gradually accepted the title “wild rabbit.”

You Yuyi bent down, rummaging through the cabinet behind her: “You Xin said that you’re going to Bei City?”

Bai Zi didn’t answer, because she believed that rather than saying that she would follow Meng Yilan back to Bei City, it would be more accurate to say that she would be taken to a certain place, to exchange for the imprisoned Lin Quwei.

“Bei City is a green zone, and there are special instruments there to detect viruses. Everyone entering and leaving has to undergo strict testing. Once they’re found to be abnormal, they’ll be immediately locked up in the yellow zone,” You Yuyi explained patiently. “Wild rabbit, right now…the virus in your body is too high.”

“But You Xin said,” Bai Zi asked in confusion, “that you just came from Bei City?”

If that was the case, how was You Yuyi able to enter and leave Bei City freely?

“Hmm,” You Yuyi didn’t deny it, but she didn’t give Bai Zi a chance to ask further. “Although we’re kindred spirits, we’re not on the same side yet, and besides, you and Meng Yilan are so close, so I’ll keep some things secret for now.”

Bai Zi’s mind was filled with question marks: “What do you mean by the same side?”

“If Meng Yilan intends to protect you,” You Yuyi said to herself, finally taking out a thermal bag from the cabinet, “Then she will definitely have a way to let you enter Bei City safely. I won’t worry about you for now.”

You Yuyi took out several bags of dark red blood, put them all into the thermal bag, and then handed it to Bai Zi: “Wild rabbit, I can only help you this much for now. Use it sparingly, it should last for about two or three months.”

Bai Zi hesitated and didn’t take it. You Yuyi added: “As for how to prevent these things from being discovered, that depends on your own ability—or, Meng Yilan will help you hide them.”

But Bai Zi didn’t react, still frowning tightly, seeming a little at a loss.

“What’s wrong, wild rabbit,” You Yuyi took a step closer, and the distance between the two people instantly shortened. The scent of roses that she had smelled just now rushed towards Bai Zi again. “Could it be that you’re reluctant to leave me, and don’t want to go to Bei City?”

Bai Zi immediately took the thermal bag, but only took out one bag of blood, and returned the rest to the other party: “…Thank you.”

She believed that there was no need to take so much. She would probably be locked up somewhere within ten days.

“Heh,” seeing Bai Zi’s choice, You Yuyi raised her eyebrows in slight surprise. “I’m really, getting more and more interested in you. What a pity,” she sighed disappointedly, and turned back, continuing to rummage through the cabinet. “You can go first, I still have some private matters to take care of…Oh, right, there’s a wooden box next to the sofa that’s specially used to store canned food. Eat it if you’re hungry, you can eat it directly or heat it up.”

Bai Zi still wanted to ask something, but in the end, she didn’t open her mouth. After glancing at You Yuyi again, she carried the thermal bag and walked towards the first basement level.

Although Bai Zi had many questions about You Yuyi, she didn’t have a strong desire to know about them. To Bai Zi, everything and everyone that was unrelated to Meng Yilan was just fleeting smoke.

Returning to the side of the sofa, Bai Zi had just put down the thermal bag when she heard You Xin’s voice: “Sister Bai…”

Bai Zi turned her head and saw that You Xin, who was lying on the sofa, had woken up. Her face looked much better, and she was smiling slightly: “You and…”

“Meng Yilan and I are not in a relationship.” Bai Zi said.

You Xin: “…”

“Are you feeling better?” Bai Zi asked.

You Xin closed her mouth, and nodded.

Bai Zi also nodded, turned around, and prepared to open the wooden box next to the sofa that contained canned food, wanting to get some food for Meng Yilan to eat, but You Xin spoke again: “Don’t give up.”

“Huh?” Bai Zi raised her head in confusion.

“I understand,” You Xin looked sincere, and even revealed some pity and firm emotions that Bai Zi couldn’t understand at all in her eyes. “Although the road is bumpy, I believe that you will definitely have a happy ending, good luck.”

Bai Zi really couldn’t stand these two cousins. She ignored You Xin, and opened the wooden box, discovering that there were even more varieties of canned food inside than there had been at the gas station.

After rummaging for a while, Bai Zi chose canned sliced mushrooms, and a beef can that was seasoned lightly—these were all Meng Yilan’s favorite flavors. Bai Zi had already understood this matter thoroughly many years ago.

Before opening the can, Bai Zi glanced at Uncle Wang, who was still lying in the corner. She even suspected that this person had already died, but she could still see his abdomen rising and falling slightly due to breathing.

After Fatty Qiu repaired the generator, he wanted to beg You Yuyi to treat Uncle Wang’s gunshot wound, but seeing You Yuyi’s gaze, which was so cold that it could kill someone, he wisely led Feitian to play with Lego bricks.

Bai Zi naturally wouldn’t meddle in other people’s business.

After heating up the food, Bai Zi realized that Meng Yilan hadn’t appeared for a long time. She, who should have been tidying up her clothes, had left a few pieces of clothing that hadn’t been folded yet by the backpack, and her whereabouts were unknown.

Bai Zi frowned, walked to the side of the backpack, and was about to fold the clothes, but vaguely heard the sound of talking coming from somewhere. She immediately stopped, and listened carefully.

“I’m very sure, she’s Lin Lang.” A man’s voice, Bai Zi immediately recognized that it was Shi Lei.

“Do you have evidence?” Meng Yilan’s voice.

Bai Zi turned her head, and about fifty meters away, behind a large pillar, she saw Mao Mao’s butt wearing a blanket, and half of Meng Yilan’s back in front of Mao Mao.

Shi Lei’s voice came again: “Her ID watch, the identity on it is a woman named Wang Yujie, who was reported missing three months ago.”

“It’s just the same name. Besides, many people are using fake identities now because they don’t want to be tracked by the government, but that doesn’t mean she’s Lin Lang…”

“Lin Lang’s identity is also fake. The government issued an arrest warrant last month, saying that after she escaped, the several fake identities she might use included ‘Wang Yujie’. What a coincidence!”

After a long silence, Meng Yilan’s voice finally came: “You mean, You Yuyi was arrested in Bei City using Lin Lang’s identity? After she escaped, she used Wang Yujie’s identity?”

“Yes, I don’t know if the identity ‘You Yuyi’ is real, but I’m very sure that she’s the Lin Lang who was arrested back then.”

Bai Zi was stunned, and then turned her head to look at You Xin on the sofa. She was resting with her eyes closed, seemingly not hearing the conversation between the two at all. And Sister Hua was also leaning against the pillar next to the sofa, her eyes closed tightly, seemingly pretending to be asleep.

But even if the two of them were awake, they definitely wouldn’t be able to hear the content of the conversation, because Shi Lei and Meng Yilan’s voices were too low.

Meng Yilan didn’t reply for a long time. Shi Lei said again: “If you really don’t want to hand over Bai Zi, isn’t this a good opportunity?”

Hearing her name, Bai Zi frowned.

Not wanting to hand over me? Why?

Although Shi Lei lowered his voice, he still couldn’t hide his excited mood: “Miss Meng, You Yuyi is different from Bai Zi. Not only is she immune to the virus, but she’s also wanted by the government, she’s a ‘bulk goods’!”

“She has a cousin.” Meng Yilan said in a deep voice.

“So what? She…” Before Shi Lei could finish speaking, Bai Zi heard footsteps coming from the stairwell. You Yuyi from upstairs had returned to the first basement level.

At the same time, Meng Yilan and Shi Lei also stopped talking because they heard the footsteps, and were walking closer to Bai Zi with Mao Mao.

“Wild rabbit, what delicious food did you choose?” You Yuyi bent down to check the pot on the stove. “Mushrooms and beef, are these all your favorite things to eat?”

Bai Zi didn’t reply, but only lowered her head, quickly folded the clothes, and put them in the bag.

She forced herself not to think about the conversation she had just heard, but only silently stood up, quickly filled a can with mushrooms and beef, and handed it to Meng Yilan, who had walked to the stove.

Sister Hua, who was leaning against the pillar, sat up, and took out a can of her own from her backpack.

Fatty Qiu, who had been playing with Lego bricks with Feitian for a long time, looked towards the stove, attracted by the aroma, but seemed to be afraid of You Yuyi, and didn’t dare to come over.

“Ah,” You Yuyi looked at Bai Zi, who had handed the can to Meng Yilan, and chuckled softly, but the smile on her face wasn’t obvious. “So, the person who likes these things is someone else.”

Meng Yilan glanced at You Yuyi, and then looked at Bai Zi, and the can of food that she was holding.

Mao Mao excitedly pawed at Bai Zi’s pants, opening its mouth wide, expressing its desire to eat the food.

Meng Yilan hesitated for a long while, and then took the can: “Thank you.”

Bai Zi nodded, didn’t say anything more. She pulled Mao Mao, who was tugging at Meng Yilan’s pants, and sat down by the wall with it, and then took out a compressed biscuit from her pocket, and handed it to Mao Mao.

Mao Mao bared its teeth and turned its head away, looking disgusted.

Suddenly, Bai Zi felt a warmth on her head. She immediately looked up, and discovered that Meng Yilan had put a black fisherman’s hat on her head, and then, holding the can, sat down next to her.

“Wear this to protect your wound,” Seeing Bai Zi’s bewildered expression, Meng Yilan explained calmly, after giving Mao Mao a piece of mushroom, “This style is similar to the hat you wore a year ago, you should like it, right?”

After being stunned for a long time again, after Mao Mao had already swallowed the mushroom, and was staring at the can in Meng Yilan’s hand with longing eyes, Bai Zi finally came back to her senses. She unconsciously curled the corners of her mouth, but forcibly suppressed the smile again.

After swallowing a small bite of mushroom, Meng Yilan suddenly said: “Um…”

Bai Zi looked at her in confusion.

“Actually,” Meng Yilan said with her eyes lowered, her slender neck making her look like a swan resting by the lake, “You look…quite cute when you smile.”

The surrounding air seemed to be sucked out in an instant.

Bai Zi unconsciously stopped breathing, and then, she lowered her head a little awkwardly, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl upwards.

What moment could be more wonderful than this one?

There wasn’t one, and she didn’t expect there to be one again.

She was willing to be the “goods” used to exchange for Lin Quwei.

No one could replace her to complete this task, not even You Yuyi.

Only she had this qualification.