Black Sky - Chapter 23

After the meal, everyone seemed a little tired.

Sister Hua leaned against the pillar again, closing her eyes to feign sleep, Shi Lei directly spread out his sleeping bag by the wall, curling up to rest, Fatty Qiu hummed an out-of-tune and unknown song in the tent, coaxing his younger sister Feitian to sleep, You Xin fell asleep on the sofa, her face serene…

Only You Yuyi was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared for a long time.

Bai Zi and Meng Yilan were still leaning against the corner of the wall, Mao Mao sleeping between them, snoring loudly.

Because the fisherman’s hat was quite large, Bai Zi’s thin face was completely covered. She seemed very tired, closing her eyes and falling asleep.

Meng Yilan didn’t feel sleepy at all, but she was holding the empty can, her eyes looking into the distance with a slightly dazed expression.

Earlier, when she saw Bai Zi being pulled away by You Yuyi, a feeling of displeasure that she couldn’t ignore immediately surged in Meng Yilan’s heart.

This feeling was even stronger than when she saw You Yuyi applying disinfectant to Bai Zi’s wound, and even extended to the news she had received from Shi Lei that You Yuyi was also immune to the virus—those two were actually kindred spirits.

What surprised Meng Yilan was that this feeling of displeasure even overwhelmed the joyful mood that she should have felt after finding another “goods.”

Meng Yilan quickly and rationally analyzed herself, and after ruling out the impossible reason of “falling in love with Bai Zi,” she attributed this inexplicably emerging feeling of displeasure to the strong possessiveness and desire for control that she had had since she was a child.

On a larger scale, one of the reasons why Meng Yilan had decided to break away from her family was because she had a strong desire to control her own life.

On a smaller scale, this was the same mentality that Meng Yilan had had towards a stray dog that she had briefly adopted.

Meng Yilan didn’t like dogs, but by chance, she had reluctantly adopted a two-month-old stray puppy.

Half a year later, Meng Yilan asked someone to find a new owner for the puppy.

On the day the dog left home, Meng Yilan had a friend hand it over to the dog’s new owner on her behalf, because she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to resist keeping the dog.

It wasn’t because she was reluctant to part with it, but because her possessiveness and desire for control were at play.

At least, that’s what she thought herself.

In her eyes, a dog was a slavish animal that only knew how to please its owner. It was obedient because it extremely craved the bone in its owner’s hand.

Faced with Meng Yilan’s view, which was contrary to popular opinion, her friend had strongly refuted it, but Meng Yilan still believed that the dog’s obedience to her wasn’t pure. This purposeful flattery made Meng Yilan feel disgusted.

But despite her disgust, she had unconsciously regarded the dog as her “possession”.

Meng Yilan knew very well that she had always had a strong possessiveness and desire for control over her possessions.

Back then, Meng Yilan was famous, and almost everyone thought that she was a so-called “holy woman” who wholeheartedly spoke out for the people of society. All her efforts were only to make this society better.

Only Meng Yilan knew that this wasn’t the case.

In fact, she wasn’t much different from a dog who worked hard to wag its tail at its owner for a bone.

No one knew that in her heart, Meng Yilan actually hated herself the most.

Therefore, Meng Yilan at that time also naturally believed with a harsh mentality that Bai Zi, like her, was just a person wearing a dog skin. Bai Zi’s attitude towards her was like a dog towards its owner, flattering her in every possible way for a bone—she didn’t hesitate to be covered in wounds in order to gain her love.

Meng Yilan analyzed that Bai Zi’s performance not only made her endure a year of guilt, but also involuntarily designated Bai Zi as her “possession,” and secretly aroused her possessiveness and desire for control over Bai Zi.

Therefore, when she saw Bai Zi leaving with You Yuyi, she felt extremely displeased.

After thinking about this for a long time, Meng Yilan finally found a reason to comfort herself.

At least, that’s what she thought before putting the fisherman’s hat on Bai Zi’s head.

But now it seemed that it wasn’t quite the case.

When Meng Yilan saw Bai Zi forcibly suppress her smile because she had said that she “didn’t look good when she smiled,” she couldn’t control herself and said those slightly ambiguous words of praise.

It wasn’t a casual comfort. At that time, she truly felt that Bai Zi’s smile was indeed cute.

But when she discovered that just because of her very ordinary praise, Bai Zi would show an extremely bright and joyful smile, the sourness in Meng Yilan’s heart became even more obvious.

It was as if she had spent five cents of counterfeit money to buy a priceless diamond that belonged to Bai Zi.

Realizing this, Meng Yilan’s heart suddenly felt empty and a little sad.

What exactly had I done in the past that required Bai Zi to “repay her kindness” with such an attitude?

What do I have in my hands that was worth Bai Zi treating me like this?

Meng Yilan racked her brains, but had no clue at all.

She couldn’t find the reason why she is so important to Bai Zi.

Just as Meng Yilan was in a state of great confusion, she heard a painful groan coming from not far away.

Bai Zi, who was a light sleeper, immediately woke up, and immediately looked towards the direction of the sound.

It was Uncle Wang, who had already woken up from his coma. He was curled up by the wall, trembling all over due to the infection of the gunshot wound that hadn’t been treated, and had a pale face.

Then, the sound of footsteps coming from far away came again.

It was You Yuyi, humming a little tune as she walked down from upstairs, just about to walk towards the sofa to check on You Xin’s condition.

“Miss You,” Fatty Qiu said softly, “Um…if you have time, could you do me a favor and treat Uncle Wang’s…gun…wound…”

Looking at the soft smile that You Yuyi deliberately put on her face, Fatty Qiu became more and more timid as he asked, until in the end, he was silent.

“Do you,” You Yuyi finally spoke, “Have some kind of misunderstanding about me?”

Fatty Qiu was stunned in confusion, and then saw You Yuyi deliberately frown, making a thinking expression, and then said in a gentle voice: “She is just a woman? She looks quite pretty, her heart must be very soft.”

“Uh…” Fatty Qiu opened his mouth awkwardly, wanting to explain something, but was ruthlessly interrupted by the other party: “Even if he almost killed her cousin, it doesn’t matter,” You Yuyi lowered her voice, although it was gentle, it exuded a suffocating feeling that made it hard to breathe, “Anyway, she’s just a woman, she doesn’t have the strength to truss a chicken, what can she do?”

Fatty Qiu stood there dumbfounded, his face pale, unable to say a word.

Although You Yuyi’s voice wasn’t loud, Shi Lei and Sister Hua were attracted by her tone, and sat up, looking at the two of them curiously. Even Mao Mao dragged the tattered blanket, and uneasily moved closer to Bai Zi.

Fatty Qiu lowered his head in a flustered manner, wanting to apologize: “I’m so-sorry…”

“Don’t say those words to me,” You Yuyi’s smile became even stronger. “First of all, your apology can’t make my cousin’s wound disappear. Secondly, an apology from a coward like you has no value at all. Finally…”

You Yuyi’s smile still hadn’t faded, but every word she said carried a chilling killing intent: “Don’t even think about using your apology to show your conscience. If you really had a conscience, what were you doing when that old man with white hair was kneeling on the ground begging you for mercy?”

Fatty Qiu didn’t dare to say a single word.

“Let me think,” You Yuyi pretended to be thinking, and then suddenly remembered, “Oh, right, you were also looking so pitiful back then, hiding in the corner and not daring to speak.”

Everyone watched this scene silently. Even if they didn’t know what had happened before, they could guess a thing or two from You Yuyi’s words.

At this time, Uncle Wang, who was in extreme pain from his wound, couldn’t help but groan again.

You Yuyi raised her eyebrows, and walked towards Uncle Wang with a cold smile. You Xin, who was on the sofa, opened her eyes: “Cousin…”

“Sleep,” You Yuyi didn’t turn her head back, and continued to walk forward. “Take care of your injuries, don’t meddle in other people’s business, you stinky girl.”

You Xin helplessly raised her head, looking at Bai Zi with pleading eyes.

After Meng Yilan saw this scene, for some reason, she suddenly thought of how You Xin had also begged Bai Zi to save You Yuyi back then, but later…thinking of this, she reached out as if possessed, and grabbed Bai Zi, who wanted to walk towards You Yuyi.

Bai Zi turned her head, and looked at Meng Yilan in confusion.

Meng Yilan seemed to be frightened by her own actions, and didn’t say anything, directly letting go of the other party.

Bai Zi looked bewildered.

You Yuyi walked to Uncle Wang’s side, squatted down, and tore open the blood-stained cloth that was wrapped around his shoulder, carefully observing his gunshot wound.

Seeing Bai Zi come to her side, You Yuyi didn’t even turn her head: “Wild rabbit, you better not get involved in this matter.”

Bai Zi didn’t reply. She looked at Uncle Wang’s wound, and the dark red bloodstains and the pungent smell of blood made a familiar sense of anxiety rise in her heart.

“Hey, Fatty,” You Yuyi looked at the wound, and put away her smile. “Where’s Grandpa Tan?”

Fatty Qiu came back to his senses slightly, and after a long while, replied: “He, he was bitten, suddenly mutated, we could only…”

“Oh, he was bitten,” You Yuyi nodded. “Let me think, how was he bitten? It seems like, the few of you were targeted by mutants, and in order to save you, he rushed out alone with a hunting rifle, but was accidentally bitten…right?”

You Yuyi smiled slightly: “However, since he mutated, it’s also reasonable for you to kill him, and then conveniently lock me up, taking this place for yourselves. It’s the most perfect act of self-defense.”

Fatty Qiu shook his head: “I…”

“I’m asking you,” You Yuyi asked again, “Where is he?”

Fatty Qiu didn’t reply, looking hesitant.

“I really, really don’t like threatening people,” You Yuyi took out a dagger from her waist. “But I have to remind you, if you want your precious sister to have a good sleep, it’s best to answer every question.” After saying that, she slightly stabbed the tip of the knife into the wound on Uncle Wang’s shoulder, and the other party immediately let out a painful cry. The volume wasn’t loud, but if You Yuyi used a little more force, Feitian in the tent would probably be awakened by the screams.

“That old man…” Fatty Qiu closed his eyes, as if giving up all hope. “Was dismembered by A Ben, and then…A Ben and I, put those remains…separately into the sandbags blocking the tunnel.”

You Yuyi’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, and after a long while, she said slowly: “Grandpa Tan was a person with a rather stubborn personality. Even though it’s the end of the world, he still didn’t forget to urge me to get married, but besides that, he was really a…very kind old man.”

Fatty Qiu was still closing his eyes, not daring to face You Yuyi.

“Oh, there’s also one bad thing,” You Yuyi suddenly added, “He’s too kind, always willing to open the door unconditionally, letting people of unknown origin live in this place, like you.”

Uncle Wang seemed to have heard You Yuyi’s words. He panted, wanting to twist his body to face the wall, but couldn’t move because of the pain.

“But then again, according to Grandpa Tan’s good-natured personality, maybe he would insist on me saving people…” You Yuyi turned her head, and looked at Fatty Qiu. “How about we make a deal, what do you think?”

Fatty Qiu opened his eyes, and looked at You Yuyi in confusion.

You Yuyi showed a soft smile again: “You find all the remains, and then find a good place nearby to bury the old man. If you do that, I’ll help him dig out the bullet, what do you think?”

As if unable to understand You Yuyi’s words, Fatty Qiu took a long while to come back to his senses: “A-all of them…”

You Yuyi curved her eyebrows, and nodded: “Complete, not a single piece can be missing.”

Fatty Qiu pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and then straightened his body with difficulty: “Okay.”

You Yuyi raised her hand and looked at her watch: “I’ll give you ten minutes.”

Fatty Qiu licked his lips, and then, with trembling legs, quickly walked towards the glass wall with a hole in it.

Everyone stared at Fatty Qiu’s leaving figure, except for Bai Zi.

She was staring intently at Uncle Wang’s wound, which was stained with bright red blood. The familiar sense of anxiety rose in her heart.

At the same time, a burst of numbness came from Bai Zi’s right arm again. Then, that extremely familiar pain spread rapidly from the bite to her entire arm.

You Yuyi seemed to sense something, and she suddenly turned her head, looking at Bai Zi.

The two made eye contact, and after a long while, You Yuyi stood up and walked towards Bai Zi, but Bai Zi, as if she had been pricked by a needle, suddenly turned her head, and quickly walked towards the end of the platform.

The pain had spread throughout her body. Bai Zi could feel that all the wounds on her body, large and small, had started to burn like fire. Bai Zi didn’t have time to care about the person behind her, and only ran towards the distance with all her heart.

Until she got into a small utility room at the end of the platform, Bai Zi finally took a deep breath.

But at this time, she felt that her once warm body was actually exuding chills from the inside out, and her legs began to tremble. Soon, Bai Zi fell to the ground due to extreme dizziness.

She didn’t know if it was a hallucination, but she heard the sound of rapid footsteps approaching this side, but Bai Zi no longer had the mind to distinguish.

She gritted her teeth and propped herself up, leaning against the wall, took out the bag of blood that You Yuyi had given her, and put it to her mouth, instantly biting it open.

The cold, dark red liquid was sucked into Bai Zi’s mouth along with the smell of blood. Just at this moment, the door of the utility room was opened.

Bai Zi bit her lip in annoyance, she had forgotten to lock the door.

Despite this, Bai Zi still held the bag tightly in her mouth, refusing to let go, like a hungry vulture, tightly holding the rotten meat in her mouth. Then, uncontrollably, like a wild beast, she raised her head and let out a feral growl towards the door, as if protecting her food.

Then, Bai Zi saw Meng Yilan holding a flashlight, standing by the door, looking at her with a shocked expression.