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| Author: Mi Dashuai |
Original Source: SFACG |
| Translator: CatatoPatch |
English Source: Re:Library |
Lin Feng eyed the creature before him with apprehension. The deep black eyes of the mutant zombie pierced him, yet he sensed more curiosity than threat.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to approach.
His previous run-ins with mutants like Wanyun and Froggy hadn’t been friendly. But after managing to connect with Froggy, Lin Feng felt a glimmer of hope that some might be open to dialogue. He wanted the young girl before him to know he wasn’t an enemy.
His hunch was right. The girl, with a fluffy tuft around her neck, looked surprisingly gentle. Her mutation seemed to be from a kinder species. As long as he tread carefully…
She looked his way briefly. “You’re not Mommy. Where’s Mommy?” she murmured, her voice distant, before slowly wandering off. Lin Feng relaxed, letting his time-slowing ability fade.
Grabbing the remote, he flicked off the ongoing children’s show and swiftly made his way up a timeworn building to scope out the area.
Satisfied, he headed to the manhole cover. “Coast’s clear. Let’s go,” he called out cheerfully.
Opening the cover, his classmates emerged, blinking against the daylight. They observed Zhangsan Street’s urban vibe, with its mix of weathered shops and ambitious building extensions, hinting at a community awaiting its fortune turn.
The only contrast was the bustling road, now clogged with smoke-belching vehicles.
Liu Mengqi inhaled deeply, “Whew! That was pungent! At least we’re out– feels good to stretch,” she said with a grin, rubbing her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden brightness.
Yan Aoxue, who usually carried herself with grace, wrinkled her brow slightly. The dankness of the sewer was a novel experience for her.
“Hmm, where are we?” The school doctor looked around curiously after emerging from the sewer.
“I think Li Yixin said something about this being Zhangsan Street. Let’s head to that store over there and figure things out,” Lin Feng replied, hastily dodging an embrace from the doctor and pointing ahead.
“Hey, they’ve got beer!” The doctor’s face lit up as she peered into the store’s fridge.
“Stay focused; we’ve got places to go.” Lin Feng lightly chided, noticing the doctor’s enthusiasm.
Chuckling to himself, Lin Feng thought, ‘Take that, Mrs. Fish-Snack-Stealer.’
With mock disappointment, the doctor grabbed a Sprite and theatrically munched on some peanuts.
The rest of the group wandered around the store, grabbing snacks, and sharing jokes. The atmosphere was light, having finally left the claustrophobic sewers.
Lin Feng, meanwhile, sniffed out his favorite fish snacks and began munching.
On a whim, he clicked on the TV.
“Hey folks, welcome to TVTV. It’s your host, Li Ying. Got some juicy news today. And speaking of juicy, have you heard about the ‘Rumor Man Incident’? We had him on air before, but it turns out our little informant was an escaped convict –shocking. In fact, our sources tell us he’s deliberately spreading misinformation. Anyway, whether or not it’s true, find out after this commercial break.”
