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| Author: Mi Dashuai |
Original Source: SFACG |
| Translator: CatatoPatch |
English Source: Re:Library |
Handing the lightweight bow and arrows to the girl, Lin Feng inquired, “What’s your name?” Her unique deep green hair, clearly dyed, did not trigger any memories for him.
She responded with a hint of reservation, “Zhen Yi.”
“Zhen Yi, hold onto this bow. For the next couple of days, it’s going to be your ally,” Lin Feng advised, a mix of seriousness and empathy evident in his voice. He had chosen to mentor Zhen Yi not out of sheer goodwill but based on a hunch. He felt an inherent kindness in her, a virtue that had been evident when she had genuinely apologized earlier. It seemed she had been relatively reserved with her comments compared to the others. Perhaps, Lin Feng thought, with the right guidance, he could steer this well-intentioned soul away from potential pitfalls.
Mustering a bit of courage, she whispered, “Thank you.”
“We don’t have much time,” Lin Feng interjected, catching sight of her drenched outfit. He tossed her his raincoat, adding, “We’re headed to the supermarket first. You need a fresh raincoat, and this challenging weather is just the right environment for our training.”
Lin Feng headed to the supermarket, clearly not in the best mood. He’d hoped for a chill evening – maybe a hot shower, lounging by a fireplace, and digging into one of Hao Jian’s famous potato dishes. But, well, life happens.
“Keep up,” he urged, his demeanor resembling that of a disgruntled cat drenched in rain.
Shielded by the raincoat, Zhen Yi hesitantly proposed, “Maybe… we should stick together?” She paused, her vulnerability palpable. “If you’d rather not associate with someone like me, I can give back your raincoat.”
Stopping briefly, Lin Feng looked deep into her eyes. Without uttering a word, he swiftly scooped up Zhen Yi into his arms. “This is quicker,” he commented, setting a brisk pace toward the supermarket. Known for its plethora of supplies and surprisingly low zombie count, it was the perfect spot for a beginner to hone her skills.
……
After rigorous training with Lin Feng, Zhen Yi was now capable of handling smaller groups of zombies on her own. The intense drills, however, had left her hands scraped, with streaks of blood showing.
“It’s time,” Lin Feng declared.
“So soon? But you said…” Zhen Yi began, the disappointment evident in her voice.
“Two days? That estimate was based on you taking longer to grasp things. You’ve surpassed my expectations. With additional training at the archery hall, you might even qualify for the combat teams,” Lin Feng said, cutting her off.
Running on fumes after nearly 24 hours without rest, Lin Feng felt almost as lifeless as the zombies he trained to combat. His primary focus was sharing his archery expertise. As he prepared to depart, a warm embrace from Zhen Yi halted him. Recognizing her familiar scent, he inquired, “What is it?”
“Just… thank you. I wish you had come to me sooner,” she whispered, her voice tinged with regret, before making her way to the supermarket.
Lin Feng hesitated. It dawned on him that during Zhen Yi’s loneliest moments, Yan Jie had been there for her. Regardless of past decisions and the reasons he’d initially chosen to exile her, he was the one who meted out the punishment, and he couldn’t just take it back now; the others wouldn’t buy a reason such as pity. Still, he felt a sense of contentment having imparted his skills to her.
“Here, for your wounds,” Lin Feng said, handing her a box of band-aids, a staple the school nurse insisted he always have on hand. As Zhen Yi gratefully accepted them, she realized Lin Feng had already blended into the horizon.
From the shadows, a voice sneered, “Quite the spirited one, aren’t you? No wonder Lin Feng favored you. But I just don’t get how am I not prettier than you?”
Catching her off guard, Zhen Yi snapped, “Yan Jie! How long have you been skulking around?”
“Hmph. Get rid of this *****.”
Seeing two familiar figures emerge from an electric bike repair shop, anger bubbled within Zhen Yi. “It’s all because of you two!” In a surge of rage, Zhen Yi took aim with her bow, its arrow pointing menacingly at her former classmate.
