Apocalyptic Gratitude Duck - Chapter 22

Seeing everyone else enjoying their spicy strips, Kexin picked up a pack and offered it to Qiao Yanyu, hoping she would tear it open and feed her.

Qiao Yanyu rubbed Kexin’s small head and said gently, “You can’t eat this. It’s too spicy.”

She reached out to take the spicy strip from Kexin’s duck-like beak, but when Kexin realized Qiao Yanyu wouldn’t feed her, she felt deeply wronged. Her beak clamped down tightly, refusing to let go no matter how Qiao Yanyu tried to pry it away.

Unable to dislodge the strip, Qiao Yanyu finally let go, allowing Kexin to play with it like a small toy.

After playing with it for a while, Kexin’s desire to eat the spicy strip only grew stronger. When her Master refused to tear it open for her, she quickly circled the group and found Meng Nuo, who had given her the strip earlier. Kexin flew over to Meng Nuo, holding the strip in her beak, and waited for her to tear it open.

“Quack~” Kexin’s golden eyes brimmed with anticipation.

Meng Nuo looked at the fluffy Kexin before her. Though she knew the duck’s ferocious nature during hunts, its current appearance was simply too cute and adorable. The moment Kexin arrived with the spicy strip, Meng Nuo felt herself surrendering.

“Okay, I’ll help you…”

Just as Meng Nuo took the strip, Qiao Yanyu approached, her eyes filled with helpless indulgence. “No need to tear it open for her,” she said. “She can’t eat spicy food.”

Meng Nuo suddenly felt very flustered, repeatedly apologizing and blaming herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have given her spicy snacks.”

Qiao Yanyu, aware that Meng Nuo was likely overthinking things, added reassuringly, “It’s alright. Just don’t give in to her demands in the future. She’s spoiled rotten by me.”

Spoiled rotten?

Meng Nuo quickly latched onto this unusual phrase and looked up at Qiao Yanyu. She noticed that although Qiao Yanyu was speaking to her, her gaze kept drifting to Kexin, the affection and concern evident in her every glance.

Qiao Yanyu really dotes on her pet duck.

Meng Nuo suddenly felt a pang of envy toward Kexin, who had such a wonderful master. She too wanted to be pampered by a beautiful older sister.

Meanwhile, the oblivious duck remained completely unaware of this.

Kexin only knew that her sole hope had been shattered. She turned her little back to Qiao Yanyu, sulking.

Mean Master! Won’t even let Kexin have a single spicy snack.

Hearing Kexin’s grumbling, Qiao Yanyu picked her up, stroked her soft feathers, and coaxed gently, “Don’t sulk. There are corn-flavored sausages in the bag. Didn’t you want to try those earlier?”

Kexin wiggled her little duck feet, reluctantly accepting the offered treat, and began nibbling the sausage from Qiao Yanyu’s hand.

By the time Kexin was finished eating, the others had also finished their meals. Qiao Yanyu had Kexin retrieve a backpack from her space, then took one from her own pack and handed it to Meng Nuo. “Here’s a backpack for you. Pack your suitcase into this; it’ll be easier to carry.”

Meng Nuo felt extremely embarrassed and said, trembling with gratitude, “Thank you! Once I find a suitable backpack, I’ll return this one.”

Qiao Yanyu shook her head. “No need to return it. Just keep it.”

Meng Nuo still seemed bewildered. “Then can I give you something else instead?”

“No need,” Qiao Yanyu replied firmly. She and Kexin already had ample supplies, and their packs were full; they didn’t want to increase their burden.

Seeing Meng Nuo’s dazed expression, Chen Chuyue assumed she was reluctant to carry the backpack. She walked over to help pack it, saying, “Dragging that suitcase around is too cumbersome. You’ll move faster with a backpack. Take it and let me help you organize your things.”

Meng Nuo quickly thanked the helpful Chen Chuyue, and they began transferring items from the suitcase.

As they worked, they struck up a conversation. Chen Chuyue noticed the abundance of snacks and chuckled, “Why did you bring so many snacks? Are you running a snack shop?”

Meng Nuo explained softly, embarrassed, “I usually just like to stock up on food at home.”

“Didn’t you just run over here like a little hamster?” Chen Chuyue teased, smiling. “Dragging your suitcase behind you—did you not encounter any zombies on the way?”

Meng Nuo’s face paled. “I didn’t at first, but just as I was getting close, several zombies appeared and chased me.”

“You’re incredibly lucky,” Chen Chuyue said. “When we came from the southern part of the city, there were so many zombies. We had to walk with our steps light and careful.”

“Ah, I’ll be more careful next time.”

The two girls chattered excitedly. Qiao Yanyu couldn’t help but smile faintly at the warm, lively scene. It had been so long since she’d witnessed such camaraderie. In the late stages of the apocalypse, people fought fiercely over every morsel of food, making cooperative moments like this rare. She wondered if such unity would endure, or if Meng Nuo’s naivety would lead to a painful fall in the future.

Qiao Yanyu paused, startled by her own thoughts. Why was she suddenly considering their future? After all, they were just temporary companions in this harsh world. Shouldn’t one remain cold-hearted in the apocalypse?

Her brow furrowed as she dismissed these inappropriate thoughts.

Suddenly, a pained cry drew her attention. Li Youming was clutching his finger, wincing. Kexin stood on her motorcycle, her wings spread defensively.

Qiao Yanyu walked over and called out, “Kexin.”

Kexin turned her head, flew into Qiao Yanyu’s arms, and glared at Li Youming with accusatory eyes. “Duck!”

Master, he was trying to steal Kexin’s bike!

Qiao Yanyu stroked Kexin’s wings, frowning as she looked at Li Youming.

Li Youming shuddered under Qiao Yanyu’s frosty gaze. He quickly tucked his hands behind his back and grinned. “Oh, I was just joking around with Kexin. It’s nothing serious.”

That’s not what happened! Kexin thought. He was circling around my bike, even gave me a piece of candy to try and chase me away!

Worried that her master might be fooled by his smooth talk, Kexin clamped her duck bill around the hem of Qiao Yanyu’s clothes and tugged repeatedly.

Kexin suddenly understood why characters on TV always cried “Injustice!” to officials. She was just a commoner duck in plain clothes, with her story twisted and no way to defend herself—forced to appeal to her master for justice.

Master, you have to take my side!

Hearing Kexin’s thoughts, Qiao Yanyu imagined the duck dressed in peasant clothes, beating a drum and crying “Injustice!” to her. She nearly burst into laughter.

Maintaining a calm facade, Kexin pressed her lips together to suppress a smile as she asked Li Youming, “What were you doing circling around the motorcycle just now?”

“Still not telling the truth?” Zhang Ping walked over and patted Li Youming on the back of the head, urging him on. He had noticed Li Youming’s evasive gaze, clearly indicating he was holding back the truth.

Realizing he couldn’t hide from anyone, Li Youming rubbed his hands and confessed, “I just thought the motorcycle looked really cool. My hands itched to touch it, but before I could even reach out, the duck bit me.”

Zhang Ping patted him again, chuckling, “You deserve it for being so handsy!”

Right, he deserved to be bitten. My Master is the best.

Having successfully “cleared her name,” Kexin happily narrowed her eyes and affectionately rubbed against the palm of her Master’s hand. Her soft, milky voice overflowed with admiration, making Qiao Yanyu chuckle softly.

Perhaps she was just an ordinary person, but in Kexin’s eyes, she was the one Kexin could always rely on.

The feeling of being needed had once sustained her through a long journey, and in this life, she wanted to accompany Kexin even further.

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