She’s Fiercer Than Zombies - Chapter 39

“Se…Senior?”

Qiao Gaogao turned her head and froze for a moment upon seeing Yinxi, followed by disbelief.

“What?”

Yinxi subconsciously spoke but was stunned to hear the halting words coming from her own mouth.

Qiao Gaogao’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement, her whole body visibly bursting with joy. She immediately rushed to Yinxi’s side, completely forgetting about Tang Jiu, and carefully examined her while holding her shoulders. After confirming, she tightly embraced Yinxi, overwhelmed with happiness.

“Senior! You’re better!”

Looking at Yinxi now, almost no traces of being a zombie remained. Not only her skin, but even her eyes had returned to normal dark pupils!

Tang Jiu was also surprised by Yinxi’s transformation but tactfully kept her distance. While practicing the defensive postures Qiao Gaogao had taught her, she stole glances from the corner of her eye.

She couldn’t help wondering: when zombies evolve to a certain extent, do they become just like normal people? If they blended into crowds, would they be indistinguishable to the naked eye?

Yinxi was equally astonished. She lowered her head to carefully examine her skin, then tentatively spoke again.

“Gao, Gaogao!”

“Yes!” Qiao Gaogao responded joyfully, gazing at her with burning intensity. “Senior can speak now!”

Though her speech was still somewhat halting, this was a promising sign that she could truly return to being completely normal!

Yinxi was also overjoyed. It seemed the blood had indeed been very effective. As long as she persisted, she would surely become completely indistinguishable from a human!

She looked down at her hands – only her nails remained unusually long.

Qiao Gaogao was so excited by this wonderful development that she decided to celebrate properly that evening.

“Tang Jiu, tell Song Qingxu we’re having hotpot tonight in the third-floor dining room!”

Tang Jiu was momentarily stunned, glancing at Qiao Gaogao’s beaming face and Yinxi’s barely contained joy. Such good news?

They should have more occasions like this.

For lunch, they finished the leftover seafood from the morning. Qiao Gaogao fed Song Qingxu several more crystal cores, and with the energy replenishment, Song Qingxu’s injuries healed much faster. By afternoon, she could even get out of bed to watch Tang Jiu learn self-defense techniques.

However, the training didn’t last long. Around five o’clock, Qiao Gaogao called for a break and ended the lesson to prepare ingredients for the evening hotpot.

Tang Jiu came to help with the preparations. Song Qingxu also wanted to assist but was immediately shooed away by Qiao Gaogao, who instead produced a set of Gomoku and asked her to play with Yinxi.

Song Qingxu stared blankly at the board game, never imagining that in such times someone would still carry Gomoku with them. But later, watching Qiao Gaogao take out various meats, she cleverly deduced something, though she chose not to comment and pretended not to notice.

Preparing hotpot was relatively convenient, though washing and slicing the meat took some time. During this, Qiao Gaogao and Tang Jiu went to the beach together to gather more seafood. Combined with other meats, they ended up with an exceptionally varied selection.

Considering Song Qingxu’s injury and dietary restrictions, they had specially prepared a pig trotter and chicken soup, which would serve as the base for their hot pot.

Once everything was ready, Tang Jiu and Song Qingxu stared blankly at the feast laid out on the table. It was hard to believe that, even in such times, they could still enjoy such a lavish meal. Before this, they wouldn’t have dared to imagine it back then, having a pack of instant noodles was considered a luxury. Now, they were dipping meat and vegetables into a bubbling pot.

Tang Jiu felt this contrast most deeply. These things, which she had once taken for granted before the apocalypse, had now become rare treasures she hardly dared to hope for.

It had to be said that this catastrophe had dragged the once-pampered prodigy, who used to float high above the clouds, firmly down to earth.

“Have a bowl of soup first to warm your stomach,” Qiao Gaogao said, scooping a bowl of pig trotter and chicken soup and placing it in front of Yinxi. As for Song Qingxu and the others, if they wanted some, they would have to serve themselves!

Since learning cooking skills from her senior Qi Ji, Qiao Gaogao had made rapid progress during this period of preparing meals on her own. Now, whatever she made looked and tasted decent.

“Roar, you eat!” Yinxi instinctively growled but quickly switched to human speech upon realizing.

Qiao Gaogao ignored her and changed the subject, “Did you win the chess game earlier?”

“Roar, roar!” Yinxi immediately lifted her chin proudly, her smug expression making it clear to everyone what she meant without her having to say a word.

Tang Jiu glanced at Song Qingxu with a complicated expression, unable to understand how Song Qingxu could lose to a zombie especially one who seemed rather simple-minded?

Song Qingxu kept a straight face and slowly sipped her soup, ignoring Tang Jiu’s gaze. She felt that Tang Jiu still didn’t quite grasp the nuances of social interactions.

“Senior, you’re amazing!” Qiao Gaogao, oblivious to the tension between the other pair, immediately praised Yinxi with shining eyes, placing a large chicken drumstick in her bowl. “You’re so smart have a drumstick!”

“Roar!” Yinxi’s pride intensified.

Tang Jiu: “…”

Song Qingxu’s expression shifted slightly as she looked from Qiao Gaogao to Yinxi, a thoughtful glimmer in her eyes. She began to suspect the nature of their relationship.

Could it be that they were like a kindergarten teacher and a preschooler?

“Gao… Gaogao, eat!” Yinxi placed a piece of cooked fatty beef into Qiao Gaogao’s bowl, urging her to eat more.

Watching their back-and-forth interaction, Tang Jiu felt increasingly uncomfortable. Their closeness seemed to highlight the distance between her and Song Qingxu. Should she do something to make their relationship appear less awkward?

With that thought, she dipped a piece of tender beef into the clear soup base and, without a word, placed it in Song Qingxu’s bowl.

Song Qingxu froze, staring blankly at the beef in her bowl. Her mind went blank, unable to comprehend why Tang Jiu would suddenly serve her food.

The last time Tang Jiu had done this was shortly after Song Qingxu first arrived at the Tang family. Back then, Tang Jiu had been very affectionate toward her. But later, for some reason, she grew increasingly distant, even harboring a hint of resentment.

Seeing Song Qingxu only staring at the food in her bowl without eating, Tang Jiu frowned slightly. Was she looking down on her?Disliking her for serving her food?

The crease between Song Qingxu’s brows quickly smoothed out as she picked up the beef, dipped it in some sauce, and put it in her mouth, thanking Tang Jiu, “Thank you.”

Tang Jiu’s gaze drifted away as she mumbled, “You’re welcome.”

Suddenly, Qiao Gaogao winked at Yinxi, who blinked back at her. Both of them grinned mischievously.

Those two are really strange, huh.

The hotpot meal left everyone feeling satisfied. Even the injured Song Qingxu had a rosy complexion, looking much healthier than before.

“Thank you,” Song Qingxu said sincerely to Qiao Gaogao and the others. If she hadn’t met them, she would likely have perished in the freezing cold. As for Tang Jiu, who knew how long she could have held on?

“Mm, it’s nothing. We just took a liking to you,” Qiao Gaogao scratched her head.

“You are pretty!” Yinxi stammered.

Qiao Gaogao’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Yinxi. She actually complimented someone else’s looks!

How could she praise others right in front of her!

Noticing her stare, Yinxi added, “Gaogao is the prettiest!”

Instantly mollified, Qiao Gaogao leaned her head against Yinxi’s shoulder, looking like a delicate little bird.

The two who had been momentarily stunned by Qiao Gaogao’s remark about saving them because she “took a liking” to them now heard Yinxi’s compliment: “…”

Watching the two across from them leaning against each other, Song Qingxu thought they might just be beauty enthusiasts.

For a moment, her feelings were complicated. Did she owe it to her parents for giving her such good looks?

Meanwhile, Tang Jiu seemed lost in thought as she observed their interaction. Glancing at Song Qingxu, who wore a faint smile, she seemed to recall something, and her eyes dimmed.

“How long are you planning to stay here?” Qiao Gaogao asked.

Song Qingxu and Tang Jiu exchanged glances, smiling wryly. “We’re not sure. We’ll decide after her injuries heal a bit more.”

Though the world was vast, they had nowhere to go. Tang Jiu’s parents were abroad, and her home had been taken over by the servants. Where else could they go?

“We’ll be staying here for a while too. Let’s keep each other company to pass the time,” Qiao Gaogao said, sensing their unspoken troubles and deciding not to pry further.

Later, Qiao Gaogao brought out a board game of Ludo. The group, now full and content, gathered around to play. Gradually, they grew more comfortable with each other, and the initial awkwardness slowly faded away.

“Roar!” Yinxi was the first to excitedly exclaim, indicating she had reached the finish line first!

Qiao Gaogao bit her finger anxiously. “Senior, wait a little longer! Just a bit more and I’ll win!”

She was so close!

But soon, Tang Jiu rolled the exact number she needed, and all her pieces reached the finish line!

Qiao Gaogao’s face fell, she had held her senior back!

“My turn,” Song Qingxu chuckled lightly, casually tossing her dice. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the spinning die until it gradually came to a stop, landing on 1.

“Ah! It’s my turn!” Qiao Gaogao immediately perked up. Song Qingxu hadn’t rolled the number she needed!

“Six, six, six! I need a six!”

“Hahaha! A six! I won! Senior, I won!”

Qiao Gaogao joyfully turned her head and hugged Yinxi, her delight dancing at the corners of her eyes and brows, making her doll-like face appear even more vivid.

Laughing and joking together, the group seemed as harmonious and peaceful as they had been before the apocalypse. Yet none of the four could have imagined that, for a long time to come, this would be their most carefree and joyful moment.

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