Surviving the Apocalypse with the Young Miss - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: No Bodhisattva

When Song Ge saw Yue Yao interacting with Gao He, she felt vigilance.

When Tong Xiangyu saw it, she felt anxiety.

Tong Xiangyu regretted not taking the chance to explain the dangers of this place to Yue Yao. Worried, she shoveled rice and vegetables into her mouth, only to realize with a start that Song Ge hadn’t put any food in her bowl this time.

What if I eat something that’s been drugged?!

Tong Xiangyu immediately looked at Song Ge, but found that Song Ge was eating quite casually. Zeus and Nana were no longer pressuring them to eat, simply sharing a normal meal at the table.

Zeus said, “We’re heading out this afternoon for our routine search for survivors and supplies. We wanted to take you out to see the state of Taiyun, but Xiao Wei said a couple of you aren’t feeling well. Nana suggested you rest first. There’s no rush; you can see it once you’re better.”

Yue Yao nodded and said thank you.

Tong Xiangyu realized then that the food likely wasn’t drugged because everyone was eating together. Besides, she and Yue Yao were “both” on their periods; even if they planned to escape, they would surely wait until after their cycle.

Tong Xiangyu kept picking up food, deciding to finish quickly so she could talk business with Yue Yao!

Song Ge’s first thought upon hearing Zeus was that when these people went out, the base’s defenses would be at their weakest. However, escaping during the day was too obvious—unless it was during the hottest part of the day when everyone rested, or during a collective activity. Otherwise, nighttime remained the safer bet. Though, it was true that escaping at night would be more difficult.

After lunch, the groups parted ways. Tong Xiangyu didn’t head straight back to Building 11. Instead, she said she wanted to check on Grandma Yan. Xiao Wei had said they would send someone to help her and that she’d be better soon; Tong Xiangyu wanted to see the progress.

Song Ge wasn’t surprised at all. The Little Bodhisattva strikes again.

But then Tong Xiangyu grabbed Yue Yao without a word. Song Ge hadn’t intended to follow, but seeing Tong Xiangyu take Yue Yao along, she knew exactly what she was up to. There was no electricity in Grandma Yan’s room, which meant no surveillance—a perfect place to talk.

“Little Milk Tea.”

Tong Xiangyu turned around. Yue Yao turned with her.

Song Ge said, “Come here. I have something to say to you.”

Tong Xiangyu let go of Yue Yao’s hand and walked toward Song Ge. Song Ge took her aside to talk, leaving Yue Yao behind. Seeing them avoid her, Yue Yao lowered her eyes. After a while, she seemed to adjust her emotions and shifted her attention to the green vegetables growing in the field, where a thumb-thick green caterpillar was crawling.

Song Ge analyzed the unknown variables and dangers Yue Yao posed—based on what she saw at the table—and told Tong Xiangyu everything.

Tong Xiangyu frowned and whispered, “We can’t just leave Yao Yao in this dangerous, terrifying place because of a subjective possibility you imagined.”

Tong Xiangyu added, “If we escape successfully and she’s left here alone, would you be able to live with yourself?”

Song Ge opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, Tong Xiangyu—anticipating the response—cut her off: “Well, I wouldn’t be able to.”

Song Ge had a headache, but she couldn’t just leave Tong Xiangyu behind either. Seeing Song Ge’s dark expression, Tong Xiangyu softened her tone and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’m not stupid. I’ll test her attitude first and act accordingly.”

Despite saying this, Tong Xiangyu was certain of Yue Yao’s choice. Yue Yao considered them friends; when she thought they might have left, she ignored her stomach pain and ran downstairs to find them. They were so close. Surely, Yue Yao wouldn’t stay in a place like this.

Tong Xiangyu returned to Yue Yao’s side. Song Ge followed at a distance with her hands in her pockets, frowning.

“Yao Yao, what are you looking at?”

“The big vegetables.” Yue Yao looked up and stood with a smile. “Are you two done talking?”

“Yeah.” Tong Xiangyu looked at the vegetables in the ground. She knew this place was actually very good—better for survival than Grandma Tian’s place while waiting for rescue, despite Zeus and Nana saying rescue would never come and the country had abandoned them. As long as they stayed alive, they would eventually be rescued!

However, after hearing Song Ge’s warnings about the anomalies and dangers, Tong Xiangyu refused to stay. They were weak, and naturally disadvantaged against men. If things turned for the worst, it would be a fate worse than death! If it came to that, Tong Xiangyu would rather be bitten to death by monsters!

“Yao Yao,” Tong Xiangyu began, “I noticed you and Gao He seem to get along well. You haven’t… fallen for him, have you?”

Yue Yao’s face immediately turned red. “No, no! Besides, someone like him wouldn’t be interested in me. He’s just taking extra care of me because I’m not feeling well.”

Tong Xiangyu pressed, “Whether he’s interested doesn’t matter. What matters is you. Do you like him? Yao Yao, tell me the truth.”

Yue Yao blushed furiously for a long time before nodding. She lowered her eyes, which were brimming with shy mist. “No boy has ever been this nice to me. He’s very considerate, and he’s quite handsome.”

Handsome? Tong Xiangyu tried to recall Gao He’s face but couldn’t even remember what he looked like.

“But…” Tong Xiangyu didn’t mention their immediate plan to escape. Instead, she asked, “Aren’t you supposed to leave with us in a few days?”

Yue Yao froze.

Tong Xiangyu watched her expression intently, not missing a single detail. “Are you not planning to leave with us?”

Yue Yao hesitated.

Tong Xiangyu said, “Just say it, it’s okay.”

After a long silence, Yue Yao avoided Tong Xiangyu’s gaze and looked down. “I have no survival skills on my own. If I leave this base and get separated from you out there, I’ll just end up back here eventually.”

Now it was Tong Xiangyu’s turn to be stunned. She hadn’t thought of that. Just as she was about to tell Yue Yao that the base might not be as safe as it looked, she heard a dense, muffled sound in the distance.

Tong Xiangyu looked up. It seemed to be coming from the first floor of Building 9, where Grandma Yan lived. Song Ge, who had been following from a distance, was now beside them. She stopped Tong Xiangyu from going to look.

Song Ge said, “There are others there. Let’s go back.”

Tong Xiangyu was puzzled. “Song Ge, did you hear that? That weird noise, it sounds like…”

Song Ge interrupted, “I didn’t hear anything.”

“How is that possible…” Tong Xiangyu turned to ask Yue Yao.

Yue Yao said, “I heard it. It’s chanting—verses from the Sutra of Supreme Compassion. I recognize it.” Curious, Yue Yao took the lead and followed the sound. Tong Xiangyu immediately followed.

Watching Yue Yao’s eager back, Song Ge’s frown deepened!

Inside Grandma Yan’s cramped dwelling, a few middle-aged people had gathered—three men and two women. Dressed in ordinary clothes with expressionless faces, they chanted while turning prayer beads in one hand and holding a sutra in the other.

Grandma Yan lay on the bed. The little girl was nowhere to be seen.

The chanting lasted about fifteen minutes. Afterward, the lead woman said to Grandma Yan, “The Lord will heal you. Rest well; you will be recovered by tomorrow.”

As they came out, Song Ge had already pulled the “curious” Tong Xiangyu and Yue Yao aside to hide. Watching the group leave, Tong Xiangyu found it unbelievable and ridiculous. “Xiao Wei said Grandma Yan would get better… she didn’t mean like this, did she?”

Yue Yao, however, found it understandable. “People need faith. Even though that storm took my entire family and I was in despair and pain, my instinct when I fell into the pond was still to pray to the Bodhisattva to save me. And the Bodhisattva did save me.”

Tong Xiangyu frowned. “The Bodhisattva didn’t save you. Song Ge saved you.”

Yue Yao said, “The Bodhisattva sent Song Ge. In fact, I believe the Bodhisattva arranged for you and Song Ge to rest near our house at that exact time.”

Tong Xiangyu was speechless. How could these things be related? It was pure coincidence! Random chance!

Yue Yao asked, “Who is Grandma Yan? Someone you know?”

“Her granddaughter found us hoping we could help call a doctor.” Taking the opportunity, Tong Xiangyu said, “But guess what? The ‘doctor’ didn’t even diagnose or treat her! They just sent these people to chant. How can chanting help? Sister Nana said they have full medical facilities and guaranteed safety. Is this the ‘guarantee’? It’s completely unreliable!”

“Medicine is one thing, but this is faith. They have different meanings,” Yue Yao insisted, uncharacteristically stubborn. “Sincerity brings results. Yu-Yu, I know most city people don’t believe in this, but without faith, life is very empty. Sincerity really works; you should try it sometime.”

Seeing how headstrong Yue Yao was, Tong Xiangyu said, “What if this place is actually very dangerous? People are wicked, and we know nothing about Zeus and Nana.”

Yue Yao countered, “I knew nothing about you two before, either. Meeting is fate; it’s all arranged by the Bodhisattva. Meeting you was like that, and coming here is the same. Everything is part of a divine plan.”

“…” Tong Xiangyu gave up and turned to Song Ge.

Song Ge’s frown had smoothed out. In her view, since Yue Yao had said all this, Tong Xiangyu would surely stop pestering her. But she had underestimated the young lady’s innocence and bluntness.

Tong Xiangyu grabbed Yue Yao and said very seriously, “What if the men here beat you? What if they force themselves on you and use you like an object, day after day, year after year?”

Yue Yao stood there, stunned.

Song Ge wanted to stop her, but it was too late. She took a deep breath and looked at Yue Yao, hoping the girl wasn’t beyond saving. While every extra person added risk—especially Yue Yao—Song Ge knew that if they left without telling her, Tong Xiangyu would be miserable and consumed by guilt and tears.

Song Ge thought: Just this once. The last time.

Tong Xiangyu watched Yue Yao nervously, waiting for an answer. After a long pause, Yue Yao shook her head and said, “They won’t.”

Tong Xiangyu was anxious at her naivety. “But what if? I’m making a hypothesis. If it really were that dangerous, would you still want to stay?”

Yue Yao looked down and said, “Yu-Yu, you don’t understand. I actually feel like I belong here more…” Being around Song Ge and Tong Xiangyu, she clearly felt that she was always the outsider who wasn’t truly accepted.

In the current situation, being alone outside meant death. Staying here, at least she could live. Brother He had also promised to protect her.

Tong Xiangyu finally understood. She gave up, let go of Yue Yao’s hand, and turned to Song Ge.

Song Ge pursed her lips; she had to clean up the young lady’s mess. She scolded Tong Xiangyu somewhat loudly, “Little Milk Tea, I know you want Yue Yao to leave with us in a few days, but you shouldn’t talk nonsense. Making hypotheses like that—if someone else heard you and took it seriously, wouldn’t that cause a huge misunderstanding?”

Song Ge continued, addressing Yue Yao, “This place has food, water, shelter, rules, faith, and friends. It’s safe and lively, and people look out for each other. It’s nothing like the outside where monsters make life and death unpredictable, and even if you survive, you’re sleeping rough and going hungry. Actually, hearing that, I don’t even want to leave anymore.”

Song Ge directed her final words at Yue Yao: “Let’s just wait a few days and see if we’ll even go.”

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