The Young Mistress Turned Into a Zombie - Chapter 3

The muddy soup plastered her face as she rolled over and over.

Who knew how long this sludge had been festering in the sewers, or what filth it had mixed with? After an entire rainy season of fermentation, the stench was so vile it seemed to radiate a malevolent, iridescent glow in the air. Meng Lin’s nose wrinkled in disgust, her body stiffening.

I’ve been dead for three years, yet here I am, about to die again.

Will this fall be enough to fool them?

She had some acting talent, but three years of neglect had made her skills rusty. She’d used this “accident” trick plenty of times before… but with everything so chaotic right now, they probably wouldn’t notice… right?

Meng Lin had imagined ten thousand different ways to reunite with Shen Que. If the world hadn’t ended, she would have been living in luxury with fancy cars, yachts, and cigars, while Shen Que would be a corporate slave, completely destitute. When they met again, she would have humiliated her mercilessly.

Not like now. Now, she had a gun in her hand and was just stammering, while the ruthless bullets had nearly shot her dead.

Shen Que was her ex-girlfriend. More accurately, she was the punching bag Meng Lin had kept by her side for three whole years, paying for her to be her personal maid under the guise of a girlfriend.

Back then, Meng Lin was the rich young mistress and Shen Que was the poor student. One was a golden phoenix; the other was just a common cabbage.

Relying on her family’s wealth and power, Meng Lin had done whatever she pleased to Shen Que, hardly doing a single decent thing.

No, she should have done at least one or two… some sort of rosy memory she could bring up to get on Shen Que’s good side while kneeling on the ground begging for mercy?

Meng Lin rolled over, frantically searching through the reel of memories flashing in her mind.

Scroll faster!

Meng Lin knew very well that she had never been a likable person. Not only that, she even suffered from a “Truth, Goodness, and Beauty” stress syndrome.

And Shen Que was an annoying brat who was arrogant and proud at her core, yet deliberately acted pure and kind. She was approachable to ordinary people but hit rich second-generation heirs with heavy fists. She was the living embodiment of Pride and Prejudice!

Meng Lin and Shen Que seemed to be born enemies.

Back then, Meng Lin had been blinded by her own desires, making the same mistake every overbearing CEO makes: craving her body while simultaneously acting like a total jerk.

When Shen Que picked up a dish, Meng Lin spun the table. When Shen Que took a sip of water, Meng Lin slammed on the brakes. When Shen Que tripped, Meng Lin burst into song.

In short, Meng Lin couldn’t stand her, yet she refused to let her go.

She felt no guilt, only offering money as a constant, empty gesture.

Meng Lin had assumed their relationship would remain a purely financial one. She never imagined that Shen Que would one day leave her bank card behind and simply vanish.

That was Meng Lin’s first attempt at love, and her first time being dumped in the most humiliating way.

Shen Que had even added interest to the card she returned!

Meng Lin sometimes wondered over the past three years: How much did Shen Que actually hate me?

Well, she didn’t have to wonder anymore.

Just as Meng Lin was brainstorming and praying that Shen Que hadn’t seen her—her dementia miraculously cured—the ominous sound of footsteps drew closer.

Some things were truly sinister. The surrounding area was pure chaos: zombies roared in agony within the ring of fire, others crawled on the ground, and the echoes of distant explosions still rang out. From that brief glimpse earlier, Meng Lin knew there was more than one person on the other side. After all, how could a single person have broken into City A? They must have had a whole team with explosives, flammable oil, and guns.

Meng Lin buried her face in the muddy slush, yet she somehow knew the person approaching was Shen Que.

What she didn’t realize was that in the middle of all that chaos, she was the only zombie who had spontaneously rolled several meters away after falling. She had rolled sideways, perfectly dodging every obstacle in her path.

The footsteps stopped. Meng Lin had no idea what Shen Que was doing.

Changing a magazine? Chambering a round? Or maybe she was switching to a knife to save ammo.

There was no sound. She couldn’t even hear the other woman’s breathing. Shen Que was probably staring at her head, trying to see if there was a hole in it.

I should have just stabbed my eye when I rolled over that steel pipe, Meng Lin thought dizzily.

The back of her head felt like it was burning under that silent, invisible gaze. The air seemed to solidify into a thick gel, and the awkwardness was so intense that she almost forgot she was already dead.

Her mind was screaming: Just kill me already!

In this agonizing gap between life and death, Meng Lin’s mind wandered back to a memory.

That was the first year she kept Shen Que on her payroll. Her favorite pastime back then was finding new ways to mess with her.

Meng Lin had known from the start that Shen Que was a total prude. She was so stiff and formal that you couldn’t get a word out of her. Her daily life was so boring it was practically a crime.

Meng Lin had even looked it up online. The articles said this kind of behavior was caused by deep-seated insecurity and a low sense of self-worth. People like that felt guilty whenever they tried to have fun.

Perfect. Anything that made Shen Que suffer was pure joy for Meng Lin.

She couldn’t remember exactly what had happened that day. Maybe it was a whim, or maybe she’d just seen a new movie poster while passing the cinema. She pointed at it and said, “Come watch this with me.”

Shen Que shot her a cold, miserable look. She glanced at the poster: Zombie King vs. Red-Clad Female Ghost.

“No.”

Meng Lin stood with her hands on her hips. “Why won’t you watch it?”

Shen Que paused, glanced at the poster again, and said expressionlessly, “I’m scared.”

Ha! So you’re scared? Perfect!

If you weren’t scared, I wouldn’t have picked this movie.

Zombies, blood, and Chinese horror—how interesting, how creative! Hiahiahia…

That was probably what Meng Lin was thinking at the time. So, she had made the final decision without leaving any room for argument: “I don’t care. I’m watching it, and you’re coming with me!”

Meng Lin remembered how crowded the mall had been that day. She had bought tickets for a VIP screening, but the theater itself wasn’t very full. A few single men sat around them. In the vast, dark room, her screams were the only sound to be heard.

But she had to clarify; she wasn’t scared at all. She was just trying to set the mood!

She had wanted to see Shen Que cry from fear, to see that icy face lose its composure and look as if she were about to burst into tears. Ideally, Shen Que would have thrown herself into Meng Lin’s arms for comfort. Then, while the other audience members stared, Meng Lin would have to hold her, feeling a secret thrill while wearing a helpless expression. “I really can’t help you, can I?”

“…”

In the darkness, Meng Lin curled into a ball. She heard a resigned sigh beside her ear as a dry, warm palm covered her eyes.

“If you’re scared, just close your eyes.”

“Huh?!” She stammered, her voice laced with panic, yet she didn’t pull away. “H-how could a Young Mistress like me be scared?! This is… this is just for fun! I’m just teasing you! You… what do you know about… about…”

She felt a faint vibration in the other woman’s chest against her back. The warmth was inexplicably comforting, pulling her away from the gruesome imagery on the screen.

Meng Lin clung to her like an octopus, thinking to herself, Hmph, Shen Que is clearly scared too! She’s just pretending!

She looks as steady as a rock, but she must be freaking out inside. Why else would her heart be beating so fast!

“Hey, let me ask you something,” Meng Lin whispered in the dark, keeping her eyes shut and breathing softly against Shen Que’s ear.

“Go ahead,” Shen Que replied. The movie’s sound was booming, the screams echoing near and far, making the scene feel strangely real.

“What would you do if someone you knew turned into a zombie?” Meng Lin asked.

“Kill them,” Shen Que answered.

“Braggart… And you didn’t even hesitate for a second?! Fine, fine. Then… what if… what if it were me?”

Shen Que didn’t answer right away. After a long silence, Meng Lin heard a cold laugh.

*****

Six years later, the boomerang had finally come back to strike Meng Lin right between the eyes.

Meng Lin: Haha, I’m screwed!

“Miss Shen, watch out—!” A startled cry broke her train of thought.

The next second, Meng Lin felt a tug at the back of her neck. She was yanked clean out of the muddy puddle, and before she could process what was happening, she was pulled into a firm embrace.

The dementia-stricken zombie’s mind went blank.

Yet her dead body remembered this position far better than her mind did. It transported her back to countless times she had tried every trick in the book to cause trouble.

Shen Que was much taller than her, with broad shoulders, long arms, and a lean, strong build. She possessed incredible strength, lifting Meng Lin like a kitten. At first, Meng Lin had found it an insult to her dignity. Later, she grew used to it, eventually just lying there and refusing to get up, even dragging out the morning until Shen Que reached her breaking point.

“Get up. Breakfast is ready.”

“Mmm… no.”

“You’re going to be late.”

“I’m not getting up unless you say, ‘Princess, please wake up.'”

“…”

“Hey, don’t hold me like that! Put me down—I’m a person, not a dog!”

She remembered that Shen Que always wore gloves when she fired her gun, but the hand covering her eyes now was warm and dry. She smelled leather, the lingering scent of gunpowder, and a hint of blood, sweet and enticing. Her arm pressed against Shen Que’s chest, her ear brushing against her collar. She could feel her breathing, her high body temperature, and the rush of blood through her veins. She was alive. She was a living person…

Wait, huh? What do you mean? Yeah, she’s alive, but I’m a zombie!

My hands, my legs… when did I get tied up?!

Aaaah! Shen Que! You mean bad woman! You actually dared to sneak attack me when I wasn’t looking!

“Don’t move,” Shen Que’s voice was the same as ever, cool and low. “You’ve already turned into a zombie, yet you’re still so restless.”

What do you mean “already turned into a zombie”?!

That bitch is actually looking down on me! So what if I’m a zombie? Zombies are super strong, alright?

Meng Lin was pinned in her arms, her mind racing with a mix of anger, frustration, and embarrassment. She had been dead for three years, her heart as cold as a fishmonger’s cutting board. She never expected her frozen body to generate so many emotions again. This was scarier than sleep paralysis.

Shen Que must be running. The straps of her gear creaked with every step, and the warm barrel of her gun tapped against Meng Lin’s back. Everything around them was a chaotic mess.

Could it be… she doesn’t know I’m dead?

Meng Lin wasn’t sure anymore. Shen Que’s last comment suggested she’d probably recognized her. While Meng Lin considered herself well-preserved over the past year, no sane person would think someone running a marathon with a horde of zombies in a place like this was still alive.

No way, right? No way.

Besides, even if Shen Que had lost her mind and really thought she was still alive, Shen Que’s first instinct wouldn’t be to save her, given her own history of trying to get herself killed.

Hiss. Could it be that the outside world wasn’t what she thought it was these past three years?

Maybe the world had fallen, but not completely. Maybe humanity had even restored order. Shen Que had always been freakishly skilled in combat, and now she had a gun. Perhaps she was doing well in the human faction. Maybe she’d discovered Meng Lin was a zombie and had captured her because… zombie trafficking was a thing now?

Was she trying to get revenge by selling her to a circus as a freak show exhibit? Or maybe she was planning to sell her to some perverted old tycoon on an island to keep as a pet?

No, no, no, no. That didn’t fit Shen Que’s character at all.

And if the outside world were truly safe and sound, they wouldn’t have sent such a small team, right?

Meng Lin’s mind raced with anxious guesses, while another part of her mentally mocked her: Serves you right for being so arrogant and breaking into City A. What did you think this place was? This is a zombie’s nest!

You’re in trouble now, aren’t you? You’re about to die, aren’t you? Now you know how scary zombies are!

Meng Lin struggled harder, but Shen Que’s grip on her head was like a vice. What the hell? How could this woman be stronger than a zombie?

All Meng Lin had to do was tilt her head back and bite down on a finger or a wrist. Any part of her would do. One bite, and Shen Que would be finished. She was a zombie, after all!

And this was her own territory. How dare this damn human be so disrespectful!

Meng Lin’s gums ached with rage as she cursed a thousand times in her head. I’m warning you, I’ll put up with this behavior for one more second. After that, I’m biting!

But then, she suddenly realized the chaotic noises outside were fading, and the sound of footsteps was echoing loudly.

Thud. The heavy iron door slammed shut and locked.

Before she could even try to bite, she was set down on the floor.

Where am I?

Meng Lin sat in a corner, completely bewildered.

The light was dim, and the concrete floor was damp and cool. Rows of shelves were stacked with cardboard boxes, making it look like a supermarket warehouse.

After setting her down, Shen Que drew her knife and circled the shelves, checking for threats. Once she was sure the area was safe, she walked back and dropped her backpack next to Meng Lin.

…What is the meaning of this?

Am I being kidnapped?

A zombie, captured right at her own front door?

Meng Lin couldn’t believe it.

He Sheng, for that matter, was equally stunned.

He leaned against the iron door, the only way in or out, gasping for breath. His eyes darted nervously between the two women as he pointed a trembling finger at the zombie, which was looking around. “It… it’s not dead, Miss Shen! It’s still alive!”

The zombie sat slumped against the wall, covered in mud. Its eerie stillness and blood-red eyes brought back terrifying memories of the zombie swarm that had once surrounded him.

But Shen Que seemed not to hear him. She stood before the zombie, looking down at the mud-caked face that obscured any recognizable features.

Meng Lin didn’t dare move. She had just witnessed how Shen Que killed zombies, and now she was hopelessly outnumbered. The “weapon of truth” was still strapped to Shen Que’s back. Unable to guess her next move, Meng Lin played the part of a stunned zombie, watching her from the corner of her eye.

Hiss.

But seriously, this woman… she hasn’t changed a bit.

The close proximity and dim light finally allowed the zombie’s old, blurry eyes to see her old friend clearly.

Shen Que wore a tight camouflage outfit with black boots. The breathable fabric hugged her figure perfectly, and her straight shoulders formed a classic inverted triangle. With her shirt tucked into her belt, Meng Lin couldn’t help but think: Damn, were her legs always this long? It’s like she’s using a leg-lengthening filter!

She was covered in mud from head to toe, the dried mud on her neck and cheek looking quite messy. Yet, somehow, it looked… tastes… a bit different. Well, maybe she had changed a little. The youthful innocence was gone. Her face was the same, but the light in her eyes had grown much sharper. It felt like even a stray dog would bleed if she glanced at it.

Damn, she’s so hot.

Meng Lin drooled inwardly, fiercely warning herself not to repeat her past mistakes.

You’re pathetic! A glutton for punishment! Have you already forgotten the humiliation from three years ago? Huh?

But still, you can’t use that to judge a dead person!

Waaaah, she’s just not seen a beautiful human in so long. What bad intentions could a zombie possibly have!

Their face-to-face encounter was brief. Shen Que’s behavior was strange. She glanced at Meng Lin’s face, then scanned her body, frowning when her gaze reached Meng Lin’s legs.

Meng Lin yanked her legs back, feeling like a New Year’s pig being eyed by a butcher in the twelfth lunar month. Her gaze instantly cleared, and all her stray thoughts vanished.

Zombies were so simple! They only thought, What’s this? Smells good. Want a bite. But humans were the ones who were truly wicked!

“This zombie is acting very strange!” He Sheng whispered urgently. “Don’t you think she’s too quiet? Are you sure the bullet actually hit her?”

“I’ve seen them; I’ve seen zombies like this. They’re completely different from ordinary zombies. They’ve evolved. Unlike the ones from before that could only bite, some have developed ‘intelligence’! They killed my companions! They can deceive people; they can even pretend to be dead! The quieter a zombie is, the more dangerous it is. Miss Shen, please don’t let them fool you!”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but you have to trust me. City A is different from other places! City A is just a giant poison-rearing pit. In three years, it’s not strange for the zombies here to have undergone any kind of mutation…”

Tsk! Being honest is no good; fighting back is no good. What exactly does she want from me?

Meng Lin felt a wave of irritation. This scene made her see flashes of the past. Every time she had a conflict with someone, Shen Que always took the other person’s side, making excuses for them. She always empathized with those who seemed weaker.

Looking at these two people, regardless of their relationship with Shen Que, their half-dead and miserable state was enough to tell Meng Lin what Shen Que would say and do next.

After all, when she was alive, she was the wicked capitalist’s daughter. After she died, she became an evil zombie who killed without mercy.

A surge of anger rushed through Meng Lin, and she suddenly saw things clearly.

“Hiss, roar!” The zombie in the corner seemed to have been provoked. It suddenly began to struggle, baring its fangs at everyone.

Fine, I’m not pretending anymore. I’m a zombie! If you’re going to kill me, just do it quickly. If not, let me go. Hurry up!!!

“Miss Shen! Watch out—” He Sheng cried out in alarm, but the next second, his words were choked back into his throat.

“Are you done?” Shen Que crouched down, gently pressing Meng Lin’s wrist. “Now that you’ve said your piece, shut your mouth and be quiet for a moment.”

The cable ties binding Meng Lin were made of some incredibly tough material. She had struggled for a long time but couldn’t break free. Shen Que’s pressure was applied exactly at her balance point, keeping her from standing up. Just as she was about to vent her impotent rage, Shen Que’s words doused her anger like a bucket of cold water.

“What do you mean by this?”

He Sheng hadn’t expected her to react this way. After a brief pause, he hissed in fury, “The outside is crawling with zombies, and those oil barrels won’t hold them off for long. This warehouse is sealed. If this thing suddenly attacks, can you guarantee you can control it? You’re being incredibly arrogant. If you get infected, we’ll all die here! You’re going to get us killed!”

Meng Lin: Ah, well… he does have a point. After all, I am a zombie, and zombies are pretty powerful.

Shen Que’s reaction caught Meng Lin off guard. After shouting twice, Meng Lin fell silent and started watching her furtively.

Without a word, Shen Que unzipped her backpack, rummaged through it, and tossed two boxes of medicine over.

The white boxes kicked up a small puff of dust as they landed. Her voice was even colder than before. “If you’re scared of dying, you can leave.”

He Sheng quickly grabbed the medicine and looked up, stunned. “What?”

Shen Que didn’t spare him a glance. She pulled a roll of gauze from her bag and began wrapping it around the zip ties on Meng Lin’s wrists and ankles, cushioning the areas where the plastic dug into her skin. “You have the medicine now. If you want to leave, you can go. If you stay, shut up. I don’t want to hear another word.”

Once she finished wrapping the gauze, she took a piece of adhesive tape, slapped it over Meng Lin’s mouth, and then sat down, leaning against Meng Lin’s shoulder before closing her eyes.

S-she’s sleeping?

You’re just going to fall asleep like this?!

Shen Que’s hand was still resting on Meng Lin’s wrist, but her breathing had already become slow and deep. The two of them, one living and one dead, could only stare at each other in stunned silence, completely at a loss.

This whole sequence of events left the already stressed Meng Lin reeling. She was so embarrassed she felt like she could dig a three-bedroom apartment into the concrete floor with her toes.

Wait, girl. Is this… is this right?

Support