CHAPTER 2008: CHAPTER 2001: WHAT I’M AFRAID TO LOSE

In the building that had half collapsed, sunlight streamed into the living room, sprinkling onto the bedroom. Tang Ye, who had already woken up, was savoring the wonderful feelings from earlier. He greedily inhaled the fragrance from the beauty’s hair and caressed her delicate back.

She looked at her chest, lost in thought.

"What’s wrong?" Tang Ye asked softly.

"Nothing." Ning Yu’er smiled, "I was just thinking, if we have children in the future, what name would we give them?"

"Children..." Tang Ye was taken aback. He hadn’t thought that far, but when she mentioned it, he began wondering what kind of creature would be born from a human and a zombie...

"I don’t know; naming something is really difficult for me."

"Okay, let’s talk about it later."

"By the way, why did you choose the alias Chen Bieli?"

"Hmm..." Ning Yu’er thought for a moment. Whether she was serious or not, she said, "Maybe it’s because I hate saying goodbye."

"Uh..." That answer made Tang Ye raise an eyebrow. Hating goodbyes but using ’Bieli’ as a name? What kind of logic is that? But before he could think more about it, she asked back, "And what about you?"

"What about me?" Tang Ye was puzzled.

"Your name."

"I’m Li Henian."

"Li Henian..."

After stating his name, he noticed a strange expression on her face. He was about to ask, but she spoke first, "Okay, Li Henian it is, as long as you’re happy. Hey, remember when I gave you a rubber band as a memento in Lin City? Do you still have it?"

"Oh, that." Tang Ye chuckled, reaching into his chest in an incredibly odd way to retrieve the rubber band.

Years had passed, and the remaining fuzz on it was dull and had been half-burnt. It was far from the pristine condition it was in when she first gave it to him.

Ning Yu’er was pleasantly surprised, "You really kept it all this time."

"Of course."

"Did you always keep it inside you?"

"There’s no place safer than inside me."

"I guess you’re right..." She nodded as if it was obvious, then continued, "It’s so damaged now, why not give it back to me?"

"Sure." Tang Ye didn’t mind, since she belonged to him now anyway. But after she took the rubber band, Tang Ye seemed to remember something and grinned mischievously, "What about the physics sword I gave you?"

Hearing this, Ning Yu’er paused and then playfully punched Tang Ye’s chest, chiding, "You’re something else, giving me such a big crowbar. How am I supposed to carry it around?"

"Hmm... you didn’t throw it away, did you?"

"Of course not, I just left it in a very far place. I’ll take you to get it some time."

"No rush, no rush." Tang Ye nodded, not really caring about what happened to the gift he gave her. He held her close, stroking her hair, his thoughts drifting away, but she quickly brought him back.

"Hey, my Zombie King?"

"Hmm, what is it?"

"After we win this war, let’s go somewhere nobody knows us, okay?"

"Somewhere nobody knows us..." Tang Ye blinked, "Where is that?"

"Emmm... I’ll take you there someday. You know, every year at the end of autumn, it becomes so beautiful there. Heavy snow falls from the sky, and all the leaves on the street trees turn golden, resembling an ocean from afar. When the time comes, we’ll buy a house in the western suburbs of that city, just for us. You’ll go to work while I stay home with the kids; nobody will bother us, and we’ll meet lots and lots of neighbors..."

"When the kids grow up and we’re old, with nothing to do, we’ll sit in the yard watching the snow, growing old together, how does that sound?"

Listening to her words, scenes of what she described played out in Tang Ye’s mind: a street with snow falling, leaves fluttering down, passersby walking by unhurriedly, occasionally stopping to see the snow landing on their shoulders. On the nearby buildings, someone opens a stove to enjoy warmth, quietly watching the scenery outside.

Refreshing air, free of the smell of blood, a world without zombies...

Living a happy, fulfilling life with his family, the years passing peacefully.

A wife, children, and a warm bed, perhaps the simplest, most sincere desires for most men, Tang Ye realized it was exactly what he wanted, too.

A home...

"Okay, I’ll do everything you say." Tang Ye looked at her tenderly, and she giggled before snuggling into his arms.

He gently patted her soft shoulder, inadvertently noticing the red stain on the sheet, and with his other hand, held her a little tighter.

The woman in his arms was now his, his woman, his true family.

This feeling filled his heart with indescribable joy, this strange sensation made him cherish it dearly, yet it also brought a profound sense of unease.

He couldn’t imagine, if she were to suddenly be gone... what would become of him?

It’s not enough to say the sky would fall...

He was afraid, afraid of what lay ahead, could he really succeed, could he really defeat the Four Great Zombie Kings?

He really feared that a single mishap would take away everything he now had!

Before this, he could abandon everything, but not Ning Yu’er, this woman that belonged to him, he couldn’t let go.

In an instant, Tang Ye felt a surge of impulse, he wanted to just take Ning Yu’er, abandon everything, and fly off to an unknown place to build a home.

Remember, he is the Zombie King! Even if this world has turned into a civilization of the undead, there still is a place for him as the Zombie King, ruling a domain wouldn’t be an issue!

But he hesitated, in this savage world of zombies where the weak are preyed upon, is it really suitable to settle down?

While pondering these, Tang Ye held her even tighter.

Perhaps sensing his distress, Ning Yu’er raised her head and asked with concern, "What’s wrong?"

"I’m fine." Tang Ye shook his head, forcing a smile.

"Alright." She nodded, not asking more, merely saying, "Hmm, I’d like something to eat, can you get me some?"

"Something to eat, that’s easy, what would you like?"

"Chocolate, the really sweet kind." Her smile was radiant, like sunlight melting the early spring snow, bringing a long-lost warmth, though Tang Ye, after hearing this, was troubled.

"Why chocolate?"

"I just want it, is that okay?" She pouted, and seeing her like this, Tang Ye’s heart softened, and he could only agree.

"Alright, I’ll go find it for you, but don’t blame me if I can’t find any."

"Then hurry and go." With that, Ning Yu’er planted a kiss on his cheek. Then Tang Ye got up, but he didn’t notice, her seemingly bright smile had a hint of worry hidden within it.