I Pursued My Scummy Ex’s White Moonlight – Chapter 34

What if I Don’t Listen?

It was the dead of night when Su Wenwen finally returned home. Opening the door, she saw a faint candlelight, the candle on the table already half-burnt. Father Su and Mother Su were slumped over the table, fast asleep.

She tiptoed in, closed the door, and just as she was putting her backpack down, her bruised wrist was suddenly grabbed.

“Hiss!” Su Wenwen let out a soft hiss of pain.

“How did you get hurt?”

Luo Xi released her grip. By the weak candlelight, she could see that Su Wenwen was covered in injuries. Her neck, cheeks, and arms were all covered in bruises and scratches of varying sizes, and her clothes were stained with a sticky, dark red liquid. She looked utterly wretched.

Su Wenwen made a hushing gesture, leaned in slightly, and whispered into Luo Xi’s ear, “I kept these injuries on purpose. I want to make my mom’s heart ache. I refuse to believe that her precious baby is less important than that good-for-nothing uncle.”

After speaking, Su Wenwen took half a step back and looked at Luo Xi. The warm yellow light illuminated the purple bruise on the side of her face, making her appear as delicate as a willow swaying in the breeze, looking pitiful and lovely.

Seeing this, Luo Xi’s brow furrowed. She took half a step forward, raised a hand, and gently pressed her palm against the side of Su Wenwen’s face, as if trying to cover the unsightly wound. Yet, she couldn’t hide the complex emotions in her heart—pity, heartache, and a sense of helplessness about the situation.

“Don’t do this again in the future,” she said softly. “There are plenty of ways to deal with your uncle, but don’t hurt your own body. It’s not worth it.”

Su Wenwen froze. Perhaps it was an effect of the candlelight, but Luo Xi’s lowered eyes seemed as gentle as water, flowing into the calm lake of her heart and stirring up a tempest.

The hand resting on her cheek was now shockingly hot, and even her earlobe turned red along with it.

Their lingering gazes met, the romantic candlelight flickered, and even their light breaths seemed to grow heavier.

“I… I had no other choice. A forceful approach would have been simpler, but my mom might blame herself for the rest of her life. I don’t want her to be unhappy.” Su Wenwen retreated another half step, putting some distance between herself and Luo Xi. As her cheek left the scorching palm, she felt her entire body cool down considerably.

The sound of their conversation woke Mother Su. When she saw Su Wenwen covered in injuries, she cried out in alarm, waking Father Su and Qi Wenhao’s family.

Luo Xi could only sigh, saying nothing. With tears in her eyes, Mother Su grabbed Su Wenwen’s hand, intending to inspect her wounds, but Su Wenwen quickly held her clothes down, insisting she was fine.

“You weren’t bitten, were you?”

Seeing the injuries on Su Wenwen, Qi Wenhao quickly lit another candle and aimed the flame at her. Hearing his words, Mother Su’s face turned deathly pale, as if she suddenly realized how dangerous and cruel the outside world was, and she was filled with regret for letting her precious daughter go out.

Su Wenwen glanced at her mother, who was frozen in place, and shook her head. “No, I just fell by accident while fighting some zombies.”

Qi Wenhao examined her carefully. After confirming there were no bite marks, he turned his attention to her empty-looking backpack. “You didn’t find any food?”

“I did.” Su Wenwen opened her backpack and took out two bottles of water, a can of fruit, and some loose biscuits.

It was only enough for the three of them for one meal; Su Wenwen had deliberately brought back this much.

“With just this little food, how are we supposed to divide it?” Qi Wenhao said with a frown.

Just as Su Wenwen was about to speak, Mother Su snorted coldly, stuffed all the food back into the backpack, and said, “My Nannan found this. How we divide it is our family’s business. Don’t you still have a little food in your kitchen? Just eat sparingly and wait for the rescue. If you can’t wait, then go out and find food yourselves.”

Qi Wenhao was taken aback. Realizing his attitude had just offended Mother Su, he quickly said, “Sis, don’t be angry. I was just too anxious. Tomorrow, I’ll have Jiacheng go out with Wenwen to find food. It will be safer with two people.”

Although Mother Su had her back to him and didn’t speak, the hand packing the bag paused. Qi Wenhao hurriedly added, “Sis, Wenwen and Luo Xi, two girls, made it home from the city without any trouble, so you can rest assured.”

Su Wenwen remained silent, not refuting him.

After the Red Rain, they had stayed at home without venturing out, so their impression of zombies was limited to them being strong but not particularly fast.

Qi Wenhao added, “Prepare a longer weapon for tomorrow. That will be safer.”

Hearing this, Mother Su finally nodded and handed a bottle of water and the biscuits to Qi Wenhao’s family. Su Wenwen saw this and merely smiled, watching as Qi Wenhao’s family gleefully took the food.

She narrowed her eyes and activated her five senses, hearing Qi Jiacheng say, “Dad, you’re not really going to make me go out and find food, are you?”

“What are you afraid of? Su Wenwen went out alone and nothing happened to her. You’re a man; you’re stronger and faster than a woman.”

“That may be so, but what if?”

“Exactly, we have to prepare for the worst. If he runs into a horde of zombies, won’t my son be doomed?” Auntie said.

Qi Wenhao laughed. “Didn’t I just say it? Men are stronger and faster than women. If you really run into a horde of zombies, just focus on saving yourself. Do you think Su Wenwen can outrun you?”

Su Wenwen gritted her teeth in anger. These weren’t relatives; they were practically enemies. Since they were so ruthless, she wouldn’t have to show any mercy tomorrow. She had to take decisive action¹.

Luo Xi watched the changing expression on Su Wenwen’s face and quietly merged with the darkness as if brewing something terrifying. She lowered her head in thought for a moment but said nothing.

Mother Su gave the best item, the canned fruit, to Luo Xi, but Luo Xi pushed it back, taking only a few loose packets of biscuits. “Auntie, this is enough for me.”

“How can that be enough…”

“Mom, you and Dad can share it. I secretly hid some biscuits upstairs, I won’t go hungry,” Su Wenwen said.

Hearing this, Mother Su, for once, didn’t argue. Instead, she told Su Wenwen to hide the food well and not let Qi Wenhao see it. This slight change was enough to make Su Wenwen happy for a long time.

Back in the room, Su Wenwen took out a bucket of water, wet a towel to wipe herself down for a simple cleaning, and gave the remaining half bucket to Luo Xi.

After drying her body, just as Su Wenwen was about to put on clean clothes, the bathroom door was suddenly pushed open. Startled, she spun around and accidentally knocked over the flashlight on the sink. The light flickered, illuminating Luo Xi’s figure.

She leaned against the doorframe, her gaze roaming over Su Wenwen’s body like a pair of hands. Since the light was shining toward her, she couldn’t see the specifics of Su Wenwen’s injuries, so she took two steps forward, pinning Su Wenwen against the sink.

Su Wenwen was forced to look up at Luo Xi.

Clad only in her underwear, with the rest of her body bare, she subconsciously covered her chest with the clothes in her hands. As Luo Xi drew closer, the back of her hand inadvertently brushed against a soft hand, causing her to stiffen and freeze completely.

A faint, fresh scent lingered at the tip of her nose. Su Wenwen was so nervous she unconsciously held her breath. Only after Luo Xi took the flashlight and retreated did she finally let out a sigh of relief.

The beam of light scanned over her arms and shoulders. When Luo Xi saw the numerous purple and blue marks, her brow furrowed tightly. “I’m going out with you tomorrow.”

“No need. I have my own plans.”

“What if I insist on coming?” Luo Xi’s voice was very soft. It sounded like a question, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Su Wenwen was slightly stunned, not knowing what to say. The legs were on Luo Xi’s body; even if she forbade it, if the other party didn’t listen, there was nothing she could do.

The two lay in bed, and a wordless night passed.

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Early the next morning, the Qi father and son duo detached the stainless steel handle from a mop and sharpened one end for Qi Jiacheng. The remaining broom in the house was plastic, and the clothes-drying pole was aluminum alloy, but it was too thin and less useful than a kitchen knife.

Mother Su glanced at the Qi father and son, her lips pursed, but ultimately said nothing, only telling Su Wenwen and Luo Xi to be extremely careful and to run immediately if they encountered a lot of zombies.

Su Wenwen smiled and nodded in agreement.

The three of them set out at around seven in the morning. The sunlight was already beginning to burn the skin. Due to the Red Rain, the trees along the road grew extremely lush, and the grass was nearly up to their calves.

The street was dead silent.

Qi Jiacheng walked up to Luo Xi’s side, his gaze sweeping over her beautiful profile as he smiled. “I’m more familiar with this area. Follow me, I’ll protect you.”

Luo Xi didn’t reply. Qi Jiacheng didn’t feel awkward and continued, “There’s a small shop up ahead with a warehouse in the back. There should be a lot of food there.”

Su Wenwen, whom he had been ignoring, suddenly said, “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve already been there. The food was cleared out by other survivors long ago.”

Qi Jiacheng looked back at her. “No wonder you only brought back that little bit of food last night. Then let’s go to the town center. There are several small supermarkets and shops there. We’ll definitely find food.”

Su Wenwen smiled. “Okay, we’ll listen to you.”

Hearing this, Luo Xi glanced back at her, slowed her pace slightly to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Qi Jiacheng walked ahead alone. Seeing the dried bloodstains along the silent path and the sinister shadows cast by the walls that even the strong sunlight couldn’t dispel, a trace of fear rose in his heart.

His pace slowed considerably, wanting to walk with them. Just as he drew near Luo Xi, he was met with her deeply cold gaze. He froze for a moment, then inexplicably found himself walking behind the two of them again.

He looked at Luo Xi’s back—indifferent and aloof. When she looked at Su Wenwen, her eyes were clearly filled with tenderness, so why did he feel his body trembling uncontrollably?

A faint sense of unease grew in his heart.

Qi Jiacheng kept close to their pace, tightly gripping the stainless steel rod in his hand. He once again approached Luo Xi, attempting to strike up a conversation, but it was as if she had eyes in the back of her head. She pulled Su Wenwen along, taking two quick steps and shaking him off again.

He followed them all the way to town, trembling. He surveyed the desolate surroundings. Though he couldn’t see any zombies, he felt as if he could hear something growling in his ears.

Due to his excessive fear, he was sweating profusely with nervousness. The sun had also grown hotter, making his mouth dry and his throat a little sore when he spoke. “Wenwen-jie, can you slow down a bit?”

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