Chapter Twenty-Three: Together

What Xu Nuo did not know was that, for the past three years, Gu Xingze had been utterly alone, keeping his distance from everyone, forbidding anyone’s approach—a solitary figure at the end of the world. The fact that she could remain by Gu Xingze’s side was nothing short of a miracle.

The day Xu Nuo left would be the day the secret was revealed. Gu Xingze did not know when that day would come; now, he no longer sought an answer.

Just like this…

Just like this… He gazed at Xu Nuo’s face, that beautiful and pure countenance, as if it did not belong to this world. Perhaps it would not be so bad if things simply remained this way forever.

“Xu Nuo, I came here today to bid farewell to my past.”

“Here lies my old friend,” and his past as well.

“Would you like to hear my story?”

“Yes.” Xu Nuo nodded.

It was an ordinary tale, one that may have happened countless times to others.

Three years ago, Gu Xingze rescued a little girl—a fragile, ordinary person, as common as could be, so weak in the apocalypse, like a tiny insect in a peaceful society, beset by dangers at every turn.

For someone like him, a powerful being regarded almost as a god, protecting an ordinary person was no challenge. It was just one more person. Gu Xingze, long accustomed to being alone, merely saw her as a pet.

But pets cannot speak, people can; pets’ emotions never overflow, but people’s do. The girl’s reliance and trust in him grew each day, seeing him as family, as the most dependable elder brother.

He aimlessly wandered with her to a safe haven, enjoying rare tranquil days. Others began to assume they were brother and sister. This “brother” was colder than an iceberg, while the lively, cheerful girl was his polar opposite—yet they were not siblings.

People at the base thought their odd pairing wouldn’t last. Sure enough, after an accident, the girl perished amidst a horde of zombies, and the taciturn Gu Xingze’s identity as a gifted one was exposed.

Though he was an ability user, strong enough to handle the zombies alone, he still let her be torn apart, leaving no remains. Truly, he was a cold, unfeeling freak.

“Brother!”

Even today, her calls echo in his dreams, along with whispered, fearful gossip from others.

“Does someone like him even have feelings...?”

“He has no feelings, didn’t he let that little girl die without lifting a finger?”

“Indeed, people like him don’t possess emotions.”

“Such a pity—the girl said she and her brother could settle down here, so tragic…”

After Gu Xingze left, that utopian base was soon attacked and overrun by zombies, reduced to ruins, erasing all traces of the past.

Every year on this day, Gu Xingze returned to honor the girl who had seen him as a brother.

“Home” was always something elusive. Gu Xingze had never yearned for it, neither in the apocalypse nor in peaceful times. He was like a wandering wind, never settling, everyone he met mere passersby. He never desired them to stay or form any bond.

Until Xu Nuo appeared.

He thought she, too, was just a fleeting acquaintance, but now Gu Xingze greedily wanted more—he actually longed to stay.

What did this yearning mean? Gu Xingze touched his pounding heart.

“Xu Nuo, how long will you stay by my side?” How long can I remain?

“Hmm…” Xu Nuo glanced at the eighty percent affection score. “Maybe not that long.”

“…Brother Gu, let me ask you something: do you have someone you like?”

Gu Xingze answered without hesitation, “She and I aren’t like that.”

Xu Nuo paused before realizing that the “she” Gu Xingze referred to was the little girl. She couldn’t help but smile at his immediate response.

“I…”

I think I’ve fallen for you. Gu Xingze lowered his head, cautiously and startled by this realization.

The one I like is you.

And you?

Xu Nuo, what do you feel for me?

Is it love as well?

Gu Xingze looked intently into Xu Nuo’s eyes, but he knew nothing of emotions, unable to discern what lay within.

“Why are you staring at me?” Xu Nuo closed her umbrella. “Look at the sky, it’s so beautiful.”

The rain had stopped. The night sky was clear, filled with stars, so pure it made one’s heart race.

“It is beautiful,” Gu Xingze replied.

“Mm,” Xu Nuo smiled at Gu Xingze’s radiant eyes, “just like you.”

A blush crept over Gu Xingze’s face, and he quickly turned away.

007: [Host, why are you teasing your target?]

“Wronged! I’m not, I just genuinely think his eyes are beautiful,” Xu Nuo replied, giggling. “And very cute.”

The night wind gently brushed the treetops.

Let it be, Gu Xingze thought, let it be—together with her, no matter what our relationship…

“Let’s go home, let’s go home,” Xu Nuo said, reaching for her means of transportation.

[Wait!] 007 hurriedly stopped her. [You’re not alone now, don’t!]

“Isn’t it possible?” Xu Nuo said, troubled. “Our car is out of gas, and the terrain is bad for driving. Thinking it over, the only option is…”

[No, you can’t. Suddenly conjuring a helicopter is extremely unreasonable. Even if you usually treat Gu Xingze as an NPC, you can’t think he’s a fool.]

“Such a pity, it was my first time flying a helicopter.” Xu Nuo reluctantly gave up. “But how do we get back?”

[Isn’t there a bicycle?] A bicycle was less unreasonable than a helicopter.

Xu Nuo gazed up at the sky, instantly thinking of another possible vehicle.

“Brother Gu, I have a surprise for you.”

With a blink, a hot air balloon appeared before Gu Xingze.

Xu Nuo hopped onto the balloon. “Brother Gu, get on!”

007: …

Well, a hot air balloon in the apocalypse isn’t too outlandish, it’s barely reasonable… Reasonable, my foot!

Gu Xingze, as usual, asked nothing about its origin, simply followed Xu Nuo as they slowly rose from the ground.

The night sky was tranquil, darkness below, star-filled above. Gu Xingze steered the wind. “Where are we going?”

“Home,” Xu Nuo pointed toward their hand-built safe base. “We’re going home.”

“Alright.” Gu Xingze didn’t ask further.

007 was worried. [Leaving without a word—what about Lin Qisheng?]

Xu Nuo was unconcerned. “It’s fine, I packed everything before leaving.”

007: …Actually, that wasn’t my point.

Xu Nuo left without any burden. Lin Qisheng waited at the villa till dawn, but neither returned. He finally saw their belongings were completely packed—nothing left behind. If not for signs of their life, it would seem they’d never been there.

“Very well, Xu Nuo, you’ve successfully infuriated me.”

—

[Lin Qisheng, affection +6] At the same time, Xu Nuo heard the system notification.

007 was unfazed. [Host, now Lin Qisheng’s affection for you is over sixty. Isn’t leaving like this a waste?]

Xu Nuo was confident. “It’s fine. I don’t need to act; he’ll take the bait himself.”

007 was genuinely curious: [Why? Why does Lin Qisheng’s affection rise even when you treat him this way?] Is his hidden trait masochism? That wasn’t in the settings.

Xu Nuo said, “For someone as extremely confident and arrogant as him, obedience isn’t nearly as effective as ignoring or provoking him.”

007 shook his head, confused. [I don’t get it.]

“Someone so arrogant and powerful loves conquering difficult things. Mundane, commonplace stuff doesn’t interest him.”

007 still didn’t quite understand. The strategy had said the fastest way to win Lin Qisheng was to act like a weak, adoring fan, but clearly the host would never do that.

And so far, her approach seemed rather effective.

[You really are impressive, host, coming up with this ‘playing hard to get’ trick.]

Xu Nuo replied, “That phrase isn’t quite accurate.”

—

After returning, life seemed unchanged, though the details revealed their safe haven’s living conditions had improved dramatically.

Anyone could see who was responsible for these changes—Xu Nuo.

Brother Gu rarely managed affairs; Miss Xu handled all the planning and work for their base. But finding Brother Gu was easy—wherever Miss Xu appeared, he followed, like a shadow at her side.

At first, everyone thought Miss Xu’s plans were fanciful dreams, but reality had slapped them hard. Now they wished she’d slap them more often.

They truly enjoyed their days of plenty now.

Who could have imagined those strange, scary stalks could be turned into food? Edible and usable for fences—two-for-one, practical and convenient. Miss Xu was so resourceful, venturing into the city and bringing back so many supplies.

Now they loved the rhythm of working at sunrise, resting at sunset.

“Miss Xu, our watermelons have sprouted!” Several excited helpers rushed to report.

“We’ll have watermelons to eat soon!”

Xu Nuo was delighted. “Really? Take me to see!”

“Come on, it’s over by the mountain…”

Xu Nuo turned and saw Gu Xingze still leaning against a tree, watching her. “Brother Gu, let’s go see together.”

“You go ahead.” Gu Xingze disliked joining crowds.

“Together.” Xu Nuo grabbed his arm and pulled him along.

Gu Xingze was helpless, so he followed.

“Brother Gu, in a few months we’ll have fresh watermelons. Save the seeds after eating, and we can plant even more…”

The lively smile on the girl’s face was now the most familiar sight to Gu Xingze—like a gentle, radiant light, always shining beside him.

“Brother Gu, come help us weed the vegetable garden.”

“You’re in charge of this garden?” Gu Xingze asked.

“This whole patch,” Xu Nuo spread her arms wide as if for an embrace. “We all need to pull the weeds together.”

“We’ll do it together,” Xu Nuo emphasized. “Not just you and me—everyone, together.”