Chapter 103: Xiaomei
Chapter 103: Xiaomei
After reclaiming the supplies and the car, Anran thinks she could still venture out to kill zombies and search for food. Even with Doll in tow, isn’t the world vast enough to find a place to hide? If Wang Xin wants revenge in the future, how could he track her down?
"Don't argue with Wang Xin. He… he's not human," Liu Yuan says bitterly. Her expression darkens as she goes on about how monstrous Wang Xin is. But after rambling for a while, even she seems to grow weary of her own words. To further emphasize her point, she picks up Hengheng and leans in close to whisper to Anran: "Do you remember Xiaomei? She was raped by Wang Xin and his men two days ago. Her husband… he was there. He didn’t stop it; he just… let it happen."
Anran freezes at Liu Yuan’s words, a wave of discomfort rising in her chest. She remembers Xiaomei well. In the days before the apocalypse, Xiaomei often joined Anran and others at the teahouse in the community center.
Back then, Anran was newly pregnant and had stopped working. She spent her days walking around the neighborhood, her growing belly drawing attention. Over time, she became close with Liu Yuan and Xiaomei, who already had children of their own. They would often share parenting advice and stories, making those simpler times feel warm and supportive.
In her memory, Xiaomei had a five-year-old daughter, the same age as Hengheng. Her husband was a gentle, refined man who occasionally brought snacks to the teahouse for everyone to enjoy. Anran has always admired their family, and her impression of Xiaomei and her husband is nothing but positive.
“How is her daughter?” Anran finally asks after a long pause.
Liu Yuan’s eyes redden. She shakes her head silently, clutching Hengheng even tighter.
She doesn’t need to say anything—Xiaomei’s daughter is surely gone.
Sadness and despair are constant companions in the apocalypse, growing heavier the longer one survives.
Anran shivers, her eyes drifting unconsciously toward the door of Doll’s room. The bond between a mother and child might seem strong, but in this world, it is so fragile. How long will her own connection with her child last?
“Don’t overthink it,” Anran says finally, snapping out of her thoughts. “Things have reached this point. What we need to focus on now is figuring out how to survive—how to keep ourselves fed without selling ourselves.”
As she speaks, she shifts her gaze from Doll’s door back to Liu Yuan, who is still holding Hengheng. Seeing Liu Yuan nod slightly, Anran continues, “Sister Yuan, go home first and settle Hengheng. Then let’s head out together and see if we can find something to eat. If we can’t…”
Anran doesn’t finish the sentence, but the options are clear in her mind. If scavenging fails, she will drag Liu Yuan along to raid Wang Xin’s supplies. Wang Xin has already abandoned morality, so why should Anran hesitate to retaliate?
If that plan doesn’t work, she’ll take Liu Yuan out to kill zombies. Whether Liu Yuan wants to or not doesn’t matter to Anran anymore. Liu Yuan has already resolved to bargain her dignity for food; surely, she can muster the resolve to fight for it instead.
Of course, everything depends on how Anran handles Wang Xin. He is bound to come looking for her soon, and she can’t afford to let him leave unscathed. With three men under his control, Anran has no chance of winning a direct confrontation.
She will have to divide and conquer, starting with Wang Xin.