Chapter 126: The Best Choice for Women
Chapter 126: The Best Choice for Women
For Yun Tao, it is clear that Hengheng is not his biological son and Liu Yuan is not his wife. However, Hengheng and Doll bring life back to his dead heart. He realizes he can’t let go of these two children. As for the adults, he can turn a blind eye, but the children—how will they survive in this post-apocalyptic world?
As he dwells on this, a deep compassion stirs within him. Yun Tao wants Hengheng and Doll to live well in this desperate world.
His own pain, though, has already become an unbearable weight. Letting Hengheng take the place of his own son is his way of numbing the suffering. This, he knows, is a selfish desire.
Outside the door, Anran holds the silent baby, watching Liu Yuan’s transformation, Hengheng’s resistance, and Yun Tao’s domineering attitude. Somehow, she feels a sense of relief. She is glad Doll is still so young and that Yun Tao doesn’t insist on forcefully adopting the child. At least Doll won’t be made to “accept a thief as a father.”
For Hengheng, being asked to call Yun Tao “Dad” feels like just that—being forced to accept a thief as a father. For a child who understands the situation, it is too much to bear. Anran feels a pang of sympathy for Hengheng.
To be honest, Anran doesn’t particularly like Yun Tao. She thinks his behavior today is too domineering. Yet Yun Tao seems to genuinely like Doll. He stares at the child for a long time earlier, even smiling. Now, his gaze lingers on Doll again, and it makes Anran uneasy.
At that moment, Doll in Anran’s arms squirms, making small noises. The child clearly needs a diaper change. Yun Tao tells Anran and Liu Yuan to take the two children back.
Liu Yuan sighs in relief and stops insisting that Hengheng call Yun Tao “Dad.”
Hengheng seems to relax as well. He lowers his head, bites his lip, and silently follows Liu Yuan back.
The walk back is quiet. Anran holds Doll, while Liu Yuan holds Hengheng’s hand. Neither of them speaks as they walk, each lost in thought. Night falls, and another day ends. Under the flickering streetlights, they continue in silence, each contemplating their own struggles.
Once, basic survival seemed like the greatest challenge. But now, after Liu Yuan’s child has been forcibly adopted, survival feels less important.
So, what should they do now?
Anran has always wanted to leave the neighborhood, but now Yun Tao is certain she won’t. He even insists she take her car and leave with it. Anran, however, starts to seriously consider whether staying is the better option.
She knows she isn’t naive. What happened with Yun Tao has taught her an important lesson—strength is limited. Killing a few zombies or even people won’t guarantee survival. In this world, a woman with a child has few options. Unless she is incredibly lucky and avoids powerful enemies, she needs a reliable group to survive.
"Let’s just accept it, Anran. This is the best choice we, as women, have," Liu Yuan suddenly says, holding Hengheng’s hand.
Anran pauses, surprised, and glances at Liu Yuan while cradling Doll.
Liu Yuan continues, "We wanted to leave because there were people here who forced us to go. But now that Wang Xin, Lin Liu, and Ren Xian are dead, and Yun Tao has promised not to force us into anything, we can stay. Hengheng… Hengheng still needs a father."