Chapter 269: You Don’t Need to Care
Chapter 269: You Don’t Need to Care
Zhan Lian stands still, his gaze locked onto Anran.
Yun Tao also turns to look at her.
Not just them—Liang Ziyu’s group, along with countless survivors drawn by the commotion, are all staring at her.
Under their scrutiny, Anran lowers her head, clutching Doll tightly, unsure how to face her ex-husband.
The baby in her arms lets out a small, anxious whimper. Anran hesitates for a moment, then instinctively turns and walks toward the back of the car.
Zhan Lian lifts his foot to follow.
Before he can reach her, a sudden uproar erupts at the rear of the convoy.
Panicked shouts ring out—"Zombies! There are copper-skinned zombies! Run!"
Both Luo Feifan and Zhan Lian’s expressions darken.
How many?
Lately, zombie evolution has been accelerating at a terrifying rate. Before, copper-skinned zombies were a rare occurrence, appearing once every few days. Then, they started showing up daily.
And now?
How many have arrived at once?
Tang Siluo rushes over, gripping Zhan Lian’s arm.
"Brother Lian, go handle the copper-skinned zombies. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of sister-in-law and make arrangements for her."
Zhan Lian shoots him a look of pure disdain. "You’re even more of a headache. Get lost. You don’t need to care."
Shoving Tang Siluo aside, he strides to the back of the car, grabs Anran’s arm, and pulls her toward the car door. Without a word, he yanks it open and pushes her inside.
Then, he bends down, resting his arms on the doorframe.
The moonlight casts sharp shadows on his face, his black skull-patterned headscarf blending into the night.
"I’ll be back soon. Don’t be afraid. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right behind you."
Then, unexpectedly, Zhan Lian smiles.
A warmth flickers in his eyes—something Anran has never seen before.
He reaches out, his fingers brushing against her face.
Then, just as gently, he touches the back of Doll’s head.
His daughter.
He has never seen her face.
In his dreams, he only ever sees the back of her head.
And now, standing here, he finally has the chance to look at her properly. But the night is too dark, the crowd too chaotic. This isn’t the right time.
Would she look like him? Or like Anran?
He wants to know.
But he can’t afford to linger.
Steeling himself, Zhan Lian pulls his hand away, shuts the car door, and turns on his heel. His military boots strike the ground in determined strides as he heads toward the back of the convoy.
Luo Feifan follows closely behind.
At the same time, the base receives the emergency report—copper-skinned zombies have appeared. Within moments, dozens of fighters rush out, weapons in hand.
Their blades are useless against copper-skinned zombies, but where there are evolved zombies, there are always hordes of ordinary ones. The fighters’ job is to clear out the lesser threats.
Inside the car, Anran is still dazed.
Little Mint scoots closer, hesitating for a moment before reaching out and pulling back the scarf covering Doll’s head.
She peeks at her tiny face.
The baby lets out a soft hum, then drifts back to sleep.
Outside, the clash of steel against rotting flesh echoes through the night.
At that moment, Yun Tao appears by the car window, knocking gently on the glass.
Anran snaps out of her thoughts.
She quickly unlocks the door, turns to face him, and asks, "What’s wrong, Brother Tao?"