Chapter 284: Is She Unwilling to Sit in the Basket?
Chapter 284: Is She Unwilling to Sit in the Basket?
Anran looks at Zhan Lian, and the anger in her heart suddenly fades when she sees the sadness in his eyes.
At one point, they had been the closest people in the world—naked, tangled in each other’s arms, rolling in the sheets.
Yet now, standing here again, looking at each other—why does it feel so unbearably sad?
Though Anran’s gaze still holds wariness toward Zhan Lian, she remains silent in the end. Without a word, she picks up Doll, steps out the door, and walks toward the car parked outside. Zhan Lian lets out a quiet breath of relief and follows her.
Little Mint is still waiting anxiously in the car. When she sees Anran coming out with Doll, she quickly opens the door, runs toward her, and wraps her arms tightly around Anran’s waist—her eyes filled with hostility as she glares at Zhan Lian.
Zhan Lian ignores her, instead opening the door of Anran’s vehicle and taking a quick look inside. The car is large—a Hummer—and filled with supplies. Most of them are diapers, wet wipes, and a heap of small children’s clothes. A baby car seat sits secured in the back seat.
In the trunk, four large barrels of mineral water are neatly stored. Two wires are stretched across the back seat with small towels hanging from them—clearly used to wipe Doll down.
Water doesn’t seem to be a scarce resource for them. After all, they have enough to regularly clean Doll. That means Anran and her group haven’t suffered from dehydration on the road.
Zhan Lian’s chest tightens. His gaze shifts back to Anran. She, Yun Tao, Hengheng, and Little Mint all look like they have rolled through coal dust, but they aren’t thin, and their spirits are still intact.
Unlike the women in survivor camps who have been abused by multiple men, Anran hasn’t been subjected to such suffering.
Realizing this, some of Zhan Lian’s anger toward Yun Tao eases. In the end, his wife and daughter have been looked after.
"Get in the car," Zhan Lian says as he slides into the driver’s seat, finds the key inside, and starts the engine.
Outside, Little Mint is still clinging to Anran, trembling. She is clearly terrified of getting into the car.
Holding Doll in one arm, Anran gently pats Little Mint with the other and whispers, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. This uncle won't hurt you. Don't worry, he's not a bad guy."
That deep, inexplicable certainty makes Anran believe that Zhan Lian won’t harm them.
He just wouldn’t. He isn’t that kind of person.
—Except, he has taken advantage of her plenty of times!!!
The sudden thought flashes through Anran’s mind. Her brows furrow, and uncertainty flickers across her face. But before she can dwell on it, she focuses on guiding a still-shaking Little Mint into the car.
Anran climbs into the back seat, her nerves on edge. She is just about to place Doll into the car seat when the child suddenly bursts into cries.
"What's wrong? Why is she crying again?" Zhan Lian’s voice is filled with concern.
He turns around quickly, reaching out to touch Doll’s head. As soon as Anran tries to settle her into the basket, the wailing intensifies.
“Does she not want to sit in the basket?” Zhan Lian asks.
“Then what do we do if she doesn’t want to sit?” Anran frowns, adjusting her grip on Doll. "It’s dangerous to ride in the car without it.”
Yet the moment Anran picks her up again, holding her upright against her chest, the crying stops.
It is clear—the child truly doesn’t want to sit in the basket, just as her father has guessed.