Chapter 334: Selfishness
Chapter 334: Selfishness
Zhan Lian has little contact with Lei Jiang, who is from Xiangcheng and has been saving people along the way. Lei Jiang has many ability users and a strong network. Zhan Lian observes his words and actions and notices that Lei Jiang seems to have a knack for winning people's hearts.
But for now, let’s not focus on Lei Jiang. Instead, let’s talk about Zhang Boxun. Zhan Lian has just looked through the telescope and sees that Zhang Boxun’s team is stationed at a two-story storefront on the street. It appears that they have cleared out the zombies and are in the process of loading supplies into the cars.
Zhang Boxun, Tang Jianjun’s confidant, has brought at least fifty or sixty people with him. After the first batch of supplies is loaded, he plans to pull twenty cars of supplies back to Tiesi Village that night. Even if twenty people go back, Zhang Boxun will still have twenty or thirty people remaining.
The real issue isn’t how many people Zhang Boxun has; the key point is that Zhang Boxun has enough manpower to advance into the county. Yet, he is stationed near Zhan Lian’s team. What is his purpose?
Zhan Lian doesn’t know what Zhang Boxun is planning, nor does he know how many of the twenty people in his team are spies from various forces. In this chaotic world, nothing is clear.
He only knows one thing: he has to protect his wife and daughter. That is his sole purpose in surviving the apocalypse.
Zhan Lian looks at An Ran’s worried expression. He raises his hand and gently presses his palm to her forehead. “Don’t worry too much,” he says. “If you keep thinking like this, it’ll only affect Zhan Anxin’s mood. The world is complicated, but I’m not.”
What Zhan Lian can’t see clearly, An Ran can see even less. Tiesi Village isn’t a safe place, so it would be better to leave soon.
An Ran nods, forcing a smile at Zhan Lian, but doesn’t say anything further. She wants to tell him that she has the ability to protect herself, that she can manage on her own with Doll in this world. It might be tough, but she can handle it.
As for Zhan Lian, he can stay in Tiesi Village and continue to be its guardian, continuing his passionate devotion to defending the country. An Ran thinks she can understand that.
Because, in a world as desperate as this, such people are needed.
She can continue to head north with Yun Tao to find the Ebei on the radio.
But as the words are on the tip of her tongue, she hears Doll crying from the car. An Ran turns, opens the door, and takes Doll in her arms. She holds Doll upright in her arms and gently coaxes her. Then, as her thoughts shift, she realizes she has become selfish—selfish for the only reason that Doll needs a father! No one is more suitable than Zhan Lian, Doll’s biological father.
“Are you hungry?” Zhan Lian asks, his concern clear in his voice as he looks at Doll. He gently touches Doll’s small, upright head with his large hand. Doll tilts its head, resting on Zhan Lian’s hand and watching him with soft, pitiful eyes.
“Do you want your dad to hold you?” Zhan Lian’s heart aches as he sees Doll’s gaze. He reaches out and takes Doll from An Ran’s arms. An Ran loosens her grip and hands Doll over to him.
She has actually wanted to explain that Doll has just woken up and doesn’t want to stay in the car. That is why she is whining. It isn’t because she is hungry or wants to be held by her dad.
In the back of the car, Yun Tao sits in the driver's seat, covering Hengheng with a blanket as Doll sleeps. He looks at the scene of An Ran and Zhan Lian standing together, Doll looking fragile and small in Zhan Lian’s arms. It is an image of innocence, with Doll’s chubby body making it even more adorable.