“Come, let me introduce you to my new friend. His name is Bai Maohou—just call him Little Bai.”
Little Bai stomped his feet angrily, glaring at Ye Qingyi with unmistakable hostility: “*u0026$#@￥…”
Ye Qingyi fell silent for two seconds before deadpanning, “Care to translate? None of us speak monkey.”
Su Mo sighed. “What can I do? I don’t understand either. But based on my experience with him, I’d say he’s probably greeting you.”
“You sure about that?” Ye Qingyi’s voice dripped with distrust.
Little Bai trembled with rage. Su Mo pointed at him. “Look, he’s nodding!”
The monkey gave up and retreated to a corner, sulking as he drew circles in the dirt.
“So,” Su Mo teased, “aren’t you going to introduce this friend of yours?”
“This is Wen Wenwen. I ran into her on the way, and we ended up traveling together.”
“‘Together’?” Su Mo suddenly switched to drama mode. “Wow, you’re dating behind my back?!”
Ye Qingyi hadn’t expected such shamelessness. She wanted to argue but hesitated.
I’m a girl, why would you—ugh, no, that’s not—wait, why would you even—whatever, forget it.
Wen Wenwen, however, panicked first. Clutching her sleeves, she bowed her head, her face red as a ripe apple. After a long struggle, she squeaked, “S-sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Ye Qingyi stared at Wen Wenwen, eyes wide with disbelief.
Girl. Do you even HEAR yourself?
Realizing her mistake, Wen Wenwen flushed deeper. She took a shaky breath and looked up at Su Mo to explain—only to get lost in his warm, captivating eyes.
Her eyes are so pretty…
“Ahem.” Su Mo waved a hand in front of her face. “Why’re you staring?”
“Oh—” She blinked rapidly. “I-I really didn’t—there’s nothing between me and Su Mo, don’t misunderstand!”
Yep, even ditzier than Xia Qingqing. Su Mo decided to keep messing with her.
“Really? You two seem awfully close,” he said, turning away with faux anger.
Ye Qingyi had enough. “Knock it off,” she cut in, shooting him a drop-it-now glare.
Joke’s on you—since when do I back down from a woman’s threat?
“Relax, I’m just teasing.”
Ye Qingyi rolled her eyes and strode past him—only to pause and circle back. “Which way?” she asked flatly.
Su Mo pointed in the exact opposite direction.
“Let’s go, Wenwen. Ignore him.” She walked off coolly, as if nothing had happened.
Su Mo whistled for Little Bai and followed.
Shouldn’t guys humor girls? Why’s she so—ugh, could’ve at least pretended. My pride’s taking hits here.
With Ye Qingyi’s arrival, Su Mo’s “leader” status was crumbling—and Little Bai’s rank had plummeted to zero.
“You said you got sucked in through a spacetime rift,” Su Mo said, catching up to walk beside Ye Qingyi. “Any idea if others came through too?”
Wen Wenwen tactfully fell back, joining Little Bai.
“Dunno. Probably. We’re not special—no reason only we’d get pulled in.”
“Fair.”
Su Mo eyed the meter-long blade in her hand—clearly looted from a zombie.
“So… where are we going?” Ye Qingyi asked suddenly.
“Back,” Su Mo said. “Retrace our steps, and we’ll hit the desert’s edge in three days max.”
“Oh.” She didn’t argue, but Su Mo could tell she wasn’t thrilled—just pragmatic.
Little Bai, however, lost it: “#$￥＊u0026@…” (We agreed to decide tomorrow!)
“Changed my mind.” Su Mo shrugged, shameless.
The monkey shot a hateful glance at Ye Qingyi and stalked off.
Wen Wenwen, intrigued by its human-like mannerisms, tried greeting it—only to be ignored.
Wen Wenwen: (っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)
By noon, Wen Wenwen was drenched in sweat, legs wobbling like lead. “Su Mo… I can’t walk anymore…”
“I’ll carry you,” two voices said at once.
“I’ll do it. Girls stick together—easier this way.” Su Mo’s excuse was shameless yet technically true.
Wen Wenwen, though shy, wasn’t fussy. “Thanks,” she murmured, climbing onto Su Mo’s back.
“Qingyi-jie, you’re so nice,” she cooed, instantly switching honorifics.
“Don’t call me that. I’m younger than you. Just use my name.”
Though ‘gege’ would’ve been fun…
“Age doesn’t matter! ‘Wisdom beats years, folly wastes a lifetime,’ right?” Wen Wenwen beamed.
“Whatever.” Su Mo wasn’t in the mood to debate.
Ye Qingyi, meanwhile, kept a sharp eye on his hands, occasionally hissing, “Stop groping.”
Wen Wenwen blinked, baffled. We’re all girls here—what’s the big deal?
At dusk, they reached a sheltered slope with a small cave—a previous campsite.
“Cave’s too small for all of us,” Su Mo directed. “Wenwen and Little Bai stay inside. Ye Qingyi and I will take shifts guarding the entrance.” He motioned to Ye Qingyi. “Let’s scout for food.”
Little Bai: “@￥u0026…” (Damn couple.)
It knew “food” was a ruse—those two were clearly up to something. Only naïve Wen Wenwen would buy it.
…
Night fell, wind howling across the desert.
Temperatures plunged—the cold a stark contrast to the day’s heat. Ye Qingyi tugged her coat tighter.
“Cold?”
“Mhm.”
“Here. Eat this.” Su Mo pulled a red fruit from his jade ring. Ye Qingyi took it without question and bit in.
“Hah! It’s poisoned. Scared?”
“Nope. I’m immune.”
After a few bites, she paused. “What is this? I feel warmth spreading through me—not just filling, but strengthening my body.”
“I call it ‘Red Fruit.’” Su Mo frowned. “Weird. For me, it only boosts stamina.”
“That’s ’cause you’re already strong. Me? I’m trash!”
Su Mo’s eye twitched. “Just say I’m weak. I hate beating around the bush.”
“Fine, I’ll be blunt.” Ye Qingyi’s gaze snapped to the darkness behind him. “Someone’s there!”