Mr. Zombie lingers in the city

Chapter 12 Irresponsible!

Memories began to surface in my mind as I typed on the keyboard.

That Summer Encounter

Having come up with a title, Gu Xixia began typing out her past encounter with Hu Xiaoyu.

During the summer vacation after sixth grade, Xia, whose family suffered a huge change and lost both parents, returned to her grandfather's hometown.

Everything was new, yet also meaningless.

Every day, I would sit in the yard, holding the toys my parents left me, basking in the sun and daydreaming.

Grandpa was very anxious, sitting in the wicker chair looking at his granddaughter with worry.

His hair, which was originally somewhat black, has turned completely white, and his back has become much more hunched.

Xia's daily life is very simple: she gets up, brushes her teeth, washes her face, and finishes her summer homework.

They either squat in a corner of the yard doing nothing, or they just sit there staring blankly at their parents' toys.

Even the passing dogs didn't dare stop to look at the unusually quiet little girl in the yard.

"Yours?"

He appeared with a slightly casual question.

She was wearing a plaid short-sleeved shirt, baggy beach shorts, and black flip-flops.

Xia Xia ran behind her grandfather in fear, and her grandfather patted her head.

"Yes, Wuji and Chunhua's daughter."

"Is that so?"

During the conversation, he walked into the courtyard and unceremoniously sat down in the wicker chair where his grandfather always liked to lie.

"It's been cleaned up."

"You didn't drink blood, did you?"

"Do you think I'm stupid? Those who wanted to commit burglary did so, those who wanted to commit revenge killings did so, and they didn't leave any loose ends."

"Is that so..."

After a long silence, Grandpa finally spoke again.

"Thanks."

"No need, you've helped me a lot, it's only right that I help you this time, it's just that this girl..."

As the sunglasses were removed, Xia saw for the first time a pair of dark, unfathomable eyes behind them.

Xia's body trembled uncontrollably, and she hugged her grandfather tightly in fear.

"Don't let her follow in your footsteps."

"I know."

As he spoke, Grandpa touched his head beside his leg with a complicated expression.

From then on, he frequently appeared in the yard.

Gradually, Xia Xia got used to his presence.

Soon it was time for Xia to start junior high school. In order to make it easier to take care of Xia, her grandfather arranged for her to attend junior high school in town.

The town was quieter than the city, and there weren't many adults to be seen.

At first, Grandpa would pick Xia up from school on time every day.

But after a heavy rain, Grandpa was hospitalized, and that strange guy came to pick up Xia.

Xia was initially resistant, and would deliberately take the lead or fall behind, unwilling to walk with him.

He didn't care and remained nonchalant, occasionally noticing something that interested him at a street stall.

Regardless of whether Xia had gone far, he squatted down on the spot and began to haggle with the shopkeeper.

Xia was a little scared because she was used to her grandfather accompanying her home.

However, Grandpa didn't come, and compared to the loneliness of going home alone, she was more afraid of that strange guy.

So she walked very fast today, almost running.

When Xia was panting at the alley entrance after running until she was exhausted, a large hand suddenly wrapped around her from behind.

A cold, sharp touch came from the skin of her neck, and Xia trembled with fear in her eyes.

Even after the man released Xia, she was still too scared to make a sound.

"Shut up! If you make a sound, I'll kill you!"

Pushing Xia's shoulder, he led her out of the alley.

After walking for a while, several men and women with wary expressions were gathered in front of a bread truck.

Looking at the children inside, some as young as herself, and others even younger, Xia knew she had been abducted.

Tears streamed down her face helplessly. With a sharp knife looming behind her, she didn't even dare to cry out loud.

Whoosh!

The car door closed, and the car started.

The children looked on in terror as the human traffickers stared at them with ill intent, the glint of their daggers making them tremble.

Xia is the oldest and most beautiful among the children.

"This can fetch a good price if it's sent abroad."

In just a few words, the future of several children was decided.

Not long after it got dark, Xia and several other children were detained in an abandoned factory.

Later that evening, a drunken man pushed open the door and, amidst Xia's terrified screams, grabbed her by the neck and dragged her into the next room.

Then, the pungent smell of blood wafted over.

With tears still on her face, she looked up in terror and saw the strange creature biting the man's neck and clinging to his arm.

With a terrified expression on his face, they dragged him outside.

Then, screams were heard, and after a while, the door was opened again.

He turned his back to the light, covered Xia's eyes, and led her out of the room.

****

In the living room, Hu Xiaoyu frowned as he looked at the first chapter of Gu Xixia's novel.

"No, putting aside your other descriptions of the male lead, I didn't bite anyone back then, did I?"

Wearing a black sports vest and matching yoga pants, Gu Xixia was lying on a yoga ball, constantly moving her lower abdomen against the ball.

"Artistic embellishment, otherwise how would they show that the male lead is a vampire?"

"Alright, highlighting the male lead's identity is understandable."

Hu Xiaoyu frowned, glanced at Gu Xixia, shook his head, and continued reading.

"The word count is wrong, isn't it? A chapter should be at least two thousand words long, this doesn't match up."

Gu Xixia glanced at Hu Xiaoyu and said in a lazy tone.

"I originally wrote some scenes of how you killed those people, but it didn't pass the censorship."

"Um..."

Hu Xiaoyu scratched his forehead, recalling all the things he had done back then.

"Fine, I won't write it then, it's really a bit scary..."

"You know how scary that is? After that day, I had nightmares for several days in a row."

"...Wasn't I furious at the time?"

Gu Xixia rolled her eyes, braced her back against the yoga ball, and pressed her long legs against the yoga mat with slight force, making her high breasts even more prominent.

"Are you furious? I'm the one who's furious! Grandpa was in the hospital and you were supposed to come pick me up, but instead you went off to play by yourself."

"I didn't play. Wasn't it because you didn't want to walk with me back then? I deliberately slowed down so you could go home first."

"You were running, and I calculated the time, so you should have been home by then. But after walking about two-thirds of the way, I realized your scent had faded, and when I caught up, I found you'd been kidnapped by human traffickers..."

Gu Xixia sneered.

"No, responsibility!"

"..."

Hu Xiaoyu pursed her lips and did not refute.

That time, I was indeed somewhat irresponsible.

"So, that's why you got so angry that time, torturing them to death?"

"Well, one reason is because you were kidnapped, and the other is because of those children. I don't understand, I really don't understand."

"We're all human, not some zombie like me. Why are you pointing your vicious hand at your own kind?"

"One of the children, just because he was ugly, had all four of his limbs broken so they could sell him to those heartless beggars. He's such a bastard!"

With a sigh, Hu Xiaoyu looked at the novel, which was missing many words.

"What are your plans for the rest of the time?"

"Just make up some of your thoughts at the time."

"That works too."

"You wouldn't mind if I used your image as the male lead?"

"What's there to mind? It's normal for the girl I watched grow up to admire me."

"But you can't use my standards to find a boyfriend, or you'll end up alone!"

Gu Xixia suddenly sat down on the cushion, looking at Hu Xiaoyu with an unfriendly gaze.

"Okay, okay, I won't rush you anymore. Sorry, I'm going to read a novel."