Chapter 145 – Now This is a Surprise

Early the next morning, Luo Heng and his two companions arrived at Ling Mo’s group’s residence, all sporting dark circles under their eyes.

It was easy to see from their haggard faces that none of them had slept well after the incident last night. Instead, they had spent the night in fear, waiting anxiously for dawn.

Ding Yu followed behind with a gloomy expression, his hand constantly supporting his waist as he walked. His face and eyes were bruised, and his nose was smashed. Overall, he looked both miserable and disheveled.

“If they ask for any supplies, just give it to them. And, I’m not sure what Wang Lin plans to do… Ding Yu can’t fight for now. If Wang Lin also decides not to join us, then we’ll have to…”

Luo Heng sounded very worried, but his words made Ding Yu feel a mix of shame and complex emotions.

He had once suggested abandoning Wang Lin, and now he was worried about her leaving them. The reversal of roles and the shift in his feelings made Ding Yu question his own approach to dealing with people.

“Don’t say that, Ding Yu will be upset…” Zhang Ning tugged at Luo Heng and whispered.

But Ding Yu had sharp ears. He looked up at Luo Heng and Zhang Ning, saw their anxious expressions, and then gave a bitter smile. “There’s no need for that. I won’t be upset. It’s the truth. Sorry, I’ve become the burden now. If you hadn’t saved me last night, I’d be dead by now.”

“Well…”

Zhang Ning hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly.

Although the two Zombies seemed to have only given Ding Yu a beating, no one would assume that Zombies wouldn’t kill. So Ding Yu was grateful to Luo Heng and Zhang Ning for saving his life.

This was the first time he truly valued the benefits of being part of a team.

In the past, he had also gained plenty from teamwork, but to Ding Yu, those benefits could be obtained by joining any Survivor Team.

He simply preferred working with Luo Heng, who had a background in the Armed Police.

To him, these people were merely partners, not true comrades who shared life and death together.

But it wasn’t until he was rescued this time that Ding Yu’s mindset began to change… At least now, when he was seriously injured, Luo Heng’s first thought wasn’t to immediately weigh whether his value had diminished. “Ding Yu, don’t worry. I’ll ask Ling Mo for some medicine. If that doesn’t work, we can trade Zhang Ning’s handgun for it!”

Luo Heng said resolutely.

Ding Yu looked deeply at Luo Heng, then hesitated before saying, “If Wang Lin doesn’t want to come back because of what I did… Even though I still believe I wasn’t wrong, I’m willing to apologize to her.”

His words left Luo Heng and Zhang Ning equally shocked. Apologize? This emotionally distant, always rational Ding Yu was actually willing to apologize?

“Ding Yu, you…”

“I can’t fight right now. Although Wang Lin’s perception superpower isn’t very strong, her personal combat skills are quite good. I’m just considering the team’s interests. If it’s just the three of us, we might not make it out of X City alive.”

A strange look flashed in Ding Yu’s eyes as he spoke calmly.

However, Luo Heng seemed to ignore his words, instead bursting with excitement, “Ding Yu, I’m so glad to hear you say that. I know you’re a very rational person, and that’s not a flaw, really! It’s important for the team! But once we decide to let someone join us, I hope you can accept them, not just see them as tools. Your way of doing things can increase the survival rate, but it can also make people cold and unfeeling. When you’re injured, your companions might abandon you in return, and I’ve always worried about that!”

“Hmm…” Ding Yu was silent for a while before slowly nodding. “I’ll find a balance and won’t make it hard for you anymore.”

“That’s great. Ding Yu, your rationality is very helpful to us, but let’s reserve that rationality for dealing with outsiders. Within our group, we’re a family and don’t need to calculate everything so precisely.”

Luo Heng’s words, though somewhat sentimental, were very sincere in his eyes.

As the three of them conversed, they arrived outside the room where Ling Mo and his group were staying.

Before they could knock, the door was pulled open, revealing a young girl’s delicate face.

However, the coldness in her eyes made all three of them instinctively look away, not wanting to meet her gaze.

“Ling-Ge, those people from yesterday are here.”

The one who opened the door was Xia Na. She particularly glanced at Ding Yu, with a faint smile playing on her lips, making Ding Yu’s scalp tingle.

This girl felt extremely dangerous to him, no different from facing a truly advanced Zombie, as Ling Mo called them.

Ding Yu even had a fleeting illusion that this girl, and another tall, pretty young woman, might actually be Zombies.

But he quickly dismissed the thought as laughable. Zombies had blood-red eyes, whereas these girls’ eyes were completely normal. Besides, Zombies living with humans? Impossible!

In fact, as soon as Ding Yu’s group entered the building, Ye Lian and Xia Na had already sensed them.

Li Yalin, on the other hand, was sitting quietly in a corner, suppressing her inner urge to attack.

This was both a torment and a form of training from Ling Mo. Always wanting to bite people wasn’t going to work.

What if Ling Mo got injured in the future? Would this Senior Sister rebel?

So today, Ling Mo didn’t have her hide away but let her stay here.

Hearing Xia Na’s words, Li Yalin shifted uncomfortably, and Ye Lian also took a cautious step back, eyeing the door.

Meanwhile, Wang Lin, who had just woken up, was struggling to prop herself up on the mat.

As Ling Mo passed by her, his gaze involuntarily drifted to her head, and he felt an urge to laugh… Xia Na really had a sense of humor… But then again, why hadn’t Wang Lin noticed it yet? Was it because her butt hurt too much?

As Ling Mo thought about this, he had already reached the door. Seeing Ding Yu’s state, even though he had anticipated it, he couldn’t help but pull a face, barely managing to suppress his urge to laugh.

“So early…” he said, clearing his throat and looking at Ding Yu with concern. “What happened to you? We just saw you last night, and now you look like this?”

“We…” Luo Heng started to speak, but Ding Yu interrupted him.

“It’s nothing. I… I accidentally fell down the stairs.”

Ding Yu replied calmly. However, his nonchalant tone, combined with his bruised and battered face, made it difficult for anyone to hold back laughter.

A superhuman falling down the stairs? Anyone hearing that would think it’s nonsense.

This Ding Yu, his lying skills are really subpar… Ling Mo had an inkling of what was going on. Was Ding Yu supposed to tell a stranger that he got beaten up by two Zombies?

Such an embarrassing story was something he couldn’t bring himself to say, so he resorted to a clumsy lie.

Ling Mo gave a noncommittal “Oh,” then expressed some concern, “Be careful, don’t fall again.”

Ding Yu’s eye twitched at that. Fall again? Get beaten up again?

They also noticed a mature woman in the room, who looked somewhat mixed-race. She seemed a bit neurotic, keeping her head down and staring at them coldly.

Li Yalin’s demeanor was hard to ignore. Though they were puzzled by the presence of another woman, Ling Mo didn’t seem inclined to introduce her. So, they just gave her a curious glance without asking any questions.

Luo Heng, wanting to get medicine for Ding Yu while also worrying about Wang Lin, quickly said, “Ling Mo, you see, Ding Yu fell down the stairs. Do you have any medicine left? I can trade something for it!”

Unfortunately, before he could finish, Xia Na coldly interjected, “No more.” Then, she turned to Ling Mo, her gaze instantly becoming soft and tender.

This seamless shift in attitude left Ling Mo momentarily stunned… “Ling-Ge…”

How could she use such a sweet, coquettish tone in front of so many people? It was both embarrassing and alluring!

That call made Ling Mo’s heart flutter, but even if Xia Na hadn’t acted coquettishly, he wasn’t planning to give away his precious medicine so easily.

Ding Yu wasn’t in dire need of medicine; his face wouldn’t heal in a month even if it was slathered with ointment.

As for his injured kidneys… well, he probably wouldn’t need them for a while. Short-term kidney weakness wouldn’t cause any significant issues!

Though these were his thoughts, Ling Mo politely declined, saying, “Haha, no need to be so formal! If I had any extra medicine, I’d happily give it to you. But I used it all on you and Wang Lin yesterday.”

Luo Heng felt a mix of regret and embarrassment at these words.

It seemed he used up all of Ling Mo’s medicine. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, “I didn’t realize Ling Mo used the last of his medicine on us. I don’t have much to offer in return, but if you don’t mind…” He started to hand over his pistol, but Ling Mo refused. What use did he have for it?

Better to let Wang Lin owe him a favor, making sure she’s looked after. Consider it a final gift from a brother-in-law to Wang Lin.

Seeing Ling Mo decline and then look at Wang Lin, Luo Heng was initially puzzled but quickly understood.

He immediately showed a hint of joy and quickly said, “It seems Wang Lin will be fine… Don’t worry! I won’t let her suffer. Actually, Wang Lin is one of our main fighters!”

Wang Lin, already expecting this outcome, merely grunted. However, when Zhang Ning came to support her, she was momentarily stunned.

“Wang Lin, you…” Zhang Ning first widened her eyes, then quickly turned her gaze to Ling Mo.

Ling Mo, looking innocent, clearly indicated: This isn’t my fault… Wang Lin, looking confused, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhang Ning bit her lip, then slowly shook her head. “N-nothing…”

As Zhang Ning helped Wang Lin out the door, Luo Heng and Ding Yu were stunned at the sight of her head, then gave Ling Mo a peculiar look.

“Why are you all staring at me?”

Ling Mo was sweating, thinking, There’s no way I could have done something like that!

Meanwhile, Xia Na was laughing quietly on the side, and even Ye Lian was pursing her lips, not because she found Wang Lin’s head funny, but because she enjoyed seeing Ling Mo’s helpless expression.

Wang Lin truly had no idea. When she exposed the back of her head, while clutching her butt and tiptoeing forward, it was an inexplicably comical sight… Xia Na had left a surprise on the back of her head with a razor, skillfully shaving two large characters: “Idiot”