Companion without breath
1294 Words
In the end, the stench—even that little pink lace was giving off a foul odor—defeated Xu Chi.
But he truly had no way to strip clean the clothes off a little zombie.
He could only throw a simple dress over it.
With a casual grip, he crushed the Xu Corporation’s nameplate and flung it outside.
After Pho Noan Yi put on the dress, she looked more human. The stench also lessened.
Xu Chi, tall as he was, when he bent down to dress her, discovered that the foul smell came from the clothes she was wearing.
The little zombie herself had no stench at all.
A zombie… without any smell?!
Perhaps it was related to her own Light-type ability. Distracted by this thought…
A hint of shame, unease, and self-contempt in Xu Chi dissipated.
Pho Noan Yi had originally been restrained by that small suit, unable to move freely.
After absorbing Xu Chi’s ability, and now dressed in the light gown, she felt much more at ease.
She could even lower her head a little. Not completely, but at least somewhat.
【So nice!】
The soft voice echoed with joy.
It made Xu Chi curve his lips into a smile.
“As long as you like it.” For the first time, he felt an indescribable sense of achievement.
The joy of being acknowledged naturally sprouted in his heart.
Good.
Humans were too complicated, too greedy.
This little zombie was far better than many people. Good.
Xu Chi wanted to pat her head, like stroking a cat, but feared he might dislodge the hair she struggled to keep.
Awkwardly, he pulled back his hand and rubbed the tip of his nose.
“Little zombie, let’s find a place to sleep.”
When he said this, Pho Noan Yi hadn’t reacted yet. Xu Chi froze.
He turned his head, giving a short “pfft.”
The bell around his neck jingled softly as he turned.
Pho Noan Yi tilted her head in puzzlement, croaking hoarsely: Sleep?
Xu Chi suppressed the awkwardness in his chest. In the past, he would never say to a woman: let’s sleep together.
That was neither gentlemanly, nor was it a good kind of silent invitation.
Fortunately, this was just a little zombie.
Picking up an iron rod, Xu Chi forced himself forward—he needed to find a place to rest.
After sleeping, he would prepare some food and water, then search for medicine. Treating his wounds came first, then he could look for a vehicle.
The hardest thing, like finding a driver, would wait until after his injuries were dealt with.
Pho Noan Yi obediently followed her delicious “meal,” quietly trailing in the dark.
When Xu Chi reached the other side of the market, he found a convenience store with biscuits and snacks. He nearly wanted to slap himself.
His teeth had nearly worn thin, yet only now did he spot such a*****e.
He chose it as their shelter, seeing it as guarding his treasure trove.
Xu Chi was numb from pain, like a bird busily building a nest for its brood. He spread scraps of cloth across the floor.
The moment he finally sat down, sweat dotted his forehead. In truth, he himself didn’t smell pleasant.
Blood, sweat—man’s musk.
Luckily, Pho Noan Yi only cared for the taste of food.
The stronger his sweat and blood-smell, the more appetizing it was to her. She happily guarded her “meal,” watching him busy himself with making a nest on the floor.
She even found it amusing, tilting her head to follow him.
When he sat down, she stood silently in place, docile.
Her wide eyes held only him.
Her delicious meal. Xu Chi sat, one knee bent, looking at her, about to say “let’s sleep.”
His Adam’s apple rose, the handsome curve sliding as he swallowed.
Then he remembered—she was a zombie. She probably didn’t need sleep.
But thinking that, he felt a strange, inexplicable envy.
Xu Chi slowly lay down, turned to face her, but her stare made him uneasy. He rolled over toward the wall and shut his eyes.
The surroundings were very quiet, as though it were before the apocalypse.
In the room that once belonged to him.
Soundproofed, free from the noisy night.
He could study, strive forward. Sleep, Xu Chi—everything is over.
Breathing in the strange mix of odors, he kept coaxing himself.
His body battered, exhausted, hurting.
He closed his eyes but couldn’t sleep.
He was used to the dark voices of his heart, visiting often. The sudden silence left him unsettled.
Xu Chi slowly turned back, softly calling, “Little zombie.”
Pho Noan Yi had already understood that “little zombie” meant her.
She could sense it was him calling her.
But she didn’t know why her “meal” liked calling her that. She tilted her head silently in response.
Xu Chi opened his eyes, looking at her tilting head in the darkness, and smiled. “Little zombie.”
Pho Noan Yi was puzzled.
She tilted her head, staring at her “meal,” croaking hoarsely: What?
“Good night.” And also, thank you. But to thank a little zombie—how absurd.
He swallowed the rest of the words, repeating softly, “Good night.”
【Good night? What does it mean?】
Xu Chi preferred her inner voice even more; that soft, delicate tone seemed to soothe his deeply aching heart.
“Good night means: see you tomorrow.” Xu Chi closed his eyes.
There was wind, autumn’s warm breeze, brushing against the doorway, scattering faint sounds.
As if the silent little zombie beside him were breathing lightly.
As though he wasn’t alone anymore.
Xu Chi drifted into shallow sleep. Pho Noan Yi stared at her meal, secretly pondering biting him.
But with her head now…
Oh, she had no brain anymore.
She couldn’t think of anything.
She followed instinct, quietly moving closer, bending down to look. She wanted to find a spot to bite.
Her body no longer felt the searing hunger, but she still lacked satiety.
Wanting to eat was instinct.
【He really looks delicious.】
Xu Chi, dozing, didn’t open his eyes, only turned away and muttered, “Little zombie, stay back a bit.”
Pho Noan Yi blankly froze, but obediently retreated.
Bored, she glanced around. The market zombies had already fled in fear.
One by one, gone.
The marketplace empty, nothing smelled sweeter than her “meal.”
Pho Noan Yi didn’t move, staring into the darkness, feeling she was searching for something.
What was it?
Something even tastier than her “sugar figurine”?
Like a robot out of power, Pho Noan Yi slowly tilted her head, motionless.
She couldn’t remember, only felt she’d forgotten something very important.
Extremely important.
Xu Chi had fallen asleep, his breathing heavy.
Even asleep, his wounds ached dully.
Dark past, unspeakable humiliation, blood ties he couldn’t escape—like shackles pressing down, making his breath heavier.
Pho Noan Yi heard, moved again, turned to watch her meal.
Still, her “sugar figurine” was the sweetest.
The night was still, the moon hung high.
Just a sliver, a crescent moon, but its gentle light fell on Pho Noan Yi’s shoulders.
She tilted her head, catching sight of the glow.
Like a child finding a toy, she reached to grab it.
Her bluish-purple hand stretched out, hideous and cold under the moonlight, without any sheen.
A low male voice, with a mechanical undertone, brushed past her ear:
“The spring water in your space can help zombies gradually restore their memories, turning back into humans.”
- Writer
