This was a high-rise building of more than twenty floors, taller than the surrounding buildings.
The box-car landed. Sang Wenhao casually dealt with the five or six ordinary zombies on the rooftop, then opened the car window so the dandelions could fly out to eat. At the same time, he let them blow the human scent higher into the sky before scattering it.
Fu Erdie had brought some fruit from home. She had eaten half in the morning and was now eating the other half. After this, she would have to keep eating potatoes.
She bit into it carefully, already feeling that finding her grandmother would probably not go very smoothly.
“Do you think we should fly low through the city?” Fu Erdie hesitated.
That would be faster, but they might encounter more unknown risks.
Sang Wenhao confirmed Fu Erdie’s worries. “The people still alive in the city are either extremely lucky and have had special encounters, or they’re very strong themselves. If they happen to be on the route we pass, happen to want to rob us, and happen to have some long-range attack abilities, we’ll be in danger.”
Although so many coincidences made it sound unlikely, Fu Erdie did not dare gamble.
Fu Erdie sighed.
As expected, they still had to keep using binoculars to identify the route from high altitude.
But covering only twenty kilometres in five hours was far too slow. Their ability consumption was now around thirty percent. After recovering and resting, they could set off again at full strength at half past eleven, but while their ability could recover, their speed could not be increased.
Sang Wenhao comforted her. “Navigating in the city is troublesome. Once we reach the provincial road, it’ll be much faster.”
Fu Erdie nodded.
Yes. They just had to endure a little longer and get onto the provincial road in one go. After that, they could move much faster.
Once everyone and the plants had eaten, drunk, and recovered, Fu Erdie modified the internal structure of the box-car according to their experience on the way.
First, the bottom of the car could not face downward. Instead, the longer side with windows had to face downward, a bit like a vehicle that had rolled onto its side.
The house’s light orb had to pay absolute attention to controlling the windows, locking them firmly so they could not open.
Fu Erdie sat directly on the sealed window to observe the roads below, which made things much more convenient.
An iron bracket connected to the window frame, clamping the tablet in place. Fu Erdie could compare the map on the tablet with the road conditions below using one hand. As for the binoculars, they were directly connected to other metal pieces like VR goggles, made into a flexible headpiece and fixed over her eyes.
However, it only fixed one side. The other eye still needed to see normally and look at the tablet.
Sang Wenhao looked at the somewhat strange headpiece and could not help laughing, but he also felt a little distressed.
He was very good at making this kind of flexible metal sheet that fit against the skin, but it would still be uncomfortable to wear. Fu Erdie would definitely not be used to it the first time.
And after all, she was not the ability user herself, able to freely adjust the position of the metal helmet…
Fu Erdie did not notice Sang Wenhao’s small repeated adjustments to the helmet. She was organising tools. Every tool that might be used had to be placed into a plastic box, secured properly, then locked into the corner of the carriage with metal clasps. That way, whether the box-car travelled normally or “sideways,” they would not roll around, be flung about, or need constant adjustment.
In addition, since it was not raining today, after the metal roof and floor became the two sides when the car turned sideways, they could be turned into railing-like shapes, making it easier to observe whether there was danger nearby.
After making all these adjustments, they brought the plants and set off again.
Fu Erdie wore binoculars over one eye and used the other eye to see normally. From time to time, she opened one eye and closed the other, feeling a little dizzy. The house kept adjusting the health of her eyes.
Fortunately, this troublesome and even somewhat painful state brought very good results. Fu Erdie lay against the window glass and continuously gave directions. Their speed became faster and faster, and finally, at half past twelve, they left the complicated city roads and successfully reached the provincial road.
Fu Erdie carefully checked many times. After confirming that the next hour’s route only had two junctions, one turning left and one turning right, she completely relaxed. She told Sang Wenhao the sign information for the junctions, threw off the binocular helmet, and flopped onto the floor like a salted fish.
Sang Wenhao touched her slightly sweat-damp hair and planned to pull Potato over to clean her.
But because the two of them needed to circulate their abilities together to fly forward, their hands had been held together the whole time. If Sang Wenhao moved, Fu Erdie would have to move with him.
So Sang Wenhao continued sitting beside Fu Erdie, holding her hand while waving at Potato Seedling.
However, Potato Seedling had only eaten one zombie and was currently dozing off. The house could clean the dirt on itself, but it could not clean other people or objects.
Sang Wenhao said something softly, picked up a clean cloth nearby, and wiped Fu Erdie’s sweat and hair.
Fu Erdie narrowed her eyes, feeling the just-right warmth and pressure on her head. It was very comfortable, so comfortable that she unconsciously rubbed against it.
Sang Wenhao paused slightly. His heart felt as if a cat had rubbed against it, itchy and soft.
Actually, it was not only now. Many, many times, even during battles, when he heard her voice sounding clearly nervous yet still methodical, he would feel that itchy sensation in his heart.
It was like seeing a sensitive but proud and impressive cat. He really wanted to hold it in his arms and take a deep breath, but he was afraid of frightening the cat, or even leaving behind the impression that he was a pervert. So he restrained himself, approached little by little, and created a new note in his heart, recording the times she held his hand, smiled at him, and said goodnight to him at the door.
Sang Wenhao lowered his eyes, wiping Fu Erdie’s hair and massaging her scalp, watching her narrow her eyes and pretend to nap with no defences at all.
He controlled the box-car to turn at the first junction, then seemed to casually chat with her about some stories from before the apocalypse.
For example, most of his family worked in industries related to sports equipment, so they had wanted him to study a related major, but he had gone into engineering instead.
For example, because his parents were busy and often forgot about their child, he had learned to take care of himself from a very young age and became very independent.
For example, because he had no parental companionship, he preferred observing people his own age, so he was more sensitive to his companions’ emotions.
At first, Fu Erdie listened with great interest. After all, his family situation and industry were things she did not understand, and listening felt like hearing a story.
But why did it start to sound stranger and stranger?
Sang Wenhao said, “My coursework was heavy, and I also liked being alone. I’ve never dated, have no exes, and no bad habits.”
Fu Erdie turned over and looked at him.
He turned his face away and looked at the scenery outside the window, which was not particularly interesting. The tips of his ears were slightly red, while his expression remained calm. “So, um, which way was the next junction again…”
Fu Erdie: “…”
The way you change the subject is truly pathetic.
That said, Fu Erdie’s face also felt a little hot. She looked toward the window on the other side. “Right.”
Sang Wenhao: “Mm…”
In the wordless silence, the two looked in different directions, but their joined hands, just like the tips of their ears, began to heat up, growing burning hot.
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