With a soft click, the dust-covered door slammed shut, cutting off the suffocating crimson light of the Red Moon outside.
Su Shuang’er leaned her back against the door panel, her chest heaving violently. Her tight professional suit was soaked with sweat, outlining her exceptionally plump curves.
She rested for a long while before looking at the rusted Vintage 28-inch Bicycle beside her, her gaze complicated.
“Let’s introduce ourselves properly.” She straightened her messy hair, struggling to maintain a final shred of dignity. “My name is Su Shuang’er. If you don’t mind, you can call me Auntie Frost.”
Above the bicycle, the air distorted, and the soul of a girl with black hair tied in twin tails slowly emerged. She floated in the air, swinging her legs.
“I’m White Night.”
“White Night… that’s a good name.”
Su Shuang’er gave a bitter smile and slid down the door panel, sitting on the floor without regard for her image. “I’m a useless woman. I used to run a company, and everyone called me President Su. I thought that by earning so much money, I could control everything, but then the Apocalypse came and money became waste paper.”
She lifted her head, her eyes somewhat hollow. “I just wanted to drive out to find some food, but the car ran out of gas and I ran into that monster… I have money, but no friends, no family — an orphan. I spent half my life busy with work, yet I never even tasted what life was like.”
Having said that, she looked at White Night, a hint of inquiry in her eyes. “What about you, little sister? How did you become… like this?”
White Night remained silent for a moment.
She did not want to mention the terminally ill youth from her past life who had lain on a hospital bed waiting for death; that was the past she was least willing to recall.
“I forgot,” White Night replied indifferently. “I was like this when I woke up.”
Su Shuang’er was a smart woman and did not press further. She only chuckled self-mockingly. “Forgetting is fine, too. Honestly, a moment ago, I really thought it would be better to just die. But… I’m not reconciled to it.”
She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. “I haven’t lived properly yet. I don’t want to become monster fodder just like that.”
These words touched White Night.
Once upon a time, the youth lying under the cold bridge tunnel had thought the same thing. He wanted to live, to see the world outside, and to experience the beauty he never possessed.
“I feel the same way,” White Night’s voice was soft yet firm as she looked down at her current “body.”
Although she was a broken bicycle, at least there was no sickness or pain. It was hard, cold, and full of power. ‘Being a bicycle isn’t so bad. At least… it’s very sturdy.’
Just as the atmosphere between the two became slightly warm.
Knock, knock, knock.
In the dead of night, the abrupt sound of knocking exploded like a sudden thunderclap.
Su Shuang’er’s entire body stiffened, her pupils instantly contracting.
“Is anyone there… please… open the door…”
A young woman’s weak, pleading voice came from outside. The voice trembled, carrying extreme terror. “Save me… I beg you… I know someone is inside…”
White Night floated in mid-air and said nothing, simply watching Su Shuang’er quietly.
‘This is a test.’
Su Shuang’er covered her mouth tightly, even holding her breath.
Although her body was shaking, her eyes were exceptionally clear.
Having drifted through the business world for many years, she had seen plenty of deception and intrigue. In this wasteland where Weirdness ran rampant, superfluous sympathy was a death warrant.
Aside from trusting White Night just now out of sheer desperation, she would never take another risk.
“Please… I have food, I have bread and water, I can give it all to you…” The voice outside began to cry. “I’m so scared being alone, please let me in to hide…”
Su Shuang’er remained motionless, like a cold statue.
White Night nodded inwardly, feeling a sense of relief.
‘If Su Shuang’er had dared to reach out and open that door just now, I would have unbinded without hesitation. Even if I had to remain as scrap metal for a few more years, I wouldn’t want to be dragged down to my death by a “Saint Mother” teammate.’
Fortunately, although this driver had poor physical strength, her head was clear.
The pleading outside lasted for a full 30 minutes. The voice gradually changed from weak to sharp, even carrying an irritating persistence. It didn’t sound like the volume a survivor hiding from monsters should have at all.
Finally, the sound stopped.
Only then did Su Shuang’er dare to breathe heavily, her back already drenched in cold sweat. She looked at White Night, her eyes asking a question.
Understanding her intent, White Night’s soul form floated toward the door and leaned in to look through the peephole.
With just one look, White Night’s figure paused slightly.
But in the next second, she floated back expressionlessly, her face as calm as water.
“Is… is it a Weirdness? Did it leave?” Su Shuang’er asked nervously in a low voice.
“It’s gone,” White Night said calmly. “If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself.”
Su Shuang’er had been observing White Night’s expression. Seeing her so composed, half of the weight on her heart was lifted.
Combined with the curiosity that followed a narrow escape, she gritted her teeth and stood up on her weak legs.
“I’ll go look… just to be sure… it’s safe.”
She cautiously approached the door, closed one eye, and pressed the other against the peephole.
Her vision passed through the narrow hole —
It was… a bloodshot dead-fish eye almost pressed against the door!
The distance between the two was no more than a few centimeters.
A pale, bloated female face was pressed tightly against the peephole. A long, crimson tongue dragged on the ground, and her mouth was split all the way to her ears. Facing Su Shuang’er inside the door, she revealed a greedy smile.
“!!!”
Su Shuang’er felt as if her scalp was about to explode. A chill rushed from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head.
“Ah!”
She let out a short scream, her legs instantly turning into noodles as she fell backward.
Thud!
With a dull sound, her plump backside hit the concrete floor squarely, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Su Shuang’er couldn’t care about the sharp pain in her buttocks as she scrambled backward using both hands and feet, her whole body shaking violently.
She looked up at White Night with shame and annoyance:
“It’s still there!! Why… why did you lie to me! Are you trying to scare me to death?!”
White Night floated in the air and shrugged innocently, looking like a strict teacher.
“Auntie Frost, this is necessary entry-level training for a driver. The best way to overcome fear is to face it. Look, she can’t get in. What a great sample for close-up observation. You should go back and look again to build your courage.”
This was indeed White Night’s sincere thought.
When she was still in her bicycle form earlier, she had nearly been scared to death herself. As a teammate, Su Shuang’er had to adapt as quickly as possible.
Of course, if she really ended up frightened out of her wits, then they could only part ways.
“You… you should have mentioned this kind of thing in advance!” Su Shuang’er was choked with anger, her chest heaving violently. But hearing White Night’s explanation, the fear in her heart actually dissipated quite a bit.
She was a rational woman and knew White Night was right. In this world, the cowardly wouldn’t survive.
Su Shuang’er took a deep breath, her gaze becoming sharp once more.
“Fine. Training my courage, right?”
She supported herself against the wall to stand up and walked to the door again. This time, she prepared herself mentally and suddenly leaned into the peephole.
This time, she watched for a full 5 seconds.
Then, Su Shuang’er turned around.
Her expression was actually calmer than White Night’s had been just now; she almost looked numb. She walked back to White Night’s side with somewhat stiff steps.
“Did that Weirdness really leave?” White Night floated down and asked curiously.
“She didn’t,” Su Shuang’er said in a flat tone, as if saying the weather was nice today. “But there’s really nothing to be afraid of. She can’t get in anyway, and she looks just so-so.”
“She really didn’t leave? You aren’t afraid?” White Night was a bit suspicious. Was this adaptation speed too fast?
“She really didn’t. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself. It’s quite boring.” Su Shuang’er even patted the dust off her skirt.
“Then I’ll look again.”
White Night didn’t quite believe it, thinking Su Shuang’er was just acting tough. She floated to the door again and leaned into the peephole.
The moment her vision focused —
She saw the female spook holding a bloody human head in her hands.
That long tongue was inserted into the skull like a straw, making a slurp, slurp sound as she sucked the brain matter inside as if drinking coconut milk.
Seeming to sense White Night’s gaze, the female spook suddenly pressed her face close to the peephole, grinning with a mouth full of sharp teeth.
Not only did she reveal a hideous smile, but she also forced her eyeballs out of their sockets and even smacked her lips triumphantly.
“Holy crap!!!”
White Night felt as if her soul was about to fly away.
With a whoosh, she turned into an afterimage, instantly shrinking back into the rusted steel tubes of the bicycle.
She trembled, refusing to come out no matter what.
“Mommy, that scared me to death! She’s drinking brain juice! And she’s still smiling at me!!”
Looking at White Night huddled inside the bike, Su Shuang’er, who had been feigning composure, finally couldn’t hold it in anymore.
She was also terrified beyond measure. Without a second thought, she rushed over and grabbed the cold bicycle frame, pressing her entire body against it. Only then did she feel slightly safer.
“Auntie Frost! You call that ‘nothing to be afraid of’? Were you trying to scare me to death so you could inherit my bicycle bell?!” White Night’s indignant voice drifted out from the frame.
“You’re the one who said it…” Su Shuang’er held the bicycle, and although her voice was still shaking, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl into a smirk of successful revenge.
“You wanted me to build my courage.”
“Does anyone ever make a bicycle build its courage?!”
“That seems true… but little sister, your courage doesn’t seem much bigger than mine.”
“Shut up! This is a… strategic retreat!”
The two bickered in the dark little room, leaning on each other.
Although the terrifying Red Moon and the sound of chewing remained outside, the bone-deep fear had dissipated quite a bit during this back-and-forth of pranks and bickering.
Su Shuang’er held the rusted Vintage 28-inch Bicycle tightly, her face pressed against the cold seat. She actually felt a long-lost sense of peace.
Picking up a bicycle sister who was a bit mischievous but still quite cute… in this Apocalypse, it seemed not bad.
As long as they waited until dawn, the Weirdness that feared light would leave.
When the time came, she could ride White Night… er, ride this bicycle and leave this place.
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