Chapter 299: Side Story 1: The Unopened Letter

Side Story 1: The Unopened Letter

When Lu Ran's body was carried back to the safe zone, golden pollen was still floating over the camp,

landing on the wounds of the wounded, landing on the sunflower petals, landing on Chu Yao's ice coffin, like a silent farewell. Lin Chen and Xia Nuan stood in the center of the sunflower sea,

looking at that golden sunflower that would never wither, their hearts feeling as if they were blocked by something, stuffy and panicked.

The team members spontaneously set up a simple mourning hall in the southeast corner of the safe zone,

placing Lu Ran's photo in the center of the mourning hall; in the photo, he was smiling very cleanly, holding that seed ring in his arms. A-Nian guarded in front of the mourning hall,

clutching that grass-woven bracelet in her hand; the sunflower on it had already withered somewhat, but still stubbornly maintained the appearance of blooming.

Three days later, the people in the mourning hall gradually dispersed, and Lin Chen and Xia Nuan walked into Lu Ran's room.

The room was very clean, with only a bed, a table, and Chu Yao's backpack on the table, along with that unopened letter.

The envelope had been placed by Lu Ran in the drawer close to his body, the handwriting on it already somewhat blurred, but still able to see that line of words: "Wait until we build a home before we open it together."

Lin Chen reached out, picked up the letter, his fingers trembling somewhat. Xia Nuan stood by his side,

her eyes red, but she didn't cry out. They both knew that in this letter, Chu Yao's words to Lu Ran were hidden, along with the regrets they hadn't been able to say.

The snow outside was tapping on the safe zone's window, emitting a rustling sound. A-Nian was sleeping soundly in the next room, a smile still hanging on the corner of her mouth—she must have dreamed of the mutant strawberries she promised to take her to pick in the spring yesterday.

Lin Chen took a deep breath and carefully opened the envelope,

inside was a yellowed piece of letter paper, the handwriting on it graceful—it was Chu Yao's handwriting. Xia Nuan leaned over, and together with Lin Chen, read it word by word.

Dear Lu Ran:

Peace be with you.

I know my ability backlash is getting heavier; every time I finish treating the wounded, the patterns on my arms climb a bit higher. Sometimes at night when the pain is so bad I can't sleep, I would quietly get out of bed and look at your sleeping side profile—you are always frowning, as if you are fighting zombies in your dreams. I just thought, it will be fine when the war ends, when we build the safe zone as solid as a rock, when A-Nian grows into a big girl who can stand on her own, we will go to the seaside you mentioned.

You said the sea there is blue, unlike the snow of the ice sheet which is only white, unlike the sky of the ruins which is only gray. You said you wanted to build a wooden house by the sea, plant sunflowers all over the front of the house; I will be responsible for watering, you will be responsible for hunting, and A-Nian will be responsible for running around in the flower sea.

I secretly used the sunflower seeds you picked up to carve two rings, one for you and one for me. The inner circle is engraved with "Lu & Chu." I thought, this is our marriage certificate; there is no church in the apocalypse, no guests, but there is you, there is me, there is A-Nian, and that is enough.

Actually, I found out long ago what price would be paid for completely liberating the healing ability core. I didn't tell you, not because I was afraid, but because I was afraid you would be sad, afraid you would do anything for me. Lu Ran, you are too silly; every time you fight, you rush to the front, every time you get hurt, you hide it from me. Do you think I can't see the wounds you hide under the bandages?

If there really is such a day, and I can't accompany you to the seaside, you must promise me three things:

First, live well, and see for me the flowers of spring, the sea of summer, the falling leaves of autumn, and the snow of winter.

Second, take good care of A-Nian; she is a bitter child, don't let her suffer any more grievances, don't tell her the truth, just let her remember that there was a sister Chu Yao who saved her with warm light.

Third, don't take revenge for me, don't let hatred trap you. We have fought for so long, not for revenge, but so that more people can live, so that they can see true peace.

Lu Ran, meeting you is the luckiest thing in my apocalypse.

It was you who let me change from a little girl who only knew how to hide in a corner and cry into an ability user who could pick up weapons and heal others.

It was you who let me know that in this chaotic world, there could still be someone who held me in the palm of their hand and cherished me.

If there is a next life, let us not be born in the apocalypse.

We will be born in a peaceful era,

you don't have to carry a gun, I don't have to heal wounds,

we will just guard a small wooden house,

plant sunflowers all over the front of the house,

have A-Nian's laughter in the house,

when the sun sets, you hold my hand, and we watch the sea together.

Love, Chu Yao

Winter snow night, seventh year of the apocalypse

At the end of the letter paper, a small sunflower was drawn, with a line of small words next to it: "Wait until we build a home, and watch the sea together."

Lin Chen and Xia Nuan finished reading the letter and said nothing for a long time. The snow outside the window fell heavier and heavier, tapping on the window, as if Chu Yao were speaking softly. Just then, a cold mechanical voice suddenly sounded in the room, without any warning.

"System warning: Abnormal emotional fluctuations detected; darkness value exceeds the limit."

"System initiating emergency protocol: Forcibly awakening the darkened personality."

Lin Chen and Xia Nuan looked up suddenly, their eyes full of vigilance. They looked around, but didn't see anyone. Just then, a cold voice came from behind them, carrying thick mockery.

"Lu Ran is just an idiot."

"For the sake of a dead person, torturing yourself like this, is it worth it?"

"He thinks that by guarding that ring, guarding that sunflower sea, he can keep Chu Yao?"

"He thinks that by crushing the ring and releasing the pollen, he has fulfilled Chu Yao's wish?"

"He is just a coward, not even having the courage to face the truth."

"He doesn't dare to open the letter, doesn't dare to admit Chu Yao's death, doesn't dare to face a future without Chu Yao."

"He is living, and it's a joke."

Lin Chen turned around suddenly, his fist clenched, his eyes cold: "Who are you?"

That voice sneered, its tone full of disdain: "Who am I? I am Lu Ran's darkened personality, the dark side he dares not face, the hatred and resentment he hides in the bottom of his heart."

"He hates the apocalypse, hates the mutants, hates everything that took Chu Yao away, but he insists on pretending to be magnanimous, pretending not to care."

"He is just a hypocrite, claiming to want peace, to want to live, but he knows better than anyone in his heart that a world without Chu Yao is harder to live in than to die."

Xia Nuan's face darkened, and she shouted at the air: "What do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do?" That voice laughed wildly, sharp and harsh, "I want to destroy this world, destroy everything. Chu Yao is dead, Lu Ran is dead; what meaning does this world have for existence?"

"I want to let everyone taste the feeling of loss, let them know what it means to be better off dead."

Lin Chen's eyes became colder, and the cold air on his body instantly permeated, freezing the surrounding air: "You dare."

"What do I not dare to do?" That voice was still arrogant, "In Lu Ran's body, my power still remains; I can control his consciousness, can control his body. I can make him become a demon who kills without blinking, can make him destroy everything he protects with his own hands."

"Lin Chen, Xia Nuan, you think you won? You are wrong; from the moment Chu Yao died, Lu Ran had already lost, and you have also lost."

"This world will eventually be destroyed in my hands."

Lin Chen said nothing, just walked step by step toward the direction the voice came from, his fist clenched tighter. Xia Nuan also followed behind him, her eyes determined. The snow outside the window was still falling, tapping on the window, as if playing a prelude for this upcoming battle.

That voice was still laughing wildly, still cursing Lu Ran's stupidity, still clamoring to destroy this world. Lin Chen stopped suddenly, looked at the front with cold eyes, and said word by word: "You are wrong; Lu Ran didn't lose, Chu Yao didn't lose, and we didn't lose even more." ===== CHAPTER 300 =====