Rotting Land: Survive

Chapter 990: Chapter 975

"A month after the disaster broke out, I was rescued by my brothers here. Later, they accompanied me back home once, but your mother wasn’t there. I haven’t found any trace of her to this day."

Hearing this, Zhao Lina wasn’t overly saddened; instead, she felt a slight sense of relief.

After all, Old Zhao’s answer was much better than what she had feared in her heart.

But her silence was seen by Old Zhao as him feeling worried, thinking that his daughter couldn’t handle this outcome. He quickly added, "But when I went, everything at home was fine, with no traces of zombies, and the doors and windows were tightly closed. It suggests your mom left in a calm state. I estimate she was likely taken by the government’s disaster relief teams."

Old Zhao understood that this result was almost impossible because as a civilian waiting for rescue in HF City for almost a month, he hadn’t encountered even the slightest hint of rescue.

But this result meant to Zhao Lina: "Yes, I believe mom is still alive. Someday in the future, our family will definitely reunite."

Upon hearing this, Old Zhao glanced at his daughter. He felt for the first time that his daughter had grown up. No longer was she the little rascal who used to go against him. He held his daughter’s shoulder, looked up at the sky, and muttered softly: "Xiaoqing, did you hear what our daughter said? Our family will surely reunite, take care of yourself away from home!"

The night seemed particularly bright tonight, as the Zhao father and daughter continued their walk.

"Dad, can you tell me about Wang Qiang?"

Slightly startled, Old Zhao stopped in his tracks. Zhao Lina, surprised by her father’s sudden pause, glanced aside and only then realized she had asked a strange question.

"Why... do you want to know about Wang Qiang?"

"Uh... this... hehe," like a little girl whose thoughts were seen through, Zhao Lina was at a loss, stammering for a while before finding an excuse: "It’s like this, Dad, today at school, I was attacked by a zombie and almost couldn’t make it back. It was that Wang Qiang who saved my life at the critical moment. But when I went to toast him at dinner just now, I felt he seemed cold, as if he intentionally kept people distant."

No one knows a daughter better than her father, so how could Old Zhao not see through his daughter’s thoughts? Maybe he knew his daughter too well, which made him more hesitant.

After all, he was well aware of what Wang Qiang had gone through, so his reaction to his daughter was understandable.

So...

"Qiang is a good kid, straightforward and kind-hearted. He’s open-minded and speaks his mind. In fact, he wasn’t like this before."

"Oh? Really? What was he like before?" Zhao Lina immediately perked up upon hearing her father speak.

"Haha, look at you getting excited. Even if he’s your life-saver, no need to be so enthusiastic."

"Oh come on, Dad, just tell me." Zhao Lina stretched her voice coquettishly, shaking Old Zhao’s arm like a child whining.

Unable to resist his daughter’s ’pestering,’ Old Zhao could only surrender and continue, "Okay, okay! I’ll tell, I’ll tell, but can you first let go of my arm?"

"Yes!" Upon hearing that, Zhao Lina immediately released Old Zhao’s arm and obediently stood to one side.

Seeing this scene, Old Zhao shook his head helplessly and then gathered his thoughts before slowly saying, "Qiang, he used to be quite carefree, with a fearless, daring spirit, doing whatever he thought of. He was very lively and the team’s social butterfly. He was familiar with everyone and got along well with others. But later, he encountered some things which made him the way he is now... sigh."

With a powerless sigh, thinking of Yang Xue’s situation made Old Zhao feel frustrated.

If only he had organized Xiaotang to bring Yang Xue back, perhaps Qiang wouldn’t have sunk to this state today.

Speaking unintentionally, but listened to attentively.

His father’s deep sigh aroused more curiosity in Zhao Lina’s heart: "Dad, what exactly did Wang Qiang encounter that caused such a big change in him?"

Old Zhao looked at his daughter, seeming a little hesitant.

Should I really tell Nana the truth?

No one understands a daughter’s thoughts better than Old Zhao, and people are inherently selfish. Old Zhao didn’t want his daughter to get hurt, nor did he want her to be disappointed.

But this matter isn’t something he can just cover up, Old Zhao knew his daughter too well; the latter would surely dig up what she wanted to know by any means.

So, rather than letting time pass for his daughter to hear from others, it was better he tell her himself.

To prevent her from blaming him later, Old Zhao felt relieved thinking this.

After glancing at his daughter again, Old Zhao slowly spoke: "Speaking of Wang Qiang’s transformation, it really is quite intricate. Here’s what happened..."

Old Zhao briefly explained the emotional entanglement between Wang Qiang and Yang Xue.

After listening, Zhao Lina said something that surprised Old Zhao: "So that’s what happened. No wonder he became so despondent. It seems I wasn’t wrong; Wang Qiang is a man who values relationships deeply."

Speechless! Old Zhao had thought of all sorts of possible reactions from his daughter but hadn’t expected her to comment in this way.

It seems that different eras inevitably lead to cognitive differences.

While Old Zhao lamented that he was aging, he also felt deeply worried about his daughter’s feelings.

"Child, Wang Qiang is a good person, but you heard it yourself, he just underwent a romantic setback, and mentally, it might be hard for him to accommodate anyone else for a while."

"I know." Zhao Lina nodded decisively.

"You know?" Old Zhao was slightly suspicious.

"Yes, he just went through a romantic setback, and now is the time he’s the most vulnerable, most lonely, and most in need of care. Isn’t this what you were telling me first, Dad?"

Looking at his daughter’s unusually assertive gaze, Old Zhao smiled awkwardly, feeling genuinely ’proud’ of his daughter’s understanding...

"Alright, Dad, look at you, surely staying up all night worrying about my issues. It’s getting late, we should head inside and rest now."

Looking up at the sky, it’s indeed time to rest. Moreover, his daughter’s body was still recovering, so Old Zhao dismissed the idea of further counseling.

Considering her strong-willed personality, talking with her all night likely wouldn’t change her mind.

Daughter, I hope your efforts won’t be fruitless.

Full of worries, Old Zhao led his daughter back indoors.

Wei Yang had already prepared foot bath water and related medicine for Zhao Lina.

Once Zhao Lina finished freshening up, Wei Yang immediately arranged physiological saline infusion to replenish the body fluids lost during recent days of high fever.

Meanwhile, Hu Xiaodong and a bunch of young people who had had too much to drink continued reveling at the card table, thoroughly enjoying the post-battle joy. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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