Pho Noan Yi had her heavy helmet removed, and for the first time she felt as though she could almost fly.
So, she started tilting her head.
Tilting left, then right.
Tilting back and forth, playing around gleefully.
As if silently saying: Look, I can tilt my head now without falling over.
Xu Chi was once again amused by her silly actions.
He laughed so hard his whole body hurt, with only the sound of the small bell ringing in his ears.
In the past, that little bell had been his only salvation.
Now, its jingling seemed more like the cheerful accompaniment to his laughter.
Pho Noan Yi tilted her head toward him, her wide eyes full of curiosity.
Her gaze was caught by the little bell swaying beneath his ear.
The tiny rose-gold bell was exquisitely delicate.
With his soft laughter, it shimmered and rang — jingle, jingle.
The night was silent, but not completely dark.
Moonlight cascaded down, gilding the little bell with a soft glow.
That gentle light swayed at his ear.
His already handsome face, now adorned with a captivating smile, was enough to make hearts falter.
Luckily, Pho Noan Yi was not human.
She only stared with innocent curiosity at the glowing bell.
Xu Chi reached out and pressed her forehead, forcing her to hold her head still.
"Come on. I'll take you to change clothes."
Pho Noan Yi didn't know what "changing clothes" meant.
But she was hungry.
So hungry.
The touch of Xu Chi's finger against her forehead made the aura of food well up before her. She wanted to lift her head and bite.
But the mantra echoed again:
[No eating humans.]
Pho Noan Yi pitifully stared at her "food" — Xu Chi.
He could hear her inner voice.
Suppressing his laughter, he withdrew his hand and looked curiously at her hair.
The hair of most zombies wouldn't be like hers — still intact.
Most zombies had ceased all metabolism, their hair no longer growing, gradually falling out.
But she still had a short bob, slightly golden, thick, framing her big round eyes.
Yet her body was too thin. Even without the helmet, she was still like a stick figure.
"Hey." Xu Chi, seeing her standing motionless, reached out and held her wrist.
It was still that cold sensation.
Skin without elasticity, dry and slightly wrinkled.
The touch was unpleasant.
But she was a zombie who did not eat humans.
The corners of Xu Chi's mouth curved slightly, and a faint black mist spread from his fingertips. Warmth and comfort flooded through.
The sensation came again.
Pho Noan Yi felt so comfortable she wanted to close her eyes, but her eyelids wouldn't obey.
Still, her eyes were brimming with delight.
[Like! Really like!]
Her soft, sweet voice rang with joy.
Xu Chi's restored power wasn't much, but he guessed she regarded his energy as food.
Patiently, he asked, "Are you full yet?"
[No. Still want more. So much, so much.]
His patience was nearly exhausted.
Fine, she was still just a greedy zombie.
At least she wasn't crying out "So hungry!" like a chorus of the others.
Xu Chi pulled his hand back, carefully observing her.
Pho Noan Yi didn't feel full, but at least she wasn't starving anymore.
She wasn't greedy — as long as the burning hunger subsided, it was enough.
She stood quietly in place.
No inner voice, no growling, just staring silently at Xu Chi.
As if melting into the darkness.
Xu Chi wasn't used to being stared at by a zombie like this. He bent down and picked up the metal rod.
"Change clothes first. When I've rested, I'll feed you."
She'd be fed too?
Pho Noan Yi tilted her head again, croaking hoarsely: Where to?
"Just across the street." Xu Chi rubbed his nose.
The farmer's market across the way sold all sorts of miscellaneous goods.
But the fashion sense there… forget it.
When the apocalypse hit in August, it was sweltering summer. Clothing stores mostly had only summer wear.
To Xu Chi's taste, those rags weren't fit to be used as floor cloths.
But right now, he had no choice.
They needed to change clothes to avoid infection.
There were both men's and women's clothes.
Thankfully, there were still some sports outfits.
Though the fabric quality… well, endure it.
What was he now anyway?
A stray dog at a funeral?
Did he have any right to be picky?
Xu Chi found a men's outfit, leaned against the wall, and struggled to change.
When he was done and turned around, Pho Noan Yi stood like a lifeless doll, still and unmoving.
He walked into the shop, and she followed behind quietly, never too close.
After he finished changing, she still stood there, eyes shining under the moonlight.
As if she had just enjoyed a fashion show.
Only then did Xu Chi belatedly realize, his ears flushing red.
He hadn't thought of her as human.
But under the night sky, her skin wasn't so glaringly obvious.
Unlike other zombies, she looked — at a glance — like a thin, bony girl.
Pho Noan Yi didn't understand the concept of "male beauty."
At least, not yet.
To her, the food before her looked very appealing.
Which meant: very appetizing.
She simply followed instinct, protecting her food.
Even if the mantra kept her from biting him.
Seeing her still unmoving, only staring, Xu Chi brushed away his unease.
He picked out a sports outfit for her.
Walking over, he suddenly realized — though she was a zombie, she had once been a girl.
His ears burned hotter as he stood frozen before her, feeling awkward.
His hands trembled slightly.
Not from pain, but from nervous hesitation.
He had to undress her first before putting the new clothes on.
Could he really expect a zombie to dress herself?
But the stench was overwhelming.
Forget it. She was a zombie.
Xu Chi took a deep breath, swallowed, and fetched a simple dress instead.
He draped the dress over his arm and waved her over.
"Come here."
If it had been a normal person, they would have spat in his face for beckoning like he was calling a pet.
But Pho Noan Yi wasn't human. She obediently came forward.
Her big eyes were full of puzzlement.
She liked being close to the "sugar figurine" — he smelled so sweet.
Pho Noan Yi blankly stepped closer, standing before him, having to tilt her head up to see his face.
But she was tired. Didn't want to.
Xu Chi reached out, but the moment he touched her first button, his hand trembled uncontrollably.
All his life, he had never undressed anyone.
And in front of him had once been a girl.
His Adam's apple bobbed. He pulled back his hand, almost wanting to slap himself.
What are you afraid of?
She wasn't human, wasn't even a woman anymore!
Xu Chi inhaled deeply again, staring at Pho Noan Yi.
"I've never served anyone in my life!"
Though his words were laced with annoyance, his actions were careful, trembling, his ears crimson.
His eyes darted everywhere, unable to settle.
Almost holding his breath, he pulled off her outer jacket.
Beneath it was a loose camisole, revealing a layer of pink lace underneath.
He knew exactly what that meant. Even with no experience with women, he understood.
His eyes flew wide as he whipped his head aside, nearly stumbling.
It took everything to calm his breath and steady his emotions before he looked again.
With trembling fingers, Xu Chi lifted her camisole. His eyes were misty.
It didn't look like he was undressing a little zombie.
It looked more like he was the one being stripped bare, humiliated.
Pho Noan Yi, however, cooperated the entire time, never resisting.
When Xu Chi lifted her arms to pull off her clothes, she only tilted her head, staring at him.
She had to keep her eyes on her food.
His ears burned like ripe tomatoes, his cheeks tinged pink.
His face was hot, ears even hotter.
Closing his eyes, he tried to convince himself: She's a zombie, not a human.
Grinding his teeth, he finally yanked down the camisole.
The cute pink lace bra beneath was right before his eyes, wrapping clear curves.
Xu Chi wanted to run.
But there was nowhere to hide.
He turned away, desperately considering whether it was better to just endure the stench instead…