After moving far from the incident area, the SUV gradually slowed down.
Shen Mo stopped the car.
“Why did we stop?” Bai Youwei asked.
A bottle of mineral water was passed to her.
She froze for a moment, then reached out to take it.
“After running several laps in the game, we’ve been thirsty for a while.” Shen Mo opened another bottle, tilted his head back to drink. His jaw connected to his adam’s apple rolled slowly—a masculine, firm line.
Bai Youwei watched him for a while, then finally also lifted her chin to drink water, small sips, like a lamb drinking lightly at a stream.
Once they got to relax, various physical needs also emerged. Not only feeling thirsty, but also beginning to feel tired, muscles aching and soft.
“This game isn’t purely simulating reality. The residual fatigue in the body is very real.” Shen Mo crushed the empty mineral water bottle flat, producing crisp crackling sounds. “No rush to get back on the road. Let’s find a service area to check on the situation and preferably make a call to Yangzhou.”
Pausing slightly, he added: “And charge your rabbit while we’re at it.”
Whether it could really release lightning still needed to be seen after charging.
Bai Youwei nodded.
Finding a place to rest was inevitable. In their current state, if they encountered another tortoise and hare race, they probably couldn’t clear it.
Shen Mo started the car again, preparing to get back on the road.
At this moment, Bai Youwei asked: “If something also happened in Yangzhou, what do you plan to do?”
Shen Mo paused slightly, his hand turning the key stopping.
Bai Youwei stared at the cold, stern profile of his face and said calmly: “You only promised my mom to take me to Yangzhou. You’re not obligated to care whether I live or die in Yangzhou. Moreover, you have a mission. You should need to report back. After arriving in Yangzhou, we’ll go our separate ways. Am I right?”
She kept talking, her eyes gradually darkening. “It’s the apocalypse—who has time to care about anyone else’s life or death? You coming to pick me up was a responsibility, a good deed. But if you drop me off and don’t care afterward, honestly, Shen Mo, you might as well let me get out now to fend for myself. I won’t blame you.”
The atmosphere became cold and stiff.
But Bai Youwei didn’t care. She was always an unlikeable person anyway.
Shen Mo put down the car key and turned around.
Bai Youwei’s clear, bright black eyes looked directly at him, neither avoiding nor yielding, lips pressed tightly together, showing stubbornness.
“Come here.” Shen Mo crooked his index finger at her.
She frowned, leaning forward, moving closer. “What?”
Shen Mo reached out and pinched her jaw.
The face with baby fat immediately deformed, her mouth squeezed into a pout, her stubborn expression also becoming childish.
“…” Bai Youwei’s brow furrowed even more tightly, cursing internally.
“Listen well. I’ll only say this once.” Shen Mo pinched her face, his tone like an impatient tenderness. “I won’t abandon you. Did you hear clearly?”
“…” She twisted her face, unable to break free from his hand.
Shen Mo pinched her again, like pinching a doll. “I’m asking you. Did you hear clearly?”
Bai Youwei moved her lips: “I heard clearly…”
Shen Mo was satisfied and released his hand, turning back to turn the car key. The engine rumbled lowly.
He glanced through the rearview mirror at the back seat. Bai Youwei was covering her face, glaring at him with resentful eyes.
Shen Mo’s lips curved slightly as he drove onto the road.
He had figured out Bai Youwei’s temperament—typically stubborn and unyielding. If you treated her well, she’d think you were pitying her, sympathizing with her, finding all sorts of trouble. Better to be a bit fierce—it saved trouble and kept things peaceful.
“I’m at least several years older than you. You should have some confidence in me,” Shen Mo said while gripping the steering wheel, smiling lightly.
In the rearview mirror, the girl’s eyes showed even more disgust. She looked coldly out the window, ignoring him.
She seemed to hate him now.