Here we go again.

“…” Shen Mo closed his eyes wearily.

When he opened them again…

“What do you think?” He looked at her blandly, without any emotion, asking in return, “Can a fully charged rabbit make you strong enough not to need anyone to look after you?”

Bai Youwei’s eyes rolled around as she said: “That’s hard to say. After all, I’m quite capable too.”

Shen Mo stood up. “Fine, I won’t look after you anymore.”

“No!” Bai Youwei suddenly grabbed his hand with great force. “I can choose not to want you to look after me, but you can’t not look after me!”

Shen Mo: “…”

What kind of talk was this?

A tongue twister? You can be even more convoluted.

“Let go.” Shen Mo said.

Bai Youwei: “I won’t!”

Shen Mo took a deep breath and said calmly: “Didn’t you tell me to look after you? I’m now telling you to let go.”

Bai Youwei: “…”

Two seconds later, she let go of him pitifully, her tone resentful: “Then where are you going?”

It was rare to see her soften. Shen Mo felt it was somewhat novel and said: “Back to my tent to sleep. I’m on watch for the second half of tonight, so I plan to sleep early.”

Bai Youwei’s eyes suddenly widened, her tone incredulous: “You’re not sleeping in the same tent as me?!”

Shen Mo didn’t understand what was so surprising about this.

They had always shared a room before because conditions were limited. Now that supplies were plentiful in the maze, why would they still squeeze into one tent?

“What if something happens to me alone in the tent? What if I need to use the bathroom at night?!” Bai Youwei’s gaze was pressing as she looked at him. “Do you want me to loudly shout your name in the dead of night and let the whole world know I need to use the bathroom?!”

After saying all this, she suddenly lost strength, her head drooping as she said listlessly: “Forget it, you can go.”

Shen Mo was immediately speechless.

It was very dark inside the tent. She held the stuffed rabbit with an indifferent expression, eyes downcast and silent, her whole person radiating dejection and despondency.

For a moment, many words surged to his lips.

He pressed his lips together, lifted the tent flap, and went out.

…

Outside was lively.

Although it was nighttime, because there was electricity, it didn’t seem lonely at all. Some people sat around in front of tents chatting, some went together to get water, and others played music to relieve the tense atmosphere.

All around was noisy.

Shen Mo didn’t know what he was thinking. He grabbed his backpack and blanket from his tent, and turning around, discovered Tan Xiao and Cheng Weicai were both looking at him.

Inexplicably, he suddenly felt a toothache.

He was silent for a while, then explained without much inflection: “She’s scared alone.”

The two people in front of him showed expressions of sudden understanding.

“You should keep her company.” Teacher Cheng said understandingly. “No matter how capable she usually is, she’s still a young girl. Sleeping alone in a place like this, it’s hard on Weiwei.”

Shen Mo nodded and took his things over.

Teacher Cheng watched his retreating figure, thought for a moment, and asked Tan Xiao beside him: “Xiao Tan, are you familiar with Xiao Shen?”

“I met him at the same time as you.” Tan Xiao looked confused. “Why are you asking this?”

“Oh, nothing.” Teacher Cheng said. “It’s just a bit strange—they’re siblings, but one is surnamed Shen and one is surnamed Bai. If they were cousins, we’ve never seen them avoid any impropriety…”

“Isn’t that simple?” Tan Xiao blurted out. “One takes the father’s surname, one takes the mother’s surname!”

—

Teacher Cheng had a sudden realization: “I see! I was being old-fashioned, forgetting that surnames can also follow the mother. You young people’s minds turn faster.”

Tan Xiao grinned with white teeth: “Just average~”

…