Apocalypse: Last Traveler

The taste of roasted corn is quite nice. Unlike the full and sweet flavor of boiled corn, roasted corn has a slightly dry, charred aroma when it enters the mouth.

The flames directly enveloping the corn seem to have fully evoked its sweetness, giving it a unique taste.

But at this moment, Yao Wei was not in the mood to savor the taste.

Her mind was in a mess, feeling something was off with herself.

Touching Lu Xi'an once should not mean anything to her. Moreover, she had only just brushed his with her fingertips and retracted her hand quickly.

But why did she suddenly think of those images?

Those images from the comic book… it seemed not to be the first time they flashed in her mind; even when Lu Xi'an took off his clothes just now, she felt as if she was about to remember them.

Otherwise, why did she feel a little afraid to look at Lu Xi'an just now?

Getting one's clothes wet and taking them off immediately to dry, with the fire to roast by, should be a very ordinary thing...

She had seen people's upper bodies before as well.

She had traveled from the south to the north, and then came here, seeing many people and things, including those without clothes, freezing to death in the wilderness.

Seeing those people hadn't affected her like this...

Was it because she'd never seen the drawings from that book before?

Yao Wei speculated wildly but thought carefully and felt that wasn't it.

She could now recall the appearance of those people as well, not only those who froze to death in the winter but those in the height of summer, with bare chests.

But thinking back on it, she didn't find anything special…

Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it any further.

She reminded herself internally, finishing off the roasted corn in her hands with big bites.

"Want more?"

Lu Xi'an's voice sounded.

"Ah…"

Yao Wei was startled for a moment, coming back to her senses, seeing Lu Xi'an had also finished his, taking down the branch and poking holes into another raw cob with a screwdriver.

Lu Xi'an had brought four ears of corn from the car, but only two were roasted just now.

"Yes."

Yao Wei nodded without hesitation, momentarily forgetting to focus on Lu Xi'an's upper body.

"Then prepare this one."

Lu Xi'an smiled slightly, handing the corn he had poked holes in to Yao Wei, then picked up another raw cob, using the screwdriver to poke holes again at the end of the cob.

Yao Wei silently removed the branch from the eaten corn cob and inserted it into the holes of the raw corn, placing it onto the fire in the fireplace to roast.

She added some more firewood to the fireplace, even throwing in the corn cob to make the fire burn more vigorously.

Outside the shelter, rain was still falling, making a muffled "puff, puff, puff" sound on the bedsheet, mingling with the sound of rain hitting the ground, making the firelight in the fireplace seem particularly serene.

Yao Wei watched quietly as the flames danced around the corn, feeling the heat against her face and body, her heart gradually calming.

She felt her rationality slowly returning, and the feeling of regaining control over her thoughts was very good.

Until another ear of corn was also placed into the fire.

Her thoughts seemed to become a bit chaotic again; she wanted to focus on the corn in the fire but found it a bit difficult, the inexplicable images still trying to push into her mind.

She pressed her lips together and asked Lu Xi'an: "That book Luo Ping gave you… why do they do that in it?"

"Huh?!"

The question took Lu Xi'an completely by surprise.

Lu Xi'an never expected Yao Wei would ask such a question.

But he quickly understood, thinking he had guessed correctly, that Yao Wei was indeed influenced by that comic book.

Growing up, this woman apparently had no knowledge of this kind of thing, which was surprising.

But after thinking it through, Lu Xi'an understood.

When Yao Wei's mother passed away, Yao Wei was probably still very young. Perhaps that's why her late mother taught her many things but never discussed this subject.

Moreover, being a Type A Neo-Human, Yao Wei was too powerful, and ordinary people could neither subdue her nor force her into anything.

Plus, the deeply ingrained vigilance she possessed meant Yao Wei would never easily put herself in danger, falling into others' hands, thus losing a channel to receive such knowledge.

No matter how beautiful or well-shaped she was, no one had explained this knowledge to her.

But should it be him explaining it?

Lu Xi'an flipped the corn over.

In this world, who else could Yao Wei ask? What is wrong with explaining it himself?

"It's for reproduction… having children, that is."

Lu Xi'an told Yao Wei directly, "Back then, your dad and your mom did what was in that comic book to have you."

Yao Wei was startled, and after a long moment, furrowed her brows in confusion, asking: "But I've seen women with children in their arms, with big bellies, taking a long time to get the child out of the belly. It's not the same as in the book."

Lu Xi'an: "…"

This woman asks such detailed questions.

"You have to do what's in the book to have a big belly."

He explained to Yao Wei, then said, "Of course, it's not only to have children that people do such things.

"The biological instinct to reproduce is ingrained in genes, so not just humans, but other animals, too, yield to reproduction by instinct, although the methods vary.

"And humans, they experience pleasure from such activities, especially when doing it with someone they like, they gain immense satisfaction.

"So the people in the book might be doing it to please themselves and each other."

Yao Wei frowned slightly, asking: "But those two people in the book are so absorbed, isn't it risky?"

Lu Xi'an replied: "In the old world, where was it dangerous? People could enjoy themselves to their heart's content."

"That's nice."

Yao Wei sighed.

Lu Xi'an: "..."

Even though he knew she was lamenting the safety of the old world, Lu Xi'an still felt something was off when she responded like that.

"Crackle—"

Sparks flew in the fireplace. Yao Wei turned the corn in her hand, falling into silence.

After a while, she suddenly realized that she had stuck the corn too far in, the fire almost reaching the stick holding the corn, and quickly adjusted it.

Then she asked, "Have you ever done something like in the book?"

Lu Xi'an laughed, "I came all the way from the far north and hardly saw anyone, where would I find someone to do something like that with?"

"Oh."

Yao Wei nodded, for some reason feeling a slight relief in her heart.

She was a bit confused. Two people pleasing each other, feeling happiness, should also be quite normal, right? What was going on with her, why didn't she want to hear about Lu Xi'an pleasing someone else?

Was it because of that phrase "doing this with someone you like"?

But so what?

She liked her mother, liked Chai Xin, that little girl, and also liked Lu Xi'an, who was so reliable and knowledgeable.

Thinking about it, Lu Xi'an probably felt the same way.

Then why was she feeling this way?

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Yao Wei frown again, Lu Xi'an asked without knowing what she was thinking.

He had been observing Yao Wei as he spoke, and she had frowned several times already, how could this knowledge point trouble her so much?

Not understanding what troubled Yao Wei, Lu Xi'an asked.

Yao Wei simply voiced her concern, "I was feeling a bit uneasy, wondering if you had ever done something from the book with others. Because you said doing such things with someone you like can be pleasurable.

"But isn't it normal to like many people? Why do I feel uncomfortable?"

Lu Xi'an was stunned and suddenly laughed.

He turned his head to look at Yao Wei, her face bathed in the flickering firelight, under the dim warm glow that illuminated her high-bridged nose and slightly upturned eyelashes, casting a gentle shadow.

In the flickering firelight, the skin on Yao Wei's cheeks seemed to be coated with a delicate oil paint, exuding a gentle luster, making even her slightly undulating breath inexplicably charming.

"It's different."

Lu Xi'an said, "Between men and women, between mother and daughter, between friends, the nature of liking is not the same. Just like the food in our hands, there's boiled, roasted, fried, sautéed, each with a vastly different flavor."

He didn't know how to explain the different kinds of liking to Yao Wei, so he resorted to an imperfect analogy.

He thought for a moment and continued, "Like on my journey, I met you, met Chai Xin, and met Luo Ping.

"I quite like Luo Ping, but it's just admiration for his carefree demeanor and his way of doing things, that kind of liking.

"I also like Chai Xin, but that's a fondness towards a junior. Sometimes I wonder if I see her as a daughter.

"And for you, a companion along the journey, a life-and-death comrade, I can share everything with you, which is certainly different from the other kinds of liking."

"Hmm."

Yao Wei nodded, seeming to somewhat understand.

She asked again, "Then what about the kind of liking people have in that book?"

Lu Xi'an smiled and said, "The kind of liking where you want to have children together, I suppose."

"Oh."

Yao Wei thought for a moment, shook her head, and said, "Then the kind of liking between us isn't like that kind."

"Is it?"

Lu Xi'an asked.

Yao Wei nodded with certainty, "Yes. I really don't want to have children with you; there are things to do, and it's too dangerous."

Lu Xi'an laughed and said, "In the book, that kind of liking isn't determined like that?"

"Then how is it determined?"

Yao Wei questioned, "Didn't you say it's the kind of liking where you want to have kids together?"

Lu Xi'an said, "The human heart is very complex. If you rely on logic to understand it, you might never figure it out. This kind of liking has to be felt with the heart."

"How do you feel with the heart?"

Yao Wei didn't understand.

"Do you want to try?"

Lu Xi'an suddenly looked at Yao Wei and asked.

Yao Wei's originally calm face took on a hint of allure in the firelight, quickening his heartbeat a bit.

He was explaining the definition of liking to Yao Wei, but also to himself.

What is liking, and can he untangle his feelings?

What kind of liking does he have for Yao Wei?

Comrade? Family? Friend? Lover?

The answer was so clear.

How could he not like this beautiful, strong, and captivating woman?

Feeling his quickened heartbeat, how could it be merely a comrade, family, or friend kind of liking?

"Hmm."

Yao Wei nodded.

Lu Xi'an said, "Then look at me."

Yao Wei turned to look at Lu Xi'an, seeing the flames dancing in his eyes.