Rebirth before Apocalypse: My Whole Family are Bigshots!-Chapter 196: Light

"Tell me, when did you find out!" Bai Xiqin threatened fiercely, "If you don’t explain clearly, no meals for you these days!"

Leng Yebai’s smug expression instantly froze.

No way!

Even a beating would be preferable!

"I knew a long time ago," Leng Yebai rubbed his nose, "It was Zhang Yiming who told me not to tell you."

Leng Yebai felt a bit guilty.

Whatever, it’s all on Zhang Yiming anyway.

Better him than me!

Sorry!

"He told you not to say, so you didn’t say?" Bai Xiqin glanced at Leng Yebai, rolled her eyes, "If he told you to run naked on the street, would you do it?"

"Of course not," Leng Yebai shook his head seriously, his voice solemn, "If you told me to do it, I’d go."

In matters like this, it’s best to listen to the wife.

"Get lost!" Bai Xiqin gritted her teeth.

Leng Yebai rubbed his nose and obediently stood by Bai Xiqin, tenderly gazing at his little beloved.

On the other side.

Bai Yifan and Zhang Yiming were walking down the street.

"There’s a barbecue place over there, might have charcoal!"

Bai Yifan pointed at a crooked sign in the distance with bright eyes.

The sign dangled at the entrance, swaying in the wind as if ready to fall at any moment.

"Great, let’s take a look."

Zhang Yiming smiled warmly, his pale face becoming more gentle in the sunlight.

The fingertips touched by Xiao Niu lightly rubbed together, feeling nothing, yet his face softened considerably.

This made him feel he wasn’t a zombie, just like before the apocalypse, the world was still beautiful.

The desolate streets pulled Zhang Yiming back to reality.

The barbecue joint’s doors and windows had been smashed, faintly visible were black stains on the floor.

Zhang Yiming’s smile faded slightly upon seeing the black stains.

Zombies, black blood, bloodthirsty, violent, not human...

Zhang Yiming looked away from the bloodstains, his face regaining a gentle smile.

One day, he would definitely become human.

No matter the cost.

Bai Yifan and Zhang Yiming strode inside; it was a mess, tables, chairs scattered across the floor.

In just a few months, the shop was covered in dust.

Bai Yifan rummaged around for charcoal like a raccoon, jumping and darting everywhere.

Charcoal was quite useful in the winter.

Though it was March now, there was still a chill.

The charcoal inside had long been taken clean.

"Nothing!"

Bai Yifan, after searching around, couldn’t find any charcoal and felt a bit disappointed.

A barbecue without charcoal lacked soul.

His sister’s space had plenty of charcoal, but it wouldn’t be right to pull it out in broad daylight.

"Let’s use this!"

Zhang Yiming’s lips curled slightly, pointing to the haphazardly strewn tables and chairs.

These were wooden; with his Fire Ability, he could burn them into charcoal, just enough to use.

"Alright!"

Bai Yifan didn’t mind the trouble and bent down to carry the tables and chairs.

Zhang Yiming gave a light smile; they could’ve gone to Xiao Niu’s place to find wood.

Would save on the heavy lifting.

But seeing Bai Yifan’s efforts...

Zhang Yiming didn’t say anything.

He remembered Xiao Niu saying her little brother wasn’t very smart. Seems it’s true.

"Yikes—"

Bai Yifan carried several wooden chairs, mishandled one, causing them to crash down, almost toppling over on the spot.

Zhang Yiming reacted swiftly, pulling Bai Yifan towards himself.

His long fingers tightly gripped Bai Yifan’s clothes.

But his gaze shifted to his own wrist.

In his gentle eyes lay sheer bewilderment.

On the pale wrist, there was a small abrasion, and the wound oozed black blood.

The contrast between white skin and black blood stood out starkly.

Zhang Yiming froze, with fear flickering across his gentle face.

Images of Xiao Niu staring blankly at him flashed through his mind.

She wasn’t looking at him, but his sleeve...

Zhang Yiming’s heart fell into an abyss.

"That was terrifying; I almost got seriously injured."

Bai Yifan sighed in relief at the disorderly chairs on the ground.

Being hit by a chair wouldn’t cause severe injury.

But his father’s beatings had been harsh; avoiding harm whenever possible seemed wise.

Bai Yifan turned, ready to thank Zhang Yiming, only to see his rigid expression.

"Brother Zhang, what’s wrong?"

Bai Yifan asked, looking at Zhang Yiming in surprise.

Zhang Yiming’s hand still held onto the back of Bai Yifan’s garment, showing no sign of letting go.

"Nothing, nothing at all."

Zhang Yiming shrank back as if touching scorching lava, withdrawn his hand instantly, his other hand tugged at his sleeve.

Covering the tainted blood.

"Alright, if it’s nothing, let’s head back quickly! The sooner, the sooner we eat!"

Bai Yifan grinned, bending over to carry the scattered tables and chairs again.

Zhang Yiming looked down at his feet, fingers clenching tighter, nails almost dug into flesh without sensation.

He thought of Xiao Niu pulling him, her expression bewildered.

He assumed it was just other emotions.

Even fantasized he captured her attention.

Reflecting now, she must’ve noticed the black blood on his wrist, felt his cold fingers.

From that angle, she certainly saw them.

How could he forget he lacked warmth?

In his heart, Zhang Yiming felt immensely pressured by her possible attitude towards him.

Surprise, or perhaps fear.

Suddenly Zhang Yiming felt no courage to face Xiao Niu.

He reached up to touch his eyes.

He wanted to cry but couldn’t, unable to shed tears.

Turned around, without a word, Zhang Yiming stumbled outside.

"Brother Zhang, where are you going?"

Bai Yifan’s voice came from behind.

Zhang Yiming quickened his pace without looking back or speaking; he just wanted to leave.

Before leaving, his mental signal reached its peak.

The zombies on the road from the barbecue joint to Bai Xiqin’s path stared blankly, leaving the necessary passages.

He had no intention of returning with Bai Yifan.

He lacked the courage to learn Xiao Niu’s feelings about him being a zombie.

Though he could handle everyone’s strange looks, he couldn’t bear Xiao Niu’s view of him like this.

She was his light; without it, what was left?

He’d rather have died back then.

He dreaded the next meeting with Xiao Niu, feared the disgust and fear in her eyes.

Zhang Yiming strode forward, surrounded by a gloomy atmosphere.

He ran in the opposite direction of Bai Xiqin, with zombies showing fear on their expressionless faces, evading Zhang Yiming.

Seeing those expressions, Zhang Yiming’s lips curled in self-mockery.

He, like them.

A zombie could never integrate into human society.

Zhang Yiming ran far, resting quietly against a wall.

Trying to calm down, the primal impulses of a zombie filled his mind.

Bloodthirst, rage, destruction...

Lingering restlessness.

Destruction’s savage instincts consumed Zhang Yiming’s mind, his eyes slightly red, itching to command all zombies to flatten the safety base.

But, no.

She would loathe him for this.

That light was his sole reason to live after being abandoned by family.