C63 Tang Bing Was Sad about the Past, but He Decided to Leave the Mother-daughter Pair Alone in the

"Exactly!" Lin Leyan exclaimed, pointing to the young girl, "This is my daughter, Liang Hui. She's about your age. But she's a student at Fengwu University."

"Hello there!" Tang Bing extended his hand. The girl merely nodded in response and kept her focus on her bread.

Lin Leyan let out a soft sigh at the sight. "Don't take it personally, Tang. Huihui is just a bit shy around new people."

"No worries!" Tang Bing withdrew his hand, feeling a bit awkward, and brushed off his pants.

Shy? She had initiated a conversation with him earlier. It seemed more like she was hesitant to shake hands, perhaps cautious around someone she didn't know well.

The mother and daughter finished their bread in silence, though they were still only half-satisfied.

But they understood the need to avoid overeating all at once. They had at least begun to feel better.

Noticing Tang Bing peering out the window, Lin Leyan dabbed at her mouth and asked in a low voice, "Tang, where are you staying now? Are you at the military sanctuary?"

Tang Bing glanced back at her and gently shook his head, "No, the military sanctuary is somewhat distant from here, and it was overrun by zombies not too long ago."

"What? What do you mean?" Lin Leyan's face paled at his words.

"It's exactly as it sounds," Tang Bing explained, "When we got there, we discovered that A City's military sanctuary had been completely overrun by zombies. Only one survivor got out and led the others to City B."

"You're saying... everyone in the military sanctuary was devoured by zombies?" Lin Leyan's voice shook.

"Yes," Tang Bing replied, noticing her distress. He asked cautiously, "Was Teacher Lin's husband there?"

"My dad was killed by zombies on the first day..." Liang Hui murmured, "He couldn't have been in the sanctuary."

Tang Bing paused, taken aback, "Your dad was... and you're not..."

"You're wondering why I'm not crying?" Liang Hui looked at him squarely, "I've cried out all my tears. There are none left."

As Tang Bing observed the mother and daughter's stoic faces and listened to Liang Hui's words, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness, even though their grief was not his own.

He knew that in the midst of the apocalypse, such circumstances were the norm. Simply being alive was the greatest stroke of luck one could hope for!

Eager to steer the conversation elsewhere, he asked, "Teacher Lin, do you have relatives at the military sanctuary?"

"Relatives?" Lin Leyan let out a sigh, "You could say that. My best friend is there; I've always thought of her as a sister. She even reached out over the internet, urging me to join her there, claiming it was very safe. But my daughter and I, we're trapped in this building, and our phones got lost somewhere while we were hiding."

"I see..." Tang Bing, who lacked close friends of his own, found it hard to grasp the depth of Teacher Lin's sorrow.

After a brief silence in the office, Teacher Lin spoke up, "Tang, did you come here by yourself?"

At this, Liang Hui looked up at him with a tense expression.

"Yes," Tang Bing confirmed with a nod, "Qin Mengyao and another friend were supposed to come with me, but they got hurt on the way, so I came to rescue the two of you."

"Mengyao is hurt?" Lin Leyan's voice was edged with panic, "Was she bitten by zombies? The news reports say a bite is a death sentence!"

Seeing Teacher Lin's genuine concern, Tang Bing reassured her based on Qin Mengli's information, which confirmed their close bond. "Don't worry! Qin Mengyao is okay, she's just really concerned about you."

"That's a relief..." Lin Leyan breathed easier, feeling a weight lift from her chest, though her expression remained clouded with concern. She had just learned that the military sanctuary had fallen, and her dearest friend might have been devoured by zombies. If Mengli were in danger too, she doubted she could withstand the blows and keep her will to survive.

"My mom mentioned you're quite fond of Qin Mengyao," Liang Hui interjected, eyeing Tang Bing with suspicion, "but I can't sense it in your voice. When you say her name, it sounds... distant."

Her daughter's probing question drew Lin Leyan's attention as well.

Facing the mother and daughter, Tang Bing gave a wry smile, "Well, it's a bit complicated. Before the world fell apart, she made it clear she didn't feel the same way about me. She severed all ties to the memories I had cherished since our college days..."

"Ah, you got dumped!" Liang Hui exclaimed, as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head.

Lin Leyan discreetly nudged her daughter with her foot, a frown creasing her brow as she cautioned her to watch her words.

Tang Bing certainly caught the gesture but responded, "It's okay. It's just the way it is! She's not into me, and there's no point in forcing the issue."

"But you're telling me you chased her for four years only to be rejected?" Liang Hui shook her head in disbelief. "That's just too much. If she wasn't interested, she should have said so right away. Who drags things out for four years? That's insane! It's better to end things sooner so everyone can move on and explore other possibilities..."

"Huihui!" Lin Leyan cut her daughter off, "Why are you commenting on their personal matters?"

"But I'm just stating the facts!" Liang Hui retorted, frowning.

"I get where Mengli is coming from," Lin Leyan sighed. "She didn't mean for things to turn out this way. Honestly, she's a bit... well, she tends to procrastinate when faced with tough decisions. She's not a bad person at heart. It's just that, Tang, it seems you and she weren't meant to be."

"I'm aware," Tang Bing said with a wry smile. "Teacher Lin, can we please drop the subject of my love life?"

"Of course, of course!" Lin Leyan quickly agreed, nodding. "We won't talk about it anymore! Tang, your place is a military sanctuary, right? Would it be safe for my daughter and me to come there? How many people do you have?"

"In these apocalyptic times, is there really anywhere that's completely safe?" Tang Bing shook his head. "Even with all the advanced weapons, the military sanctuary was still overrun by zombies. We do our best to ensure everyone's safety, but that's about it."

"That makes sense," Lin Leyan acknowledged. "So, how many people are with you now? Is there enough space? And do you have sufficient food?"

"We currently have four people in total," Tang Bing replied candidly. "If you two join us, we'll be up to six! The place is a sizable garment factory. There's a supermarket nearby for scavenging supplies. As for food, we're pretty well set!"

"Oh, that's a relief!" Lin Leyan said with a small nod. "Out of the four of you, how many are men and how many are women?"

"Ah?" Tang Bing was momentarily taken aback by the question.

Seeing him freeze, Lin Leyan quickly clarified, "I mean, how many people do we have that can protect us? If it's just women as defenseless as us, survival will be a real challenge!"

Tang Bin snapped out of it, giving a wry smile. "Teacher Lin, why does this feel like a job interview? Are you saying if our group is small and not very strong, you won't join us? Maybe I should head back, and you two can wait here to see if someone else comes to rescue you?"

"No, no, that's not what I'm saying!" Lin Leyan hastily gestured, "Tang, please don't get the wrong idea, and don't be upset! I was just trying to get a clear picture."

"It's okay, Teacher Lin!" Tang Bing shrugged. "I'm not upset. I just think these questions aren't really relevant."

"Exactly! Mom, you're missing the point!" Liang Hui murmured, "What's crucial is figuring out how to leave this place and get to their shelter. We're no match for zombies, so can he get us out safely?"

"Yes!" Lin Leyan's expression grew stern, "Tang, be honest with us. Can we truly make it out safely? If you're not confident you can lead us to safety, just leave us some food. We don't want to be a burden that costs you your life. The outside world is swarming with man-eating monsters. Rather than becoming their prey, we'd prefer to hold out as long as we can and die with dignity here."

"Mom, I don't want to die!" Liang Hui blurted out, panic-stricken. "I'm still young!"

"Then Tang, it's up to you to take both of us. How will you avoid all those monsters?" Lin Leyan's voice was tinged with despair, "Not to mention my size and my mobility issues, I'm sure to slow you down!"

"That's for sure," Liang Hui glanced at her mother and sighed, "Mom, with your size, there's no way you can run fast. We nearly didn't make it last time; getting out seems almost impossible."

"Maybe you should go with Tang," Lin Leyan suggested, "I'll stay behind, Mom."

"What are you saying?" Liang Hui's face had been nonchalant moments before, but upon hearing her mother's words, she became frantic. "I'm not going anywhere without you! How could I ever abandon you? Even if I managed to survive, I'd be tormented by guilt for the rest of my life!"

"Oh, my silly girl! I've lived a good long life, and I've been blessed with a treasure like you for a daughter. What regrets could I possibly have? As long as you're safe and sound, that's all that matters to me," Lin Leyan said, gazing at her daughter with a heavy heart.

"What are you talking about?" Liang Hui rushed to embrace her mother tightly. "I will never leave you behind! If you won't go, neither will I! If it comes to it, we'll face whatever comes together!"

"Ah, Huihui, you're being foolish..."

"Mom..."

"Huihui..."

Tang Bing watched the deep display of mother-daughter affection unfold before him, a wry smile flickering across his lips. It was awkward to interrupt, but if he let the scene drag on, there was no telling what might ensue.

With a sense of urgency, he interjected gently, "Teacher Lin, Liang Hui, please, let's stay calm. I'm here to ensure your safety, and I've come fully prepared. Just follow my lead, and we can get out of here without a hitch!"

"Is that true?" Tang Bing's assurance prompted the mother and daughter to break their embrace, looking at him with hopeful, tear-filled eyes. Teacher Lin Leyan asked anxiously, "Tang, you really have a plan to get us out of here together, safe and sound?"

"Rest assured," Tang Bing replied with a nod. "I promise to get you both out of here unharmed. All I ask is that you follow my instructions to the letter. We can't afford any slip-ups."

"If you can lead us to safety, we'll do whatever it takes to cooperate," Lin Leyan affirmed earnestly. "Tang, just tell us what we need to do."

"Yes, please, just tell us and we'll follow your lead!" Liang Hui chimed in, nodding eagerly.

"Hold on," Tang Bing said as he drew back the curtains to peer at the darkening sky outside. "We'll rest up tonight and make our move tomorrow. Without working lights, venturing out in the dark would be a death wish. Tonight, though, we'll need to share a room. I hope that won't be a problem for you two?"

"Not at all, not at all!" Lin Leyan hastily interjected, "So, we're setting out tomorrow, correct? Tang, Huihui and I previously used that piece of cloth as a blanket. I've laid it out for you today!"