Chapter 84: Is This Nickname Off-Limits for Me?
Li Wang pulled the silver Wuling Hongguang minivan over to the curb. Leaning out the driver’s window, he called to Jiang Lin, who was searching the streets alone: “Miss Jiang! It’s too dangerous wandering out here on your own. Why don’t you ride with us?”
Jiang Lin stopped in her tracks and turned around. Her gaze lingered on the battered minivan before sweeping over the familiar yet exhausted faces looking back at her from inside.
She clenched her fists, a bitter taste rising in her mouth.
During her search through the district, she had attempted to hotwire several abandoned cars. Unfortunately, they either lacked keys entirely or sputtered and coughed thick black smoke the moment the ignition turned, clearly unfit for a long-distance trek.
“Sister Jiang, come on up!” Xiao Lei called out, his small head poking out from the window as he clung to Liu Juan’s arm. “Mom says there’s safety in numbers!”
Liu Juan was quick to back up her son, adding warmly, “That’s right, Miss Jiang. In a broken world like this, a person on their own is practically a sitting duck. If we survivors stick together, we can at least look out for each other and keep our spirits up.”
Jiang Lin studied them, her lips pressed into a tight line as she weighed her options.
She understood the cold reality all too well.
In the apocalypse, a lone woman driving across empty highways was no different from painting a target on her back. If she ran into ruthless bandits or scavengers with ill intentions, her abilities wouldn’t save her against overwhelming numbers.
Furthermore, even if she managed to secure a working vehicle now, gasoline was a scarce luxury, and driving separately would only waste precious fuel.
Having evaluated the pros and cons, Jiang Lin set aside her lingering hesitation and gave a polite nod. “…Then I’ll trouble you for a seat, Brother Li.”
She pulled the sliding door open, settled into a relatively roomy spot in the back row, and exchanged friendly nods with Liu Juan and Xiao Lei.
Seeing that everyone was situated, Li Wang breathed a sigh of relief and shifted the legendary minivan into gear.
Near the county exit, Jiang Jue and Chu Yang’s armored recreational vehicle was parked quietly in the shade along the roadside.
With the throaty rumble of an engine and the sharp hiss of tires gripping asphalt, Lin Xiao’s jet-black Land Rover rounded the corner with a flashy drift, pulling up smoothly beside the RV.
“Boss! We found ourselves some wheels! Third Brother, take a look at this beast—isn’t she magnificent?!” Lin Xiao pushed the door open and hopped down, patting the chassis with an ear-to-ear grin.
Chu Yang had been leaning against the side of the RV, speaking in low tones with Jiang Jue. Hearing the commotion, he looked up, his eyes brightening with genuine approval. Stepping forward to inspect the vehicle, he chuckled, “Not bad at all! A Land Rover? The build is rugged and the ground clearance is high—perfect for the road ahead.”
“Of course!” Lin Xiao tossed his head smugly, a stray lock of hair fluttering across his forehead. “I’ve got a sharp eye for quality; I knew she was the one at first glance! Wang Qiang and Li Yu scored a ride too; they’re right behind us.” Looking around the quiet intersection, he furrowed his brow. “Where are the other survivors? Haven’t they made it back yet?”
Before Chu Yang could answer, the distant hum of approaching engines broke through the air.
Wang Qiang’s SUV led the way, followed closely by Li Wang’s silver minivan. The vehicles rolled to a halt along the curb one after another.
Jiang Jue lifted his gaze, scanning the survivors as they stepped out onto the road. Confirming the entire group was accounted for, he turned naturally toward Chu Yang.
“Yangyang, it’s time to go.”
His voice was calm and even, the address rolling off his tongue with absolute ease.
Yangyang?!
Chu Yang had just lifted his foot to head toward the RV. Hearing those two syllables, his footing gave out and he stumbled violently, nearly pitching headfirst into the dirt.
He whipped around in pure disbelief, his eyes wide and his jaw slack. Staring straight at Jiang Jue, his voice cracked in a flustered squeak: “Ya… Yangyang?!”
Brother Jiang? What on earth did he just call me? Did I mishear him?
Watching the younger man’s flustered reaction, Jiang Jue’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. His fingers resting at his sides tightened slightly.
Yet his chiseled face remained as composed as ever, though his dark eyes deepened with an intense, quiet focus. “What’s wrong?” he asked calmly.
Chu Yang shook his head frantically, his voice dropping as an unbidden warmth crept up his neck. “N-nothing… It’s just… Brother Jiang, why did you suddenly call me that?”
A light, flustered blush colored his cheeks. That pet name was an intimate childhood nickname. Aside from his grandmother who had passed away years ago, almost no one had ever used it.
Hearing it now from Jiang Jue’s lips—spoken with such casual, unyielding familiarity—made his heart feel strangely restless, as though something had gently grazed across his chest.
Jiang Jue held his gaze, his dark eyes brimming with a quiet, stubborn intensity as he countered, “Is this nickname off-limits for me?”
“No… it’s not that you’re forbidden from using it,” Chu Yang stammered, feeling inexplicably guilty under that heavy stare. His eyes darted away, unable to maintain direct contact. “It’s just… it feels a bit awkward. I’m not used to it…”
Jiang Jue didn’t argue. He simply held Chu Yang in his deep, fathomless gaze, as if silently conveying: You’ll get used to it in time.
Utterly defeated by that calm, resolute look, Chu Yang let out a silent, helpless sigh in his heart: Forget it, forget it. He’s the boss, after all. He can call me whatever he wants… Besides, it’s not like it’s an ugly nickname.
Clearing his throat loudly to brush past the embarrassment, Chu Yang patted the RV door and called out, “Ahem… let’s get moving, then! We should try to hit the next supply outpost before sundown!”
Nearby, Lin Xiao—who had wandered over just in time to catch the nickname—pressed his lips together, his eyes bulging. Nudging Su Mubai hard with his elbow, he winked furiously and mouthed in silent shock: Did. You. Hear. That?! He did it again!
Su Mubai glanced back at him with an impassive face, his eyes clearly delivering the message: Mind your own business.
Without changing his expression, Su Mubai took half a step away to put some distance between himself and the gossiping Lin Xiao. Looking over at Little Yu, who stood quietly nearby, and then at Jiang Jue and Chu Yang heading toward their RV, a thoughtful realization crossed his mind.
“Little Yu,” Su Mubai called out gently, “why don’t you ride with us in the Land Rover? It’ll make it easier for us to look after you on the road.”
He figured Jiang Jue and Chu Yang might appreciate some… personal space. Besides, their Land Rover was plenty roomy, and taking in one more quiet kid wouldn’t crowd them at all.
Chu Yang opened his mouth to offer an alternative, but before he could speak, Jiang Jue gave a prompt, decisive nod. “Good.”
Chu Yang blinked, watching Jiang Jue turn to pull open the RV door, and swallowed the words on his tongue. Oh well. The boss never liked being crammed into tight spaces with extra people anyway. Little Yu would probably feel much more at ease with Su Mubai and Lin Xiao.
Turning to the boy, Chu Yang offered a warm, encouraging smile: “Little Yu, listen to Brother Little Bai and ride with them. Keep your guard up on the highway, and don’t lean out the windows.”
Little Yu nodded obediently, adjusted the straps of his small backpack, and jogged over to Lin Xiao’s Land Rover.
Moments later, the powerful hum of engines reverberated through the empty streets.
Leading the convoy was Jiang Jue and Chu Yang’s black armored RV, followed closely by Lin Xiao, Su Mubai, and Little Yu in the Land Rover. Wang Qiang and Li Yu’s SUV took up the third position, while Li Wang’s silver minivan—carrying the remaining survivors—brought up the rear.
The small, diverse convoy rolled smoothly onto the open highway, charting a steady course toward the distant safety of the N City Base.
