Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Six months ago, his heart rate would often enter a state of sporadic imbalance; it was from that time that he lost the concept of time.

Perhaps his body was still alive, with only a faint presence of consciousness, but his spirit had been worn down by this lengthy ordeal.

Finally, after countless endless nights, the footsteps on the wasteland halted.

It was the only pause in two years, aside from regular rest. Underneath his long hair, his eyes as dark as the night revealed a hint of confusion.

Why am I walking forward?

”Who... am I?”

He instinctively rummaged through his clothes, hoping to find something that could prove his identity, but all his clothes were coordinated camouflage uniforms; there was nothing to prove who he was.

Until a small pebble fell to the ground, attracting his attention with the energy inside it.

Su Huan vaguely felt that the answer to his identity might lie here.

He squatted down, cautiously injecting energy into the Crystal Stone with his fingertips, and an enunciation emanated from within that sounded like someone clearing their throat.

Su Huan was stunned for a moment. That sound was so familiar; just a single soft cough made him recall the taste of sunshine and chestnuts.

Soon, a soft and intimate hum came from within.

”If not for loving you, how could I still be awake deep into the night?

”Every thought is about you; I miss you, miss you, miss you so much...”

The gusts rose sharply, carrying this tender, lingering song, echoing in the endless wasteland. Su Huan picked up the Crystal Stone with his fingertips, feeling its subtle vibration, and then tightly clenched it, wishing to squeeze that stone into his palm.

”If not for loving you, how could there be unsettling emotions?

”On every inexplicable day...

”Love is a tormenting thing, yet it’s hard to give up just like that...”

His pitch-black eyes regained clarity, and the smile at the corners of his mouth was no longer mischievous but now carried a gentle warmth.

One by one, images appeared in his mind.

The light always left on in the dining car, the drink always handed over at just the right moment, the gentle sunshine, the fluttering hem of a skirt, the sincere promise of ”year after year, wishing you health.”

The Crystal Stone was woven into his hair, and his halted steps once again moved forward, more determined than before.

He remembered who he was and also recalled the owner of the song.

In that small privately agreed-upon-to-spend-a-lifetime hut, the dim light still flickered, and the window flowers hadn’t melted; how could he forget her?

Yu Yao was right.

He wasn’t the gentle and sunny university student, Su Li; he was Su Huan, the relentless train conductor, Yu Yue’s husband, the one who made promises, the first person to be hit if the sky fell!

The tall figure merged into the ink-colored night, with the gentle song continuing endlessly.

”Constantly guessing whether my name is in your heart...”

...

...

The wind and snow ravage the land, continuously spreading his murderous intent and chill.

The grand train is like a floating city, firmly suspended above a small village regardless of how fierce the wind and snow may be.

This is the train conductor’s home.

Initially, there was only one solitary house; then, a few temporary buildings were added, and now it has been expanded into a small town, relying on the central Energy Core to barely create a livable environment in the Wind Snow Zone.

This town was established two years ago under Hu Shuo’s decision; since Yu Yue gave birth, her spirit has been increasingly despondent, inspiring him to build such a town under the Armed Train, and everyone unanimously agreed, tacitly forgetting this was Iron Pine Forest’s territory.

But does that matter?

If it weren’t for the fact that Iron Pine Forest’s territory was underground with poor lighting, He Jie would have invited them to move voluntarily.

The effect of the town is good, although Yu Yue’s emotions remain low, her mental state has improved significantly.

Aside from necessary tasks, most of the high-level personnel reside in this somewhat inconvenient town, implicitly surrounding the train conductor’s home in the center.

At eight in the morning, the wind blew the plastic-sheet-covered windows with a rustling sound, and on the warm heated brick bed, one of the three plump little lumps suddenly lifted up.

A tender face emerged, feeling the cold air outside, then quickly withdrew back under the covers.

The little boy opened his eyes, his pitch-black pupils round and sincere; without making a fuss, the three-year-old boy dressed himself under the blankets, glanced at his sleeping siblings, and quietly set foot on the floor, heading toward the kitchen.

In the gentle steam, the woman skillfully managed breakfast, a strand of hair dampened by the steam adhered to her cheek, with the everyday atmosphere overshadowing all her extraordinary qualities.

”Mom.”

The little boy called out softly.

The woman smiled gently, walked over, and embraced the little dumpling tightly in her arms, ”Why is Xiao Yi up so early today?”

”Mom, didn’t you say we’re going to the school today? Is it fun there?”

”Yes, there are lots of friends there, Xiao Yi should get along with others and not bully them.”

The little boy nodded and then asked, ”What do schools do?”

”There are teachers in schools who will teach you knowledge and answer questions you don’t know; you’ll need to listen to them carefully, okay?”

The little boy had many questions, like tens of thousands of whys, but the woman was exceedingly patient, answering even the most childish questions with warmth.

This was civilization’s first transmission, not in grand halls or finely packaged books, but in every unrelenting explanation and reminder from the woman.

And thus, forming the children’s basic understanding of the world.

Having appeased Su Yi, Yu Yue entered the room to wake the other two children.

These two she had snatched from Yu Jing. Although Xiaojing had repeatedly promised not to harm her biological children, Yu Yue simply couldn’t trust her, so she raised the two beside her, as her own offspring.

The two were a pair of twins, four months younger than Su Yi. With Su Huan having left, she named the older girl Su Yan, and the little boy Su Li.

If you considered her relationship with Yu Jing, the two kids should call her Grandmother, or Aunty Grandma.

But in terms of Su Huan, the generations were all mixed up.

To avoid confusing the children’s minds, Yu Yue resolutely decided not to recognize Yu Jing as a daughter, letting Xiaosu and her brother call her Auntie.

Anyway, they were of similar ages, and Little Su Yi and the others couldn’t tell them apart.

As for those who knew their true relationship, they wouldn’t talk indiscreetly in front of the children.

Giving the two children clothes, accompanying the trio to breakfast, an unassuming Xiaosu suddenly recalled something, disheartenedly asking.

”Auntie, is Mom still working on experiments?”

Yu Yue gently replied, ”Mom said she would pick you up after school today, so you should perform well, okay?”

While placating the child, she silently swore that today, she had to drag that dead girl out of the lab.

If she didn’t intend to raise them, why have children!

Absolutely infuriating!

Little Su Yan, not knowing Yu Yue’s thoughts, immediately brightened, eating with increased enthusiasm.

Beside him, Little Su Li was still in a daze; he didn’t know why his sister was happy, but since she was eating heartily, he just followed suit, otherwise, he might get scolded.

He still couldn’t distinguish between Auntie and Mom.

Compared to Mom, he preferred Auntie, as these two terms in his understanding had completely swapped meanings.

Though it wasn’t far, Yu Yue wrapped the three little ones into three tiny bundles and left home.

He Zhenzhen and Qu Hang, the young couple from the neighboring house, happened to walk out, greeted them, and He Zhenzhen praised each little dumpling, then took Yu Yue’s arm and started learning parenting tips.

If you looked closely, He Zhenzhen’s belly already had a slight curve.

Two years ago, with He Jie’s permission, they officially married, and recently had a child.

Qu Hang, walking behind, quietly observed the surroundings, when his gaze landed on He Zhenzhen’s silhouette, even the wind blowing around them softened a bit.