Chapter 55: The Mask of Kindness

A haze.

Su Qingyao shook her head.

This was the story of Su Qingyao and Lu Zhichuan, set before the establishment of their first settlement.

At this time, they were still in the phase of concealing their unique abilities, operating as ordinary Transcended within a small survivor camp, searching for clues.

Lu Zhichuan, with his affable demeanor and the ‘luck’ that manifested through his transcendent abilities, had become a minor celebrity in the camp.

It was just like his days in school.

During this period, Su Qingyao, under the tutelage of her ‘kindred,’ had already learned how to don the mask of ‘kindness’ and earn the trust of those known as survivors.

‘Ah… what a delightful game of make-believe.’

Su Qingyao, currently named ‘Su Qingyao,’ stood atop an old six-story residential building, her hollow eyes gazing down at Lu Zhichuan, who was drawing people in with his ‘smile.’

‘No, that’s not right.’

Su Qingyao imagined her own expression.

‘It must be blank, utterly indifferent.’

If someone were to see her like this, it might affect their reputation within the camp.

So, the young woman raised her index fingers, inserted them into the corners of her lips, and skillfully tugged them outwards, just slightly.

If it weren’t for the search for her mother’s whereabouts.

Perhaps Su Qingyao and Lu Zhichuan would have already grown tired of this game of make-believe and parted ways with these people.

Recalling the empty cell in the prison and the directional markers carved into the wall, Su Qingyao still felt a hollowness within her heart.

Only half a year had passed since Lu Zhichuan taught her at school how to display ‘modesty’ and ‘benevolence’ before the so-called apocalypse completely shattered their brief teacher-student life.

‘Let me think, what should I say now?’

“You’re truly too kind, Senior Lu Zhichuan.”

Su Qingyao chose to sigh, then adopted a downcast expression. Though she called it acting, the young woman’s movements had become quite natural.

Today, it was simply very rare that she had forgotten to ‘smile.’

Su Qingyao shifted her gaze from Lu Zhichuan’s face, turning it back to her surroundings. The young woman softly chanted a spell of ‘observation.’

Not all dangers could be perceived through magic.

Based on their combined experience, in any given form of existence, fewer than half of the monsters would reveal themselves under Su Qingyao’s magic.

Safe.

Su Qingyao confirmed this, then leaped down from the sixth floor.

“The surroundings are safe, Lu Zhichuan.”

The young woman landed lightly on her toes, soft white and green motes of light clustered around her, transforming the impact into a series of ethereal halos.

A perfectly measured curve hung on Su Qingyao’s face, making her smile convey a tranquil yet warm sentiment, rather than pure ‘happiness.’

Compared to that smile, Su Qingyao’s words were considerably lighter.

Unlike her socially anxious ‘companion’ Su Qingyao, Su Qingyao needed to fill her outer shell with ‘gentleness.’

This was not only a part of integrating but also allowed the young woman to experience an indescribable feeling from it.

At the very least, it didn’t feel bad.

“You’ve worked hard, Miss Qing.”

The young man’s lips always bore a confident, radiant smile.

He sincerely thanked Su Qingyao.

To differentiate between Su Qingyao and Su Qingyao, Lu Zhichuan had chosen to use the single character ‘Qing’ as the name for the magical girl Shirina.

Though she had no real objections, for some inexplicable reason.

Every time she heard that address, Su Qingyao’s heart trembled slightly.

It was an emotion she couldn’t quite understand herself.

“It was no trouble at all.”

The young woman smiled, gently shaking her head in denial.

She added a hint of ease, embellished with a comforting tone, to her words.

Su Qingyao meticulously played her role.

‘Why is that?’

This was precisely the reason for Su Qingyao’s dazed state.

Reason told her.

Su Qingyao and ‘Qing’ were merely two designations for a single shell; no matter how Lu Zhichuan called her, the essence remained herself.

Names were just labels used to distinguish individuals in human society, weren’t they?

‘Then…’

‘Su Qingyao’s heart inexplicably yielded an unhappy result.’

Su Qingyao didn’t understand; she was simply puzzled.

Lu Zhichuan then said a few more things ‘for the other humans’ to hear, all of which Su Qingyao’s subconscious acting had smoothly covered up.

“Supplies have been gathered sufficiently. My suggestion is that we return to the hideout now. What are your thoughts, everyone?”

Lu Zhichuan faced the few survivors who followed him, whose appearances had long been neglected, yet their faces beamed with joy.

“Y-yes.”

A man’s lips trembled slightly with excitement. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had this many canned goods.”

“At least Xiaoxia and Xiaonian will have a full meal today.”

Su Qingyao, walking at the end of the group, met the gaze of Lu Zhichuan, who was at the very front but facing backward.

Xiaoxia was the man’s wife, and Xiaonian was, naturally, his daughter.

Her eyes drifted slightly to the sides.

‘But Senior Lu Zhichuan is still looking at me.’

Su Qingyao reluctantly rubbed her upper and lower teeth together, feeling a slight displeasure.

Even so, her body began to move, despite her reluctance.

****

Nian Baichuan walked near the back of the group, clutching two cooked food cans that had been common before the apocalypse.

This was their rightful share for risking their lives to explore.

The majority of the other spoils were carried by the young leader at the very front, to be added to the total allocation for the camp.

Though they spoke of danger, the two young people leading them possessed strength that they envied.

Moreover, they chose to use this strength to protect the survivors.

Those with heavy family burdens, like Nian Baichuan, would be prioritized for selection into the team, while others with fewer responsibilities would participate in rotation.

Sometimes, Nian Baichuan would even hallucinate, seeing a faint overlay and outline of something familiar on the young man.

At that moment, his shoulder was suddenly patted.

Nian Baichuan turned back, somewhat puzzled, only to see the young woman who had originally stood at the end of the queue. Her attire, which a man of little education could only describe as ‘dreamlike’ and ‘beautiful,’ had somehow slipped behind him without him noticing.

“I remember your daughter’s birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

Despite the distance, Miss Qing’s faint whisper was still controlled to be audible only to Nian Baichuan.

He was a little bewildered, but out of trust and respect, Nian Baichuan nodded honestly.

Then, a cool object, larger than a palm, was placed into Nian Baichuan’s free hand by an unseen force.

“Shh, don’t let anyone else find out.”

Though her features were youthful, her smile lacked any of the frivolous or boisterous joy typically found in young people.

The young woman drifted over, then drifted away just as lightly.

Nian Baichuan looked down.

A piece of chocolate, undoubtedly ‘precious’ in this apocalyptic world, lay in his hand; one corner even retained a trace of warmth.

Nian Baichuan froze, understanding its meaning.

He instinctively wanted to return it, but when he glanced back at the young woman at the end of the queue, the smile gracing her lips plunged Nian Baichuan into silence once more.

It was a smile brimming with overwhelming kindness.

Ultimately, only gratitude and joy remained.