Chapter 28 Maggie
Li Changsheng wanted to shake his head and gently pat her shoulder, then stand up to show her the corpse of the monster.
But Beth, nestled in his arms, held him tightly, making it impossible for him to break free.
“Hey, lift your head and take a look. That thing’s already been taken care of,” Li Changsheng soothed her in a gentle voice.
Beth slowly raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, clearly terrified. Thinking of the tragic fate she suffered in the original story, Li Changsheng felt a pang of pity. He cupped Beth’s face and gently wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry. There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore. With me here, that thing is gone. Look, I even cut off its tongue.”
Beth lowered her gaze and glanced at the tongue on the ground, then at the axe behind Li Changsheng. Her doe-like eyes darted cautiously to the left and right, confirming the mutant was truly dead before she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did Beth realize Li Changsheng’s large hand was resting on her cheek, while her own arms were tightly wrapped around the waist of this stranger. Her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly stood up and retreated a step.
“Ouch!”
Suddenly, Beth felt a sharp, needle-like pain at her ankle and cried out in surprise. It turned out she’d twisted her ankle in her fright and hadn’t noticed.
Seeing Beth about to fall, Li Changsheng quickly reached out to support her, his hand landing directly on her slender waist, soft to the touch.
Feeling the strong hand on her back, Beth’s ears turned red. She had grown up on her father’s farm, where life was conservative, and she’d had little contact with men.
Li Changsheng gently helped Beth sit down on a large tree stump, comforting her. “Don’t be afraid. No matter how many monsters like that come, I’ll deal with all of them.”
He carefully checked Beth’s condition. “Hmm, your clothes are a little torn, but fortunately there are no bite marks. That’s a blessing in misfortune.”
Beth’s expression was adorable and flushed, making her look even more endearing.
Li Changsheng asked, “Can you walk? Where does it hurt, your ankle?”
Beth shook her head, then nodded.
Li Changsheng placed his large hand on Beth’s twisted right ankle, making her shudder.
“Don’t worry. It’s just a sprain. I have some medicine for external injuries in my first aid kit. A little application should do the trick.”
He took out his backpack, found the first aid kit, and rummaged for the medicine.
“Should I apply it for you, or would you rather do it yourself?”
Beth, still overwhelmed by fear and feeling weak, had no strength left, but the pain in her ankle was sharp.
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After hesitating, she sniffled and whispered, “Please help… help me… Thank you…”
“I still don’t know your name. I’m Li Changsheng.”
“Be… Beth.”
“Beth? That’s a lovely name.” Li Changsheng opened the bottle of medicine and set it aside. “Treating minor wounds early helps them heal faster. Bear with me for a moment.”
He carefully removed Beth’s white sneaker and then her sock, revealing a size thirty-six foot.
The arch was exquisite, her toes translucent like tiny pearls, skin white as jade, veins faintly visible beneath its transparency.
Li Changsheng hadn’t expected Beth’s feet to be so beautiful—almost like a work of art.
The only flaw was the swelling at her ankle. Li Changsheng poured some medicine into his palm and gently applied it to her jade-like foot. At his touch, Beth reacted strongly, her face flushed as she murmured, “It’s cold.”
“It’ll be fine soon,” Li Changsheng reassured, slowly massaging the medicine into her ankle.
He’d found this medicine for injuries in the CDC’s medical supplies warehouse. There wasn’t much of it, but it worked wonders.
In just a little while, Beth felt the stabbing pain in her foot noticeably ease. She whispered, “This really works.”
Li Changsheng helped her put her sock and shoe back on, not giving her a chance to protest, and made sure she was tidy again. Her face reddened, unsure what to say.
Seeing Beth flustered, Li Changsheng couldn’t help but smile. Just as in the original story, she was youthful and lovely.
Only her fate was unfortunate.
He picked up the fire axe from the ground, slung it onto his backpack, and said to Beth, “Who knows what else we’ll encounter if we stay here. Let me take you home.”
With that, he lifted Beth in a princess carry.
Beth had hoped to refuse, but it was too late. Besides, she was afraid to be alone in the woods. With cheeks burning, she nodded and bit her lip, pointing Li Changsheng in the right direction.
They encountered no danger along the way, and soon arrived at Beth’s father Hershel’s farm.
Beth lived near the center of the farm, with only a small road leading out.
The farm included a wooden two-story house, surrounded by several other buildings, some large, some small, likely used for storing hay.
As soon as the pair appeared at the front door of the house, the Hershel family spotted them and rushed outside.
Maggie was the first to come out. Seeing Beth disheveled and held in Li Changsheng’s arms, she assumed Beth had been assaulted.
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Without a word, Maggie ran over and swung her fist at him, too fast for Beth to stop her.
Li Changsheng, helpless, let Beth cling to his neck while his right arm supported her legs.
With his free left hand, he caught Maggie’s fist, twisted it behind her back, and swept her legs out from under her. Maggie tumbled down, and Li Changsheng pinned her with his knee.
At that moment, Hershel and his eldest daughter came running out. Hershel shouted anxiously, “Let them go!”
Beth hurriedly called out, “Dad, it’s a misunderstanding! He meant no harm—he saved me!”
Hershel listened, half convinced, and finally relaxed, rushing over to check Beth’s injury.
Once Beth had finished explaining, Li Changsheng released Maggie and offered her an apologetic smile.
Maggie wasn’t appeased, rubbing her sore arm and glaring fiercely at Li Changsheng.
Her chest had nearly been flattened—this damned bastard! If she got the chance, she’d make him pay...
Hershel led his family to help Beth into the bedroom.
Li Changsheng was invited into the living room by Hershel.
For a while, no one paid him any attention; everyone was upstairs asking after Beth.
Li Changsheng was content with the peace, poured himself a glass of water, and gazed out the window.
Outside, a golden wheat field swayed in the breeze, the ears of grain rustling softly.
One had to admit, these foreign farms were impressive. A single farmer cultivated hundreds or even thousands of acres.
Yet, after the apocalypse, all the wheat lay untouched in the fields, with no one to harvest it.
He’d have to find a chance to reap these crops—they were precious food, after all...
Lost in thought, Maggie approached carrying a cup of tea, set it down in front of Li Changsheng, and slammed it onto the table, scowling. “Hershel says you can have some tea!”
She used such force that tea spilled over the rim. Clearly, she still resented Li Changsheng’s actions.
Li Changsheng merely smiled, unbothered, picked up the cup, and took a sip. “Good tea, but it’s missing some snacks. Maggie, could you bring me something to eat?”