Chapter 32: Romance
Beth was dressed only in blue and white underwear, her petite figure lying sideways on the bed, blankly flipping through a book. She noticed Li Changsheng. Their gazes met—hers large and bright, his smaller and sharp—and lingered for a long time.
Li Changsheng was the first to break the silence.
“Uh, Beth, Herschel asked me to take you shopping. I came up to call you…”
Beth finally realized what was happening and let out a sharp scream. “Why… why are you climbing through the window?”
“You wouldn’t open the door.” Li Changsheng answered unabashedly, his eyes involuntarily sweeping over Beth.
He couldn’t help but marvel—her figure was truly exquisite.
Beth suddenly became aware that she was only in her underwear. Her fair cheeks flushed red, and she hurriedly pulled a thin quilt over herself. “You… you scoundrel!”
Li Changsheng immediately shifted the blame. “It’s not my fault. Blame Herschel…”
Beth hurled a pillow at him in fury and embarrassment. “Get out!”
“Alright, hurry up. I’ll wait downstairs!” He slid out through the window, mumbling, “This window’s too small. Next time, make it bigger.”
“Go to hell! There won’t be a next time!”
Beth bit her lip and shouted after him, but Li Changsheng was already gone.
Scoundrel… Who wants to go shopping with you anyway…
There wasn’t another soul outside—where could they even go shopping?
Beth fumed inwardly, stomping her pale, bare feet to the window to pick up her discarded pillow. As she did, some inexplicable impulse made her poke her head out and look down, where she saw Li Changsheng leaning against the car, winking at her and mouthing words.
Judging by his lips, he was saying, “Hurry up, don’t let your father see.”
That scoundrel… What if Herschel and Maggie get the wrong idea…
Who behaves like that?
Beth wanted to go downstairs and demand an explanation from Li Changsheng. Passing the vanity table, she caught sight of her tear-streaked face in the mirror and froze. Covering her face, she cried, “Ah, that’s me—how ugly!”
She quickly sat before the vanity, rummaging through drawers, completely forgetting her intention to confront Li Changsheng.
Li Changsheng, thanks to his extraordinary hearing, caught the sounds of Beth washing up in her room. After basking in the sun downstairs for a while, he decisively went inside to wait for her.
He ended up waiting more than half an hour before a delicate fragrance drifted down, and Beth slowly descended the stairs.
Beth’s face was no longer smeared like a crying kitten; instead, it was refined and fair. She wore a pink cropped T-shirt and faded, ripped jeans, with pink socks and a pair of canvas shoes. Her petite figure and the youthful outfit made her radiate vitality.
Li Changsheng scoffed, “There’s not a soul outside—who’s the makeup for?”
Beth ignored him, snorted, and pushed past him. She turned to Olivia, who was tidying the house. “Where’s Dad?”
“He went to talk business with Otis.” Olivia looked Beth up and down and praised, “Beth, you look beautiful today…”
Beth smiled shyly. “Not really…”
Olivia grinned, “The weather’s nice today. Go out for a stroll—let Li, your bodyguard, take you!”
Beth’s cheeks turned red. “Him? I’d rather not…”
“That won’t do—this is Herschel’s request, concerning the farm’s future. Miss Beth, you’ll have to put up with it for now.”
With that, Li Changsheng hoisted Beth up, ignoring her protests, and deposited her in the passenger seat. “Olivia, let Herschel and Maggie know.”
Olivia nodded with a smile.
Beth struggled in the passenger seat. “Olivia! Olivia! Help me!”
Olivia took Beth’s hand. “Don’t worry, Beth. Go enjoy yourself.”
“I don’t want to! I don’t want to go out with him… Olivia, let me out!”
Li Changsheng flicked her forehead impatiently and made her buckle her seatbelt. “Sit tight. We’re leaving.”
Despite Beth’s objections, he started the car.
“Ow, you scoundrel!” Beth winced, rubbing her forehead.
“Serves you right.” Li Changsheng said gleefully, “Listen, this is Herschel’s assignment. I’m to take you out for a bit and ensure your safety. When we get back, you can do whatever you want—I won’t care then.”
Beth bit her lip. “Did you and Dad make some shady deal?”
Li Changsheng shrugged indifferently. “Of course. Herschel said he’d help manage my farm.”
“Scoundrel, taking advantage of Dad—he’s so old…”
“So should he just wait here to die? You guys can’t defend this place.”
Beth fell silent. She’d heard about Herschel’s ordeal yesterday and knew this place would sooner or later be found by those thugs. She respected Herschel’s decision.
Yet seeing Li Changsheng’s smug look made her want to retaliate. She said, “Then I’ll buy as many clothes as I want and enjoy myself! I won’t let you get away with it, scoundrel.”
Soon, they arrived at the town’s shopping center. It had three floors: the first was a supermarket, the second clothes, the third miscellaneous goods.
Li Changsheng had come here earlier with Maggie and together, they’d lured the walking dead out to a side street.
Beth was surprised at the empty mall. “Wow, there aren’t any walkers here!”
Li Changsheng didn’t explain. He simply gestured invitingly. “Buy whatever you want—today’s bill is on me.”
As if she needed him to pay…
Beth scoffed inwardly and shot him a dirty look, then strode inside.
The supermarket on the first floor was picked clean, nothing worth browsing. They headed straight for the second floor.
Beth’s eyes lit up at the sight of beautiful dresses, her girlish instincts immediately taking over. All her earlier grievances were forgotten—her mind was focused solely on shopping.
Li Changsheng could hardly keep up with her.
It was no wonder. Since the disaster, Beth had been cooped up on the farm for over two months and was thoroughly bored.
She entered a clothing store, eyes sparkling at the lovely gowns.
Most of her clothes had been left at school; only old ones remained at home.
Still, Beth was wary of going in alone—the trauma from the walker crisis lingered. Yet she couldn’t resist the allure of the clothes. She looked expectantly at Li Changsheng.
Li Changsheng understood. He went in, checked carefully, and seeing no danger, patted Beth’s back. “Safe! Go ahead.”
“Wonderful!”
Beth was delighted, picking and choosing among the racks. Eventually, she selected a white dress and went to the fitting room. Soon, the door opened and a little angel, looking like a sprite, emerged.
Li Changsheng’s eyes widened.
So beautiful…
How many survivors would she attract…
A shame not to have her working for him in Civilized City…
With that thought, Li Changsheng decided to stock up on clothes for Beth, fill her wardrobe, and bring some for Amy and others in the camp.
He picked out a pale blue evening dress and handed it to Beth to try on.
Beth took the dress and slipped into the fitting room. But a long time passed and she didn’t come out.
Finally, Li Changsheng heard her hesitant voice, “Um… can you come over for a moment…”
Puzzled, he went over.
The fitting room door opened a crack. Li Changsheng squeezed sideways into the narrow space, and what he saw stunned him.
Beth stood with her back to him, hands holding up her slipping underwear, the pale blue dress draped over her lower half.
Her smooth, fair back was exquisitely shaped, and from where he stood, he could glimpse part of her side.
“Beth…” Li Changsheng swallowed hard.
Beth’s face flushed. “You can’t wear underwear with this dress, but the zipper is tangled with my underwear’s clasp. I can’t undo it myself… Can you help…”
“Oh… oh…” Li Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then with trembling hands, helped separate the dress from her underwear and zipped up her back.
Such a simple step, yet Li Changsheng’s clumsy hands took five whole minutes.
Beth’s petite figure meant his gaze constantly fell on the delicate pale skin and the faint curve. Each time his fingers brushed her back, she shuddered.
Li Changsheng’s body reacted strongly, barely restraining himself, silently cursing the side effects of the G serum.
Beth seemed to sense something, and when Li Changsheng was done, she glared at him and shoved him out.
She stepped out, suppressing her embarrassment, and spun before the mirror.
The pale blue dress accentuated her curves, revealing a perfect snowy back, her skin gleaming like jade. Her aura was completely transformed.
Beth gently lifted the hem, spun, and smiled softly, an innocence mixed with maturity.
“How does it look? I wanted to buy something like this for my graduation party back in college.” Beth was very pleased with the dress.
“It’s pretty good…”
Hearing Li Changsheng’s perfunctory reply, Beth pouted, ignored him, and started packing up her chosen clothes on her own.