I Understand! (Part 2)

Which one is Shen Jin, anyway?

Shang Qian couldn't tell from Shen Jin himself, she'd have to check on Sun Can.

She paced over to the window and glanced at Sun Can without a change in expression.

Because he'd fought with Lu Qiang earlier, Sun Can's clothes were torn in many places. Especially when he was thrown heavily to the ground, the fabric on his backside was directly abraded.

"I really admire your open-mindedness. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't be able to get past this hurdle in my heart. Speaking of which, is Sun Can's ability below yours?"

She emphasized the word "below," assuming Shen Jin would understand her meaning.

"Ability? Uh... indeed, I am above him."

Shen Jin didn't know how Shang Qian figured it out. While he couldn't beat Sun Can in a fight, his overall abilities were indeed a bit stronger than Sun Can's. He just hadn't revealed his full capabilities today.

This woman is quite something, she figured this out.

Is it a woman's intuition? She can tell I've got something going on?

Wait!

Something's not right!

Shen Jin suddenly realized he might have been thinking about this the wrong way!

Hmm... I get it now!

Her real intention in asking this question was: if I refuse to take her with me, she wants Sun Can to take her!

And if I say Sun Can is inferior to me, she'll definitely think Sun Can isn't capable of taking her, which means: she'll choose to end her life again!

And she's already walked over to the window...

Shen Jin's forehead started to sweat. He felt like one wrong word from him would cause Shang Qian to jump out the window.

What to do, what to do?

Sun Can's combat power is indeed good, but he clearly doesn't have my kind of ability. He probably can't break through a zombie-infested area with a living person in tow.

Gotta calm her down first!

"Ahem... Actually, Sun Can is sometimes even stronger than me. I'm not absolutely above him."

Shang Qian froze, then asked in disbelief, "So you're saying sometimes you're above him, and sometimes he's above you?"

Shen Jin found it strange. What did she mean by "sometimes"? She meant "in some areas," right?

Forget it. It's a woman who wants to die, why should I argue logic with her.

"Yes! That's right. Come over here first. Since we've both understood each other's situations, we can discuss things properly."

Shang Qian was genuinely shocked this time!

No wonder Sun Can risked his life to protect this... friendship.

But when he said they understood each other's situations just now, it was because I didn't look at him strangely, making him feel like he'd found a kindred spirit?

I get it now!

He says he doesn't care about others' opinions and rejects others' friendships, but in the end, he still cares.

All these years, no one has truly understood him. He must have lived a very tiring life...

Humans are social animals. Love without blessings, without witnesses, is ultimately imperfect.

Friendship is the same!

So, does that mean if I acknowledge them, accept them, he'll take me with him?

Indeed! If you feel the world with love, the world will repay you with love.

Shang Qian, having been a manager at a company, used to think mutual understanding was just an ideal state. People have different experiences, different personalities, how can they understand each other?

But now, she understood. She understood Shen Jin's... friendship!

Shang Qian suddenly wanted to pat Shen Jin's head, to comfort this man who was stubborn on the outside but craved acknowledgment on the inside.

His body had yielded, but his spirit still stood tall.

Shen Jin watched Shang Qian slowly walk over.

"Hey... hey, it's right to walk this way, hey? What are you doing raising your hand? Hey? Hey? Hey?"

Shang Qian's hand landed on his head and gently stroked it a few times.

"From now on, you two must be good to each other. Even if I'm not around, know that someone once understood you and blessed you."

Perfect! Shang Qian shouted inwardly.

This move was advancing by retreating! First, she used the touch to close the distance, then she didn't insist on following him, which would have annoyed Shen Jin.

Instead, she said the opposite, that even when she's not around, she'll bless them, letting him know her genuine feelings.

Most importantly, she truly meant it. This display of emotion was so full and natural, not feeling forced at all. It was the perfect finishing touch!

Shen Jin felt like he'd been electrocuted. No one had ever patted his head before.

Wearing hats and helmets year-round had made the nerves in his head a bit numb.

But! Shang Qian's touch didn't make him feel awkward; instead, it felt very comfortable.

Especially since she smelled like a blanket, he wondered how she'd managed to stay so clean after so many days in the apocalypse!

Putting aside all other reactions, a meteor streaked across Shen Jin's mind.

I understand!

Shang Qian was leaving a final testament!

When a person is about to die, their words are good.

She understood his refusal, and saw his concerns and resolve.

She wouldn't force him anymore, nor would she use her life to blackmail him; she simply chose to end her own life silently.

But even so! Before she died, she still thanked everyone who had helped her today, and she hoped that he and others could live well.

She thanked the world for its past kindness to her, and feared the world becoming ugly in the future.

She chose to end her life before everything turned bad.

Shang Qian no longer had the courage to live.

Her once pure and alluring appearance now exuded the last glimmer of humanity.

Damn it!

How could such a kind, beautiful, and alluring woman just fade away like this?

Let the third rule of the Apocalypse Rulebook go to hell!

Things have changed!

[Apocalypse Rulebook, Rule 3: To live freely, try not to get entangled in karma or bonds. (Addendum: Unless they are kind and beautiful.)]

This damned apocalypse!

Shen Jin even wanted to light a cigarette, reaching into his pocket before putting it back.

He took a deep breath, looking with pity at Shang Qian, who was still spreading kindness to the world before her death.

"I think, perhaps, we'll have a lot more time to interact in the future, plenty of time to do more things, plenty of time to forget these unpleasant memories, don't you think?"

Shen Jin decided to take her with him, to help her forget everything that had happened today.

"Really? Yay!"

(^_^)

Shang Qian, 29 years old, Master's degree holder, fair-skinned and beautiful, proud and cold, former Marketing Director of Wanyu Group, now jumped up happily like a little girl!

She truly understood this time!

Shen Jin had decided to take her, his confidante, and she would do her best to help him smooth over the unpleasant memories brought by Zhao Mingkai and Lu Qiang.

Shang Qian looked at the man who had been at odds with the world due to his psychological issues, and finally chose to reconcile with the world. She smiled.

(〃＾＾)o

Shen Jin looked at the woman who feared facing the world after being insulted, and whose hope for life was finally rekindled. He smiled.

o(￣︶￣)o