"E-Empress..."
Lao Luo looked embarrassed. He didn't dare look at me, and instead let his gaze wander.
His wife, on the other hand, was very straightforward.
"Empress, don't worry about it. There are at least several million Zombies... Please don't go!"
"I have to. Juanjuan and the others are still in Luoyang, and I've got a few younger siblings there, too... What are you looking at? I picked them up."
"...E-Empress."
"Enough. That title hasn't belonged to me for a long time. Don't call me that. Just use my name."
I waved a hand, then looked at Lao Luo.
"You two should get going. I'm heading toward Chang'an. There shouldn't be any Zombies that way, so go there. I still need to check on Luoyang."
The couple exchanged a glance. His wife nodded, and Lao Luo furrowed his brow before nodding, too.
"You two..."
Watching them interact, I couldn't help thinking... were these two deliberately rubbing their happiness in my face?
I raised an eyebrow and decided to stop paying attention to them. Then I continued on my way. But... the moment I took my first step, Lao Luo's wife called out again.
"Em—Ma'am, get in the car and I'll explain. Hurry!"
"No, no, no! This isn't a bus to kindergarten!"
Seeing the anxious look on the young wife's face, I waved my hands, as though I couldn't possibly accept her offer.
Of course, that was just my way of lightening the mood, but it seemed to fall a little flat.
The young wife looked utterly confused, but Lao Luo understood right away.
"Get in and relax! I'm a pro driver! We won't crash!"
Lao Luo grinned at me, flashing a row of gleaming teeth as he gave me a thumbs-up... What are you, some kind of Li...
"Listen, Lao