Su Lin's downward gaze was like a dagger of icy steel, making Zhang Jinlian's heart leap wildly.
She staggered back a few steps, pointing a trembling, stubby finger at Su Lin on the stairs:
"You, you..."
Before the words were out, Su Lin's cold expression suddenly transformed, much like a face-changing act in Sichuan opera, into a radiant smile that was dazzling, akin to a blooming chrysanthemum:
"Just kidding, Jinlian! I heard you! You agreed to my marriage proposal, right? Haha! It's truly a double whammy of joy today!"
The speed of the face change was so fast Zhang Jinlian and Su Tongxi were stunned, unable to react for the moment.
Su Lin's acting came to the forefront, his emotions climbing to the top of his voice, as he raised high the shiny, oil-glazed roast meat, his voice notably high, fearing the neighbors might miss it:
"Did you see that?! Today I begged my second uncle to take me out scavenging! Hey! Who would've thought I'd strike gold! Made over seven hundred copper in half a day! And specially brought back this half portion of roast meat!"
Zhang Jinlian's eyes were instantly fixed as if drawn by a magnet, nailed to the glossy, shiny piece of meat.
A gulp sounded in her throat, swallowing a large mouthful of saliva.
Meat!
Roast meat at that!
In this damned world, spending seven or eight copper for a meal of wild greens and porridge is considered luxurious.
A full portion of roast meat is a sky-high price of six or seven hundred copper!
And even this half portion is enough to make one's mouth water uncontrollably!
Not just Zhang Jinlian, the neighbors watching on the side, their eyes also turned red, drooling.
"Want some?" Su Lin's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a bit of a demonic whisper.
Zhang Jinlian's head nodded like a chick pecking rice.
The neighbors nearby also nodded instinctively, their eyes glued to the meat, unable to tear away.
"Jinlian!"
Su Lin's expression suddenly tightened, his voice hoarse, his eyes empty yet stubborn:
"That meal a few days ago... I thought to myself back then, have a good meal as a last supper, then close my eyes and let whatever happens happen! This world, it's sick! What's the point of living? Sooner or later one's gonna die, might as well enjoy myself before kicking the bucket!"
"But!"
He suddenly turned to Zhang Jinlian, his gaze sharply focusing, burning with an almost pathological fervor and deep affection:
"But then I thought, what about you if I die? I die, leaving you who loves me deeply, how lonely would you be? How miserable?"
Zhang Jinlian's heart thumped, a chill climbing up her spine, her face changed.
Su Lin didn't give her a chance to intervene, his voice abruptly heightening, almost sobbing:
"That's not gonna work, Jinlian. If I'm gone, what about your happiness? Your joy?"
"No way, Jinlian! You must be happy, you must be joyful!
"With me, you can be happy! With me, you can be joyous!!"
"So!" He suddenly clenched his fist, his expression twisted and resolute, "I've changed my mind! I won't leave alone! I scrambled out scavenging wildly! Made my money and bought this roast meat..."
His eyes locked firmly on Zhang Jinlian, his mouth stretching into an exceedingly exaggerated, nearly manic grin, his voice sharp:
"...just planning to find you, take you with me, Jinlian!"
Zhang Jinlian suddenly awoke, letting out a sharp scream, backing away in terror, waving her hands wildly, nearly falling.
Su Lin's hands suddenly opened wide, like a martyr, shouting loudly to Zhang Jinlian:
"You see! We really are destined for each other! Just as I was thinking of finding you, you showed up!
"Jinlian! Come on! We may not be born on the same day of the same month of the same year, but let's die on the same day of the same month of the same year!
"Without me, how will you live!!
"Jinlian! Let me take you away! Come with me!
"Jin——lian————!!"
"Screw you! You lunatic!!"
Zhang Jinlian's soul was shattered, she cursed frantically, weeping, scrambling and tumbling as she ran away.
Su Lin stood rooted to the spot, shouting behind her:
"Jin——lian————!"
"Don't come near me—!"
Zhang Jinlian, halfway down the street, stumbled, falling, got up with her hair in disarray, looking like a true madwoman, sprinting off without looking back, terrified she'd be caught and dragged back for that "last supper."
The neighbors were all left dumbfounded, each looking at Su Lin as if they were looking at an escaped patient from a mental institution.
If someone else said these words, they might be skeptical.
But from the mouth of Su Lin, who's known for crazy antics, they believed it without doubt.
In a flash, the onlookers scattered like birds and beasts, running faster than rabbits, afraid of being drafted to accompany this madman to the underworld.
Su Lin watched as the doorway suddenly became empty, and his Jim Carrey-like exaggerated expression collapsed in an instant.
He rubbed his stiff face from laughing, and let out a "tch".
Damn it, this "glorious" image from his past life has only this benefit—anything ridiculous he does, people will believe.
He slammed the heavy iron door shut with a bang and bolted it.
He tossed the stuff in his hand onto the ground and quickly yanked off the leather armor and gun holster that were almost crushing him.
The whole person seemed to have been boneless, and with a "thud," he crashed into the shabby sofa.
His arms splayed out on the sides of the armrest, legs propped up on the little crumbling table; he tilted his head back, his eyelids drooped, and let out a long, long exhale of turbid air.
Ah, so comfortable!
Two days with just a bowl of thin porridge, carrying tens of pounds of dead weight, running for half a day over ten miles... Su Lin felt like he was now the apocalyptic version of Superman! How awesome!
"Brother Kirin..."
A cry, weak and with a sobbing tone, entered his ears.
Su Lin lazily opened one eyelid.
Over there stood Su Tongxi, clutching the hem of her washed-out, clearly too short dress. Her face was pale, eyes red like a rabbit, tears welling up in her almond-shaped eyes, looking at him with a timid yet incredibly determined gaze:
"Zhang, Zhang Jinlian doesn't want you... then, can... can I come with you instead... is that okay?"
Su Lin tilted his chin to the side: "Huh?"
Su Tongxi burst into tears, splattering onto her old cloth shoes. Her little shoulders shook, her voice frail but filled with the resolve to take a leap:
"She doesn't want you... I'll... I'll accompany you... is that okay?"
She initially thought Brother Kirin had finally decided to go out and search for supplies after two days of hunger, convinced he wanted to live.
Who knew... that wasn't the case! He still wanted to die! And take others with him!
If Brother Kirin had to go down this road... then she would accompany him!
In the afterlife, when seeing Mr. Su and Mrs. Su...
She would definitely bow and admit her mistakes!
It was her inadequacy that she didn't take good care of Brother Kirin!
She had disappointed the two of them!
Rustle. Su Tongxi picked up the plastic bag containing half servings of tempting braised meat, scooted her little behind over, and sat beside Su Lin.
Under that thin dress, her petite figure shook even more because of sobbing, and her chest heaved with captivating curves.
Tear drops as big as beans fell like disconnected pearls, dropping onto the plastic bag with a splat.
"Ah—my goodness!" Su Lin finally couldn't take it, exclaimed, and painfully clutched his forehead.
Su Tongxi, with tearful eyes, turned her head, sobbing and trying hard to comfort him:
"Brother, Brother Kirin... don't, don't be afraid... we, we will definitely... meet Mrs. Su…"
Su Lin slapped both hands on his face, rubbed hard.
He was on the verge of a breakdown! Truly on the verge of a breakdown!
Suddenly, he sat up straight, with a serious face staring at Su Tongxi's tear-stained little round face:
"How was my acting just now? Was it divine? Oscar Best Actor level, or what?"
"Wha, what?" Su Tongxi sniffled, confused, her big red almond eyes filled with ignorance.
Su Lin was amused by her naive look, his large hand unabashedly covered her little head, messily ruffling her already dry hair into a bird's nest:
"I was fooling her! Got it? Fooling that silly old woman!"
He forcefully poked the plastic bag of braised meat in her hand:
"You gave me a spoonful of porridge, I'm giving you a piece of meat! I bought this especially for you! Though... uh, I did feed that little girl a bite, but it definitely wasn't meant for Zhang Jinlian! Got it? You silly goose."
In his past life, selling grain for meat, he only cared about himself and that foolish Hou Yong, never letting Su Tongxi taste any meat.
After transmigrating here, he was saved by her with the only bowl of porridge the family had.
This meat was bought by Su Lin specifically as a compensation for Su Tongxi.
"Also!" He grabbed the few bags containing chaff, wild vegetables, and seasonings on the table and piled them all in front of Su Tongxi.
"Take a look yourself! Enough for us to eat for a week! If I really wanted to take you with me to die, why would I buy these things? You silly goose!"
Su Tongxi was completely stunned, large watery, red eyes staring blankly at Su Lin, her little mouth slightly open, taking a while to react.
Su Lin looked at her tear-streaked, pitiful yet pure and lovely little face and felt a sudden softness in his heart.
He curled the corners of his mouth into a rogue, yet somewhat earnest smile:
"Tsk, I suddenly realize you're really pretty. Although your behind isn't as exaggerated as Zhang Jinlian's... but your chest, very impressive!"
He leaned forward, smiling cheekily and lowered his voice, with a playful tone:
"Here's the deal, little silly. Tonight we'll have a wedding night, make you my woman for real, what do you say?"