A Time-Traveling Zombie Romance (GL) - Chapter 17

Late at night, I finally fell asleep, but I had a dream—an intense, impossible dream involving Menghui and Qingyang… (Hehe, you know what I mean!) When dawn broke, I woke up in a start, not even having put on clothes, and dashed out of my room straight to the woodshed.

 

There were ten large water jars in front of the shed. I plunged my face into one of them. The icy water shocked me fully awake. After regaining my composure, I walked back into the room in a daze and lay down on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

 

“Why did I dream such a thing?” I murmured to myself.

 

“No, that’s wrong. I can’t think like that. I don’t like them. I won’t. They’re enemies.” I hurriedly tried to push the thought away.

 

After repeating this to myself one hundred and thirty times, the sun had fully risen. I got out of bed but didn’t leave my room. I didn’t want to go out. I wanted to avoid everything.

 

I had my four maids prepare the writing materials and began practicing calligraphy in my room. But all I could write were the names “Menghui” and “Qingyang.” Every time I wrote a name, I lingered for a long moment. Shaking my head to clear it, I finally wrote one word: “Jue” (Absolute). Absolute thoughts, absolute love, absolute heart, absolute will.

 

“Knock knock knock! Brother, are you in there?” Qing’er called from outside the door.

 

“Yes, Qing’er. What is it?” I shouted back.

 

“Brother, it’s time for breakfast. Why haven’t you come down yet?” Qing’er asked in a puzzled tone.

 

“Qing’er, please tell Father and Mother that I’m not hungry right now. Don’t wait for me,” I said.

 

“Alright… I’ll save a portion for you, brother. Eat when you’re hungry.”

 

“Thanks, Qing’er,” I said with a smile.

 

“You’re welcome,” she said sweetly before leaving.

 

After a sigh, I picked up a brush and began sketching portraits of people: Shan, Yunxi, Qing’er, Menghui, and Qingyang.

 

“Hmph, how ridiculous. My heart belongs to Shan, and yet I think of other women. Truly, my love luck has been strong recently,” I said with self-deprecating humor.

 

I spent the entire morning practicing calligraphy and drawing. In the afternoon, I didn’t know what to do. For the first time, I realized how slow a single day could feel.

 

At noon, Qing’er came again. “Brother, it’s time for lunch. Come out and eat!”

 

“Sorry, Qing’er. Don’t trouble yourself. I’m not hungry yet; you all eat first,” I called to her outside the door.

 

“But… you didn’t eat breakfast either!” Qing’er said, worried.

 

“It’s alright. I’m just not hungry,” I replied.

 

“Brother… are you okay? Are you sick?” Qing’er asked with concern.

 

Am I sick? I thought.

 

“No, I’m not sick. I just don’t feel like eating,” I hurriedly replied.

 

“Then… alright. I’ll have the maids prepare lunch and bring it to your room. Eat when you’re hungry,” she said repeatedly.

 

I liked this sister very much.

 

“Alright,” I answered.

 

After she left, my stomach loudly protested, “Grrr~,” as if it disagreed with my refusal to eat. I smiled bitterly. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to eat; I simply had no appetite.

 

I then called the household servants to fetch high-quality wood and some tools, and I started making a guitar in my room. I was itching to play modern music.

 

I spent three hours that afternoon finishing a guitar. Just acquiring the strings took over five hours in the city. I tested the sound—it was good. For the guitar’s body, I painted a Jiangnan landscape using ink and pigments.

 

When I finished, I looked outside. Night had fallen, and I remembered I had promised Yunxi and Qing’er to accompany them out. I had the maids tidy my room and hurried out.

 

I found Yunxi and Qing’er in the main hall and hurried to them. “Sorry I’m late.”

 

“Junior Brother, are you okay? Qing’er said you didn’t eat all day and stayed in your room. What happened?” Yunxi asked, worried.

 

“Yes, Brother, are you alright?” Qing’er echoed.

 

“Uh… I’m just not hungry, so I didn’t come out,” I said awkwardly.

 

Qing’er believed me, but Yunxi didn’t. She had grown up with me and knew me well—she guessed something had happened.

 

Sensing the awkwardness, I said, “Senior Sister, Qing’er, let’s go see the lanterns.”

 

“Alright,” they said with smiles.

 

We called five maids and five servants and hurried outside the mansion.

 

The night was dark but lively; the streets were more crowded than usual. Even young ladies from deep within their estates came out with their maids. It was Lantern Festival, and legend said that if you released a lantern with a note into the river and someone on the other side retrieved it, the two were fated to meet. Many couples had been united this way, and everyone hoped to find their destined partner tonight.

 

Fireworks lit up the sky, and street vendors thrived. Lantern sellers shouted and hustled constantly.

 

“Wow, Brother! This lantern is so pretty!” Qing’er ran to a lantern and called me over.

 

“Yes, it’s beautiful,” I smiled.

 

As we walked, a vendor called out: “Candied hawthorns! Delicious candied hawthorns! Come and buy!”

 

I hurried toward the vendor, dragging Qing’er and Yunxi with me. The maids and servants followed.

 

“Four skewers of candied hawthorns, please,” I said to the vendor.

 

“Of course, young master,” he replied, handing me the skewers. I paid him eight coins.

 

“Here, Qing’er, Senior Sister, have some candied hawthorns,” I said, handing two skewers to them and happily eating one each myself.

 

“Brother, what’s so good about this? Our mansion’s chef makes better sweet treats,” Qing’er said skeptically.

 

“Hehe, try it, Qing’er. How would you know if you don’t?” I said, taking a bite.

 

Yunxi laughed as she tasted hers. “Junior Brother really loves it.”

 

“Mm-hmm,” I nodded eagerly.

 

Qing’er hesitated, then tried one. She chewed slowly and suddenly opened her eyes, delighted. “Wow, this is delicious! No wonder Brother likes it so much.”

 

“Ha, don’t get too obsessed with it, Qing’er,” I teased, waving my skewer in the air.

 

We walked to the river, eating our candied hawthorns. Many young ladies and gentlemen were placing lanterns on the river. I ran to a vendor. “How much for a lantern?”

 

“Ten coins each, young master,” he replied.

 

“Three, please,” I said.

 

“Certainly, young master,” he smiled, handing me the lanterns. I gave him thirty coins.

 

I returned to Yunxi and Qing’er and handed them two lanterns. “Let’s release them together.”

 

“Okay!” Qing’er said eagerly, while Yunxi nodded with a smile.

 

At the river, we wrote notes to place inside:

 

Me: “Fated to meet across a thousand miles.” —Zhang Xiaoqi
Yunxi: “Silently watching by your side is enough.” —Yunxi
Qing’er: “I like you, but dare not speak.” —Zhang Qing’er

 

Yunxi and I exchanged a smile. Curious, I glanced at Qing’er, who blushed while writing her note. I teased, “Qing’er, what are you writing? So mysterious!”

 

I only caught the word “like” before she hastily tucked the note into her lantern.

 

“Oh~~ Qing’er has someone she likes!” I laughed.

 

“Who… who said that?” Qing’er blushed, lowering her head.

 

Seeing her shy, I stopped teasing. I lit my lantern and released it into the river. Yunxi and Qing’er did the same, letting them float to the other side.

 

I gazed at the distant lanterns drifting calmly across the water, lost in thought.

 

“Junior Brother, look! Some girls are watching you from afar!” Yunxi pointed out.

 

“Ah?!” I looked up and saw four or five girls shyly watching me. They quickly lowered their heads when I glanced at them. I felt conflicted.

 

“Hehe,” I smiled awkwardly and played with the river water.

 

Across the river, Qingyang and Menghui also coincidentally bought lanterns and wrote notes.

 

Qingyang: “If we are fated, take this lantern.” —Qingyang
Menghui: “I will wait for you, always.” —Menghui

 

Qingyang glanced at Menghui’s note and frowned. “Sister Meng, you’re still waiting for that person? He said he’d return after two years. It’s been three years now. He won’t come. Give up; he’s lying.”

 

Menghui’s cold expression softened slightly. “No, I believe he will return. Our promise isn’t fulfilled yet.”

 

“You still believe him? Men’s sweet words are unreliable.”

 

“I believe him!” Menghui turned to Qingyang, resolute.

 

“Ah.” Qingyang sighed, shaking her head, and released her lantern.

 

At that moment, a young man in black appeared beside me.

 

“May I join you here, young master?” he asked, bowing slightly.

 

I looked up. His eyes were sharp, his nose prominent, lips thin, and chin pointed—a dashing young man in black. I smiled. “Of course, please.”

 

“Thank you,” he replied with a slight smile.

 

“May I know your name, young master?” I asked.

 

“Hehe, I am Qi Yichen. And you?” Qi Yichen returned the gesture.

 

“I am Zhang Xiaoqi. Qi, that’s an uncommon surname,” I said, smiling.

 

“Hehe.”

 

“Eh? I see you carry a bundle, Qi. Did you just arrive in the city today?” I asked, curious.

 

“Yes, Zhang. I just arrived. Seeing today is Lantern Festival, I came to the river immediately,” Qi Yichen said.

 

“Indeed, very timely,” I smiled.

 

“Yes, quite coincidental,” he said, glancing toward the opposite riverbank.

 

“Brother, look! Lanterns from the other side are floating toward us,” Qing’er and Yunxi said.

 

I looked up; indeed, lanterns were drifting toward us.

 

“Eh? Who is this young master?” Qing’er asked, noticing Qi Yichen.

 

“I am Qi Yichen,” he said, bowing.

 

“Greetings, Qi Gongzi,” Yunxi and Qing’er nodded.

 

“Qi, this is my senior sister Yunxi and my junior sister Qing’er,” I introduced.

 

“Miss Yun, Miss Zhang, greetings,” Qi Yichen replied.

 

We crouched together, waiting for the lanterns. Many drifted near the riverbank. One floated directly to me; as I reached for it, another hand also held it—it was Qi Yichen.

 

I was slightly surprised but smiled. “If you like this lantern, Qi, you can have it.”

 

“Thank you,” he said, taking it and reading the note inside.

 

Another lantern floated to me. I opened it: “If we are fated, take this lantern.” —Qingyang

 

I shook my head with a bitter smile. This girl always seems to pick on me. I handed it to a servant.

 

Qi Yichen smiled, reading Menghui’s note: “I will wait for you, always.” —Menghui

 

Suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling rose in me. I frowned, thinking: I shouldn’t have given it to him. I didn’t know why I felt that way…

 

“Qi, I must return. Until we meet again,” I said, bowing.

 

“Until then,” Qi Yichen replied.

 

I returned with Qing’er, Yunxi, and our maids and servants. Suddenly, I longed for my room. “Qing’er, what did your lantern notes say?” I asked, trying to divert attention.

 

“I got one from a girl. Invalid,” Yunxi smiled.

 

“Mine too. Invalid,” Qing’er said quickly.

 

“Oh, hehe,” attention diversion failed.

 

“Brother, what about yours?” Qing’er asked eagerly.

 

“Mine? Hehe, also from a girl,” I said bitterly.

 

“Oh,” Qing’er and Yunxi both frowned.

 

We returned to the mansion. I immediately hid back in my room. I had felt this way long ago but didn’t expect it to return now. I was confused. Who do I truly love? If I don’t love Menghui, why does my heart ache? I didn’t want to know. I just wanted to escape, hide under the covers, and think of Shan. Yet I realized I could no longer recall Shan’s face; all I could picture was Menghui.

 

I shook my head violently, thinking: Forget her, forget her. I mustn’t betray Shan. But the harder I tried not to think of Menghui, the more her shadow filled my mind.

 

The first time I saw her, her faint smile lingered on her lips. Her face made one forget to breathe. I stared at her, lost to the world, even to myself. When she regained her cold demeanor, I felt a strange ache. She shouldn’t be like this.

 

The second time I saw her, I lost control and pinned her to the bed. Her face flushed; I froze, gazing silently. Her lips drew me in; I even heard my own heartbeat. When Qingyang woke me, I felt angry at myself for what I had done.

 

Back in my room, I repeatedly told myself I was merely appreciating her. Yet from the very first encounter, she had etched herself deeply in my heart, unshakable.

 

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly…