Chapter 59: Gong Xiao

The woman was indeed as pretty as Xu Xuehui had described. Her dark hair was pulled back, her skin was fair, and while her features individually weren’t perfect, put together they created a distinct and pleasing look. The most striking feature was her eyes: she had a pair of phoenix eyes that radiated a cool, sharp energy.

Ding Longyun watched from afar and commented, “She looks like she’s only about 20 years old. It’s quite impressive for a girl to survive and make it here. And she managed to get a kayak. That’s interesting.”

Su Li observed that the woman was paddling very fast and maintained that speed consistently, which required considerable arm strength. Furthermore, daring to paddle here alone indicated that her strength and courage were significant.

As she drew closer, the woman finally slowed her paddling speed.

She had spotted Su Li and the other two standing on the balcony. She stopped rowing, slowly stood up on the kayak.

Despite the harsh lesson they learned from Ni Jianrong, Ding Longyun’s face still lit up with excitement when he saw the beautiful woman. He completely shed the mature composure expected of a man nearly 40 years old. He waved enthusiastically and called out, “Hey, beautiful! Hello, my name is Ding Longyun! What’s your name?”

Su Li glanced at him sideways. He noted that when Ding Longyun introduced himself to Ni Jianrong earlier, he included Su Li and Xu Xuehui. Now, seeing a beautiful woman, he only gave his own name, completely ignoring Su Li and Xu Xuehui.

The woman was not as excited as the three of them might have expected. She didn’t answer Ding Longyun immediately. Instead, she cautiously sized up the three people on the platform. The kayak did not approach the balcony directly, stopping about five or six meters away.

Ding Longyun knew that as a single woman, she was wary of them. Seeing her silence, he didn’t mind. He chuckled and continued, “You don’t need to be nervous. We aren’t bad people. I’ve been living here since the beginning. Su Li and the little girl came from other places, just like you. Now we all live here.”

“Yes, Older Sister,” Xu Xuehui suddenly chimed in.

Su Li looked at her in surprise, as Xu Xuehui rarely spoke but had chosen to speak up now.

This girl isn’t old, but she’s quite perceptive. She’s trying to ease the other person’s tension, Su Li thought silently.

Sure enough, when Xu Xuehui spoke, the woman looked at her, and her wary expression visibly softened. Compared to Ding Longyun and Su Li, Xu Xuehui, being a small girl, posed far less of a threat. Her words were easier to believe.

“My name is Gong Xiao,” the woman finally replied. Her voice, like her appearance, carried a sharpness. Su Li felt a compelling, aloof aura emanating from her, suggesting she was not an ordinary woman before the flood.

“My name is Su Li, and this is Xu Xuehui,” Su Li said, placing his hand on Xu Xuehui’s shoulder. Although Gong Xiao was wary, he could understand her feelings. A lone woman arriving here and seeing two strange men would naturally be cautious.

After the incident with Ni Jianrong’s group, Su Li felt even more strongly about the wickedness of people’s hearts. Not every survivor was a good person. While this Gong Xiao seemed vastly different from Ni Jianrong’s group and likely came here alone from some other place, he was still covertly observing her. He wouldn’t underestimate her just because she was a woman.

“Come on up. We really aren’t bad people.” Ding Longyun felt that Gong Xiao’s caution was excessive. She was still standing on the kayak and hadn’t approached the balcony. He shrugged helplessly and stepped back.

Su Li gently patted Xu Xuehui and said, “Xuehui, why don’t you talk to her? She seems pretty wary of us.” As he spoke, he also stepped back.

Su Li believed that Gong Xiao’s extreme caution suggested she had no ill intent, at least not like Ni Jianrong’s group.

Hearing Su Li be so direct, Gong Xiao looked slightly embarrassed. Her expression softened, and she said, “You misunderstand. I’m just not good at communicating with strangers.”

As she spoke, she began paddling. The kayak, which had been waiting five or six meters away, slowly approached.

Xu Xuehui stood by the balcony and, unusually, took the initiative. She said, “Older Sister, Uncle Ding and my brother are good people.”

Gong Xiao gave Xu Xuehui a slight nod, offering a kind smile. Clearly, Xu Xuehui had made a good impression on her, and she had significantly lowered her guard.

Ding Longyun cleared his throat. “Kid, Su Li and I aren’t that far apart in age. We’re both your older brothers. Why are you calling me ‘Uncle’?”

Xu Xuehui replied with a soft “Oh,” looking at Ding Longyun. She seemed about to call him “Older Brother,” but when she opened her mouth, she couldn’t bring herself to say it, feeling it was too much against her conscience.

Su Li watched, secretly amused.

The kayak stopped. Gong Xiao threw one of the ropes attached to the kayak up to them.

Ding Longyun enthusiastically grabbed the rope, helping to steady the kayak.

Gong Xiao lifted a bag filled with supplies from the kayak with her left hand and picked up a baseball bat that had been resting inside with her right hand.

Su Li’s gaze fell on the baseball bat. He could faintly see dry, dark bloodstains on it. He thought that since she had survived to make it here, she must have killed quite a few monsters with that bat.

Gong Xiao vaulted over the balcony railing. Her movements were very agile.

Xu Xuehui stepped forward to help her carry the bag in her left hand. Gong Xiao smiled and thanked her, but declined the help.

Su Li stepped onto the kayak to help carry the remaining two bags of supplies.

Gong Xiao glanced at him and also thanked him. However, she didn’t smile at Su Li. Clearly, aside from Xu Xuehui, she maintained a cautious distance from both men.

Su Li shook his head at her and said, “There’s no need for thanks. We’ve all gone through similar ordeals. We should be helping each other out now.”

The three of them led Gong Xiao toward the highest floor. Ding Longyun collected the axe and machete left behind by the dead Fang You and Wang Kaikang. Weapons were scarce now, and the axe and machete were valuable resources.

“Miss Gong, can you tell us a bit about your situation? How did you manage to get a kayak? We all had to make our own simple rafts.”

Ding Longyun looked at Gong Xiao with what he clearly thought was a very charming smile. He was still full of curiosity about this somewhat aloof young woman.

The first clan leader has finally appeared for this book: Suiyuan Shitian1. Thank you all for your support and donations.

(End of Chapter)