Surviving the apocalypse with a wife and a system! [GL]

Chapter 298: The golden fruit 9.

The apocalypse would only become more dangerous with time. Zombies would evolve. Monsters would become stronger. More survivors would appear. Human groups would grow, fight, and compete for resources.

If Yan Cijin depended on Bai Li for every dangerous situation, what would happen one day when Bai Li was not there?

What would happen if Bai Li was injured?

What if they were separated?

What if Bai Li needed help and Yan Cijin had never been allowed to build enough experience because someone had always shielded her?

That would be the worst kind of protection.

Overprotection could turn love into a cage.

Bai Li leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

She finally understood what had been wrong.

She had been protecting Yan Cijin because she cared about her too much.

That was the simple truth.

She cared so much that she had started making decisions with her heart instead of her head.

In normal times, maybe that would not matter.

But these were not normal times.

This was the apocalypse.

Strength was not just a convenience.

It was survival.

If Yan Cijin wanted to become stronger, Bai Li should help her.

She should teach her.

She should support her.

She should protect her when necessary.

But she should also let her fight.

Because one day, Yan Cijin would need to stand on her own.

Bai Li closed her eyes for a moment.

She remembered the way Yan Cijin had looked at her.

Not afraid.

Not weak.

Angry.

Because she had wanted to stand beside her.

Not behind her.

That mattered.

Bai Li stood.

She walked to the bedroom door.

She raised her hand and knocked once.

No answer.

She knocked again.

"Cijin."

Silence.

Bai Li leaned closer to the door.

"I know you’re angry."

Still nothing.

"And you have every right to be."

A quiet sound came from inside, but Bai Li couldn’t tell what it was.

She continued.

"I thought about what you said."

Silence.

"You were right."

The room was still.

Bai Li smiled faintly.

"Don’t get too proud. I’m only saying it this once."

There was a tiny movement from inside.

Bai Li knew Yan Cijin was listening.

She lowered her voice.

"I was trying to protect you so much that I forgot you also need the chance to become stronger. That’s my mistake."

Nothing.

Bai Li kept talking.

"I don’t want to hold you back. I don’t want to make you depend on me for everything. If this apocalypse keeps going, the dangers will only increase. We need to become stronger. All of us. You included."

She paused.

"So I’m sorry."

Still nothing.

Bai Li waited a little longer.

"Can I come in?"

No answer.

"I’ll take that as maybe."

She carefully opened the door.

Yan Cijin was sitting on the edge of the bed, her back turned slightly toward the door.

Bai Li stepped inside and closed it behind her.

She didn’t immediately walk closer.

Instead she stood a little distance away.

"I’m still worried."

Yan Cijin didn’t look at her.

"I know."

Bai Li blinked.

That was the first response she had gotten.

She moved a little closer.

"But I understand now that worrying doesn’t mean I get to make the decision for you."

Yan Cijin finally looked at her.

Her anger had faded somewhat, but there was still hurt in her eyes.

Bai Li saw it and felt guilty.

She sat beside her, leaving a comfortable amount of space between them.

"I was scared."

Yan Cijin looked at her.

Bai Li stared down at her hands.

"When the system explained how dangerous the fruit would be, all I could think about was you getting hurt. I couldn’t stop imagining it. I kept thinking about all the things that could go wrong, and somehow my brain just decided that the only solution was to keep you away from it."

She gave a quiet laugh.

"That was stupid."

Yan Cijin said nothing.

Bai Li continued.

"You’re right. You aren’t a burden. You never have been. You’ve helped me more times than you probably realize."

Yan Cijin’s expression softened a little.

"And you have your own strength. I know that."

A tiny pause.

Bai Li smiled.

"Actually, sometimes I think you are much scarier than you look."

Yan Cijin gave her a sideways glance.

"Sometimes?"

Bai Li laughed softly.

"Okay. Most of the time."

For the first time, Yan Cijin’s lips twitched.

Bai Li noticed immediately.

"There. You’re almost smiling."

"Don’t push your luck."

"I’m trying."

The tension eased another little bit.

Bai Li looked down at her hands again.

"I want you to become stronger."

Yan Cijin was quiet.

"Not just because of the fruit."

Bai Li turned toward her.

"I want you to have enough strength that even if I’m not there, you can still stand. I want you to be able to protect yourself and LiLi. I want you to have the freedom to choose what you do without having to depend on anyone."

Yan Cijin’s heart tightened.

There were so many things she wanted to tell Bai Li at that moment.

She wanted to say she was not afraid of being dependent on her.

She wanted to say that if Bai Li disappeared tomorrow, Yan Cijin did not know what she would do.

She wanted to say that she had already chosen her.

But none of those words could come out.

So she simply said, "Then let me go with you."

Bai Li stared at her.

Yan Cijin continued quietly.

"Don’t make the decision for me. Let me choose."

That sentence hit Bai Li harder than she expected.

She sat there for a while without speaking.

Then she slowly nodded.

"Okay."

Yan Cijin looked at her.

"Okay?"

Bai Li smiled.

"Okay."

She took a breath.

"You’re coming with me."

Yan Cijin’s eyes softened.

"You’re sure?"

"No."

Yan Cijin almost laughed.

"Bai Li."

Bai Li smiled.

"I’m sure enough."

She stood and held out her hand.

"But you have to promise me one thing."

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TO BE CONTINUED.