Scum Gong Walks the Career Line in the Crematorium

TL: Moonlit

“It’s… impossible!” Rong Ziping refused to believe it, thinking that Lin Hanchuan was mocking him. “You’re talking nonsense!”

Lin Hanchuan stared at him coldly, as if looking at a jumping clown. Under this gaze, all of Rong Ziping’s thoughts seemed to be laid bare. He unconsciously took a step back, saying, “My eldest brother is not that kind of person!”

“After we arrive in the imperial capital, we can go to the Rong family and find out,” Lin Hanchuan said calmly, not revealing Rong Ziping’s self-deception.

Once they reached the imperial capital, Lin Hanchuan would make sure the Rong family returned everything they owed the original owner – ten years of youth, ten years of imprisonment, ten years of infamy…

By accident, everyone had heard such a significant secret, and their gazes toward Rong Ziping became increasingly strange.

Rong Ziping looked like a young master from some aristocratic family, with an appearance of innocence and arrogance. Even in the apocalypse, he was protected as if there were no differences from before. People liked him for his kindness and could see traces of the past in him, which endeared him to them.

But when he pleaded for mercy on behalf of the couple who had slandered the young man, everyone suddenly felt a shiver down their spine.

Everyone had been young once, and everyone had children in their families. A teenager who had just come of age and finished the college entrance exam was falsely accused and sent to prison. Anyone would feel pity and anger toward the mastermind behind it.

But when they saw Rong Ziping’s soft-hearted plea and even asking the victims to forgive, they couldn’t help but wonder: Was this really kindness, or just a condescending arrogance and pity with a ‘the weak are right’ attitude?

No one knew for sure, but everyone unanimously distanced themselves from Rong Ziping.

Such a person who would advise victims to be magnanimous was not someone they wanted to be close to.

Rong Ziping noticed that his position within the team was becoming increasingly difficult. Previously, he had the best food and clothes, but now, all his supplies were no different from those of ordinary people. Not only did he have fewer resources than even ordinary scavengers, but the people he had once helped had all kept their distance from him.

Those people seemed afraid of getting involved with something dirty, avoiding any interaction or sharing meals with Rong Ziping. Their behavior was completely different from the warm and enthusiastic attitude they had shown before.

Rong Ziping felt really uncomfortable, but without Tu Ji’s protection and being just an ordinary person, he lost his value within the group. He could only huddle in a cold corner, feeling a chill in his heart.

For the first time, he witnessed the hypocrisy and fickleness of human beings. Previously, with the team leader as his backing, everyone tried to please him. Now that he lost his support, everyone ignored him.

Rong Ziping gritted his teeth and raised his head even higher. When they returned to the imperial capital, those narrow-minded and opportunistic common people would surely regret their behavior and try to please him again. At that time, he wouldn’t even spare them a glance, let them regret their actions!

Cheng Jizhou was eating the lollipop that Lin Hanchuan had specially brought for him, observing Rong Ziping’s expression with great interest. “Did you like him before?”

Lin Hanchuan, who was checking the map, paused, his eyebrows slightly furrowing, and he responded with some disdain, “I didn’t like him.”

“They said you used to be very submissive to him,” Cheng Jizhou said with the lollipop in his mouth, the words slightly unclear.

Lin Hanchuan was at a loss for words as he looked at Cheng Jizhou. Instead of brushing it off, he said, “Human emotions are complex and ever-changing. Liking someone in the past doesn’t mean I like him now.”

Just as Cheng Jizhou found Tu Ji interesting, Lin Hanchuan also found Cheng Jizhou intriguing. This young boy had an old soul and often spoke words that didn’t match his age, yet they were mixed with a certain childlike innocence.

Lin Hanchuan couldn’t help but wonder how his parents raised him this way.

“Human emotions are really troublesome,” Cheng Jizhou crunched on the lollipop, his face revealing a mix of disdain and smugness. “I don’t have such troubles.”

Cheng Jizhou had alexithymia1, he was intelligent and rational, but emotionally detached, finding it difficult to develop feelings for anyone except his mother.

“You’ll meet someone you like when you grow up, and then you’ll understand,” Lin Hanchuan said, thinking of the person he liked, and the atmosphere around him softened. “Falling in love with the right person can be a beautiful thing.”

Of course, if it were like the original owner of his previous worlds, falling in love with the wrong person would be a calamity. However, Lin Hanchuan didn’t tell this to the little boy.

“Do you have someone you liked before? What kind of person was it?” Cheng Jizhou leaned closer, asking, “Was he handsome? Am I handsome like him? Was he very smart?”

With a series of questions, Cheng Jizhou managed to make Lin Hanchuan laugh. He patted Cheng Jizhou’s little head and said, “You’ll find out in the future.”

If his guess was correct, Wan Li Shuang would follow him to this world, waiting for him in some corner, so they would meet again in the future. Lin Hanchuan’s gaze fell on the map, a gentle smile forming on his lips.

In the vast sea of people, even if their appearances were different, he would still be able to recognize the person he liked.

Cheng Jizhou looked at Lin Hanchuan’s gentle gaze and suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable. He stood up, walked around the yard, and finally reluctantly returned to sit on the small stool next to Lin Hanchuan.

“Little darling Cheng Jizhou, why are you sulking? Is it because that big bad person made you angry?” Lu Mao tried to coax the little boy, taking advantage of the opportunity to win him over, “Big brother also has candy. How about playing with big brother for a while and ignore that big bad person?”

Cheng Jizhou turned back with an expressionless face. “Do you not realize how forced and fake your voice sounds?”

Attempting to console the little boy, Lu Mao’s heart shattered as he tearfully said, “Aren’t kids supposed to fall for that?”

“No, kids don’t fall for that. It’s you adults who insist on thinking that kids fall for it, and kids just pretend to fall for it when trying to please you,” Cheng Jizhou replied succinctly, hitting the nail on the head.

Lu Mao: “…”

Completely heartbroken, he floated over to Wei Zheng and spoke in a wandering tone, “Police officer uncle, I was actually scolded by a little boy…”

Watching little kids sass others is fun, but when it happens to you, it’s really unpleasant, aaaaah!

After resting for a while at noon, Lin Hanchuan didn’t go to the town in the afternoon. Instead, he took his subordinates to the fields in the countryside to gather the remaining vegetables. Due to strict rationing during lunch, those who went out to collect supplies received more food. Those who didn’t contribute much, except for children and the injured, only got a small piece of bread that couldn’t satisfy their hunger.

So, in the afternoon, more people went out to gather supplies. Except for a few who were particularly timid and stubborn, most of them carried farming tools they had found in the villagers’ houses and followed Lin Hanchuan’s group to harvest vegetables.

Most of the vegetables in the fields had been taken away, and many places were left with nothing. The group carefully searched and scavenged the entire village’s fields until they managed to collect a trunkful of vegetables, more than what they had brought back during the New Year’s visit to their hometown.

With fresh food finally available, Lin Hanchuan didn’t hesitate to cook it all that evening. He also invited people like Feng Kuan, who lived nearby, to join the feast.

The night was cool like water, and the early summer weather already had a hint of heat. Faint insect chirps came from the dark grass around them, and the sky was stingy with stars, showing only a few.

Lin Hanchuan looked up at the sparse stars, his gaze tender.

Cheng Jizhou sat beside him, noticing Lin Hanchuan’s longing and gentle anticipation. He lowered his head and absentmindedly ate his food. Suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist.

Lin Hanchuan was pulled out of his thoughts and saw the little boy next to him eating mouthfuls of chili, a spiciness that even adults couldn’t handle. However, Chéng Jìzhōu didn’t even flinch, his innocent face remained sweat-free.

“Aren’t you feeling the spiciness?” Lin Hanchuan asked.

“No, it’s not spicy,” Cheng Jizhou innocently replied, his small face still as white as ever.

“If you don’t feel it’s spicy, then eat a little less,” Lin Hanchuan said, replacing the spicy dishes in front of Cheng Jizhou with sweet and sour ones that kids would enjoy.

As he exchanged the dishes, Lin Hanchuan moved slightly closer to Cheng Jizhou, and their proximity suddenly increased. Cheng Jizhou sniffed, the strong aroma making him lick his lips.

Before, Cheng Jizhou hadn’t cared much about food cravings, and after being injected with the virus, his taste and smell senses had greatly weakened, making it impossible for him to taste the flavors of food. He didn’t feel any regrets about it.

But now, smelling the delicious fragrance emanating from the person beside him, Cheng Jizhou suddenly felt a hunger he hadn’t experienced in more than twenty years.

‘Maybe… I can take a bite, it won’t kill me. It’ll just turn me into a zombie.’ A red glint flashed in Cheng Jizhou’s eyes.

After changing the dishes, Lin Hanchuan got up again and brought a bottle of milk for Cheng Jizhou, placing it in front of him. “Have some milk.”

Feeling somewhat unhappy about the sudden withdrawal of the tantalizing aroma, Cheng Jizhou was taken aback, but he obediently drank the milk.

“Is this your son?” Feng Kuan looked with great interest at Lin Hanchuan, a cold and cool man, being a doting father. After the words came out, he suddenly remembered that this man had spent ten years in prison, so it was impossible for him to have a mixed-race child.

“Rescued on the road,” Lin Hanchuan replied, his gaze lingering on the well-behaved Cheng Jizhou before looking back at Feng Kuan.

Feng Kuan chuckled heartily and patted Lin Hanchuan’s shoulder. “You have a good heart.”

He swore that he genuinely meant to compliment Lin Hanchuan, but the beautiful mixed-race child didn’t seem satisfied with the response. “If he didn’t have a good heart, you wouldn’t be sitting here.”

Lu Mao also laughed, feeling quite proud and self-satisfied. “Among those present, who hasn’t been saved by my big brother?”

The earliest ones to follow him out of prison, the ones he rescued on the road, and even military personnel like Feng Kuan and the rest—all of them were saved by his big brother, and Lu Mao was no exception.

“You’re such a good person, spending ten years in prison… What a pity,” Feng Kuan sighed, realizing that some people’s kindness was merely words, while others did many things without saying a word. Unfortunately, most people would be deceived by sweet words and overlook those who truly took action.

Bringing up this matter, the relaxed atmosphere turned silent again. Sitting at the table in the farthest corner, Rong Ziping keenly sensed that it seemed like he was being glared at fiercely once more.

the inability to recognize or describe one’s own emotions.