Chapter Thirty-Nine: Xiaoxi, Who Judges by Appearance

“Little girl, what’s your name?” Lu Kai asked gently, crouching down to make himself appear less intimidating.

The girl curled into herself, not answering immediately, her eyes showing a trace of unease.

Chen Yi took a step closer and spoke in a calm, reassuring voice, “Don’t be afraid, we’re here to help you.”

In his previous life, no one knew this little girl’s name; she was taken away by the highest authorities and trained in secret. Who would have thought she was so close to his own city all along? If he could bring her into his group, wouldn’t their power soar to new heights?

With that thought, Chen Yi’s heart filled with joy.

He asked again, “Little sister, can you tell me your name?”

The girl was still somewhat afraid, but when she looked carefully at Chen Yi’s face, her eyes brightened, as though she felt a little safer.

Instead of answering his question, she asked in a soft voice, “Handsome big brother, do you have anything to eat?”

There was a hint of hope in her tone.

A trace of grievance showed on her tiny face; she looked as if hunger had plagued her for far too long.

Chen Yi’s heart stirred. He remembered the food Chu Yunxi had tucked into his pocket. There wasn’t much, but in these perilous, post-apocalyptic days, even a little was precious.

He smiled and reached into his coat, pulling out a small bun and a few candies.

“Here you go,” he said.

Chen Yi tore open the packages and handed the bread and sweets to the girl.

She accepted the food and gazed at him with wide, innocent eyes. She didn’t speak, but the glimmer in her gaze showed a trace of trust.

She examined the treasure in her hands as if it were the rarest gem, and at last, a smile bloomed on her face.

“Thank you, handsome big brother…” she murmured.

Chen Yi smiled gently. “You’re welcome. Go ahead and eat.”

“Can I eat it all?” she asked, swallowing hard, her eyes filled with longing as she clutched the small bun.

Her voice trembled. Even at her age, she understood the value of food in these times.

Chen Yi was moved by her innocence, and a gentle warmth softened his expression.

He nodded lightly. “Of course. You can eat it all.”

Hearing this, the girl’s face brightened with a sweet smile.

She hurriedly tore off a corner of the bread and took a tentative bite; her eyes instantly sparkled. In almost no time at all, she gobbled down the entire bun and popped two candies into her mouth.

A look of shy satisfaction spread across her face, happiness she could not conceal.

“My name is Chen Yaxi,” she said, her mouth still full of candy, voice muffled.

Chen Yi’s eyes softened at once. That name brought back memories from his past. Smiling with relief, he said, “My surname is Chen too. I’m Chen Yi.”

“From now on, you can stay with me. I’ll treat you as my own little sister.”

He reached out his hand to her.

Yaxi slowly stood up from under the table. Perhaps she’d crouched too long, for her legs buckled and she stumbled, falling right at Chen Yi’s feet and hugging his leg tightly.

Chen Yi felt her small hands clinging to him and, a little heartbroken, bent down and spoke gently, “Take it slow. There’s no rush.”

Watching this, Lu Kai behind them couldn’t help but ask, “Yaxi, how old are you now?”

Yaxi grinned sheepishly and counted on her fingers. “I’m nine this year.”

When she answered, Chen Yi affectionately patted her head. “Such a brave little girl.”

The interaction between Chen Yi and Yaxi made Lu Kai and the others smile despite themselves. It had been a long time since they’d witnessed such a warm scene.

The little girl’s presence made them feel, once more, the persistence of life and the hope for the future.

Lu Kai patted Chen Yi’s shoulder. “That was close—we found her just in time. Who knows what might’ve happened if we’d been any later.”

“Indeed,” Chen Yi nodded.

It was hard to imagine how a little girl had managed to survive in this apocalyptic world—especially now, two months since disaster struck.

Lu Kai then asked, “Yaxi, why were you on this ship?”

As soon as the question left his lips, Yaxi’s eyes dimmed, as if a painful memory had surfaced. The innocence in her expression was replaced by a shadow of sorrow.

Noticing this, Chen Yi immediately knelt down and gently gathered her into his arms. He spoke softly, “It’s all right, Yaxi. Don’t think about the past anymore. From now on, I’ll take care of you. I’ll make sure you have plenty to eat.”

Hearing him, Yaxi’s eyes glimmered with emotion. She tugged lightly at his collar and whispered, “Big brother.”

A warmth blossomed in Chen Yi’s heart at her trust. He gently patted her back and replied softly, “I’m here.”

In his comforting embrace, Yaxi finally let her guard down. Her little hands relaxed, her body slackened. The tension she’d held for so long melted away, and overwhelming exhaustion swept over her. Soon, she drifted into a deep sleep in Chen Yi’s arms.

Lu Kai, standing by, couldn’t help but smirk at the sight. He teased, “I’m a little jealous, you know. I was the first to find Yaxi, but she decided to follow you. Is it really because you’re better looking?”

Chen Yi, still holding Yaxi, chuckled. “That kind of charm is just natural, nothing you can do about it. Don’t take it too hard.”

Lu Kai burst out laughing. “Come on, I’m not bad myself, am I?”

Their banter made the team relax; laughter echoed through the ship’s cabin. The tension of the apocalypse seemed to ease, if only a little.

Chen Yi looked down at the sleeping Yaxi in his arms and said to the others, “Don’t underestimate Yaxi. She’s sleeping now, so she can’t show you, but you’ll all be amazed soon enough.”

The team members exchanged surprised looks and whispered among themselves. Clearly, none of them had expected this little girl to be anything out of the ordinary.

“Really?” someone asked. “Does she have some kind of special ability?”

Lu Kai gazed at the sleeping Yaxi in Chen Yi’s arms, his expression complicated, curiosity piqued. But seeing how tired she was, he didn’t have the heart to disturb her.

Looking at her weary face, he decided to put his questions aside for now.

“In any case, the most important thing right now is to check the ship.”

“We’ll talk about Yaxi once we reach the new island.”

With that, Chen Yi began directing everyone to split up and inspect the massive vessel.