Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator

The previously stern-faced Xia Qingxue suddenly turned around and looked at Chen Pingchuan.

”Hee hee! Chen Pingchuan, was I awesome?”

”Awesome! Absolutely awesome!”

”The Sailor Guardian has answered the call! With a flick of the wrist, the enemy turns to ash!”

While yelling his praise, Chen Pingchuan subtly sidestepped, moving out of the weapon’s line of fire. Even though his attributes were now far beyond a normal person’s, he couldn’t help but feel a chill when facing such an unknown and destructive weapon.

Xia Qingxue didn’t notice his expression. With a light tap of her finger, the small pistol instantly transformed into a lipstick-sized gadget.

She held her head high, beaming at Chen Pingchuan.

”Alright, let’s go home.”

Chen Pingchuan stared at Xia Qingxue’s pretty face. Seeing no sign of fear or panic in her expression, he silently breathed a sigh of relief.

”Okay, let’s go home.”

On their way home, they tacitly didn’t mention what had just happened.

Perhaps sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, Chen Pingchuan was the first to break the silence. ”Let me tell you a joke.”

Xia Qingxue’s mind seemed to be elsewhere as she absentmindedly responded, ”Okay.”

Chen Pingchuan was a little discomfited by her attitude and could only fake a cough to ease the awkwardness. ”Ahem... so, in the outer city, there was a chivalrous laborer, both wise and courageous. One day, on his way home from work, he saw a girl being harassed by thugs. Without a second thought, he rushed forward and saved her.”

He stopped there, letting the story hang as he fell silent.

When the story didn’t continue, Xia Qingxue naturally focused her attention back on Chen Pingchuan. ”And then?”

”There is no ’and then.’ The story is over, but it has two different endings.”

”What?” Xia Qingxue looked bewildered, not quite getting it.

Seeing Xia Qingxue’s puzzled little expression, Chen Pingchuan chuckled softly, no longer keeping her in suspense.

”The first ending is if the laborer is handsome. The woman will say, ’Thank you for saving me, young man. I have no other way to repay you but with myself.’”

This matched what Xia Qingxue had been guessing, and now she was curious about the other ending. She didn’t ask, but instead looked at Chen Pingchuan with her expressive, rippling eyes, gazing at him tenderly.

Chen Pingchuan quickly caved under her gentle assault, offering a wry smile.

”The second ending is if the laborer is average-looking. The woman will say, ’Thank you for saving my life. I will spend the rest of my life repaying this kindness.’”

Xia Qingxue’s eyes curved into crescents and the corners of her lips turned up. Her previously calm face suddenly burst into a smile as radiant as a blossoming flower.

”Actually, the story isn’t over yet.”

”Huh?”

”When the woman offers to repay him with herself, the laborer also has two possible reactions. If the woman is beautiful, he’ll ask, ’Are you serious?’ But if she isn’t, he’ll say, ’That is absolutely out of the question.’”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if a dad joke from my previous world would land here, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say. It was a desperate attempt, but better than both of us being quiet.

However, Chen Pingchuan never expected that as soon as he finished the joke, Xia Qingxue would freeze.

He instinctively shook her arms, asking with concern, ”What’s wrong? Were you scared by what happened earlier?”

Xia Qingxue pursed her lips. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally mustered up the courage to ask Chen Pingchuan, ”So what’s your answer? I saved you today.”