Chapter 39 The Proper Procedure

To be honest, Xiao Guang felt that he had never mistreated the female zombie.

However, looking at the iron chain around Kang Hyewon's neck, he had no intention of removing it.

The carload of people returned to the manor. Following the usual routine, they should have helped Kang Hyewon clean up and maintain her personal hygiene first, but with a slight lapse of attention, Kang Hyewon ran off.

Xiao Guang, Bae Joohyun, and Kim Minju spent a full half-hour surrounding and intercepting her before they managed to catch Kang Hyewon. Minju was the clumsiest, getting knocked over three times.

Xiao Guang felt as if his lungs were burning. He looked back at Kang Hyewon, who wasn't even breathing heavily, her eyes wandering as if she were still looking for an opportunity to escape.

He was grateful that the back of this manor was enclosed, otherwise, they would have only been able to watch Kang Hyewon's sturdy half-moon disappear into the distance.

Kang Hyewon didn't bite—there wasn't the slightest motion to suggest she would bite—but she liked to headbutt people.

When Xiao Guang grabbed her arm to help trim her nails, she headbutted him straight into the swimming pool. In the water, Xiao Guang saw Kang Hyewon being pinned down by Bae Joohyun, while Minju smacked her exposed half-moon with her hand, making loud smacking noises. How should he put it? Xiao Guang actually didn't mind such a sight.

Kang Hyewon seemed to understand her predicament. She didn't open her mouth to make threatening sounds, but instead stared right into Minju's face. Xiao Guang hurriedly climbed ashore, pinned Kang Hyewon down, sat right on top of her to keep her immobilized, and grabbed one of her hands.

Those claws were pitch black, with dirt packed deep under the fingernails. Xiao Guang carefully helped Hyewon trim her nails, wondering what her situation had been like before, and why she had been running wild in the wilderness.

"Min~~ju~~"

Her voice was hoarse. Xiao Guang paused and looked back at Kang Hyewon. Impressive, she could actually pronounce Minju's name, something even the little goofball Minju struggled to say clearly.

"Goo~~"

Minju was extremely excited. Cupping Hyewon's face with both hands, she tried to lean in close, only to be pulled back by Bae Joohyun.

"So dirty~"

Bae Joohyun was the only sensible one. Their reunion wasn't going anywhere anyway. Xiao Guang turned back to continue cleaning Hyewon's fingernails. After finishing one hand and moving on to the other, Kang Hyewon didn't put up any resistance.

"Eat~~"

"Don't eat~~"

Looking back, Minju, just how close are you and Hyewon that you even brought your own milk cup? Fortunately, Bae Joohyun continued to hold her back. Xiao Guang shook his head and went back to his own work.

Two of her toenails had been completely worn away from running. Looking at the barely healed wounds, Xiao Guang didn't even know what to say. After finishing her hands and feet, Xiao Guang brought over a pile of toiletries and a water hose, feeling somewhat anxious that Kang Hyewon might bolt again.

"Wash~"

Bae Joohyun's voice was clear. Xiao Guang nodded, helped Kang Hyewon up, watched her clutch Minju's hand, and sighed as he slowly peeled the tattered clothes off Kang Hyewon's body.

Kang Hyewon seemed unaccustomed to it, but Minju softly comforted her. Xiao Guang once again noticed that they made strange noises—not actual syllables, but sounds resembling a radio with poor reception, a faint static hiss.

Following the old routine from the head down, he had Hyewon sit on the ground to untangle the knots in her hair. There was no telling how long she had been running wild out there, as there were even small clumps of dirt trapped in her hair. Grayish-black water streamed down her back, and Xiao Guang caught sight of the wounds and protruding spine along Hyewon's lean back.

Just how much suffering had she endured? To live such a difficult life even after being infected with the virus. Although those wounds wouldn't bleed, Xiao Guang still felt a pang of ache for Hyewon.

After washing her hair, he moved on to her face. After scrubbing for a moment, it was clear he needed some tools. Rummaging around for a long while, he finally found a rough towel, scrubbed Hyewon once with soap, and then scrubbed again, and yet again. Watching Hyewon's little face noticeably brighten in cleanliness, Xiao Guang smiled.

Hyewon seemed to have grown accustomed to Xiao Guang washing her; she no longer subconsciously dodged away. When Xiao Guang helped her up, she stood up obediently, though her gaze remained fixed on Minju. Xiao Guang glanced at them and felt a twinge of sadness—that pair of violet eyes seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, yet she didn't know how to express them.

Good grief, another bald one. He wondered if all entertainers treated their hair this way. This was his first time helping with such a cleanup, especially after having just seen her running around with half her bottom exposed, so Xiao Guang had to be extra earnest.

It was time to wash her legs. Xiao Guang had to take a brief break. Having done hard labor every day lately, his physical fitness had improved significantly, but why was his physiological reaction so intense right now? Fighting the urge to look away, Xiao Guang suddenly felt the urge to visit that large shopping mall again—there were very, very expensive dolls inside.

He finally managed to get Hyewon thoroughly clean. Looking at the rolls of dirt on the ground, Xiao Guang hurriedly washed them down the drain with the hose. After a moment's thought, he simply scooped up Hyewon and placed her into the swimming pool, followed by Bae Joohyun and Minju, both of whom watched with wide-eyed anticipation.

Seeing how Kang Hyewon pressed herself tightly against the wall, she surely wouldn't run away now. He needed to cool down and shed some sweat before getting in himself. First, he went to unload his gear.

As long as he stayed close to Bae Joohyun, he wouldn't get bitten; this was a matter of confidence. Although Hyewon was still staring intently at Minju, Xiao Guang had completely relaxed. Casually picking up Minju's cup, Xiao Guang wondered if he could have Minju teach Hyewon how to use it.

Minju was trying to get Hyewon to learn how to drink milk from a cup, while Xiao Guang looked up at the sky. The swimming pool could be used for at most another half a month, after which it would need to be covered up. What should he do with the water inside?

If he never changed it, it would definitely spoil. Change it every few days? He had no idea whether the power grid over at the energy station could support that kind of electricity consumption.

Total mental vacancy was impossible. Xiao Guang currently had a very high sensitivity to water; the villa currently had two entire rooms filled with bottled mineral water he had hauled back. He always had a hunch that the tap water would eventually shut off.

He looked up at the sky once more. The autumn and winter sun certainly wouldn't be as intense as the summer sun, or perhaps as long as there was sunlight, it would be fine? He understood too little to judge the outcome, and often felt like a clown waiting for his sentence to be pronounced.

He couldn't soak in the water for too long. Who knew what the female zombie was thinking, but Xiao Guang was starting to feel cold. The moment he climbed out of the pool, Bae Joohyun turned her head to look at him. With no other choice, he had to haul everyone else out, dry them off with large towels, and then finally take care of himself.

There was yet another consumer of supplies in the house. Xiao Guang hesitated for barely a second before letting it go. What kind of times were these? You never knew whether misfortune or tomorrow would arrive first, so why waste time worrying so much about the future?

~~~

Bae Joohyun was holding Hyewon down while Minju beat her up. A completely naked Kang Hyewon seemed somewhat bewildered, turning her head to look at Minju as if unable to comprehend why she was getting beaten. She opened her mouth, and a few strands of instant noodles spilled out.

Xiao Guang lay flat on the floor with his back arched, both hands clutching his vital areas. He had been careless. If he had known better, he should have placed a steel plate in front of his legs. Knowing full well that Hyewon loved to headbutt people, how could he have forgotten when feeding her instant noodles earlier?

He was quite skilled at cooking instant noodles by now, and naturally dragged Hyewon over to make her kneel properly. It was easy enough to deal with her reluctance to open her mouth: he just pinched both sides of her cheeks and poured the noodles right in.

Trouble was inevitable the first time around. Choking a little, spitting a little—that was all completely normal. But then Hyewon started acting up. With her arms pinned behind her by Bae Joohyun, she simply used her head to ram Xiao Guang squarely.

No, this temperament had to be broken. Xiao Guang had witnessed firsthand the scene of Hyewon sending a zombie flying with a headbutt. Even though Hyewon clearly hadn't used that much force this time, any behavior directed at attacking him had to be corrected.

Hyewon was tied to a chair. Minju watched from the side without a sound, then turned to look at Bae Joohyun. Bae Joohyun was holding the iron chain in her hand again, a sight that looked somewhat terrifying no matter how you viewed it.

"Last one, truly the last one. Her wild streak is just too strong, and I don't want to suffer anymore."

A certain region was still throbbing with dull pain. Xiao Guang suspected that if his intentions had been impure at the time, he might have been snapped cleanly in two by now.

Tying Hyewon to the large sofa chair, he noticed that her violet eyes were still locked onto Minju. Xiao Guang couldn't help cursing this damned world a few times.

"Just when is this ever going to end? How many more souls suffering like this are out there? I hate this apocalypse."