Here we go again.
"…" Shen Mo closed his eyes tiredly.
He opened them again…
"What do you think?" he asked her calmly, his voice devoid of emotion. "A fully charged rabbit, can it make you so strong that you don't need anyone to look after you?"
Bai Weiwei's eyes darted around, and she mumbled, "That's hard to say, after all, I'm quite capable myself."
Shen Mo stood up. "Alright, then I won't look after you anymore."
"No way!" Bai Weiwei suddenly grabbed his hand, her grip surprisingly strong. "I can choose not to let you look after me, but you can't choose not to!"
Shen Mo: "…"
What kind of logic was that?
Was it a tongue twister? Could she be any more contradictory?
"Let go," Shen Mo said.
"No!" Bai Weiwei refused.
Shen Mo took a deep breath and said calmly, "Didn't you want me to look after you? Right now, I want you to let go."
Bai Weiwei: "…"
After two seconds, she reluctantly released her grip, her tone laced with grievance. "Then where are you going?"
It was rare to see her back down, and Shen Mo found it somewhat refreshing. "Going back to the tent to sleep. I'm taking the second shift tonight, so I plan to sleep early."
Bai Weiwei's eyes widened abruptly, her voice filled with disbelief. "You're not sleeping in the same tent as me?!"
Shen Mo didn't understand what was so surprising about that.
They had been sharing a room before because of limited options, but now that they had ample supplies in the maze, why would they still squeeze into one tent?
"What if something happens to me alone in the tent? What if I need to use the toilet at night?!" Bai Weiwei glared at him. "Do you want me to shout your name in the dead of night and let the whole world know I need to pee?!"
After saying all this, she suddenly deflated, her head drooping dejectedly. She muttered apathetically, "Forget it, you can go."
Shen Mo was speechless.
The tent was dimly lit. She hugged a plush rabbit, her eyes downcast and silent, her entire being radiating dejection and gloom.
For a moment, countless words rushed to his lips.
He pursed them, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside.
…
It was lively outside.
Although it was night, the presence of electricity dispelled any sense of loneliness. Some people were gathered around tents, chatting, some were fetching water together, and others were playing music to ease the tense atmosphere.
There was a cacophony of sounds all around.
Shen Mo didn't know what came over him. He grabbed his backpack and blanket from his tent. Turning around, he found Tan Xiao and Cheng Weicai both looking at him.
He inexplicably felt a pang of awkwardness.
He remained silent for a moment before explaining nonchalantly, "She's scared to be alone."
The two people in front of him wore expressions of realization.
"Indeed, you should stay with her," Teacher Cheng said understandingly. "No matter how strong she usually is, she's still a young girl. It's tough for Weiwei to sleep alone in a place like this."
Shen Mo nodded and walked over with his things.
Teacher Cheng watched his retreating figure, pondered for a moment, and asked Tan Xiao beside him, "Xiao Tan, are you close with Xiao Shen?"
"We met him together, didn't we?" Tan Xiao looked puzzled. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Teacher Cheng replied. "It's just… I find it a bit strange. They're siblings, yet one has the surname Shen and the other Bai. If they were cousins, I've never seen them avoid each other…"
"Isn't that simple?" Tan Xiao blurted out. "One takes their father's surname, and the other takes their mother's!"
Teacher Cheng suddenly saw the light. "So that's it! I'm being old-fashioned. I forgot surnames can be passed down maternally too. You young people are quick-witted."
Tan Xiao grinned, flashing his white teeth. "Just so-so~"
…