3

Law of the Jungle

(t/n: In this translation, jiejie and gege may be used in place of “older sister” and “older brother” when addressing females/males older than oneself. It can show up either as the address or as a suffix to someone’s name.)

Thinking back on when I first arrived here a year ago, I couldn’t help finding it laughable. Back then, seeing a crown-less man had made me scream out loud. There was also the blond man who explained everything about this place.

Now though, I’d already been dead for a year, my consciousness relegated to Split Zone No.13.

I was currently das.h.i.+ng through the streets of this city, and as I regained my senses, I suddenly felt that there was a figure following behind me.

Even without thinking about it, I knew who it was. But just in case, I quickly turned around. At the same time, I grabbed the bow on my back with my left hand, and by the time I saw him behind me, I already had an arrow aimed.

He was dressed entirely in black, and his strong and healthy figure was quick to respond. He jumped up above my head, and as I looked up, I saw him smile jokingly down at me. I reached out an empty hand to grab his ankle, and then the both of us started falling.

He unceremoniously kicked away my hand, going off my momentum, and we both seemed to hit the ground at the same time.

My crimson skirt swept across the ground, my red heels landing steadily. My messy, red hair blew with the wind as I shot a look at the stalker before me.

He was dressed completely in black, as he’s always done. He looked the same as he did one year ago, only he’d traded his black turtleneck for a black windbreaker. His hands were casually inserted into his jacket pockets. His slightly long, black hair danced in the wind, with his s.h.i.+ning, black eyes fixed onto me.

“Nie Zun, it’s already been a year. Can’t you wear something with a bit of color?” I scoffed as I looked over him.

Nie Zun shrugged, his lips curving upwards just slightly. “Aren’t you the same? Always wearing red, always running through the streets at night, like a maniac. Have I ever asked you to change?”

I raised one of my eyebrows. “It’s not often that you’re so lively. I didn’t know you could say so much at once.”

“Depends who I’m talking to,” he replied, with a charming smile.

His smile caused my heart to skip a beat. But immediately afterwards, I silently berated myself for being unable to resist a handsome man’s smile. I looked spitefully at him, who was still uncommunicative and feigning a sullen expression after an entire year. And for whatever reason, this man was loitering around me today like the devil.

I was about to make an ironic response when a cute little girl suddenly appeared in front of me.

She was a newbie who’d just arrived yesterday. Laurel, her name was. They said that she was brought here after a serious case of Stockholm syndrome triggered schizophrenia.

Her appearance was a very pure and innocent one, and her character was also sweet and kind. I guess, because she reminded me of myself when I was younger, I immediately took a liking to her. And she was in Westside, my territory, so of course I would do my best to protect her.

Laurel scurried over when she saw me. She pouted her little, red lips and looked at me sadly as she asked, “Ah Shen jiejie, I still don’t really get it, the way time works here, so I can’t get to sleep.”

I pat her on the head, her fine and soft blond hair feeling nice beneath my fingers.