Lowering her head to look at the human cub clinging to her right leg, it took her a while to process what he had said.
Son?
Mother?
Of course, she knew what these highly praised human relationships meant in human society.
But Chu Chi tilted her head, not quite understanding. What did these two words have to do with her, a zombie?
"Mom, please agree to it.
I promise I'll be a filial son to you in the future!
I can do everything - washing clothes, cooking, making beds, folding blankets. Plus, I'm very smart and learn things quickly. I'm sure to make something of myself!
You just need to support me for a few years until I grow up. After that, I'll definitely take care of you in your old age. I swear!"
Lin You'an cried with snot and tears, but that didn't stop him from making grand promises to Chu Chi.
Another long string of words swirled around in her head. These overly complex sentences were really too much for a zombie. She held her aching head with one hand and used the other to pry the attachment off her leg, placing him back on the ground.
Then, staring into his eyes, she asked in a very serious tone.
"You say you're my son?"
Lin You'an's sobbing paused for a moment, then he resolutely nodded his head.
"Yes!"
Chu Chi looked at him carefully, then thought about her current self that she had seen in the small puddle. A strange expression slowly appeared on her face.
"How old am I?"
Looking at her young and beautiful face, Lin You'an hesitantly replied.
"Eighteen?"
"Then how old are you?"
This he could answer accurately.
"Eight!"
Alright, case solved.
As a high-quality zombie, Chu Chi was just slow in her reactions, not actually stupid. She could even disguise herself as a human and blend into the base without being discovered, so who would dare underestimate her intelligence?
"Ha, I've read quite a bit, don't try to fool me. I'm only ten years older than you, how could I have given birth to a son as big as you?"
The words flowed more smoothly from her mouth, and the knowledge in her brain became more abundant. How could she not know this most basic physiological common sense?
Wait?
That's not right.
How did she, a zombie, know this human physiological common sense?
Chu Chi scratched her head in confusion, feeling that this newly grown brain didn't seem to be working well enough.
Lin You'an's tears froze in his eyes!
He stared intently at her eyeballs without blinking, until he confirmed that she was seriously refuting this question. Lin You'an instantly realized he had made a huge mistake!
He had overestimated her brain capacity!
Even after he had explained everything so clearly, this woman still didn't understand. She actually thought he meant she was his biological mother!
Since that was the case...
The naturally cunning Lin decided to change tactics.
"I'm not your biological child, you're my stepmother! It means you're the woman my father married later. But my little sister, she's your biological child!"
Moving at the fastest speed of his life, he darted to the pile of rags, snatched up the still sleeping little girl, and tried with all his might to stand on tiptoe, attempting to shove the child in front of the woman.
"Look, this is your biological child!"
Chu Chi looked at the even smaller cub in the cub's hands, a tiny little bean, then looked at her current large self.
She lowered her eyes and pondered in her mind.
According to normal physiological structure, she could indeed give birth to a child of this size now. But she was a zombie, how could she give birth to a human cub?
She could only continue to ask uncertainly.
"Is this really... born from me?"
"Of course!" Lin You'an's answer was decisive.
His tone was as firm as if he had personally been there, watching the zombie give birth.
"Look how much she resembles you? You both have two eyes, one nose, two ears, and one mouth. And you both have black hair and white skin, and you're both girls. If you're not her biological mother, who is?"
Well, it seemed to make a little sense.
Chu Chi bent down slightly, covering her already aching head, and observed the tiny cub up close.
Indeed, it was exactly as the cub had said. This little one had the same facial features as herself, with no extra nose or missing ear, the numbers all matched!
Moreover, after looking for a while, she vaguely felt that this little bean looked somewhat familiar.
Like something... what was it?
Ouch, the zombie's brain hurt!
She quickly closed her eyes, trying to give her new brain some buffer space. Meanwhile, Lin You'an's brainwashing words continued to pour out incessantly.
"Look how beautiful my sister is? That's because she takes after your pretty face!
See how quiet my sister is? That's because she's like you, doesn't like to talk much.
Look how clean my sister is? This must also be because she was born from you, such a clean and beautiful mother, so she has these wonderful qualities!"
He linked everything, whether relevant or not, as long as he could confuse Chu Chi, she would have to accept them as her children today!
"Really, Mom, you are indeed my very own stepmother! Otherwise, how would I know your name is Chu Chi? Don't you think so?"
It seemed... to be... correct?
Chu Chi hesitated again, tilting her head in contemplation.
No good, headache.
Lin You'an, the little schemer, persisted in his efforts.
"Mom, look at this snake meat I made, you find it delicious, right? That's because your son is filial, I used to cook for you often before, so your taste buds are already accustomed to this flavor, that's why you find it tasty. Don't you think that's the reason?"
Yes!
Exactly!
Chu Chi nodded without hesitation.
"Mom, come home with your son and daughter, don't wander around outside alone anymore. It's so dangerous out there, with so many bad people! What if some swindler comes along and tricks you away?
Look, you were just attacked, the bruise on your neck is still there. How can you not be afraid at all? Why are you still running outside?
And there are only two children left at home, me and my sister. It's really scary, anyone can bully us. All our family's belongings have been stolen by others!"
Speaking of the sad part, the little one wiped away another tear before continuing to persuade with a choked voice.
"Mom, Dad is gone, and grandpa and grandma passed away long ago. Our uncle and maternal uncle are leading the bullying against us, and we can't count on the clan either.
Mom, my sister and I now only have you as our mother to rely on. Please don't abandon us..."
Tears fell again in streams. Whether sincere or not, the hardships he spoke of at this moment were indeed real and tangible.
Of course, these truths and lies mixed together finally fooled the newly arrived zombie, Chu Chi.
These convoluted words really made her head ache. As mentioned before, the zombie's brain was newly grown and needed to be used sparingly.
Since it was something she couldn't figure out no matter how hard she tried, it must be true!
So Chu Chi slowly extended her hand, awkwardly taking the tattered cloth swaddle from Lin You'an's hands.
