The Eldest Sister Has Space Chapter 3: I'm hungry

The next time Gu Yundong regained consciousness, she was being carried on Yang's back. The ragged sound of her mother’s heavy breathing filled her ears with every step.

Yang was incredibly frail. Gu Yundong could feel her mother's shoulders trembling beneath her, looking as though she might collapse under the weight at any moment.

"Dongdong, Dongdong, are you awake?" Sensing some movement, Yang turned her head slightly and spoke with a glimmer of joy.

It was only then that Gu Yundong noticed a makeshift backpack hanging against Yang's chest. Inside, the little girl remained in an unconscious slumber, still failing to wake up.

Hearing the stir, Gu Yunshu quickly looked up. "Eldest sister, you’re awake? Just hang on a bit longer, we’re almost there."

"Where are we going?" Gu Yundong’s voice was raspy and dry.

The path they were traveling was narrow and deserted. With darkness falling, they desperately needed to find a place to shelter for the night.

"We’re heading back to the village where we stayed last night. It’s closer than anywhere else." Gu Yunshu wiped his face and forced a smile as he looked up. He had made this choice himself, but he was riddled with anxiety, unsure if it was the right move.

Faced with an unknown path ahead, he felt safer returning to a place he recognized. His eldest sister needed rest, and deep down, he was terrified.

Gu Yundong noticed the leech marks scarring his neck. Combined with his disproportionately large head, the sight was haunting.

Her expression darkened. "Where is Gu Dahe?"

"He stole the eldest sister's money and fled." Gu Yunshu’s forced smile finally broke. He lowered his head, wiping away a stray tear. "Yunshu is useless. I didn't protect Eldest sister, and I couldn't save the money. I'm sorry."

Gu Yundong wanted to tell him to stop crying. Having survived the end of the world in her previous life, she knew tears were the most worthless thing one could offer. If the money was gone, it was gone. What was the point of weeping? If the opportunity arose to make him pay it back a hundredfold, then it wouldn't matter.

However, she quickly reminded herself that this wasn't the apocalypse, and Gu Yunshu wasn't a stranger—he was her younger brother.

While she struggled to offer comfort, Yang’s voice fortunately intervened. "Ashu, don't cry. It’s your second uncle who is in the wrong. We will ignore him from now on. Just ignore him; mother loves you."

Soothed by her words, Gu Yunshu sniffled loudly. "I won't cry. I'm the only man here, I won't cry." Saying this, he clutched the bag of potatoes to his chest and tried to look brave.

Gu Yundong: "..."

Soon, they reached the village where they planned to settle. It was eerily silent and nearly abandoned. Most people were either dying or fleeing, searching for any means of survival.

Gu Yunshu wanted to return to the same room they had used the previous night, but Gu Yundong stopped him. They eventually picked a house far from the village center. It was small and isolated, with only two neighboring houses nearby, making it a better choice for privacy.

Once inside, Yang gently lowered Gu Yundong to the ground.

Though her strength was slowly returning, Gu Yundong’s head still throbbed with dizziness from the previous injury.

Gu Yunshu carefully set the potatoes down in front of her. Looking up, he said, "Sister, you rest first. I’ll go find some firewood."

He was remarkably mature. Even while speaking to Gu Yundong, he kept a smile on his face to keep her from worrying.

He turned and headed toward the woodshed. Gu Yundong watched his retreating figure—his body was so small and thin that it looked as if his large head might snap his neck at any moment.

A short while later, he returned carrying two bundles of thin sticks. He called out to Yang, "Mother, help me shut the window."

"Alright." Yang was currently using a bamboo jar to trickle water into Gu Yunke’s mouth. The little girl swallowed instinctively, finally showing a slight reaction.

With the door and window secured, Gu Yunshu began roasting the potatoes.

Gu Yundong watched as he pulled two tiny potatoes from the cloth bag. He treated them like treasures, skewering them on sticks over the fire. Once they were cooked, he handed one to her.

The other potato was painstakingly peeled and fed to Gu Yunke.

Then, he extinguished the fire.

Gu Yundong stared at the small potato in her hand, then looked at Gu Yunshu and Yang. It was clear they didn't intend to eat. "What about you two?"

"Sister, you eat. I'm not hungry." Despite his words, his eyes drifted toward the potatoes involuntarily before he quickly looked away.

Yang was much more transparent. She swallowed hard and whispered, "...I'm hungry."