It’s evident to perceptive individuals that Bai Qingqing doesn’t favor Shen Mingxuan.
Shen Mingxuan’s face immediately darkened. His peach blossom eyes shimmered with cold light, and his tense expression appeared exceptionally ruthless, resembling the ten Yama Kings in hell.
Bai Tiantian bit her lip, wanting to serve Shen Mingxuan some food, but her shy nature prevented her from being too proactive.
The apocalypse had arrived several months ago, and she and her sister Bai Qingqing were rescued by the Thunder Squad. It was her awakening of spatial abilities that made the team members view her differently.
Coupled with her gentle and sincere nature, contrasted by Bai Qingqing’s constant provocative challenges to men’s limits, she naturally appeared even more delightful. She could sense that the men in the team had developed a fondness for her.
In truth, she had developed a slight liking for Fu Chen’s decisive and powerful manner of handling things.
Since Bai Qingqing lost her memory and clung to Fu Chen, Bai Tiantian discovered that this cold and indifferent man actually had a gentle side. He treated Bai Qingqing as a cherished younger sister, pampering and protecting her.
She felt a tinge of disappointment and jealousy in her heart, but she could only silently hide her own thoughts.
During these days, she had also noticed a slight change in everyone’s attitude. Except for Shen Mingxuan, who clashed with Bai Qingqing no matter what, the others no longer harbored the same aversion towards Bai Qingqing.
This was a good thing, as she no longer needed to worry about her sister being abandoned, but she couldn’t help but feel a little heartbroken.
In the past, when she saw a small plant being broken, she would feel pity and heartache. But now, she had developed negative emotions like jealousy. What had happened to her?
Bai Tiantian’s mind grew heavy, sinking into self-doubt.
After Ah Hua brought out the last dish, everyone sat together to have dinner, except for Shen Mingxuan, who had a stern expression. The atmosphere was otherwise jovial.
Since the advent of the apocalypse, everyone had been busy with survival, searching for supplies, and reuniting with their families in various safe zones. They rarely had time to sit down and enjoy a good meal. Tonight’s late but distinctive ethnic cuisine significantly boosted their happiness.
Ah Hua’s appetizing dishes whetted their appetites, and Bai Qingqing couldn’t help but eat two bowls. In the end, she covered her mouth and let out a small burp.
The others at the table looked at her, and she shyly lowered her gaze, appearing cute with a hint of shyness. “I ate too much.”
Xiao Yang glanced at the remaining soup on the table and smiled. “So, Qingqing sister, you like spicy food.”
Bai Qingqing and the members of the team, including her half-sister Bai Tiantian, weren’t very familiar with each other, so they didn’t know her personal preferences.
Her eyes sparkled, and she admitted openly, “I love spicy food.” She looked at the others. “What about you?”
“I’m the same as you, I enjoy strong flavors,” Xiao Yang chuckled.
Cheng Rui said, “I can handle it.”
During his previous outdoor training, he had eaten grass and leaves. As long as the food wasn’t spoiled, he wouldn’t be picky.
“I personally prefer mild flavors and would like some soup,” Liang Zhiyu smiled. “But I can eat spicy food too.”
Bai Tiantian felt apologetic. “Why didn’t you all say so? If I had known you all liked spicy food, I would have added more chili when cooking.”
Shen Mingxuan sneered, “It’s already good enough to have something to eat. No need to be picky.”
Bai Qingqing turned to look at Fu Chen next to her, gazing at his handsome profile. She asked, “Brother, what about you?”
Fu Chen casually replied, “Why are you asking so many questions? Are you planning to cook?”
Bai Qingqing made a sound of surprise and lowered her eyelashes. “I’m not very good at cooking.” She then raised her bright eyes and looked at him with joy. “Brother, what do you want to eat? I can learn to make it.”
His response brought a sense of relief. Fu Chen glanced at her. “If you don’t know how, then don’t cook. I don’t want to be poisoned by you.”
“…,” Bai Qingqing was caught off guard.
Her choked expression was quite amusing, and everyone burst into laughter. However, they also saw through his intentions. The meaning behind his words was simply not letting his ‘little sister’ cook.
…
After dinner, everyone helped clean up the table and then dispersed to rest.
The girls shared a room, while Awang was locked up alone in the firewood room. The other men slept in a large dormitory with simple conditions, as there were no better arrangements available.
It was only around 8 o’clock after they finished eating. In her previous life, at this time, she would be lying on the sofa, snacking and watching dramas. Now, after finishing dinner, she had nothing to do and could only go to sleep.
Bai Qingqing tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. She thought about the side quests and the guide quests.
So far, the only ones she could easily guide were the puppy-like Xiao Yang and the constantly poker-faced Cheng Rui. Which one should she choose first?
“Qingqing, you can’t sleep either?” Ahua’s voice came.
Bai Qingqing responded, “Am I disturbing you?”
“No.” Ahua’s voice was very soft.
“Me neither.” Baitiantian’s voice was even softer.
Bai Qingqing was speechless. Did they really need to speak so quietly when none of them could sleep? She got up, annoyed.
The experiences in Zhou Village these past few days were quite colorful. The disappearing children, the strange customs of the village, and the man-eating divine tree.
The people of Zhou Village had committed great sins in the apocalypse, but she wasn’t the judge in a courtroom. Even if she could stand on the moral high ground, she had no right to punish them.
After all, half of humanity had already perished after the apocalypse arrived.
Even if the old village chief died, the men of Zhou Village still couldn’t change their ways. They still treated the women who bore children for them like dirt.
The pitiful appearance of A Bao’s mother being beaten during the day was deeply etched in her mind.
That was probably human nature.
Even though she herself was living a difficult life, she still felt sympathy for the unfortunate and couldn’t bear to see others suffer.
Bai Qingqing was not a docile person. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have accepted the system’s tasks in order to survive, daring to provoke several future powerhouses.
She couldn’t say she liked Bai Tiantian, but she didn’t dislike her either. She just had a bit of a savior complex, as long as it didn’t harm her, it didn’t matter.
Bai Tiantian, as the female lead, had a halo over her head. Even if she was a main character or a supporting character, everyone would have strange goodwill towards her, and this could be used to their advantage.
“Bai Tiantian.”
“Yes?” Bai Tiantian looked confused.
Bai Qingqing sat up against the wall and said, “I want to discuss something with you.”
“What is it? Tell me.” Bai Tiantian felt needed and immediately became energetic.
She was someone who didn’t know how to refuse. It couldn’t be said whether it was a flaw or a virtue, but as long as the other person wasn’t too excessive, she would always soften and agree to their requests.
Ahua also looked at Bai Qingqing curiously.
“Ahua, I think you were the one who felt that the rules in the village were too outdated and lacked humanity, which is why you wanted to escape from the village, right?”
Ahua sat up. “That’s right! My mother… ” She clenched her teeth and said bitterly, “She was killed by my father.”
Bai Tiantian exclaimed, “How could this happen?”
In Zhou Village, there were plenty of cases where men killed women, and there were also many women who couldn’t bear the torment and ended up hanging themselves, jumping into the river, or taking poison. Women had a lower status in Zhou Village than livestock.
Bai Qingqing raised her hand, wanting to pat Ahua’s shoulder, but then put it down.
“So, tomorrow we’re going to do something big.” She looked at Bai Tiantian and said, “You’ve been teaching the women in Zhou Village for the past few days, right? Tomorrow, we’ll also teach them.”
Bai Tiantian was confused. “Teach them what? Are we going to say those harmful things again?”
Bai Qingqing held their hands and said, “Listen to me…”
Both girls were shocked after listening and looked at her hesitantly. “Are you sure we can do it?”
Bai Qingqing nodded and smiled. “Let’s do it.”
…
The next day.
As soon as the group returned to the small courtyard they were staying in, they found the outside surrounded by men from the village, all holding weapons.
Ahua immediately showed a worried expression and ran over.
One man looked at Bai Qingqing and said, “The time is up. If Awang hasn’t woken up yet, you all need to leave the village.”
The Thunder Team sat or stood in the courtyard, and the atmosphere was tense as both sides confronted each other.
Bai Qingqing smiled and said, “It hasn’t even been a day, why are you in such a hurry?”
In her heart, she thought that two days had already passed, and whether Awang mutated or awakened his abilities, he should have woken up today.
The villagers looked displeased and cast unfriendly gazes at Bai Qingqing. Someone muttered a few curse words under their breath, “Damn woman.”
Ahua stood in front of the firewood room door, nervously watching the movements of the villagers.
Bai Qingqing went to find Fu Chen.
The man sat on a stool, calmly wiping his gun, and asked indifferently, “Where did you just go?”
Bai Qingqing smiled and said, “I took care of some personal matters.”
Fu Chen didn’t say anything, but raised his pitch-black eyes and looked at her.
That expression clearly said that there shouldn’t be anything the brother couldn’t know.
Bai Qingqing leaned closer and whispered, “Tell you when we leave Zhou Village.”
The villagers became impatient and started to argue again.
At this moment, there was a sound coming from the firewood room. Ahua immediately turned around, and the villagers suddenly quieted down, staring at the firewood room with high tension.
The firewood room door made another sound.
Bai Qingqing couldn’t determine whether Awang had mutated or not, so she couldn’t help but look at Xiaoyang.
Xiaoyang immediately understood and said, “I’ll go check.”
The other members of the team also looked over there. Ahua had already made up her mind. If Awang turned into a zombie, she would die with him.
Xiaoyang, standing about a meter away, opened the door of the firewood room, facing the sunlight, unable to see clearly what was inside the dark room.
Bai Qingqing grabbed Fu Chen’s arm, staring intently at that side.
A figure walked out of the room and rushed over to embrace Ahua. The villagers shouted in panic.
Shen Mingxuan raised his gun, but someone was quicker and snatched his weapon, shouting, “Don’t move, he’s not a zombie!”
All of Ahua’s worries and fears turned into a single word, “Awang.”
The young man held her tightly, as if he would never let go in this lifetime.
Bai Qingqing grabbed Shen Mingxuan’s gun, a joyful smile on her face, her exquisite profile captivating.
【Congratulations, host, for completing the side mission. You have received one thousand points, which can be used to exchange for items in the system mall.】
Shen Mingxuan wasn’t someone who killed indiscriminately either. He was surprised that Awang hadn’t turned into a zombie. He glanced at the delighted girl and coldly put away his gun.
Xiaoyang walked over with big strides, smiling and saying, “Qingqing, you won.”
Bai Qingqing blinked and said, “Looks like I’m just lucky.”
Since Awang didn’t turn into a zombie, the villagers couldn’t easily ask them to leave. They left reluctantly.
The Thunder Team had been in Zhou Village for almost a week, delaying a lot of time. They had to immediately head to the next destination and prepared to leave after lunch.
Before leaving the village, Abao rushed over from the mountain road with Dahuang, “Big sister, Fairy Sister…”
Abao carried a small bag and hurriedly pounced on Bai Qingqing’s leg, “Big sister, I have something for you.”
Everyone stopped and looked at the little thing.
Bai Qingqing squatted down and grabbed his round little face, asking, “What is it?”
“Big sister, you helped me find my brother, so these are for you.” Abao took off his small backpack and revealed a bag of bright red holy fruit jerky.
Bai Qingqing thought about the limited food supply in Zhou Village and refused, “Keep it for yourself.”
Abao pouted and said, “No, Mom said it’s for you.”
Bai Qingqing couldn’t help but kiss his little face and said, “Thank you, Abao.”
Abao blushed and grabbed her hand, fidgeting, “Big sister, Mom said if you like someone, you should marry her. I want to marry you.”
Bai Qingqing was stunned.
Liang Zhiyu squinted his fox-like eyes and smirked.
Cheng Rui stared at the little one who was still shorter than his own leg and thought to himself, did he know he should marry someone when he was this young?
Shen Mingxuan sneered inwardly, truly a cunning little fox, not even sparing children.
Xiaoyang walked over and pinched Abao’s ear, “Kid, how old are you? Do you even know what it means to marry someone?”
Abao struggled in embarrassment, “Let go, I know what it means to marry someone, like what Awang did, bringing Ahua back home.”
He reached out his hand to Bai Qingqing, “Big sister, let’s pinky swear. I’ll marry you when I grow up.”
Bai Qingqing didn’t take it seriously at all. In front of everyone’s eyes, she wanted to reach out and pinky swear with him. But before she could touch Abao’s little hand, she was pulled up by someone.
Fu Chen’s cold voice came, “If you keep playing, it will be dark soon.”
Bai Qingqing was pulled away by him, and Xiaoyang threw Abao to Awang’s side. The group entered the modified vehicle and drove out of Zhou Village.
Cheng Rui and Liang Zhiyu were driving and monitoring the road conditions, while the others sat in the living area.
Bai Qingqing opened the small bag and held a bright red dried fruit between her fingers, putting it in her mouth. The sour and sweet taste swept over her taste buds.
“Mmm, delicious,” she couldn’t help but say.
Xiaoyang looked at it with a hint of envy, and she placed the bag on the table, “Let’s all try it together. It tastes really good.”
“I’ll try,” Xiaoyang eagerly took a few.
Bai Tiantian hesitated for a moment, then took a few as well, took a bite, and said, “Not bad.”
After half a second of hesitation, she timidly asked, “Mingxuan, Captain, would you like to try it too?”
Shen Mingxuan naturally disdained eating something belonging to Bai Qingqing and sneered, “What’s so good about those sour dried fruits?”
Fu Chen’s expression was cold and indifferent, as if he wouldn’t eat it even if he were the last person on Earth.
Bai Tiantian lowered her head and bit the fruit, feeling disappointed.
“Gege,” Bai Qingqing, who currently didn’t have the qualification to dominate in the apocalypse, naturally had to cling to the Captain’s thigh. She approached with the dried fruit, “Will you try it?”
Fu Chen slightly lifted his eyelids and looked at the holy fruit jerky in front of him. The girl’s fingers were slender and fair, which made the colorful fruit even more enticing.
“I don’t like sour things,” he calmly said.
Bai Qingqing pressed the fruit against his lips and spoke in a soft voice, “It’s sour and sweet. Give your little sister face and just take a bite. If it’s not good, you can spit it out.”
Xiaoyang and Shen Mingxuan stared at them. Bai Qingqing’s behavior was too audacious. If it were before, the Captain would have already flipped her over.
Fu Chen looked at her with her bright and clear eyes, filled with a pleading expression. He was about to loosen his lips to take a bite, but she stuffed the whole fruit into his mouth and blinked her eyes, “Wasting food is shameful.”
“…”
The taste of the dried fruit was indeed sour with a hint of sweetness. He, who had never liked sour things, couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
Seeing Fu Chen relent, Xiaoyang couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Qingqing, you’re really Fu Chen’s nemesis as his ‘little sister’.”
Fu Chen looked at him expressionlessly. “If you’re bored, go to the roof and use your ability to clear the zombies on the road.”
Xiaoyang: “…”
“I’ll go.” Shen Mingxuan stood up voluntarily. Seeing how happy Bai Qingqing was, he felt particularly uncomfortable.
“No need.” Xiaoyang quickly stopped him. “Shen ge, your injuries haven’t healed yet. I’ll go.”
Bai Qingqing had already decided to make advances on Xiaoyang. She also chimed in, “I’ll go too.”
Fu Chen was displeased. “It’s dangerous on the roof.”
Bai Qingqing instinctively said, “Isn’t Xiaoyang here?”
Fu Chen pursed his lips and remained silent.
Bai Qingqing reminded him, “Brother, take good care of yourself.” After saying that, she followed Xiaoyang with a smile and went upstairs to the roof.
Bai Qingqing and Xiaoyang sat down on the roof, feeling like they were sitting on the top level of a sightseeing bus. The scenery along the way retreated rapidly, and soon the vehicle was on the highway.
The zombies were mostly gathered in large cities. Occasionally, they would see one or two emaciated zombies on the roads of dilapidated mountain towns, but they would be shot in the head before they could howl and approach.
“Want to eat?” Bai Qingqing took out melon seeds, duck feet, and other snacks from her space.
“Yes.” Xiaoyang, a hidden foodie, couldn’t resist the allure of snacks and immediately opened the packaging.
As they ate, the two chatted. They talked about school life and esports games. Xiaoyang didn’t expect Bai Qingqing to know about games. After all, her image from before was that of a spoiled rich girl who spent her days in bars.
Bai Qingqing looked at him. “Boys are usually good at playing games. What role do you play?”
“Support,” Xiaoyang answered.
Bai Qingqing was somewhat surprised. “I thought boys usually like playing assassins and mages.” She pondered for a moment. “Are you playing support for a girlfriend?”
“No,” Xiaoyang didn’t know why, but he was afraid of being misunderstood. He said, “I just prefer crowd control and team fights.”
Bai Qingqing teased, “Why are you in such a hurry?” Her eyes were filled with curiosity. “Have you ever been in a relationship before?”
Xiaoyang looked at the girl’s bright smile, and a variety of strange emotions surged within him, crowding his heart. In the midst of the apocalypse, he unexpectedly felt a sense of beauty.
“Qingqing.” A cold male voice came.
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