“Alright, give me the key,” Ruan Ning said, taking the key from Gu Yicheng. Only then did the staff member’s expression improve slightly—at least his hands had stopped trembling.
The staff member wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and said meticulously, “The house is in the third building to the right after you exit, and the door number is written on the key.”
“Take care, you two,” he added nervously.
As the two of them walked away from the counter, they could still hear the staff member letting out an audible sigh of relief behind them.
Ruan Ning walked only a few steps before a thought struck her. She turned to look back, catching the staff member off guard. He froze, thinking they were dissatisfied with his service or were about to hold him accountable for his earlier rudeness. He was so startled that he nearly fell off his chair.
“…” Seeing this, Ruan Ning quickly turned back around. She had only wanted to ask about the procedure for returning the key if they left the house early. But now, she decided against it. If just looking at him made him react like that, she worried that asking would give him a heart attack.
Following Gu Yicheng, Ruan Ning enjoyed the rare privilege of having people clear the way for them wherever they went.
Once they were far enough from the service centre, the fearful stares subsided.
Ruan Ning mused that after today, few people in Zone D would dare mess with her or Gu Yicheng. The earlier display of power had left a lasting impression. And that was without Gu Yicheng even using his abilities. If he had revealed them, the ordinary people in the base would probably avoid them like the plague. The mental fortitude of the people in this base was clearly lacking.
She glanced at her reflection in a window and touched her face. Although her appearance was mostly hidden behind a mask, Gu Yicheng’s face was stunningly handsome—timelessly attractive in any era.
But in all her time since transmigrating, Ruan Ning hadn’t seen any women actively approach him. Even in the books, the male lead’s life was all about killing zombies and solving crises, with no hint of romance. The rare appearances of female characters were either scheming or interested in someone else.
She couldn’t help but lament, For someone so good-looking, Gu Yicheng’s love life is surprisingly dull. What a waste of that face.
Stealing a glance at the man beside her, she sighed internally. At this rate, who knew when she’d ever have a sister-in-law?
Noticing her gaze, Gu Yicheng smiled faintly and asked, “What is it?”
Ruan Ning blinked and quickly replied, “Nothing.” She couldn’t very well admit she was wondering when he’d find a girlfriend. Better to spare him the embarrassment—he might even get defensive if she brought it up. Two lifetimes without a single girlfriend… sigh, what a concern.
—
Following the staff member’s directions, they headed to the third building on the right.
The narrow paths between the old apartment buildings were uneven, making it tricky to walk. Someone hurried past and accidentally bumped into Ruan Ning’s shoulder.
“Careful,” Gu Yicheng said, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder to prevent her from losing her balance.
“I’m fine,” Ruan Ning reassured him, clutching his sleeve for stability.
The person who had bumped into her, a teenage boy about her height, immediately bowed his head in apology. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
His voice was filled with anxiety, and he kept apologizing as though terrified of repercussions.
The paths were indeed difficult to navigate, and Ruan Ning had been distracted by her surroundings, so she didn’t hold it against him.
“It’s okay. Just be more careful next time,” she said kindly.
Hearing that they weren’t upset, the boy visibly relaxed. After several more apologies, he clutched the food he’d earned and hurried away.
“That was strange,” Ruan Ning muttered, watching him go. “I said it was fine, but he acted like I was a monster or something. For a moment, I felt like I was bullying him.”
She shook her head and turned to see Gu Yicheng also watching the boy walk away.
“Brother, did you notice something off about him?” she asked. If Gu Yicheng paid attention to someone, it usually meant something was wrong.
“Probably nothing. Maybe I was mistaken,” Gu Yicheng replied. He had felt the boy looked familiar, but with his head down the entire time, he couldn’t be sure.
“Let’s go. Our place is upstairs,” he said softly.
Ruan Ning didn’t dwell on it. Whatever it was, Gu Yicheng would handle it. All she had to do was cheer him on from the side-lines.
—
The house, as promised, was much better than she’d expected for Zone D. Compared to the crumbling, peeling buildings nearby, this one, with its tiled exterior, was relatively new and well-maintained.
The apartment, 602 on the top floor, was clean and simply furnished. It was far more comfortable than Ruan Ning had imagined.
There was, however, one issue that left her feeling conflicted.
The two-bedroom layout had been converted into a single bedroom, leaving just one sleeping space.
How are we supposed to sleep like this? Ruan Ning thought, glancing nervously at Gu Yicheng. Although they weren’t real siblings, sharing an apartment was one thing—sharing a bedroom was another. Even if she was okay with it, Gu Yicheng, with his territorial personality, definitely wouldn’t be.
She peeked at him, only to find his expression unchanged, as if he hadn’t even noticed the problem.
Just as she was debating whether to suggest changing rooms, Gu Yicheng said, “I’ll sleep on the couch in the living room tonight.”
Ruan Ning froze. “Huh?” she stammered. That’s not right… Letting the male lead sleep on the couch, would that shorten her life? Even she hadn’t considered that option—she had been ready to offer to take the couch herself.
“But won’t it be cold in the living room?” she asked hesitantly. “The bedroom’s big enough. How about I put the couch in there?” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Realizing what she’d said, she quickly backtracked. “No, no! What I mean is that I can sleep on the couch. It’s small, but I’m small too, so I’ll fit just fine!”
Gu Yicheng chuckled at her flustered attempts. “I’ll take the couch,” he said firmly. “It’s more convenient for me to stay there tonight. Someone might visit.”
“Visit?” Ruan Ning blinked, then remembered the brute from earlier. His brother, a member of the Dragon-Tiger Squad, might come looking for revenge.
The Dragon-Tiger Squad was renowned in Base No. 3 for its strength and reputation. Even though Ruan Ning had full confidence in their Morning Light Squad, it was undeniable that the Dragon-Tiger Squad had deeper roots in the base.
If the brute’s brother was unreasonable, he might bring backup and attack them under the cover of night. In that case, Gu Yicheng staying in the living room made sense—it was the first line of defence.
Ruan Ning nodded. “Alright. I’ll stay in the bedroom, and you’ll keep watch in the living room. Sounds good.”
This arrangement seemed perfectly logical. Besides, having Gu Yicheng around to protect her made her feel invincible. For now, she’d enjoy the rare privilege of being sheltered by a powerhouse.
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