Helen has loved looking at the stars since she was little. On her sixth birthday, her family gave her a telescope as a gift. From that moment, she began studying the mysterious night sky and learning to observe the constellations.
Upon hearing Waldo's words, Helen felt a mixture of joy and embarrassment. After all, a telescope like that was valuable, and she couldn't just accept it without reservation.
Waldo, however, laughed off her concerns. "Why be so polite? It's just a telescope," he said nonchalantly.
Helen looked at Waldo's carefree expression and explained, "Waldo, this is a high-end telescope worth at least several tens of thousands, if not more."
Waldo was taken aback. It seemed that poverty had limited his imagination. He had thought a telescope would cost a few thousand at most, but to think it could be worth several tens of thousands was beyond his expectation.
Nevertheless, he didn't mind and laughed, "Helen, regardless of its value, it's just a pile of scrap metal in my hands. It can shine and perform better in your hands. Besides, in this post-apocalyptic world, we can't rely on past prices. I reckon this telescope would be difficult to trade for even ten kilograms of rice now. Don't feel guilty about it, just keep it."
"Alright, then I'll accept it. Thank you," Helen replied, putting away the telescope. She didn't say much more because they had already reached a point where it was enough, and saying more might make it seem forced.
As for the blueprint of the underground bunker, Waldo took it back and they discussed it. They both agreed that the underground bunker might not be needed for the time being, so they decided to keep it for now.
The flames at the Wolf Pack's stronghold were fueled by gasoline, making them difficult to extinguish without a fire extinguisher. As they watched the Wolf Pack's stronghold gradually turn into charred ruins, Waldo no longer lingered and retrieved his car.
After starting the car, he invited Helen to get in. "Helen, our shelter in the villa area is quite far from here. If you're tired, you can rest in the car. I'll wake you up when we arrive."
Helen shook her head. "No, I won't sleep. I've been dizzy all day, I don't think I can fall asleep now. If you're driving, I'll keep you company and chat. Let's catch up on what you've been doing for the past two years."
Waldo laughed. "Sure, it's been two years since we last saw each other, so it's time to catch up. Buckle up, and we can chat while driving."
Waldo successfully took Helen back, and the two of them chatted and laughed as they headed towards the villa area. It was Helen's first time visiting Waldo's shelter, and the towering fortified walls outside didn't surprise her.
The automated defense system didn't scare her either. It wasn't until they entered the villa and saw a woman with a hairstyle and demeanor that matched hers, casually dressed like a hostess, walking out of the house to greet her and Waldo.
Waldo walked up and embraced Alanna, giving her a kiss on the forehead before softly asking, "Did you miss me?"
Alanna smiled and replied, "Every time, without fail."
Waldo burst into laughter.
Helen followed behind, her expression slightly uneasy as she walked up to the two of them.
"Helen, let me introduce you. This is Alanna, our team's doctor and also my girlfriend," Waldo said, about to introduce Helen to Alanna when Helen interrupted him.
She smiled and extended her hand to Alanna, saying, "Hello, I'm Helen, Waldo's classmate. Nice to meet you."
They shook hands, and Alanna also smiled and said, "Waldo often mentioned you before. You're indeed very beautiful. Whenever you have time, tell me more about Waldo's embarrassing moments in college so I can give him a hard time in the future."
"Sure, I know a thing or two about Waldo's embarrassing moments," Helen replied.
As the two women chatted and laughed, they already linked arms and walked into the villa, leaving Waldo standing alone in the courtyard.
Waldo felt like he was dreaming. Just moments ago, when Helen and Alanna met for the first time, he even felt a tense atmosphere, as if something was about to happen.
But in the blink of an eye, the two of them were holding hands, leaving him outside the villa. Waldo's expression was somewhat strange, but overall, he was mostly happy.
The fact that the two of them could get along so well and quickly reduced a lot of trouble.
In the following days, with Helen's arrival, Waldo was accompanied by Alanna, who dragged him and the blanket together into another room.
Waldo was somewhat puzzled, but in the end, all he got from Alanna was, "We have plenty of rooms in the house, so let's live separately."
Waldo felt a bit aggrieved. In the past, it was Alanna who clung to him, and sometimes she would even wake him up while sleeping. But now that Helen had arrived, she simply kicked him out of the room.
However, Waldo complied and cleaned up a new room to settle in.
In the following days, Waldo didn't go out to gather supplies but stayed at home to accompany the two women.
In the mornings, they would have breakfast prepared by Alanna and chat with Helen about past memories, which was quite pleasant. However, this sense of tranquility was soon shattered.
"Helen, can you guarantee that what you said is absolutely true?" Waldo looked at Helen with a serious expression, finding it hard to believe the terrifying statement Helen had just made.
Helen nodded and assured him, enunciating each word, "Absolutely true, it will be a disaster of monumental proportions!"