After finishing her conversation with 711, Pei Yujang poured herself a glass of red wine and retreated to the balcony, sipping it alone. She rarely drank, knowing that alcohol could lead to mistakes. Even mild drinks like wine were usually off-limits for her.
Most Alphas could hold their liquor well, and Pei Yujang was no exception. However, during her previous life in the military, there had been an incident where a soldier's drinking led to a critical mistake, resulting in the deaths of three comrades in a fire. From that point on, no one in the camp dared to drink, and for a time, alcohol was practically a taboo.
The cool wine went down her throat on the winter night, its warmth lingering despite the chill. She wasn't used to the taste anymore, and the first few sips made her cough, but eventually, she adjusted.
What 711 had said was tempting. As much as she was concerned about the present, she longed to return to her past, to fight alongside her comrades. The bonds she had with them ran deep, and she worried that they might not be able to defeat the mutated beasts without her.
The winter in Xiangcheng was milder than in Yicheng, but still cold enough to warrant caution. Pei Yujang stood quietly at the balcony, gazing down at the withering greenery in the cold wind below.
The residential area had a good green environment, with evergreen trees imported from the south scattered everywhere. In the past, the north had been the north, with deciduous trees shedding their leaves in winter, leaving the streets barren. But at some point, various plants that could survive in less harsh climates were introduced, and they took root here.
Over time, Xiangcheng, situated between the north and south, became as beautiful and prosperous as the south. The streets no longer looked desolate in winter, and the city flourished year-round.
The tallest buildings in the neighborhood were only eight stories high, designed like small garden villas. Xiangcheng was a bustling, commercial city, rich in amenities. Stepping out of the neighborhood, you could find malls and markets, with traffic flowing constantly on the roads, and people bustling about. It was a city full of life.
People settled here, turning Xiangcheng into a mega-city with millions of residents. The city was a hub of transportation, entertainment, and information, close to the political center, and boasted the best medical resources in the country.
But no matter how great this place was, it wasn't home.
The next morning, Pei Yujang was startled by a knock at her door, thinking she might have imagined it.
Still in her pajamas, she walked to the door to find Yu Zhiwan sitting by the elevator, using her cane to ring the doorbell.
At the entrance of Pei Yujang's home, there was a shoe cabinet and a mat. A small rug extended from the elevator to keep the area clean, and Yu Zhiwan, knowing the layout, never missed the mark, always navigating the space perfectly.
Although they had shared a meal the night before, it had been a tense and silent affair. Pei Yujang wasn't used to arguing, and though they hadn't actually fought, the tension left her feeling frustrated. They had barely spoken a word to each other.
Now, seeing Yu Zhiwan again, there was a slight awkwardness in the air.
Pei Yujang didn't know what to say but noticed the food container in Yu Zhiwan's hand. She had a keen sense of smell, not just more sensitive to pheromones than the average Beta, but also to food.
The sweet aroma of pumpkin filled the air, awakening her appetite. Pei Yujang couldn't help but swallow in anticipation.
She had already brushed her teeth, washed her face, and completed her morning stretches, fully awakened and ready to eat. Was Yu Zhiwan here to tempt her with pumpkin porridge, or was she actually offering to share?
Pei Yujang's thoughts wandered to the time when Yu Zhiwan had brought food to the hospital, only to eat it in front of her without offering a bite, leaving her longing for a taste. If Yu Zhiwan did the same today, Pei Yujang was ready to order a ton of breakfast delivery.
"May I come in?" Yu Zhiwan finally asked, breaking the silence.
Pei Yujang snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she had left her standing outside for too long. She quickly opened the door and helped Yu Zhiwan inside, lifting the mat to make way for her wheelchair.
Yu Zhiwan, who had been prepared to be lifted along with the wheelchair as usual, instead felt Pei Yujang gently push the wheelchair forward, guiding her smoothly into the apartment.
Omega bit her lip lightly, almost imperceptibly.
In the past, Pei Yujang had always carried her, just as she had done at the hospital, effortlessly lifting both her and the wheelchair through the crowd. Pei Yujang was strong, and it was never a burden. Yu Zhiwan had grown used to waiting for her to take the initiative, but today was different.
The slight awkwardness in the air was dispelled when Yu Zhiwan broke the ice. Familiar with Pei Yujang's home, she expertly navigated to the dining table, placing the pumpkin porridge down and lifting the lid. The rich aroma quickly filled the cool, quiet room.
The porridge looked appetizing, with golden pumpkin cut into thin slices and chunks, meticulously peeled, mixed with rice cooked to a perfect, creamy texture. The porridge was likely made with added milk powder, giving it a subtle, milky fragrance that made Pei Yujang's mouth water.
Alongside the porridge, Yu Zhiwan had prepared a small side dish of stir-fried celery with dried tofu, seasoned just right and portioned for two. She pushed the food forward.
"Mind if I borrow your table and some utensils?" Yu Zhiwan asked.
Pei Yujang, who had been starving and was thrilled to learn she had a share of the delicious food, was as happy as a golden retriever being tossed a bone. Any lingering tension from the previous night vanished as she eagerly fetched bowls and chopsticks, enjoying a delightful breakfast with Yu Zhiwan.
Though Yu Zhiwan was blind, her cooking skills were impressive. Before digging in, Pei Yujang took a photo of the meal, and after finishing, she posted the picture on her social media.
Caption: "Breakfast made by Zhizhi, yummy~"
Almost immediately, she received likes and comments, including some asking her when she would finish the ghost story from her livestream, and others accusing her of leaving them hanging. Pei Yujang laughed it off and logged out.
Yu Zhiwan, having no therapy sessions that day, waited until Pei Yujang had tidied up the kitchen and then asked what she planned to do.
"What am I doing today? I'm planning to set up a small studio in Xiangcheng and will check out some floor plans. I want to design the space myself."
Pei Yujang's response was mostly a fabrication. She did have plans to set up a small studio, but she wasn't interested in spending time on unnecessary details. Her real focus was on creating a detailed map of the water plant, so she could present evidence to the city officials once she had gathered enough.
"Oh, by the way, a friend of mine, Chen Lulu, is coming to Xiangcheng tonight with some people from her circle. We're planning to have dinner together. Do you want to join us?"
Chen Lulu had messaged Pei Yujang a few days ago about her visit. Pei Yujang had previously declined her invitation in Yicheng but felt bad about refusing her again. So, she decided to treat Chen Lulu to dinner as a gesture of goodwill.
Even though they hadn't had the fish belly hotpot Chen Lulu had promised, Xiangcheng had plenty of delicious food to offer.
Yu Zhiwan's social life was much more limited than Pei Yujang's. As a blind person, she couldn't go to many places alone, and she preferred solitude over noisy gatherings. Pei Yujang assumed she would decline the invitation, but she asked anyway out of courtesy.
To her surprise, Yu Zhiwan responded immediately, "Sure."
Pei Yujang glanced at her, surprised.
When Pei Yujang worked, she didn't like to talk much, so Yu Zhiwan went back to her own place after breakfast.
In the past, Pei Yujang had learned some basic drafting and mapping skills. She searched online for images of the factory, using the registered information and public photos to create a preliminary layout. She also opened another tab to ask Jiang Wenxiu to buy a drone for her.
She didn't want to use her own account for this purchase, and she didn't want to involve her subordinates either, so she reached out to Jiang Wenxiu, who was still in Yicheng.
Jiang Wenxiu, though underage, was an expert at bypassing restrictions, such as those imposed on online gaming. If there was anyone who could discreetly handle this purchase, it was her.
Buying a drone wasn't difficult, and Jiang Wenxiu responded with a question mark. Pei Yujang simply replied, "I want to play," and sent her the money, rounded up to include a tip. Jiang Wenxiu didn't ask any more questions and sent her the order details once everything was settled.
The process of drafting the map was tedious. Pei Yujang wasn't a professional, and precision wasn't her goal. She just needed to calculate a safe route for the drone to enter the plant undetected. She couldn't send someone in to scout, nor could she go herself, so using a drone was the best option.
The factory was hiding something, and until Pei Yujang uncovered the truth, she wouldn't be able to rest easy.
She spent the entire morning working on the draft, only completing about a third of it. The progress was slow, and sitting at her desk for so long left her feeling stiff and sore, with a pounding headache.
Pei Yujang had always disliked the tedious work of drafting and drawing. She usually left those tasks to friends who were better suited for them. But now, she had to shoulder all the responsibilities herself, which was mentally exhausting.
Her thoughts wandered to the small refrigerator tucked away in the corner of the balcony. She abandoned her papers and walked over, crouching to check it, then stood up again, feeling restless. After pacing back and forth for a while, she opened the window to get some fresh air. The room had been closed all morning, and while the air outside was good, the noise from the street made it difficult to focus.
But as soon as she unlocked the window, a gentle breeze carried a soft, melodic piano tune into the room. The flowing notes of the piano, played with precision and emotion, filled the air, drawing Pei Yujang to a halt on the balcony.