In the living room, the atmosphere was light and fun. Yun Yun poured a glass of red wine for Yuto Saito, smiling warmly. "Yuto, our team has gotten so much stronger. It'll be easier to fight the zombies and monsters tomorrow."
Yuto Saito nodded, a grin on his face. "There's a surprise waiting when we upgrade the floating island tomorrow."
Intrigued, Yun Yun leaned closer, her presence making his heart race. "What kind of surprise?" she asked, her voice soft and teasing.
"You'll find out tomorrow," he teased back.
Nazi, seated nearby, chimed in confidently, "It's just 30 white spar, no big deal. I can handle it on my own."
Ruoruo, always the cheerleader, jumped in, praising her: "Nazi, you're amazing!"
Yuto Saito suddenly remembered something important. "I've given you all permission to bring people to the floating island if you find someone worthy. Just don't bring too many at once."
The girls nodded in agreement. "Understood."
Turning to Mina, Yuto offered praise. "You did great today, Mina. Hutuaner and rice noodle were a hit."
Blushing, Mina smiled brightly. "Thanks, Captain. Let me toast to that!"
The group raised their glasses, toasting to Mina's success and Yuto's leadership.
Yu Qi, always playful, blinked her eyes and asked, "Captain, I know a few pretty girls. Want me to invite them over?"
Yuto raised an eyebrow. "Are they stars?"
Yu Qi giggled. "Some are, some aren't."
Ni Shuang joined in the conversation, chuckling. "Yu Qi, seems like you know everyone."
Natto grinned. "Of course, Yu Qi's a big star!"
Yu Qi waved off the compliment. "I'm just a small star, really. I've only been in the industry for seven years—there are seniors who've been around for over twenty."
Despite being surrounded by the others, Yu Qi couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed to have stronger connections with each other. Mina, Orange, Ruoruo, and Nazi were dorm mates. Ni Shuang and Yun Yun were sisters, while Ni Shuang and Natto were classmates. Hutuaner and Rice Noodle were best friends and roommates.
Although the group was kind to her, Yu Qi felt a slight distance. She wanted to contribute more, to prove her value. Maybe bringing a friend or two onto the island would help.
Yuto encouraged her, "Feel free to contact your friends tomorrow. If they're interested, we'll bring them over."
"Will do!" Yu Qi responded enthusiastically.
Ruoruo, always curious, asked, "Yu Qi, who are you thinking of bringing? Anyone we know?"
"Quite a few," Yu Qi replied. "Like Tang Yan, but she's married, so maybe not. Yang Xiaozi and Chen Xinyu, though—they're close friends of mine."
Natto raised an eyebrow. "Who's Chen Xinyu?"
"She's an actress, played Yin Susu."
Mina nodded. "Oh, I know her! She's beautiful."
Ni Shuang, always practical, said, "Better contact them first. They might have other places they prefer."
Yu Qi laughed. "What place could be better than our floating island?"
Orange agreed. "Nowhere's as safe as here."
Nazi nodded. "Exactly. Like that snake group earlier today. If they got into someone's home, it'd be chaos."
Yuto Saito raised his glass once more, his eyes scanning the room. "A toast to our island's safety and our future."
"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses again, the mood festive and light.
Ruoruo, always focused on food, took a bite of squid. "This is delicious!"
Ni Shuang smiled. "We should have a barbecue soon."
"Yes!" Ruoruo's eyes lit up. "I love barbecues!"
As they laughed and chatted, time flew by, and soon over an hour had passed. The wine had left their faces flushed, and exhaustion was beginning to set in.
Ni Shuang, eyes closed, leaned back on the sofa. Noticing this, Yun Yun turned to Yuto. "She's had too much to drink. Help her to her room?"
"Of course," Yuto replied.
Gently, Yuto scooped Ni Shuang into his arms. She smiled softly, still conscious but clearly tipsy, leaning her head against his chest as he carried her to her room.
When they arrived, Yuto gently laid her on the bed. Just as he was about to leave, Ni Shuang wrapped her arms around his neck, her gaze tender. "Stay," she whispered.
Without hesitation, Yuto leaned down, embracing her. The room felt quiet and intimate as he used his mind power to close the door from across the room.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the rest of the group was winding down.
Yun Yun stretched, her figure graceful as she walked toward the stairs. "Everyone, let's get some rest. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Sister Yun!" echoed several voices.
As the group dispersed, Hutuaner leaned toward Ruoruo. "Didn't you say the captain only had one girlfriend?"
Ruoruo shrugged, "That's what I thought."
Hutuaner laughed softly. "When I was in the capital, I overheard him talking to Officer Song. He admitted Ni Shuang was his girlfriend."
Ruoruo giggled. "They hide it well, but honestly, I'm not surprised she likes him."
Mina smiled knowingly. "Anyone could see it."
Orange, always the joker, teased, "Mina, maybe you'll be next!"
Mina blushed, laughing. "We'll see! Goodnight, everyone."
The others followed suit, heading to their rooms as the clock ticked past midnight. The earth trembled slightly, but on the floating island, all remained safe.
Beneath the ground, however, sinister forces stirred. Corpses reanimated and evolved, while creatures mutated into terrifying hybrids. A horse-headed crocodile lunged at an unsuspecting animal by a river, showcasing the chaos unfolding in the outside world.
Zombies, now more advanced, swam across the seas, diving deep into the waters and scaling impossible heights. In several nearby countries, entire cities had already fallen. The once-safe harbors of the Dragon Kingdom were no longer secure.
But on the floating island, Orange lay in her room, her hearing talent picking up on faint disturbances. Though she considered warning Yuto, she reassured herself that the island's barriers were impenetrable. Nothing could get through without permission.
With that, she let her thoughts drift elsewhere, briefly overhearing Ni Shuang's voice from across the hall. Her face flushed, she sighed quietly to herself, "Sister Shuang is lucky."