"Eh?"
Yi Bai froze for a moment, his expression shifting to one of pleasant surprise. "An unexpected bonus?"
"A special event... Could it be triggered like completing a mission? With rewards, too?"
"Did I achieve this by fulfilling their psychological needs, thereby fostering their growth?"
"This is such a win for me!"
Yi Bai grinned with satisfaction. Not only did he gain a group of reliable helpers for free, but Lin Yue had also shown signs of improvement.
As the only combatant in the shelter for now, Yi Bai naturally wanted Lin Yue to become as strong as possible.
"She's currently at Grade C... If she gets even stronger, she might break through to Grade B, right?"
"I can't wait! Though I wonder when this trait will fully take effect," Yi Bai muttered to himself, gazing out the window.
...
"Li-jie, do you think he'll... let us come back home?"
Outside the building, a group of more than a dozen women huddled together. Among them, a girl in her early twenties timidly spoke up. Her delicate face was pale, marred by a deep red bruise on her neck, while her tattered clothing barely concealed her trembling body.
Even under the scorching red sun, with heat so intense it felt unbearable, she clutched at her ragged clothes, desperately trying to cover as much skin as possible.
She was terrified—so terrified that she felt cold, despite the blistering heat.
"...I don't know."
A middle-aged woman, about forty years old, looked at her companions with a weary expression. Gently, she pulled the girl into her arms and comforted her in a soft voice, "Don't be afraid... That young man didn't seem like a bad person to me."
"He drove off that vile Li and his gang. He's practically our savior."
"Whether or not he lets us return... at least he hasn't harmed us. It's just a shame about Xiao Wang. If only she were still alive..."
Li-jie sighed deeply, her face clouded with sorrow.
The young girl in her arms began to sob uncontrollably, tears streaming down her cheeks. Around them, the other women's faces twisted with anguish, some even brimming with hatred.
"But if he doesn't let us in... where else can we go?"
Someone muttered quietly, their voice heavy with despair and resignation.
"I don't know."
Another girl shook her head, her eyes filled with helplessness. "Maybe... we'll really die this time."
They had already tried. Since being driven out the day before, they had witnessed the chaos outside.
Out there, there was only unbearable heat and ruthless predators. Countless eyes watched them from the shadows.
The night before, they had huddled together in an abandoned subway station, hoping to find some semblance of safety. Yet, by morning, three women had gone missing—snatched away in the dark.
No one knew what had happened to them, and no one dared to find out.
Fearful and directionless, the group had wandered aimlessly. Unknowingly, they found themselves back near the residential building—but there, they encountered a group of men scavenging for supplies.
The men had surrounded them, attempting to drag them away by force. The women knew what fate awaited them: slavery, or worse.
Just when all seemed lost, Lin Yue appeared. Armed with a rifle, she drove away the attackers and brought them to the foot of the residential building.
The girl with the rifle had mentioned that her commander might be willing to take them in.
Commander. It was a term that somehow offered a glimmer of hope.
This girl was clearly a soldier. Perhaps her commander carried the same sense of safety that soldiers often did.
But none of the women knew for sure. They could only guess, lost in their own apprehensive thoughts.
"Look, she's coming out!"
A sudden exclamation broke the silence. The women looked up to see the door to the building open.
Lin Yue emerged, rifle slung over her shoulder, her face stern.
Beside her walked a strikingly beautiful woman dressed in a cheongsam. Lin Yue seemed to defer to her.
"You must be the new friends Lin Yue brought back?"
The woman's voice was gentle as she stepped forward, naturally taking Li-jie's hands in hers. "You must be Li-jie, right? Lin Yue mentioned you. You've been looking after the others all this time. You're truly a remarkable sister."
"I... I..."
Li-jie froze, flustered and unsure of how to respond.
"Luckily, you all made it back safely."
The woman smiled warmly, gently pulling Li-jie along while beckoning to the others. "What are you all standing there for? Come on, let's go home."
"Home..."
One of the younger girls hesitated, her voice trembling. "That man... he won't drive us away again, will he? He made us leave yesterday... It felt like he didn't want us here."
"Are you talking about Mr. Yi?"
The woman turned to the girl, her tone calm and reassuring. "Yesterday, he had to ask you to leave temporarily because there were still threats hidden in the building. He wanted to clear out all dangers to ensure everyone's safety."
"But now, the building is secure. That's why Mr. Yi sent Lin Yue to find you as soon as dawn broke."
"To be fair, it was a mistake on his part to let you endure the night outside, and for that, I must apologize on his behalf."
Her sincerity was evident, her stunning features softened by a genuine expression of regret.
Lin Yue, standing beside her, looked slightly uncomfortable. She wasn't used to playing a role in such a fabricated explanation.
Although the reasoning was somewhat flimsy, in this chaotic, grim world, even the most tenuous justification could be accepted—so long as it meant survival.
"Really?"
Li-jie's face lit up with relief, gratitude shining in her eyes. "You're truly good people!"
"When those soldiers showed up yesterday and dealt with that scumbag Li, I knew you were different!"
"And you're all women, except for Mr... Yi, right? He's the only man."
"A man who earns your trust must be a good one."
Li-jie's words were slightly incoherent, her emotions running high.
The thought of returning to the safety of the building, away from the terrors outside, was an overwhelming relief.
"Come on, let's go inside. You must all be exhausted."
The woman paused, her smile soft and inviting. "And guess what? There's food, water, and even a hot bath waiting for you."
"A bath!"
The women's eyes lit up. They couldn't even remember the last time they'd bathed.
The thought of warm water washing away the grime and despair was almost too much to hope for.
"Alright, let's go home."
Li-jie nodded eagerly, leading the group as they followed the woman back inside.
Lin Yue trailed behind, her gaze lingering on the woman ahead.
Quietly, she muttered, "No wonder the Commander values her so much... What a cunning woman."
"Hm?"
The woman turned back. "Did you say something, Miss Lin?"
"Ah, no! Nothing at all!"
Lin Yue waved her hands nervously. "You must've misheard!"
"Maybe," the woman replied with a gentle smile. "I suppose I'm just a bit tired."
As she turned away, Lin Yue stuck out her tongue in relief. "Goodness, her ears are sharp!"
...
Within half an hour, the woman had efficiently arranged accommodations for everyone.
Though the women had originally lived in the building, their rooms were now in disarray from the earlier chaos.
Instead of grouping them together, the woman assigned each to their original homes, instructing them to clean up and settle in. She personally delivered food and water to each.
After enjoying a satisfying meal and taking turns in the second-floor bathroom to wash away the filth, the women changed into their own clothes.
For a brief moment, it felt like they'd returned to life before the apocalypse.
But soon, the woman gathered them in the first-floor hall, breaking the illusion.
"Sisters, I'm sure you're all aware of the current situation outside."
Standing before the twelve women, her tone grew steady and serious.
"The apocalypse is here. This is our new reality. Humanity can only survive by standing together."
"As women, we all know how our position in this world has changed drastically. Survival is no longer guaranteed."
"Mr. Yi may be a man, but he's also a kind and capable leader. He has cleared our home of threats and provided us with food, water, and safety. In a world like this, such kindness is a rarity."
Her voice hardened.
"But to protect this peace, we must unite and safeguard our home together."
"Only through unity can we survive the apocalypse."
"I don't want anyone here clinging to the ideals of the old world. Leave your pride behind. Let go of your 'princess syndrome.' Focus on surviving."
Her words, though simple, resonated deeply. The women, already battered by hardship, found themselves nodding through tears.
"Miss Jiang, does protecting our home mean we'll have to fight?"
A timid voice broke the silence.
The woman smiled gently, shaking her head. "No, you won't have to fight."
"Combat will be handled by those trained for it." She gestured toward Lin Yue, standing tall with her rifle. "Miss Lin here is one of our warriors. She'll keep us safe."
Turning to Lin Yue, she added with a smile, "Right, Miss Lin? You'll protect us, won't you?"
"Mission guaranteed!"
Lin Yue snapped to attention, her voice firm and resolute. "Protecting the people's safety is my duty and responsibility!"
Her spirited declaration, so reminiscent of the soldiers of the old world, filled the room with a profound sense of security.
"In other words," the woman continued, "you don't need to worry about fighting."
"Of course, a shelter can't function without everyone contributing. To make our home safer, we all need to do our part."
"Whether it's cleaning, cooking, or helping with fortifications, there's something everyone can do."
She smiled warmly.
"Think of it as finding a job that provides room and board. Doesn't that sound a little less scary?"
The women exchanged glances, their earlier tension easing into quiet optimism.
Just then, Lin Yue suddenly smacked her forehead, her expression turning anxious.
"Oh no! Miss Jiang, I forgot something important!"
"I need to report to the Commander right away!"