It had been a long time since Jiang Chen had thought about home.
In the past, he didn't return because he felt too ashamed of his failures. But now, things were different. With his recent successes, he could finally face his parents again. Selling a few kilograms of gold from the villa would bring in at least a million yuan. While it still wasn't enough to buy property in Wanghai City, it was more than enough to improve his parents' lives significantly.
And then there was the bank vault—a treasure trove worth billions.
"What are you thinking about?" Sun Jiao waved her hand in front of Jiang Chen's face, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Oh, and there was one more thing: he had a girlfriend now.
Jiang Chen smiled and gently took Sun Jiao's hand, examining it carefully.
"I was wondering if it's time to put a ring on your finger."
Sun Jiao's face flushed crimson, and she awkwardly ran off. For all her boldness, she had moments where her shy side peeked through.
Laughing, Jiang Chen stood up from the table. To his surprise, the dishes had already been cleaned. This was the first time he'd noticed that Sun Jiao could handle housework. A warm smile spread across his face.
Of course, Yao Yao deserved credit, too. Jiang Chen could easily guess how it had gone: the obedient Yao Yao had started clearing the table, making the usually brash Sun Jiao feel self-conscious enough to join in.
What was this? The sense of being the head of a family? Jiang Chen chuckled to himself.
After dinner, it was time for a strategy meeting. For some reason, Sun Jiao insisted they hold it while lounging on the bed in the bedroom. This girl was getting lazier by the day, Jiang Chen thought with a silent sigh.
Yao Yao, blushing slightly, took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. She was wearing Jiang Chen's oversized shirt and jeans, a makeshift outfit he'd given her in the absence of proper clothes. Once they returned to the modern era, he planned to get her some outfits that actually fit.
Ever since she started wearing Jiang Chen's clothes, Yao Yao's cheeks had been perpetually rosy. Although it wasn't intentional, the faint masculine scent that lingered on the fabric made her a little dizzy—it was a feeling she'd never experienced before.
"Let's start with the bank vault heist," Sun Jiao said, pulling out her holographic computer pen and projecting a 3D map into the air. "I'll give our little genius here a quick rundown."
"We'll enter through the underground parking lot, use the safe passage to bypass the zombie-infested lobby, and reach the basement where the vault is located. I've scouted this route before; it's safe. The main issue is the vault door. Can you crack the code?" She turned her gaze to Yao Yao.
"If it's pre-war security tech, I'm confident I can do it. But I'll need two days to prepare. Some auxiliary programs have to be written in advance," Yao Yao replied, staring intently at the screen.
"Perfect." Sun Jiao snapped her fingers. "We'll pick up a computer for you tomorrow. I'll grab one for myself while we're at it. Prep work can wait until we're back at the villa."
"The villa?" Yao Yao tilted her head, confused.
"It's our base—and your future home," Sun Jiao said with a soft smile.
Home. No matter how many times she heard the word, it always filled Yao Yao with warmth.
"Now, onto the next topic." Sun Jiao's tone turned serious as she swept her hair back. "The Gray Locust Mercenaries."
"Oh? Have those guys made a move?" Jiang Chen frowned.
Yao Yao, on the other hand, looked completely lost, unsure of what they were discussing.
Seeing her confusion, Sun Jiao facepalmed and patiently explained the situation.
"So, they're after the wealth Jiang Chen has amassed?"
"Ahem, stop calling me 'master.' Just call me 'big brother' or something," Jiang Chen said, feeling awkward about the title, especially coming from the petite girl.
"Okay, big brother!"
Oh no, that was way too cute. Jiang Chen quickly turned his face away, only to meet Sun Jiao's teasing smirk.
Her expression seemed to say, Try anything funny, and I'll make sure you regret it.
Shuddering, Jiang Chen cleared his throat and brought the discussion back on track.
"So, what's your assessment?"
"The Gray Locust Mercenaries have sent reinforcements. They're lingering about five kilometers from Sixth Street—17 riflemen and one vehicle-mounted machine gun. And that's likely just a fraction of their forces," Sun Jiao reported, her demeanor becoming all business. "As for your plan, the traps are set, and now we're just waiting for the players to arrive."
Nodding, Jiang Chen stretched out on the bed.
"Anything else? If not, let's get some rest."
"Well, there is one question," Sun Jiao said mischievously, glancing at Jiang Chen. "Where are you sleeping?"
"Uh?"
"There's only one bedroom, you know."
"Obviously, I'll share the bed with you," Jiang Chen said shamelessly, wrapping his arm around Sun Jiao.
"I-I'll sleep in the living room!" Yao Yao stammered, trying to climb off the bed.
Before she could escape, Sun Jiao grabbed her and whispered playfully in her ear.
"You're sleeping next to me tonight. There's a big bad wolf who might eat me otherwise."
Who's eating whom every day?! Jiang Chen thought, his face darkening.
...
In the end, all three ended up sharing the bed. It was a restless night for everyone.
The next morning, Jiang Chen woke up, rubbed his groggy eyes, and glanced at Sun Jiao, still sleeping in her usual domineering posture, and Yao Yao, curled up like a kitten. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Getting up, he went to make breakfast.
Even in the apocalypse, a proper morning routine was important. Breakfast was one of the few good habits Jiang Chen still held onto.
Sliding a plate of bread into the microwave, he stifled a yawn and gazed out the window.
The sky was still dark, but Jiang Chen's mind was restless.
Soon, he'd face off against the most ruthless bandits on the wasteland.
Although he had prepared thoroughly, there were no guarantees in battle. Jiang Chen knew that just as he had plans, his enemies would too. The disappearance of Hu Lei and their other recent maneuvers had undoubtedly tipped off the mercenaries. Their plans for an ambush might well turn into a full-on assault.
Hiding forever wasn't an option. Sooner or later, he'd have to face them head-on.
"Can I help with anything?" a soft voice came from behind.
"Hm?" Jiang Chen turned to see Yao Yao, wearing his oversized shirt, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Shouldn't you sleep a little longer?" he asked with a smile.
"No... if Yao Yao is too lazy, she might get abandoned…"
"I told you, that's not going to happen," Jiang Chen said, ruffling her messy hair.
Half-asleep and disoriented, Yao Yao let out a soft, kitten-like purr.
Thanks to advanced medicine, the bruises on her face were fading, and the scars on her hands were less noticeable. Though still frail from malnutrition, Jiang Chen was confident she'd recover with time.
"Eh heh heh, thanks... huh?" Yawning groggily, Yao Yao barely registered her surroundings as Jiang Chen ushered her out of the restaurant and toward the restroom.
"Now that you're awake, wash your face and brush your teeth," Jiang Chen said with a calm but firm tone before shutting the door and heading back to the dining area.
Standing at the sink with a disposable toothbrush in her hand, Yao Yao blinked slowly, her brain still foggy from anemia. Mornings were never her strong suit. Despite the haze, an unfamiliar sensation gripped her—a rapid, almost frantic heartbeat thudding in her chest.
Why was she feeling this way?
Clutching the toothbrush tightly against her chest, Yao Yao stared blankly ahead. Suddenly, a silly grin spread across her face.
"Guh heh heh..." she chuckled softly, her cheeks flushed.
The lingering warmth on the toothbrush... it was comforting.
After breakfast, the three left the Tulip Hotel and made their way to the Sixth District Market. This bustling hub was renowned for its affordable electronics. The kind of cutting-edge holographic laptops that once cost tens of thousands of RMB were now available for just a few units of azure crystals. When Jiang Chen purchased two, the vendor even threw in a heap of spare electronic components as a bonus.
Jiang Chen wasn't particularly interested in the components, but Yao Yao was ecstatic, stuffing them all into her backpack like treasure.
With a 100TB hard drive, ultra-high-performance processors, and impressively low energy consumption, the laptops sounded remarkable—at least based on the vendor's pitch. Jiang Chen, however, had simpler motives: one laptop was for Yao Yao, while the other was for himself, mainly to watch movies in holographic quality.
In addition, Jiang Chen spent two more azure crystals to buy Yao Yao an EP—a multifunctional device highly effective at radiation shielding and health monitoring. Overwhelmed by the generosity, Yao Yao blushed furiously and kept her head low, saying little.
With their purchases complete, the group began their journey back.
The moment Jiang Chen's boots hit the cracked concrete outside the steel gate, his instincts flared. Something felt off.
They were being followed.
Perhaps it was the effect of the genetic serum, but Jiang Chen's senses seemed sharper than ever.
"Stick to the plan, got it?" Sun Jiao said in a low voice, cradling her Sirius SK10 rifle as she led the way.
"Understood," Jiang Chen replied, shrugging nonchalantly. He took a deep breath to steady himself and added with a faint smirk, "Don't forget—it was my idea."
Yao Yao, walking beside him, gently squeezed his hand. She could sense his unease beneath the façade of confidence. Though her own abilities were limited, she was determined not to become a burden.
After weaving through a few alleys, the group approached the prearranged ambush site. Jiang Chen's heart raced as they neared. Suddenly, Sun Jiao halted in her tracks.
"Something's wrong..."
"Huh?" Jiang Chen immediately pulled out his PK200 assault rifle. Yao Yao pressed herself against his back, her face unusually composed for someone her age, though her trembling body betrayed her fear.
Taking a deep breath, Sun Jiao reached for the fuse at her waist and yanked it.
Boom!
A plume of smoke exploded outward, enveloping the street in a dense haze.
"This way—follow me!" Sun Jiao shouted, beckoning the others as she darted toward a nearby building.
"Damn it! They're escaping!" a spiky-haired thug with a lip piercing growled, slamming his fist against a wall. Hoisting his heavy machine gun, he barked orders into his comms.
"Squad Two, pursue them!"
"Copy that, moving now!"
"Machine gun team on the move."
"Move, move, move!"
Though disorganized, the mercenaries were seasoned from years of conflict. Like wolves, they quickly adapted, encircling Jiang Chen's group with practiced efficiency.
"How much farther?" Jiang Chen asked, glancing at Yao Yao, who was struggling to keep up.
"Almost there," Sun Jiao snapped, maintaining a pace that was fast but manageable for her companions.
Thanks to the genetic serum, Jiang Chen's stamina had improved significantly. After running for so long, his muscles felt no fatigue. Still, he couldn't help but glance back at Yao Yao, whose pale complexion hinted at her growing exhaustion.
If this continued, she'd fall behind.
Without hesitation, Jiang Chen slung his rifle over his shoulder and turned back. Before Yao Yao could protest, he scooped her up, accelerating to catch up with Sun Jiao.
Sun Jiao gave him a brief glance but said nothing, focusing instead on leading the charge.
Yao Yao, now cradled in Jiang Chen's arms, stared up at his determined face. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek and landed on her arm. Silently, she tightened her grip on his sweat-soaked shirt, resting her head against his shoulder.
She didn't utter words of protest. Deep down, she knew what the logical choice would have been—but for once, her heart refused logic.
She wanted to survive.
Not out of selfishness, but because her life now belonged to this man.
When they finally reached the derelict skyscraper, Jiang Chen placed Yao Yao down and leaned heavily against a concrete pillar, gasping for air. Yao Yao knelt beside him, her expression filled with guilt and concern as she gently wiped the sweat from his face with her sleeve.
The dilapidated building loomed above them, its cracked walls and unfinished structure casting eerie shadows. The lack of exterior paint suggested construction had been abandoned before completion. Yet, the absence of zombies or other mutants made it an ideal battleground.
Sun Jiao quickly positioned herself at a window, resting the barrel of her Sirius rifle on the ledge. Peering through the scope, she patiently waited for their pursuers to show themselves.
"Can you still fight?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the street below.
"No problem," Jiang Chen replied, catching his breath and readying his assault rifle. He knelt beside the window, switching off the safety.
The air grew tense. The fight was about to begin.