After lunch, Sheng He didn’t head out right away. She sat in her chair, absently rubbing her stomach as she stared into space.
“Aunt Zheng, your cooking is seriously amazing!”
She gave the housekeeper a thumbs-up as Aunt Zheng cleared the table and tidied the dining room.
“I’m just glad you enjoyed it, Miss.”
The compliment made Aunt Zheng beam, her eyes narrowing into happy crescents.
At her age, there was nothing more satisfying than watching a child enjoy a meal she’d prepared.
Sheng He wasn’t her own daughter, but she’d raised her from childhood. In many ways, she’d become like family.
She knew it wasn’t entirely appropriate to think that way. After all, she was only an employee. But affection wasn’t something money could measure. She understood her place and never overstepped her boundaries, yet she couldn’t help caring deeply for the young woman she’d watched grow up.
Fortunately, she’d always known where the line was. She never acted entitled because of her age or years of service, which was why they had gotten along so well all this time.
“Aunt Zheng, you’re the best. I want to eat your cooking for the rest of my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Sweet words came naturally to Sheng He, and Aunt Zheng laughed so hard she could barely close her mouth.
Listening nearby, He Xiao silently committed those words to memory.
Maybe… he should learn to cook for Ah He someday.
As soon as she finished speaking, something occurred to Sheng He. Looking casually at Aunt Zheng, she asked,
“Aunt Zheng, I saw a post online today. It asked, ‘If the apocalypse came, who would you most want to be with?'”
“There were all kinds of answers. Some said their family, others said friends or their significant other. What about you?”
“If the end of the world really came… who would you want to spend it with?”
Her tone turned unexpectedly serious.
She had suddenly remembered that, in the original Sheng He’s heart, Aunt Zheng and the family driver weren’t just employees—they were family elders.
She doubted the original owner would have wanted either of them to die once the apocalypse arrived.
Keeping them by her side would be the safest option. Now that she would soon have a storage space, as long as they weren’t directly attacked, survival wouldn’t be a problem.
She also planned to return to the Sheng family’s estate later that day. It was larger, more secure, and far better suited to weathering the initial chaos.
If they stayed hidden, they should be able to survive until they awakened their abilities.
As long as they chose to stay with her, she would do everything in her power to protect them.
But they weren’t her blood relatives.
They had families of their own.
Even if they cared about her, that didn’t mean they’d choose to face the end of the world with her instead of their loved ones.
Perhaps, even if death was inevitable, they’d rather spend those final moments with their own families.
So she wanted them to make that choice themselves.
If they chose to stay, she’d protect them with everything she had.
If they wanted to go home, she’d give them leave and let them spend the time with their families.
Aunt Zheng thought for a moment before smiling.
“I’d probably want to be with my family.”
She chuckled softly.
“Speaking of which, I’m starting to miss my little grandson.”
Her son had married two years earlier, and last year she’d become a grandmother. She absolutely adored the little boy. Whenever she had time off, she’d go home to babysit him, and when she couldn’t, she’d video call him whenever she had a chance.
In fact, after her grandson was born, she’d originally planned to resign so she could care for him full-time.
But Sheng He had just started university and still needed someone to look after her. President Sheng didn’t trust anyone else with his daughter, so he’d asked Aunt Zheng to stay on for a few more years.
The Sheng family had always treated her generously, and she’d grown attached to Miss Sheng over the years. She couldn’t bear to leave while the girl still needed her, so she’d agreed.
Her plan had always been to retire after Sheng He graduated from college.
She genuinely cared about the original Sheng He.
But compared to her own family, there was naturally still a difference.
That was only human.
So her answer came as no surprise.
Smiling, Sheng He said,
“Perfect. I’m planning to go away for a couple of days starting tomorrow. There won’t be much to do around here, so why don’t you take those two days off and spend them at home? You can come back after I return.”
“When did you decide that?” Aunt Zheng asked in surprise. Then she frowned with concern.
“Actually… never mind. I’ll just stay here and wait for you.”
She’d never heard Miss Sheng mention any trip before, and she suspected the young woman was making excuses just to give her time off.
She knew Sheng He all too well.
But Sheng He only blinked mischievously, glanced toward He Xiao, and lowered her voice with a grin.
“Nothing gets past you, Aunt Zheng. I just… wanted a couple of days alone with him.”
“So please help me out?”
Understanding dawned instantly on Aunt Zheng.
Miss Sheng had finally won Mr. He’s heart. Of course the young couple would want some private time together.
She mentally smacked herself.
How had she not realized that?
Slapping her thigh, she agreed immediately.
Sheng He happily turned toward He Xiao, only to find his ears bright red.
When he noticed her looking, he awkwardly looked away.
She almost laughed.
Right… she’d nearly forgotten how painfully proper this man was.
Aunt Zheng quickly finished cleaning the house, packed a few belongings, and prepared to head home.
Before leaving, she came to say goodbye.
Sheng He reminded her one last time to make sure everyone in her family stayed home before dark the next evening. She used the excuse that she’d need their help with something important.
Aunt Zheng nodded without hesitation and promised she’d be waiting.
Then she left.
Watching her disappear down the road, Sheng He silently prayed.
Please listen to me… Your family’s survival depends on it.
Of course, even if they survived the first outbreak, danger would still await them afterward.
The rest would depend on fate.
After watching her go, Sheng He called a supplier and arranged for a shipment to Aunt Zheng’s home.
Instant noodles, bread, bottled water—anything with a long shelf life.
If the family survived, at least they wouldn’t have to worry about food for a while.
The reason was simple.
A caring employer sending groceries to an employee wasn’t unusual.
Once she’d settled Aunt Zheng’s situation, Sheng He called the family driver.
He happened to be on vacation and back home with his family.
She asked him the same question.
His answer came even more quickly than Aunt Zheng’s.
“My wife and daughter.”
There wasn’t even a second’s hesitation.
The driver was in his forties and had a daughter in elementary school. He adored his wife and spoiled his little girl endlessly. Whenever he had free time, he rushed home to be with them.
That was also why he’d always treated the original Sheng He like a daughter.
Sheng He wasn’t surprised.
She used the same excuse, telling him to stay home the next day, then arranged for food and supplies to be delivered to his house before finally taking a short break.
A while later, she remembered that her father still hadn’t returned her call.
She immediately dialed his number again.
No answer.
She tried Secretary Wang next.
This time, his phone was unreachable as well.
A knot of panic tightened in her chest.
She quickly called another secretary and learned that the overseas business deal had been arranged at the last minute. The client had insisted President Sheng fly over immediately, so he’d only taken Secretary Wang with him.
Now both of them were out of contact, and no one knew why.
She asked whether they had the client’s contact information.
Fortunately, they did.
She got the number and called immediately.
Only then did she learn that President Sheng and Secretary Wang had already left.
Relief flooded through her.
The person on the other end explained that they’d departed in such a hurry that they were most likely rushing to catch a flight.
Either their phones had died, or they were already on the plane.
That eased her mind somewhat.
She guessed her earlier message had frightened her father so badly that he’d rushed back without even remembering to contact her.
That had to be it.
There was nothing more she could do now except wait.
Even if she sent someone overseas immediately, the round trip alone would take more than a day.
It was impossible.
All she could do was hope they made it back in time.
She had already done everything she possibly could.