“Which unit are you brothers from? I’m a police officer, so we’re practically on the same side.”
“Here’s the thing, I’ve got both elderly family members and children at home. One person alone is just too limited. I was hoping I could team up with you brothers. What do you think…?”
No one paid him any attention. They were all busy stuffing supplies into their bags.
The policeman tried three times before finally giving up.
Once one person took the lead, more people quickly followed.
“I’m a retired soldier. Which company are you with? I don’t have anyone depending on me. Could you give me a chance…?”
“Hello, big brothers. I can cook, clean, or do… other kinds of work too. I don’t eat much. One meal a day is enough…”
The crowd grew increasingly noisy. Seeing that the group wasn’t particularly dangerous, more and more people gathered their courage and came over, hoping for an opportunity.
The group wasn’t made up of crazed murderers who shot or stabbed everyone they saw, but the constant pestering became unbearable. A single gunshot fired into the ceiling instantly solved the problem.
The next floor up was still part of the food section, stocked with dairy products, jerky, and similar items. It had also been thoroughly looted and left in complete disarray.
Fortunately, there were still plenty of supplies left, more than enough for them to make another sweep.
Jin said, “Let’s start packing. You four take this batch of supplies back to where we left the inflatable boat. One person staying behind to guard it will be enough.”
After wandering around for a while, Qin Shuo noticed a small door that was tightly locked and hadn’t been opened.
He fired two shots, blasting the lock apart. When he pushed the door open, he discovered it was a storage room.
“Over here! There’s good stuff!”
The other three hurried over. The moment Jin saw what was inside, he was overjoyed. He immediately stepped forward, grabbing armfuls of vacuum packed jerky from the mountain of supplies and stuffing them into bags.
…
Inside the bedroom, the weather was unbearably hot, and Nan Qi kept drinking water to quench his thirst.
Nan Qi smiled. “You’re still picking on yourself, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
Li Tong pouted. “I don’t want to~”
“Isn’t it sweet?”
“I hate you, Big Brother!”
Her adorable reaction made him laugh so hard that his chest shook.
Li Tong’s little hand, which had been resting against his firm chest, unconsciously rubbed over it a few times.
Seeing what she was doing, Nan Qi curled his lips into a teasing smile.
“Does it feel nice?”
Blushing, she tried to pull her hand away, only for him to catch it and press it back where it had been.
“Go ahead and touch it. It’s not like Big Brother won’t let his little treasure touch him.”
Li Tong wanted to pinch him, but his muscles were so firm that all she managed to do was leave her own fingertips red.
Nan Qi chuckled softly.
He took her little hand and gently kissed it.
She was far too delicate. Everywhere on her was fragile, even her waist, which he could encircle with one hand.
Whenever any of them watched their little sister walking on those slender ankles, they felt as though their own legs ached in sympathy, constantly afraid that Little Treasure might stumble or somehow break.
…
Li Tong rested against his shoulder, making soft, muffled sounds.
She was simply too petite, making everything difficult.
Nan Qi smiled. “Such a spoiled little thing.”
Li Tong shot him an annoyed glare. After healing herself, she curled up in his arms and stubbornly stayed there like an unmoving stone.
The smile never left Nan Qi’s face. He rubbed his own face helplessly, then began coaxing her in a gentle voice.
“Are you angry?”
“Because Big Brother called you spoiled?”
“All right, all right. Big Brother was wrong.”
He lightly patted her.
“Little Sister? My little treasure? My good girl?”
He tried to lift her little face, but Li Tong stubbornly refused to cooperate, staying perfectly still no matter what he did.
Nan Qi couldn’t help laughing.
The more he laughed, the angrier she became. She lifted her head and gave his chest several soft little punches before burying herself against him again, turning back into an unmoving stone.
“I hate you, Big Brother,” she mumbled.
Nan Qi laughed even harder, completely unable to stop himself.
…
By then, Xiong Ji and the others had reached the fifth floor. This level was filled with household items like bedsheets and duvet covers.
The four of them casually grabbed several sets of sheets. Just as they were about to head upstairs, someone came running up from below, urging them to return immediately.
“The weather’s changing. Retreat!”
Without wasting a second, the group of more than a dozen people rushed back towards Sunshine Garden in their inflatable boats.
Nan Qi was still quietly spending time with his little sister.
Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder shook the sky.
Holding her close, he gently patted her back to comfort her.
“Don’t be afraid. Big Brother’s here. It’s okay, good girl.”
Li Tong looked at him anxiously.
“Why aren’t Big Brother and the others back yet?”
Her beautiful eyes were red with worry, glistening with tears.
Nan Qi felt a pang of jealousy. For a fleeting moment, he even thought it would be better if those three simply died outside so he could have his little sister all to himself.
“They’ll be back soon. Don’t think about them anymore. Right now, you’re in my arms.”
Pearl-like tears began rolling down Li Tong’s cheeks.
His heart clenched painfully. He gently kissed away her tears, and the smile on his face disappeared.
“Can’t you think only about me…?” he whispered so quietly it was almost inaudible.
More than ten minutes later, someone knocked on the door.
It was Xiong Ji’s voice.
Overjoyed, Li Tong immediately struggled to get out of Nan Qi’s embrace.
His expression darkened to the extreme. He tightened his arms around her, holding her firmly.
Li Tong lightly patted him with her small hands as she struggled.
After waiting outside for a while without any response, the other three were called away by Jin to help distribute the supplies.
Nan Qi lost control and frightened her.
He knew he had crossed the line and desperately tried to pull himself back to his senses. Only when he realised her tears had become uncontrollable did he slowly force himself to let go.
Li Tong cried pitifully.
He was overwhelmed with regret and heartache. Hurriedly, he bent down to check on her.
He truly was a beast.
His face filled with remorse and fear, Nan Qi suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.
Startled, Li Tong quickly sat up to stop him.
“What are you doing, Big Brother!”
She first used her healing ability to erase the red mark on his face before healing her own injuries.
Nan Qi’s voice trembled.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m sorry, Tongtong. Big Brother was wrong.”
“I’m sorry. I lost my mind…”
Taking her little hand, he guided it toward his own face.
“I’m sorry, Little Treasure. Hit Big Brother if you want. Just don’t hate me, okay?”