“I won’t be going with you, Big Brothers.”
Mu Qingruan shook her head.
“Why not?”
Jun Ruoli asked in surprise.
“I know that with my abilities, I’d only be a burden to anyone. I don’t want to be abandoned a second time.”
Mu Qingruan lowered her head sadly.
In reality, she simply didn’t want to have a bunch of burdens following behind her.
“Don’t worry. Since we’ve said we’ll take you with us, we won’t abandon you.”
Jun Ruoli assured her.
“No. This is the Apocalypse World. It’s already hard enough for the five of you to survive. If you bring along a burden like me, you’ll suddenly have several more mouths to feed. It’ll be too much for you.”
Mu Qingruan continued shaking her head.
“Little Qingruan, have you forgotten how to count? Taking you along only adds one extra mouth. Where did several mouths come from?”
The others also gathered around to persuade her.
“I can’t leave my companions behind.”
Mu Qingruan looked at them seriously.
“Your companions? What companions?”
Long Potian asked in confusion.
He hadn’t seen anyone else.
“Tiger, Linlin, Baibai, Longlong, and Huanghuang.”
Mu Qingruan held up the White Tiger in her arms for everyone to see.
“This cat?”
Long Potian asked blankly.
“Mhm.”
Mu Qingruan nodded.
“Then don’t tell me the others are animals too?”
Chu Mochen guessed.
“That’s right. After I was abandoned, I met them. They’ve lived with me ever since. They kept me company and protected me. So I won’t abandon them. I’ll always stay with them.”
Mu Qingruan said earnestly.
“Then why didn’t we see them after we arrived?”
Long Potian asked.
“They went out to look for food.”
Mu Qingruan gently stroked White Tiger as she answered.
“Will they attack people?”
Chu Mochen’s first thought was of the mutated beasts roaming outside.
“No. As long as no one provokes me, they absolutely won’t hurt anyone.”
Mu Qingruan shook her head.
“If we’re willing to let them come with us, will you join us?”
Jun Ruoli asked.
They were only a few animals, and judging from her words, they could even find food on their own.
“You’d really accept them?”
Mu Qingruan looked at them in surprise.
As expected of soldiers. They were willing to accept even animals for the sake of protecting others.
“The problem is, are they big? If they are, our two Range Rovers outside won’t have enough room.”
Xiao Yunzhou pointed out the practical issue.
“They’re not big. They’re very small.”
Mu Qingruan shook her head.
“Besides, there’s a camper van underneath this villa. It looks pretty nice.”
“If that’s really the case, are you willing to come with us?”
Jun Ruoli asked once more.
“We promise you that once you join our team, as long as you don’t want to leave, we’ll never abandon one of our companions.”
Chu Mochen said firmly.
“Why are you all so determined to take me with you?”
Mu Qingruan looked at them in confusion.
“I don’t know. I just feel like we’re destined to meet, so I want to take care of you.”
Long Potian replied with a smile.
“I had a younger sister about your age, but she didn’t survive when the apocalypse began. That’s always been my greatest regret. Taking care of you can be my way of making up for it.”
Chu Mochen smiled faintly, though the sadness in his eyes couldn’t be concealed.
“I don’t dislike you.”
Ye Yifan said coldly.
“I’m quite interested in your body.”
Xiao Yunzhou calmly examined Mu Qingruan from head to toe.
“Huh?”
Mu Qingruan immediately looked at him warily.
She hadn’t expected him to have such a disturbing hobby.
“Can you finish your sentence before speaking?”
Jun Ruoli smacked Xiao Yunzhou on the shoulder.
“He’s just a medical fanatic. He’s simply curious why awakening your abilities caused your body to become like this.”
Jun Ruoli explained.
“Do all of you have abilities too?”
Mu Qingruan looked at them curiously.
“Other than the boss, none of us have awakened abilities yet.”
Long Potian shook his head.
“But from what you said, you awakened yours after being scratched by a zombie?”
Long Potian asked excitedly.
“That’s true. But very few people can successfully awaken abilities. I advise you not to try it lightly. Otherwise, if you turn into a zombie instead, it definitely won’t be worth it.”
Mu Qingruan nodded.
“Alright…”
Long Potian immediately looked discouraged after hearing her warning.
“Will your pets be back by tomorrow?”
Jun Ruoli asked.
“They should be back soon.”
Mu Qingruan answered.
“Then tonight everyone should get some proper rest after arranging the watch schedule. Tomorrow, once Qingruan’s pets return, we’ll set out.”
Jun Ruoli gave the order.
“Yes!”
Everyone turned and left.
Mu Qingruan also returned to her room.
Around three o’clock in the middle of the night, a black figure swiftly slipped into the storage room beneath the villa.
The previously empty storeroom was instantly filled with more than twenty bags of rice and flour, along with ten barrels of gasoline.
The next morning…
“Morning…”
Mu Qingruan sleepily walked downstairs.
“Morning, Little Qingruan. Have all your pets come back?”
Seeing her drowsy appearance, Chu Mochen’s heart softened instantly.
He walked over, took her hand, and led her to the table.
“They’re back.”
Mu Qingruan nodded.
A tiny black puppy, only slightly larger than a palm, poked its head out from her arms.
She was still holding the cat whose original color could no longer be identified.
Then a white cat, still barely recognizable beneath the dirt, gracefully walked downstairs.
Perched on top of the white cat’s head was a tiny red bird no bigger than a palm.
The sight left everyone dumbfounded.
“These… are the pets you were talking about?”
Jun Ruoli asked blankly.
Yesterday, when Mu Qingruan had said these pets protected her, they had assumed she meant the mutated beasts outside.
Looking at these tiny animals now, none of them seemed remotely capable of protecting anyone.
“And this one.”
Mu Qingruan held out her right hand.
Wrapped around it was a tiny green snake.
“Uh… Qingruan’s pets really are all adorable.”
Everyone couldn’t help twitching the corners of their mouths.
“Will you still accept them?”
Mu Qingruan asked cautiously.
“Since we’ve already agreed, we’ll accept them too.”
Seeing how carefully she asked, Jun Ruoli gently patted her head in reassurance.
“Thank you, Big Brothers!”
Mu Qingruan immediately beamed at them.
“Good girl. Hurry and eat. Today’s meal was cooked by our boss. It smells amazing.”
Long Potian looked at Mu Qingruan’s soft and adorable appearance with overwhelming affection.
Who could possibly resist such an innocent and lovable little girl?
“Mmm! It’s delicious!”
Mu Qingruan scooped up a bowl of soup and took a sip.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
She had always loved good food, but she couldn’t cook.
She had originally planned to have the zombies capture an ability user who knew how to cook for her in a few days.
Now, it seemed there was no need.
“Then let’s set out in a little while.”
Jun Ruoli smiled faintly as he watched Mu Qingruan’s adorable expression.
What the others didn’t know was that he had also once had a younger sister.
She had been born with a congenital heart condition and had passed away at the age of five.
Being unable to give his sister a happy life had always remained one of his deepest regrets.