Lin Qingtang stood quietly for a moment, her gaze lingering on the now-empty courtyard gate where Rong Yuxuan had disappeared. After a brief silence, she turned to Lin Shaoan and Li An beside her.
“Dad, Li An, you should both get some rest. You worked hard all night.”
She glanced toward Abai, who was already lying inside the courtyard.
“With Abai guarding the entrance, we’ll be safe. If anything happens, I’ll call you immediately.”
Li An tightened his grip on the steel pipe in his hand. Still unwilling to rest, he hurriedly replied, “Miss Lin, I’m fine. I can keep going. Brother Xuan just left, I should stay by the gate. If zombies show up…”
“You’re barely able to stand.”
Lin Qingtang cut him off without hesitation.
“If something really happens, you won’t be able to react in time. Forcing yourself to stay awake won’t help anyone. It’ll only make things worse. Go get some sleep. Recover your strength, that’s the best way you can help all of us.”
Lin Shaoan looked at his daughter’s determined expression, then at the vigilant Abai. Letting out a long, weary sigh, he nodded.
“Listen to Tangtang.”
He patted Li An on the shoulder, unable to hide the exhaustion in his voice.
“We’ll rest for a couple of hours. If anything comes up, Tangtang will wake us. Don’t push yourself.”
Li An met Lin Qingtang’s unwavering gaze before looking at the alert wolfdog guarding the gate. Finally, he nodded and loosened his grip on the steel pipe.
“Alright, Miss Lin. Please be careful. If anything happens, wake us immediately. Don’t try to handle it alone.”
“I will.”
Lin Qingtang nodded gently.
The two men said nothing more. The moment they lay down, the exhaustion from days of nonstop fighting overwhelmed them. Within moments, steady snores echoed from the side room.
Meanwhile, Abai leisurely made his way to a shaded corner just inside the courtyard gate. Resting his head on his front paws, he kept his sharp eyes fixed on the alley beyond.
The slightest trace of a zombie’s rotten scent or the sound of unfamiliar footsteps would send him leaping to his feet with a fierce bark, enough to warn Lin Qingtang and wake the sleeping men instantly.
…
After turning a corner, Rong Yuxuan was immediately met by two staggering figures emerging from behind a crumbling low wall.
Two wandering zombies.
Their bodies were caked in dried blood and dirt, guttural growls rumbling from their throats. The instant they caught the scent of living flesh, they lunged toward him.
Rong Yuxuan sidestepped the attack with practiced ease.
In one fluid motion, he drew the short blade from his waist. With a swift twist of his wrist, the knife pierced straight through the first zombie’s skull.
Moments later, the second fell beside it.
Both corpses collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
About ten minutes later, Rong Yuxuan finally reached the abandoned village marketplace.
His eyes swept across the deserted street before stopping on a familiar object tucked into a corner.
A metal sweet potato roasting stove.
Though coated in dust, it remained perfectly intact. Leaning beside it was half a sack of fresh sweet potatoes that had somehow escaped both decay and looting.
A faint smile flashed across his eyes.
Without wasting another second, he gathered dry branches and charcoal from nearby. Taking out the lighter he always carried, he patiently built a fire beneath the stove.
He carefully selected sweet potatoes of similar size, brushed away the dirt clinging to their skins, and arranged them neatly inside the roasting chamber.
Every so often, he rotated them with care, making sure the heat spread evenly.
Time passed slowly.
Soon, the rich aroma of roasting sweet potatoes drifted from the stove, filling the quiet street corner with comforting sweetness.
The once-hard sweet potatoes gradually softened.
Their skins darkened into an appetizing reddish brown, carrying the unmistakable scent of caramelized sugar that instantly warmed both body and soul.
Once he confirmed they were fully cooked, Rong Yuxuan found a clean sheet of oil paper and carefully lifted each steaming hot sweet potato from the stove, wrapping them one by one.
After finishing everything, he hurried toward the nearby parking area and began inspecting the abandoned vehicles.
Fortunately, the third sedan still had plenty of gasoline in its tank.
He opened the door, climbed into the driver’s seat, turned the key, and the engine roared to life without trouble.
Stepping on the accelerator, he sped along the country road, skillfully weaving around potholes and scattered debris as he raced back toward the farmhouse.
Barely fifteen minutes later, the car came to a smooth stop at a concealed spot near the courtyard.
Lying by the entrance, Abai immediately recognized Rong Yuxuan.
His tense body instantly relaxed.
The wolfdog let out a low whine, wagged his tail once, then settled back down in his original position.
Rong Yuxuan quickly walked over to Lin Qingtang, carefully holding out the oil paper package. His fingertips instinctively pulled back, afraid the heat might burn her.
“Qingtang, I’m back.”
His breathing was still slightly uneven, beads of sweat clinging to his forehead, yet his eyes overflowed with warmth.
“The sweet potatoes just finished roasting. Be careful, they’re still very hot.”
Lin Qingtang looked up at him.
Seeing the fatigue on his face and the sincerity shining in his eyes, something inside her softened.
She reached out and accepted the warm bundle.
Slowly peeling back the layers of oil paper, a wave of sweet, smoky fragrance rushed into the room.
Golden, fluffy sweet potato flesh appeared before her, steam curling into the air and driving away the lingering chill inside the bedroom.
She gently broke off a small piece and placed it in her mouth.
The soft sweetness melted across her tongue, its comforting warmth spreading through her entire body.
In this cruel apocalypse, it was a taste more precious than any delicacy.
Looking at Rong Yuxuan, her brows relaxed slightly as she spoke with complete sincerity.
“It’s delicious. Really delicious.”
Those simple words instantly lifted the weight that had burdened Rong Yuxuan’s heart throughout the entire journey.
His gentle smile deepened.
Every hardship, every battle, every ounce of exhaustion vanished in that moment, leaving behind nothing but quiet satisfaction.
“I’m glad you like it.”
His voice carried unmistakable happiness.
“As long as you want to eat it, I’ll roast sweet potatoes for you every day.”
Lin Qingtang didn’t answer.
Instead, she quietly divided the roasted sweet potatoes into three equal portions, placing each on a piece of oil paper.
“When Dad and Li An wake up, we’ll eat together.”
Looking at Rong Yuxuan, she added softly,
“I roasted plenty.”
He smiled.
“Go ahead and eat without worrying.”
Then she looked back at him.
“You should have one too. They’re really good. Taste your own cooking.”
Not long afterward, the snoring from the side room gradually stopped.
Lin Shaoan and Li An emerged one after another.
After sleeping for two hours, the exhaustion in their eyes had faded considerably, and both looked much more energetic.
“Tangtang, Xiao Rong’s back?”
Lin Shaoan spotted Rong Yuxuan immediately and asked with a smile.
“Yes.”
Rong Yuxuan nodded.
Li An hurried over as well.
The moment he caught sight of the roasted sweet potatoes in Lin Qingtang’s hands, the rich aroma reached his nose.
His eyes lit up.
“Brother Xuan, you actually found sweet potatoes?”
“I did.”
Rong Yuxuan smiled faintly.
“I roasted them myself. They’re still hot.”
Lin Qingtang handed the sweet potatoes to Lin Shaoan and Li An.
“Dad, Li An, eat while they’re warm. You both need to recover your strength.”
“Wonderful!”
Lin Shaoan accepted one with a broad smile.
“I never imagined we’d still be able to eat freshly roasted sweet potatoes in the apocalypse.”
Li An eagerly took a huge bite.
His eyes widened immediately.
“This is amazing! Brother Xuan, your cooking is incredible! These taste even better than the roasted sweet potatoes before the apocalypse!”
Then he looked toward Rong Yuxuan.
“Brother Xuan, you should eat too. You must be starving after running around all day.”
Rong Yuxuan simply shook his head.
His eyes remained fixed on Lin Qingtang.
“You all eat. That’s enough for me.”
The four of them sat together in the courtyard, sharing the warm roasted sweet potatoes.
There was no lavish feast.
No peaceful world.
Only a few steaming sweet potatoes.
Yet amid the brutality of the apocalypse, that simple warmth felt more precious than anything else.
They chatted casually, enjoying the rare moment of peace while temporarily setting aside the constant threat of zombies and the dangers surrounding them.
After everyone had finished eating, Lin Qingtang neatly folded the used oil paper.
Looking at the three people before her, her expression gradually turned serious.
“Right now, there are only the four of us here.”
She paused.
“You’re all people I trust completely. There’s something Li An deserves to know.”
Li An immediately straightened up, the smile disappearing from his face.
“Miss Lin, I’m listening.”
Lin Qingtang gently touched the jasmine necklace around her neck before speaking calmly.
“This necklace was left to me by my mother.”
“It contains an independent space.”
“A space?”
Li An’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You mean… a space that can store things? Even hide people?”
“Yes.”
Lin Qingtang nodded honestly.
“The reason I recovered was because I entered the space while I was unconscious. I drank the spiritual spring water inside. It purified the zombie virus in my body and awakened my healing ability.”
She continued,
“The space has unlimited storage. There’s fresh water and farmland as well. It’s our greatest advantage for surviving this apocalypse.”
Lin Shaoan looked at the stunned Li An and spoke in a deep voice.
“This secret is extremely important. Human hearts are unpredictable, especially now. If this ever gets out, it could bring disaster upon all of us.”
“You must never reveal it.”
Li An immediately nodded with complete seriousness.
“Uncle Lin, I understand!”
He placed a hand firmly against his chest.
“I swear I won’t tell a single soul. Even if it costs me my life, I’ll never betray any of you.”
Standing nearby, Rong Yuxuan spoke firmly.
“From today onward, the space is the highest-level secret shared by the four of us.”
“Understood.”
Li An answered solemnly.
“I’ll never forget it.”
After everything they had been through together, they had already developed a strong understanding of one another.
Their responsibilities were quickly decided.
“I’ll handle clearing zombies outside together with Li An.”
Rong Yuxuan spoke first, laying out the plan clearly.
“We’ll secure the supply locations and make sure no zombies get close.”
He turned toward Lin Shaoan.
“Uncle, you’ll stay on higher ground and keep watch from a distance. Warn us as soon as you spot danger.”
Then he looked at Lin Qingtang.
“Qingtang, stay behind us. Focus on collecting supplies into your space. Don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger.”
“Alright.”
She nodded.
“We’ll do it that way.”
Li An gripped his steel pipe tightly.
“Brother Xuan, don’t worry. I’ll work with you and make sure Miss Lin and Uncle Lin stay safe.”
With their roles assigned, everyone picked up their weapons and traveled light.
Abai stayed faithfully beside Lin Qingtang, serving as the group’s sharpest early warning system.
Along the way, Rong Yuxuan and Li An worked together seamlessly.
Whenever they encountered scattered zombies, they dispatched them swiftly and cleanly.
From time to time, Rong Yuxuan used his lightning ability to strike zombies down with pinpoint accuracy, while Li An immediately finished off any survivors.
The entire operation remained quiet, efficient, and safe.
From his elevated position, Lin Shaoan kept constant watch.
Whenever a zombie approached, a crossbow bolt flew with deadly precision, eliminating the threat before it could reach the group.
Following behind them, Lin Qingtang remained completely unharmed.
At every supply point they reached, she quickly stored rice, flour, drinking water, medicine, ammunition, and every other essential resource inside her space.
With unlimited storage available, gathering supplies became remarkably efficient.
In just over an hour, they had collected enough resources to support the group for a long time.
As they headed back, their pace slowed.
The surroundings were peaceful, broken only by the wind rustling through the dry grass.
Walking beside Rong Yuxuan, Lin Qingtang remained silent for a while before speaking softly.
“Rong Yuxuan.”
“I’m here.”
He turned to her immediately.
His gaze softened at once, his full attention focused entirely on her.
“All of our supplies are stored in my space.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“I’m the one managing and distributing everything.”
“Do you really trust me that much?”
In the apocalypse, supplies meant survival.
They were everyone’s lifeline.
Even the closest companions could become suspicious or selfish when resources were involved.
Yet from beginning to end, Rong Yuxuan had never hesitated once before handing complete control over to her.
He looked back at her without the slightest pause.
“Of course I trust you.”
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“No matter how valuable those supplies are, they can’t compare to you.”
“If we lose our supplies, we can always search for more.”
“But if anything happens to you…”
He paused, his voice becoming even more resolute.
“…even if I gave everything I have, I could never get you back.”
“To me, the most important thing in this world has never been food or supplies.”
“It’s you.”
“As long as you’re safe, nothing else matters.”
“So letting you manage everything…”
He smiled softly.
“I have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
From the very beginning, what Rong Yuxuan wanted was never merely his own survival.
All he wished for was to protect Lin Qingtang and keep her safe.
Looking into his eyes, seeing the unwavering trust and affection reflected there, Lin Qingtang felt something inside her heart tremble.
The distance and caution she had carried over from her previous life quietly began to melt away.
After a long silence, she simply nodded.
She didn’t say another word.
Walking a short distance ahead, Li An and Lin Shaoan exchanged knowing glances.
Without saying anything, they quietly continued forward, leaving the two of them a rare moment alone.