Ye Shi nodded at the sight, then couldn't help but repeatedly admonish the two little ones, telling them never to speak carelessly about this to anyone outside.
"If others learn of your elder sister's special abilities, they will try to harm her, understand?"
"Mother, Changsheng understands!" Changsheng put on the air of a little adult. "Bad people will try to capture elder sister. Changsheng will absolutely never tell anyone about elder sister's affairs."
"An'an won't either. An'an doesn't want elder sister to be captured by bad people!"
Changan threw herself into Ruan Yu's arms like a young swallow returning to its nest, her small arms tightly wrapped around Ruan Yu's neck, her little face filled with unease.
Though Ruan Changsheng and Ruan Changan were young, they had been worn down by the Ruan family since childhood, and having never had a full stomach on the refugee road, they were no longer naive children unaware of the world. They knew how to protect themselves in these chaotic times.
Ruan Yu's heart softened. She bounced Changan's small body in her arms. "Don't worry, no one can capture your elder sister. If bad people dare to come, I'll beat them away."
"Beat them away!"
Changan waved her tiny milk-fist, her fierce expression so adorable that Ruan Yu couldn't help but laugh.
Ruan Yu looked at the two little ones. Their features all took after Ye Shi, but because they were so thin, their eyes appeared especially large, and their heads seemed big too.
So Ruan Yu set her first goal: to raise the two little ones until they were plump and chubby.
During the Apocalypse, there were very few children in the Base. Children were the hope of the future.
Ruan Yu took out milk, heated it in a pot, then inserted straws and handed them to the two little ones.
Changsheng and Changan looked curiously at the strangely shaped box. Following what their elder sister said, they bit down on the straws and took a sip.
Changsheng's eyes sparkled. "Elder sister, it's delicious!"
Changan was already burying her head in drinking, her cheeks puffing in and out like a little pufferfish.
"Drinking this will help you grow taller. From now on, have one box every day."
She had plenty of milk in her Space—enough for Changan and Changsheng to drink for years.
"Mother, you drink too."
"Fish, you drink."
"I already had some."
After some back-and-forth, Ye Shi eventually gave in to Ruan Yu and drank.
The milk was smooth, silky, and slightly sweet—absolutely delicious. A few sips warmed her stomach, and her throat, which had been parched and smoking from days of thirst, was greatly relieved.
Ruan Yu then took out toast, handing two slices to each of them to eat.
Ruan Yu didn't dare bring out hot food or anything with a strong aroma. Since they were traveling with the main refugee group, any difference in their food would easily be noticed and bring endless trouble. Toast was just right.
"Eat as much as you like. There's more if it's not enough."
The toast Ruan Yu brought out had coconut shreds in it—sweet, soft, and delicately textured. The one adult and two children, who had long been limited to black flour and wild vegetables, were stunned, their eyes widening in shock.
"Fish, what is this? It's too delicious!"
"This is toast, a kind of… bread."
"Is this the food of the gods? It's so tasty!"
"Delicious, delicious."
Changsheng and Changan were like two little squirrels, eating without lifting their heads.
Changan ate too fast and nearly choked, coughing repeatedly.
"Eat slowly, no rush."
Ruan Yu's heart ached watching them. The little ones were starving, and now that they had food, they simply couldn't stop.
Soon, a whole pack of toast was devoured by the three of them.
Only then did Ye Shi snap back to reality, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Ruan Yu said, "You can't eat too much the first time. It's bad for your stomach."
In truth, the two little ones were already full, and Ye Shi was about the same—after all, their stomachs had long since shrunk from hunger.
"Drink some water."
Ruan Yu opened the water. The two little ones stared at the transparent plastic bottle, letting out exclamations of wonder.
Ye Shi also found it miraculous. "The gods' water is actually transparent, so clean, without even a speck of sand or dirt."
She was reluctant to even drink it.
"There's plenty of water. No need to hold back."
"Elder sister, is that where the gods live? With such clean water and delicious food—how wonderful."
Changsheng sipped the water in small, precious mouthfuls, not daring to waste a single drop, his little face full of longing and envy.
"Follow your elder sister. From now on, I'll never let you go hungry."
With their bellies full, the two little ones were so sleepy their heads kept drooping.
Ruan Yu picked one up in each arm, laid them on the pile of straw, and covered them with clothes.
Seeing the swollen redness on Changsheng's face, she took out medicine and applied it to him. There was also Ye Shi—the wounds on her face were not light either.
Fortunately, the weather was cold now. After applying the medicine, there shouldn't be any infection.
After Ye Shi also rested, Ruan Yu went to where the few refugees were resting.
"Who's there? Miss Ruan?"
Jia Da and the others stood up. Ruan Yu raised her hand and tossed a bundle over.
Jia Da's younger brother, Jia Er, instinctively caught it.
"A token of thanks."
Leaving those two words behind, Ruan Yu walked away.
The group exchanged bewildered looks, then opened the bundle. More than a dozen gleaming white, remarkably solid white-flour steamed buns came into view!
"Heavens! These are steamed buns!"
Jia Er cried out in shock, but Genzhu beside him clamped a hand over his mouth.
The others quickly gathered around, hiding the bundle as stealthily as thieves. Only when they reached a secluded spot did they open it again.
"They really are steamed buns."
"Wow, how long has it been since I've seen such white steamed buns!"
"Gulp!"
Everyone swallowed their saliva, their stomachs rumbling like empty city walls as they stared at the white flour buns.
But none of them reached out. Instead, they all looked toward Jia Da.
Jia Da recalled what Miss Ruan had said earlier and understood in his heart.
She was someone who repaid kindness.
But in these times, where did she get white flour buns?
"Boss, these buns…?"
"Since Miss Ruan gave them, then eat. One per person, save the rest for tomorrow." After saying this, Jia Da didn't forget to warn them, "Keep it discreet. Don't let anyone find out."
"Got it! Boss, don't worry!"
The group immediately divided them up, one fist-sized bun each. Once distributed, they couldn't wait to dig in.
"Mmm! Delicious! How long has it been since I've had such good buns!"
"So fragrant!"
"Wah wah wah… even if I died right now, I'd die with my eyes closed…"
As they ate, some began to cry without realizing it.
Their group of ten had actually run out of food for several days. Though they could scrounge up a little something each day, with ten grown men, whatever they found was never enough to go around.
They were so hungry their legs were wobbling.
At this rate, they didn't know when they'd starve to death.
Now, being able to eat such delicious white flour buns, even if they died this very moment, they'd have no regrets.
"Look at you lot, what a pathetic sight! Real men shed blood, not tears! Every last one of you, go cry somewhere else!"
Jia Da had a fiery temper. He kicked his sniveling younger brother aside.
He stood up and walked to the side, handing his own bun to Er Gouzi, who lay on the ground looking sickly and at death's door.
"Boss, you eat it." Er Gouzi turned his head away.
"Eat when I tell you to eat! What's all this nonsense!"
Jia Da shoved the bun into the young man's mouth, then strode off without looking back.