Cao Yongjun scratched his head and muttered under his breath.
“Hard to deal with.”
Murong Zhuo sighed and walked toward the kitchen.
Qi Ran looked at Dai Qianning but said nothing.
Feng Ruijie clenched his teeth and forced out a few words.
“Captain, this is between me and Bai Xuan. You should stay out of it.”
If this kind of thing really involved the whole squad, even without it spreading outside, his face would already be completely lost.
Ye Jiming raised an eyebrow.
“At least you’re still a man.”
Dai Qianning stepped back with a cold expression.
Ye Jiming felt the slight trembling in the person in his arms. He gently stroked her back to soothe her, then tilted his head to kiss her temple.
“Be good, wife. It’s fine.”
Ji Chaoxi clutched his clothes, steadied herself, and said softly,
“I want to go out.”
“Alright.”
Ye Jiming responded immediately and wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her toward the door.
Feng Ruijie endured the stabbing pain in his arm and asked through clenched teeth,
“Chaoxi, are you really leaving with him?”
Ji Chaoxi paused slightly.
She felt she should explain properly, but the arm around her waist did not allow her to stop.
Ye Jiming walked out without looking back.
Feng Ruijie’s expression turned extremely ugly.
Dai Qianning spoke up.
“Can you at least save him before you go?”
Ji Chaoxi grabbed the arm around her waist and stopped.
Ye Jiming’s expression instantly darkened.
She turned back.
“Yes. Two beast cores.”
She would save him—but she would also draw a clear line.
Feng Ruijie was not Ye Jiming’s opponent; he could not save himself.
Moreover, what he had just said was not necessarily any better than Ye Jiming.
Perhaps even worse.
Ye Jiming’s treatment of her could at least be explained—she had hurt him first.
But what right did Feng Ruijie have to say those things?
Dai Qianning looked at her and understood.
“Fine.”
Ye Jiming’s lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly.
He felt… oddly satisfied.
Even though two beast cores were insignificant—practically a waste of energy compared to Feng Ruijie’s injuries.
To Ye Jiming, Feng Ruijie was worth no more than two beast cores anyway.
Thinking that way made him feel even better.
Ji Chaoxi walked over and stood one meter away, beginning treatment.
Ye Jiming’s smile widened slightly.
Feng Ruijie stared at her with red eyes.
“Chaoxi… are you really choosing him?”
Ji Chaoxi did not respond.
Her silence was an answer in itself.
Feng Ruijie exploded in anger.
“Of course. I should’ve seen it sooner. You’re just a selfish, profit-driven person. Before the apocalypse you married that Ye guy, and now you’re interested in Bai Xuan from the research institute? How could I ever like someone like you? Disgusting.”
The wood energy in the air abruptly stopped.
Ye Jiming appeared in front of him in a flash, grabbing his throat and slapping him twice without hesitation.
Blood immediately seeped from the corner of Feng Ruijie’s mouth.
Dai Qianning stood up sharply.
Qi Ran grabbed her wrist, stopping her from acting.
Those words were anger-driven—but for a girl, they were like a knife straight to the heart.
It was deserved.
Ye Jiming’s gaze was icy, as if he were looking at a dead man.
Feng Ruijie struggled, trying to pry the hand off his neck, but his injured arm had not fully recovered and had no strength.
His face quickly turned purple, struggling for air.
A pale hand grabbed Ye Jiming’s wrist.
Ji Chaoxi looked at him calmly.
“Let’s go.”
Ye Jiming released him.
With his other hand, he grabbed Ji Chaoxi’s hand and, before leaving, kicked Feng Ruijie’s knee.
A sharp crack sounded.
The bone shattered.
Feng Ruijie’s eyes bulged in agony as he passed out completely.
Murong Zhuo stepped forward and lifted him.
“I’ll take him for treatment.”
Dai Qianning nodded.
“Be careful.”
Murong Zhuo disappeared in a gust of wind.
Ji Chaoxi spoke.
“Captain, the base has just been attacked by mutant beasts. I’ll go take a look—maybe I can help.”
Dai Qianning studied her calm expression.
She understood that no matter how gentle someone had been before the apocalypse, two years of survival had already worn most people into emotional numbness.
“Alright.”
Then she looked at Bai Xuan.
“As for your personal conflict, I won’t interfere. But Feng Ruijie is still my team member. We came to Yuzhou together, and I hope we return together as well.”
Ye Jiming smiled faintly.
“I won’t kill him.”
His meaning was clear.
Watch him carefully. If he seeks death, I’ll oblige.
Dai Qianning said nothing more, her expression dark.
After all, she knew Feng Ruijie’s personality.
Two years in the apocalypse had not erased his pride.
It was as if that pride was the only proof he was still alive.
Ye Jiming nodded lightly toward Qi Ran, then led Ji Chaoxi out of the apartment.
The streets of Yuzhou were wider than those in Longcheng Base.
The population and scale were also larger.
If this mutant beast tide had headed toward Longcheng Base instead, the damage would have been far worse.
Along the way, they occasionally saw injured people being rushed toward a certain direction on stretchers.
Ye Jiming said,
“They’re probably sending people to the hospital. Let’s follow them.”
“Okay.”
Ji Chaoxi replied.
Her gaze briefly drifted toward their joined hands before quickly pulling away.
It was the first time someone had defended her like that.
Even if there were many reasons behind it, she still felt a faint warmth in her chest—light, like a feather brushing her heart.
“Ye Jiming… thank you for earlier.”
“Mm.”
Ye Jiming’s lips curled lazily.
“You know I don’t care for just verbal thanks.”
Ji Chaoxi pressed her lips together.
“I know.”
Her voice was soft, almost obedient.
Ye Jiming’s dark eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Then does my wife know what I want?”
Ji Chaoxi’s ears reddened slightly.
“I don’t know what you want… but as long as it’s not too much, I… I’ll listen to you.”
The last three words were barely audible.
Ye Jiming heard them clearly.
His smile became uncontrollable.
He wanted to drag her away immediately and claim his “reward.”
Unfortunately, they had already reached the hospital entrance.
Stopping her from saving people would not be possible.
He leaned closer and whispered into her ear,
“Baby, I’ll wait for you to finish saving them. But I won’t wait for free—I’ll collect interest.”
Ji Chaoxi stared at him in disbelief.
After a moment, she finally blurted out,
“Ye Jiming, are you a bandit?”
Ye Jiming looked as if he had been praised.
“No, no, you misunderstand me, wife. I’m only collecting what I deserve. How can that be called robbery?”
Ji Chaoxi widened her eyes, completely unable to comprehend how such a shameless person existed.
She yanked her hand free and walked into the hospital quickly, her back practically radiating annoyance.
Ye Jiming followed leisurely behind her, watching her angry little figure with obvious enjoyment.
Then, suddenly, his smile faded slightly.
He realized something.
So happiness… could be this simple?