When Wen Xian stepped out of the space, it was already daylight. Da Bai had grown used to her sudden disappearances and reappearances, and didn’t show any impatience, he nudged her hand affectionately.
Having stayed up all night, Wen Xian looked a bit haggard; red veins showed in her eyes, which actually matched her injured state.
She put on a fresh mask and headed out with Da Bai. Kaizi was still stationed outside and quickly came over to ask, “Miss Wen, are you going to have breakfast?”
Wen Xian paused. After the apocalypse, she hadn’t eaten her three meals on time, and she hadn’t originally planned to go now, but she felt a small urge to check it out.
Kaizi led her to the third floor, which had originally been the hotel’s dining area. The tables and chairs were unchanged.
The space was divided into two sections. The inner area resembled the pre-apocalypse hotel restaurant, with a buffet setup offering about ten common breakfast items from before the apocalypse, steamed buns, soy milk, fried dough sticks, fried noodles, fried rice, noodles, with meat, eggs, and dairy, providing a balanced diet.
Outside, there were two large containers filled with porridge. On a nearby table were bowls containing pickled vegetables like radish and kelp, and beside them, a pot of boiled eggs.
Wen Xian noticed most people were queuing outside, swiping cards to get their meals, similar to a school cafeteria in the past.
The people in line were no longer young students but all ages, men and women. When they saw her with Da Bai, most showed fear, though there was no panic. Some even dared to glance at her and Da Bai, suggesting someone had already explained something about them.
Seeing her staring at the card reader, Kaizi hurriedly explained, “That used to be the Lishi bus card and reader. Later, when Boss Wen established the base, he brought over the cards and machines from the bus company. Then each person’s account was credited according to their contribution value, and the card can now be used for transactions within the base.”
He handed her a dark blue card: “Boss Wen prepared this for you; it has a balance of one thousand.”
Wen Xian took it and glanced at it. Sure enough, it had the words “Lishi Bus Company” engraved on it.
Kaizi led her inside. There were eight large round tables with high-backed chairs. The tables and chairs were covered in brocade cloth, giving the space a luxurious and high-end feel.
A few people were already sitting inside. They appeared calmer than those outside, but most still looked at Da Bai with fear.
Wen Xian also saw some familiar faces: Xiang Yuyang, Old Qiu, and Sister Li.
Beside Xiang Yuyang sat a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a gray suit. They had been talking when they saw her. Xiang Yuyang smiled and stood up, and the others followed suit with friendly smiles. Only Sister Li remained as cold as when they first met, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
“Good morning, Miss Wen. Are you here for breakfast too?” the young man with glasses greeted warmly.
Wen Xian didn’t recognize him. Kaizi quickly explained, “Miss Wen, this is Assistant Wang, Boss Wen’s aide.”
Wen Xian nodded politely: “Good morning. I’m just here to take a look.”
Assistant Wang was slightly surprised, then smiled more warmly and introduced Xiang Yuyang and the others: “I suppose Miss Wen already knows these people?”
Wen Xian looked over, and Xiang Yuyang smiled and nodded. “Wen Xian, we’ve come to join the Lishi Base too.”
Wen Xian was a little surprised. What did he mean by that? Weren’t they with Chén Lián and the others?
Seemingly noticing her confusion, Assistant Wang smiled and explained, “Here’s the situation, Miss Wen: Mr. Xiang was originally our friend, but they hadn’t joined our base yet. After seeing you yesterday, Mr. Xiang brought people to our base today. With both you and Mr. Xiang joining, our base has truly gained a great advantage.”
Xiang Yuyang’s gaze toward Wen Xian was deep, his tone gentle. “Assistant Wang is right. We came here precisely because of you, Wen Xian.”
Sister Li looked away upon hearing this, while Old Qiu, ever the good-natured one, smiled.
Wen Xian remained calm, even somewhat cold. “Where you go, which group you join, that’s your own business. It has nothing to do with me. I don’t know, and I won’t concern myself with your affairs.” With that, she nodded to Assistant Wang and left with Da Bai.
Xiang Yuyang’s smile stiffened slightly; Sister Li sneered, while Old Qiu continued to smile amiably. The group watched Wen Xian and Da Bai leave.
Assistant Wang, however, kept his expression unchanged. After motioning for them to sit down again, he smiled: “People with real talent tend to have strong tempers. But don’t worry, regardless of Miss Wen’s attitude, our base still warmly welcomes your joining.”
Xiang Yuyang quickly regained his composure, shook hands with Assistant Wang, and remarked, “She’s always been a bit independent. Even back in the old town, when we first met, we helped her out and arranged a place for her to stay, but that night she left without a word.”
He spoke casually, as if reflecting aloud: “Later, we met Chén Lián and the others. I heard their relationship wasn’t that close either. At that time, there were some frictions, but nobody could have expected things to escalate to what we see now. But her progress has truly been astonishing.”
He shook his head with a wry smile. “Back then, maybe we still had a chance to fight, but now….” His unfinished words carried a bitter undertone.
Assistant Wang listened with a smile, offering no comment. After a few more words, he added, “Originally, our boss wanted to meet you all personally, but he caught a chill yesterday and isn’t feeling well. He still can’t get out of bed now, but tonight he’ll definitely host a welcome banquet for you.”
Xiang Yuyang responded politely, “Boss Wen’s health comes first. We’re all one family now, so there’s no need for formalities.”
Assistant Wang smiled in agreement. After exchanging a few more polite words, they took their leave.
Once they were gone, Old Qiu glanced around and murmured, “Brother Xiang, I think Wen Xian is really cold toward us. Do you think your plan will work?”
Xiang Yuyang refilled their cups from a white porcelain teapot, chuckling lightly. “I don’t need her to be warm toward me.”
He set down the teapot. “She really is strong, and now with that white wolf, I doubt anyone in Lishi could match her. But she’s very independent. She didn’t stay by Chén Lián’s side, didn’t stay with us, and she won’t stay with Boss Wen either. Boss Wen is spoiling her only because she has value to him…”
He took a sip of warm water from a white porcelain cup. “With what I just said, from now on, Boss Wen will trust her even less, maybe even be on guard against her. And she’s sensitive, once she senses his precautions, hehe…”
At that point, Wen Xian would completely become a lone wolf, and then…
Old Qiu suddenly understood. “Then she’ll be isolated, and she won’t be a threat to us anymore.”
Xiang Yuyang smirked slightly, seemingly agreeing. But Sister Li kept watching him, her breathing suddenly rapid, lips pressed tightly together.
Kaizi noticed Wen Xian hadn’t eaten in the dining area and felt a little uneasy. He cautiously studied her expression and said, “Miss Wen, how about I get some food and bring it to you? I’m not sure what you’d like to eat.”
Wen Xian had been about to refuse but paused and then accepted. “Alright, then I’ll trouble you.”
Kaizi relaxed and hurriedly said, “No trouble at all, no trouble.”
After breakfast, Kaizi also brought Da Bai’s food, another hundred pounds of meat, directly to the kitchen. He asked Wen Xian if she wanted the kitchen staff to prepare it, but she declined. When the kitchen was less crowded, she went in herself and, following the method from yesterday, made two more tubs.
After eating, Wen Xian returned to her space. She stayed there for two hours before coming out and told Kaizi she wanted to take Da Bai out for a run.
Kaizi quickly agreed but politely offered to guide the way, which Wen Xian didn’t refuse.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Bā Hǎi in the hotel lobby.
He had bandages wrapped around him, one side of his face swollen. Seeing her, he got up to greet her. “You’re heading out?”
“Do you need something?”
Bā Hǎi’s brow furrowed unconsciously. He seemed unaccustomed to smiling. He tried to, but only stiffly tugged the corners of his mouth. Finally, in a hoarse voice, he said, “Nothing, really. I just wanted to thank you for sparing us. My two brothers’ lives were saved.”
Wen Xian looked at him curiously. “You’re thanking the wrong person.”
It had been a fight to the death. How could she have spared anyone? Their survival was simply luck.
Bā Hǎi froze for a moment, glanced at Kaizi who was looking down, and then, inexplicably, added, “Oh, and Chén Lián and the others survived too.”
Kaizi instinctively glanced at Wen Xian, and she responded with a simple “Oh.”
Bā Hǎi stared at her steadily. “Wen Xian, you killed Chén Lián’s woman but spared their men. Do you know what that means?”
Wen Xian didn’t reply.
Bā Hǎi seemed angered by her silence; his voice became rough and low. “Wen Xian, hesitation leads to chaos, you’ll regret this.” He then limped away on one leg.
Wen Xian walked toward the hotel entrance. Two guards, one tall and one short, quickly lowered their heads to greet her. She nodded slightly and led Da Bai out. The two guards watched enviously as Da Bai obediently followed her side.
Outside, the snow had thickened. When Da Bai stepped in, its paws disappeared into the snow.
Wen Xian climbed onto Da Bai’s back, with Kaizi riding a motorcycle ahead to guide the way. After leaving the base, she let Da Bai run for over half an hour before returning.
As she stepped through the hotel doors, she heard Kaizi quietly exhale in relief.
That evening, Kaizi came again to invite her, saying Boss Wen wanted to host a welcome banquet for her and Xiang Yuyang and the others. This time, Wen Xian didn’t refuse and followed Kaizi to the tenth floor, entering a luxurious suite.
By the time she arrived, quite a few people were already seated. Besides Boss Wen, Assistant Wang, Bā Hǎi, and Xiang Yuyang, there were also Qí Hào and Fán Yàohuī.
Boss Wen stood to welcome her, smiling broadly. “It looks like Miss Wen has recovered quite well?”
The others also stood. Assistant Wang pulled out the chair to Boss Wen’s left and gestured for her to sit. Wen Xian first replied to Boss Wen, “Thank you for arranging for someone to take care of me all this time,” then nodded to Assistant Wang in thanks.
Boss Wen laughed heartily. After she sat, he sat down as well. “Miss Wen, you are now the treasure of our Lishi Base, of course I must do my utmost for you.”
He then looked at everyone else seated. “I suppose Miss Wen knows all these people?”
He specifically pointed to Qí Hào and Fán Yàohuī. “I hear that you two are old acquaintances of hers. Tonight, they are here on behalf of Chén Lián’s team to welcome you and Brother Xiang and the others. Miss Wen, you have no objections, right?”
Qí Hào and Fán Yàohuī glanced at Wen Xian nervously. She smiled faintly. “I came here because of you, not because of whom you invited. That has nothing to do with me.”
A glint of interest flashed in Boss Wen’s eyes, and he nodded with a smile. “So it turns out I, Old Wen, have such face in Miss Wen’s eyes, truly an honor for me.”
Wen Xian smiled. Face? In this world, who still cares about face?
The two exchanged light jabs back and forth while the others watched silently. Assistant Wang quietly instructed the staff to begin serving the dishes.
It wasn’t until cups, plates, and bowls filled the large round table that the serving staff stopped.
Boss Wen wanted a bottle of orange juice and personally poured some for Wen Xian, smiling as he looked at her. “Miss Wen, when you eat and drink, you’ll have to take off that mask, right?”