“Dad!”
Seeing the demonic beast raise its claw to strike her father, Shen Biqian cried out in shock and fury.
She leaped forward and delivered a powerful kick, sending the beast flying.
“Dad, are you alright?”
The beast, having been kicked away, roared in anger and struggled to its feet before charging at Shen Biqian.
Halfway there, Li Li intercepted it with a punch that shattered its core.
The enormous beast staggered before finally collapsing to the ground with a loud thud.
Father Shen, who had already prepared himself to die beneath the monster’s claws, slowly opened his eyes in disbelief.
When he saw Shen Biqian, he immediately panicked.
“Run! Hurry and run!”
He pushed her anxiously.
“That thing got into the house! Get out of here!”
“Dad, it’s okay now. The beast is dead. Your daughter killed it. Everything’s fine now.”
Shen Biqian tried to comfort him while frantically looking around.
Then her face turned pale.
She couldn’t see her mother anywhere.
“Where’s Mom?”
Father Shen stared blankly.
“You… killed it?”
His gaze drifted past Shen Biqian to the giant beast corpse lying nearby.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
“How could you possibly kill one of those monsters?”
“I awakened an ability.”
Shen Biqian answered quickly before grabbing his shoulders.
“Dad, where’s Mom?”
The shaking finally snapped Father Shen out of his daze.
He pointed toward the bedroom.
“Your mother is in there.”
The moment Shen Biqian heard that, she abandoned her father and rushed toward the bedroom.
Inside, Mother Shen had vaguely thought she heard her daughter’s voice.
She had assumed it was just her imagination.
Yet after waiting for some time, she realized she could no longer hear the beast’s roars.
Hesitantly, she cracked open the bedroom door to take a look.
The moment she saw her daughter running toward her, she threw the door open and pulled Shen Biqian into a tight embrace.
“Qian’er! You’re finally back!”
Then she quickly released her and began examining her from head to toe.
“Are you hurt? Let Mom take a look!”
Shen Biqian hugged her mother tightly and burst into tears of relief.
“Mom, I’m fine. I’m home now. You and Dad will be safe from now on.”
Fortunately, she had made it back in time.
She didn’t know what she would have found if she had arrived even one minute later.
Nor did she know whether she would have been able to bear such a scene.
Thankfully…
She had made it back.
Watching the mother and daughter crying in each other’s arms, Su Jianmo felt both happy and sorrowful.
If his own mother hadn’t died in an accident when he was six years old, she would probably care for him just as Auntie Shen cared for Shen Biqian.
Then he wouldn’t have had to grow up all alone.
Nearby, Li Li stared longingly at Shen Biqian in her mother’s embrace.
She was jealous.
She envied her.
What did it feel like to be held and cherished by a mother?
She wanted to know.
She wanted parents too.
After a long while, Mother Shen finally calmed down.
One hand held her daughter, the other held her husband.
She refused to let either of them go.
Shen Biqian briefly explained the matter of awakening abilities.
Her parents were both shocked and delighted.
Most importantly, the fear in their hearts eased considerably.
Now that their daughter possessed such power, she finally had the means to survive in a world overrun by monsters.
Seeing their parents looking curiously at the people who had arrived with Shen Biqian, she smiled and began making introductions.
“Mom, Dad, this is my classmate, Su Jianmo.”
Under the scrutiny of Father and Mother Shen, Su Jianmo became visibly uncomfortable.
He straightened his back and greeted them politely.
“Hello, Uncle and Auntie.”
The two elders looked at him with obvious approval and finally smiled.
The way they looked at him resembled parents evaluating a future son-in-law.
Not only was Su Jianmo uncomfortable, but even Shen Biqian felt awkward.
She quickly changed the subject.
“Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Li Li.”
Li Li looked at Father and Mother Shen with both nervousness and hope.
After Shen Biqian introduced her, she immediately bowed deeply.
“Hello, Uncle and Auntie. My name is Li Li.”
Looking at the thin, fragile girl, Mother Shen couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.
Although she disliked the rainbow-colored hair and the row of sparkling earrings lining her ear, she inexplicably felt an affinity with the girl.
Letting go of Shen Biqian’s hand, she took Li Li’s instead.
“Child, you’re so young. Why are you all alone? Where are your parents?”
The moment Mother Shen held her hand, Li Li felt her heart soften.
She tightly gripped Mother Shen’s hand, unwilling to let go.
With tears filling her eyes, she looked at her pitifully.
“I don’t have parents. They didn’t want me anymore.”
Her large dark eyes practically screamed:
Please become my mother.
Mother Shen had always been kind-hearted.
Faced with such a look, she even released Father Shen’s hand.
Pulling Li Li into her embrace, she said softly,
“Alright. Then from now on, you’re my daughter too.”
Li Li’s face blossomed like a flower.
“Mm… Mom.”
Watching Li Li nestled in her mother’s arms, Shen Biqian’s eyes grew slightly cold.
She had not expected her mother to take such a liking to Li Li.
If Li Li genuinely longed for maternal love and was simply trying to win her mother’s affection, then Shen Biqian had no objections.
But if she harbored any ulterior motives…
Then Shen Biqian would show no mercy.
She would never allow someone with questionable intentions to remain by her parents’ side.
Mother Shen soon led Li Li away, the two already acting like a deeply affectionate mother and daughter.
Shen Biqian continued introducing the others to her father.
Pointing at Sister Li’s three former subordinates, she said,
“They…”
As for what their names were, Shen Biqian honestly had no idea.
The moment the three men realized they were being introduced, they hurried forward eagerly.
“We’re Sister Shen’s subordinates!”
“My name is Long Er.”
“I’m Long San.”
“And I’m Long Si.”
Father Shen smiled politely at them, then quietly pulled Shen Biqian aside.
“What kind of people are they? They don’t exactly look like good people.”
Shen Biqian reassured him.
“Don’t worry, Dad. They won’t be able to cause any trouble.”
Looking at his confident daughter, Father Shen felt deeply gratified.
His daughter had grown up.
She was now capable of protecting them.
Xia Sisong, whom Shen Biqian had rescued earlier, stepped forward.
“We were all saved by your daughter. My name is Xia Sisong.”
He glanced around the heavily damaged house before continuing.
“It doesn’t look like your home is livable anymore. If you don’t mind, you can stay at Sunshine Residence. That’s where our base is located.”
When he noticed Shen Biqian looking at him, he added,
“All five of us are awakened ability users. After the demonic beasts appeared, the wealthy residents of Sunshine Residence were evacuated and placed under military protection. We moved in afterward.”
“Today, we came out searching for food, but unexpectedly ran into a beast tide.”
After discussing it with her parents, Shen Biqian ultimately agreed to move to Xia Sisong’s base.
The villa at Sunshine Residence already housed Xia Sisong’s group and their families.
There were around twenty people in total.
Adding Shen Biqian’s group of eight made the villa rather crowded.
However, nobody complained.
After all, in the apocalypse, simply having a safe place to shelter was something to be grateful for.
Once Shen Biqian had settled her parents in, Xia Sisong came looking for her, Su Jianmo, and the others.
According to him, the food stored in the villa would last only one more day.
After some discussion, they came up with a plan.
Su Jianmo and three other ability users would remain behind to guard the villa.
Meanwhile, Shen Biqian and Xia Sisong would each lead a team of awakened users to search for supplies.
The group would split into two teams and cover more ground.
Sitting beside Shen Biqian in the vehicle, Li Li looked extremely excited.
“Boss, what does Mom like to eat? Tell me!”
“I’ll find extra food for her later.”
“Let me tell you, my braised fish is amazing. Does Mom like fish?”
While driving, Shen Biqian glanced at her.
Li Li’s small face was flushed red with excitement and anticipation.
After a moment, Shen Biqian gently nodded.
Perhaps…
Li Li truly just wanted a mother who cared about her.