Xu Wanning immediately covered her mouth and used her spatial ability to store the bread she was chewing.
After wiping her lips, she stood up.
“Professor, I’m here.”
Her heart was practically leaping out of her chest.
She had been away from academics for so long. If the professor asked her a question, she would be doomed.
After three years surviving in the apocalypse, everything she had learned in college had long since been returned to her teachers.
The professor simply smiled at her.
“As long as you’re here. I was just taking attendance for once.”
Xu Wanning sat back down mechanically.
That was close. Way too close.
Beside her, Wen Shuyang and the others covered their mouths, trying not to laugh.
“Hahaha! Looks like secretly eating during class really isn’t a good idea.”
Xu Wanning lightly smacked her.
“And you didn’t even help me.”
Wen Shuyang immediately surrendered.
“My fault, my fault.”
After class ended, Xu Wanning slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up.
“Zhou Ke’s grandfather said he wants to talk to me.”
“I think he’s figured something out.”
“I’m going to see him. Are you guys coming?”
Lu Zhiyu and Wen Shuyang waved their hands.
“We’re going to keep recruiting future powerhouses.”
“You go.”
“Talk with Grandpa Zhou, and let Qingqing spend some time with Zhou Ke.”
“Alright.”
Xu Wanning grabbed Song Yunqing’s hand and headed out.
Traveling separately without a car was inconvenient.
After finding a secluded corner of the campus, Xu Wanning secretly released the SUV from her storage space.
The two girls drove away.
At the school gate, the security guard blinked.
Wait a second.
When did an SUV enter the campus?
He had absolutely no memory of seeing one.
On the way there, Xu Wanning asked,
“Qingqing, were you able to talk to Gu Xi at lunch?”
She had returned late and hadn’t had time to ask about everyone’s progress.
Song Yunqing nodded.
“I did.”
“She happened to be hiring temporary workers.”
“We agreed that I’ll help out whenever I don’t have classes, and she’ll pay me hourly.”
A small smile of pride appeared on her face.
Working there meant seeing Gu Xi almost every day.
Building a relationship would happen naturally.
“Nice!”
Xu Wanning praised her generously.
For someone with Song Yunqing’s shy personality, this was already a huge achievement.
Normally she always followed behind her friends and lacked confidence around strangers.
Taking this initiative must have required a great deal of mental preparation.
When they arrived at the Zhou family’s shop, Xu Wanning didn’t go inside immediately.
First, she pulled out her phone and sent Lu Chengyue a message.
After all, maintaining her presence in his mind was important.
Brother Chengyue, thank you for driving me back today. I made it to class just in time.
When there’s an opportunity, I’d like to treat you to dinner—just the two of us.
The key phrase was just the two of us.
Satisfied, she slipped her phone into her pocket and pushed open the door.
Inside the courtyard, Zhou Ke and his grandfather were turning over soil in a flower bed.
When they saw her arrive, they immediately set down their tools and dusted off their hands.
“Grandpa Zhou, we’re here.”
Xu Wanning greeted him politely.
Older people always appreciated respectful youngsters.
“You’re here.”
“Come inside and let’s talk.”
Grandpa Zhou smiled warmly and beckoned her over.
Zhou Ke instinctively moved to follow them.
But his grandfather immediately stopped him.
“You stay outside and keep this young lady company.”
“I need to speak with Ning-girl alone.”
Before Zhou Ke could object, the old man shut the door.
Bang.
The door nearly hit Zhou Ke’s nose.
Taking a step back, he turned awkwardly toward Song Yunqing.
“S-Senior Sister…”
“Why don’t we sit over there?”
Song Yunqing nodded nervously.
“Okay.”
Inside the shop, Xu Wanning and Grandpa Zhou sat facing one another.
“What would you like to ask, Grandpa Zhou?”
The old man stroked his beard.
“That depends.”
“What are you willing to tell me?”
Xu Wanning smiled helplessly.
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you.”
“The problem is that nothing is certain yet.”
“If things don’t happen, wouldn’t I become a sinner for spreading false information?”
Grandpa Zhou shook his head.
“Not at all.”
“If nothing happens, I can always rebuild my business.”
“But if it does happen, then you’ll be the benefactor of the Zhou family.”
Xu Wanning sighed.
“Alright.”
“Then I won’t hide it from you.”
“The apocalypse will arrive in three months.”
“At that time, most of humanity will become infected and turn into zombies.”
“And me…”
“I was reborn from three years into the apocalypse.”
As she spoke, she casually waved her hand.
The shop counter vanished.
Then, with another wave, it reappeared on the opposite side of the room.
“This is a spatial ability.”
“It came back with me.”
Even though Grandpa Zhou had mentally prepared himself, he was still stunned.
He shot to his feet.
“The apocalypse?”
“An actual apocalypse?”
Because Zhou Ke had once been obsessed with apocalypse novels, the old man had heard bits and pieces over the years.
Back then, he had thought the authors simply had overactive imaginations.
Who would have guessed it might become reality?
Xu Wanning nodded solemnly.
“Yes.”
“If you haven’t lived through it, you can’t understand what true hell on earth looks like.”
“Every day, all you hear are zombie roars and the screams of survivors.”
“Grandpa Zhou, Zhou Ke was my friend in my previous life.”
“That’s why I came to find you.”
“I want to build a team before the apocalypse begins.”
“I want to gather our families together.”
“At the very least, we won’t have to worry about our loved ones’ safety after everything starts.”
Grandpa Zhou slowly sat back down.
“So…”
“In the previous life, I died, didn’t I?”
Xu Wanning nodded quietly.
“When I met Zhou Ke, he was alone.”
“He had a deep scar across his face.”
“He traveled the apocalypse by himself.”
“He trusted nobody.”
“And he never told anyone what had happened before I met him.”
The old man’s eyes reddened.
If his grandson, who loved making friends, had ended up living alone, then something unimaginably terrible must have happened.
He sighed deeply.
“Ning-girl.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“I’ll use every cent my family has to stockpile supplies and acquire weapons.”
“There are only two of us in this family—my grandson and me.”
“If you don’t mind, make this place our base of operations.”
“There are rooms and storage buildings in the backyard.”
“Use whatever you need.”
“Even if the apocalypse never comes, I won’t blame you.”
“We can always sell the supplies later.”
Xu Wanning rose from her chair.
“Alright.”
“Then when my roommates’ parents arrive, I’ll have to trouble you to look after them for us.”
“Before the apocalypse begins, I’ll bring all of you to the university.”
“Afterward, the university will become the first safe zone.”
“Later, an official survivor base will be established, with the university at its center.”
“This shop will eventually fall within the base’s protected territory.”
“If you ever want to come back, your property deed will still allow you to reclaim it.”
Grandpa Zhou patted her arm affectionately.
“Don’t worry.”
“Leave it to Grandpa.”
“From now on, you’re my granddaughter.”
“Would you be willing to accept me as your grandfather?”
Xu Wanning smiled.
“Of course.”
“Then from now on, you’re my real grandfather.”
“And Zhou Ke is my little brother.”
The old man smiled with immense satisfaction.
“Good.”
“Very good.”
His aging bones might still have a few uses left in them.
Xu Wanning probably couldn’t obtain firearms or military-grade weapons.
But he just might have ways.
Xu Wanning beamed.
“Then I’ll head out now, Grandpa.”
Something told her Grandpa Zhou wasn’t an ordinary old man.
He might surprise her.
The old man walked over and opened the door.
“Go on.”
“In a few days, when the supplies I’ve ordered arrive, I’ll call you over to take a look.”
“Alright.”
As Xu Wanning headed toward the exit, she added,
“Please tell Zhou Ke everything.”
“But absolutely don’t tell anyone else.”
“If panic spreads, we’ll all end up arrested.”
“Once we’ve finished stockpiling supplies, I’ll find a way to report everything to the authorities.”
Grandpa Zhou thought for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“Ning-girl.”
“When you’re ready to tell the government, let Grandpa know first.”
“I’ll take you to meet someone.”
“It’ll be much faster than trying to report it through layer after layer of bureaucracy.”
His meaning was clear.
The old man had connections.
And not small ones.