That bodyguard who had forced Yuan Li was irritating, but she had to admit he hadn’t said anything wrong.
Her personality and abilities truly had little to do with the Cleaning Department. Being someone they would shelter was already a huge stroke of luck for her.
Maybe it was also some kind of compensation for skipping over the middle years of her life—the years from when she first fell into the apocalypse until now.
But now the doctor was saying she could be recruited into the Cleaning Department?
Never mind whether the recruitment made sense—Yuan Li herself was nervous and didn’t dare respond!
“Well… my abilities are too weak. I’m afraid I’ll be a burden…”
“But aren’t you already trying your best? You should think about it. The Cleaning Department isn’t only about combat jobs; they also need people for logistics.” The doctor stopped there, then pulled Yuan Li along. “Go take a shower and change your clothes.”
A shower, a change of clothes.
After getting ready, Yuan Li looked at the bracelet placed in front of her. The first flicker of guilt made her curl her fingers nervously.
“What is this?”
“A Communication Device. More discreet and convenient than a phone. If you encounter danger, you can use it to call for help. By default, it will contact the Cleaning Department.” The doctor held it up. “I also have one. Consider this an extra provision, temporarily lent to you.”
Yuan Li exhaled in relief.
The silver-white metal bracelet reminded her of things like restraint or confinement.
But since she wasn’t the only one with it, she felt reassured.
“Thank you.” Yuan Li reached out. “I’ve been needing this!”
The doctor chuckled.
She fastened the bracelet on Yuan Li’s wrist. “If you choose to join the Cleaning Department, this will be yours permanently.”
Yuan Li scratched her cheek, giving an awkward smile, and stayed silent.
The doctor didn’t press further, just nudged her. “Come on. Remember to return for a follow-up in a week.”
Yuan Li nodded.
The Cleaning Department’s hospital was inside the facility, not far from the training ground or dormitories.
Hong Yuan led the way, with Yuan Li following behind.
She had to admit—the oddly-colored medicated bath had actually been effective. Her arms and legs were still a little red, but the pain was gone.
“I suggest you join the Cleaning Department…”
“Sorry.”
Both the front Hong Yuan and the rear Yuan Li spoke at the same time.
Yuan Li froze. “What?”
Hong Yuan looked more confused. “What are you apologizing for?”
Yuan Li’s pale face flushed with shyness and embarrassment. “I know what you did when you gave me the bath. When you said those things before, were you trying to deliberately provoke me?”
Otherwise, Hong Yuan wouldn’t have cared for her so thoroughly.
Hong Yuan’s voice turned cold. “Don’t overthink it. I just can’t let you die because you’re still useful.”
Yuan Li didn’t feel angry.
She remembered something she had read once:
To judge a person, don’t look at what they say—look at what they do.
When Hong Yuan had provoked her verbally, she had been angry.
She even thought, Hong Yuan is so cold and heartless.
But Hong Yuan also found her work.
She got into danger, and Hong Yuan saved her immediately.
She wanted to learn to kill, and Hong Yuan taught her.
Hong Yuan did more than she said.
Since Hong Yuan didn’t want her to talk about it, Yuan Li obediently nodded. “Alright, I won’t say anything in the future.”
Even though Yuan Li was obedient, Hong Yuan still felt awkward under her sparkling gaze.
She avoided Yuan Li’s eyes and coldly ignored her.
After all that fuss, it was time for dinner.
The Cleaning Department cafeteria wasn’t crowded. Yuan Li held two coins and ordered two meat dishes and one vegetable dish.
A bowl of soup came with it.
She carefully tasted it and relaxed slightly when the flavor was normal.
“Do you not want to join the Cleaning Department?” Hong Yuan asked suddenly.
Yuan Li froze. She poked at her rice, hesitating. “Why would you say that?”
Hong Yuan said, “Because you didn’t ask.”
She had ignored Hong Yuan’s suggestion.
Yuan Li could only explain weakly. “Because I’m too weak…”
“That’s not the reason.” Hong Yuan stared at her for a few seconds, then looked away. “If you don’t want to say, fine. If you change your mind, tell me.”
Yuan Li relaxed because Hong Yuan didn’t press, but she still felt a subtle mix of guilt and anxiety.
“If you want porridge, go buy it yourself. Poking at it won’t turn it into porridge,” Hong Yuan said coldly.
Yuan Li looked down and saw the rice she had poked into a mess.
She laughed sheepishly, trying to be agreeable, and then started eating seriously.
Unbeknownst to her, while she ate, Hong Yuan’s eyes lingered on the crown of her head, thoughtful.
After dinner, Hong Yuan told Yuan Li to go home first.
Yuan Li felt nervous. “Aren’t you going back?”
Was she going on a mission?
Before she could ask, Hong Yuan said, “I’m going to train.”
Yuan Li’s tension vanished, replaced by embarrassment. “Did I waste your time?”
“None of your business. Don’t flatter yourself,” Hong Yuan said bluntly.
Then she asked, “Do you need a different place to work?”
Yuan Li hesitated. “If I work, when will I train?”
Hong Yuan said, “With your current ability, how long can you train?”
Yuan Li: “…”
It stung.
She stepped back, then said, “I’ll try working at the hotel.”
It was a place Hong Yuan had picked for her. Besides… “Did my colleagues ask you for help?”
Hong Yuan glanced at her. “Kind of.”
What she didn’t mention was that she had been not far from the hotel at the time, which explained how quickly she had arrived.
At her speed, it had been timely.
The only thing she hadn’t expected was that that bastard with the surname Zhuang would turn into a Mutant. If Yuan Li hadn’t saved herself, she might have been in real danger.
So much had happened today that Yuan Li thought she wouldn’t sleep.
But as soon as she lay down, drowsiness overtook her. She vaguely remembered covering herself with the blanket before falling into a deep sleep.
In her dream, Yuan Li felt light, floating upwards. She passed through walls, soared over rooftops, over mountains and rivers, and finally stopped in a valley.
A dark mist hung heavily.
In the huge hollow of the valley, a massive body writhed.
It made eerie, terrifying screeches and roars, enough to strike fear into anyone.
But it was only crying.
Poor little thing…
Her half-dream, half-conscious feeling of pity turned into a gentle breeze, softly caressing its body.
It was like the gentlest lullaby.
The normally quiet monster seemed to sense it. Its limbs suddenly stretched, grasping for the wind that slipped through its fingers.
But that familiar, endearing sensation vanished with the breeze.
“%#￥…”
Strange, eerie sounds melded together.
The huge creature sounded like a human infant just learning to speak. It didn’t know how to use its vocal organs properly and mumbled a word.
“Mo… Mother.”