In the apocalyptic novel, evacuating the survivors from Xichi University to a safe location took several days.
Knowing that some might be unable to walk, suffering from sudden illnesses, or otherwise prevented from reaching the gathering point, Yan Fengji and his companions stayed behind on campus for an additional two days after safely relocating the first group.
During this time, the soldiers deployed to rescue the faculty and students used life detectors and other specialized equipment, carrying out an urgent sweep for anyone left behind. Those among the survivors who knew the grounds well and still had the energy to spare volunteered to work alongside the rescue teams.
***
While Yan Fengji stayed behind at Xichi University to help the rescue personnel coordinate efforts, Fang Yangyang and Dou Qing made their way smoothly with the main group to the temporary safe zone.
A steel-blue electrified fence covered the heavily fortified perimeter wall, making the place look like a mysterious world encased in steel. The ground was paved in solid concrete, completely devoid of trees or even a trace of fresh soil.
It felt like a video game running a mod that wiped all vegetation and dirt, giving the area an intensely bleak, barren atmosphere. As far as the eye could see, there was no telling just how vast the safe zone truly was.
The survivors from Xichi University waited in line for hours to register their basic information. Once cleared, they passed through the open gates under the watchful eyes of armed military and police officers.
The crowd was divided into smaller groups and led inside.
Together, they entered the temporary base established by the Jia City Government.
The space was immense, spanning the size of well over a thousand basketball courts.
The ceiling loomed more than a hundred meters above the grey concrete floor, where their footsteps made faint scuffing sounds. Holding Dou Qing’s hand, Fang Yangyang looked around at the smaller structures built inside this vast steel-and-concrete cavern.
“Over there is the public cafeteria,” the guide said, nodding in that direction as she led the hundred or so newcomers toward their quarters. “And this is the residential area. Conditions are still limited, so right now we can only offer six-person rooms.”
She glanced back at the group. “We usually recommend staying with people you know. There are no strict rules about gender. You can move in as a family, or as couples. If you aren’t satisfied with your arrangement, you can request a change later. Since you just arrived today, though, it’s best to get some rest first.”
A chorus of assent rose from the crowd.
Heartened to see so many survivors brought in safely by the rescue teams, the guide smiled faintly. “All right, follow me to registration. You can sort out your groups among yourselves.”
The residential units were made of steel and alloy sheets, quick and cheap to assemble in large numbers.
Although called a six-person room, the large corrugated iron shelter was divided into small cubicles to ensure privacy. Power in the base was relatively sufficient, so the room had basic electrical outlets and light bulbs.
Once the team leader finished registering housing for her group of a hundred, she checked the time. It was just past seven in the evening on October 4th, the thirty-first day since the apocalypse began.
She knew that most of the teachers and students who had struggled all the way here from Xichi University were starving. Their thin, pale faces alone showed how hard their journey had been.
“Let’s head to the cafeteria now,” the team leader said with a smile. “They’ve prepared some delicious rice porridge and noodles today. Just make sure not to overeat, or your stomachs might not handle it.”
Fang Yangyang held Dou Qing’s hand. He turned his head toward her and saw her listening intently to the leader, whose smile widened as if noticing her gaze.
The leader guided them toward the public cafeteria. Everyone lined up at the window, each person choosing their preferred staple along with small portions of meat and vegetables.
The steaming aroma of hot food drifted through the air, filling the survivors’ senses.
A senior student from Xichi University wiped at his tears, burying his face in his bowl of porridge as he choked back sobs.
The team leader had stayed by their side throughout the meal, watching over the group of about a hundred people.
“My name is Su Yiyang,” the young woman said, her voice gentle and reassuring. A police insignia was pinned to the lapel of her uniform, and her bright eyes shone with warmth.
“I used to be a local beat cop in Wuhua District, Jia City. Now I work as a guide here at the base. You’re the largest group of survivors we’ve rescued in a long time.”
“I’ve been stationed here for days, and seeing this many people today makes me truly happy.” Su Yiyang’s eyes grew moist as she spoke.
She turned her head slightly to hide it, discreetly brushing away a tear with her fingertip. When she turned back, her tone had turned bright and cheerful.
“Get some good rest tonight. We’ll likely need to collect your information the day after tomorrow.”
“If anyone is feeling unwell, I’ll take you to the clinic shortly to see a doctor. If you have heart disease or other chronic conditions and haven’t had medication for a while, you should also consult the doctors to get a prescription and figure out how to adjust your treatment.”
She addressed every potential concern in turn. Soon, this rare and precious hot dinner came to an end. Several survivors with chronic illnesses followed Su Yiyang toward the clinic.
Seeing that Fang Yangyang had finished eating, Dou Qing reached over and took her bowl and plates before she could even react. He carried them to the public cafeteria’s washing sinks, waited in line to wash them, and placed the clean tableware onto the base’s sterilization rack.
Their quarters were located at District B, No. 189 in the residential zone. The other four people sharing the unit were Tao Zhi, Tao Zhi’s roommate, and two other male students from Xichi.
That night, each of the six retreated to their own private partitioned cubicles, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.
With the government base shielding them, free from the lurking threat of mutated animals, the heavy pressure that had weighed on Fang Yangyang’s heart for so long melted away in the safe, reliable surroundings. She fell asleep early that night. When she groggily woke, she checked her wristwatch to find it was exactly eight in the morning.
Reaching out, she gave a tentative tap on the small window partition connecting to the next room. Dou Qing’s voice came through. “Are you awake?”
“I’m up.”
Rubbing her eyes, Fang Yangyang propped her chin on the window ledge with a smile. Each small cubicle window had a drop-down shutter. The moment Dou Qing pulled his down, he was greeted by his girlfriend smiling at him, her hair delightfully tousled and her cheeks flushed with sleep.
He froze for a second, then cleared his throat softly, crossed his legs, and leaned back against his bed.
From Fang Yangyang’s angle, only his upper body was visible.
Pouting, she blew away a few stray curls hanging over her forehead, casually combed her hair with her fingers, and asked softly, “Are you getting up?”
“…” Dou Qing mumbled vaguely, “In a bit.”
Fang Yangyang gave him a suspicious look. Seeing him tug at the sheet, she let it go. “Stay in bed then. I’m going over to see Zhizhi.”
Tao Zhi lived in the small room next door.
Dou Qing watched her in silence. He listened as she quietly picked up her toothbrush and cup, tapped on Tao Zhi’s window, and sweetly invited her to head to the communal wash area together.
Tao Zhi answered crisply, “Okay, give me a second, Yangyang. I’ll be right out.”
The rustle of folding blankets mingled with the girls’ chatter. The sheet-metal walls offered little soundproofing, and neighboring cubicles easily picked up every small movement.
Dou Qing pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose, waiting until the sudden restlessness settled before daring to push back the quilt and get out of bed.
***
October 5th, the thirty-second day of the apocalypse. Jia City Temporary Safe Base.
Nine o’clock in the evening.
The rescue team sent to Xichi University finally returned in full after two long days.
Meng Zizhao had learned from Yan Mingkai that the base had originally been an obsolete, decommissioned megascale industrial plant. It covered a vast expanse of flat land. To prevent trade secrets from leaking back then, the perimeter walls had been fitted with ultra-high-voltage electrified fencing.
No wild animals roamed the area, and the soil was inhospitable to vegetation.
Consequently, only a few mutated plants had sprouted nearby after the apocalypse struck. Once those were cleared using technical measures, the site had become the safest zone in Jia City.
The concrete ground had been poured years ago. The moment Meng Zizhao stepped inside, he let out a long sigh and turned to Yan Fengji. “Doesn’t a bleak, gray place like this weigh on people’s moods? Staying here too long can’t be good for anyone.”
In medicine, one’s environment had a significant impact on mental health.
Yan Mingkai, who was leading the team, glanced at Meng Zizhao.
“We don’t have time to paint the walls right now,” he said flatly.
Time was precious, manpower was stretched thin, and countless lives hung in the balance, desperately waiting to be saved.
They could not afford to worry about whether survivors inside the safe base were dissatisfied with their surroundings.
“I didn’t mean it as an accusation,” Meng Zizhao apologized. “I’m just worried about the people who aren’t in a good mental state to begin with. Being in an environment like this might make things worse for them.”
Yan Mingkai pressed his lips into a flat line. He watched the people walking around the temporary safe base, his brow furrowed in concern.
“I know what you mean,” Yan Fengji said. He paused, sharing his brother’s stance. “There’s just no other way right now.”
They completed their basic registration, logging their personal details, including ID numbers, names, and household registration records.
“As for the ability information collection,” Yan Mingkai said, signing his name before turning back to them, “get some rest tonight. Someone should come to draw blood tomorrow morning.”
Yan Fengji froze for a moment as a thought crossed his mind. He pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes briefly, and looked up again. His expression remained aloof and casual, masking any concern as he asked, “Brother, is ability information collection based purely on blood tests right now?”
Walking briskly ahead, Yan Mingkai offered a brief explanation to the group behind him. “Scientists have already developed equipment to test blood and identify abilities. I’m not entirely sure how accurate the results are, though.”
“Still, since higher-ups are having everyone tested, it must serve a purpose.” Yan Mingkai shrugged.
“Even if the initial data isn’t entirely accurate, as we rescue more survivors and gather more samples, it’ll help improve the equipment.”
Curious, Meng Zizhao asked, “Brother Mingkai, what’s your ability?”
“You could call it water-type,” Yan Mingkai said.
Raising his hand, he conjured a handful of clear water that quickly slipped through his fingers. His tone was as calm as the water itself.
“It’s not very strong, but I don’t rely on it anyway. On missions, I mostly depend on weapons and physical combat.”
Evidently proud of his military training, Yan Mingkai added casually, “A few of my comrades have genuinely powerful abilities. They used fire and lightning to take down several male lions that had escaped from the zoo.”
Yan Fengji stayed out of the conversation between his brother and Meng Zizhao. His thoughts drifted to Fang Yangyang. She had no abilities, so what kind of results would come up when the officials drew her blood for the data collection?
“Come on,” Yan Mingkai said, turning back toward them. “Let me buy you two a meal. You’ve had a rough couple of days.”
Yan Mingkai rarely praised his own family. Maintaining his stern expression, he looked at Yan Fengji, who stood with hands in pockets and a cold look on his face.
Yan Mingkai clapped a broad palm onto Yan Fengji’s shoulder, slung an arm around the cheerful Meng Zizhao, and led them toward the communal mess hall.
“It’s been a while since you had a hot meal, hasn’t it?”
The group found some seats and ordered large bowls of noodles with meat from the counter. With real food set before them, hunger took over. Even Meng Zizhao, usually the most talkative, fell silent as everyone dug in greedily.
Once they were full, Yan Mingkai handed the group over to a young team leader. “Yiyang, please find them a place to stay.”
Su Yiyang agreed readily. She glanced at Yan Fengji and Meng Zizhao. “We don’t have many spare rooms left. There happen to be some teachers and students from your Xichi University, and they have two small cubicles open. Will that work?”
Meng Zizhao smiled and said it sounded great, his handsome features drawing more than a few glances from passersby. Yan Fengji gave a slight nod.
Along the path leading to the residential sector, the sheet-metal structures built from steel and alloy were fitted with basic lighting. Faint light shone through small windows, silhouettes flickering inside.
They walked from District A to District B, and then on to District C.
Su Yiyang stopped and pointed to District C, No. 05.
“Our residential areas are divided from A to Z across twenty-six letters, with about two hundred units per district. Space is limited, so the tin cabins are close together and the compartments aren’t very big. Anyone really tall, say around two meters, might find sleeping a bit cramped.”
“The soundproofing isn’t great either, so please be considerate of one another,” she added with a smile.
She gave a light tap on the door of No. 05. A gentle, familiar older man opened it, greeting them with a polite smile. “Good evening, Team Leader Su.”
Yan Fengji and Meng Zizhao both recognized him as Lin Shihe, their criminal law professor from Xichi University Law School.
“Teacher Lin, these two are students from your university,” Su Yiyang said with a smile. “They’ll be staying with you for tonight.”
Lin Shihe recognized the young men as well.
After a brief, warm exchange with Su Yiyang, he saw off the cheerful team leader and led the familiar pair into a vacant compartment. He explained where they could wash up and shower, then offered to take them to the supplies office to pick up sheets and bedcovers.
Meng Zizhao waved his hands repeatedly. “Teacher Lin, go ahead and rest. Yan Fengji and I can pick them up ourselves. It’ll also give us a chance to get familiar with the way.”
Before long, the two of them set off together toward the supply depot.
District C and District B were very close, with No. 05 and No. 189 separated by barely a hundred meters.
As they walked, they saw Fang Yangyang standing by the iron door of No. 189. She held a string of cute little dolls in her hands, moving unhurriedly as if preparing to hang them on the door. Beside her, Tao Zhi stood on tiptoe with a beaming smile, sticking an adhesive hook into place.
Once satisfied, Tao Zhi nodded at the hook’s position and tilted her head toward Fang Yangyang. “Yangyang, come hang up our unique sign for 189.”
Dou Qing stood nearby with his arms crossed, watching their antics with a gentle smile.
It was not yet ten in the evening. Most of the residents in this housing area were young Xichi students, and the lights inside the steel-frame buildings were all brightly lit.
Hearing the commotion, someone poked their head out just in time to see Fang Yangyang raise her arms, hanging the entire armful of colorful little dolls onto the door.
“Wow, that looks so nice,” murmured someone poking their head out.
The simple, unadorned tin shed felt warmer now. The string of charming, colorful dolls brought an urge to smile, precious as the first blossom of spring.
Beaming, Tao Zhi said to the person who had just praised the display, “Fang Yangyang took them off her backpack. Doesn’t it make the place feel just like home? Isn’t it wonderful?”
Yan Fengji and Meng Zizhao stopped in their tracks.
Together, they turned to look at Fang Yangyang, the subject of Tao Zhi’s proud boasting.
She said nothing, quietly adjusting how the dolls hung. Dou Qing soon stepped up beside her to help. He leaned in, murmured a few words to her, and naturally laced his fingers through hers.
Yan Fengji’s expression cooled. Before he could speak, Meng Zizhao called out to her in a clear voice. “Yangyang.”
Startled, she turned and spotted the two young men standing not far away.
One wore his usual bright, handsome smile, speaking in a completely relaxed and easygoing tone. The other looked slightly grim; as she glanced over, his eyes flicked across her clasped hand before he gave her a casual nod, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.
Fang Yangyang was at a loss for words.
Then it hit her: today was the day in the apocalyptic novel when the male lead and the second male lead returned from Xichi University.
A brief wave of guilt washed over her. Life in the temporary safe base over the past two days had been so peaceful that she had almost forgotten they existed.
Her thoughts raced, but she quickly managed a faint smile. “Good evening,” she greeted them.
The moment those two words left her mouth, she felt Dou Qing’s grip on her hand tighten.
Beneath the industrial floodlights suspended high above the safe base, her striking beauty remained dazzling.
She gave Dou Qing’s fingers an unhurried squeeze in return, shooting him a mock-annoyed look.
Covering his reaction, Dou Qing immediately loosened his hold.
Then he waited uneasily for Fang Yangyang’s next words, his heart pounding with tension.
Meng Zizhao did not miss the undercurrents passing between the couple, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Yan Fengji, meanwhile, focused entirely on Fang Yangyang, watching her with utter seriousness.
“Have you guys eaten?”
The question rolled off Fang Yangyang’s tongue smoothly and cheerfully. She looked completely serious, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. “The cafeteria food is really good.”
Tao Zhi tried to hold it in, but failed, turning her head away with a sudden snort of laughter.
“…”
“…”
A heavy silence fell over them.
Meng Zizhao cleared his throat and gave a helpless smile. “We ate.”
Yan Fengji slowly chimed in, managing to follow Meng Zizhao’s lead with surprising synchronization. “…It really is delicious.”
The handsome young man stared intently at Fang Yangyang, his eyes bright. After finishing his sentence, he hesitated before adding tentatively, “Do you live in 189?”
***
Tao Zhi thought to herself, What on earth is Yan Fengji babbling about? It was as if he hadn’t just watched them “renovate” the metal door.
Fang Yangyang seemed just as confused. Being considerate, she kept the question to herself to save him from embarrassment, simply nodding in response. “Yes, Dou Qing and I live here.”
She never failed to mention Dou Qing.
Dou Qing’s expression remained calm and unreadable. He gently enclosed her fingers in his hand, as though secretly hiding away a precious treasure from the rest of the world.
“It’s getting late, and I need to get to sleep,” Fang Yangyang continued.
Dou Qing let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Her fingertips lightly scratched his palm.
“Good night, bye-bye.”
With a cheerful smile, she waved goodbye to the others. Then, under a few wistful, disappointed gazes, she stepped smoothly into District B, Room 189.