By the time Lin Mao led the group back to the shelter, the evening sunset had already faded into a dim golden glow. Twilight draped over the mountainside like a thin veil, quietly covering the area in silence.
Inside the shelter, Wen Rou and Li Ruyue sat beside the campfire.
Although they appeared calm on the surface, their eyes repeatedly drifted toward the cave entrance.
Ever since Lin Mao left with Wan Yuyan, the two of them had worked together to clear out all the zombies surrounding the shelter, eliminating every potential threat while waiting for his return.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside the cave.
Both women stood up almost at the same time.
Their eyes briefly met before they quickly looked away and headed toward the entrance one after another.
The moment Wen Rou saw Lin Mao walking safely at the front of the group, the tension in her heart finally eased.
Soon afterward, her gaze shifted toward the dozen or so figures following behind him.
A look of understanding flashed through her eyes.
She quickly stepped forward and softly reported:
“Ruyue and I cleared out all the zombies near the shelter today. Every ordinary zombie within a ten-mile radius has been dealt with. The shelter’s safety is basically secured for now.”
Lin Mao raised an eyebrow slightly, a trace of approval appearing in his eyes.
“Good.”
Wen Rou then turned toward Wan Yuyan and the other girls behind her.
“So you all came as well. From now on, we’re all part of the same shelter… one family.”
“I hope everyone can get along peacefully from now on. Let’s not repeat the same mistakes as before.”
Wan Yuyan pressed her lips together lightly.
Thinking about everything that had happened, guilt filled her heart.
She nodded quietly in response.
Then she turned toward Li Ruyue, who stood nearby, and greeted her first.
“Ruyue.”
Li Ruyue merely gave a cold nod in return.
Her indifferent gaze swept briefly over Lin Mao, confirming he was unharmed before she turned around and walked straight back into the shelter without another word.
Even after receiving such a cold response, Wan Yuyan showed no embarrassment.
She understood Li Ruyue’s personality well enough.
Li Ruyue had always been naturally aloof and distant toward unfamiliar people.
Lin Mao stepped into the shelter first.
The moment he crossed the entrance, the system’s cold mechanical voice sounded inside his mind.
【Detected significant increase in shelter population.】
【The outer residential cabins of the shelter can now be upgraded.】
【Required Survival Points: 500】
【Proceed with upgrade?】
Hearing the notification, Lin Mao did not hesitate.
“Upgrade.”
The moment he spoke, a soft white glow spread across the empty land outside the shelter.
When the light faded, fifteen simple yet neatly arranged wooden cabins had appeared out of thin air.
Built from raw timber and reinforced with thick wooden planks, the cabins looked crude but sturdy enough to block wind and rain.
They stood in orderly rows across the open ground.
Wen Rou and Li Ruyue had already witnessed Lin Mao’s miraculous abilities before, so neither of them reacted much.
But Wan Yuyan and the other girls were completely stunned.
Their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at the newly appeared cabins.
Some even reached out to touch the wooden walls, feeling the solid texture beneath their fingers.
Shock surged through their hearts like crashing waves.
Seeing everyone frozen in place, Lin Mao lightly clapped his hands.
The crisp sound instantly pulled everyone back to reality.
Wan Yuyan and the others hurriedly withdrew their gazes and looked toward him.
Lin Mao slowly swept his eyes across the crowd before stopping on Wen Rou, Li Ruyue, and Wan Yuyan.
“Now that the shelter has more people, it’s time to establish rules.”
“Without rules, there can be no order.”
“If we want to survive properly, everyone must follow them.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Starting today, everyone will be divided into three teams.”
“The first team will handle patrols and defense around the shelter.”
“The second team will be responsible for daily living tasks and maintaining everyone’s basic needs.”
“The third team will go outside to search for supplies. Anything useful must be collected.”
“Each team’s duties will rotate once every week to avoid exhaustion from doing the same work for too long.”
“Understood?”
The girls immediately nodded in unison.
“Understood!”
“As for the team leaders…”
Lin Mao’s gaze settled on the three women again.
“Wen Rou will lead the Living Team.”
“Li Ruyue will lead the Security Team.”
“Wan Yuyan will lead the Supply Team.”
“Manage your own members well and handle your responsibilities properly.”
Hearing herself appointed as the leader of the Supply Team, Wan Yuyan trembled slightly in shock.
She had only joined Lin Mao’s shelter today.
In the past, she had silently allowed Song Leyi’s actions to continue, and she still carried guilt over it.
Yet Lin Mao still trusted her enough to hand over such an important responsibility.
That trust felt like a warm current flowing through her heart, leaving her emotions in turmoil.
Lin Mao noticed the subtle change in her expression but said nothing further.
The arrangements had already been decided.
Once everything was settled, Wen Rou immediately led her Living Team into action.
The once-quiet shelter quickly became lively and bustling.
Although everyone had experienced life-and-death situations that very day, they were still classmates at the end of the day.
After putting aside past grudges, they now worked together toward the same goal.
Unexpectedly, the atmosphere became rather harmonious.
Warmth and life slowly returned to this tiny corner of the apocalypse.
Lin Mao watched the busy girls for a moment, a faint softness appearing in his eyes.
Then he walked toward an empty patch of ground nearby, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest.
Not long afterward, however, soft footsteps approached him.
Lin Mao opened his eyes and saw Li Ruyue standing beside him with a bottle of mineral water in her hand.
The moment he looked up, she silently handed it to him before calmly sitting down beside him on the grass.
Her movements were natural and relaxed, without the slightest awkwardness.
Lin Mao accepted the bottle, twisted open the cap, and took a drink.
The cool water flowed down his throat, washing away some of his exhaustion.
He turned to look at Li Ruyue beside him.
Her eyes were slightly lowered, long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them.
Her profile looked cold yet delicate.
Ever since sitting down, she had remained completely silent, simply accompanying him quietly.
Feeling puzzled, Lin Mao finally asked:
“Did you need something from me?”
Li Ruyue glanced at him calmly.
Her tone remained indifferent.
“Do I need a reason just to sit here?”
Lin Mao froze for a moment before laughing softly.
Shrugging his shoulders, he chose not to ask any further.
The two simply sat there in silence.
The mountain breeze gently swept past them, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.
The crackling of the campfire mixed together with the girls’ quiet conversations, creating a rare sense of peace.
Only after dinner was ready and Wen Rou called everyone over to eat did the two finally stand up and walk back toward the fire together.
The next morning, before sunrise had fully broken through the mountain mist, the shelter was already awake.
Wen Rou’s Living Team had prepared breakfast early.
Simple white porridge, pickled vegetables, and slices of fried military canned meat.
It was not luxurious, but it was enough to fill their stomachs.
After breakfast, Lin Mao walked directly toward Wan Yuyan and Li Ruyue.
“I’m going out later to scout the surrounding area and learn the nearby terrain.”
“You two are coming with me.”
Neither of them hesitated in the slightest.
They immediately straightened their backs and answered in unison:
“Yes!”
Soon afterward, the two quickly prepared themselves before leaving the shelter together with Lin Mao.