Chapter Eleven: A Reunion with an Old Friend

Chapter Eleven

In the afternoon, Mo Chen went out alone to investigate the situation within the base. He didn’t return until dinnertime.

“Is this dinner provided by the base?” The first thing Mei noticed was the two lunchboxes in Mo Chen’s hands.

Opening them, she found two gray steamed buns and a serving of boiled greens. Besides salt, nothing else seemed to be added; not even a hint of oil was visible. She opened the other lunchbox—its contents were identical.

“Don’t tell me this is the standard treatment I’ll have to endure from now on!”

Seeing her expression as though the sky were about to collapse, Mo Chen suppressed his laughter and patted her head. “Don’t worry! Once we join the base, the meals will be better than this.”

“How much better?” A faint hope flickered in Mei’s eyes.

“Well… instead of one serving of boiled greens, you get two. The steamed buns increase by one, and twice a week you’ll see meat! If you’re assigned to missions, there’s even extra food.”

Knowing how obsessed she was with food, Mo Chen had investigated thoroughly. He spoke deliberately slowly, watching her hope crumble and tears well up in her eyes, laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.

Mei glared at Mo Chen, who was laughing until tears came, and after a while finally took her share and began to eat.

“If you don’t like it, don’t eat it!” Watching her expressionless face as she mechanically swallowed the salty and bitter food, Mo Chen couldn’t help but comment.

“I have to know what it tastes like.” She glanced at him, speaking calmly. “Before we can safely reveal the existence of the space, we can’t always hide away eating alone. Though this food isn’t great, it’s still better than what ordinary people get. If I appear unable to eat in front of others, it’ll only arouse suspicion or resentment. Besides—”

Mei suddenly wore a look of distaste. “The semi-finished products in my space are almost gone. When they run out, I’ll have to rely on your cooking. Who knows, maybe even this will be preferable!”

Mo Chen was thoughtful at first, but when he heard her last remark, his face darkened.

“If you’re so capable, don’t ask me to cook for you next time!” Mo Chen said, biting into a steamed bun as if it were her.

“If you can keep eating this kind of food, I won’t object. Anyway, I still have plenty of instant food in my space,” Mei replied coolly, casting him a glance.

When it came to space resources, she had nothing to fear!

No matter what, she would never go hungry. He, on the other hand, couldn’t be so sure—unless his space was as remarkable as hers.

Mo Chen’s expression collapsed at her words. He did have food, but decent meals were always preferable to gnawing on biscuits and instant noodles.

“Don’t! Mei, please, I was wrong. From now on, whatever you say goes, okay?” Mo Chen pleaded, utterly spineless.

The two of them joked and teased as they finished dinner, then turned to more serious matters.

“This base is far too strict about controlling resources! Trading supplies from the base is riskier than venturing out to collect things. A pound of rice can only be exchanged for five contribution points, but if you want to trade rice out, it costs at least twenty points per pound. If you don’t join a base team, it’s nearly impossible to survive well here!”

“Plus, you can’t exchange for any resource you want. Important supplies like gasoline are out of the question. Even those who go out to collect have specialized staff handling such things—ordinary people can’t even touch them!”

“So, do we stay or leave?” Mei asked, frowning.

“This afternoon I heard some news. Apparently, besides zombies, many animals have mutated. Some people in the base have been attacked by mutated creatures—it’s said they’re much fiercer than zombies. We should assess the situation before making a decision. If, as you said before, plants might mutate too, we’d better bring a few capable people along if we decide to travel. With just the two of us, it’s not safe!”

“Let’s do as you say,” Mei agreed, seeing he had thought it through thoroughly.

The next day, the two of them applied to join teams within the base. After the process was complete, they were quickly assigned to two different squads.

“Mei, over here!”

She was greeted as soon as she arrived.

“Big brother, you’re here too!” Mei hadn’t expected to meet an acquaintance here and was delighted.

“Where are the others?” Seeing only Lin Shaojie, she asked casually.

Lin Shaojie’s expression instantly dimmed at her question.

“What happened?” Mei asked, puzzled. “Did something go wrong?”

“Except for me, Brother Ye, and Yuan Yuan, everyone else died.”

“How could that be?” Mei’s eyes widened in disbelief, although her heart remained calm.

So they died after all.

She’d sensed before that those people wouldn’t last long. If Qu Wen Yuan truly had prophetic abilities, the government would surely keep her under tight control, never allowing her to roam freely. For her to retain freedom, no one in the team could betray her.

But human nature is unpredictable, especially in the apocalypse. Someone kind to you one moment might sell you out the next for a piece of bread. If you can’t guarantee they won’t betray you, the safest way is to ensure they never speak again.

Whether this was premeditated or mere coincidence, she couldn’t say.

“On the way here, we encountered a mutated giant python. The guy with glasses and Wen—the team leader—were eaten right away. Sister Qing died too, and Brother Ye was badly injured protecting us. We ran for our lives, and somehow the snake didn’t chase us, so we managed to escape to the base,” Lin Shaojie recounted quietly.

“I joined a base team. Brother Ye is also an ability user, but he’s seriously injured and recuperating at home. Yuan Yuan is taking care of him.”

“I didn’t expect such things to happen! Mo Chen and I collected some medicines before. Once training is over, I’ll go with you to see Brother Ye. Maybe we can help,” Mei offered after some thought.

“Thank you so much!” Lin Shaojie said gratefully. “By the way, where’s your friend? Isn’t he an ability user too?”

“Mo Chen is an ability user, but he was assigned to a different squad. Annoying!” Mei pouted in displeasure.

“Don’t be upset. You’ll be together on missions, and there’s no real danger in the base anyway,” Lin Shaojie consoled her.

Just as he finished, the instructor in charge of training ability users arrived.

Leading them was a lieutenant, just over thirty, with short hair, dark skin, and ordinary features—but his gaze was piercing. He wore combat camouflage and strode toward them, followed by two similarly dressed adjutants.

As he approached, the ten ability users quickly formed a line. Mei joined, taking her place at the end.

The officer scanned the group, finally fixing his gaze on Mei for two seconds, then spoke in a deep voice: “Attention, right turn. You, step out. The rest, run ten laps around the track!”

Mei, singled out, stepped forward. Watching the others obediently start running, she couldn’t help but study the officer again.

He must be very formidable!

After awakening their abilities, ability users naturally had advantages over ordinary people, often developing arrogance and rebelliousness. For this man to command their obedience, he clearly had his ways.

She stared at him in curiosity, and he studied her in return.

Yang Hao looked at the petite girl before him—barely reaching his chest, hardly grown—and frowned inwardly. Could such a delicate child really fight zombies? No matter how special her abilities, if she couldn’t kill zombies, what use was she?

With these thoughts, his expression darkened further, his voice growing cold.

“Name.”

“Big brother, I’m Mei—like ‘phantom’ Mei!” Mei blinked, introducing herself.

“Address me as ‘Instructor.’ And unless asked, don’t chatter!” Yang Hao sternly rebuked her.

“Big brother, you’re so fierce! Mei is scared!” Mei pouted, her eyes reddening as tears gathered, threatening to fall.

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Yang Hao felt deeply irritated. Unfortunately, he had orders from above to pay special attention to her, so he forced himself to soften his expression. His two adjutants struggled to suppress their laughter—never had they seen their tough leader so awkward. His stubbornness was legendary, never bowing even to generals.

Today, he’d finally met his match!

They’d be sure to tell the others!

“I won’t be fierce, don’t cry!” Yang Hao managed to squeeze out a consoling phrase.

“But I introduced myself, and big brother didn’t introduce himself.” Mei remained aggrieved.

Yang Hao endured and finally gave up correcting her address, conceding, “I’m Yang Hao.”

“I’ll remember, big brother!” Mei brightened instantly, her inner self celebrating victory.

Watching her switch from tears to a radiant smile, Yang Hao’s hardened heart softened.

“You’re a light ability user?” Yang Hao asked, his tone gentler.

“Yes, big brother!”

“Have you killed zombies?”

“Of course! I’m very capable!” Mei straightened her small chest, eager to prove herself.

“Oh? How so?” Yang Hao found her amusing and softened further.

“I’m very good at archery! I can hit targets from way over there!” Mei gestured toward a tree roughly three hundred meters away.

“Really? Let me see you shoot!” Noticing she had no weapon, Yang Hao signaled, and one adjutant quickly fetched a bow and arrows, while the other set up a target before the tree.

Clearly, they were prepared!

Mei tested the bowstring, found it satisfactory, and shot an arrow.

Bullseye.