Chapter 45: This Bed Isn't Very Sturdy

This bed isn't very sturdy.

Xie Li was caught off guard by Jin Zhaoye's sudden bout of clinginess. This soft, adorable Dr. Jin was really... too cute.

She froze for several seconds before reaching up to hug her back, asking with a light laugh, "What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Do you want me to stay here and keep you company while you shower?"

"No." Jin Zhaoye's cheek was pressed against the crook of her neck, her voice muffled.

"So you just want a hug?"

"Mm." Jin Zhaoye responded, pressing herself even more tightly into Xie Li's embrace.

She felt unusually fragile tonight, craving the warmth of Xie Li's arms more than usual. She didn't know why.

"I'm really dirty. Why don't we wait until I've washed up before hugging?" Xie Li whispered near her ear, coaxing. "If we keep hugging, Dr. Jin will start to smell."

"You're so annoying. Get out."

Jin Zhaoye rolled her eyes, released her, and turned away to undress.

Watching her背影, Xie Li uncertainly confirmed, "You really don't need me to stay?"

"No, you can go now. I'm going to shower. Don't stay here and disturb me."

"Alright, I'll be right at the door. Call if you need anything." Xie Li stepped out of the bathroom and gently closed the door behind her.

She didn't go far, just sat down on the stone steps at the entrance, knees pulled up, looking up at the sky.

The moon hung on the branch tips, bright and round, its clear light spilling across the ground, the stars scattered across the sky. It looked like it would be good weather tomorrow.

Xie Li reached into her pocket and fished out the crystals she'd obtained that day to examine them.

They were transparent and pure, unstained by blood, like unpolished diamonds, irregular in shape with sharp edges, refracting a faint cold light under the moonlight.

They had no smell, and felt cold to the touch, like holding a handful of pebbles. Still, Xie Li fetched water and carefully washed these Crystal Cores.

Holding the cleaned crystals, Xie Li was tempted. Following novel tropes, eating Crystal Cores would definitely grant a power-up, maybe even give her an ability.

Unfortunately, she wasn't the protagonist. As cannon fodder, taking risks meant certain death. Better to honestly level up her Space.

Her mind moved, and one transparent crystal disappeared from her palm. The moment the crystal was absorbed into the Space, the experience gain prompt sounded—the gain was considerable.

Delighted, Xie Li put the remaining crystals into the Space, keeping only one in her palm.

The prompts in her mind kept sounding. The Space that hadn't leveled up in a long time finally reached Level Six.

The farming Space and livestock Space expanded tenfold each, becoming 1,000 square meters, and the storage Space became 320 cubic meters. This added a large area to the Space that could be used to store perishable food.

Green light circulated through her body. Xie Li felt a wave of ease, her mind clear, her psychic power seemingly much stronger.

She expanded her Psychic Domain, instantly taking in the entire courtyard scene.

In the kitchen, Lan Ran held Xiaobao, crouching by the stove. The two laughed and joked as they stuffed firewood into the furnace, the red firelight dancing on their faces, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads from the heat.

In the bathroom, Jin Zhaoye's long wet hair hung散 over her shoulders, a few stray strands clinging to her elegant neck, water droplets dripping from the tips of her hair.

She held a water ladle, tilting her head back slightly as water poured down from her chest, transparent water beads rolling along her fair skin, winding over the full curves, past her flat stomach, finally disappearing into shadow...

Her heart skipped a beat, and the Psychic Domain instantly collapsed.

Xie Li closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The scene she'd just witnessed was seared into her mind, impossible to shake.

"So perverted, cannon fodder Li..." She raised her hand and gave herself a slap, a crisp sound, the force not light—just enough to slap that fluttering heart back to some clarity.

She reached into her pocket and fished out a lighter and a sealed box of Black Ice.

She tore off the plastic wrap, pulled one out, put it between her lips, lit it, took a deep drag, then slowly exhaled.

The original owner had smoked too, but Xie Li hadn't touched it since transmigrating.

The previous Xie Li would occasionally smoke when irritated, but she wasn't addicted. Buying cigarettes was a big expense for her.

Today, perhaps having accidentally done something bad, she suddenly wanted one.

She barely took a few puffs before the rest was carried away by the night wind. Xie Li tossed the burnt-out cigarette butt and sat a while longer. Behind her, the water sounds in the bathroom gradually stopped.

The door creaked open. After her shower, Jin Zhaoye had changed into clean clothes, carrying a warm cloud of water vapor as she walked out.

Xie Li turned at the sound.

Under the moonlight, the woman's long hair was still dripping wet, clinging damply to her neck. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the hot water. She walked along, toweling her long hair.

Xie Li forgot to blink. The woman before her seemed to overlap with the scene she'd just witnessed.

Jin Zhaoye walked over and stopped in front of her: "Are you going to shower now?"

"Ah... yeah, okay." Xie Li came back to her senses, standing up as if fleeing and heading into the kitchen. She picked up a bucket of hot water and entered the bathroom.

The bathroom still carried Jin Zhaoye's scent, faint, mixed with the fragrance of body wash.

Xie Li stripped off her clothes in a few moves, adjusted the water temperature, and ladled warm water over her head with the water scoop.

Steam rose, blurring the flashlight's light. Xie Li closed her eyes, seriously washing her long hair.

She'd rolled around in sewage several times; her hair was so dirty that shampoo wouldn't lather. She applied shampoo several more times, her fingertips pressing hard against her scalp, washing herself thoroughly from head to toe, even meticulously cleaning between her fingernails.

She changed into a clean white T-shirt and light shorts, toweled her hair dry, and walked out.

Jin Zhaoye was no longer in the courtyard. Xie Li turned and entered the kitchen, seeing her take over Lan Ran's spot by the stove, sitting by the stove fire.

Xie Li called out to her: "Lan Ran, I'm done. You can go."

"Bring me some hot water." Lan Ran stood up holding Xiaobao and walked toward the bathroom.

Xie Li carried one bucket in each hand, following behind her with two buckets of hot water. After setting them down, she helped fill two buckets of cold water into the bathroom, running back and forth several times, serving the big and small in their baths.

By the time Lan Ran and Xiaobao finished bathing, more than half an hour had passed.

Xie Li and Jin Zhaoye had prepared this late dinner—a pot of steaming noodles with several cans of beef added, the aroma overwhelming.

The four didn't use the dining table in the main hall. They sat directly on the steps by the kitchen entrance, borrowing the firelight from the kitchen and moonlight, each holding a big bowl and slurping noodles.

After dinner, their soaked hair was dried six or seven成 by the night wind. They rinsed their mouths and went upstairs together.

There were several bedrooms on the second floor. Lan Ran held Xiaobao and chose the one nearest the stairs.

"We'll take this room. Good night—keep the noise down at night." She waved at the two, pushed the door open, and went in.

Xie Li took Jin Zhaoye's hand and chose a room far from Lan Ran's.

The room had been unoccupied for a long time, the air carrying a faint dust smell. Moonlight streamed through the curtainless window, barely illuminating the room's surroundings.

As usual, she took out disposable bedding, shook it out and spread it on the bed frame.

"Alright, make do and sleep." Xie Li said, patting the spread sheet.

Jin Zhaoye sat on the edge of the bed on her side. The old wooden bed let out a faint creak.

Xie Li's gaze fell on the wooden bed. The image of Jin Zhaoye riding on top of her that day suddenly surfaced in her mind.

The woman's long hair loose, chin slightly raised, cheeks flushed, eyes dazed. If they recreated that scene on this bed, the noise would definitely be loud.

Jin Zhaoye斜眼看着她: "What are you thinking? Smiling so strangely?"

"Cough..." Xie Li cleared her throat awkwardly, hinting meaningfully, "This bed isn't very sturdy."

"Hmm?"

Jin Zhaoye looked at her with a half-smile, the corners of her eyes slightly raised: "So, after busy all day, you still have the mind to think about other things?"

"Hehe, I was just worrying." Xie Li gave a dry laugh, took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, holding Jin Zhaoye and lying down. "What if the bed collapses in the middle of the night? Lan Ran will definitely laugh at us."

They lay facing each other, holding each other. Moonlight fell on Jin Zhaoye's face, making her features especially clear.

"Jin Zhaoye." Xie Li called softly.

"Hmm."

"Can we kiss before sleeping?"

Jin Zhaoye raised her hand to wrap around Xie Li's neck, pulling them closer.

She turned her head and placed a kiss on her lips.

It was just a simple kiss—lip to lip, a gentle rub, not even tongue involved.

They stayed lip to lip, breath mingling.

After a long while, Jin Zhaoye pulled back a little, her breath brushing Xie Li's lips, warm with a hint of mouthwash's coolness.

Xie Li licked her lips, holding Jin Zhaoye tighter: "Let's sleep. I'm too tired today. Next time we'll fight three hundred rounds and make you beg for mercy."

Jin Zhaoye nestled into her怀抱, softening her voice: "Who'll be begging isn't certain. Xie classmate is a bit too confident."

"Either way, I'm not picky. You can be on top or bottom."

"Oh, I almost forgot to give you this." Xie Li fished out the transparent crystal from her pocket and handed it to Jin Zhaoye. "This is what I dug out of those Mutated Zombie's heads when we were on the boat."

Jin Zhaoye took it and looked: "I saw you digging this out. Is it useful to you?"

"Yes. This one is for you. The rest I put into the Space."

"Thanks, Xie Li classmate." Jin Zhaoye stuffed the transparent crystal into her backpack, turned back and placed another kiss on Xie Li's lips.

Xie Li held her and deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling, breath quickening, pheromones beginning to spread.

"No more kissing. Sleep. If we keep going, I won't be able to hold back." Xie Li proactively ended the kiss.

Jin Zhaoye closed her eyes in Xie Li's arms, leaving a thread of psychic power on guard. Xie Li also closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep.

...

Summer days dawn early.

Xie Li felt like she'd just closed her eyes when glaring light streamed in through the window, shining harshly on her eyelids.

She frowned and turned over, hiding her face in Jin Zhaoye's chest, sleeping again in that softness.

Jin Zhaoye was woken by her movement, lifted her eyelid to glance at her watch, found it was still early, closed her eyes again, and continued sleeping.

This sleep went straight until noon.

The few who slept well woke up one after another, rubbing their drowsy eyes and going downstairs to wash up.

Xie Li finished washing and entered the kitchen to prepare lunch. Jin Zhaoye helped with the fire. Working together, they quickly made lunch.

After lunch, the four found rusted hoes and shovels in the courtyard.

Xie Li took a hoe and chose a spot near the corner of the courtyard. There was a peach tree there, already bearing some green fruit, unfortunately not ripe yet, not edible.

"Here. There's a tree above for shelter from wind and rain, a good spot. When the peaches ripen and fall, they'll be offerings for grandma."

The three took turns digging, digging a deep pit beside the peach tree, burying the elder's body and piling up a small grave mound.

Xie Li went back to the house, took a board from the door, and stuck it in front of the grave. Not knowing the elder's name, she didn't write anything on the board.

The three stepped back and bowed to the earthen grave.

"Thanks for the hospitality." Jin Zhaoye said softly. "May no one disturb you again in this courtyard."

The wind blew, the peach tree's leaves rustling, like a distant response.

Xie Li held Jin Zhaoye's hand and turned to ask: "Want to go for a spin? Maybe we'll get lucky and find a car in the village."

"Let's go." Jin Zhaoye took her knife and backpack.

With their luggage, the four left the small courtyard where they'd stayed just one night, walking along the village road toward the village.

The village was small, scattered with just a few dozen households, built along the rural path. Most doors and windows were tightly closed, with a few houses open but no people inside.

"This village seems to have almost no one." Lan Ran held Xiaobao, looking around.

The wild grass beside the path had grown to waist height. When the wind blew, the grass blades swayed gently, as if something was hiding inside.

Xie Li didn't dare retract her psychic power for a moment. Although it was a big drain, there was no other way. The most likely place to flip the boat was in a gutter. Getting wiped out in a place like this would be unlucky.

"Normal." she responded. "In villages like this, usually only elderly people stay behind. Elderly people aren't in good health. When the flu started, the village elders probably went to the hospital and didn't come back, so naturally no one's here."

After walking a while, Jin Zhaoye found a truck with a cargo bed in one household's courtyard.

"I'll check it out." Xie Li ran a few steps, vaulted over the courtyard wall with a foot against the wall.

After landing, she first opened the iron gate to let the others in. She herself quickly entered the main hall.

The house was dark, a layer of dust on the floor. Xie Li took out her flashlight to see. She found car keys in a cabinet drawer. She took the keys, came out, got in the car and tried it. The car started smoothly.

"It works. Get in." Xie Li poked her head out the window and waved to the others.

"Yay, we have a car. No more walking." Xiaobao clapped happily.

"You ungrateful little thing. When have you ever walked?" Lan Ran smiled and pinched her cheek. "Haven't the sisters been carrying and holding you the whole time?"

"I worry about the sisters being tired." Xiaobao puffed her face, mumbling indistinctly.

Jin Zhaoye opened the car door and got in. The truck had only one passenger seat, but it was wide. Three adults and one child could squeeze in勉强.

Xie Li backed the car out of the courtyard and drove along the path.

All the way摇摇晃晃 to the end of the village.

By the road stood an old tile house, the courtyard gate open, dried chilies and old corn hanging under the eaves, some腊肉, and clothes swaying in the wind after being washed.

Xie Li stepped on the brake and stopped the car in front of this house.

An elderly woman with white hair sat under the eaves, squinting to glance at the truck parked in front of the courtyard.

She quickly收回视线, leaning on the chair back to stand up, slowly walking into the house, as if not caring where they came from or where they were going.

"It's a grandma." Xiaobao muttered quietly.

Xie Li gripped the steering wheel, turned to look at Jin Zhaoye, hesitated: "Should we go check?"

Jin Zhaoye nodded: "Go ask. If she's willing, we'll take her along."

The four got out of the car and walked toward the old woman's courtyard.

The courtyard was very clean, the ground swept without a single leaf. Xie Li didn't go directly into the house, standing at the courtyard gate and calling out: "Grandma, can we come in?"

Waiting at the door for a moment, the old woman poked her head out, her gaze sweeping over them, finally looking at Xiaobao. She raised her hand and waved them over.

Xie Li walked at the front, the first to enter the house, her psychic power fully expanded, instantly observing the entire house.

The house really only had the old woman alone. Although the light inside was dim, it was very tidy. The stove was still emitting steam.

This old woman, alone in this desolate village, was living very seriously.

The old woman walked shakily to the stove, lifted the pot lid, took several plump white steamed buns from the steamer, put them on an enamel plate, and handed them over.

"Hungry?" The old woman's voice was a bit hoarse, like she hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, her voice carrying a hint of carefulness. "Eat something. Steamed this morning."

Xie Li held that enamel plate like it was a hot potato.

She wasn't worried the old woman had any ill intentions. She just felt guilty. A few minutes ago, when she asked whether to get out and check, she had already weighed the pros and cons in her mind.

She subconsciously thought bringing the old woman would be troublesome. Children weren't like adults—a candy could coax them, a backpack could carry them away. But an elderly person couldn't. They needed special care.

But now, this old woman she found troublesome was using the most precious food in the Apocalypse to treat several strangers.

Xie Li lowered her head, looking at the buns in the plate, the steam hitting her face, blurring her vision. Her eyelids suddenly felt a bit hot.

"Gift sister, give Xiaobao one." the little girl called crisply.

Xie Li held the plate toward Xiaobao. Xiaobao extended both small hands, picked up a bun from the plate, howling about how hot it was while stuffing it into her mouth.

The old woman watched Xiaobao, a kind smile appearing on her wrinkled face. She reached out, perhaps wanting to pat Xiaobao's head.

She extended halfway, then retracted, putting that withered hand behind her back.

"This child, really well-grown. So plump and fair." the old woman sighed softly.

Jin Zhaoye bent down and asked: "Grandma, are there any living people left in this village?"

The old woman shook her head: "They're all gone. Everyone's gone."

Jin Zhaoye: "We're going to the Military Base. Grandma, do you want to come with us?"

Xie Li joined in persuading: "Grandma, it's not safe for you to stay in the village alone. Come with us to the Military Base."

The old woman shook her head again: "Old..."

She smiled, supporting herself on the table to sit down: "At my age, I don't want to go anywhere anymore. Dying at home, returning to one's roots."

Xiaobao put down the bun that had gotten a minor scratch, her奶声奶气 calling: "Grandma, come with us."

The old woman turned her gaze, looking at the young people in the house, as if recalling the past. She raised her withered hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

"So nice. Youth is so nice. When this old woman was young, she was also pretty, just as pretty as you all."

"I'm not going. If I go, when my old woman comes back, she won't be able to find me. I'm waiting for her to come take me away."

Xie Li and the others were speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

...

The car set off again. Everyone was a bit quiet. Only the carefree little girl, holding a half-eaten bun, ate without looking up.

Xie Li gripped the steering wheel, her eyes on the road, her heart heavy. It was the first time she truly felt how cruel this Apocalypse world was for the elderly.

They had been abandoned by the times. No physical strength to escape, no ability to protect themselves. They could only stay in place, like old trees with withered roots, waiting for some day when the wind rose and uprooted them.

"Actually, if I were her, I wouldn't go either." Lan Ran suddenly spoke, breaking the stagnant atmosphere in the car.

Xie Li gripped the steering wheel, turned to look at Jin Zhaoye beside her, and agreed: "If, when I'm old and this world is still this bad, I'd probably also choose to find an empty village and slowly wait to die."

"It won't happen." Jin Zhaoye patted Xie Li's leg lightly. "That day won't come."

Xie Li smiled and nodded: "I believe you. Dr. Jin is the best."

"I believe in the goddess too. Goddess, you're number one in the world!" Lan Ran joined in with a laugh.

The atmosphere in the car improved considerably. Everyone shook off the earlier low mood.

The truck drove along the national highway. Wind from outside灌进来, bringing a coolness.

That empty village, that elderly woman waiting alone, were all left behind.

After driving on the road for over an hour, scattered buildings and shops began appearing on both sides of the road. A road sign showed the county town's name. Xie Li didn't recognize it, but Jin Zhaoye said it wasn't far from Dapan City.

Jin Zhaoye turned to ask Xie Li: "Can your phone still turn on?"

"It got soaked in water, won't turn on. I threw it away."

Xie Li did have a phone in her Space, but she hadn't downloaded offline maps, so it wouldn't be useful.

Jin Zhaoye's gaze swept the street: "Let's check the bookstore ahead. Maybe we can find a map."

Xie Li slowed the car and stopped at the bookstore entrance, turned off the engine.

A dozen Zombies wandered outside the bookstore. Hearing the noise, they quickly ran toward the truck.

"Wait in the car." Xie Li got out with her knife. Blade light flashed, and one by one, gray-decayed heads rolled to the ground.

Xie Li poked with the knife tip. These ordinary Zombies' skulls didn't have that transparent crystal. She shook off the black blood from the blade and waved to the people in the car.

Jin Zhaoye and Lan Ran got out holding Xiaobao, slipping into the bookstore on the side of the road.

The bookstore was a mess, shelves fallen this way and that, many books on the floor, damp and moldy, giving off the particular rotten smell of old paper.

Xie Li found a map on the small stand in front of the cash register, various maps and travel guides hanging there. She unfolded it, looked, took a national map and a Jiangnan Province map, folded them and stuffed them into her backpack.

Jin Zhaoye glanced at the messy shelves: "See if there are any books suitable for Xiaobao's early learning. Take a few."

"Okay." Xie Li agreed and spread out with Lan Ran, searching among the rows of shelves, selecting some children's books for the little girl.

Soon, the several people came out of the bookstore with books, got back on the truck.

Xie Li started the car and handed the map to Jin Zhaoye. She herself fiddled with the car radio.

She turned the knob. The speaker emitted a burst of harsh static, crackling, making people's ears uncomfortable.

Xie Li patiently tuned the frequency, turning it notch by notch. Soon, a fragmentary human voice emerged from the static.

"...this...national...emergency broadcast, Dapan Mountain...Base...has established a safe zone...sheltering survivors...coordinates, east longitude...north latitude...survivors please follow the national highway...west...safety markers set along the way..."

The radio voice was断续, most swallowed by static, only a few keywords able to be barely caught.

But this little information was enough for people to guess. Dapan Mountain Army Base had established a safe zone, sheltering survivors. Everyone could go there on their own.

Xie Li held the steering wheel, without turning her head, asked: "We don't know when this broadcast was played. Jin Zhaoye, do you think anyone will go?"

"Any survivors who receive the message should go." Jin Zhaoye looked at the map, her finger moving slowly along the national highway line, comparing back and forth between the winding red lines, planning the route ahead.

"What about the north? Is there a safe base in the north?" Lan Ran asked curiously.

"Of course there's a safe base established by the northern military region." Jin Zhaoye replied softly. "But it's too far from us. Not receiving the message is normal."

Her finger stopped at a certain position on the map: "However, with all communications cut off now, each military region can be said to have become independent. The central government—has probably lost command."

Lan Ran leaned on the seat, suddenly冒出一句: "Tsk, isn't that just like before, returning to the era of warlord rule?"

"Maybe." Jin Zhaoye pointed the route to Xie Li. "Driving along the GXXX national highway, about four or five hundred kilometers. If the road conditions are good, we can reach Dapan Mountain Army Base before dark."

Xie Li glanced at the map, roughly memorized the route, quickly收回视线, focused on driving.

The truck's shock absorption was practically nonexistent. Sitting in the car摇摇晃晃, Lan Ran held Xiaobao. Soon, she was so shaken her eyelids grew heavy, falling asleep against the window.

After leaving the county town, Xie Li stopped the car at a relatively open space by the road, turned off the engine, added some gasoline to the tank, and stretched her stiff muscles to relieve her physiological needs.

After getting back in the car, Jin Zhaoye proactively sat in the driver's seat, taking over the driver's work: "You can rest a bit."

"I'm okay. I slept well yesterday. I'm not that sleepy." Xie Li sat beside her, weighing her words: "Actually, I'm quite nervous."

"Nervous about what?"

"We're about to go to the Military Base." Xie Li's voice dropped a notch. "I wonder if Zhou Yu and the others have gotten back to the base."

"Don't worry. They have many people. With A Yun and Ning Meng, they should be fine." Jin Zhaoye comforted.

"Actually, I'm not worried about their safety. It's just that I don't really want to go to the Military Base. That's Fu Yunsheng's territory."

Jin Zhaoye curved her lips, deliberately teasing her: "When you slept with someone's fiancée, you didn't think to worry. Is it a bit late to start worrying now?"

Xie Li muttered: "When I first met you, I didn't know you were her fiancée."

"And after knowing?"

Xie Li's ears grew hot from her teasing tone. She might as well throw caution to the wind: "After knowing... after knowing, I started planning to seduce you."

Jin Zhaoye turned to look at her, her tone gentle: "So, Xie Li classmate, knowingly committing the offense, the crime is doubled."

"Right, right, I knowingly commit offenses. I'm not a good person. I'm morally corrupt. Dr. Jin, how do you want to punish me?"

"Hmm, I need to think about that." Jin Zhaoye pondered, as if seriously considering: "Selling you to the base to work black labor, giving you only one steamed bun a day. How about that?"

Xie Li looked at her pitifully: "So cruel?"

Jin Zhaoye couldn't help letting out a light laugh: "Silly."