Chapter 109 - 103: A Woman Who Acts Cute Has the Best Life

Chapter 109: Chapter 103: A Woman Who Acts Cute Has the Best Life

「Fifteen days later.」

It was noon, and the sun was high in the sky.

It brought a bit of warmth to the frigid weather.

On the rooftop of Building One in the Xiangti Bay Community, everyone was gathered around a stove. A large pot sat on top, its hot pot base bubbling away—GURGLE, GURGLE—and letting out puffs of white steam.

The charcoal in the stove beneath was burning brightly, its heat radiating out to everyone around it.

Yu Dong, Huang Zhiqiang, Zhao Youcai, Zhou Jian Country, Liu Ye’ye, Shen Xinyi, Wang Xiuying, and Sun Shan were all there.

"Let’s start with some luncheon meat. This stuff is great for dipping."

"We’ve gotta have some fresh romaine lettuce and bok choy, too. Besides us... I doubt you can find this anywhere else, right?"

"Toss the wide noodles in!"

"Zhou, hand me a green onion. I love these."

"Holy crap! Dongzi, where’d you get sliced lamb? Now that’s what a true foodie eats!"

"Hahaha! This was the last of my stash in the fridge. I’m in a good mood today, so I brought it all out for us to eat."

"Who made the sesame paste dip? I want an oil-based dip! Oil-based dip!"

"A northerner eating an oil-based dip? Heresy! Drag him out and feed him to the zombies!"

"Hahahaha!"

"I don’t know what’s so great about hot pot... I’d rather just make some flatbread and a couple of stir-fried dishes."

Since the weather was nice today, Yu Dong had suggested everyone gather on the rooftop for hot pot and have a good time together.

Everyone came except for Qiao Ping, who had difficulty going up and down the stairs.

Even the lone wolf, Sun Shan, had immediately changed his clothes and rushed over when he heard the invitation for hot pot.

He didn’t like teaming up with so many people, but he loved to eat!

After they finished eating, Yu Dong sat by the stove, gazing at the freshly melted ice in a basin to the side.

"The weather’s getting colder and colder..."

Huang Zhiqiang sat beside him. "Yeah, it got cold so early this year. It’s mid-December, and at night it’s already around ten degrees below zero... Even at high noon, it’s only a few degrees above zero."

Wrapped in a thick down jacket, Zhou sat nearby, warming himself by the fire.

"Yanhai City isn’t usually this cold, is it?"

"Definitely not. We’ve been students here for three years, and this is the first winter it’s been this cold. Good thing I prepared a few truckloads of coal back then, otherwise we’d all be freezing to death!" Zhao Youcai said, a smug look on his face.

Huang Zhiqiang deeply agreed. "That’s for sure... Youcai, I have to thank you on Sister Qiao’s behalf. We young guys might be able to tough it out, but a pregnant woman definitely couldn’t."

"Ooh, speaking on Sister Qiao’s behalf now, are we? What’s the relationship? Is it official yet?" Shen Xinyi asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

A faint blush crept onto Huang Zhiqiang’s face.

"We haven’t talked much about it, but... but she said she hopes I can always be with her, and that I’m someone she can rely on."

"Ooooh~~~"

The chorus of "ooohs" from the crowd made Huang Zhiqiang’s face turn bright red.

Shen Xinyi spoke again, "Sister Qiao is about to give birth. Her due date is in the next week or two. Since you’ve chosen to take care of her, you need to be dedicated... Our team is about to get a new member. The first child born after the apocalypse—how redemptive is that!"

Shen Xinyi’s face was full of romantic notions, and Liu Ye’ye, her arm linked with hers, nodded in strong agreement.

"If the army could arrive on that day, it would be even more perfect."

Yu Dong nodded. "I don’t think I’ve contacted Qiao Yunliang in the last half-month. I’ll go down and give him a call later to ask how far the army has advanced. That way, we can get a better idea of the timing."

"He’s a busy man, mowing down zombies with his machine gun every day—PEW PEW PEW PEW. He definitely doesn’t have time to call. But speaking of which... about a new member, what do you say, Dongzi? Can we let Xia Yao formally move into the community? The way we are now makes it feel like we’re having a secret affair..."

Zhao Youcai chuckled slyly.

After returning from the bank, their team had not only food but also gold bars and jewelry. They had the foundation to survive, both for now and after order was restored, so they no longer needed to take risks. In that sense, they all started taking a page out of Sun Shan’s book.

They just ate, drank, and had fun.

Well-fed and tipsy...

The 19-year-old cosplayer, Xia Yao, had been making Zhao Youcai’s heart itch with desire.

So, after getting a word in with Yu Dong, he brought her into the community from the outside...

When she arrived, she was so dirty you couldn’t make out her features, but when she left, she was clean, wearing a fresh change of clothes, and positively glowing.

As Zhao Youcai was seeing her off, she took the initiative to hug him. "Daddy, I’ll be a good girl. Will you come see me again tomorrow, please?~"

That almost sent Zhao Youcai over the edge.

’From an observer’s perspective,’ Yu Dong thought, ’Xia Yao isn’t exactly gorgeous. Her skin isn’t fair, she’s a little chubby, and she has a round face. But... she’s young, and her personality is fantastic!’

She was completely obedient to Zhao Youcai, never questioning his word. She was also constantly acting cute and affectionate with him, providing him with maximum emotional validation.

She was also extremely polite to everyone else on the team.

Zhao Youcai not only stuffed her with lots of good food every day but also kept her iPad and tablet fully charged and helped her get clothes. He was nurturing her so well that she was becoming more and more attractive.

She was the living embodiment of the saying, "A coquettish woman is a fortunate woman."

After this period of adjustment, and as the incident with Zhao Wenjie was gradually mentioned less and less, Zhao Youcai planned to absorb Xia Yao into the team.

Of course, this required everyone’s approval.

However, as long as he got Yu Dong on board first, there wouldn’t be any problem.

If Yu Dong disagreed... then it wouldn’t matter if everyone else agreed.

The team had evolved to a point where Yu Dong had become their spiritual leader, thanks to his impeccable character and methods, as well as his repeated strategic victories.

They basically didn’t hold meetings anymore. If Yu Dong said yes, it was a yes. If he said no, it was a no.

With Yu Dong’s current personal authority, holding meetings... had become unnecessary.

So, for Zhao Youcai’s matter, coming to an agreement with Yu Dong was tantamount to getting direct approval, and everyone tacitly accepted this.

Yu Dong felt a bit helpless about this, but ’it’s only for a few more months, so it doesn’t matter.’

Zhao Youcai was clearly taking advantage of everyone being together today to finalize the matter. After all, her running back and forth was actually a bit dangerous... What if a climbing zombie was hiding somewhere and ambushed Xia Yao on the way?

When this topic was brought up, everyone clearly turned to look in their direction.

"Ahem." Sun Shan stood up and said, "I’m full. I’m going back to sleep. You all carry on."

"Okay." Yu Dong paid him no mind.

’Yu Dong was gradually figuring out Sun Shan’s personality.’

’No initiative, no refusal, no responsibility, and no getting his hands dirty.’

’If there was something good happening, like a meal, he’d come. He had no problem with doing work, either. But he wouldn’t participate in combat or decision-making. He was the type who thought... I’ll just focus on my own survival and try to live as comfortably as possible.’

He only cared about his own affairs.

’Which was fine by Yu Dong.’

’As long as he could provide the team with his skills, the team could support him. This kind of relationship was actually simpler.’

Not everyone was willing to speak up; the silent were the majority.

Yu Dong even felt that... having more people like Sun Shan on a team wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Of course, Yu Dong wasn’t really thinking about how to make the team bigger and stronger anymore. He was just waiting for peace to return.

The question Zhao Youcai raised was precisely what Yu Dong had been thinking about recently.

It wasn’t just about Xia Yao, but also about three other survivors...