Chapter 464: Eternity 25.

Yan did not want

their relationship to become a contest over who could uncover the

other’s secrets first. She had enough of her own. The memories of nine

lives did not become easier simply because she was close to someone. If

anything, being close made the cost of disclosure more frightening.

For now, she chose to trust Bai’s judgment. She had watched Bai use her

abilities to protect people rather than exploit them. If there was more

to the woman than she understood, Yan wanted to learn it at the right

time, not force an answer because curiosity had become uncomfortable.

They finished the weapon checks by the late afternoon. Bai cleaned and

secured the blades, Yan counted the bolts, and Mother Yan ensured that

the medical bag remained accessible. Lili helped by checking the labels

on her own small bag and making sure her storybook was packed. When

everyone agreed that the essentials were ready, they took a short break

at the table.

Bai sat with a cup of tea and a list of remaining tasks. Yan leaned over

her shoulder to read it.

"You have written ’check every lock’ three times," Yan said.

"Those are different locks."

"You have also written ’check water’ twice."

"One is the caravan tank. The other is the portable container."

Yan pointed to another line. "What is ’make sure Lili has everything’?"

"That means we check her bag."

"And why is it written beside ’inspect the engine’?"

Bai gave her a look. "Because both matter."

Yan’s smile softened. She could see that Bai was trying to make the plan

complete enough that nobody would be forgotten, even in small things.

Bai’s concern for Lili was easy to understand, but the fact that she had

written the child into the same checklist as the engine told Yan

something about the way Bai saw the family. People were not accessories

to the vehicle or problems to be managed. They were the point of the

journey.

"You know," Yan said, "you can trust us to remember things too."

Bai looked down at the list. "I know."

"Do you?"

Bai was quiet for a moment. "I’m learning."

Yan’s expression changed. The answer was so simple that it disarmed her

more than a longer explanation would have. She rested her hand briefly

on Bai’s forearm, a small touch that carried more encouragement than

words. Bai looked at it, then at Yan, and a quiet warmth passed between

them. Neither made a joke this time.

Leaving Instructions for Building 9

Before they could leave, Bai wanted to make sure the building would not

fall into disorder the moment she and Yan were gone. She did not imagine

that the residents would suddenly forget how to look after themselves,

but the work they had done over the previous days had depended heavily

on her ability to fix problems quickly. It would be irresponsible to

leave without explaining which areas needed attention and how the

residents should respond if another breach occurred. Their absence might

last a few days, or it might last much longer. The plan had to work

without assuming that Bai would return the next morning to deal with

anything that went wrong.

Mother Yan organized a short meeting in the common area on the

nineteenth floor. She chose that location because it was close enough to

the stairwell to be reached quickly, but far enough from the entrance

that anyone passing through the lower floors would not hear every word.

The residents arrived in small groups, some carrying notebooks, others

with tools or weapons kept within reach. The mood was cautious, but

people had become more willing to discuss practical matters since Bai

cleared the building and reinforced the doors.

Bai stood beside a paper map of the building. She had marked the

repaired access points, the service passage where the three zombies had

been found, the door frames that needed periodic checking, and the

emergency exits that had to remain clear. Yan stood beside her with the

maintenance notes, ready to answer questions. Mother Yan explained that

the group would be leaving the complex for a journey and that the

residents needed to keep the common areas secure while they were gone.

A man near the back looked uneasy. "How long will you be away?"

"We don’t know exactly," Yan said. "We’re going to Shanghai to help

someone. We will return if the route and circumstances allow it, but we

don’t want to promise a date we cannot guarantee."

The man frowned. "What if the zombies get back in?"

Bai answered plainly. "Then you follow the plan. You close the doors,

keep the corridors clear, and use the warning signal. You don’t go

looking for a zombie alone. If someone has a clear shot and a safe

position, they can defend themselves, but no one needs to be a hero. If

an entrance is breached, get behind a secure door, warn the other

residents, and avoid using the stairwell until you know where the threat

is."

Another resident asked how they would handle the service corridor. Bai

explained the reinforced panel and the door that had been repaired. She

showed them which fasteners should be checked and where the spare metal

plates were stored. She also explained the difference between a problem

they could fix themselves and one that required everyone to stay clear

until it was assessed. She did not expect the residents to become

engineers. She expected them to recognize when a small problem was

turning into a dangerous one.

Yan distributed the maintenance notes and went over the inspection

schedule. She made sure the tasks were realistic. Nobody was assigned an

entire floor alone, and no one was expected to patrol at night without

another person nearby. Residents who were injured or responsible for

small children were given duties they could perform from their own

apartments, such as keeping track of supplies or listening for warnings.

Those who had repair skills took responsibility for checking certain

doors and equipment. Everyone was asked to report unusual activity

instead of keeping it to themselves out of embarrassment or fear.

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TO BE CONTINUED.