Chapter 138 - 135: Arrival of the Apocalyptic Big Boss 12

Chapter 138: Chapter 135: Arrival of the Apocalyptic Big Boss 12

After Chenming City was rebuilt, its overall layout had improved drastically, becoming far more logical and well-planned than before.

Strolling through the streets today, the clean, orderly environment and bustling crowds often created the illusion that the apocalypse had never happened.

As news of Chenming City’s successful reconstruction spread, other bases across the country learned of the situation and sent out sincere invitations, hoping Ji Xiaosong and Gu Lin would come and help clear out their zombies.

Ji Xiaosong conducted a detailed assessment of the other cities’ supply stockpiles and found that they were indeed in urgent need of provisions.

After all, she now controlled the nation’s largest mobile granary and bore the heavy responsibility of supporting other regions, so she decided to go and provide aid.

Before she left, Song Ya pulled Ji Xiaosong aside.

"Song, you and Gu Lin are heading out, and there’s no telling when you’ll be back. I know you’re both adults, so if you have feelings for each other, you should tell us soon. That way, we can start preparing for your wedding."

The various government departments in Chenming City were functional again, so if people wanted to get married, they could register, just like before.

"Don’t worry, Mom. When I get back, I’ll definitely have a surprise for you."

The moment Ji Xiaosong finished speaking, she was pulled aside by Ji Youshu.

"Sister, will you be passing through South City on your mission?"

"I think so. It’s our first stop."

"When you’re there, could you go to the Ninth People’s Hospital and look for a woman named Lin Xiaoxiao in the obstetrics department?"

"Do you have a picture?"

Ji Youshu hesitated shyly before taking out his phone.

His lock screen showed a woman with a gentle smile, snuggled up against his shoulder.

"Brother, when did you start dating someone?"

"It... It was about six months ago. We happened to break up a month before the apocalypse, so I never told you."

"Alright, I’ll keep an eye out. After all, she’s my future sister-in-law. I have to protect her."

Ji Xiaosong waved to Song Ya, then ran over to Gu Lin and they departed.

This time, Ji Xiaosong and Gu Lin set out with a team of just twenty people.

Thanks to their abundant stores of supplies, people had more resources to devote to technological upgrades.

Their vehicles had been meticulously modified with unique energy-drive systems. They could run directly on the energy of Superpower Users, completely eliminating any reliance on traditional fuel.

This innovation not only solved the problem of energy scarcity in the post-apocalyptic world but also greatly enhanced their travel efficiency and safety.

The twenty of them took ten RVs.

Ji Xiaosong had originally planned to ride with another female team member, thinking she would have a companion to talk to along the way.

But when she got to her vehicle, she saw Gu Lin firmly seated in what was supposed to be her driver’s seat.

Ji Xiaosong froze for a second, then raised an eyebrow and played dumb. "What are you doing in this vehicle?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she inwardly chuckled. ’I’m totally asking the obvious.’ Still, she put on a bewildered expression, wanting to see how Gu Lin would respond.

Gu Lin turned his head, his gaze landing on Ji Xiaosong’s face. The corner of his mouth lifted into the faintest hint of a smile.

He didn’t answer her question right away. Instead, he unhurriedly adjusted the rearview mirror as if lost in thought.

"The view is better from this vehicle."

He finally spoke, his voice low and tinged with a languid air.

Ji Xiaosong arched an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with his answer.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and deliberately drew out her words. "Oh? The view is better? Then why not sit in the passenger seat? Why insist on taking mine?"

Gu Lin chuckled softly. He turned to look her straight in the eye, his expression a mix of playful and serious. "What view from the passenger seat could possibly be as beautiful as you?"

Ji Xiaosong froze, the tips of her ears growing warm. ’How can I get so flustered by a single line from him?’ she cursed inwardly.

She feigned composure, pursing her lips as she opened the passenger door and slid in. "Smooth talker," she muttered while buckling her seatbelt.

The vehicle started up slowly and pulled out of the base.

Gu Lin didn’t say anything else for a while, only occasionally glancing over at her with a hint of tenderness in his eyes.

Ji Xiaosong’s mind was in a jumble. ’He’s usually such a serious person,’ she thought. ’Why is he being so forward today?’

After a long silence, Gu Lin suddenly spoke. His voice was softer than before but carried an undeniable seriousness. "Xiaosong, I didn’t actually choose this vehicle for the view."

Ji Xiaosong’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively turned to look at him. "Then why did you?"

Gu Lin’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. He stared straight ahead, his tone calm yet firm. "Because I want to be with you. On this trip, I don’t want to miss any more opportunities to be by your side."

Ji Xiaosong froze, her heart suddenly pounding.

She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say, feeling only a flush of heat rise in her cheeks.

Gu Lin paused before continuing, "I know this might seem sudden, but I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Xiaosong, I like you. It’s not a sudden whim, and it’s not about the scenery on this trip. It’s just because you’re you."

The vehicle fell silent, leaving only the hum of the engine.

Ji Xiaosong lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt. Her mind was a complete mess.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t noticed Gu Lin treated her differently, but she never expected him to be so direct about it.

After a long moment, she finally spoke in a low voice. "Are you... serious?"

Gu Lin smiled, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Ji Xiaosong looked up, her eyes meeting his.

His eyes were full of sincerity and expectation, leaving her momentarily dazed.

She bit her lip and finally summoned her courage. "Actually... I have feelings for you, too."

Gu Lin’s eyes lit up instantly, the smile on his lips deepening. "So... should we give this a try?"

Ji Xiaosong looked at him, and suddenly felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

She nodded, the corners of her lips turning up into an irrepressible smile. "Okay. Let’s give it a try."

Gu Lin chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Then it’s settled. No backing out on this trip."

Ji Xiaosong swatted his hand away, feigning annoyance. "Don’t get handsy! Just drive!"

Gu Lin pulled his hand back, his smile only deepening. "As you command, my dear co-pilot."

The RV continued on its way, sunlight spilling through the window and warming them both.

As Ji Xiaosong watched the scenery fly by, she suddenly thought, ’Maybe this trip will be even more interesting than I imagined.’

*

The moment they left Chenming City, the suffocating atmosphere of the apocalypse washed over them like a tidal wave.

The once smooth, clean highways were now unrecognizable, their surfaces covered in filth and mud. Dried bloodstains marred the pavement like ghastly, sprawling scars.

On either side of the road, wrecked cars were strewn about haphazardly. Some had their front ends completely mangled, while others had shattered windows, with glass littering the ground.

Though derelict, these abandoned vehicles were all precious, salvageable resources in the post-apocalyptic world.

Ji Xiaosong was well aware of the importance of resources. To prevent future blockages on the highway and to collect any potentially useful materials, she methodically gathered the vehicles into her storage space as they went.

The team of twenty traveled along the desolate road for an entire day. As the sun began to set, dyeing the horizon a strange, orange-red, they were still a long way from the next base.

Ji Xiaosong’s brow was furrowed in concentration. She closed her eyes and focused all her effort on her Divine Sense, carefully probing their surroundings.

Her senses picked up nothing but a few dilapidated villages. There was nowhere else to take shelter.

The villages looked especially sinister shrouded in the twilight, deathly still.

Hoping against hope, Ji Xiaosong extended her Divine Sense into the villages, but the cruel reality made her heart sink.

There were no survivors left in the villages. Instead, they were teeming with zombies—several hundred, by a rough estimate.

They wandered about aimlessly, letting out bloodcurdling screeches from time to time.

Gu Lin stood at the head of the group, his brow slightly furrowed with weariness and solemnity. He scanned the team members, then raised his voice and said in a steady, firm tone, "Everyone, we’ll park here on the roadside and rest for the night. We’ll get our strength back and set out again tomorrow."

He then paused and glanced up at the darkening sky. A note of undeniable concern entered his voice. "You all know how it is. Traveling at night in this world is too dangerous. There are unknown threats everywhere, and zombies are more active after dark. We can’t afford to be reckless."

The team members nodded in agreement, and their taut nerves relaxed slightly at Gu Lin’s words.