116 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Qin Ke sluggishly went to take a shower before heading out for breakfast. By then, Chen Wan had already prepared the meal—steamed dumplings filled with beef. The little one had a bowl in front of him and was eagerly devouring them. Seeing Qin Ke emerge, Chen Wan called her over and got up to grab the dumplings she had saved for Qin Ke from the pot. "I thought I'd save some for you. Come eat while they're still warm." "Okay." Qin Ke sat down, looking a bit listless. Noticing the faint dark circles under Qin Ke's eyes, Chen Wan winked at her, assuming they had a wild night. Qin Ke pouted, quickly lowering her head to eat. No way she could let Chen Wan know she fell asleep exhausted last night. She had a reputation to maintain! Since Qin Ke didn't react, Chen Wan figured she was just too shy to talk about it and let it go with a chuckle. Shen Ming Yan, who didn't need breakfast, decided to find Yi Yi. After their chat yesterday, Shen Ming Yan knew Yi Yi was quite talkative, and sure enough, Yi Yi started chatting with her as soon as she approached. Qin Ke glanced over at Shen Ming Yan with a hint of envy. Oh well, friends talking wasn't something to be jealous of. Jiang Wan Ning, noticing the little guy was full, picked Zai Zai off the couch. "Yang Yang, your tummy’s big again. How about we walk a bit, and then I’ll take you to the sunroom to play with dirt, alright?" At the mention of playing with dirt, Zai Zai's eyes lit up, and he eagerly agreed, "Okay!" Zai Zai wandered around, his little legs carrying him in a playful circle. Noticing Yi Yi talking to a pretty lady, he toddled over to join in. Reaching out, Zai Zai grabbed Yi Yi’s leg. "Auntie, hug hug~" “Aren’t you supposed to be digesting after your meal?” Yi Yi asked with amusement, looking down at him. Zai Zai nodded with an air of rightful certainty. Picking him up was easy for Yi Yi, who had the strength to do so effortlessly. Holding Zai Zai felt no different from carrying a small egg in her hand. As Zai Zai clung to Yi Yi, his large eyes focused on Shen Ming Yan. In a soft voice, he introduced himself, “Hello, Auntie. I’m Yang Yang.” Shen Ming Yan had noticed the adorable bundle yesterday but hadn’t spoken to him due to the rush of the day. This seemed the perfect opportunity. “So you’re Yang Yang? Such a good boy. Want to come for a hug?” Shen Ming Yan smiled warmly and extended her arms toward him. Zai Zai hesitated for a moment, rubbing shyly against Yi Yi, but he quickly couldn’t resist Shen Ming Yan’s gentle smile and reached his little hands out to her. Yi Yi laughed, patting Zai Zai’s little bottom. "Are you happy? You’ve all these aunties spoiling you." Cuddled in Shen Ming Yan’s arms, Zai Zai giggled, “Happy, I can play with Aunties~” “Oh, you’re so cute. Is it okay if I play with your little hands?” Shen Ming Yan teased, gently bouncing Zai Zai in her arms. “Okay~” Zai Zai responded in a sweet, small voice. He always had a soft spot for pretty and kind aunties, readily extending his little hand for her to play with. As Shen Ming Yan squeezed Zai Zai’s tiny hand, she noted its soft, cushion-like feel, akin to a kitten’s paw, bouncing softly. “Your little hands are so cute!” Hearing the compliment, Zai Zai shyly buried his face in Shen Ming Yan’s shoulder. Having finished breakfast, Chen Wan noticed Zai Zai being doted over and teased, “You never miss reaching out to any auntie to play, do you?” “Yep! Play with me!” Zai Zai's voice was innocent yet firm. Shen Ming Yan, charmed by the adorable sight, smiled and patted Zai Zai’s small head. “Alright, we’ll play with you.” After breakfast, Ye Lan and Jiang Wan Ning tidied up the small dining area and kitchen. Chen Wan proposed that they all discuss their next destination. In this post-apocalyptic world, constantly moving was not sustainable. Now that they had gathered everyone and had a simulated sunroom, it amounted to a small, self-sustained ecosystem. Finding a safe place to live for a while seemed like a good idea. “Places like bases are off-limits for us," Chen Wan remarked. "Does anyone have suggestions for a suitable place to settle for a bit?” She looked around, seeking opinions. “How about my old hometown village? It’s not densely populated, so I doubt there are many zombies. It’s quite a distance from Fonan City, so it should be relatively safe, and there’s a river at the village entrance offering a decent water supply.” Shen Ming Yan suggested after some thought. The house there had been left by her grandparents and had stood vacant since their passing. Shen Ming Yan’s family only stayed for short visits in the summer for relaxation. Chen Wan nodded, as they didn’t have a concrete destination in mind. “Sounds good. Let’s head to that village. But before we go, we need to stock up. The RV is low on fuel, and while we can rely on electricity, it’s better to fill up the tank. Plus, we’ll need food and supplies. Finding a place to restock would make things easier.” “The village is called He Shang Village," Shen Ming Yan explained. "About 40 minutes by car from there is a county town where we can stock up; there’s a gas station there too.” “Great, Shen Ming Yan,” Chen Wan replied. “Give Yi Yi directions, and we’ll head to that county to resupply first.” “Alright,” Shen Ming Yan agreed. No one else had objections. In the apocalypse, everywhere was essentially the same, given the lack of truly safe havens. Yi Yi promptly took the driver’s seat, while Shen Ming Yan sat up front to navigate. Chen Wan cradled the now well-fed, sleeping Zai Zai, thinking about their future. She glanced down at his round little belly and shook her head with a smile. Being Zai Zai was indeed easier—eating, sleeping, playing—unlike the adults having to worry about so many things. After three hours of driving, Yi Yi finally reached the small county town Shen Ming Yan had mentioned. The town wasn’t very big, with only two main streets, and its commercial facilities were a far cry from those in Fonan City. Supplies in the city center had long been scavenged by the military, leaving them hoping for better luck in the county town. “Turn left on this road to reach the main part of the town; there are two large shopping malls there. We can check them out,” Shen Ming Yan instructed from the passenger seat. Yi Yi steered the RV onto the main road, heading toward the main part of the town. There weren't many zombies in this small town; those that were there were easily flung away by the mechanical arms attached to the RV's front. Chen Wan controlled the arms to pick up and absorb nearby cars, useful for future RV upgrades. She wasn’t naive enough to believe they’d find a place to stay peacefully indefinitely—they’d need the RV to keep advancing. Yi Yi parked the RV on the street in front of one of the larger shopping malls, though it was only five floors tall and incomparable to Fonan City's malls. Yet, it was the town’s largest. Yi Yi honked the horn, following their usual routine to lure out the zombies inside. After all, when Yi Yi revived Shen Ming Yan, most of Chen Wan’s crystals were used up. By eliminating nearby threats, they could replenish their supply of crystals. The sharp blast from the horn shattered the quiet, and soon, zombies emerged from unknown entrances by the dozens, crowding toward the RV from every direction. For reasons unknown, these zombies stopped about ten meters from the RV, instead retreating in apparent panic. Chen Wan was puzzled by this. None of them had directly used their abilities. “What’s happening?” Yi Yi glanced at Shen Ming Yan and explained, “It’s because Shen Ming Yan exerts a suppression effect on these zombies. They’re wary of her and won’t get close.” But Yi Yi had achieved her goal of attracting the zombies. Though they didn’t dare approach, she could go to them. She stepped on the gas pedal, driving the RV into the dense zombie horde ahead. Several zombies were immediately sent flying by the RV’s sudden speed, which continued pushing through like a bulldozer—smashing and flattening its way forward. As for Chen Wan, she operated the mechanical arms to grab and toss nearby zombies far into the distance. In roughly fifteen minutes, the street was mostly cleared of zombies, with the few remaining having fled during the commotion. Given the narrow alleyways, Yi Yi didn’t drive the RV in pursuit. Instead, she moved it onto the pavement, parking directly at the mall’s entrance. Chen Wan prepared some firearms and knives, letting everyone choose their gear. Jiang Wan Ning looked on enviously at everyone, eventually locking eyes with Chen Wan. "Sister Chen Wan, I want to go with you all too." Chen Wan considered this for a moment before nodding. "Sure, since we have quite a group going out this time, stick close to Yi Yi. She can keep you safe and teach you how to handle a handgun." As she spoke, Chen Wan handed a handgun to Jiang Wan Ning. It was her first time handling a gun, and she found it quite novel. Grasping Yi Yi's wrist, she smiled, "I get to go too!" "Yes, stick with me, and I'll show you how to use it," Yi Yi responded with a nod. For convenience, Chen Wan opted to take just a handgun; after all, when dealing with zombies, she still preferred a machete. Jiang Yan Xin chose two handguns. While she didn’t have as much strength as Chen Wan and the others, her aim was precise enough for effective long-range attacks. In close combat, she preferred to use her sketchbook abilities. Quickly, everyone selected their weapons. Except for Jiang Zhao Yuan and Ye Lan, who stayed behind in the RV with Zai Zai, the remaining six people left the vehicle. When it was just the three of them in the RV—Chen Wan, Jiang Yan Xin, and Zai Zai—Chen Wan and Jiang Yan Xin always worried about Zai Zai whenever they went out. Now it was easier, with everyone having clear roles; some stayed behind to take care of tasks inside the RV and keep Zai Zai company, while others went out to scout for supplies.