182 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chapter 182 - Unexpected Calm By the next morning, in addition to the military, the daredevils’ squad had recruited only 47 people. Cao Wei led a contingent of three hundred soldiers, fully equipped and ready to deploy. As Chen Wan was about to leave, she pulled Yi Yi aside with a word of caution, "Yi Yi, be careful in the base and keep an eye on Ke Qing." "I understand. I'll contact you through the neural domain if anything comes up," Yi Yi responded with a reassuring smile. "Alright." Chen Wan kissed Zai Zai on its little cheek, then joined Qin Ke and the others to gather at the plaza. When Chen Wan and her group arrived, Wei Si Yu and her team were already there. They were assigned an armored vehicle, and the convoy slowly began its journey towards Wukou Town. Given the short distance, it took about forty minutes for them to reach the outskirts of Wukou Town. To their surprise, it didn't resemble a place overtaken by Tier 3 mutant animals. The town was eerily quiet. Cao Wei ordered the vehicles to form a tight circle and keep a vigilant watch on their surroundings. As time ticked away, anxiety in the group gradually shifted to unease relaxation. Chen Wan scanned the area, concerned. "It's too quiet. Something feels off." "Yes, I have the same feeling, like something's watching us from the shadows. Everyone should remain cautious," Wei Si Yu said, her brows furrowed as her hands clenched her weapon, palms damp with sweat. Half an hour later, the streets remained untroubled. Cao Wei, cautious, did not let his soldiers scatter to search and instead kept the vehicles grouped, waiting for the creatures to show. In another part of the base, rumors were brewing. Around lunchtime, Ke Qing and Shi Tou sat in the base cafeteria, overhearing conversations nearby. "Hey, better spend those saved points quick. Commander Cao himself went out to deal with the Tier 3 mutant animals. First District might be finished in a few days." "Don't say that. We finally have a place to settle down. Commander Cao will be alright, won't he?" "These are packs of Tier 3 mutant lions. Didn't you see that only a few soldiers returned yesterday, most of them severely injured? This mission seems doomed." Hearing these discussions filled Shi Tou with guilt and unease, even making his food taste bland. "Ke Qing, this mission is so dangerous. Do you think they'll be alright?" Shi Tou asked worriedly. "They'll be fine, and it's not your fault. Everyone has different choices. Chen Wan and her team chose their path willingly. Honestly, there's something I've wanted to say for a while, but you seem to care a lot about them, so I've held back," Ke Qing said hesitantly, pondering whether to speak her mind. "Go ahead. We're close enough that there's nothing we can't say to each other," Shi Tou replied, looking at Ke Qing. "Actually, you're the only male Alpha with abilities in the team, so technically, you should be the squad leader. And now that Chen Wan and her group are out on missions, we should gather to discuss appointing a vice-captain. If anything happens, we need someone capable of making decisions. You're the best choice for that role." Ke Qing suggested, her performance impeccable. "That makes sense. This way, if anything arises, I can help resolve it. But, wouldn't it be inappropriate? After all, Chen Wan and her team are still out there risking their lives," Shi Tou hesitated. Since arriving in First District, the local leadership recognized Wei Si Yu and Chen Wan over him. Though he was also someone of note, why couldn't he lead their small squad, especially when ability-bearers are typically central in such groups? "What's wrong with that? We're considering the team's welfare too. Chen Wan and her group are no longer around, and Yi Yi is just a female Beta without noticeable strength. You should carry this responsibility, or would you rather push it onto a girl?" Ke Qing teased with a smile. "You're right. I should take on this responsibility, help Si Yu and Chen Wan maintain the base. I'll gather Qiao Shi Rui and the others to discuss the vice-captain position." Shi Tou decided, casting aside any concerns about their friends still in peril at Wukou Town. "That's more like it." Ke Qing's sweet smile hid her thoughts. Knowing the mission in Wukou Town was perilous, there was a high chance Chen Wan and Wei Si Yu wouldn't survive, or if they did, they'd likely be severely injured. At that time, Shi Tou would undoubtedly become the squad leader. With Shi Tou heeding her advice, wouldn't that mean he would follow her lead? Eventually, she could comfortably enjoy her time in First District. After they finished eating, Shi Tou gathered the high school kids to head to room 301. Jiang Wan Ning, surprised by their visit, quickly let them inside. "Is there a particular matter?" Jiang Wan Ning asked. Hearing the commotion, Yi Yi came out holding Zai Zai. Shi Tou scratched his head, bashfully, gaining confidence from Ke Qing’s encouraging expression. "I brought Li Yue and the others to have a brief meeting. Could you gather your parents and Qi Jing's two friends?" Jiang Wan Ning paused, nodded, "Alright, I'll fetch them. You all wait here." She grabbed the keys and left to get the others. Yi Yi remained on the sofa, entertaining Zai Zai, while several cats circled them, rubbing against both. Ke Qing, out of boredom, attempted to pet Da Hua, but it quickly dodged and barked defensively at her, warning her to back off. Ke Qing’s face momentarily darkened before regaining her composure, shyly nestling against Shi Tou, "I just wanted to pet it. I'm not a threat. Why is this dog so aggressive?" "This is Chen Wan's dog; we should avoid it without permission," Shi Tou said awkwardly, remembering the dogs were typically gentle—except now they barked at Ke Qing. Yi Yi noticed this but acted as if she hadn’t. She simply called Da Hua over. "Da Hua, come here." Da Hua happily ran to Yi Yi, tail wagging, and rested comfortably by her feet as Yi Yi stroked its fur. The suites were close together, and in just a few minutes, Jiang Wan Ning returned with everyone. "Find a seat. Shi Tou has something to discuss." Ye Lan and Jiang Zhao Yuan settled on the living room sofa, the younger ones following suit. All eyes fell on Shi Tou and Ke Qing, waiting for them to speak. Feeling the collective gaze, Shi Tou cleared his throat before finally speaking, "I called everyone here to discuss something important. Chen Wan and Si Yu are at Wukou Town and we don't know what might happen. There are over a dozen of us left at the base, so I was thinking we should appoint a vice-captain. This way, if something arises, they can make decisions. What do you all think?" Everyone exchanged glances. Yi Yi and Jiang Wan Ning exchanged a knowing look and then Yi Yi spoke with a smile. "So, who do you think should be the vice-captain?" There was a playful glint in her eyes, making Shi Tou uncomfortable. Ke Qing chimed in for him, "Of course, Shi Tou should fill the role. Among us, Shi Tou and Yi Yi are the only ability-bearers, and Shi Tou, being a male Alpha, can contribute more. Plus, Yi Yi needs to care for the little one and doesn't have much time for team responsibilities, so Shi Tou is the ideal choice." Her words were met with silence, the room's atmosphere turning tense as everyone considered the implications. After a paused silence, Yi Yi's sudden laughter broke the tension. "What's so funny?" Shi Tou asked, frown deepening. "We're doing this for everyone’s benefit." "For everyone's benefit? Sounds like you just want to be captain," Yi Yi quipped. "Chen Wan and her team are barely gone half a day, and you're already itching for a promotion. They're facing life and death outside and you’re here trying to climb the ranks. Let me guess, you’re hoping they don’t return, so you can take over the whole squad and all its resources?" Yi Yi's laughter was confident and challenging, making it hard for Shi Tou to meet her gaze. "How could you think like that?" Ke Qing's eyes welled up with tears as she sniffled and continued, "How could we ever hope for Chen Wan and her team not to return? We are just worried about everyone's safety. Commander Cao also went to Wukou Town, and First District might soon descend into chaos. Shi Tou only wants what's best for everyone, which is why he thought appointing a vice-captain was necessary." "Is that so?" Yi Yi looked at Ke Qing with interest, her face smiling but her eyes icy cold. The AI analysis branded Ke Qing as a "green tea," meaning someone insincere and manipulative. Without giving Ke Qing a chance to respond, Yi Yi continued, "I don't care if others agree or not. For the record, I only take orders from Chen Wan. Anyone else, even if it were the king of all kings, doesn't concern me." Yi Yi’s declaration emboldened the others to finally speak their minds. "We feel the same. If Chen Wan isn't around, we'll listen to our daughter and Yi Yi. Thank you for your consideration," Ye Lan said with a gentle smile. "Us too. Kang Wan and I were rescued by Qi Jing and Chen Wan, so we'll defer to Yi Yi," Li Xiaoxiao added after some thought, siding firmly with familiar faces over strangers like Shi Tou. Li Yue hesitated for a moment before joining in, "Brother Shi Tou, maybe we shouldn't worry about choosing a captain. It feels off. When Sister Chen Wan and Sister Si Yu were here, we didn’t officially appoint a leader anyway, so perhaps we should just leave it be."