Chapter 15: Thoughts and Feelings

The moment Jeremy stepped into the inn, torrential rain began to pour.

He glanced at the front desk, where Charlotte was cheerfully assisting customers.

Noticing the new arrivals were curiously eyeing him, he pulled his hat down and walked directly to the lunch machine, intending to order three meals.

Charlotte was serving three people at the moment—a couple and the woman's younger sister.

She briefly explained the room rates and the hotel's rules. Since the single rooms and double rooms were on different floors, the couple seemed hesitant.

The younger sister was an ordinary person without self-defense abilities, always under their protection. They had rarely been apart since the apocalypse began.

However, sometimes it was inconvenient for the couple to have some private time.

If this inn was as safe as the owner claimed, it would be wonderful!

She glanced at her husband, who hadn't voiced any objections but clearly preferred a private room for the two of them.

"Little sister, you see that this place is indeed safe. Why don't you stay in the single room?" Clara pulled her sister aside and whispered.

Emma looked at her brother-in-law and, seeing his tacit approval, nodded.

Clara sighed with relief and shyly looked at her husband.

"Then we'll trouble the owner to prepare two rooms for us—one single and one double," Leo said with a sly smile, tightly hugging his wife and putting a Level 1 crystal nucleus into the machine to recharge the membership card.

They had originally been unwilling to separate, but seeing Fawna coming out to buy lunch and noting her apparent solo status, they were slightly more convinced. Then, encountering Jeremy, who was also alone, added to their confidence.

And of course, they had their own selfish motives.

Charlotte handed them the room cards and mentioned that food could be purchased from the lunch machine, and water from the dispenser could also be bought.

The couple was astonished. They had thought that such luxuries were only for high-level people.

Emma stared intently at Jeremy, gradually moving closer and cautiously speaking.

"Hello, could you please teach me how to purchase?"

Jeremy took a step back the moment she approached, his eyes full of caution, and had no intention of engaging with her.

There was no need for him to waste words; the owner would handle the sales pitch.

Emma, seeing his cold dismissal, felt no discomfort but instead thought him reliable.

Strong and with a good temperament, if she could become his woman, wouldn't she live a life of luxury?

Emma cast a surreptitious glance at her sister and brother-in-law, fully aware of their growing impatience.

After all, she had no abilities, wasn't fast, and couldn't cook.

But that didn't matter. There would always be powerful men who would notice her.

She wasn't unattractive, but long-term poor diet, lack of sleep, and inability to wash had left her looking disheveled.

She wondered how the owner maintained her appearance in the apocalypse—her skin was so fair and youthful, only slightly less beautiful than Emma's.

Emma was envious.

Seeing Clara glance her way, she quickly concealed her thoughts and took the room card with a obedient smile, taking the take-out food her sister handed her and heading to the room.

"Room 102, little sister, you stay here tonight. After dinner, come to room 202 upstairs to find me. The owner said there's a place to shower. You should freshen up."

Clara found the single room, though small, very clean and fresh-smelling, much to her satisfaction. She looked forward even more to the double room.

Emma was unexpectedly satisfied as well, nodding in agreement.

The couple went upstairs to find room 202, opened the door, and were greeted by a somewhat dimly lit room. Leo found a switch on the side and pressed it.

The lights illuminated the room clearly.

This… such a room really exists?

The two stared in astonishment, exchanging excited glances. The value of the crystal nucleus spent was absolutely justified!

Clara longed to touch the clean and comfortable bedding, but noticing her dirty hands, she quickly withdrew.

Such clean things should not be dirtied by her.

"According to the owner, there's water in the bathroom. Wash your hands first, then we can eat."

Seeing the clear water flowing from the faucet, the couple was again stunned. There were even disposable soap bars on the counter.

After carefully washing their hands and faces with the soap, they finally settled on the soft sofa to eat.

The beautifully presented meal left them speechless. They devoured the food voraciously, hardly having time to speak.

"This… this is truly a god-like existence…" Clara's mouth was full, tears filling her eyes as she looked at the comfortable environment and the delicious meal, feeling that this was truly living. She cried with happiness.

In her lifetime, to experience such a night was a blessing!

She was grateful for her obedient sister and considerate husband. If the three of them could live here happily, all the effort would be worth it!

Leo also felt moved. In the apocalypse, struggling to survive, his loved ones had long since passed away. If not for Clara, he might not have endured and would have died long ago.

He wiped away his tears, holding his wife and gently wiping her tears away. "If you like it here, we'll stay as long as the inn is open!"

Clara was overjoyed at his words, eager for a stable life. "I really like it! I want to stay here! If possible… I want to have a baby…"

A baby…

Leo fell silent. He too desired a child of his own, but in this environment, it was hard enough to survive without worries, let alone raise a child.

If one day survival became impossible, they could leave this world without regrets. But with a child?

He couldn't bear to think about it.

A deep, unspoken sadness enveloped them both as they clung to each other, comforting each other's wounds, and continued to survive in this apocalypse…

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Sister, it's me."

The couple instantly separated. Clara smoothed her clothes and opened the door, finding Emma outside.

"Sister, I'm done eating. I didn't want to delay your rest, so I came to shower quickly and head back to sleep."

Upon seeing the decor in the double room, Emma gasped but quickly composed herself and spoke graciously.

"Come in quickly. The bathroom is here. You go wash up first. We haven't finished eating yet," Clara said, not suspecting anything, and urged her to freshen up before getting a good night's rest.

What was intended as a kind gesture sounded to Emma like an eviction and impatience.

She stiffened her face and retreated into the bathroom, closing the door with tears of grievance welling in her eyes.

The sound of water flowing from the sink filled the bathroom as Clara and Leo continued to sit on the sofa, eating their meal.

Every bit of food was precious, and they didn't want to waste a single grain.

About half an hour later, Emma emerged from the bathroom in her old clothes, feeling them dirty and unpleasant after her shower, but with no change of clothes, she had to endure.

"Sister, I'm done. I'll head back to my room now."

Emma carefully closed the door behind her, passing room 201 and secretly wondering if the all-black man was staying there.

If he was, she must find an opportunity to attach herself to him!