Intense Battle on the Construction Site (Part 1)

"Come to think of it... it's been a long time since I last went home."

In the past, Jiang Chen hadn't been doing well enough to face his parents, but now, having made a bit of a name for himself, he figured he could sell a few kilograms of gold from the villa and maybe make a few hundred thousand. While it wasn't enough to buy a house in Shanghai, it would certainly be enough to show his parents some respect and give them a better life.

And then there was the bank vault, a treasure trove worth billions.

"What are you thinking about?" Sun Jiao waved her hand in front of Jiang Chen's eyes.

And he even had a girlfriend now.

A smile appeared on Jiang Chen's face as he took Sun Jiao's hand and looked at her carefully.

"I was thinking... maybe I should get you a ring."

Sun Jiao's face turned red, and she ran off flustered. Though this girl was usually bold and confident, she occasionally showed a more bashful side.

Laughing to himself, Jiang Chen stood up from the dining table. Without realizing it, all the dishes had already been cleaned. This was the first time he noticed that Sun Jiao could do housework, and a smile of contentment spread across his face.

Of course, Yao Yao's contribution was significant too. Jiang Chen guessed that the obedient Yao Yao had probably carried the plates to the kitchen, and that made the ever-lazy Sun Jiao feel a bit embarrassed, so she joined in cleaning up.

What was this called? The feeling of being the head of the household? Hahaha.

After the meal, of course, it was time for a strategy meeting. For some reason, Sun Jiao insisted on having the meeting while lying on the bed in the bedroom. This lazy girl was becoming more and more of a slacker, Jiang Chen couldn't help but complain to himself.

Although Yao Yao's cheeks were flushed, she still took off her shoes and lay down on the bed. She was wearing Jiang Chen's shirt and jeans, which were originally meant for him. However, he had given them to her since she didn't have anything else to wear. When they went back to the modern world, he'd help her pick out a few outfits.

Ever since Yao Yao put on Jiang Chen's clothes, her face had been constantly red. Though it wasn't intentional, the faint scent of a man lingered on the clothes, making her feel a little lightheaded, something she had never experienced before.

"First, let's go over the plan for the bank vault."

Sun Jiao took out her holographic pen and activated a hologram.

"We'll enter through the underground garage, bypass the heavily zombie-infested lobby, go to the basement, and then reach the vault's main door. I've been this way before, so it's safe. The key issue is the vault door. Can you handle the combination lock?" She looked toward Yao Yao as she finished speaking.

"If it's a pre-apocalypse security system, I'm confident. But I'll need two days to prepare. Some auxiliary programs need to be ready first," Yao Yao responded seriously, staring at the screen.

"Alright, then." Sun Jiao snapped her fingers.

"I'll take you to buy a computer tomorrow, and I'll pick one up for fun too. We'll do the preparation when we get back to the villa." Jiang Chen had always wanted to try out one of those futuristic computers. He'd heard they were cheap in the Sixth District, costing the same as an old EP.

"Villa?" Yao Yao tilted her head.

"It's our base, your future home," Sun Jiao smiled at Yao Yao and added.

Home... No matter how many times Yao Yao heard that word, her heart always felt warm.

"Next question," Sun Jiao's expression grew serious, and she pushed her hair behind her ear.

"About the Gray Gu Mercenary Group."

"Oh? Have they made any moves?" Jiang Chen frowned and asked.

Yao Yao looked confused, not understanding what they were talking about.

Seeing the confused look on Yao Yao's face, Sun Jiao smacked her own forehead, then began explaining.

"Basically, they're eyeing the wealth your master holds."

"Cough, cough, don't call me master. You can call me brother, that's better," Jiang Chen awkwardly said. The word master just didn't sit right with him, especially when it came from a little girl like her.

"Mm! Brother!"

Damn, so cute, his blood pressure skyrocketed...

Jiang Chen quickly looked away, but ended up meeting Sun Jiao's sly, knowing glance.

That look seemed to say: If you dare act like a beast, I'll cut you down.

Shivering, Jiang Chen cleared his throat and tried to steer the conversation back on track.

"...So, what's your conclusion from observing?"

"There's been an increase in reinforcements from the Gray Gu Mercenary Group. They're hanging around about five kilometers from the Sixth District. Seventeen riflemen, one vehicle-mounted machine gun. It's possible this is just part of their force," Sun Jiao's tone became more professional as she resumed her analysis.

"According to your plan, all the toys are set up, we just need the actors to show up."

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded, then flopped back onto the bed.

"Is there anything else we need to discuss? Let's sleep early."

"No, but here's the next question," Sun Jiao looked at Jiang Chen mischievously.

"Where are you going to sleep?"

"Hm?"

"There's only one bedroom," Sun Jiao reminded him.

"Well, of course, I'll sleep with you." Jiang Chen shamelessly grinned and pulled Sun Jiao into a hug.

"I'll go sleep in the living room." Yao Yao blushed, hurriedly trying to get off the bed.

Sun Jiao reached out and grabbed Yao Yao before she could escape, then whispered in her ear.

"You'll sleep next to me tonight. There's a big bad wolf who wants to eat your sister."

Damn, who's eating who every day? Jiang Chen's face turned green.

In the end, all three of them slept together, though none of them slept well that night.

The Next Morning:

Jiang Chen rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up in bed. He glanced at Sun Jiao, still in deep sleep, and then looked at Yao Yao, curled up in her own sleep. A smile crept across his face.

Time to get up and make breakfast.

Even in the apocalypse, daily routines couldn't be ignored. Eating breakfast was one of the few good habits Jiang Chen kept.

After putting the toast in the microwave, Jiang Chen yawned and looked out the window at the sky.

The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but he wasn't feeling tired.

Thinking about the battle ahead, Jiang Chen's mood became complicated.

He had prepared, but in the battlefield, no one could guarantee they wouldn't fall. Jiang Chen's side had been prepared, but the other side wouldn't be caught off guard. With Hu Lei missing, and that guy Zhou Guoping not being stupid, he would've already figured out that things had been exposed. The heavy machine gun they had prepared was likely going to be used for a full-on assault instead of an ambush.

Unless they decided to hide here forever, they would have to face the bandits sooner or later.

"Can I help with anything?" Yao Yao's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hm?" Jiang Chen turned around and smiled, "Aren't you going to sleep a bit more?"

The little girl, wearing Jiang Chen's loose clothes, shook her head and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"No, I can't be lazy, or I might be left behind…"

"I told you, I won't leave you behind. Really, what are you always thinking about?" Jiang Chen laughed and ruffled her messy hair.

Still in a daze, Yao Yao gave a cute little snore as Jiang Chen messed with her hair. The bruises on her face had faded thanks to the advanced medicine, and the wounds on her hands weren't as noticeable. Though she was still too skinny from malnutrition, Jiang Chen was confident that with time, she'd get stronger.