Chapter 150 Plan

Grandma couldn't hold back any longer, tears streaming down her face. She hugged Ruan Ning tightly, saying, "My good child... Grandma is useless, I can't help you, and you still have to worry about me..."

Grandpa turned his back and quietly wiped the corner of his eye.

Just then, the doorbell rang again. Qin Li had arrived.

When he entered the room and saw the things on the table and his grandmother's red eyes, he immediately understood. He nodded to Ruan Ning and didn't say anything more.

The four sat down. Grandma busied herself boiling water to make tea, using the tea leaves that Ruan Ning had brought, while Grandpa inquired with concern about the specifics of the days when the zombies besieged the city.

Ruan Ning mentioned only what she could say, omitting the most dangerous parts. Qin Li added some details about the overall situation.

Hearing that the battle was finally turned around thanks to Ruan Ning's risky kill of the mentally-based zombie, the two old men were filled with lingering fear.

"That was too risky! We can't do that again!" Grandma said, still shaken.

Grandpa then looked at Qin Li and said, "Xiao Li, you're the older brother, so you need to keep an eye on your younger sister."

Qin Li nodded solemnly: "I will."

Ruan Ning did not refute this "being cared for" label, as she knew it was the elderly person's way of expressing concern.

Once Grandma had brewed the tea and brought it over, the conversation finally got on track.

Qin Li spoke first: "The research institute and the 'Business Alliance' have been quite active lately. Although the zombie horde caused heavy damage to the base, it also gave them an opportunity. Zhao Chengkun, under the guise of assisting with post-war reconstruction and providing supplies, has extended his reach into the management affairs of several outer city districts. At the research institute, the 'Source Tracing' team is even more active. They seem particularly interested in the 'highly intelligent command-type zombies' that appeared in this zombie horde and have been trying to collect relevant data and samples."

He looked at Ruan Ning: "Although the battle report was vague about how you killed that mental zombie, only emphasizing that it was a joint effort by several high-level ability users, anyone who investigates carefully can still guess that the key was you. The research institute may have already noticed you."

Grandpa frowned: "What are they trying to do?"

Qin Li shook his head: "I don't know. But it's definitely not a good thing. Wang Jinsong has been frequently contacting high-ranking military officials recently, trying to obtain more detailed data on special mutants and superhumans, especially those with mental abilities and those with special composite abilities. His reason is for 'better defense and research,' but his appetite is too big, and he has been turned down by General Luo several times."

Ruan Ning asked, "Is there any progress on the 'Origin' project?"

Qin Li: "The archives are heavily guarded. My people can only access the outer catalog. There are indeed encrypted files from the 'Origin' series, but access is extremely restricted. At least two of the three vice-chairmen of the committee must authorize their access simultaneously. General Luo is one of them, but he seems to be very secretive about 'Origin' and has never mentioned it. The other two vice-chairmen are in charge of internal affairs and logistics, and the other is in charge of the research institute and technological development. The vice-chairman of the research institute is named Feng Yuanzhou, who is Wang Jinsong's direct superior and a direct supporter of the 'Tracing the Origin' team."

The clues began to connect.

Grandpa pondered for a moment and said, "Feng Yuanzhou... I have a vague impression of him. Before the apocalypse, he seemed to have worked in a national-level strategic science and technology planning department, and later he was transferred to a local position. This person... has a very deep background and is unscrupulous in his actions."

Grandma looked at Ruan Ning and Qin Li with concern: "You two children must be careful. Those people will do anything to achieve their goals."

Ruan Ning nodded: "I know. That's why we need to be more proactive. Passive defense will only allow them to gradually erode our strength."

Qin Li agreed: "What do you want to do?"

Ruan Ning thought for a moment: "Two directions. First, continue to improve our team's strength and influence, take on higher-level missions, establish a foothold in the base, and gain more say and intelligence channels. Second, try to contact those in the 'Hunter Alliance' who are dissatisfied with the research institute, as well as lone wolves like Shen Yan, to establish a loose but reliable information network. At the same time, I want to find an opportunity to personally 'make contact' with the research institute."

Qin Li's eyes narrowed: "Too dangerous."

“It’s not about forcing my way in,” Ruan Ning said. “Aren’t they interested in special samples and psychic ability users? Perhaps we can give them a ‘suitable’ reason to let me into their field of vision, or even into their research institute.”

"You want to be bait?" Qin Li immediately objected. "No way! Who knows what they might do!"

“It’s not about being bait, it’s about controlled contact,” Ruan Ning explained. “For example, accepting the research institute’s ‘invitation’ under the guise of ‘post-war psychological assessment’ or ‘cooperating with research to optimize defense plans for mental ability users.’ With you in the military and my grandparents here, they won’t dare to act openly. I need to observe them closely, understand their true intentions, and ideally, make contact with the ‘source tracing’ team or Feng Yuanzhou.”

Grandpa was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Ningning’s idea makes sense. Simply hiding won’t solve the problem. But we must be fully prepared. Xiao Li, you need to ensure Ningning’s safety in the military, at least to be able to know her location and status at any time. We two old guys may not have any special abilities, but we still have a few old friends in the inner city who can put some pressure on us when it matters.”

Seeing that his grandfather also said so, Qin Li knew that Ruan Ning's mind was made up, and could only nod helplessly: "I will make the arrangements. But you must promise me that any contact plan must be discussed with me in advance, and you must not act on your own."

“Okay,” Ruan Ning agreed.

Grandma listened from the side. Although she was worried, she didn't stop them anymore. She just repeatedly told them, "Be careful. You must discuss it together."

They also discussed some details, such as how to establish contact with the "Hunter Alliance" through missions, and how to create a reasonable opportunity to contact the research institute.

As evening approached, after a sumptuous dinner, Qin Li saw Ruan Ning off.

Before leaving, Grandma insisted on giving Ruan Ning a large bag of homemade pastries and held her hand, giving her many instructions.

The grandfather then told Qin Li, "Protect your sister. And protect yourself too."

On the way back to the outer city, Qin Li was silent for a while, then suddenly said, "Grandpa and Grandma, we really like you."

Ruan Ning hummed in agreement.

“They gave you the love your mother had given you as well,” Qin Li said in a low voice. “So, don’t do anything too risky. Not for me, but for them.”

Ruan Ning paused, looking at the sparse lights gradually illuminating the inner city in the distance, and then at the pastries her grandmother had given her.

“I know,” she said. “I will live well!”