Zhang Lin stayed at Xia Xiaonuan's house for several days in a row. He and Xia Xiaonuan were both very satisfied. They hadn't seen each other for a long time, and the previous night had not been enough to alleviate their longing.

Especially Xia Xiaonuan.

For Zhang Lin, it had only been a few months since he and Xia Xiaonuan last saw each other. Although he missed her, it wasn't to an exaggerated degree.

For Xia Xiaonuan, however, it was different. She awakened many memories, though incomplete, but she had a personal understanding of the apocalypse she had experienced before.

For her, it had been many years since she had seen Zhang Lin.

The most vivid images in her memory are still those of Zhang Lin. She traveled a long way back to Rongcheng, only to find that Zhang Lin had turned into a zombie when she arrived at his residence.

She had no choice but to kill her boyfriend with her own hands, despite the immense pain.

In the years that followed, she repeatedly took risks and sought various opportunities to revive Zhang Lin. She paid a heavy price for it, but each time she failed.

Xia Xiaonuan now really wants to be with Zhang Lin every day.

The only thing that bothered her was that Zhang Lin had too many women in this life.

"What a garbage system! It's disgusting!"

She felt helpless about Zhang Lin's family prosperity system, as her boyfriend survived and gained great strength because of it.

However, the price he paid was that he had many more women.

She vented all her frustration on Zhang Lin.

These past few days, Xia Xiaonuan has been the one initiating things almost constantly, and she's been incredibly aggressive, seemingly trying to completely drain Zhang Lin so that he won't spend time with other women when he gets back.

Zhang Lin could only say that he really needed a golden gem, as his current physical condition, though high, was not quite enough.

Of course, Xia Xiaonuan's situation was even worse. She was completely exhausted and lay limply on the bed, resting with her eyes closed, not even wanting to open them.

"Get some rest, I'm going back now."

Zhang Lin felt that it was about time, and he wanted to share his affections with everyone, so he said goodbye. Before leaving, he leaned down and kissed her fair face.

Xia Xiaonuan was reluctant to part with him, but she also knew that her boyfriend was a heartless person and that it would be useless for her to try to keep him. So she simply pretended to be asleep and didn't make a sound until Zhang Lin had walked away before she opened her eyes.

"Zhang Xiaonian, make me something to eat!"

A moment later, Zhang Xiaonian walked in carrying a bowl of fried chicken.

She was expressionless, showing none of the excitement or agitation she had just displayed.

She was so excited when she saw Zhang Lin finally leave that she almost jumped for joy.

Finally, I don't have to do test papers anymore!

She immediately fried a large bowl of junk food, intending to treat herself.

However, just as she picked up her first bite, she heard Xia Xiaonuan's voice, and her face immediately fell. She could only carry a bowl of fried chicken into Xia Xiaonuan's room.

Once she entered the room, her expression immediately changed, and she said obediently, "Auntie, there's delicious fried chicken, and my favorite honey mustard sauce. You should eat it and nourish yourself."

"Fried chicken?" Xia Xiaonuan raised an eyebrow. "Never mind, let's just make do with this."

Then, under Zhang Xiaonian's pained gaze, she devoured a whole plate of fried chicken in one go. She had been expending too much energy these past few days and needed to eat more meat to replenish herself.

Zhang Xiaonian was heartbroken, tears streaming down her face, but she dared not say a word, only cursing in her heart:

dog and woman...

...

It is now the middle of a month of extreme cold. The outdoor temperature has dropped to minus fifty degrees Celsius. Even inside Hope City, everything is frozen and covered with snow.

The indoor temperature has also basically fallen below zero.

When Zhang Lin returned to No. 16, the living room was practically empty. Everyone was huddled under their thick blankets. Nowadays, unless they were eating, drinking, or using the restroom, almost no one would leave their blankets.

Passing by the first floor, the empty shop floor was covered with makeshift beds, where seven or eight women were huddled together, chatting to pass the time. When they saw Zhang Lin return, they all stood up to greet him, and some even took the initiative to move closer to him, deliberately letting him take advantage of them.

There have been quite a few deaths outside these past few days. Those who lived in tents outdoors, especially those whose tents were not of good quality, whose supplies of warmth were insufficient, and whose food was also limited, are basically all dead by now.

Yet they live a life of comfort and ease in their rooms, and they know perfectly well who provides for this life.

After being brutally beaten by the apocalypse, most people's personalities would change, so it's not surprising that they would take the initiative to please Zhang Lin.

Zhang Lin naturally didn't stand on ceremony with them. He chatted with them, took advantage of them when he felt like it, and accepted any benefits as if they were interest, but didn't take any further steps.

It's not that he's no longer capable, but rather that he's developed a habit of only touching people who have passed the system's assessment.

After chatting with them for a while, Zhang Lin went upstairs. There were some women living on the third floor as well, but he was too lazy to go up there, so he went directly to the second bedroom on the second floor.

The beds here have been converted into a large communal bed. When Zhang Lin is home, everyone except the person who is with him rests on this bed. When Zhang Lin is not home, they split into two groups and usually go to the master bedroom to rest.

There were five people here before, and now Bai Jiajia has been added. After Zhang Lin entered the second bedroom, he found that there were three people inside, including Bai Jiajia and her twin sister.

"husband."

"Brother~" x2.

The three of them didn't hide under the covers; instead, they wrapped themselves up like penguins and sat on the bed playing cards. As soon as they saw Zhang Lin return, they jumped down to greet him.

Bai Jiajia, in particular, had just agreed to be Zhang Lin's wife that day and completed the ceremonies between husband and wife with Zhang Lin, but Zhang Lin didn't come back for several days after that.

This made Bai Jiajia very melancholy.

She finally understood why An Qingge often called Zhang Lin a scumbag.

Zhang Lin greeted them, stamped each of their faces, and then turned and went next door. He was mainly looking for An Qingge.

An Qingge, An Qingwu, and Ji Yuetong were in the master bedroom. They weren't playing cards, but talking about something. Zhang Lin pushed the door open and entered. An Qingge looked up, her eyes full of surprise, "You're back!" Then she said with a hint of resentment, "You stayed at that woman's house for several days in a row. I thought you weren't coming back!"

This is because they harbor resentment!

Zhang Lin hurriedly went over to comfort his first wife, and in front of An Qingwu and Ji Yuetong, he became quite affectionate with her.

An Qingge hadn't noticed before because she was overjoyed at Zhang Lin's return. It wasn't until she came to her senses that she remembered there were two other people in the room, one of whom was her younger sister.

She was so embarrassed that she just wanted to lean against Zhang Lin and never get up again, but that was impossible. So she had to suppress her embarrassment, deliberately put on a straight face, and change the subject, "It's perfect that you're back. The two of them and I are picking out someone for you. Why don't you come and take a look?"