"Rebirth After the Apocalypse" - No Rebirth (Part 14)...

After that, Ye Xiqing's life returned to normal.

Aside from that silent death omen, Ye Xiqing's life remained unchanged. She continued to go on missions with Mao Hong during the day and return to continue her experiments at night, just like before.

Everything should have continued as normal until someone said to her, "You're not Rosie, are you?"

...

Although most people cannot tolerate the cold, most people like winter.

There were no zombie hordes that threatened to attack from time to time, and no neighbors plotting to rob and plunder, just like in the fairy tale "The Ant and the Grasshopper".

The hardworking ants are busy from spring to autumn, piling up food in their nests. When winter comes, they feast and celebrate the harvest, laughing as the lazy grasshoppers freeze and starve to death.

Nestled in the warm dormitory, one need not care about anything outside.

After accumulating enough contribution points to purchase a set of excellent cold-weather gear, ordinary people can also leave the base.

Winter is the most forgiving season for surviving humans. Ordinary people can go out relatively safely, not only to do short-term work for field teams, but also to try to find any hidden gems.

Although the remaining supplies before the apocalypse were looted by various bases long ago, there are always times when you're not paying attention and you might find something unusual.

Previously, people might have worried about contracting a zombie virus or something similar.

Like the viruses before the apocalypse, the zombie virus fears high temperatures but not severe cold. What sleeps in winter are zombies, not the virus, and the zombie virus can still spread in winter.

The zombie virus spreads through blood; even a small cut can lead to infection. In the apocalypse, the most common symptom of radiation sickness is skin ulceration, and no one dares to gamble on this possibility.

Now that the pharmaceutical department has its vaccines, more ordinary people dare to leave the base and participate in outdoor missions.

This year's base is busier than ever before.

The more effective the vaccine becomes, the more business comes to them.

Principal Lin came to offer his condolences in person, and after the visit, he subtly asked Ye Xiqing if there were any remaining vaccine supplies.

Ye Xiqing still received the base's top leaders: "Hasn't most of the people at the base already been injected? Are there still people who urgently need it?"

Principal Lin looked at her meaningfully: "Most of the people at the base have been injected, but there is more than one base in Huiyang City."

Ye Xiqing understood; once the supply of essential goods was exhausted, transactions would begin.

However, she was curious: "What kind of supplies are worth Principal Lin's personal attention?"

Principal Lin didn't hide anything from her and gestured to her: "Gun."

"oh."

That was indeed a huge amount of supplies. Although the apocalypse had become the domain of superhumans, firearms were still the most powerful weapons that allowed ordinary people to quickly rival superhumans.

But Ye Xiqing wasn't stupid: "Of course it's possible, but the gun resources we get in return have to be allocated by me, the head of the pharmaceutical department."

Principal Lin: ...

"Dr. Luo, your pharmaceutical department and arms storage seem to have a rather unrelated relationship."

"Then let's establish a new Ministry of Arms and I will serve as its minister. I don't care about empty titles."

Principal Lin: ...

"Dr. Luo, this is a critical moment, not a time for power struggles."

Ye Xiqing couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Principal Lin, do you think I'm like a little kid who can be coaxed with candy?"

Principal Lin: ...

Rosie is not very old, and due to the elders' habitual contempt for the young, Principal Lin has never taken her seriously. Now, she actually wants to share the pie with him.

Principal Lin was determined to get this batch of weapons. If Ye Xiqing wanted a few, that would be fine too. But he didn't expect Ye Xiqing to want them all.

So what does he do? Is he the matchmaker?

As a university president, he held a high social status both before and after the apocalypse, and was always fawned over by everyone. He had never been rejected like this before.

He stormed home, raised his hand, and smashed the handle of a ceramic cup.

As the person in charge of the base, he should have some privileges. At the very least, Principal Lin has a separate room and office for him to rest and work.

Hearing the noise, Lin Yao pushed open the door and came out: "What's wrong, Dad?"

Principal Lin was in a fit of anger, but when he turned to look at his son, his eyes suddenly calmed down.

Lin Yao was at the most charming of men; when he appeared in the house, even the dimly lit room became a luxurious backdrop.

Besides his stunning good looks, he was also the most powerful superhuman in the entire base, no, in the entire Huiyang City, and humanity's hope.

If he were to step down one day, his son would undoubtedly be his successor.

Ye Xiqing progressed so quickly that he forgot she was not only a brilliant scholar, but also a woman—a very young and ambitious one.

It is said that two tigers cannot share one mountain, unless one is male and the other female. If Ye Xiqing were a man, he would have to be more careful in dealing with her, but since she is a woman, wouldn't there be a win-win situation?

Before Lin Yao entered the door, Principal Lin was still filled with anger, but the moment he saw his son, his anger suddenly subsided.

Looking up at Lin Yao, a smile spread across his face: "Yao'er, what do you think of Dr. Luo?"

The father's smile was very familiar, and Lin Yao, as the son, instantly understood what he meant.

My thoughts drifted into darkness, until only one person's shadow gradually became clear.

...

Principal Lin did not throw away the broken handle; instead, he simply placed it on the table.

The news that Principal Lin was honest and frugal, and that he couldn't even bear to throw away a broken cup, spread quickly and moved many people.

The unexpected crossover between Dr. Luo, the eccentric pharmaceutical expert, and Captain Lin, the hopeful leader of the base, has also suddenly become a hit.

The incident stemmed from the fact that Lin Yao's Sunshine Squad and Mao Hong's Steel Squad unexpectedly overlapped on the same mission route.

There are many squads at Huiyang Base, each with different functions. They are all centered around the base and are responsible for clearing zombies or collecting supplies. It's not unusual to encounter them.

But these two teams have met far too many times.

Mao Hong was genuinely angry when she discovered this.

Her Iron Squad went far away because of the special nature of their mission. After all, it's best not to eat the grass near your burrow, so it's better to preserve the buildings near the base in case they come in useful later.

If they don't dismantle the bases in the distance, other bases will. There's no need to let others benefit from it. If they can be dismantled, then they should be.

Lin Yao's team, however, cleared the area outwards in circles. Overlapping once or twice is understandable, but overlapping every time? Are you kidding me?

Mao Hong used to only be annoyed by that yellow-haired fly, but now even Lin Yao is getting a little annoyed.

When we rejected her from joining the Sunshine Squad, we felt that she was too independent and not suitable for teamwork.

Don't you realize you're now acting as a pimp for his teammates?

Mao Hong is a very straightforward person, and she immediately wanted to confront Lin Yao, but Ye Xiqing stopped her.

She smiled and said, "Is it possible that he wasn't after you, but after me?"

Mao Hong stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her with a look of utter disbelief.

ah?

Sure enough, the people inside the Sunshine Squad also noticed the problem. Their boss was being way too eager to meet with Mao Hong's squad. Was it really just to help his subordinates woo girls?

The team's smartest strategist stroked his chin: "Do you think it's possible that the boss is doing this to pursue a girl?"

The crowd erupted instantly. Since the person who was pursuing Mao Hong wasn't there, the remaining people were more outspoken: "No way, what's so charming about that tomboy that the boss has taken a liking to her?"

The strategist smacked him: "What are you saying! Who mentioned her! Is Mao Hong's team just that one woman?!"

Everyone was stunned when they heard him say that.

Then it slowly dawned on me, no way...

If Mao Hong is a tomboy, it's fine to joke about her in small groups of men, but Ye Xiqing is a taboo subject that they dare not even mention.

Living with drugs, she killed her boyfriend and acted as if nothing had happened. Even though her boyfriend betrayed her first, after so many years of relationship, she had no psychological burden after killing him and could even laugh. That's terrifying enough.

Besides, who knows what really happened between her and her ex-boyfriend? A woman's words can sometimes be sharper than a knife. When she's extremely angry, she might really want to do something drastic.

Because of this, although Ye Xiqing had a high reputation in the base, she was honored to be called the "Poisonous Widow" among the men. When her comrades told her that the boss might be interested in this "Poisonous Widow," their mouths dropped open.

"No way, is our boss that brave?"

His companion shrugged: "Think about it carefully. Did the boss start running into that supply team every day from the beginning when we came back, or from the beginning when someone else joined?"

Everyone: ...

Oh my god, it seems real!

Realizing this, before Lin Yao could even offer any opinion, his team had already started working on it for him.

Just like when he brought Mao Hong and their teammates together, he started trying to bring Ye Xiqing and their captain together again. Good brothers, of course he has to help. Even if she is the "poisonous widow", he has to take her down!

In this way, even the most oblivious person would realize something was wrong, and everyone looked at this extraordinary couple in astonishment.

Previously, because Ye Xiqing was in charge of a department and often attended various occasions with people like Luan Anchun and Principal Lin, I always felt that she was like Lin Yao's father's generation.

It's only now that I realize Dr. Luo is actually quite young. She just often talks to Principal Lin, and Lin Yao is the well-known son of the principal, which creates this misconception. In fact, they are the same age!

A man and a woman, both single, and one of them seems to be interested in the other. What will happen?

The already bored people, who were just watching the drama unfold, suddenly became excited.

"I heard Dr. Luo had a boyfriend before, and she even lived with him back then..."

"So what? Captain Lin doesn't mind, why should you!"

"But Dr. Luo seems to have lost all sense of love and affection; her pharmaceutical department won't even hire a man."

"That's because she was hurt too deeply by her ex-boyfriend. Captain Lin is so good-looking, capable, and devoted. Given enough time, no iceberg can't be warmed up!"

Everyone: ...

That makes sense!

People have an endless drive to bring together "good things." Even after Ye Xiqing's "poisonous woman" persona spread, the pharmaceutical department's efforts to promote her virtues couldn't offset the public's fear of her.

As soon as the idea of ​​finding her a partner came up, everyone came running over. No matter the occasion or place, there were always people trying to sell her Captain Lin.

Whenever she and Lin Yao appeared in the same space, the people around them would automatically clear the area, creating a private world for the two of them.

Mao Hong: ...

She's overly self-conscious; this kind of commotion definitely can't be aimed at her...

But as a good friend, Mao Hong withstood the pressure and insisted on being a third wheel in every situation, refusing to leave.

In the end, not only the well-meaning people who wanted to bring them together, but even Mao Hong's roommates couldn't stand it anymore and secretly said to her: "Aren't you a little too clueless about the atmosphere?"

Mao Hong looked completely innocent: Huh? What? Did I do something that made you uncomfortable? You can just say it!

Roommate: ...

It seems like I really can't understand her, this straight woman...

Seeing that her roommate was silent, Mao Hong picked up the thermos and went to fetch water with an upright expression, as if nothing had happened.

Why does she like being straight? Because being straight is great.

...

Mao Hong tried her best to be a third wheel, but she couldn't be with Ye Xiqing all the time.

After having dinner together, Ye Xiqing parted ways with her and returned to her own apartment building alone.

Winter days are already short, and with no sun or moon, it gets completely dark long ago, and there's not a soul outside.

Ye Xiqing held a flashlight in her hand, which she had obtained by spending a lot of contribution points, but it couldn't illuminate a very long distance.

She waved the faint light in her hand and returned to her place in a good mood.

Just then, a voice came from the darkness: "Dr. Luo, can we talk privately?"

Ye Xiqing turned around and saw Lin Yao. Ye Xiqing, who was always keen to attend various private talks, immediately agreed upon hearing the request.

The artificial lake at Huiyang University was very famous before the apocalypse. The shore was lined with flowers and willows, and fish swam in the lake. Tourists also liked to come here to take photos. Now it is a desolate place.

Ye Xiqing gently shifted her feet, quickly paddling a long distance.

Her large cloak blended into the night, making her almost invisible. Only a faint flashlight beam and Lin Yao's excellent night vision as a superhuman were able to spot her.

Ye Xiqing skated for a while, then stopped in a circle and smiled at Lin Yao: "Captain Lin, what can I do for you?"

Lin Yao wasn't as lively as her. He walked closer step by step on the ice, his cold face revealing no emotion.

In the darkness, only his deep voice could be heard, sounding particularly cold: "You're not Rosie, are you?"