Chapter 79 Celebrating New Life
Chapter 79
Lin Wanyun is dead.
Lin Jiaojiao also died.
The mother and daughter who pushed her into the abyss of death in her past life, bringing her endless pain and resentment, both met their end in their own ways during this cruel spring.
One of them was devoured by zombies in despair and fear, a fate she orchestrated herself.
One was consumed by his own hatred and met a tragic end in a desperate act of revenge.
Ruan Ning stopped and tilted her head back slightly.
The sky was a rare azure blue in this apocalyptic world, with a few wisps of thin clouds drifting by. The sunlight shone down without obstruction, but it could not dispel the deep-seated, heavy chill in her heart.
The enemy... is dead.
This realization did not bring about the dramatic emotional upheaval I had anticipated. There was no ecstasy, no liberation, not even a noticeable sense of pleasure. There was only one feeling... emptiness.
Hatred fueled her rebirth, her growth, and her careful planning. Now, the target of her hatred has vanished.
She stood there, sunlight falling on her face, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyelids.
Da Huo sat quietly beside her legs, seemingly sensing her unusual mood. He raised his head, gently touched the back of her hand with his wet nose, and let out a soft, questioning whimper.
The warm touch pulled Ruan Ning back from the empty silence.
She lowered her head and met the eyes of the raging fire, which burned with dark red flames yet clearly reflected her image. She touched its rough, warm top.
yes.
The enemy is dead.
But life must go on.
The apocalypse won't stop just because someone's hatred is settled. Zombies still roam, mutated creatures are becoming increasingly active, and danger lurks both inside and outside the base. She needs to become stronger, she needs to survive, and she needs to protect what she has now.
She is no longer the naive and foolish Ruan Ning from her previous life, who could only depend on others and was ultimately abandoned.
No longer is he a vengeful ghost who lives only to burn with hatred after his rebirth.
Ruan Ning took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. The turbid air, mixed with blood and resentment, that had been stuck in her chest seemed to dissipate somewhat with it.
She glanced one last time at the clear yet cold sky, then looked away, her gaze fixed straight ahead on the bustling yet real streets of the base.
Life must go on.
As evening fell, Ruan Ning arrived at the apartment shared by Lin Yan and Zhou Min, carrying two bulging cloth bags and a large fire.
After knocking, Zhou Min opened the door. Her eyes lit up when she saw Ruan Ning: "Ruan Ning? What brings you here? Come in!" Her gaze shifted to Da Huo, and she was even more delighted: "Da Huo's here too!"
Lin Yan also came out of the small room inside, somewhat surprised.
Ruan Ning walked into the small but tidy room and placed the cloth bag on the only small square table.
She began taking things out of the cloth bag.
First, there were some mutated sweet potatoes that looked fairly fresh, which were redeemed from the base store. They were similar to sweet potatoes and were a new product from the Plant Research Institute.
A small packet of precious dried mushrooms, a few bird eggs, and even a small piece of dried, rock-hard mutated beast meat, which was obtained by exchanging points. These were considered decent ingredients in the apocalypse.
Then, as if by magic, she took out several items from the bag that seemed out of place with the surroundings: several sealed vacuum-sealed braised eggs and vacuum-packed braised beef, a bag of soft-looking white steamed buns, and even a small jar of fruit, the yellow peaches in the glass jar looking particularly tempting in the dim light.
Zhou Min and Lin Yan's eyes widened even more.
"This...this is..." Zhou Min pointed at the canned fruit, her voice stammering. Canned fruit occasionally appeared in the base store, but it was always exorbitantly priced and sold out instantly.
"I had some leftovers that I hadn't been able to bring myself to eat," Ruan Ning explained casually, and began preparing the ingredients. "Today, I want to eat them."
Lin Yan gave Ruan Ning a deep look, then didn't ask any more questions. She rolled up her sleeves and said, "I'll help start the fire. Our little stove still works." They had a small charcoal stove made from an old metal bucket.
Zhou Min also realized what was happening, suppressing her shock and confusion, and cheerfully said, "I'll wash the sweet potatoes and mushrooms! Da Huo, you watch the door!" Da Huo cleverly walked to the door and lay down, his ears perked up, just like a door god.
The small apartment quickly became busy and filled with a rare sense of warmth and life.
The charcoal stove was lit, and a small pot was placed on it.
Ruan Ning used his own condensed water to make soup, adding dried mushrooms, chopped dried meat, and broken braised eggs. The soup slowly simmered and released its aroma.
Sweet potato slices were roasted by the stove. Steamed buns were carefully heated. Sliced braised beef was plated. Finally, Ruan Ning even used the syrup from the jar of fruit, mixed with a little of her own condensed water, to cook a small pot of sweet syrup for everyone.
Da Huo was given a large piece of unsalted, well-cooked meat and sweet potatoes, which made him wag his tail as he ate.
When all the food was placed on the small square table, the warm steam, the aroma of the food, and the luxurious sweetness of the canned fruit mingled together, filling the entire room.
This meal was far more "lavish" and "unusual" than the last barbecue.
The three sat around the table, with Da Huo leaning over it.
“Come on, let’s use water instead of wine.” Ruan Ning raised a glass filled with water.
Lin Yan and Zhou Min also raised their glasses.
"For what?" Zhou Min asked with a smile.
Ruan Ning looked at the clear water in the cup, paused for a moment, then looked up, her gaze sweeping over her two teammates, and then at the raging fire at her feet.
"So that..." she began slowly, her voice still soft but clear and firm, "...we can still sit down and eat together."
"In order to live."
"Also for...the future."
Lin Yan nodded emphatically: "For the future."
Zhou Min's eyes were a little red as she clinked her glass together forcefully: "Yes! For the future! For our team!"
The meal was enjoyed quietly and with satisfaction.
The savory aroma of braised beef, the soft sweetness of steamed buns, the warmth of hot soup, the creamy texture of roasted sweet potatoes, and finally, that luxurious bowl of sweet peach syrup... every flavor is crystal clear on the tip of the tongue, soothing the taste buds numbed by dry rations, and seemingly filling in some empty corners of the heart little by little.
Ruan Ning ate more slowly than usual, savoring each bite. She watched Zhou Min's eyes narrow as she ate a bite of yellow peach, watched Lin Yan carefully blowing on her profile as she cooled the hot soup, and felt the warmth emanating from the fire beside her legs.
The death of an enemy is like pulling out a thorn that is deeply embedded in the flesh. After the pain subsides, a wound that needs time to heal is left behind, but it also gradually makes the senses in other parts of the body clearer.
For example, how delicious the food is right now.
For example, the presence of companions around you.
For example, that vague yet real thought about the future "afterwards".
After the meal, Zhou Min and Lin Yan took turns cleaning up.
When they left, it was already late at night. Da Huo, full of energy, led the way.
Zhou Min and Lin Yan stood at the door watching them leave.
“Ruan Ning,” Lin Yan suddenly called out to her, “thank you.”
Ruan Ning turned around.
"Thank you for inviting us to dinner." Lin Yan smiled, her eyes gentle yet firm under the lamplight.
Zhou Min nodded vigorously: "Next time we'll treat you! Although we won't be as generous as you!"
Ruan Ning's lips twitched slightly, forming an almost invisible yet real curve.
"good."
She responded and turned to walk into the night. The fire followed, a small flame playfully flashing at its tip before quickly extinguishing, like a brief but warm little star.
Walking back to my apartment, the night breeze was slightly cool.
Ruan Ning looked up and saw a few scattered stars in the night sky.
The enemy is dead.
Life goes on.
And she seems... no longer to be alone.
This feeling isn't bad.
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