Chapter Nineteen: The Finest Cabbage at Home Has Been Devoured by a Pig

“What?!” When the three of them heard that Qin Sheng had run into zombies while out searching for food at the convenience store today, they all immediately set down their breakfasts, worry etched across their faces as they looked at her.

Qin Sheng hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from them—she was a little surprised, but more than that, she felt a warmth blossoming inside her. So this was what it felt like to have others worry about her, even if they’d only been together for just a week.

“Are you hurt? Let me see.” Jiang Miaomiao put down her rice ball, looking uncharacteristically anxious. Only after carefully checking several times to confirm there wasn’t a single scratch on Qin Sheng did she finally breathe easy.

Qin Sheng shook her head with a small smile. “You’re making a fuss for nothing. I’m not hurt, don’t worry.”

“Sister Sheng, if you got hurt because of us, we’d never forgive ourselves,” Chu Xingyu said, his breakfast forgotten, worry clouding his deer-like eyes.

Lin Xing, even more so. Although he always seemed to rely on Qin Sheng, he was working hard, hoping there’d come a day when he could protect her.

“Ancestor, it’s too dangerous. From now on, the three of us should eat less, or better yet, let us go out for food,” Lin Xing said, putting down his chicken leg and standing up solemnly. Jiang Miaomiao and Chu Xingyu nodded in earnest agreement.

Qin Sheng couldn’t help but laugh, but she patiently reassured them, “You’re all being too polite today. Eat up. There’s nothing to worry about.”

For a moment, it was hard to tell who had actually encountered the zombies.

The three exchanged worried glances, none of them picking up their food, the tension thick in the air.

“Finish your meal in five minutes. Training on the rooftop afterward,” Qin Sheng said, her tone turning serious when she realized gentle words wouldn’t work.

As expected, this worked like a charm. Without another word, the three of them immediately lowered their heads and started eating.

Qin Sheng shook her head helplessly and left the dorm with her rice ball.

The apocalypse was about to reach its tenth day, but still, the government hadn’t sent soldiers to rescue the survivors at the school. Had the outside world already fallen?

It shouldn’t be. In her previous life, the military arrived in fifteen days. She would just have to wait patiently.

But once the army came, would it be even harder to take things from her space? She might end up hungry again.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts as she made her way to the rooftop. Leaning against the railing, she let the wind blow through her hair, clearing away some of the chaos in her head.

Though the air still carried a faint metallic tang, it was one of the fresher breaths she’d had in a long while. Qin Sheng slowly closed her eyes, letting the breeze caress her face.

She’d been in this post-apocalyptic world for ten days now.

She still had no leads, hadn’t even avenged herself or her younger brother Qin Nuo. Would Nuo blame her for being incapable?

With her eyes closed, she held her rice ball, unmoving, enjoying the solitude.

Alone, but not silent.

Suddenly, Qin Sheng sensed something. Her eyes snapped open, alert, her right hand ready to draw her Tang sword at a moment’s notice.

“It’s me.”

A familiar voice, tinged with laughter, drifted over. Qin Sheng let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

“Song Qing’an.” She called softly to the young man in the black suit before her. Unlike his usual self, today his attire was much more formal, outlining his perfect proportions: broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a shapely figure. If it weren’t for the apocalypse, Song Qing’an would be walking a runway somewhere.

“Are you attending Fashion Week today? Why are you dressed up so doggedly handsome?” Qin Sheng teased mercilessly, a smile tugging at her lips.

Song Qing’an’s mouth twitched. She really never minced words, but he was used to it by now.

“What do you mean, ‘doggedly handsome’? Dressed like this, I could easily sweep a whole crowd of fangirls off their feet.” Song Qing’an grinned, looking every bit the smug, preening fox.

Proud and self-obsessed.

Qin Sheng had known about this side of him for a while and was too lazy to argue further. “So, what is it? Out of food again?”

Caught out, Song Qing’an awkwardly pinched the bridge of his nose, then flashed an impish smile as he sidled up to her. “Well, I know you always have something to eat.”

Qin Sheng pursed her lips, resigned, and took out two compressed biscuits from her pocket. Seeing the familiar look of disdain and complaint starting to form on Song Qing’an’s face, she cut him off, “Say one more word, and next time there won’t be any biscuits.”

Song Qing’an pouted, but accepted his fate, opening the packet and eating slowly.

He thought, dressed up like this, he’d at least deserve a sandwich, but no—always these compressed biscuits. He was honestly sick of them.

Qin Sheng glanced at the resentful Song Qing’an gnawing on his biscuit, her smile widening. She shook her head and decided to spare him further teasing.

“Here, your favorite egg yolk sandwich.” With a resigned sigh, she produced from her space an exact copy of the sandwich she’d given him the other night.

Song Qing’an’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the sandwich. He tossed the biscuit aside, and with the first bite, pure bliss spread across his face.

Qin Sheng’s smile never faded. Only when Song Qing’an finished his sandwich did she realize she’d been watching him the whole time. She quickly forced down her smile and swallowed hard, feigning nonchalance.

“Are you drooling over me? And you say you’re not attracted to my good looks.” Song Qing’an was already close, but now he leaned in even further.

Caught off guard, Qin Sheng pursed her mouth in embarrassment and retorted hastily, “You’re so narcissistic. Just eat your food.”

A mischievous, triumphant glint flashed in Song Qing’an’s eyes. Mistaking her fluster for shyness, he edged closer, but just as he did, Qin Sheng abruptly looked up. Their eyes met, and for the first time, he saw the fine down on her face.

Looking up, Qin Sheng’s gaze met Song Qing’an’s deep, ink-dark eyes, and she felt as if she were being drawn into a whirlpool, compelled to uncover the secrets hidden within.

Their faces were just a fist’s width apart. Song Qing’an swallowed nervously.

Qin Sheng, captivated by his gaze, was oblivious to the ambiguous closeness between them, a closeness that would make anyone’s thoughts wander.

She stared into his eyes, and for a moment, Song Qing’an forgot to move away. Their eyes locked, both hearts racing wildly in their chests.

A blush crept over Song Qing’an’s ears.

Time seemed to freeze—until a sudden interruption shattered the moment.

“What are you two doing?” Lin Xing’s cheeks puffed angrily. Who would have thought, after finishing his meal first, he’d walk in on such a scene?

It was like watching his precious cabbage being snatched by a pig.

Granted, this “pig” was the most handsome, dazzling person he’d ever seen, and Lin Xing couldn’t help but admire him, but no matter how good-looking, snatching his ‘ancestor’ was unacceptable!

Qin Sheng hadn’t expected Song Qing’an’s bewitching eyes to have such an effect on her, nor that she’d been staring for so long at such close range—much less that Lin Xing would catch her. She could have died of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Song Qing’an leaned nonchalantly against the railing, as if nothing had happened.

Qin Sheng pressed her lips together awkwardly, feeling distinctly out of sorts.

Song Qing’an watched her small, flustered movements with unconcealed amusement, not taking his eyes off her for a second. The more he watched, the more apparent the smile at the corner of his mouth became.

“Ahem, this is my friend, Lin Xing—Chu Xingyu and Jiang Miaomiao too.” As Chu Xingyu and Jiang Miaomiao came up after Lin Xing, Qin Sheng forced herself to introduce them one by one.

Song Qing’an, grinning slyly, looked at her like a fox. Unable to stand it, Qin Sheng lightly kicked his leg—without any real force.

Song Qing’an glanced down, realizing the little wildcat beside him was bristling, and finally toned down his smile.

“This is Song Qing’an,” Qin Sheng introduced him to the others.

Jiang Miaomiao, who had met Song Qing’an before, greeted him politely, “We meet again, silver-haired heartthrob. Whispering secrets with our Shengsheng up here?”

Song Qing’an knew Jiang Miaomiao as well and replied with a smile, “We barely started before it was interrupted.”

A subtle jab at Lin Xing for breaking the mood.

Qin Sheng shot Jiang Miaomiao a reproachful glare, but after that teasing, there was really no explaining things.

“Sister Sheng’s friends are my friends, too. I’m Chu Xingyu.” Chu Xingyu, ever polite, introduced himself with a smile.

Song Qing’an nodded. “Song Qing’an.”

Only Lin Xing remained silent, glaring death at the stunning “pig” who dared snatch his cabbage.

“Let’s get on with training.” After sorting everything out, Qin Sheng returned to Song Qing’an’s side.

Lin Xing’s gaze followed her.

For some reason, Qin Sheng felt different standing next to Song Qing’an compared to being with Jiang Miaomiao and Lin Xing. Not only did she not resist this feeling, she found herself liking it.

“Does this kind of training actually help?” Song Qing’an asked, tilting his chin toward the three in training.

“Who knows? But keeping fit is never a bad thing,” Qin Sheng replied honestly.

Song Qing’an nodded thoughtfully, and after a long while, added, “They make good teammates.”

Qin Sheng smiled and nodded.

A long silence stretched between them, the wind once shared by one now belonging to two.

“I…”

“I…”

They spoke at the same time, then shared a helpless laugh.

“Ladies first,” Song Qing’an said.

“We’re planning a barbecue up here tonight. Would you like to join us?” Qin Sheng asked, looking him in the eye.

Song Qing’an looked troubled, hesitating for a long time.

“If you’re busy, it’s all right…” Qin Sheng guessed he probably had something to do and didn’t want to push, but before she could finish, he interrupted.

“I’ll definitely be there.”

“All right.”