Chapter Twenty-Eight: Choose the Softest Persimmon to Squeeze

Dawn was barely breaking over the Suirian Shop.

Qin Sheng slowly opened her eyes, momentarily stunned as she took in her surroundings. At the moment of yesterday’s explosion, she had decisively tried to hide within her space, but before she could enter, a mysterious force had yanked her away. She hadn’t made it inside, and the force of the blast had left her with some injuries as she was pulled out.

Qin Sheng was certainly curious to know who that incompetent teammate was, but her aching waist left her in no state to investigate. She tried to sit up, moving with deliberate care.

A sharp hiss escaped her lips as pain shot through her waist. She pressed her hand against the injury, her brow furrowing.

“If you’re hurt, you shouldn’t move. Take it easy and rest,” a calm male voice sounded as Lu Shenchen entered, carrying a bowl of freshly prepared medicine. He saw her supporting her injured waist with a frown.

Qin Sheng was sure she had never seen the man before—the one in the modified Daoist robe. That robe, though, seemed vaguely familiar, as if she’d seen it somewhere.

“The medicine is still hot. Wait a bit till it cools before drinking,” Lu Shenchen set the bowl on the nightstand beside her. Seeing the confusion on her face, he dragged a chair over and sat down beside her.

As he seated himself by her bed, Qin Sheng’s confusion only deepened.

“Was it you who saved me?” After two minutes of silence, Qin Sheng was the first to speak. Her lips, pale from injury, made her look even more fragile.

She was determined that if Lu Shenchen dared to nod, she would punch him twice. If not for this man, she wouldn’t be injured at all—she might even be enjoying barbecue in her space at this very moment!

“Of course not,” Lu Shenchen answered honestly.

Qin Sheng relaxed, unclenching her fist.

“Then do you know who did?” she asked, her tone much gentler now.

Lu Shenchen glanced at her, seeing her pale lips and assuming she was moved by gratitude. He felt a bit touched himself and answered slowly, “Song Qing’an is your true savior…”

He watched Qin Sheng closely, waiting for the tears of gratitude he expected, ready to bear witness to a miracle and marveling at Song Qing’an’s good fortune.

After all, the next step after a hero saves a beauty is for the beauty to offer herself in gratitude! Lu Shenchen admitted he was a bit envious—why didn’t good fortune ever fall into his own lap? He was hardly inferior to Song Qing’an. But alas, the beauty was not destined for him.

“And where is he?” Qin Sheng asked through gritted teeth.

In Lu Shenchen’s eyes, her tears and anxious inquiry were just the reaction of a grateful beauty seeking her savior.

Of course, Lu Shenchen had to do his good brother a favor and set the stage.

“He’s not here.”

Qin Sheng clenched her teeth harder, more determined than ever that if she saw Song Qing’an, she would give him a couple of punches to ease the pain in her waist and wrist.

“He should return tomorrow. You can repay him with your hand in marriage then,” Lu Shenchen said with a meaningful smile, then left the room.

Repay with her hand in marriage?

Qin Sheng was left baffled. Did this uncle misunderstand something?

She hadn’t even had a chance to explain before Lu Shenchen departed. With her waist injury as severe as it was, she couldn’t run even if she wanted to, but the surroundings here were comfortable enough. She would recuperate for now.

She wasn’t too worried about Jiang Miaomiao and Lin Xing. She’d already blown up most of the zombies, and with their current abilities, they were unlikely to come to harm. Besides, she’d checked the warehouse—it was a decent temporary shelter.

She would go back to check on them once she healed.

For now, everyone probably thought she’d died in the blast. Jiang Miaomiao was probably going to cry again. Qin Sheng had plenty on her mind. She turned, took up the now-cooled medicine, and downed it in one go. Perhaps because of the medicine’s effects, drowsiness soon claimed her and she fell asleep again.

Night was falling when Song Qing’an hurried back, not bothering to rest from his journey as he made straight for Qin Sheng’s room.

“You’re back?” Lu Shenchen, busy with his accounts, called out as Song Qing’an passed the counter.

Song Qing’an nodded, accepted the tea Lu Shenchen poured for him, and was about to down it in one gulp when Lu Shenchen stopped him.

“This is a rare tea from Jianglin. It should be savored slowly.”

Song Qing’an cast a glance toward Qin Sheng’s room, then had no choice but to seat himself near Lu Shenchen, tea in hand.

“The one you brought has taken her medicine and is asleep. No need to worry,” Lu Shenchen reassured him, having noticed Song Qing’an’s anxious look.

Hearing that Qin Sheng was resting, Song Qing’an finally relaxed, a smile breaking out on his face. He took a sip of the fine tea and shook his head, “Jianglin’s tea is indeed excellent. Save me some for next time.”

Lu Shenchen was no longer surprised by Song Qing’an’s shamelessness; it only made him marvel at his good fortune.

“So, what happened over there? Why were they so eager for you to return?” Lu Shenchen’s tone grew serious, his fingers pausing over the abacus.

Song Qing’an’s hand stilled on the teacup. He laughed softly, finished the last sip, and sighed, “What could it be? They probably think I’m enjoying myself too much over here.”

Lu Shenchen was puzzled. “Tingfeng Pavilion has already stripped you of all your power. They still won’t let you live as a carefree idler?”

Song Qing’an stroked the delicate teacup, his expression calm. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in their schemes anyway.”

Lu Shenchen wanted to say more, but seeing Song Qing’an’s indifference, he let it drop.

“By the way, as soon as that girl woke up, she asked who saved her. You really are lucky, aren’t you?” Lu Shenchen left the counter, envy written all over his face.

“She insisted she had to repay you with her hand in marriage!” Lu Shenchen widened his eyes dramatically, as if it were the truth, though the story was entirely his own fabrication.

Song Qing’an frowned. In all the time he’d known Qin Sheng, she had never uttered any words of thanks, much less suggested offering herself in gratitude. Clearly, Lu Shenchen was making things up.

“Is that so?” Song Qing’an raised an eyebrow, playing along. “Did she say when?”

Lu Shenchen was caught off guard by the question. He laughed awkwardly, “Maybe... the fifteenth of this month.”

Song Qing’an privately admired Lu Shenchen’s storytelling, but he had no objection to being the subject of this tale.

“Very well, I’ll leave the wedding arrangements to you. On the fifteenth, I’ll just wait for my bride…” Song Qing’an stretched lazily, tossed out the remark, and went upstairs to sleep, leaving Lu Shenchen standing there with a forced smile.

“Damn, where am I supposed to find him a bride?” Lu Shenchen grumbled at Song Qing’an’s departing back.

“You’re no match for my master,” came the ghostly voice of Xunfeng from the rooftop, startling Lu Shenchen.

“You scared me, Xunfeng! Wait, have you been on the roof all these days?” Lu Shenchen asked, surprised.

It was a long moment before a reply drifted down from above, “I would never disobey my master.”

Clearly, after Song Qing’an had told Xunfeng to stay on the shop’s roof, he hadn’t left since.

Lu Shenchen quickly caught on. “So your master returned to the other world by himself?”

Xunfeng didn’t reply, which was answer enough.

“He really is a daring one.”

Inside the canteen warehouse.

“Li Chengbin! What are you doing here?” Someone in the crowd suddenly recognized Li Chengbin and Qin Mengchun huddled in a far corner of the warehouse, both long thought missing.

Li Chengbin panicked. When the zombies broke through, he had dragged Qin Mengchun into this little-known warehouse, hoping to wait out the carnage and emerge when it was safe. He never expected the others would find them here.

At the mention of Li Chengbin, Wang Yu’s anger flared, especially as he remembered Li Ming, who had died to the zombies. Wang Yu stormed up to Li Chengbin.

“Li Chengbin! You’re the rescue team captain, yet you abandoned your post and ran! That’s just like you!” Wang Yu, now missing his glasses, could barely see, but his anger guided him unerringly to Li Chengbin.

Lin Xing got up and stood by Wang Yu. Chu Xingyu and Jiang Miaomiao joined them, and suddenly there were four people confronting Li Chengbin, some even armed.

Li Chengbin was visibly flustered, but feeling the trembling Qin Mengchun in his arms, he tried to compose himself. “Men die for wealth, birds for food. I was just trying to protect myself and the one I care about.”

He held Qin Mengchun tighter, which moved her to tears.

“Chengbin, I’m so glad you’re here,” Qin Mengchun murmured shyly against his chest.

Jiang Miaomiao nearly lost her composure. Her own sister’s fate was unknown out there, while this woman was acting all soft and sweet in her boyfriend’s arms?

“Did you forget your sister is still missing?” Lin Xing’s eyes hardened as he stared at Qin Mengchun.

Qin Mengchun knew well enough that Qin Sheng was most likely dead in the explosion. She could barely hide her glee, almost letting a smirk slip, but feigned sorrow instead. “My sister saved us. We’ll never forget her.”

A resounding slap broke the silence, shocking everyone except Lin Xing and Chu Xingyu.

“Why did you hit me?” Qin Mengchun clutched her stinging cheek, staring in disbelief at the girl who had struck her.

“Sheng… is… not… dead,” Jiang Miaomiao enunciated each word, her eyes blazing with a fury that made her seem uncannily like Qin Sheng.

“You hit my woman?” Li Chengbin was quick to defend Qin Mengchun, clenching his fists and advancing on Jiang Miaomiao.

“Try it.”

“Stop!”

In an instant, three blades were at Li Chengbin’s throat. Jiang Miaomiao, expressionless, stood with a dagger in her tiny hand, her gaze cold. Chu Xingyu and Lin Xing also held blades at the ready.

“You want to lay a finger on me?” Jiang Miaomiao said coldly, with a sneer. “You’d better see if you have the ability.”

“You…” Li Chengbin was seething, but there was little he could do against three knives.

He might stand a chance in a fistfight with Lin Xing, but not against three armed opponents.

“Think you’re so tough with knives? How about a fair fight?” Li Chengbin knew he needed to prove himself to recover his standing and authority in the group.

“A grown man picking a fight with a girl? Aren’t you ashamed?” Wang Yu couldn’t stand it any longer. He couldn’t believe he’d ever thought Li Chengbin was a real man. Now he wished he could take it back. Bullying the weak, abandoning his team, and now challenging girls—he was no man at all, just a petty coward!

“I’ll fight you. No knives,” Lin Xing said, his face expressionless.

Li Chengbin raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested in fighting Lin Xing. He only wanted to pick on Jiang Miaomiao—choosing the weakest target.

Jiang Miaomiao tightened her grip on the dagger, then handed it to Lin Xing.

“Fine, I’ll fight you.”