Chapter Sixty-Five: Dreaming of Qin Nuo

"Shengsheng, when did you get back?" After Zhao Jun and his team left, Jiang Miaomiao hurried over to Qin Sheng, anxiously inquiring about her situation.

Recalling the urgency she had felt on her way, Qin Sheng's eyes flickered downward and she answered calmly, "I arrived not long after Zhao Jun showed up."

Azi opened the door to the room, glanced at the still-trembling window, and asked in confusion, "Qin Sheng, did you actually come in through the window?"

Zhao Tiantian looked at Qin Sheng in astonishment as well. This was the seventh floor, after all—without any protective gear. How on earth had she climbed up? It was simply too dangerous.

Qin Sheng nodded. The height wasn't too much for her, especially since the building had several balconies, making it easier to climb.

"Wow, you're incredible!" Azi couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up in admiration.

Qin Sheng smiled playfully, teasing, "What? Tempted to try again?"

Azi, well aware that Qin Sheng was referring to her desire to train in martial arts alongside her, scratched her head awkwardly. She was always marveling at the miracles Qin Sheng managed to pull off, knowing well it was the result of relentless effort. But waking up early was simply too hard for her.

"Isn't there any way to learn kung fu without having to get up early?" Azi wailed, utterly dejected.

Qin Sheng smiled helplessly, her thoughts turning to the coming time when abilities might awaken. If Azi had powers at her disposal, perhaps her wishful thinking could come true.

"As the ancestors say, without effort there's no success. If you want to soar like Qin Sheng without putting in the time, you're just dreaming," Jiang Miaomiao murmured beside Azi.

Qin Sheng curled her lips, her smile layered with meaning.

"By the way, Qin Sheng, did you run into any trouble on the way?" Zhao Tiantian hurriedly asked if anything unexpected had happened to her.

Qin Sheng shook her head. "No danger at all. The supermarket nearby isn't far, and there are very few zombies around here. I suppose I got lucky."

Hearing that Qin Sheng was safe, Jiang Miaomiao and the others finally felt their worries ease.

"Does that mean we have food for today?!" Azi's eyes lit up severalfold at the prospect of a meal.

Jiang Miaomiao and Zhao Tiantian both looked at Qin Sheng, who was still dressed in her dark clothing.

Qin Sheng nodded, a smile now playing openly on her lips. "Come with me."

With that, she led them into their room, walked straight to the window, and pulled up a rope, revealing a large bag of food in front of Jiang Miaomiao and the others.

"Wow! There’s even army hot pot! This is a feast!" Azi couldn't take her eyes off the bag—everything inside looked delicious.

Jiang Miaomiao stepped forward, tidied up the food, made a simple plan, and set aside what they would eat for lunch, hiding the rest in the cupboard.

"It's not easy for Shengsheng to go out and bring things back. We can't be reckless; we need to ration and plan," she said.

Zhao Tiantian and Azi wholeheartedly agreed, nodding like little bobbleheads, their eyes fixed expectantly on the unopened lunch—Korean army hot pot.

Fortunately, Qin Sheng had also brought back some vegetables and meatballs, making lunch a veritable feast.

"Has Shen Mei woken up yet?" Qin Sheng asked Jiang Miaomiao.

Jiang Miaomiao glanced toward Shen Mei's room and shook her head truthfully.

Qin Sheng frowned slightly. That shouldn’t be—she hadn’t used much of the sleeping draught. Why hadn’t Shen Mei woken up after a whole night?

Could something be wrong? Qin Sheng quickly set down what she was holding and hurried to Shen Mei’s room. Seeing her urgency, Azi and Jiang Miaomiao put down their food and followed to check on Shen Mei.

"Shengsheng, is something wrong with Shen Mei?" Jiang Miaomiao sat anxiously at Shen Mei’s bedside, waiting as Qin Sheng checked her pulse.

Once again, Azi and Zhao Tiantian were amazed by Qin Sheng. They’d all heard about her fighting prowess, but never imagined the eighteen-year-old knew how to take a pulse.

"There’s nothing wrong. She’s just exhausted and wants to rest," Qin Sheng reassured them, placing Shen Mei’s hand back under the blanket.

"Let’s go and let her rest. Yesterday was exhausting," Zhao Tiantian said, tucking Shen Mei in and leading everyone out.

As soon as they left, Azi grabbed Qin Sheng, bombarding her with questions. "Qin Sheng, you know how to take a pulse? Didn’t you major in Chinese literature?" She dragged Qin Sheng onto the living room sofa, eager for answers.

Qin Sheng smiled softly. "My grandfather was a traditional doctor, so I picked up a few things."

Azi knew Qin Sheng was being modest, and admired her even more. "Qin Sheng, you’re amazing! From now on, you’re my idol!"

Jiang Miaomiao flicked Azi’s forehead. "Don’t even think about stealing Shengsheng from me."

Azi rubbed her head in pain, pouting helplessly.

"Shengsheng, you didn’t rest all night. Why don’t you get some sleep now? We’ll wake you for lunch," Jiang Miaomiao said, patting Qin Sheng’s hand with concern.

Qin Sheng, not feeling particularly tired, shook her head gently.

Jiang Miaomiao knew she couldn’t stop Qin Sheng when she set her mind to something, so she let it go.

"About Zhao Jun’s sudden visit today—who do you think tipped him off?" Qin Sheng’s question brought an abrupt gravity to the room. Everyone lowered their heads, pondering who the culprit could be.

"Could it be Qin Mengchun?" Jiang Miaomiao glanced at Qin Sheng in doubt. Everyone knew the two didn’t get along. If someone wanted to harm Qin Sheng, it was likely connected to Qin Mengchun.

"I think it’s possible too," Azi agreed with a nod.

Qin Sheng frowned, her expression uncertain. Qin Mengchun was a likely suspect, but she didn’t have access to people like Zhao Jun yet.

Zhao Jun’s niece, however, was Zhao Ting—the very person who’d always had issues with Qin Sheng.

Of everyone here, only she and Jiang Miaomiao had had contact with Zhao Ting; none of the others had.

Qin Sheng glanced subconsciously at Jiang Miaomiao, but quickly dismissed the thought.

Even if someone here had leaked their secret to Zhao Ting, it could never have been Jiang Miaomiao.

Jiang Miaomiao reached the same conclusion. She swallowed, about to speak, but Qin Sheng beat her to it.

"I trust you more than anyone," Qin Sheng said, her gaze meeting Jiang Miaomiao’s with unwavering conviction. Each word seemed to be carved into Jiang Miaomiao’s heart.

Her eyes grew misty, nose tingling with emotion. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat, only a soft "Alright," escaping.

Qin Sheng nodded with a smile, continuing, "I hope you always put yourself first."

Jiang Miaomiao understood that Qin Sheng referred to her earlier hesitation with Zhao Jun. She pressed her lips together and nodded slowly.

"I’ll go rest for a while. Call me for lunch," Qin Sheng said, patting Jiang Miaomiao’s shoulder before heading to her room.

Jiang Miaomiao watched Qin Sheng’s retreating figure until the door closed, then lowered her eyes, silent and still.

She’d always believed she lived on to carry the life and love of Jiang Ming. Her life, she thought, belonged to Qin Sheng—she would give it up for her at a moment’s notice.

But Qin Sheng had always told her that she, Jiang Miaomiao, should always be her own first priority.

Dropping her gaze, Jiang Miaomiao quickly collected the food from the table and slipped into the simple room to quietly prepare lunch.

Azi and Zhao Tiantian, unaware of the undercurrents between Qin Sheng and Jiang Miaomiao, still believed their friendship was unbreakable—a rare bond in this apocalyptic world.

Returning to her room, Qin Sheng changed out of her dark clothes, tossing them into her storage space, and lay down with her eyes closed.

She was truly exhausted from the night, her strength nearly spent.

The traitor had not yet been found. This failed attempt meant there would surely be another plot, another betrayal. Next time, she would uncover the mastermind.

As she drifted into sleep, no one noticed that the phoenix on her wrist blazed red, as if stained with fresh blood...

"Shengsheng, time to get up—lunch is ready." Half an hour later, Jiang Miaomiao quietly opened Qin Sheng’s door and gently roused her.

Qin Sheng seemed trapped in a nightmare, her forehead slick with cold sweat, her body trembling. Seeing this unusual state, Jiang Miaomiao immediately grew anxious. "Shengsheng, wake up..."

"Xiao Nuo!" Suddenly, Qin Sheng’s eyes snapped open, her breathing ragged and uncontrolled. For a long moment, she was utterly lost.

It had been so long since she’d dreamed of Qin Nuo, yet the memory was as vivid as in her past life—just as heart-wrenching, just as painful.

Jiang Miaomiao gently stroked Qin Sheng’s back, waiting for her to calm down.

"It’s alright, Shengsheng... it’s alright now..."

After a few minutes, Qin Sheng gradually recovered, the sweat on her brow subsiding.

"How do you feel now, Shengsheng? Any better?" Jiang Miaomiao wiped her forehead, never asking what she’d dreamed or what she’d been through.

Qin Sheng took a deep breath, shaking her head gently, still unable to free herself from those emotions.

Her hands, at some point, had clenched tightly at her sides.

"It’s alright now."