Chapter 87: Suspecting There Was a Reason Behind Father's Suicide

“The renowned medical expert Qin Zongming?” Shen Mei’s mouth fell open in astonishment, forming a perfect ‘O’. Though she had little connection to the medical field, she was well aware of Qin Zongming, whose face often appeared on television and in the news. It had been a long time since she’d heard that name; she remembered once indulging in gossip about him. Some said Qin Zongming’s grandfather had retired mysteriously, others claimed Qin Zongming himself had disappeared.

After that, she’d lost interest in such rumors, never expecting to meet the granddaughter of someone she once gossiped about.

Qin Sheng was fully aware of her grandfather’s reputation and wasn’t surprised that Shen Mei knew of him.

“Do you follow medical news?” Qin Sheng eyed Shen Mei with a hint of confusion. It was rare for young people to know about her grandfather’s achievements in medicine, so Shen Mei’s familiarity took her aback.

Shen Mei shook her head, then nodded, “I don’t really follow medicine, but I’ve seen your grandfather Qin Zongming in the news. I never imagined you would be his granddaughter.”

Without thinking, Shen Mei recalled the time she’d been rendered unconscious by Qin Sheng, realizing it must have been Qin Zongming’s sedative—nothing else could have been so effective, knocking her out for a whole day.

Qin Sheng smiled in relief, surprised to hear her grandfather mentioned in this post-apocalyptic world.

“In that case, you needn’t worry about the medicine,” she said.

Shen Mei nodded vigorously, gripping the porcelain bottle in her hand even tighter. This was a remedy crafted by Qin Zongming himself! Such medicine was never available on the market, and even if it were, it would be worth a fortune. She felt incredibly lucky to use his medicine.

Suddenly, Shen Mei thought her injury had been worthwhile after all.

“Alright, get some rest. I’ll come check on you tomorrow,” Qin Sheng said, having confirmed Shen Mei was recovering well, and prepared to leave the hospital.

“Wait,” Shen Mei called after her.

“What is it?” Qin Sheng paused, looking back with curiosity.

Shen Mei pursed her lips and whispered, “Even if your grandfather weren’t Qin Zongming, I’d still trust the medicine you gave me.”

Qin Sheng chuckled softly. Shen Mei, usually so proud, had finally admitted trust—a gesture that made her seem unexpectedly adorable.

“No laughing,” Shen Mei demanded.

Qin Sheng’s smile vanished at once. She turned, leaving as she spoke, “Understood. Rest well.”

Only when Qin Sheng had left did Shen Mei let out a sigh of relief. She was so accustomed to pride that saying something so honest felt entirely new.

She opened the medicine bottle given by Qin Sheng. A soothing aroma of herbs wafted out, comforting and pleasant. Clearly, the medicine had been made with care.

Carefully, Shen Mei sprinkled the powder onto her wounds; every scar on her body was proof of what had happened that afternoon. The marks were vivid, and her heart felt chilled.

Now that things had come to this, she no longer needed to cling to the past alone.

The pain eased where the powder touched, but Shen Mei knew it wasn’t the wounds that hurt—it was her heart.

Qin Sheng followed the original path out of the hospital’s safe zone, only to unexpectedly encounter a familiar face.

A young man stood by the wall, clearly waiting for her.

It was Shen Shi, the face-blind youth.

Qin Sheng found it amusing and walked past him, heading toward her residence.

“Wait,” Shen Shi called, unable to let her ignore him. He finally took initiative.

Qin Sheng stopped and turned to see Shen Shi approaching.

“Is there something you need?”

Shen Shi studied Qin Sheng’s ambitious eyes once more, finally confirming that she was not the person he’d met near the core base.

“This time, we meet again as friends,” Qin Sheng replied, arms folded, echoing Shen Shi’s own words from their previous encounter.

Shen Shi knew he’d been abrupt that afternoon and pursed his lips in embarrassment. “Sorry. I mistook you for someone else earlier.”

Qin Sheng raised an eyebrow. This youth, proud as he was, had returned to apologize—a polite gesture.

She waved it off. “It’s fine. Just don’t mix people up next time.”

Shen Shi said nothing, his gaze lowered, lost in thought.

Qin Sheng shrugged, bored, and left.

After a long while, Shen Shi watched Qin Sheng’s receding figure, standing motionless before finally departing.

He made his way through the core base’s high-end apartments, entering the building with practiced ease. Upon arriving, he spotted a familiar female figure and frowned slightly as he approached.

“Brother Shen Shi, you finished the competition?” Guo Ting greeted him, her admiration obvious as she gazed at the tall, handsome man.

Shen Shi frowned but answered politely, “Yes.”

“I knew you’d win! Tell me, is it true?” Guo Ting’s usual arrogance vanished, replaced by the demeanor of a well-behaved girl.

Shen Shi opened his room door without responding, and Guo Ting bounced in behind him.

He was clearly displeased, though he didn’t show it overtly.

“Brother Shen Shi, uncle really likes you. He got you such a nice place. I’m so envious!” Guo Ting laughed, clinging to his sleeve as she spoke coquettishly.

Shen Shi smiled faintly, deftly freeing his sleeve. “Please thank Commander Guo for me.”

Guo Ting paid no heed to Shen Shi’s subtle distancing, her face still bright as she continued, “Oh, what commander? You’re my fiancé, you should call him uncle like I do.”

She blushed, acting like a shy girl next door.

Shen Shi sighed, “Guo Ting, what happened in our childhood doesn’t count. I’ve always seen you as a sister…”

He’d said this countless times, but Guo Ting never listened. She believed the one she loved would eventually love her back—by any means necessary.

Seeing her change the subject, Shen Shi’s frown deepened.

He soon retreated into his own world, responding to Guo Ting’s chatter with perfunctory remarks.

Guo Ting lingered for a while, then suddenly remembered something. She stood and walked to Shen Shi. “Brother Shen Shi, uncle invited me to dinner tonight. Will you come with me?”

His expression remained impassive. “No, I have training tonight. Perhaps another time.”

Guo Ting’s smile faltered.

She had invited Shen Shi countless times, always receiving the same response.

“Well then, I’ll go alone. By the way, brother Shen Shi, uncle isn’t Commander Guo anymore—he’s captain of the Guard Squad. But as long as you call him uncle, you don’t have to worry.”

Shen Shi didn’t answer; his hand holding the book froze.

Seeing him revert to his usual stoic self, Guo Ting wisely left his room.

He set down his book, his expressionless face now tinged with loneliness.

He’s no longer Commander Guo—he’s captain of the Guard Squad…

Guo Ting’s words flashed through Shen Shi’s mind like a film reel. He clenched his fists, his cold eyes filled with anger and unwillingness.

Before the apocalypse, Shen Shi’s father, Shen Yun, who served in the same team as Guo Jun, died suddenly. Guo Jun was promoted from vice-captain to captain. Not long after, Shen Shi’s mother passed away from grief. In a matter of days, the once introverted Shen Shi grew even more withdrawn.

Guo Jun, due to his father’s connection, half-adopted him. He also encountered Guo Ting, whom he’d played house with as a child.

Guo Ting insisted they were betrothed as children.

Both sides knew it was only a childhood game, but Guo Jun was happy to see his niece with Shen Shi and didn’t object.

Even after arriving in the safe zone, Guo Ting remained by Shen Shi’s side.

“Father, why was it?” Shen Shi gazed at the moon outside his window, lips parted, his eyes filled with sorrow and longing.

He’d always suspected his father’s death was linked to Guo Jun, and so had accepted being half-adopted without protest.

His suspicion stemmed from the fact that Guo Jun benefited the most after his father’s death.

So he’d been investigating the past ever since, even though it was harder to uncover anything from before the apocalypse. Shen Shi persisted.

He couldn’t understand why his confident, cheerful father would choose suicide.

When Qin Sheng returned, Ah Zhi and Jiang Miaomiao were already rested. With Qin Sheng absent, they played games out of boredom.

“Shengsheng? You’re back!” Jiang Miaomiao heard the door and turned to see Qin Sheng entering alone.

Ah Zhi was puzzled. She knew Qin Sheng had gone to watch Shen Mei’s competition, but why was Qin Sheng back and Shen Mei not?

“Where’s Shen Mei? Is she still in the match?” Jiang Miaomiao glanced at the darkening sky; the contest should have ended.

Qin Sheng shook her head and briefly recounted Shen Mei’s ordeal that afternoon.

“What?!”

“How could Yang Yao do such a thing?”

Jiang Miaomiao and Ah Zhi’s reactions were intense; they hadn’t expected Shen Mei to be betrayed by her closest friend, a plot worthy only of melodramatic television.

“Shen Mei is certain the bottle of water she drank was tampered with.”