Xiao Feng glanced indifferently at the two people squatting on the ground.
A hint of disdain flashed through his eyes.
How... childish...
Just as the three of them were enjoying their melon-eating session, Lu Chen turned around and walked towards them.
Zheng Xin'er's face showed a flicker of disappointment, but she quickly regained her smile.
As soon as she looked up, she saw Yun Xiaoxiao and the others, so she also walked over.
She was a bit faster than Lu Chen.
So, although they weren't in sync, they arrived almost simultaneously.
"Why are you looking at me? I'm not here for you. Can't I come to see our Xiaoxiao?"
Zheng Xin'er gave Lu Chen a sideways glance and walked up to Yun Xiaoxiao.
She fished a candy out of her pocket.
"Xiaoxiao, this is very sweet, for you."
Yun Xiaoxiao reached out and took it, her gaze shifting between Zheng Xin'er and Lu Chen, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Sister Xin'er, what's going on with you two?"
Zheng Xin'er casually swept her hair back and laughed frankly.
"Nothing much, just that I like him, but he doesn't like me.
I'm beautiful and capable, so if he doesn't like me, it's his loss.
I don't feel any pity for myself.
It's hard to find a three-legged frog, but two-legged men? There are plenty out there."
Lu Chen: ......
Yun Xiaoxiao and Nie Yizhou struggled to suppress their laughter.
After the brief interlude, the plan to head to the western base was set in motion.
Those going included Lu Chen, Ling Jing, Nie Yizhou, Xiao Feng, and Zheng Yuner.
Mu Yang stayed behind to handle base affairs.
Meanwhile, Zheng Xin'er led seven others from her base to join Yun Xiaoxiao's group.
Zheng Xin'er hooked her arm around Zheng Yuner's shoulder, smiling charmingly and full of allure.
"Sister, look, our names are only one character apart. Isn't that a special kind of fate?"
Being suddenly draped over the shoulder, Zheng Yuner reflexively wanted to resist.
But hearing a female voice, she stopped her actions.
She was surprised that someone would willingly touch her like this.
In the base, although Yun Xiaoxiao had made it clear that no one dared to look at her with strange eyes,
few people were willing to take the initiative to get close to her.
She turned her head to look at Zheng Xin'er.
The other woman was very beautiful, a true beauty.
Her personality was bold and her whole being exuded a wild charm.
Such a person was striking, making it hard not to be drawn to her.
Even as a woman, it was easy to be captivated by the smile on her face.
Zheng Yuner nodded slightly, politely saying, "Yes, it does seem quite fated."
"The weather has been getting colder lately. Do you have any thick clothes? If not, I have an extra one here that you can wear." Zheng Xin'er smiled.
Zheng Yuner shook her head, "No, thank you. Xiaoxiao has already given me many clothes to change into, but still, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for? Women should help each other out.
Ah, if it weren't for so many people relying on me, I'd love to move to your base.
The environment and conditions there are really great."
Zheng Xin'er exclaimed.
Zheng Yuner pursed her lips, "Yes, I feel very fortunate."
From the moment she landed on the base's helipad, she had been in a state of shock.
In awe, she also felt grateful for how fortunate she was to have met Yun Xiaoxiao and been able to live in such a secure base.
It was hard for her to imagine that this base had all the amenities—water, electricity, gas—and even had shopping malls, supermarkets, markets, clothing stores, shoe stores...
If it weren't for knowing that zombies were rampant outside, she might have thought she was still in some peaceful city before the apocalypse.
After preparations were made, the group set off.
A motorhome and two SUVs sped out of the base, heading down the main road.
However, by that evening, snow began to fall from the sky.
"My goodness, it's snowing?!"
Nie Yizhou stared at the hexagonal crystals landing on the windshield, his eyes wide with surprise.
He rolled down the window and stuck his hand out.
Then, he carefully examined the snowflakes on his sleeve, his face full of astonishment.
"It really is snow!"
Xiao Feng also glanced out the window, his expression serious.
"That likely means the extreme cold weather is about to set in."
At the same time, everyone who saw the snow felt heavy hearts.
Some who had previously doubted the coming of the extreme cold spent the night sleepless.
Because of the snow, Yun Xiaoxiao and the others decided not to continue traveling at night.
They found a two-story house by the roadside.
The door was locked.
Originally thinking they might have to deal with zombies inside, they were surprised to find no zombies when they opened the door.
The owner of the house must have been out at the time.
Yun Xiaoxiao and the others quickly tidied up and started preparing dinner.
Zheng Xin'er and her group took out boxed meals to eat.
These were purchased when they were in Yun City.
For them, who often ate instant noodles on missions, being able to eat boxed meals outside was a rare luxury.
"What are you guys having tonight?"
Zheng Xin'er had just finished preparing her boxed meal when she walked over to Yun Xiaoxiao's group.
"We're just having something simple," Yun Xiaoxiao replied, carrying a box of beef out of the motorhome.
Behind her, Lu Chen was taking out a small generator from the vehicle.
Nie Yizhou held an induction cooker, and Ling Jing carried a pot.
Zheng Yuner wasn't idle either; she set up a small table and brought out various side dishes from the motorhome, arranging them on the table.
Xiao Feng also brought out a cleaned rabbit and started preparing the seasoning.
The aroma wafted from the pot...
Zheng Xin'er, who was nearby, was already dumbfounded.
She looked at Yun Xiaoxiao.
"You said something simple... is this... hot pot?!"
Yun Xiaoxiao shrugged, "Yeah, once the broth is ready, just drop the ingredients in and cook them."
She thought this was much more convenient than stir-frying.
It really was a simple meal.
Zheng Xin'er's mouth twitched.
While that might be true, compared to their boxed meals, this was anything but simple!
Ah, indeed.
There's a huge gap between people.
As a base leader, she really lived a somewhat shabby life.
The aroma from the hot pot made Zheng Xin'er and her companions feel their boxed meals weren't as tasty.
It just felt like... something was missing.
Sister Xin'er, why don't you come over and join us for some?
Just as Zheng Xin'er and her group were struggling to enjoy their meals, a pleasant voice rang out.
Zheng Xin'er looked up to see Yun Xiaoxiao smiling brightly at her.
She was immediately touched to the core.
Xiaoxiao sister was so thoughtful!
"Sure, sure, I was already craving it from the smell."
"Then come on over, I'll charge you a bit, three level one crystal cores per person or one level two crystal core, how about it?"
Yun Xiaoxiao spoke in a very agreeable tone.
Zheng Xin'er, who was excited to move forward, twitched her mouth.
Of course...
This little girl's "cheap" wasn't easy to take.
She was cunning, but it was hard to dislike her.
"Deal."
Zheng Xin'er agreed without hesitation.
For food, a few crystals were nothing.
After eating, they could just kill a few more zombies to get more.
