Chapter 094: Apocalypse 9

Le Yixian had already eaten most of the dishes while the two were talking.

At that, Xia Linlin suddenly felt a little hungry. She took one look and flared up at once. “I’m not eating what she left behind!”

“Have Aunt Liu make you a fresh bowl of noodles,” General Xia said, and called for Aunt Liu to cook some.

“Why should I only get noodles while she gets to eat meat by the mouthful?” Xia Linlin grew even angrier.

“Linlin,” General Xia said sternly, “having noodles at all is already quite good enough.”

Xia Linlin was a little afraid of his stern expression, so she said no more and waited until Aunt Liu finished the noodles.

Seeing this, General Xia let out a sigh. After he finished eating, Xia Liang happened to return as well.

He called the siblings into the study and looked at them both. “I know you’re all somewhat unhappy that Meimei has come home, but I have a use for her. Don’t cause trouble, especially you, Linlin.”

“How can she possibly be of any use?” Xia Linlin said, clearly displeased.

“Since Dad says she’s useful, then naturally there’s some place she can be put to use,” Xia Liang said, still rather protective of his younger sister, and tried to explain.

Hearing her older brother say that, and knowing that her father intended to make use of Meimei, the irritation in Xia Linlin’s heart eased considerably.

The next day, since she was not going out to kill zombies, she saw Lin Jingyu arrive at the door carrying a bouquet of wildflowers. She was fairly familiar with him, and when she saw him with flowers, she was pleasantly surprised. “Brother Jingyu, why are you here?”

Before Lin Jingyu could even speak, she hurried up and reached for the bouquet. “What beautiful flowers.”

“Um, if Linlin likes them, then I’ll bring you another bouquet tomorrow,” Lin Jingyu said with a smile, stepping back one pace.

“...Bring another bouquet tomorrow?” Xia Linlin repeated after a moment of silence.

“Yes. This bouquet is for Meimei,” Lin Jingyu said.

Xia Linlin’s expression twisted for an instant. Again with that Xia Meimei.

Behind her, footsteps sounded. Lin Jingyu’s eyes lit up. He quickly stepped forward, passed her, and said eagerly, “Meimei, you’re up. Look, I brought you flowers.”

Le Yixian nearly got struck in the face by the bouquet and stepped back several paces. She had no intention of taking it. “Thank you, but I don’t really like flowers. You don’t need to keep bringing them.”

Lin Jingyu looked a little aggrieved at being refused so directly, and said pitifully, “I picked these flowers myself this early morning outside the base. I almost got bitten by zombies.”

“I didn’t ask you to pick them,” Le Yixian said, glancing at him. She did not want to provoke him, lest her own lover suddenly appear, get jealous, and then drive himself to his own doom.

“But I like you. I’m pursuing you, so it’s only right that I give you flowers,” Lin Jingyu said.

“I don’t like you, and I don’t accept your pursuit. You can go now,” Le Yixian said, then called toward the kitchen, “Aunt Liu, is breakfast ready?”

“Miss Meimei, it’s already cooked. Today we’re having century egg and lean pork congee,” Aunt Liu answered as she came out of the kitchen carrying the porridge.

Having been rejected so bluntly, Lin Jingyu’s face turned rather unsightly. Xia Linlin, standing to the side, looked at him, then at the calm expression on Xia Meimei’s face as she sat down at the table and drank her congee. Suddenly, she remembered what General Xia had said in the study last night.

A place where one could be of value—that meant a political marriage.

Xia Linlin felt she had figured it out.

She had grown up with Lin Jingyu since childhood and knew him far too well. She did not have any feelings for him. Seeing Lin Jingyu turn and walk away, she thought for a moment and then chased after him.

“Does the young lady not eat breakfast?” Aunt Liu asked in confusion.

“I don’t know,” Le Yixian replied lazily.

Not long after, Xia Linlin returned. No one knew exactly what she had said to Lin Jingyu, but her face was alight with joy as she hummed a little tune. When she saw Le Yixian, she even snorted.

Soon, the day of departure for the transport mission arrived.

Each team that was to set out had made its preparations, and on the day of departure Li Qing came in person to fetch Le Yixian, as though afraid she might run off.

The base attached great importance to the transport of heavy weapons, and the teams selected for the job were all elite squads.

When Le Yixian arrived, she saw Ke Yuandao speaking with several people. At a glance, she recognized two of them.

Xia Linlin and Lin Jingyu were both there.

“What are you doing here?” Xia Linlin asked, frowning when she saw Le Yixian.

“Meimei is part of our team,” Li Qing said. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her food. Right, Captain Ke?”

Ke Yuandao nodded, which counted as his answer.

“What?” Xia Linlin’s eyes widened. Thinking that Ke Yuandao had been deceived, she hurriedly said, “Captain Ke, Xia Meimei hasn’t even awakened any abilities. Aside from being pretty, she’s completely useless. Bringing her along is nothing but a burden.”

“Oh, Captain Xia, that isn’t quite right,” Li Qing said. “How can being pretty be useless? At the very least, when you’ve just seen those disgusting zombies, looking at Miss Meimei will wash your eyes out.”

Among the base’s female ability users, there were not many who were truly outstanding, and both she and Xia Linlin counted among them.

Because she was on good terms with Ke Yuandao, Xia Linlin had simply treated her as a love rival, and the things she said had often been vicious.

So whenever Li Qing had a chance to push back against Xia Linlin, she would not miss it.

“You—this mission is very important. If you insist on bringing her and something goes wrong, can you take responsibility?” Xia Linlin was furious. Why had all the women she clashed with ended up joining forces?

And that woman was going to join his team too. Why? Xia Linlin looked at the silent Ke Yuandao beside her and bit her lip.

“I’ll take responsibility,” a deep, magnetic voice rang out.

Everyone froze, then turned in unison to look at the speaker.

“Captain Ke…” Xia Linlin was about to say more, but Ke Yuandao cut her off coldly.

“Xia Meimei is our team member. We will keep an eye on her. Captain Xia need not trouble herself.”

As he spoke, he glanced down at his watch. “The time is about right. Let’s proceed according to the rotation schedule we just arranged.”

With that, he turned and left.

Li Qing smiled as she took Le Yixian’s hand, waved cheerfully at Xia Linlin, and followed after Ke Yuandao.

“Damn it,” Xia Linlin muttered, watching the figures recede. Jealousy flashed in her eyes.

“Linlin, did your dad really want to marry Meimei off to me?” Lin Jingyu asked.

Several of the ability users nearby pricked up their ears, eager for gossip.

Xia Linlin hurriedly replied, “Of course. I heard him say it myself. Aside from marrying someone, what other use could she possibly have now?”

In the apocalypse, if you had no abilities and only a pretty face, that was exactly the kind of fate you deserved. Xia Linlin felt certain she had not guessed wrong.

“Could it be that General Xia wants to marry Meimei to Ke Yuandao?”

“No,” Xia Linlin denied quickly. Under Lin Jingyu’s and the others’ gazes, her face reddened slightly as she said, “My dad knows I like Yuandao. If someone has to marry, it would definitely be me.”