Chapter 141: If I Should Fail You, Then Cast Me Aside

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Seeing Lin Xing and A Di already excitedly choosing their rooms, Jiang Miaomiao seemed to realize what Qin Sheng intended to do with the wish he had taken as captain of the guard. Turning around, she noticed Qin Sheng and Shen Mei talking quietly; their expressions shifted from serious to suddenly smiling at each other. Jiang Miaomiao had a feeling Qin Sheng wouldn’t use such a wish on himself but rather on friends like them who seemed less capable of helping.

A surge of indescribable emotion welled up inside Jiang Miaomiao. When Qin Sheng turned and caught her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, he asked with a curious lift of his brow, “Why are you crying?” Then, without waiting for an answer, he quickly stepped in front of her, not even giving her the chance to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

Jiang Miaomiao gave a soft laugh and brushed the tears away with the hem of her clothes. “I’m fine, Shengsheng.”

Qin Sheng clearly didn’t believe her. “Did that little brat Lin Xing bully you?” he asked, eyes narrowing playfully but with a dangerous glint as he glanced at Lin Xing, who had just chosen his favored room.

Meeting Qin Sheng’s gaze, Lin Xing shivered involuntarily and quickly shook his head, looking aggrieved. “It wasn’t me, Auntie! I didn’t say a word to Miaomiao!”

Qin Sheng raised an eyebrow again, looking back at Jiang Miaomiao. “If any of them dare to bully you, just tell me. I’ll deal with them with my Tang sabre.”

Hearing that, Lin Xing silently prayed he hadn’t said too much to Jiang Miaomiao earlier or acted like his usual mischievous self. If Qin Sheng really used the Tang sabre on him, wouldn’t he be skinned alive?

Jiang Miaomiao was amused by Qin Sheng’s words. Gently, she took his hand and spoke softly, “Shengsheng, it’s not that anyone bullied me. I just feel you’ve done so much for us, and I feel it’s somewhat unfair to you.”

Qin Sheng looked puzzled by her remark.

“Since the apocalypse began, we’ve followed you and survived well to this day. You led us to become part of the guard team. I just wonder if without us, would your future have been better…”

Qin Sheng was formidable, carrying his Tang sabre for protection. He was never truly in danger, yet they willingly ventured into thorny, perilous places for him.

Though everyone was hungry, Qin Sheng risked crossing the zombie-infested forest outside the safe zone to bring back plenty of good food.

They were living better than when they first arrived at the safe zone.

Jiang Miaomiao constantly reminded herself that all these things were brought in by Qin Sheng risking his life. She never used to regulate or ration food but now made sure every meal was carefully timed and portioned, saving it all to prevent Qin Sheng from having to go out and face danger again.

The tears she had wiped away earlier began to well up again.

Qin Sheng noticed the trembling in the hand Jiang Miaomiao held in his and saw the faint redness in her eyes—a look he recognized as deep concern.

He was at a loss. He had never considered such feelings, nor had he ever felt the care and worry of family and friends.

Even in his past life, he treated Qin Mengchun well, perhaps even better, but he never saw any concern or sympathy from Qin Mengchun in return.

She always expected Qin Sheng to bring more and better food, never thinking about the sleepless nights and bruises Qin Sheng endured fulfilling her wishes.

Squeezing her hand, Qin Sheng met Jiang Miaomiao’s reddened eyes once more.

“Shengsheng, if one day I become an obstacle to you or lose my worth, just abandon me…” Jiang Miaomiao finally voiced the feelings she had been harboring for days, as if a great weight had been lifted.

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Qin Sheng was her closest friend, someone she cherished like family. She thought speaking those words would be painful, but when she finally said them, it felt like a sigh of relief.

Qin Sheng was momentarily stunned by her words, then immediately pulled Jiang Miaomiao into a tight embrace, holding her silently for a long time.

Everyone else was deeply moved, especially Lin Xing and Chu Xingyu, who, like Jiang Miaomiao, had known Qin Sheng since the early days of the apocalypse. As Jiang Miaomiao said, without Qin Sheng, they would never have escaped the supermarket surrounded by zombies, nor entered the safe zone and the guard team.

Better lives were always supported by Qin Sheng bearing immense pressure and pain.

They shared the same sorrow.

They were also frustrated at not being able to grow stronger quickly enough to shoulder the responsibilities from Qin Sheng’s shoulders.

“Miaomiao, we are family.”

Qin Sheng, still holding Jiang Miaomiao, finally spoke this single sentence, which proved his feelings and steadied her restless heart.

Jiang Miaomiao clung tightly to Qin Sheng, unwilling to let go.

“We are family!” Lin Xing echoed loudly after Qin Sheng.

Beside him, Chu Xingyu fought back tears and, with a choked voice, shouted, “We are family!”

Soon, everyone repeated the phrase, looking at one another, seeing in each other’s eyes a glimmer called hope.

Little Xiao Nuo, already sobbing uncontrollably, ran over and hugged Qin Sheng’s waist tightly, gasping between tears, “Xiao Nuo has a family now…”

Feeling Xiao Nuo’s embrace and hearing her cries, Qin Sheng released Jiang Miaomiao and hugged Xiao Nuo, softly soothing her, “Don’t cry, Xiao Nuo. From now on, you have so many brothers and sisters.”

Xiao Nuo nodded fiercely. Qin Sheng smiled, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“Xiao Nuo must work hard to protect her brothers and sisters in the future!” Xiao Nuo’s innocent voice echoed among them, bringing solace to their hearts.

From now on, they were one big family.

Everyone silently repeated this thought.

“Since the rooms are chosen, hurry and pack your things. Uncle Yu, come with me to the core base to fetch some supplies,” Qin Sheng said. She had planned to entrust some logistical duties to Yu Yong early on, so she called on him to go with her to the core base.

Yu Yong nodded and walked over beside Qin Sheng.

“Captain, Little Fatty and I don’t have much to carry. How about we go with Uncle Yu? It’s a good chance for you to get familiar with our base and maybe choose a name or something,” Wang Qiang said, patting Little Fatty before calling out to Qin Sheng, who was about to leave with Yu Yong.

Qin Sheng nodded in agreement. “Okay, just register my name at the core base.”

“Don’t worry, Captain.”

“Got it, Captain.”

“Let’s go…”

Qin Sheng waited until Yu Yong and Wang Qiang’s figures disappeared before entering the guard team’s base building.

The first and second floors were dormitories for the boys; the third and fourth floors housed the girls.

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The fifth floor was reserved especially for the captain.

Without hesitation, Qin Sheng strode up to the fifth floor. Unlike the other floors, its design was more like a spacious flat with just two rooms—an office and a resting area.

Qin Sheng took a brief look around. The room appeared to have been cleaned in advance; it was neat and contained just enough furnishings.

Her gaze fell on a flowerpot, and something about it struck her as odd.

Crossing her arms, she stepped forward and examined it carefully. Sure enough, she found something unusual.

Before the apocalypse, such an object wasn’t unfamiliar—a small, black device resembling a suit button, attached inside the flowerpot. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t notice the secret.

Qin Sheng scrutinized the black listening device in her palm. It seemed it had been there a long time, already out of battery and coated with dust.

She flicked off the dust, blew on it gently, then suddenly remembered the walkie-talkies and other small gear she had casually stored away in her space, including the wireless ear mics bought from an online cosplay store. She pursed her lips and casually tossed the eavesdropper into her space.

After a simple tour, Qin Sheng took out quite a few items from her space to arrange the room, including a doorbell with plenty of battery.

That doorbell was the only thing Qin Sheng had taken when selling her house. Unexpectedly, it came in handy now. It was smart enough that whenever someone reached the fifth floor, she would hear it ring.

Of course, Qin Sheng could sense visitors herself, but having this device spared her some mental effort.

After hanging up the doorbell, Qin Sheng went downstairs and stopped by the girls’ dorm on the third floor. They were all living there; the fourth floor rooms were empty.

“Shengsheng, why don’t we set up the fourth floor as our indoor training room?” Jiang Miaomiao suggested.

At the thought of training, A Di frowned. Though she had gotten in through connections and was enjoying the guard team’s comforts, she still faced grueling training even harsher than before her arena matches. She knew she lagged far behind Shen Mei and the others.

Qin Sheng nodded in agreement with Jiang Miaomiao’s idea. She planned to pull some fitness equipment out from her space later and, if anyone asked, would say it was a gift from the district chief. She had already thought of the excuse.

“I really want to ask something,” A Di looked at Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng nodded, gesturing for her to speak.

A Di hesitated, then timidly asked, “When do we start training?”

Jiang Miaomiao and Shen Mei also looked toward Qin Sheng, clearly having wanted to ask the same question.

After all, joining the guard team under Qin Sheng’s command, they couldn’t afford to embarrass her.

“Tomorrow morning,” Qin Sheng said calmly.

A Di had expected this answer and sighed helplessly.

“Oh, by the way, here’s something for you,” Qin Sheng suddenly remembered she hadn’t given A Di something earlier. She took out the item wrapped in a silk scarf from her pocket and handed it to A Di.

“Why are you giving me a gift back?” A Di’s mood instantly lifted. She caught the item from Qin Sheng and opened the scarf, but the smile on her face froze the next moment.