Chapter Sixty-Six: This Is My Tuition Fee

Seeing the color returning to Qin Sheng’s cheeks, Jiang Miaomiao’s worry finally eased, though her right hand still gently patted Qin Sheng’s back, offering the greatest comfort. Qin Sheng took a deep breath, noticing the hand soothing her, and her face softened into a gentle smile. She lifted her gaze to look at Jiang Miaomiao seated beside her and spoke quietly, “You don’t need to worry anymore. I’m fine.”

“That’s good, that’s good! Sheng Sheng, I’ve finished cooking. Come on, get up and try it.”

Qin Sheng nodded with a smile and walked out of the room together with Jiang Miaomiao. As they stepped out of the bedroom, they happened to see Shen Mei sitting on the sofa. Shen Mei glanced at Qin Sheng and snorted coldly, saying nothing at all, clearly still holding some resentment over Qin Sheng drugging her unconscious with the sedative.

Qin Sheng pursed her lips, feeling guilty, and glanced at Jiang Miaomiao. In the next moment, Jiang Miaomiao pulled her to sit on Shen Mei’s other side.

“Wait here for a moment, you two. I’ll help Ayi and Tiantian bring out the hot pot,” Jiang Miaomiao said with a meaningful look at Qin Sheng before heading to the kitchen.

Qin Sheng frowned slightly in helplessness, wondering how it always turned out this way—ever since arriving in this world, she was either coaxing girls or on the way to coaxing them. Looking at Shen Mei’s proud posture, arms crossed, it was clear she needed to be placated.

Qin Sheng prepared herself mentally for a long moment before leaning slightly toward Shen Mei. Shen Mei cast Qin Sheng another glance and spoke in a sarcastic tone, “Keep your distance. What if you use that sedative on me again?”

Qin Sheng awkwardly rubbed her palms together, forced a smile, and said, “It wasn’t my intention to knock you out. We were too caught up in the fight, and it was getting dangerous, so I…”

“So you drugged me and left the safe zone alone. So who won, in the end?” Shen Mei’s temper flared at the mention, feeling cheated—she had fought Qin Sheng to the end, ignoring her own pain, only for Qin Sheng to scatter sedative powder like an unfaithful man breaking his promise.

Qin Sheng’s smile grew, and she replied in an indulgent tone, “Of course you won. I broke the rules and was eliminated right away.”

Qin Sheng realized Shen Mei only wanted a fair contest, a clear winner and loser. Since that was the case, it was better to avoid trouble—just let her have the victory, it wouldn’t hurt.

Shen Mei snorted again, crossing her arms, but her anger had clearly subsided. “If you say so, then I’ll accept it. You lost.”

“Yes, yes, I lost,” Qin Sheng echoed.

The resentment faded from Shen Mei’s face, leaving only a smile. Qin Sheng curled her lips in resignation—indeed, young girls only cared about one thing: their own happiness. She herself could no longer be so free and willful.

“What are you two chatting about? Lunch is ready!” Ayi hopped out of the kitchen, carrying vegetables and hot pot dumplings.

Qin Sheng shook her head with a smile and got up to help Ayi with the dishes. “The hot pot will be out soon, just wait a moment.” With that, Ayi dashed back to the kitchen.

The living room was left with only Shen Mei and Qin Sheng. The atmosphere suddenly became awkward—simply put, they had nothing to talk about. The only topic they shared was fighting, and after resolving the sedative issue, it didn’t seem appropriate to bring up another duel.

Qin Sheng swallowed, feeling her throat dry, and got up to pour herself a glass of water.

“Qin Sheng, did you encounter any danger outside the safe zone?” Shen Mei’s sudden question made Qin Sheng’s hand pause for a few seconds as she poured water. Coming back to herself, Qin Sheng set the full glass aside.

“No, the place I went wasn’t far from the safe zone. I think the area was cleared of zombies when it was established.” As she spoke, she filled the glass again.

“Where did you get this army hot pot?” Shen Mei abruptly changed the subject.

Qin Sheng carried two glasses of water over, handing one to Shen Mei. “The supermarket I visited—there was a ready-made meal in the fridge that hadn’t expired,” she replied calmly after taking a sip.

Shen Mei nodded, tilted her head back, and drank, dropping the topic. Seeing Shen Mei’s lack of further inquiry, Qin Sheng smiled slightly—she had no intention of telling Shen Mei that all their food, drink, and daily supplies were actually brought out of her space yesterday.

Qin Sheng wasn’t particularly fond of Korean army hot pot. She preferred the Chinese spicy beef broth, paired with a bowl of sesame and cilantro sauce and another of fragrant oil, dipping lamb, beef, luncheon meat, and tripe—a flavor far superior to the Korean version. But circumstances didn’t allow. Preparing a beef hot pot required too many ingredients, and though her space was stocked with them, bringing them out would require too many excuses. With so many eyes and ears around, it was easier to settle for the simple Korean army hot pot.

Qin Sheng was mulling over taking Jiang Miaomiao out for a proper hot pot meal someday, when Shen Mei, who had been silent for a while, tossed another question her way.

“Tiantian said word about your trip got out to others?”

Qin Sheng nodded. The ‘others’ Shen Mei referred to undoubtedly included Zhao Jun and that spy she was still hesitating to identify.

“Have you found out who the spy is?” Shen Mei unconsciously clenched her fists, gripping her hem tightly, dreading the familiar name she might hear from Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng’s gaze fell on Shen Mei’s tense hands. She shook her head, “Not sure yet. The range is too wide—I need more time.”

Not hearing the name Yang Yao from Qin Sheng, Shen Mei visibly relaxed.

“When you find out, will you tell me?” Shen Mei looked up at Qin Sheng, her eyes pleading.

Qin Sheng frowned slightly, surprised—she had never seen such an expression from proud Shen Mei. Even if ties were severed, it seemed true feelings remained unbroken.

“Alright,” Qin Sheng replied with a smile.

They fell silent again, waiting until Jiang Miaomiao came out of the kitchen, grinning and carrying the army hot pot.

“Sheng Sheng, Shen Mei, we can eat now.”

Qin Sheng nodded, stepped forward to tidy the table, and helped Jiang Miaomiao place the hot pot on the battered table they’d been making do with. Zhao Tiantian and Ayi followed, bringing bowls, chopsticks, and prepared hot pot dumplings.

“The kitchen tools are limited, but we did our best,” Zhao Tiantian said as she handed out the bowls and chopsticks.

Qin Sheng noticed two chips missing from the rim of her porcelain bowl, but didn’t mind. She smiled, “You three worked hard—I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this lunch.”

Jiang Miaomiao took Qin Sheng’s bowl and filled it with a generous helping, not forgetting to praise her, “Come on, Sheng Sheng. If anyone worked hardest, it was you, so you need to eat more.”

Seeing everyone’s similar reactions, Qin Sheng chuckled and didn’t refuse.

“This is amazing, I haven’t had a proper meal in so long,” Ayi exclaimed after biting into a fish cake, so moved her eyes glistened with tears.

Jiang Miaomiao, amused by Ayi’s reaction, teased as she placed her own luncheon meat into Ayi’s bowl, “Seriously, Ayi, is a hot pot enough to win you over? You’re so touched you could cry.”

Ayi grew even more excited, comforted herself, and quickly put the luncheon meat in her mouth. The rich flavor exploded in her mouth, and she felt like she’d ascended to heaven.

“To be honest, I’m not crying because I’m moved—it’s just too hot,” Ayi suddenly said after eating for a while.

Jiang Miaomiao laughed helplessly, seeing Ayi complain about the heat but still devouring the food. She couldn’t help but remark, “If you’re afraid of the heat, why eat so fast?”

Ayi shook her head meaningfully, “You don’t understand—hot pot has to be eaten hot.”

Everyone was charmed by Ayi’s tone, laughter filling the table. Qin Sheng shook her head in resignation and quietly ate her fish cake, feeling warmth in her heart.

Since arriving in this world, scenes like this—rare in her previous life—had occurred again and again. Each time moved her deeply. Maybe without the apocalypse, her life should have been like this. But fate never granted her wishes, always making her endure partings, even eternal separations.

“Sheng Sheng, Sheng Sheng? What are you thinking about?” Jiang Miaomiao’s voice pulled Qin Sheng out of her reverie.

“Hm?” Qin Sheng was confused, not knowing what had just happened.

Jiang Miaomiao smiled and explained, “They’re all wondering why you’re only eating fish cake and not any vegetables.”

Qin Sheng glanced at her bowl—it was indeed full of fish cake. She smiled, “Maybe I just like meat and not vegetables.”

“No, no, no, fish cake isn’t really meat! Wait here,” Ayi put down her bowl and chopsticks and dashed to the bedroom.

The others looked at each other, wondering what Ayi was up to.

In less than a minute, Ayi returned from the bedroom, carrying something behind her back, unseen by the others.

“What did you bring?” Jiang Miaomiao asked, biting into a vegetable, curious.

Ayi smiled mysteriously, walked over to Qin Sheng, and revealed her prize. “Ta-da! This is the luncheon meat you gave me before—I didn’t eat it, I kept it for you,” Ayi placed the box of luncheon meat before Qin Sheng, the lid opened and closed, showing signs of many temptations resisted.

Clearly, Ayi had often wanted to eat it but managed to save it.

“Don’t be too moved—it’s my tuition fee.”