"Alright, Jiaojiao, stop fooling around. The sun is setting soon. Get ready to rest with everyone else," Bai Ru frowned as she stood up and started gathering their belongings.

  "You really should think before you speak. Many people already assume Bai Ru had something going on with that Zhang guy, and you're just making it worse for her!" Seeing Jiaojiao stick out her tongue in embarrassment, Cao Mei shook her head and stood up as well. She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a fshlight, handing it to Zhang Xu. "Since you’ve filled your belly, it’s time to put in some effort. You’re on night watch until two o’clock!"

  "No problem! But, sis, keeping watch is boring. How about assigning me a beautiful companion for a chat?" Zhang Xu smirked, his eyes flitting over the busy women around him.

  "How about I keep you company myself?" Cao Mei pced her hands on her hips, a cold smile on her face.

  "No way! I wouldn’t dare trouble you! You belong to Master Lin—I wouldn’t dare take up your time when you should be keeping his bed warm. That’d be a terrible crime!" Zhang Xu immediately shook his head with a fttering grin, knowing his limits well.

  Cao Mei was undeniably beautiful, but during dinner, Zhang Xu had already figured out the dynamics among the group. While Lin Tao remained somewhat indifferent toward Cao Mei, he never rejected her advances—whether she served him food or made flirtatious gestures. As for Bai Ru, she was the only one Lin Tao actively served food to. Throughout the meal, her affectionate gaze never strayed from Lin Tao, her love practically overflowing.

  As for the other women, aside from Li Li, who shamelessly flirted with Boss Hu, the rest were still in the stage of yearning for a romance that hadn’t materialized. Zhang Xu immediately dismissed these three from his potential targets—he had no intention of getting his throat slit in his sleep by Lin Tao or Boss Hu. There was even a young girl completely enamored with that Dog Demon, practically hanging onto him and exchanging flirtatious gnces without a care in the world. Zhang Xu found it utterly incomprehensible!

  "Sharp eyes, kid," Cao Mei arched an approving eyebrow before gncing flirtatiously at Lin Tao. Then, she waved Zhang Xu off. "Go stand guard. If even one infected sneaks in, you might as well not bother coming back!"

  "Don't worry, not even a single one will get past me! If they do manage to bite me, I promise to use my dying breath to give you the loudest warning ever!" Zhang Xu patted his chest with confidence, then whistled a carefree tune as he strolled toward the door. Spotting Bing Bing struggling to carry a bucket of dirty water, he quickly ran over to help. Whatever he whispered to her made Bing Bing giggle, and the two of them left through the second-floor entrance together.

  "Old Hu," Lin Tao called softly after Zhang Xu left, motioning for Boss Hu to come closer. "Our night watch rotation stays the same—you, then me, followed by Cao Mei and Bai Ru."

  "You don’t trust that guy?" Boss Hu wasn’t stupid; he immediately caught Lin Tao’s meaning.

  "It's always good to be cautious," Lin Tao patted Boss Hu’s shoulder and walked away. Zhang Xu was still an unknown factor. No matter how friendly he appeared, trusting him too quickly in a world like this was a surefire way to get killed.

  As night fell, darkness swallowed the surroundings. One by one, the group settled into their sleeping bags in the second-floor hall. Boss Hu leaned against a pilr, rifle in hand, occasionally taking slow drags from a cigarette as he kept watch on the door. He wasn’t new to survival—he knew the risks of sharing a space with a stranger all too well.

  The women had learned from st night’s mistake. Stripping down to sleep left them scrambling to dress in an emergency. This time, no one dared sleep in just their underwear. Even those used to sleeping nude now wore T-shirts and shorts. It was uncomfortable, but better than running for their lives completely exposed.

  Cao Mei reached over and switched off the camping ntern beside her, plunging the room into near-darkness. The only light came from the brazier Zhang Xu had lit outside the door, casting flickering shadows on the walls. His soft whistling drifted in—a lonely, lingering tune.

  Dressed only in her underwear, Cao Mei slipped into her sleeping bag. She gnced at Lin Tao, who was lying close by, whispering quietly with Bai Ru. Bai Ru giggled occasionally, pyfully swatting at Lin Tao’s chest. Jealousy fshed through Cao Mei’s eyes. Biting her lip in frustration, she suddenly snapped, "Zhang Xu, would you shut up already?! It’s the middle of the night! Are you trying to keep us all awake?"

  "Just passing the time, sis. This damn weather turned freezing out of nowhere—it’s as cold as my heart!" Zhang Xu's voice carried a mock grievance, but at least the whistling stopped. Now, only the hushed murmurs of restless women remained.

  Cao Mei exhaled irritably and turned her head—only to see Bai Ru nearly burrowing into Lin Tao’s sleeping bag. Her delicate arm rested possessively on his shoulder. Watching the intimate scene, Cao Mei muttered under her breath, "Keep acting all seductive. Let’s see if Lin Tao actually takes you with him. If he leaves you behind at the settlement, you’ll end up just another cheap pything!"

  "Master Lin…" Bai Ru leaned into Lin Tao, her fwless face slightly flushed. She gazed at him and softly asked, "Tomorrow… are we really going to Zhang Xu’s settlement?"

  "Yeah, we’ll check it out first," Lin Tao sighed, his eyes momentarily avoiding hers.

  "That pce sounds like a living hell. Are you really going to leave us there?" A trace of sadness flickered in Bai Ru’s watery eyes.

  "I’m not abandoning you. I’m trying to find a way for you all to survive," Lin Tao gently patted her hand on his shoulder. "Following me forever isn’t a real solution. Humans are social creatures. Only by staying together can we have a future."

  Bai Ru lowered her head, burying her face in his chest for a long moment. Then, shivering from the cold, she looked up again. "My sleeping bag is freezing… Can I come over to yours?"

  Lin Tao didn’t reply. He simply unzipped his sleeping bag and opened his arms. Bai Ru’s warm body quickly slipped inside. He zipped it up again, wrapping an arm around her and whispering near her ear, "Get some sleep. We have a lot to deal with tomorrow."

  Bai Ru hugged his back tightly, pressing her body closer to his warmth. Taking a deep breath of his scent, she whispered, "I don’t want to stay there. What Zhang Xu described terrifies me. I don’t think I can handle it."

  "We’ll see when we get there. If you really don’t like it, I’ll keep you with me a little longer and look for a better pce. But if we don’t find anything…" Lin Tao gently stroked her silky hair, softening his voice. "I won’t have a choice."

  Bai Ru trembled slightly, but still nodded in silence. For a moment, neither spoke. Then, Lin Tao suddenly felt Bai Ru slip away from his embrace, curling deeper into the sleeping bag. A moment ter, she tossed a white T-shirt out. Then, with deliberate slowness, a ce-trimmed bra—still warm from her body—was pyfully flung onto Lin Tao’s face, its delicate fragrance filling his senses.

  A moment ter, a matching pair of ce panties followed. But instead of nding on his face, she tucked them beneath his pillow. Lin Tao felt his shirt being lifted to his chest. Then, two warm, impossibly soft mounds pressed against him—just as heated as his own body.