Chapter Fifty-Eight: Joy in Togetherness

Guo Yu kept his wits about him and didn't report the matter; instead, he quietly pocketed the contents for himself.

“Brother Fang, let me tell you something in secret. There was an upgrade elixir in that supply drop. After I took it, my strength doubled.”

Guo Yu glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then whispered.

Fang Xia found it amusing. The boy was quite innocent—whoever was kind to him, he would always remember. Perhaps because his mother hadn't died in this life, he hadn't turned dark, and still retained some childlike purity.

“You’d better work hard. I’m already a third-tier fighter now.”

Guo Yu nodded earnestly, then reverted to his childish self in the next instant.

“Brother Fang, I heard from others that a team of beautiful ladies arrived in Dawn City, and they’re very powerful. They’re called the Fang Xia Harem Squad. Is that your team?”

The smile on Fang Xia’s face instantly turned awkward. Wasn’t this a little too embarrassing? Guo Yu was still a minor.

“The name was just made up. Don’t listen to their nonsense.”

“What a shame, Brother Fang’s team only accepts pretty girls. Otherwise, I’d come join you.”

Fang Xia was at a loss for words. Did people really think he was living a life of luxury every night? Out of five hundred ladies, he’d only met one. He couldn’t compare to those older team leaders at all.

“Just stay here in Dawn City for now. When you’re stronger, I’ll take you to see the world.”

[Brother Fang must think I’m too weak right now. If I join his squad, I’ll be taking away his upgrade resources.]

[I see others patrolling the city at night, often checking those who sneak in without permission. After collecting their upgrade crystals, they just turn a blind eye.]

[Looks like I’ll have to do the same in the future—collect more upgrade crystals, level up faster, and help Brother Fang sooner.]

Fang Xia’s expression darkened. His once invincible, cold-blooded general persona seemed to have become a cunning, greedy little puppy. Where did it all go wrong?

...

Guo Yu now lived on the west side of Dawn City, in the residential area reserved for the city's direct members. As a squad leader, he naturally received his own place.

Because of his mother, Guo Yu chose a low floor. Unlike before the apocalypse, where higher floors meant higher prices—except for the top floor—in a world without electricity, living high up was truly a hardship.

Now, Guo Yu was the captain of a squad in Dawn City, commanding over a hundred men. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to choose the second floor.

He opened the door, and immediately a woman’s voice sounded from within.

“Xiao Yu, you’re back!”

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Seeing her son accompanied by another person, Guo Yu’s mother grew a bit cautious. Her son was strong, but still young—what if someone tried to deceive him?

“Mom, I ran into Brother Fang today and brought him home. You always talk about him.”

Guo Yu ran excitedly to his mother’s side and began chattering happily.

The tension on his mother’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a genuine, heartfelt smile.

“Hurry, come in.”

From his mother’s heart, Fang Xia felt only gratitude. For someone who had saved her life, she harbored no other thoughts.

“Xiao Yu, go bring out the food. What are you standing around for?”

Seeing Guo Yu still lingering, his mother urged him on.

There wasn’t much food—some potato chips, spicy snacks, and two bottles of milk.

Though Guo Yu had joined Dawn City and was considered a small leader, what he received wasn’t much.

The city’s direct members now numbered over ten thousand, and more than half of their supplies were reserved for emergencies.

The rest, divided layer by layer, left Guo Yu with barely anything.

Still, his situation was far better than most. At least he and his mother were well provided for, and he could steadily improve his strength.

They seemed content.

But Fang Xia could clearly see the worry on Guo Yu’s mother’s face from time to time.

After all, this life was earned by her son risking his own.

With their earnest insistence, Fang Xia stayed for lunch before leaving.

Lunch was simple—one self-heating rice meal per person.

They didn’t know that in three months, this would become a luxury.

In the previous life, a single self-heating rice meal could buy a night with a young, pretty girl with twin ponytails...

Before leaving, Fang Xia slipped Guo Yu some nutritious food. A seventeen-year-old still needed proper nutrition.

Fang Xia returned to his territory in the afternoon. Bai Xing was engrossed in a comic book, the twin sisters played cards with Doctor Jiang.

Fang Xia was eager to join the fray, preferably with the loser removing an article of clothing, but was driven away by the combined efforts of all three.

Fang Xia sneered. So this was the “harem squad”? He saw no sign of it at all.

Li Xiaochun was still out fighting—a true battle maniac. After the apocalypse, she seemed to awaken a hidden instinct for combat, feeling uneasy if she didn’t slay a hundred zombies a day.

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Little Loli had yet to return, and Liu Rui was nowhere to be found.

These were all the residents on the second floor, while the four bodyguard ladies on the first floor continued their vigilant shifts.

At five in the afternoon, Li Xiaochun returned, bursting in and boasting to Bai Xing about her exploits.

At six, Liu Rui came back.

With the steward returned, dinner could begin.

As for Little Loli, selective memory would suffice...

Their meals were certainly not solved with just a self-heating rice meal.

First, they cooked five hot pot kits and poured them all into one pot.

Then Liu Rui brought out an alcohol burner, set the pot atop it, and instantly created a hot pot atmosphere.

Aside from the kit ingredients, Liu Rui added some sausages and eggs for anyone to cook as they pleased.

Finally, the main courses arrived—shrimp paste, fish balls, crab sticks... everything imaginable, leaving Fang Xia stunned.

Not only that, Liu Rui produced a bottle of red wine, clearly of high quality.

“I was unconscious for a few days, and this is how you lived?”

Something didn’t add up. They never had so much good food before.

“Found an underground cold storage at a hot pot market. It’s well sealed—still keeps things cool even without power.”

Liu Rui glanced at him and explained casually.

What else? If you were out cold, did you expect me not to eat?

Fang Xia turned his sorrow into appetite and joined in the frantic food grab.

Midway through, Little Loli returned, not even bothering to change before joining the battle for food.

After a satisfying meal, Fang Xia lounged lazily on the sofa, the twin sisters massaging his shoulders.

Bai Xing glanced over but said nothing, returning to her comic.

Ever since Fang Xia rescued her, Bai Xing’s mindset had changed. So long as they were alive, it was enough.

That night, everyone on the second floor heard Bai Xing’s coughing, as if she’d choked on something unpleasant.

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