Su Su handed over a few packs of instant noodles and climbed into the back seat.
As soon as she settled in, she caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye—the handsome man in the front passenger seat was discreetly observing her through the rearview mirror.
Su Su lowered her gaze, pretending not to notice anything.
“My name is Qu Wen, and this is my boyfriend, Ji Junzhi,” the woman in the driver’s seat spoke first. “We’re also heading to the Southern Base. There are only seventy to eighty kilometers left. We can just take you there directly.”
Only seventy to eighty kilometers left?!
Su Su’s pupils slightly widened. “We’re only seventy to eighty kilometers away from the Southern Base?”
“Yeah.” Qu Wen glanced at her strangely. “You didn’t know?”
“I don’t have a map.” Worried about giving herself away, Su Su lowered her head in “disappointment.” “My companions were the ones driving along the way. I had no idea where we were.”
Qu Wen glanced at her face again.
Right after that, the handsome man also turned to look at her.
Being scrutinized by both gazes in turns, Su Su did her best to act like a pitiful little thing.
“You really ran into the wrong people.” Qu Wen shook her head but still patiently explained, “We’ve already entered the province. At our current speed, considering road conditions, rest breaks, and any unforeseen circumstances, we should arrive at the Southern Base within a day.”
“I see.”
Su Su appeared as if she had just come to a realization, but deep down, she was deeply shocked.
So that meant—she and Xiao Hei had crawled through underground caves for seven days, wandered through snow-covered mountains for two whole months, and in the end, managed to advance several hundred kilometers?!
Looks like there was no chance of finding Pang Cancan and the others anymore.
Might as well head straight for the Southern Base—maybe she could meet them there.
Having made up her mind, Su Su relaxed and quietly listened to the couple chatting up front.
Through their brief conversation, she got a rough idea of their situation—Qu Wen was a Tier-3 ice-type ability user, while her boyfriend, Ji Junzhi, was an ordinary person.
They had barely survived in the snow-sealed city, suffering plenty along the way. Now, they were seeking refuge at the Southern Base in hopes of starting a more secure life.
Suddenly, Qu Wen threw a question at her: “What about you? What’s your plan after reaching the Southern Base?”
She looked to be about twenty-eight or twenty-nine, her features carrying a sharp and heroic air. Her scrutinizing gaze wasn’t unpleasant either.
“I have someone I know at the Southern Base. I’m planning to look for her.”
That much was true. Su Su wanted to go to the Southern Base—firstly to find a stable life, and secondly, to look for the person who had helped her in her past life.
Even in the most numbingly painful experiences, there would always be traces of warmth hidden within.
Recalling certain scenes from her previous life, Su Su unconsciously revealed a faint smile, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her cheek.
Qu Wen stared at the rearview mirror for a few seconds.
The handsome man also glanced over again.
Qu Wen remarked, “The ones who abandoned you will definitely regret it.”
Su Su was puzzled. “Huh?”
Qu Wen didn’t elaborate further.
From their brief interaction, including the fact that Su Su had to hitch a ride, it was clear that she was an ordinary person without any abilities—perhaps a bit naive as well.
The man who abandoned her was likely trying to control her, much like those immature men who leave their girlfriends stranded on the roadside after an argument, expecting them to lower their heads and apologize… Luckily, she had been picked up by Qu Wen instead.
“Don’t worry. Since I took your instant noodles, I’ll definitely get you safely to the Southern Base.”
Her words were abrupt, but Su Su still accepted her goodwill. “Thank you.”
Not all the roads had fully thawed; patches of ice still remained. Some passing vehicles ignored the danger, speeding recklessly—only to skid straight into roadside ditches, their fronts slamming violently into the slopes.
Whenever this happened, the Beetle slowed down to its lowest speed.
As a result, by nightfall, they had only covered half the remaining distance.
“Let’s rest in the wild tonight.”
Qu Wen steered the car off the highway and parked on the grassy roadside.
Before getting out, she grabbed the packs of instant noodles that Su Su had handed over earlier. “We’ll have these for dinner.”
A fire was lit, a copper pot was set up, and all five packs of instant noodles were tossed into the boiling water at once.
When the seasoning packets were added, the rich aroma of instant noodles instantly triggered the hunger of all three people.
Qu Wen generously scooped a full bowl of noodles for Su Su.
When Su Su received it, she was a bit shocked.
Five packs of instant noodles, if rationed carefully, could last five meals.
Yet this Tier-3 ability user was finishing them all in one sitting—without hesitation, she even shared a bowl with Su Su… Perhaps misunderstanding her reaction, Qu Wen explained, “Junzhi and I both have big appetites, so we have to ration our food.”
Su Su’s idea of “rationing” had once meant breaking a single noodle block into four pieces, eating only one piece per day. The seasoning had to be divided into ten portions, each mixed into boiling water to make a thin broth—enough for one meal. Even so, instant noodles were still considered a luxury for the most destitute survivors.
This couple lived far better than most people in the apocalypse.
That was the strength and privilege of a Tier-3 ability user.
Su Su took a sip of the noodle soup and realized she really had been lucky—hitching a random ride, only to end up with kind people.
She had even been prepared… If the other party harbored bad intentions, she could simply rob them and take their car instead.
“I’ll take turns standing watch with Junzhi tonight.”
Su Su looked up. “I can keep watch too.”
“You?” Qu Wen glanced at her, and her tone unconsciously softened. “Just get some good sleep.”
The handsome man’s gaze swept over again.
Holding her bowl, Su Su felt somewhat at a loss.
And just like that, the night watch was settled—Qu Wen would take the first half, and Ji Junzhi the second.
Su Su stayed in the car and was even kindly given a blanket.
“Hiss!”
The black snake impatiently slithered out of the backpack, staring coldly through the tightly shut car window at the man and woman chatting by the fire.
Especially the woman.
“What are you looking at?” Su Su pulled it into her arms. “If you want to sleep with me, you have to stay hidden under the blanket. You can’t come out, understand?”
Qu Wen was a good person—Su Su didn’t want to scare her.
Without hesitation, the black snake burrowed under the blanket. As the female lay down, it tentatively licked the corner of her lips.
Su Su showed no resistance, as if they had returned to the way things were in the beginning.
Satisfied, the snake curled up in her arms. Its well-behaved appearance was strangely reassuring.
With Xiao Hei keeping watch, Su Su drifted into a deep sleep without realizing it.
Until she was startled awake in the middle of the night.
She sat up and looked around—the car was empty. The spot by the fire outside was also empty.
Su Su sat up in shock. “Where are they?”
If one person was missing, they might have had something to do. But if both of them were gone at the same time… could something have happened?
Without hesitation, Su Su opened the car door, stuffed Xiao Hei back into the backpack, and started searching the area.
She wandered until she approached a small grove to the east, where she finally heard faint noises.
“Tsk, hurry up.”
A man’s voice, low and muffled. “…Sorry.”
“…Damn, there are ants on the tree!”
“Then change positions.”
The hushed conversation reached Su Su’s ears clearly.
Her ears turned red in an instant.
She had walked in on something she definitely shouldn’t have.
The best thing to do was to quietly turn around and go back to sleep.
Just as Su Su turned, her backpack suddenly went light.
“Xiao Hei?”
The black snake had already slithered onto the ground. Its dark scales blended seamlessly into the night. For once, it ignored the female’s call, instead picking up speed and darting toward the source of the voices—disappearing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.
Su Su was both furious and panicked, yet she didn’t dare to call it back. What if Qu Wen and Ji Junzhi heard her?
She didn’t dare to follow either, afraid that Xiao Hei might stir up trouble in the woods. All she could do was stand anxiously outside, waiting, hoping it would come back on its own.
Minutes passed—ten, then fifteen.
Listening to the increasingly subtle noises in the grove, Su Su’s face grew redder and redder, her gaze more and more blank.
She didn’t even want to imagine what exactly Xiao Hei had just gone in to see!
“All right, we’ve been gone too long.”
In the grove, Qu Wen was already urging Ji Junzhi to hurry up.
Another brief yet intense moment passed.
Judging by the sounds, they were about to come out.
Su Su panicked instantly.
Why hadn’t Xiao Hei come back yet?!
Just as she hesitated about whether to head back first, a familiar wriggling sensation brushed past her foot. The black snake, which had been eavesdropping, slithered up her leg and back into her backpack.
There was no time to scold it. Su Su rushed back to the fire pit.
Barely two minutes later, the handsome man returned first.
Seeing Su Su, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. “You’re awake?”
“Mm.” Su Su tried her best to sound natural. “I saw you both were gone and was about to look for you.”
Ji Junzhi said nothing.
The next second, he suddenly sat down by the fire.
Click.
The sound of a lighter echoed in the dark night. A flickering flame ignited a cigarette.
Cigarettes were a luxury in the apocalypse.
The man’s slender fingers held the cigarette between them, his eyes carrying the satisfied emptiness of someone who had just finished.
To be honest, he was… quite good-looking. His overly narrow, fox-like eyes added an undeniable charm. With a face like that, he could have easily entered the entertainment industry before the apocalypse.
Su Su awkwardly let her thoughts wander.
Ji Junzhi exhaled a ring of smoke and suddenly looked up, staring straight at her.
His gaze was so intense that Su Su couldn’t pretend not to notice. “Is something wrong?”
“You should understand me.”
“Huh?”
Ji Junzhi gazed at her deeply. “We’re the same kind of people.”
…How exactly were they the same? Su Su was full of question marks.
“In the apocalypse, ordinary people can hardly survive on their own.”
Oh, so that’s what he meant. Su Su nodded. “That’s true.”
Seemingly pleased by her agreement, Ji Junzhi smiled faintly. “Qu Wen was right. With your looks, you can easily find a powerful ability user at the Southern Base.”
“But I’m different. It’s hard for me to find a partner more suitable than Qu Wen.”
Strong abilities, youth, decent looks, generosity toward him, and no bizarre fetishes.
At most, Qu Wen only had one flaw—she was a bit too open when it came to both men and women.
“So I hope that for the rest of this journey, you won’t try to compete with me.”
Su Su: “……”
The night was just one awkward moment after another. She really had no idea how to respond to this.
Fortunately, Qu Wen returned just in time.
“You’re awake?”
Su Su silently stood up, avoiding Qu Wen’s gaze. “…I’m still a little tired. I’ll go back to the car and sleep.”
Once her figure disappeared inside the vehicle, Qu Wen finally withdrew her gaze.
“What did you just say to her?”
Ji Junzhi shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Then why wouldn’t she look me in the eye?” Qu Wen snatched Ji Junzhi’s cigarette and took a deep drag. “Don’t tell me she’s actually just tired?”
Ji Junzhi lowered his head and said nothing.
—
Inside the car, Su Su grabbed the black snake that was playing dead and furiously shook it. “You’re just a snake! Why the hell were you peeping on that?!”
Xiao Hei had never been like this before. It was petty, vengeful, and only cared about crystal stones and food—nothing else.
But now… it had actually gone to spy?!
The black snake continued to feign death.
Moments ago, it had coiled around the tree trunk, its vertical pupils concealed behind the leaves—watching the entire thing unfold with a crystal-clear, high-definition view.
So that’s how it works…
The black snake flicked its tongue and obediently licked the corner of the female’s lips.
Before, it had only followed scents and acted purely on instinct.
Now, it understood much more.
It also had one.
And it was stronger than any human male’s.
It didn’t even need the female to prompt it.
Hiss~
The snake’s hissing was unusually hoarse and lingering.
Su Su vaguely sensed that something was different but brushed it off as her imagination.
In the end, she could only issue a stern warning: “You are never allowed to do that again. Understood?”
The black snake played mute.
Su Su eyed it suspiciously, feeling like something was wrong but unable to pinpoint exactly what.
With a head full of unanswered questions, she eventually drifted into sleep.
The night passed peacefully, and at dawn, the Beetle hit the road once more.
Today, their speed was faster than the day before. By four in the afternoon, the gates of the Southern Base finally appeared in sight!
Even from afar, long lines of people stretched out from the entrance—rows upon rows extending hundreds of meters beyond the gate!
Seeing such a scene again, Su Su was momentarily dazed.
She had finally returned to the Southern Base.
In her past life, she had also arrived here in the afternoon.
Back then, Lin Weiran and the others, as ability users, had entered the base through a special passage and were directly assigned to luxury apartments in the core district.
Meanwhile, she had lined up with the ordinary people, waiting all night without getting in. It wasn’t until noon the next day that she finally entered—only to be casually thrown into the most chaotic slums within the city.
“I heard each ability user can only bring one ordinary person,” Qu Wen returned with the base’s entry manual, flipping through it carefully. “Unless it’s a family of three.”
“Ability users don’t need to hand over anything to enter, but ordinary people must provide valuable supplies. The exact value is determined by the base staff…”
“Make way! People outside the line, clear a path immediately!”
A distorted voice blared from a loudspeaker, abruptly cutting off Qu Wen’s words.
The roar of engines grew closer and closer.
Everyone waiting outside the base turned their heads at the same time, their gazes locking onto the convoy slowly approaching.
“It’s the Eternal Squad! They’re back!”
A dozen staff members rushed out, dispersing the surrounding crowd to clear a wide path for the vehicles.
Such a striking and special treatment instantly piqued everyone’s curiosity.
“Who are they?”
“Why is the base giving them such preferential treatment?”
Among the murmuring crowd, a few long-time residents of the Southern Base overheard the confusion and kindly explained:
“That’s the base’s strongest hunting squad. They have two Tier-4 ability users, two Tier-3 ability users, and several Tier-2 and Tier-3 followers. They always bring back the most supplies and crystal stones— even the city lord values them highly.”
The words drifted into Su Su’s ears.
The Eternal Squad…
Si Zhe and Lin Weiran’s squad, symbolizing humanity’s eternity… their eternal love.
It seemed they had arrived at the Southern Base earlier than in the last life, and as always, they had climbed to the top.
Su Su shifted her body, hiding herself within the crowd.
The off-road vehicle leading the convoy had its passenger-side window rolled down.
“Si Zhe, that figure looks so familiar,” Lin Weiran remarked.
Si Zhe followed her gaze, but the figure had already vanished into the crowd. “Which one?”
Lin Weiran looked again, but the person had disappeared from sight.
“Never mind, maybe I was mistaken.”