Chapter 63

Chapter 63

After Xue Ling returned, the team held a brief meeting, and a group of people armed with weapons were dispatched to accompany two specially brought doctors into Long'an Ancient City.

Their mission was to do everything possible to save Academician Ji Shiping and ensure his safety.

Wen Yi also expressed a desire to join this small team; she was eager to meet Academician Ji Shiping's research team and exchange information about the new discoveries regarding meteorites and the zombie virus.

Even just getting a look at the relevant materials would be good.

However, her request to join the team was denied by the overall commander, who understood her urgency but did not think now was the right time.

Inside Long'an Ancient City, every additional person increased the danger.

Another researcher from the team, Yang Luo, who was not from Wen Yi's faction, criticized her, saying:

"Doctor Wen, it's not good to be overly eager for success. Do you really expect Academician Ji to get up and answer your questions?"

"I suggest we observe for a few more days before making a move. Once Academician Ji’s condition stabilizes and we leave the ancient city, it will be a safer environment for research, wouldn’t you agree?" Yang Luo said solemnly.

Wen Yi didn't give him a single glance and instead continued speaking to the commander: "If we need to stay in Long'an Ancient City for an extended period, then I demand to enter no later than two days from now."

The commander found himself in a difficult position. The researchers who had come belonged to two different groups, and he needed to treat them equally. It would be best if they acted as a unified team.

One side wanted to enter the ancient city, while the other preferred to stay at the base. He couldn’t favor one side by allowing them to contact Academician Ji’s research team before the other.

So he didn't give a definitive answer, only saying: "We'll have to wait until the team comes back and assess the situation. As senior researchers, I am responsible for your safety and cannot recklessly put you in danger."

After leaving the temporary tent, Wen Yi saw Xue Ling wandering nearby.

Xue Ling strolled over to Wen Yi and showed her a tablet displaying the message: "Sister Yi, if the commander doesn't agree, I can take you in two days. I'm familiar with the route."

Xue Ling was confident she could safely escort Wen Yi alone.

The tent was not soundproof, and Xue Ling, who was outside, had clearly overheard everything.

Although they hadn’t known each other long, Xue Ling had already developed a deep understanding of Wen Yi’s personality.

Once Wen Yi makes a decision, no one can stop her. She had the same fierce determination as Wen Jiuzhe. She might actually take a car and force her way into Long'an Ancient City.

Xue Ling felt it necessary to smooth things over. As expected, upon seeing the message, Wen Yi’s icy expression softened slightly.

But the meddlesome Yang Luo, who had followed, leaned over to glance at Xue Ling’s tablet and began to point out:

"Xue Ling, I have to say, you can't just defy the commander's orders because you've done meritorious deeds. Even zombies have to follow discipline..."

Xue Ling suddenly made a ferocious expression and lunged at Yang Luo, her claws bared.

Yang Luo was startled and quickly backed away, his face filled with fear as he shouted:

"You! What are you doing? Trying to attack me? If you dare to attack me, it will be a crime, and even Wen Yi won’t be able to protect you!"

Xue Ling retracted her hands, having frightened Yang Luo, and tapped on the tablet, delivering the message:

"I was just joking around. Why are you so scared? Do you have a problem with me?"

The researcher's face turned green.

He had previously seen Xue Ling as very easygoing, diligently completing tasks, and usually staying quiet.

Although they were merely zombies, they seemed quite harmless. Surprisingly, they also had this side to them.

At that moment, Wen Yi said lightly, "If you accidentally become a zombie, who knows which zombie infected you? There are so many zombies around the campsite. It certainly wouldn't be Xue Ling. What do you think?"

Grasping the threat in her words and noticing there were few people around, Yang Luo immediately took off, putting distance between himself and them.

Watching him flee, Xue Ling lifted her tablet and read out a dozen "hahas."

Wen Yi also curled her lip slightly, "Let's go. Next time you see this idiot, stay far away. His stupidity is more contagious than a virus."

The small team that entered Long'an Ancient City returned halfway through the night, bringing the latest update that Academician Ji's condition was very serious and that he couldn't be moved for the time being. The rough journey would be too much for him, and he currently needed to be monitored by equipment in the medical vehicle.

They would have to stay in Long'an Ancient City for at least half a month. Whether they could leave afterward would depend on the situation at that time.

Their current campsite couldn't be occupied for long. This meant the commander would need to consider relocating the main force to Long'an Ancient City and arrange for people to clear the surrounding zombies.

Wen Yi got her wish, but Yang Luo was extremely unhappy. He went to the commander alone to offer his suggestions but wasn't successful. He had no choice but to reluctantly join Wen Yi and the others in entering the ancient city.

The main force was moving into Long'an Ancient City.

Xue Ling didn't participate in the zombie clearing operation inside the ancient city. She stayed outside the city with several remaining warriors.

Before Wen Yi left, she reminded Xue Ling to wear her warrior clothes properly and not wander around the ancient city. If any warrior clearing zombies failed to notice her, they might mistake her for an ordinary zombie, which would be bad.

Xue Ling: "..."

What a hellish assumption.

Xue Ling obediently avoided the commotion. Outside of her tasks, she paid special attention to resting and often found a place to lie down.

Since lying silently in the camp would always accidentally scare others, Xue Ling deliberately found a spot further from the campsite, where the scenery was better.

Lying there all day long, it felt like she had returned to those three years when she was alone. There was nothing to do, and no one would look for her. She could only idly watch ants crawling on the tree.

Her peace lasted only until the sound of a car broke the silence.

People had arrived at the camp. From a distance, Xue Ling heard the commotion.

Quite a few people had come. She got up and went to see, spotting someone by the car.

He was looking around the camp, as if searching for something.

It was Wen Jiuzhe.

According to the plan, at this time, he should have still been completing the mission in Donghai City. How did he end up here directly?

Wen Jiuzhe also noticed her and headed straight in her direction.

Because he had no expression, his quick and silent approach was a bit frightening.

Xue Ling also quickened her pace, but her path was different from Wen Jiuzhe's. She headed straight for the car she had been staying in.

Wen Jiuzhe: What does this mean? Why is she running?

If zombies could laugh, he would have almost been angry enough to laugh. With a turn of his foot, he also shifted towards Xue Ling's car.

Just as he aggressively reached the side of the car, Xue Ling came down with something in her hand.

It was a red boutonniere. She grabbed it, shook it as if showing off, and then pinned it to Wen Jiuzhe's chest.

Wen Jiuzhe's anger was suppressed by her strange behavior.

He stared at the red boutonnière on his chest for a while, then took out a tablet he hadn't used in a long time, and asked Xue Ling his first question since they met: "Groom's boutonnière?"

"What do you mean by giving me a groom's boutonnière? Are we getting married now?"

Xue Ling: ‘...’

"This is an award I received after completing a mission, it represents honor, not a groom's boutonnière!" Xue Ling explained exasperatedly.

From the moment she saw Wen Jiuzhe, she knew he must be furious, so she decided to use this to pacify him.

Wen Jiuzhe listened to the explanation with some regret, his interest in the boutonnière greatly diminished.

"They used a little red flower to get you to work?" Wen Jiuzhe said.

Xue Ling: ‘There were also other rewards, like rice, flour, oil, candy, and canned food.’

"Where are the things?"

With his arms crossed, Wen Jiuzhe looked displeased, thinking she had been tricked. Xue Ling didn't dare to say that she had given the things to Wen Yi.

"What about you, how did your mission in Donghai City go? Why did you return so early?" Xue Ling tried to change the subject.

Wen Jiuzhe's tablet read aloud: "The mission was too simple, so I came back after finishing it."

Captain Shen Zhang had come over to discuss some arrangements with Wen Jiuzhe but stopped in his tracks with a complicated expression upon hearing this.

Xue Ling saw him too, waved, and greeted him. She felt that the mission might not have been as simple as Wen Jiuzhe said; Captain Shen Zhang looked at least ten years older.

Captain Shen Zhang said: "We'll rest for half a day, then prepare to enter the ancient city. What are your plans, Wen Jiuzhe?"

Although he already knew Wen Jiuzhe would stay with Xue Ling, he still had to ask.

As expected, Wen Jiuzhe succinctly replied with the tablet: "Staying."

Shen Zhang didn't understand why Wen Jiuzhe wouldn't speak when he clearly could, but he didn't point it out, nodded in understanding, and left.

They had been rushing non-stop on the journey, without any rest. If the team members weren't strong warriors, several would have collapsed midway.

Even so, Wen Jiuzhe still found them too slow.

Xue Ling moved closer to Wen Jiuzhe, lowered the tablet’s volume, and asked quietly, "Did you get your medal?"

Wen Jiuzhe: ‘...No.’

He hadn't even thought about it at the time.

But after looking at Xue Ling a bit more, he immediately understood what she was hinting at and narrowed his eyes at her: "Do you want to trade your boutonnière for my medal?"

Xue Ling widened her eyes: "How could I!"

If he didn’t know her well, Wen Jiuzhe would have thought she didn’t want it.

Upon closer inspection, her eyes showed a hint of guilt and evasion, darting from his nose to behind his ear.

"No medal for now, but I have this." Wen Jiuzhe took out a small red box. "I brought it back from Donghai City."

The only thing he brought back from Donghai City, besides the items on the mission list, was this.

Xue Ling hesitated before reaching for the box.

It looked exactly like a ring box.

More often than not, if a box looked exactly like a ring box, it contained a ring.

Xue Ling was speechless.

She looked at Wen Jiuzhe, then at the box which appeared especially small against his palm, and slowly reached out her hand.

As she took the box and opened it, Xue Ling thought, Could Wen Jiuzhe be about to propose?

Nervously, she opened the box to reveal a ruby necklace.

Xue Ling was speechless.

Wen Jiuzhe waited. Noticing she was still staring at the necklace without reacting, he asked, “No reaction? Don’t you like it?”

Xue Ling said, “Of course I do, I love it! Wow, it’s so beautiful, thank you.”

Her voice had never sounded so flat.

Wen Jiuzhe asked, “You didn’t think it was a ring, did you?”

Xue Ling suddenly punched him in frustration. If you guessed it, why did you have to say it!

Wen Jiuzhe caught her hand. “The rings there weren’t very appealing. This necklace is the priciest.”

He had spent some time looking at the ring counter, but his thoughts turned to Xue Ling’s increasingly slender fingers.

If he put a ring on her finger, he would see how the small circle would gradually become loose.

So he left the ring counter after a while and ultimately chose this necklace.