Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Cheng Jing understood Jiang Nian’s point, and he knew exactly what was at stake. After some thought, he nodded:

“I get it—don’t worry. Let’s just keep it between us. Spreading this around would just bring trouble, whether it turns out to be true or not.”

He trusted Jiang Nian because everything Jiang Nian did was within his control. Whether the apocalypse came or not, those materials could be managed quietly—no one else would ever know.

But if they went around spreading this, they’d get arrested before any apocalypse even hit.

And even if it did happen, Jiang Nian predicting it would look suspicious. Either way, it wouldn’t end well.

Forget it. When disaster hit, everyone would have their own fate. They could only think about helping others after ensuring their own safety.

For example, letting their families prepare.

His parents were with his younger brother in a military family compound—if shit hit the fan, that place was probably the safest.

He just needed to remind them not to get caught in the first rain after the drought, in case it’s toxic.

Then call his mother, who was a hoarder by nature, and tell her to stock up for a brief rainy spell. If anything unusual happened, the military would react quickly—no need to worry.

He’d call his parents and brother tomorrow.

Aside from family, he also needed an excuse to get his trusted subordinates to gather supplies.

Their security company had government connections, giving it special status. For two months before and after official collaborations, they were barred from outside jobs, and no more than ten personnel could be stationed in one location.

In Qingyun City, there were only eight people total, including him:

He was the captain, Huang Qian was the assistant, and the other six—split into teams of two—were caretakers for three safe houses. One of them was nominally the deputy captain. All were handpicked and trustworthy.

Most team members had unusual family backgrounds—some were from orphanages, others had no living relatives, and Huang Qian had run away from home due to son preference in her family, escaping a forced marriage and refusing to go back.

So most of the time, the team stuck together. When doomsday came, they’d face it as a group.

Beyond these eight, the rest of the company’s security staff were mobile, assigned by headquarters based on mission needs.

They’d just finished a job, so all eight had to keep a low profile for two months before resuming normal operations. The other security staff had already returned to headquarters.

Given this, Cheng Jing figured he could find a reason for the others to prep their assigned safe houses.

Huang Qian didn’t oversee a safe house alone, so he’d have her handle his rented place. If the apocalypse really came, he’d be with Jiang Nian anyway.

“…”

Cheng Jing’s mind raced as he formed a basic plan. Having extra preparations was always good. Just as he was about to ask something else, the person in his arms had already fallen asleep.

He sent a message in the team group chat: *“All groups—prep your assigned safe houses ASAP for training purposes. The more, the faster, the better.”* Then he turned off the TV and carried Jiang Nian to bed.

…

The next morning, when Jiang Nian woke up, Cheng Jing was no longer at the hotel. His message said he’d taken Huang Qian and the others to gather supplies, claiming it was prep for a new job.

Jiang Nian knew Jing-ge had things under control, so he didn’t ask further. He didn’t mind Huang Qian staying in their “love pad” either—they had better options now.

On August 26th, Cheng Jing spent the entire day out while Jiang Nian chilled at the hotel, eating and drinking. It wasn’t until evening that Cheng Jing texted him to come to the apartment and grab some takeout.

Huang Qian was a bit suspicious of Cheng Jing’s actions. Even during past training missions, she—a back-office assistant—had never been put in charge of prepping safe houses.

She had a hunch it was related to Jiang Nian's "hamster-like behavior."

But Brother Jing’s excuse was too airtight—something about using the training as an opportunity to sharpen her professional skills—which left her no grounds for doubt.

When Jiang Nian arrived with food, the two were swamped with work.

Except for the security-enhanced doors and windows, the interior layout of the house remained largely unchanged from when he and Cheng Jing had lived together before. The only difference was the lingering cigarette stench left behind by his supposed rival, Yang Kai.

Jiang Nian set the food down and called out for the busy pair to come over and eat.

The air conditioning was blasting so cold that if Jiang Nian or Huang Qian got wet, they’d get chills—but Cheng Jing was sweating buckets, his skin scorching hot.

Jiang Nian handed him an iced soda:

"Brother Jing, are you okay? You're sweating so much, and your skin feels really hot..."

Cheng Jing took two big gulps and shook his head:

"I don’t know why, but I’ve been feeling super hot since noon. Even under the AC, I can’t stop sweating—it’s getting worse."

Jiang Nian frowned:

"Maybe heat exhaustion? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

With the apocalypse looming, he couldn’t afford to get sick now.

Cheng Jing shook his head:

"No discomfort, just the heat."

Huang Qian butted in with a smirk:

"Probably pent-up frustration after two years of lonely celibacy. Now that you've patched things up, all that repressed heat’s gotta go somewhere."

"…"

It took Jiang Nian a second to realize she was teasing them, and he turned red.

He could only act bold in front of Cheng Jing—in front of others, he couldn’t pull off the same boldness.

No wonder she was Brother Jing’s assistant—spicy and unshakable!

Cheng Jing cut her a look:

"If you can’t keep your mouth shut, I’ll sew it shut!"

Huang Qian, unfazed, pouted—ever the diva. Seeing Jiang Nian wipe Cheng Jing’s sweat, she tsked:

"Working overtime is hard enough—now I have to endure shoved-in-my-face PDA too..."

Jiang Nian wasn’t one for public flirting, but he could hold his own in a war of words. He casually asked:

"Huang Qian-jie, do you have a boyfriend? Last time, no one showed up to get you even when it was late..."

He was genuinely curious—what kind of person could handle a firecracker like you?

"Zip it!"

Huang Qian gave a dismissive flick of her fingers.

"I'm better off alone!"

By the end of her sentence, she was practically gritting her teeth. Just as Jiang Nian was about to chime in with a flattering "Being gloriously single is the way," Cheng Jing cut in with perfect timing:

"Your sister Qian’s love life starts with her looks and ends with her extreme tendencies. Her ex is still in the hospital’s physiotherapy room recovering from back strain."

"Cheng Jing! You’re spreading lies and twisting the truth!"

The stunning beauty Huang Qian finally snapped, her delicate fingers morphing into the *Nine Yin White Bone Claw*.

Just as Jiang Nian was worrying about his boyfriend's divine face getting wrecked, Cheng Jing deftly caught her wrist:

"How many times do I have to say it? Go ahead and fight, but don’t hit the face—especially a man’s face. You might be single, but I’m not. If I get dumped again, I’m holding you responsible."

"With a mouth like yours, you deserve to get dumped..."

Huang Qian couldn’t stomach his cocky grin and raised her other hand, but Jiang Nian swiftly intervened with a calming chrysanthemum tea:

"Sister Qian, don’t get mad, don’t get mad. Being gloriously single is the way—exceptional women are meant to shine alone."

He was no match for her fierceness. After all, there was no way he could ever send Cheng Jing to the hospital from back strain—if anything, he’d be the one hospitalized from overuse.

"Alright, let’s call it even—"

The captured hand was still thrashing defiantly, and Cheng Jing instinctively pushed back with a little more force.

He thought he had controlled it well, but Huang Qian suddenly let out a sharp "Ah!" and dropped the flower tea she was holding in her other hand. Then, with a pained expression, she tipped backward and fell off the chair.

"—"