Li Yunxi, fearing that mentioning Zhou You's identity might be awkward, covered for him: "Him? He's just someone from our group. Called... Called... I'm not quite sure, met him on the way back."

"My name is Zhou You," he introduced himself, his eyes fixated on Wu Yong. Among all the men he had met, Wu Yong stood out – towering nearly two meters tall, muscles akin to a boxing champion's. He clearly looked like a fighter.

Dismissing Zhou You's meager appearance, Wu Yong waved him off, "Just get going. I have night watch duty. When the boss returns, you'll see."

Li Yunxi made a funny face at him, leading Zhou You into the protective circle, pointing at a row of buses, "All these buses are filled with women. Stay away. I live here. As for you, just pick a vehicle at the back to rest in. People don't usually recognize each other; they won't notice an extra person."

Eager to understand the outside world, Zhou You stared at her intently. Almost taken aback, Li Yunxi joked about how even with his messy face, he still seemed to be flirtatious. What a naturally charming guy.

"Stop looking at me like that. I might not be able to control myself. Rest for now; I'll find you at dawn," said Li Yunxi, climbing into her vehicle.

Walking further, Zhou You counted over a hundred vehicles in the convoy. Each was packed with people, huddled asleep. Any slight noise would startle them awake.

Now Zhou You understood Li Yunxi's surprise upon seeing him. These folks resembled starving refugees, dark-skinned, lifeless eyes, many with blotches on their faces.

He climbed into the last truck, which was crowded with people giving off an unpleasant odor. A noise stirred them, but seeing it was just a person, they all laid back down.

Zhou You settled in a corner. Lying down was impossible, so he just closed his eyes to rest.

He thought: if these are the conditions throughout the journey, he'd be better off following the convoy at a distance – not only would it be freer, but he'd also sleep more comfortably. He just wondered where this convoy was heading.

Chapter 007: I'll Look Out for You

At dawn, cheers echoed from outside. Zhou You heard, "The boss is back!" Expecting excitement from those in his vehicle, he was surprised when they just continued sleeping.

Curious about this 'boss', Zhou You peeked out, just as Li Yunxi was running over to find him.

"Zhou You... Here, quick. Let me introduce you to my brother," she whispered, "They must've brought back some game. Regular folks won't get any, but I'll share some of mine with you. Don't tell anyone."

Surprised, Zhou You asked, "Why are you being so kind to me?"

Li Yunxi confidently responded, "Because you're handsome! I can share if I want." Seeing his puzzled face, she slapped him playfully, "Silly, you saved my life, can't you tell I'm showing gratitude?"

Zhou You downplayed it, "You handled your enemies. No need to repay me."

From afar, he saw a group of muscular men discussing around a pile of game. He overheard Wu Yong saying, "This should last us for several days."

Another added, "Yes, we can't linger here for the next few days. Lucky we didn’t encounter any large mutated beasts, just some minor injuries on Xiao Jin's team."

"Brother!" Li Yunxi ran and clung to one of the men, pouting, "Why didn't you take me hunting again?"

Li Hongxi tapped her lightly, replying with a chuckle, "Why would I take a girl on such dangerous excursions? It's life-threatening. Stay safe with the convoy. Once we reach Yang City, things will settle."

As Wu Yong directed the team to prepare the meal, Li Hongxi instructed, "Keep those two pheasants for the back group. They need some chicken porridge; they've had a tough journey and need nutrition."

Wu Yong muttered reluctantly, "Why do they deserve it? We're the ones protecting them."

Li Hongxi shot him a stern look. Wu Yong smirked and left, albeit separating the two pheasants as told.

Zhou You saw traces of a soldier's demeanor in Li Hongxi, an upright and selfless man. He wondered if he had ever been in the military.

Li Yunxi brought Zhou You forward, introducing him, "Brother, this is Zhou You. He helped me. Can I share some of my portion with him?"

Li Hongxi studied Zhou You, noticing he didn't seem advanced or clean, and asked, "What did he help with?"

Evading, Li Yunxi retorted, "Just don't worry about it, he just did!" Of course, she couldn't mention the events of the previous night, especially not about killing five of her brother's reserve members.

Li Hongxi was always wary of men deceiving his younger sister. However, the young man before him stood tall with an upright posture. His gaze wasn't timid or retreating like many others; instead, it was bright and resolute. Such a look was unexpected from someone who had endured the apocalypse.

"What's your name?" Li Hongxi asked in a deep voice.

"Zhou You."

"Do you have an identification card?"

Zhou You paused for a moment, turning to look at Li Yunxi, puzzled. He still had his ID, but what was this identification card?

Li Yunxi quickly pulled her brother aside and whispered, "Bro, stop asking. He's been through a lot and knows nothing of the current situation. But he truly is a good person."

Li Yunxi vividly remembered how he appeared from nowhere to save her. Despite looking frail and weak, he bravely stood in front of her—a courage that was deeply admirable.