Chapter 100

Qin Yue hasn’t been this nervous for a long time. Although he has lived in constant tension since the apocalypse arrived, especially after Wu Jiang betrayed him, he has been cautious every moment, fearing that a moment of carelessness could lead to his death. So even though he has new teammates again, he dares not trust anyone lightly. He carefully weighs the pros and cons, assesses the situation, knows when to advance or retreat, and will not risk his life for others.

Except for Jiang Nian, she is the only soft spot in his heart, the only vulnerability. She is the person who can make him let go of all defenses and vigilance. Just like now, he is afraid that Jiang Nian will refuse, and even more afraid that she will say she doesn’t like him.

In fact, he had originally planned to wait for some time, at least until he had a better understanding of Jiang Nian’s feelings. But today, watching Jiang Nian fight alone with a big knife in the midst of a zombie horde, facing a life-and-death situation… The world is inherently dangerous, with people dying every day. No one can guarantee that they will see the sun tomorrow.

So he doesn’t want to wait any longer.

“Niannian, if I met you in peacetime, I would definitely take my time for you to understand my feelings, slowly pursue you, and wait for you to like me… But now, I don’t want to wait that long. I can’t afford to wait; I’m afraid time is not enough; I’m afraid of accidents. I don’t want to regret today or tomorrow. I don’t want to suddenly die one day, and you don’t know how much I like you, nor have I personally told you, ‘I like you; I want to protect you.’ Of course, maybe you don’t need my protection, but I want to protect you. Here, you can rest; you don’t have to be that strong person.”

Seeing Jiang Nian silent, Qin Yue became even more nervous. In a hurry, he continued, “Niannian, I know saying these things now might be too sudden. Don’t rush to reject me. You can think about it…”

“No need to think.”

“Hmm?”

“Can I accept all of these?”

Qin Yue lowered his gaze and saw Jiang Nian’s eyes shining brightly, looking at him with anticipation. His heart skipped a beat, and he nodded. “Yes, these are all for you. Do you like them?”

Jiang Nian smiled radiantly. “Thank you; I really like them, especially them!”

Qin Yue suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, “It’s good that she likes it.” Seeing that Jiang Nian didn’t seem to show any rejection but rather seemed happy, he cautiously asked, “Niannian, did you just agree to be my girlfriend?”

After some thought, Jiang Nian replied earnestly, “Finding a boyfriend who truly understands me is really difficult. It’s rare that you understand me so well. I think we can give it a try.”

…Give it a try?

…Does that mean she agreed???

Qin Yue had a momentary delay in his reaction, then a mix of surprise and joy overwhelmed him. He almost immediately grabbed Jiang Nian’s hand, and his once cold and stern eyes softened, a smile appearing in his deep black eyes. “Niannian, I won’t let you regret choosing me. I will love you and protect you for a lifetime.”

Jiang Nian nodded and added, “And you have to give me shiny gifts. I like shiny things.”

Qin Yue chuckled, pulling Jiang Nian into his arms. “Okay.”

He felt that even if Jiang Nian wanted the moon from the sky, he would find a way to pluck it and present it to her.

Jiang Nian patted Qin Yue, thinking that he was a quite decent boyfriend.

…

Jiang Nian and Qin Yue were finally together. Li Ming and the others weren’t too surprised, considering Qin Yue’s not-so-subtle expressions. The man was usually icy, but in front of Jiang Nian, there was a hint of warmth. Besides, he always liked to be around Jiang Nian. Could they not see through a man’s little tricks?

It was Jiang Nian who was all focused on the future of humanity. She never cared about anything other than the mission, and when they mentioned it to her, she never took it seriously. It made people quite anxious. They thought Qin Yue’s pursuit of his wife would be a long journey, but it turned out to be quick!

The most surprised, however, were the Jiang family members. After all, Jiang Nian had been as calm as water before, showing no signs of wanting to be in a relationship. Now, she suddenly changed her mind and got together with Qin Yue… Could it be that something major had happened?

After careful consideration, Jiang Nian realized that it was indeed a major change. She originally thought that no one in this world truly understood her; no one could comprehend her heart. But it turned out there was one person—Qin Yue!

A boyfriend with such telepathic understanding was hard to find. She wasn’t foolish; naturally, she would hold onto him tightly.

Jiang’s mother found it a bit bewildering: “Does Xiao Qin really understand you? I didn’t know.”

Thinking of her space filled with treasures, Jiang Nian confidently nodded. “Of course, I feel that the person who understands me the most in this world is him!”

Jiang’s mother was a bit confused but still happy. After all, the two families had been getting along for so long, and Qin Yue’s parents were honest and kind people. Qin Yue was also a reliable man, capable of protecting others. She felt at ease entrusting her daughter to him and decided not to bother her too much.

Shen Ran was quite unhappy. It was just a mission, and how did his sister get deceived by that stinky man?

Jiang Yuan was also unhappy. His sister was about to have a formidable boyfriend, and he was no match for him at all. What if someone bullied his sister in the future? Just thinking about it, Jiang Yuan felt a sense of urgency. He wished he could crush time into pieces and make every minute count to become stronger. Even though his sister was already powerful, no one could bully her…

Of course, the happiest, besides Qin Yue, were Qin’s parents. After all, where could they find such a good daughter-in-law? Even looking at their son became extremely pleasing. They originally thought he was a stubborn block of wood, destined to be a lifelong bachelor. They never expected that they had underestimated him. This person, without a word, accomplished something significant. Quite a guy!

In celebration, the Qin and Jiang families had a reunion dinner. At the dinner table, Qin’s mother specifically advised Qin Yue to treat Jiang Nian well, not to bully her, and so on. How could Qin Yue possibly bully Jiang Nian? He honestly agreed, and Jiang Nian nodded repeatedly, promising, “Uncle, Aunt, rest assured, I will treat Qin Yue well. I will take responsibility for him.”

Being quite greedy, she figured if she wanted money, she might as well embrace love too.

…Ahem!

Jiang’s mom and dad sighed at this silly girl, not holding back at all. Qin’s parents naturally said yes, yes, yes. Shen Ran pursed his lips, feeling a bit sad. How did his sister get deceived by that pig? Jiang Yuan tried to eat as much as possible, determined to eat and strengthen himself to be ready to beat his brother-in-law at any time. Qin Yue’s ears twitched, feeling a tingling sensation in his heart. He was a bit restless.

After dinner, Qin Yue and Jiang Nian took a stroll downstairs, holding hands. Qin Yue felt the calluses on Jiang Nian’s palm, a result of long-term weapon handling. However, her hands were small. With a gentle turn of his palm, he could hold her entire hand.

Suddenly, he asked, “You want to take responsibility for me?”

“Yeah.” Wasn’t that obvious? “What’s wrong?”

Qin Yue raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Niannian, how do you plan to take responsibility for me?”

That was indeed a question. Jiang Nian thought seriously, then casually took out a diamond ring from her storage buckle and put it on Qin Yue’s finger. “Don’t worry; although I’m money-minded, I won’t abandon you after making a promise. Since I agreed to be with you, you’re mine now!”

“……….?”

Qin Yue stared at the ring on his finger, momentarily dumbfounded. Why did she suddenly give him a ring? And put it on him? He was just trying to tease her with some mischievous thoughts…

Jiang Nian deftly moved and took out another ring, clearly of the same style. She had prepared it in advance. The diamonds were unusually large. She put one on her own finger and smiled with curved brows and eyes.

Qin Yue’s lips couldn’t help but curve upward. He pressed down on the smile and asked, “Niannian, are you proposing to me?”

Jiang Nian glanced at him. “What are you thinking? These are our couple rings.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll prepare the wedding ring for you later.”

“……….”

Qin Yue was momentarily speechless—a mix of laughter and tears. However, he felt extremely happy inside. He affectionately tousled Jiang Nian’s head, finding her directness adorable.

Jiang Nian, on the other hand, felt a bit regretful. Originally, she wanted to use large gold pieces for their rings, but gold was too fragile and easily damaged. After some consideration, diamonds were a tougher and more durable choice, resistant to a beating.

…

News of Jiang Nian and Qin Yue spread through the Happy Community, creating quite a buzz. At that time, seeing Jiang Nian and Qin Yue walking hand in hand on the street became a topic of discussion! Not only within the Happy Community but even outside, there were whispers.

“Wow, I heard District Head Jiang and Captain Qin go for a walk!”

“Oh my, I heard District Head Jiang and Captain Qin are holding hands!”

“Heard Disctrict Head Jiang’s sow gave birth to thirteen piglets? Half of them were given to Captain Li and taken back to the team. I saw it myself; that pig looks really beautiful!”

“District Head Jiang and Captain Qin… hmm? They already have children! Does that mean we can eat pork next year?”

“When District Head Jiang and Captain Qin get married, maybe we can benefit and get a taste of pork when the pigs grow up!”

“……Slurp—slip!” (ˉ﹃ˉ)

Now, those who initially found it curious, enjoyed the spectacle, and observed Jiang Nian and Qin Yue’s love story were now eagerly anticipating their marriage. Well, maybe they should wait until the pigs grow up first, but just thinking about it made their mouths water…

…

Since having a boyfriend, Jiang Nian has lived happily every day. Even sitting at home properly could enrich her treasure trove. Moreover, the joint efforts of two people yielded much greater results than individual efforts. The saying “strength in numbers” was indeed true, and mutual understanding was truly the most beautiful thing in the world.

Jiang Nian was growing fonder of Qin Yue. In the past, she was blinded by the large gold pieces and didn’t see Qin Yue’s goodness. Fortunately, she woke up early.

Qin Yue, having a girlfriend, was also very happy. He found Jiang Nian’s thoughts simple and easy to please. Just casually giving her some pretty little gifts could make her ecstatic. It was truly foolish. If he had known it was so easy to make her happy, he wouldn’t have hesitated and would have presented all the beautiful things to her earlier. How much time did he waste before…

After a year of public dating, the piglets grew into big, fat pigs. They gained the affection of everyone in the Happy Community. Whenever someone went on a mission, they brought back some pig fodder to feed them. By the way, anyone drooling? Luckily, among the first litter of piglets, there were three female piglets. Two were taken by Captain Li, and Jiang Nian kept the remaining one. Now, that piglet was pregnant, and soon, Jiang Nian might develop into a pig farming tycoon.

In the second year of living in the safe zone, the Happy Community was especially lively because the Jiang family started slaughtering pigs to make preserved meat and sausages. Many residents in the community came to help with the meat cutting and boning. Those who helped could also receive one or two pounds of meat. Jiang Nian took charge and suggested everyone gather for a New Year’s Eve dinner. It wasn’t easy to survive until today, and they should be happy about it.

Now, the silly girl was giving out benefits again! With an empty stomach, they planned to eat a little more later. It would be great if they could eat enough for the next few days! Neighbors headed home with a nod, quickly grabbing tables and chairs. They checked what food they had at home and added a dish to the table. Those with nothing to contribute lent their strength, carrying water and starting fires. The atmosphere became lively and festive. Qin Yue naturally joined the fun, checking his space and taking half a nylon bag of peanuts—half fried and half boiled. He also brought a few boxes of beer—not too much, just enough for a couple of sips. Even though he joined the gathering, he couldn’t let his guard down.

On the other hand, Captain Li got wind of this and personally delivered some cabbages and radishes, saying it was to bring some joy. The cabbages were stir-fried with pork, and the radishes were stewed with pork ribs and pig trotters. It was a decent meal in the post-apocalyptic world. Today, Wang Cai, the cat, took advantage of the situation and stole a day off. He didn’t have to rush outside to catch small, dried fish, and it quietly enjoyed eating a lot of meat in the kitchen.

Jiang Nian felt a bit regretful. After all, there were many vegetables and fruits in her space, all grown by herself over the past year. She usually ate them at home, and there was still a lot left. Unfortunately, she couldn’t share the joy with everyone. After all, she had a large fortune, and she had to be cautious. She could only enjoy her food alone.

Jiang Nian leaned on the balcony, eagerly watching the lively neighbors downstairs.

“Why are you here alone?” Qin Yue suddenly appeared at some point, standing behind her. He gently held her hand, and when Jiang Nian turned to look at him, leaning on the balcony, she smiled and shook her head.

Qin Yue rubbed the calluses on the girl’s palm and smiled along.

Although they were in this post-apocalyptic world, as long as Jiang Nian was by his side, it felt warm.

Regardless of where they were, whether things were smooth or they were in a precarious situation, as long as he thought of Jiang Nian, his heart was warm.

After careful consideration, weighing the pros and cons, and being cautious, he said, “Niannian, let’s get married.”

Jiang Nian replied, “Sure.”

Qin Yue felt that, at this moment, the surprise was a hundred times greater than escaping from death.

…

Wu Jiang had already married. He married a woman named Chen Li. Her father was one of the top ten gang leaders before the apocalypse. After the apocalypse, he awakened the dual abilities of thunder and fire, took a group of followers, seized a prison, and established a safe base. Wu Jiang led his people north but unfortunately encountered zombies on the way. His people died or were scattered, and he was coincidentally rescued by Chen Laoda passing by.

At first sight of Wu Jiang, Chen Li said she wanted to marry him.

Wu Jiang certainly didn’t want to marry Chen Li. Not only was she ugly, but she was also a 200-plus-kilogram fatty with a very bad temper. She was extremely jealous of any good-looking woman, and everyone had to cater to her. He didn’t even want to look at her, so how could he marry her? However, in the end, he still married her because he had no way to refuse.

Chen Li was not easy to deal with, and Chen Laoda was even more difficult to provoke. Initially, Chen Laoda led a group of people to occupy the prison and also subdued many evildoers inside the prison. They were extremely wicked before the apocalypse, and after the apocalypse, their awakened abilities only intensified their malicious intentions.

In such a situation, could Wu Jiang refuse? So he had no choice but to marry Chen Li. What was frightening was that shortly after he married Chen Li, he discovered that she had set her sights on another handsome man and even brought him home to live under the same roof! Unfortunately, such a situation was not significant in this prison. Women could take in many men, and men could have several women. Having seen it all, people had become accustomed to it.

Wu Jiang was furious; his face contorted, but he didn’t dare say a word. What was his little grievance compared to the ancient story of lying on thorns and tasting bitterness?

After the apocalypse, there were only three large-scale bases left in the country: Dragonfly, Hope, and Bright. There were also some small survivor bases attached to these three major bases. Chen Laoda had stayed in the prison for a long time, and resources were depleting rapidly. Invasions and looting were inevitable. Anyone who submitted to him would be spared, and those who resisted would be killed, regardless of age or gender.

Wu Jiang was scared to the point that he dreamed of killing people, but at the same time, he envied Chen Laoda. With a single command, Chen Laoda could rally hundreds of people. In the past half year, he had already accumulated over a thousand ability users. Their abilities were not to be underestimated. Wu Jiang dreamed that if he could seize Chen Laoda’s position, the first thing he would do was divorce Chen Li, that ugly woman!

Chen Laoda’s bloody massacres naturally made many enemies, and they also caught the attention of the central authorities, who sent someone to investigate secretly.

While preparing for his wedding with Jiang Nian, Qin Yue suddenly heard from Li Ming, “During my mission this time, I encountered people from Chen Laoda. Do you know who I saw by Chen Laoda’s side? Wu Jiang! He’s actually still alive.”

Qin Yue was stunned when he heard Wu Jiang’s name. It seemed like a distant memory from the last century, but he should have remembered him well.

He smiled, his handsome and resolute face becoming even more stern. “I didn’t expect him to be following Chen Laoda. He’s probably not going to live for long.”

Dealing with Chen Laoda, a tumor harming humanity, naturally required the combined efforts of the three major bases. Would Wu Jiang, who sided with Chen Laoda, still have a way out?