Sitting stiffly on the sofa chair, Chi Ying twisted her fingers nervously.
Just now, Gu Chi had asked her a question, but she was too stunned by the impact to utter a word.
So, the place of interrogation shifted—from the greenhouse to Gu Chi’s room.
Chi Ying fidgeted in her seat, but Gu Chi seemed completely unbothered. In fact, he even started leisurely making lemonade.
He sliced two lemons, grabbed an empty glass, tossed all the slices in, and poured in water.
The glass wasn’t very big and was now stuffed full of lemon slices. It was hard to tell whether he was soaking lemons in water or water in lemons.
Gu Chi handed her the glass.
“Thanks,” Chi Ying said automatically, taking it and taking a big gulp.
“!”
Her teeth nearly shattered from the sourness!
“Good?” Gu Chi asked, utterly ruthless.
“…Delicious,” Chi Ying forced out.
Gu Chi twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and said coolly, “Another glass?”
Chi Ying hurriedly put down the cup and shook her head frantically. “It’s too sour.”
Only then did Gu Chi relent.
He sat down across from her, raising an eyebrow coldly. “Wind ability?”
“…Mm.”
“In the supermarket when I first saw you, there were two zombies with suspicious wounds,” he said, eyes sharp. “I thought it was some supernatural being passing by, but it turned out to be you.”
Chi Ying felt a pang of guilt. “…Yeah.”
“Pretty honest,” Gu Chi said, pausing. “Your control over the wind ability is impressive. Honestly, your strength is probably higher than mine.”
Chi Ying nodded without a hint of modesty. “Yes.”
Not probably—definitely. And by a long shot.
Gu Chi: “…”
How unhumble.
He rubbed his brows, feeling a headache coming on. “Then your space ability… did you awaken it before or after you were stabbed by Zhang Bin?”
Chi Ying pursed her lips. Knowing she couldn’t hide it anymore, she answered honestly, “I had it before.”
“…I see,” Gu Chi let out a long breath.
“In the apocalypse, knowing how to protect yourself is a good thing. I get it. You don’t have to feel guilty.”
He looked at her calmly.
“Whether it was helping us discover Professor Lin or exposing Zhang Bin’s suspicious behavior, you’ve helped us a lot. You’re not even part of my team, and yet you went this far. I’m grateful.”
Chi Ying was silent. After a moment, she asked tentatively, “Really?”
Gu Chi nodded firmly.
“…Then why did you give me that glass of water?”
She still vividly remembered almost passing out from the sourness. She had reasonable suspicion that this man was retaliating.
“…”
Gu Chi’s gaze drifted awkwardly.
“Gratitude is one thing,” he said seriously, “but I also have the right to be angry.”
Chi Ying immediately shut up, not daring to argue.
After all, she was the one who kept secrets first. At this moment, it was better to keep quiet.
“You can go back for now. We won’t be staying at headquarters much longer—probably just two more days. If you still want to head toward the B-level safe zone, I’ll give you a ride as promised. But…” He got up, brushing off imaginary dust. “With your abilities, you’d be much better off staying here.”
But despite his calm exterior, Gu Chi’s mind was far from peaceful. For some reason, he wanted Chi Ying to stay. Like he was still hoping to see her again.
“I’m not going to the safe zone,” Chi Ying said quietly, tightening her grip on her clothes. “I want to follow you. I’m strong, I have spatial abilities, and I don’t lack supplies…”
Gu Chi looked up in surprise but stayed silent.
“Can I join you?” she asked.
“…”
Gu Chi lowered his gaze.
“Sorry. No.”
Chi Ying was stunned.
“You are indeed strong,” he said, “but my teammates have to be able to trust each other.”
His eyes met hers, unwavering.
“You have too many secrets. I can’t let you in. I have to be responsible for my team.”
Turning away, Gu Chi busied himself with the small basket of lemons he’d brought from the greenhouse.
There wasn’t even anything to clean up—just a few lemons. But rejecting her made him feel awkward, so he fiddled pointlessly.
After a long while, just as he was about to pulverize the poor lemons, Chi Ying finally gathered her courage.
“Trust can be built,” she said firmly. “If you need a confession… I’ll give it.”
Gu Chi froze.
Before his brain could even react, he found himself nodding.
__
Ten minutes later.
Gu Chi stared blankly at the five glowing elements floating in Chi Ying’s palm.
Wind. Water. Fire. Earth. Wood.
“Well?” Chi Ying stared at him expectantly.
“…Uh, yeah. Good. Very good,” Gu Chi stammered.
It was the first time in his life he genuinely doubted reality. Not even during the zombie virus outbreak had he felt so unmoored.
【See? You scared the poor guy silly!】
The system gloated inside Chi Ying’s mind, electronic chuckles bubbling nonstop.
Finally, someone could understand the system’s original shock when it first learned about Chi Ying’s powers!
Chi Ying, as if not cruel enough, continued:
“I also have a healing ability… but it only works on myself. I can heal wounds and won’t get infected by the zombie virus.”
So that’s why she was so calm after Zhang Bin stabbed her, Gu Chi thought.
After finishing her explanation, Chi Ying breathed out, feeling a huge weight lift from her shoulders.
“That’s all.”
Gu Chi took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Stay calm! I’m someone who’s seen the world!
“You awakened all of these at once?” he asked.
Chi Ying nodded.
Indeed, she’d had them from the moment she was programmed.
Gu Chi forced himself to stay composed.
“You must never tell anyone else about your powers.”
“Why?” Chi Ying blinked.
“The Human Alliance keeps records on supernaturals. The highest so far are dual-ability users. Even they struggle to raise their power levels—Mu Yu, for instance, has been stuck at Level 3 for nearly two years.”
“And you…” He inhaled sharply. “Five elemental abilities, plus healing and space… seven in total.”
His head throbbed just saying it.
“This isn’t just breaking records.”
His gaze grew serious.
“If others find out, they will covet you. You must hide this at all costs.”
Chi Ying nodded solemnly.
“So…” she asked carefully, “does that mean I can join your team now?”
Gu Chi: “…”
“…Yeah. Tomorrow, I’ll find an opportunity to tell the others. You’ll come along.”
Chi Ying finally relaxed.
“Okay.”
“I’ll go back first, then?” she asked.
“Wait,” Gu Chi called her back, picking up the basket of bright yellow lemons again.
Chi Ying’s face instantly changed.
“No need!”
Gu Chi couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ll salt them with sugar this time. It’ll taste better—”
Before he finished, Chi Ying had already opened the door and fled.
The room fell silent, a faint chuckle lingering in the air.
__
The next morning at nine.
Chi Ying woke early, freshened up, and headed to the cafeteria. Now that she knew the way, she didn’t need Gu Chi to guide her.
Before she even reached the gate, she spotted a striking figure standing there, a dinner plate in hand.
It was Yun Ling.
Because of her ethereal aura and prominent position, she attracted countless stares from passing staff.
【It’s the heroine!】
The system growled inside Chi Ying’s mind, jealousy practically radiating off its circuits.
Ever since losing all its Holy Mother Points thanks to Chi Ying, the system had been viewing Yun Ling with green-tinted eyes.
Yun Ling noticed Chi Ying and turned sideways slightly, sneaking glances without fully turning around.
When Chi Ying approached, she greeted her warmly.
“Morning.”
“Morning!” Yun Ling responded immediately, her voice bright and clear.
Chi Ying blinked, a bit startled by the sudden spark of excitement in Yun Ling’s eyes.
Why did it feel like Yun Ling had suddenly become… really eager?
Yun Ling glanced around before asking, “Where’s the person who was with you yesterday? Didn’t see him today…”
“Oh, he’s not here. I came by myself.”
At that, Chi Ying was almost sure she saw Yun Ling suppressing a secret joy.
“I happen to be alone too. Let’s eat together?” Yun Ling suggested.
Chi Ying readily agreed.
__
While picking dishes, Chi Ying noticed something strange.
No matter what she ordered, Yun Ling would mirror her choices exactly.
Hesitating, Chi Ying asked, “Do you like all these dishes?”
She remembered that yesterday, Yun Ling’s plate only had a few sad-looking vegetables…
“The dishes you choose must be special!” Yun Ling said firmly.
Chi Ying: “…”
Something… felt off.
But she shrugged it off. Anyway, she was planning to take only a little. Yun Ling wouldn’t be too burdened.
Most people at the base were too busy to sit for a proper breakfast. Only a few, like Chi Ying and Yun Ling, were leisurely eating.
After sitting down, Chi Ying noticed Yun Ling’s odd eating behavior.
She picked up a single corn kernel with her chopsticks, hovered it near her mouth for a full minute, and only then finally, tremblingly, put it into her mouth.
Chi Ying, halfway through her meal, couldn’t help but stare.
After observing for five minutes… she realized Yun Ling had only eaten three corn kernels.
Chi Ying hesitated, then asked tentatively, “Uh, are you… used to the food here?”
Yun Ling froze.
She wasn’t.
The food here tasted nothing like the spirit plants in her Lingquan space!
“I understand now…” Yun Ling clenched her chopsticks like a martyr. “The path to strength is filled with hardship! I must endure it, like you have!”
Chi Ying: “…”
Yeah, no. Something was definitely wrong here.
__
Ten minutes later.
Chi Ying silently set down her empty plate.
Opposite her, Yun Ling’s hands were shaking, but her plate was still full.
“…”
Chi Ying couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Why don’t I help you eat a little?” she offered.
Yun Ling raised her head, tears brimming in her eyes.
It seemed… the road to becoming strong was harder than she thought.
Author’s Note:
(The lemon war is only just beginning…)
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 98.2