TFRLTOP Chapter 73 Part 2

“Didn’t you notice that everyone in the base isn’t exactly being friendly toward you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ming Ming said without a hint of fear. “That’s all superficial. What matters is that I get to stay here. Compared to fighting zombies and mutant creatures, a little backstabbing and gossip in the base feels downright cozy, don’t you think?”

“So you’re fine with being treated badly?”

“No!” Ming Ming said firmly, her tone full of conviction. “I’ll make them see I don’t mean any harm. What’s so wrong with clinging to the male lead just to survive? If it had been the female lead who showed up first, I would’ve hugged her leg without hesitation!”

“After all, I’m just a simple, kind, delicate little white flower~”

The system: “…”

Forget it. Maybe it was overthinking again. Poor male lead, though.

When An Yue went to the lab to complain to An Ning, the latter could only laugh helplessly. “What are you all imagining all day long? Guan Yi and I are just comrades. There’s no romantic relationship between us. Stop shipping us already. Your CP isn’t real.”

An Yue covered her ears. “Not listening, not listening! Then what is real, huh? Tell me what’s real!”

“Maybe the commander really met his true love this time,” An Ning teased. “Don’t bully that poor girl, or if you scare her off, the commander will have your head.”

An Yue looked unconvinced. “But she doesn’t even have powers! How could she possibly stay? And honestly, doesn’t she look kind of like the commander’s long-lost daughter—”

An Ning quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.

Just then, Guan Yi stepped out of the lab, face dark. “Do I really look that old to you?” he snapped.

The woman he’d rescued looked young, sure, but she was at least in her twenties. He wasn’t even thirty yet—where would a daughter that age come from?

“Get out, get out, both of you!”

An Yue stuck her tongue out and went off to spread the tragic news that the “GuanNing CP” had officially ended.

After she left, An Ning returned to business, updating Guan Yi on her research. “The experimental serum STM092 increases hyperactivity in most mutant species, making them more aggressive and boosting their attack levels.”

Guan Yi picked up the report and sighed. “Dr. An, you’d better not end up defecting to the mutants. Destroy this batch before you make things worse. We’re already barely holding them off—if you give them even more buffs, humanity’s doomed.”

An Ning shot him a glare. “I wasn’t finished. There’s one exception—the serum caused brief reverse evolution in hybrid mutants. It’s temporary, but worth further study.”

“Reverse evolution?”

“Yes. Most hybrids evolve by consuming two, three, or more mutant species. But after injection, signs of individual separation appear.”

“So instead of a five-in-one monster, it splits into five individuals?”

“Exactly.”

“And their attack power—does it become five times stronger or one-fifth as strong?”

An Ning shrugged. “Still under study.”

Guan Yi stared at her. “Excuse me? Dr. An…”

She raised her hands in surrender. “Commander, I know you’re anxious, but science takes time. You can’t rush research.”

“Fine,” Guan Yi muttered. “But until you have something useful, maybe stop reporting to me. Right now, my biggest concern isn’t saving humanity—it’s stopping you from joining the enemy.”

The topic ended there. An Ning smirked. “So, Commander, did you bring home a wife this time?”

“Don’t you start too,” Guan Yi warned, glaring.

An Ning had known him for over ten years. Teasing him was second nature. “You’d better hope not. It’d be awkward if it turns out you misunderstood her—what if you’re interested and she’s not?”

Guan Yi waved her off. “I don’t even know her name yet. An Yue was right—she’s got no powers. She can’t stay here. I’ll send her to the safe zone in a few days.”

An Ning folded her arms and watched him leave.

Moments later, Guan Yi was standing in the storage room. “What’s your name?”

Ming Ming stood up timidly. “My name is Bai He.”

“Bai He?” He frowned. “Like the flower?”

“No, no—‘Bai’ as in white, ‘He’ as in rice stalk.”

“Got it. Bai He.” He glanced around the cluttered room, frowning. “In a week, I’ll send you to the safe zone seventy kilometers from here. It’s for civilians without powers. For now, you can…” He looked around again, displeased. The storage room was clearly no place for anyone to live.

“Don’t tell me this base doesn’t even have a spare bedroom? You—” He turned back, only to find tears brimming in her eyes. Her voice trembled with hurt. “You’re… sending me away?”

Guan Yi: “…”

His head throbbed. “For crying out loud,” he muttered under his breath. He sounded like some scumbag dumping his lover. Coldly, he explained, “This base only houses ability users. We can’t keep people who can’t contribute.”

Ming Ming grabbed his hand. “I can contribute! Commander, I can cook, clean, do laundry—”

“Not necessary…” Guan Yi tried to pull his hand back, but she clung tightly, eyes glistening. “Please don’t make me go!”

Guan Yi: This girl’s grip is ridiculous.

The system sighed. “You’re really going all in, huh? Or maybe you actually do have potential as a white lotus. What’s wrong with the safe zone anyway?”

“You don’t get it,” Ming Ming muttered back. “I’ve seen movies. Whenever the protagonist sends someone to a so-called ‘safe zone,’ they all die horribly later. I’m not going!”

She looked up at Guan Yi with tearful eyes, thinking, Come on, I’m the supporting character. If I leave, how are you and the heroine supposed to angst over me?

Guan Yi’s thoughts were spinning. He didn’t believe in love at first sight—but this girl had clung to him from the moment they met, babbling nonsense he barely understood, looking fragile and terrified. Such a soft little thing… if he sent her to the safe zone, she’d be eaten alive by the world—or worse, fall prey to some man with bad intentions.

His expression darkened at the thought.

Ming Ming flinched under his cold gaze.

Realizing he’d scared her, Guan Yi’s tone softened. “Alright. We’ll talk about it later. This place isn’t livable anyway. I’ve got a spare room—you can stay there for now.”

Ming Ming’s eyes welled up again.

Guan Yi sighed inwardly. Unrequited feelings? Yeah right. She’s clearly already fallen for me.

He clicked his tongue. Too bad I don’t feel the same. What a mess.

Meanwhile, Ming Ming was thinking. He said ‘For now.’ So he still plans to send me away… sob sob QAQ.

As commander, Guan Yi had the largest quarters in the base—a proper two-bedroom suite. Ming Ming settled into the guest room and, determined to prove her worth, eagerly cleaned the entire place.

“If you’re relying on someone, you’d better show some initiative! I know how this works,” she said proudly.

At lunch, Guan Yi, worried she’d have no one to eat with, had two meals delivered to his quarters.

Each tray was different—he wasn’t sure what she liked, so he had them prepare a variety of dishes, even two kinds of staples. She could eat whichever she wanted first; he’d eat whatever was left when he got back.

When the food arrived, Ming Ming stared at the feast. “All this is for me?” she asked, afraid of misunderstanding. The delivery person, clueless, nodded and said the commander was eating with the others in the cafeteria.

Ming Ming looked at the spread and teared up. “This base treats people so well.” Then she remembered she’d be sent away soon and felt a pang of sadness.

The system whispered, “Save what you can. Put the leftovers in your space. Time stops there—they’ll stay perfectly fresh forever.”

“You can do that?” Ming Ming gasped. A new world of possibilities opened before her. For long-term survival, she only ate a couple of dishes and stored the rest.

When Guan Yi came back, starving after a long day, he froze at the sight of the empty plates. “You… finished everything?”

Ming Ming’s eyes darted guiltily, but she said with conviction, “Yes.”

Guan Yi: “…”

Not easy to feed this one.

Over the next few days, everyone noticed the commander had gained a shadow. Whenever he was around, the little shadow followed—quiet, obedient, looking for all the world like a shy young wife.