Chi Ying chatted enthusiastically with the system inside the room.
Although it hadn’t been lived in for a while, it was clear someone had come to clean—it was spotless. Besides the daily essentials, there were no personal items or clutter.
Gu Chi wasn’t someone who paid attention to decor. Other than a well-stocked kitchen, the rest of the apartment was kept simple. Especially this guest room—he barely used it.
Chi Ying looked around. Aside from the lack of a kitchen, everything else was surprisingly complete.
A large TV was set up in front of the bed. When she turned it on, she saw a few still-broadcasting TV stations—less than five in total, clearly maintained by the Human Alliance to reassure the public.
【Wow, worthy of a senior commander. The treatment is on a different level.】
The place wasn’t luxurious, but it was spacious and comfortable—especially for the apocalypse and in a location like the headquarters. It was definitely among the best.
Chi Ying nodded in agreement.
The system urged:
【Quick, go check the door Gu Chi mentioned—see if there’s really a greenhouse!】
Chi Ying made her way to the balcony behind the bedroom. Sure enough, she spotted the door Gu Chi had told her about.
She reached out and turned the knob.
The door opened to reveal the outside view: a pale blue, transparent greenhouse. Its exterior was tidy and organized, clearly distinct from ordinary farmland structures.
【It’s huge!】 the system gasped.
Chi Ying silently agreed.
The greenhouse was divided into four sections, each visibly outfitted with different internal equipment—clearly customized for various types of plants. All of them looked healthy and well-maintained.
【Can we go in?】
Chi Ying noticed there were entry doors built into each section—but all were locked.
【The room key Gu Chi gave you should work.】
Chi Ying didn’t move. She told the system, “Forget it. I don’t really know how to care for plants. I’d rather not mess something up.”
【…Fine. Next time go with Gu Chi and have him show you around.】
Knock knock.
A knock came from the door.
“It’s me—Gu Chi.”
Chi Ying, who had just finished a quick bath using her water ability, called back, “Just a sec!” She hurried to change her clothes, roughly dried her damp hair with a flicker of fire ability, and opened the door with her hair still slightly wet from rushing.
It was still before six o’clock.
Gu Chi stood outside in a simple black short-sleeve shirt.
“What’s up?”
Noticing the moisture still clinging to her, Gu Chi reflexively leaned back, avoiding suspicion with a faint trace of embarrassment.
Right… people usually shower at this time…
“There’s a cafeteria in the headquarters—it just opened for dinner. You haven’t been here before, so I thought I’d show you the way.”
Chi Ying nodded obediently.
“Okay, I’ll just grab my shoes.”
She closed the door halfway and slipped into a pair of plastic sandals someone had delivered earlier.
The quality was average, but they were surprisingly comfortable.
She grabbed the key, locked the door, and followed him out.
Gu Chi glanced at her still-damp hair and hesitated before saying,
“Hair… Song Shi might have a dryer. I can borrow one if you want.”
He didn’t have one himself—he never needed it.
“No need,” Chi Ying replied. “It’ll dry quickly—it’s summer.”
Gu Chi turned his head away and said nothing more.
__
The cafeteria was at the center of the base.
Even from a distance, Chi Ying could smell real cooking—not the pre-packed fast food they were used to, but freshly made dishes.
“Grab a tray,” Gu Chi said, leading her to a stack of silver plates at the entrance.
The food wasn’t extravagant—no meat—but the fruits and vegetables were fresh, clearly harvested recently. Not as exquisite as meals from before the world ended, but still an incredible luxury.
After selecting her food, Chi Ying picked a seat. A few moments later, Gu Chi returned with his own plate and sat across from her.
“Captain Ye—is that Commander Gu?” a male voice rang from behind.
Gu Chi’s hand paused on his chopsticks.
“Ah, it really is.” Another voice followed.
“Captain Gu, long time no see.”
Gu Chi recognized the voice. Ye Wuhan.
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
Professor Yu had been right—they ran into someone the moment they returned.
Chi Ying looked up. Three people stood nearby—two men and one woman. The man on the far left looked ordinary and was likely Ye Wuhan’s teammate.
Ye Wuhan stood in front, his features barely qualifying as “handsome.” He had that sort of face you’d look twice at on the street… but just twice. Nothing more.
Beside him was a girl in a white gauzy dress, standing quietly with her eyes downcast. She looked like she didn’t belong in this world at all—like she had descended from the sky, untouched by dust.
Ye Wuhan’s lips curled into a casual smile. A black-and-red pendant dangled from his neck.
The system popped up out of nowhere.
【That’s Ye Wuhan’s golden finger.】
Chi Ying blinked.
“Isn’t his ability the golden finger?”
【Nope. That pendant’s called the Lingquan Space. It contains a whole realm of spiritual spring water.】
【It has miraculous effects on ability users—enhances their powers drastically. Ye Wuhan’s abilities come from long-term use of that spring.】
Chi Ying took another look at the pendant, her curiosity piqued.
“Didn’t expect you to eat in the cafeteria,” Gu Chi said lazily, not even bothering to look up. “What changed?”
Ye Wuhan’s expression stiffened.
He was used to the Lingquan’s meals—why would he eat this cafeteria food? The only reason he came was because he heard Gu Chi had returned…
Gu Chi’s remark hit its mark.
But then Ye Wuhan remembered—Gu Chi was still stuck below seventh-rank. No need to take cheap shots seriously.
Putting on a relaxed smile, he took two dinner plates from his teammate—barely touched, clearly filled out of formality—and placed them on the table next to Gu Chi.
Only then did he notice Chi Ying sitting across from him, her plate almost full.
His eyes flickered.
She was stunning. Not inferior to Yun Ling at all.
Since when did Gu Chi have someone like this around? How come no one had ever mentioned her?
His gaze drifted to Chi Ying’s dinner plate, and a smirk formed.
Just an ordinary woman, he concluded. Good-looking, sure—but she was no Yun Ling.
“Yun Ling, sit here,” he said to the girl beside him, lowering his voice unconsciously.
Yun Ling didn’t speak. She simply nodded and took the seat to Chi Ying’s left.
【Host, this is the heroine—Yun Ling.】
Chi Ying wasn’t surprised.
“Now this looks like a heroine.”
The system snuck a look at Ye Wuhan and muttered:
【Well… to be fair, the male lead’s body and face are still okay.】
Chi Ying: Oh~
She didn’t argue. Instead, her eyes turned to Gu Chi’s face.
She whispered in her mind,
“This male lead doesn’t even compare to a tenth of Gu Chi.”
Gu Chi noticed her burning gaze. He stiffened and quickly shoveled a mouthful of vegetables into his mouth like it would help him escape the awkwardness.
Chi Ying’s eyes lit up.
“Look—he’s got a good appetite!”
The system: 【…】
The system went quiet. Compared to Gu Chi, Ye Wuhan was really… doing himself no favors.
To save face for the supposed male lead, it changed the subject.
【The heroine isn’t human.】
Chi Ying: Not human? Then what is she?
【She’s Ye Wuhan’s real golden finger. A spirit born from the pendant—consciousness with a physical form.】
Chi Ying didn’t react much.
“Makes sense. I’m not exactly human either.”
【…Fair.】
Still, since Yun Ling was technically the heroine—and clearly not human either—Chi Ying felt curious.
She glanced at her.
Hmm. Too perfect to be human. And her aura was far more comfortable than the one Ye Wuhan carried.
Yun Ling also peeked at Chi Ying from the corner of her eye. She held her spoon a little tighter, feeling nervous.
The person beside her was very strong.
Stronger than she was now. Even if she regained her full strength, it would still be a stretch to match her.
She grew uneasy. Wuhan had warned her—the apocalypse was ruthless, and strong people could be dangerous.
So she became more cautious.
But Chi Ying, who had already taken a liking to the heroine, shifted her gaze and thought:
Ah, she’s not human either. That’s nice.
Ye Wuhan rambled on about something to Gu Chi, but Chi Ying had already tuned him out.
After thinking it over, she decided to greet her fellow “non-human” companion.
“Hi, I’m Chi Ying,” she said softly.
Yun Ling froze.
Was… she talking to me?
Just moments ago, she was anxious. Now, she was completely caught off guard—her eyes almost tearing up.
This strong person… was actually kind?
【Holy Mother value +100. Points +10,000.】
Chi Ying blinked.
Did she… hear that right?
“…System?”
The system stuttered, more excited than her.
【Yes, host. We just triggered a bonus mission!!】
Author’s note:
The little angel Yun Ling (also known as the wholesaler of Holy Mother Points) has arrived~ ♡
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152