Chen Xiao's expression was like ice."In seven days?"
Jiang YunHan nodded."Yes. Since the apocalypse broke out, the top three families—with their staggering stockpiles of food and water—have gathered countless talented individuals from every region.""Especially the Tang family. The Pearl of Death they just unveiled proved its power—it can obliterate an entire city.""The capital is their stronghold. Too safe. That's why they dare to host such a grand wedding even in the end times."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao fell silent.
Jiang YunHan continued, "Tang Shirou's under house arrest. No one can see her. If you're really going to the capital… plan carefully."
"Brother Chen Xiao!""Chen Xiao, you're awake!""Brother Xiao, you scared me to death!"
Three excited voices suddenly rang out.Chen Xiao turned his head and, for the first time in a long while, smiled.
It was Jiang ChuXue, Dashan, and the Little Monk.
"Thank goodness you're alive… wuwuwu…"
To Chen Xiao's surprise, Jiang ChuXue threw herself into his arms and sobbed.Her tears streamed down like rain on pear blossoms—fragile, trembling, heartbreakingly beautiful.
Chen Xiao cast a glance at Jiang YunHan, but the latter turned away, choosing not to intervene this time.
Dashan grinned as he approached."Brother Xiao, you're insane! I couldn't even beat that beekeeper, and you blew up their whole base!"
Knowing they had been worried sick, Chen Xiao said quietly, "Sorry for making you worry."
Jiang YunHan spoke up:"You've been out for a whole day. Hungry?"
Jiang ChuXue wiped her tears and stood up."Let's eat! Let's eat!"
The Little Monk drooled, "Lamb! Lamb!"
So everyone gathered on the rooftop of the Jianghe Grain Warehouse for a hotpot feast.Except for Chen Xiao, everyone tried their best to lighten the mood. But no one could truly hide the heaviness in their hearts—everyone knew the burden he carried.
When night fell, Chen Xiao lay in the master bedroom, still fully dressed.He was exhausted—but he couldn't rest.
As Jiang YunHan said,He had only one week.
He had to become stronger.Stronger than a nuclear bomb.Only then would he have the right to take Tang Shirou back—from under the noses of the Tang and Yang families.
Counting the days, it had been half a month since the last Blood Moon.The third Blood Moon had yet to appear.
That meant—no Blood Moon, no evolution.His fastest way to grow stronger was gone.
Bad news.Terrible news.
How else could he grow stronger fast enough to storm the capital?Only one path remained—[Reproduction].
Even after being reborn… protecting one person was this difficult?Wasn't he supposed to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex?Wasn't he supposed to be invincible?
Chen Xiao tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Then—knock, knock, knock.
Before opening the door, Chen Xiao used [Dragon's Breath] to sense the visitor.Jiang ChuXue.
When he opened the door, he froze for a second.
Jiang ChuXue looked completely different tonight.She wore a gauzy short skirt, smooth as water, hugging her slender figure and faintly revealing the soft glow of her skin.On her feet—delicate white heels that made her long, toned legs look even more breathtaking.Her hair was loosely tied up, a few strands cascading over her shoulders.Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes carried a quiet allure.
Chen Xiao noticed something—was her skirt… a little see-through?
"What are you staring at? Won't you let me in?" Jiang ChuXue teased, a playful smile on her lips as she lifted a case of beer in one hand and a bag in the other.
Chen Xiao blinked and quickly stepped aside."I made you lamb skewers—try them while they're hot."
She set the bag down and dropped casually onto the sofa. The skirt barely covered her thighs, revealing smooth, fair skin beneath.
Chen Xiao felt his blood stir."Doctor Jiang, Dashan and the others—"
"I didn't tell them." She cut him off, staring straight at him. "This is a private treat. For you."
Chen Xiao could only manage a quiet "Oh," before sitting opposite her.
"Brother Chen Xiao," she asked softly while opening the skewers, "what were you like before the apocalypse?"
He hesitated for a moment.Then said, "Probably… a fool."
"Ah? Hahahaha! Who calls themselves a fool?" Jiang ChuXue's laughter was light and musical, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
Chen Xiao forced a small smile.But instead of his life before the apocalypse, his mind drifted to his previous life.
Back then, he was just a chicken.Living on edge every day, hiding from A-rank pigs, horses, and cows—one wrong step and he'd be eaten alive.Because he was too weak.
He once tried to save a fat friend with the [Pig Spirit] talent—the man who used to sneak him pork in secret.But that friend was enslaved by a yakuza witch. Chen Xiao couldn't help him.Because he was too weak.
He had dreamed of leaving Jiangbei, of seeing the wider world, of evolving.But he couldn't.Because he was too weak.
He opened a bottle of beer and was about to gulp it down—But Jiang ChuXue stopped him, clinking her bottle lightly against his.
"Cheers."
She tilted her head back and drank, beer trickling down her fair neck, soaking into her thin, translucent clothes.
Chen Xiao froze slightly.
"Before the apocalypse," he murmured, "I was useless. I lost people. Failed things. The ones I wanted to protect left me. The ones I hated lived on. Tell me, doesn't that make me a fool?"
The alcohol loosened something inside him. His tone softened.
Jiang ChuXue handed him a skewer and took another sip."You're not a fool."
Her voice was calm but firm."Because you tried."
"When a person looks back on their life, they shouldn't regret wasted years, or be ashamed of doing nothing. Then, when they die, they can at least say—'I tried.' That's enough."
Chen Xiao looked up."Fullmetal Alchemist, right?"
"Hahahaha—you caught me."
She raised her bottle again, the amber beer glinting in the light like melted gold, reflecting the warmth in her eyes.
She smiled faintly, the blush on her cheeks like winter plum blossoms brushed by the sunset—delicate, radiant, intoxicating.
The air between them grew subtly charged.
Chen Xiao lifted his bottle, tapping it gently against hers.
"Drink less."
"No," Jiang ChuXue grinned, eyes half-lidded. "Worst case—I'll just stay here tonight."
Chen Xiao nearly spat out his beer.