Meeting Gui Chen

"That's not right." Jiang Chu's voice was clear and firm: "Those whose Dao are different cannot work together, let alone I don't believe in pie from the sky. If you can recognize that I am a Fourth Stage ability user, then you must not be far from Fourth Stage yourself. So why would you want to share half a base with me?"

Doctor X's experimental results truly moved her. Currently, the system had no Core weapons for exchange, which meant that Doctor X would research Core weapons and Core guns in the future, very likely unique in this world.

However, Qin Yan was a cunning and unfathomable person. Why would he want to share what he could enjoy exclusively with her?

Jiang Chu's peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, a fleeting incomprehension crossing them as she looked towards Qin Yan.

Qin Yan was uncharacteristically silent, his gaze meeting hers, a subtle, meaningful smile gracing his lips, dispelling the usual coldness on his handsome face.

"You want to know?"

Seeing her nod, the cloud of doubt in Qin Yan's heart dissipated a little, but he still felt her mind was so stubborn, unable to grasp things.

"What one can offer is not just benefit." His voice lingered, his eyes gradually deepening, "...but also feelings."

As soon as the words left his mouth.

Jiang Chu's eyes widened in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with incredulity, and she froze.

Her usually icy gaze now held a touch of warmth that was hard for her to ignore. She turned her head away, avoiding his slightly heated gaze, wanting to speak but holding back, ultimately saying nothing.

Did she mishear him?

Feelings?

How could there be feelings between her and Qin Yan?

Qin Yan, in Jiang Chu's memory, was both cold and treacherous.

In her previous life, when her team went on missions, they would always encounter him. Qin Yan was a Seventh Stage ability user; they basically didn't dare to truly confront him. Occasional small conflicts erupted, but nothing was ever resolved. She thought both sides regarded the other as an enemy.

In silence, there was almost no interaction.

If she really had to mention it, she only remembered that in the fifth year of the apocalypse, during a massive zombie tide, the two sides rarely cooperated once. Humans were cut off by the zombie tide.

Qin Yan, as the strongest ability user among them, was key to breaking the deadlock.

The two were pushed into a building by the zombie tide. To allow her teammates to retreat safely from this zombie battle, she helped him clear obstacles. When ammunition and food ran out, she gave him half a bottle of the remaining water, a life-saving item, and helped him treat a wound from a stray bullet.

She relied on him to kill the high-level zombie leading the zombie army, causing the zombie tide to retreat.

In the end, Qin Yan did not disappoint them; he killed that high-level zombie, and the zombie tide receded.

Since then, whenever she went on a mission, she often saw him.

Jiang Chu was silent. Was it because of this small detail?

Impossible.

She thought, feeling that Qin Yan was teasing her.

Then she gave a cold laugh and said, "For your own purposes, you can even fabricate such an excuse. You've truly broadened my horizons. Are you done asking? No matter what you say, I firmly refuse. Where's Gui Chen?"

Qin Yan had no hint of a smile. How bad was he in her heart to make her disbelieve him so completely?

He had finally managed to express his vague feelings, only to be misunderstood as having ulterior motives.

Anyone would be angry.

He kept a straight face, and seeing that reasoning was futile, he pressed another button.

"He's with Doctor X. Ellen doesn't know, he'll be here immediately."

Jiang Chu waited a few minutes. The elevator door opened, and a tall, slender figure appeared in her sight.

Gui Chen originally thought Qin Yan had only called him up to report on Doctor X's experiment progress.

Originally, he was treating patients at the Southern Base. As soon as he finished, an unexpected riot disrupted his defensive line. When he woke up, he was no longer at the Southern Base but in an unfamiliar place.

Seamless and airtight, that was the most accurate description of this place. He wanted to return to find Jiang Chu, but he couldn't escape at all. Initially, there were guards watching him.

Then, the man who called himself Qin Yan appeared and told him that Jiang Chu had reached an agreement with him: within half a year, she would find the person he wanted, and only then would he be released.

Qin Yan, as if testing him, gave him a high position in the base, offered him conditions that the Southern Base didn't have, and even continuously sent people to tempt him. He didn't know what Qin Yan's intentions were in doing so.

Gui Chen ignored those temptations. He would not be swayed by these people or material things. In his heart, there was only one person.

He endured as if hibernating. After establishing himself in this base, he tried his best to request more missions, hoping to leave messages in the city or find an opportunity to escape. He didn't want Jiang Chu to risk herself for him.

But unexpectedly, Jiang Chu had truly come.

Gui Chen saw her and froze, thinking he was dreaming.

After reacting, he was overwhelmed by unexpected joy. A smile unconsciously appeared on his face, and he quickly walked towards her. If Qin Yan wasn't staring intently at him, and if this wasn't Qin Yan's office, he would truly rush to her without caring about anything else.

"Chu Chu!" Gui Chen took a deep breath, unable to believe what he was seeing.

She was a little thinner than before, stained with blood, and her eyes were even more resolute.

On the ground sat a man, tightly bound from head to toe. There was no need to think; this was the person Qin Yan wanted.

Jiang Chu, seeing Gui Chen after a long time, immediately stood up, smiled, and walked towards him.

"How have you been here? Did they mistreat you?"

Before Gui Chen could answer, Qin Yan gave a cold laugh and interrupted her: "Since I promised to treat him well, what you're saying naturally doesn't exist. I also don't need to lay a hand on a mental ability user. You've met the person you wanted to see. Are you relieved now?"

Seeing her concerned expression, Qin Yan felt it was extremely dazzling and an eyesore no matter how he looked at it.

After Qin Yan spoke, Gui Chen nodded towards her, "It's very good here."

Gui Chen took her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, and his numb heart gradually awakened.

"I'm taking you away today, not back to City A. The Southern Base has been breached, and City A also experienced an earthquake," Jiang Chu whispered to Gui Chen.

Then she turned and looked straight at Qin Yan, "And a weapons depot, I'll take that too."

A computer was on Qin Yan's desk, his expression complex: "Wait, Doctor X wants to see you."

Gui Chen frowned upon hearing this and said, "Doctor X didn't mention it."

Qin Yan said, "He just didn't tell you. He's on his way now."

The atmosphere suddenly became very quiet.

Jiang Chu held Gui Chen's hand and told him, "Don't be anxious; it doesn't hurt to meet him once."

Gui Chen hesitated for a moment, then still nodded towards her.

Qin Yan couldn't stand their intimacy. He couldn't even manage a smile, his face as cold as a stone carving. He called Ellen and told him to take Cui Zhao Dong out.

Before leaving, he looked down at Cui Zhao Dong, who was gagged and unable to speak.

Seeing his disheveled state, Qin Yan clicked his tongue.

Qin Yan still had some humanity, leaving Jiang Chu and Gui Chen some private space.

Jiang Chu was still very cautious. She looked around, found no surveillance equipment, and then pulled Gui Chen to sit down.

"It's a long story. When we leave later, we'll temporarily stay in Dong Cheng for a while, waiting for the others."