ALL NOVEL Chapter 56 - Showing Affection
The next day, Bai Qi was naturally the first to wake up.
The girl on the bed was still sleeping soundly, and Bai Qi had no intention of waking her. After washing up, he went downstairs on his own.
They had already planned yesterday that today the convoy would go out to transport supplies from the supermarket.
Tian Hai had breakfast ready. Seeing Bai Qi by himself, he looked a bit puzzled. “Brother Bai, where’s Sister Tang?”
“Let her sleep a bit longer. We’ll head to the supermarket ourselves.”
“Alright.”
The two of them ate breakfast and then went out the door.
Outside, some of the convoy members were already waiting. When they saw Bai Qi without Tang Ruo, they exchanged glances, showing curiosity about her absence.
Bai Qi explained, “She’s sleeping in.”
Everyone then gave him a knowing look, as if to say, “We understand.” Their expressions left Bai Qi feeling puzzled.
If something really had happened between them, he’d have accepted their reactions, but…
He hadn’t even made a move yet!
Once everyone had gathered, the seven vehicles lined up and drove out of the neighborhood, heading toward the supermarket in an organized convoy.
They had prepared in advance, and with a solid plan in place, it didn’t take much effort for them to start. Liu Bing quickly dismantled the generator, and a team was assigned to move the freezers and refrigerators out of the supermarket.
On the first trip, they only transported the generator and a few freezers…
On the second trip, they transported more freezers…
The third trip was all about hauling frozen meat…
When Tang Ruo woke up, it was already 10 a.m. The house was quiet, and she was alone. On the dining table downstairs, there was milk and a rice ball, along with a note from Bai Qi: “Eat breakfast; wait for us to come back.”
Smiling at the note, Tang Ruo sat down to enjoy her meal.
Afterward, guessing that the convoy was busy transporting supplies and wouldn’t need her limited help just yet, she decided to head to the kitchen and start making lunch. After all, since she’d enjoyed the breakfast her fiancé had thoughtfully prepared, she wanted to return the gesture by making an equally heartfelt lunch for him.
When the convoy members returned, each one looked as if they’d been pulled out of a lake, completely soaked from head to toe. Only Bai Qi, thanks to his ice abilities, still looked composed and dignified.
Dragging himself out of the vehicle, Liu Bing groaned, “We need to get the electricity up and running ASAP to get the air conditioning going. After living with AC, surviving without it feels like torture.”
Pan Dawei, busy planting watermelon seeds on the grass, looked over and said, “Young man, didn’t your teacher ever teach you to be honest? You keep saying it’s unbearable, but here you are, alive and well. Grown as you are, you could be a bit more truthful.”
When Hu Haotian saw Bai Qi and Tian Hai getting out of the car, he rushed over. “Brother Bai, can we play with some ice crystals? Just a few,” he said, even pulling out a bucket for good measure.
Bai Qi: “…”
In his previous life, Bai Qi had spent three years in the apocalypse without much feeling. Yet today, he found it funny that his powers could be used like this.
Bai Qi handed Hu Haotian a bucket of ice, only to notice that everyone else in the convoy was eagerly watching him, eyes wide with anticipation.
Since the convoy leader had shamelessly gone to ask for ice, no one wanted to be left out. Everyone fell right in line with him.
Bai Qi sighed, feeling a bit exasperated, but finally relented. “Get a bucket, and line up properly.”
The crew quickly scattered to grab buckets and joined the queue.
Inside the kitchen, Tang Ruo saw Tian Hai come in, and, after waiting a moment without spotting Bai Qi, asked curiously, “Where’s Bai Yan? Didn’t he come back with you?”
Tian Hai replied, “He’s outside in the yard, handing out ice to everyone.”
Tang Ruo: “…”
She stepped outside to see the sight for herself, and sure enough, there it was.
The group lined up in neat rows, each person looking like a beggar from ancient times waiting outside a wealthy estate for a handout.
Hearing the door open, Bai Qi glanced over and reached out a hand to Tang Ruo. “You’re awake. Did you have breakfast?”
Tang Ruo placed her hand in his, and he pulled her close into his arms.
“It’s already noon, of course I ate. I even made lunch, but I came out because you still hadn’t come inside.”
Satisfied, Bai Qi gently kissed the corner of her mouth.
Everyone in line: “…”
They had the strongest urge to hurl their buckets at the couple.
They were here for ice, not for a front-row seat to a romantic display!
The apocalypse had arrived, and with it, everyone’s sense of propriety seemed to shatter.
Just asking for some ice meant getting a hefty serving of “public displays of affection” along with it!
While Bai Qi was busy handing out ice, Tang Ruo didn’t stay idle either; she handed out water balls to those still waiting. The convoy members gratefully accepted, expressing thanks and appreciation for the couple’s help.
Having them around had undeniably raised the quality of life for the entire group, so of course, gratitude was due.
After the water and ice had been distributed, everyone noticed Pan Dawei still fussing with some watermelon seeds.
Curious, Liu Bing went over to him, observing the vines growing around and asking, “Old Pan, what are you up to? Beautifying the neighborhood?”
Pan Dawei didn’t even look up. “I’m planting watermelons. Once these grow, I’ll send you one to try.”
Liu Bing beamed, “Brother Pan, your ability is the best! I’ll find you more seeds, any flavor you want.”
Nearby, Pan Dawei’s father-in-law, Old Qin, was carefully studying the plants around the yard.
Each villa was surrounded by lush greenery—banana trees, ginkgo, camphor, palms, magnolia…
Though no one lived in these villas anymore, the plants had grown thick and lush.
Hu Haotian approached and glanced in the same direction as Old Qin. “Old Qin, what’s wrong?”
Old Qin turned to him and said, “These plants are all dying.”
Hu Haotian looked puzzled. “But the leaves still look pretty green.”
Old Qin took a few steps forward, pulled up a small banana tree, and revealed its rotten roots, clinging to soil full of small, white particles.
Hu Haotian looked puzzled. “Why are the roots rotting if the leaves are still green?”
Old Qin sighed. “The roots died from lack of oxygen, so they can’t absorb water anymore. Soon, the plant will wilt. Once the leaves drain all the nutrients from the main stem, they’ll dry up too.”
Pan Dawei’s wife, Sister Pan, who knew her father used to be the head of the Agricultural Science Academy, understood he was probably right. “Dad, are you saying that just as people are turning into zombies, plants might all wither away too?”
Old Qin replied, “I’m not entirely sure yet. I need to conduct an experiment to find out.”
Pan Dawei looked up. “Dad, does that mean the watermelons I’m planting have a chance to grow?”
Old Qin studied the vines for a moment and said thoughtfully, “It’s hard to say. This will depend largely on your abilities. If you pour more energy into them, you might even see results today.”
Revitalized, Pan Dawei eagerly dove back into his work on the watermelon plants.
As Old Qin set up his experiment, the others didn’t feel like going inside to eat lunch. Each grabbed a drink, a biscuit, or a chicken wing, making a quick meal out of it.
After all, wherever they ate, it was hot, and everything tasted about the same anyway.