Apocalypse: I'm the Landlady of the Refuge

Seeing that Ji Wanwan was truly angered by himself, Zhou Kai’s tone softened, "Boss Ji, I’m not messing around. Please believe me, once on the battlefield, I will definitely not hold everyone back, nor will I disrupt the rhythm of combat."

Ji Wanwan rubbed her temples, "I don’t distrust you, but I have only one request: take care of yourself."

After hearing Ji Xing and Ming Jing report their plans for logistical work, Ji Wanwan declared the meeting over.

Wu Xun and Wen Yuheng were the first to leave.

The remaining sub-team members and Ming Jing, however, did not move for a long while. The sub-team members stayed because they felt heavy-hearted, and Ming Jing stayed because he planned to go back to the villa with Ji Xing.

Maybe everyone realized the danger of this mission, which is why they felt this reluctance.

No one knew whether, after going to sleep tonight and waking up tomorrow, they would all still be able to sit here and have meetings or even enjoy skewers together.

"Why isn’t anyone leaving? Looks like you’re not tired!" The night was deep, and Ji Wanwan leaned lazily on the soft sofa, her tone heavy.

Ji Xing was the first to break the silence, "Sis, our sub-team hasn’t gathered for a while, how about we all have a drink together right now?"

Everyone could see that Ji Wanwan was under a lot of pressure. After all, she was just a girl in her early twenties, and it wasn’t easy for her to bear the lives of so many people at the base.

If they could have one last spree before the big battle, it might significantly ease the oppressive atmosphere.

Xu Siming immediately agreed, "I think that’s a good idea!"

Xia Li nodded seriously, "I have no problem with that!"

Ji Wanwan was not foolish; she naturally knew what everyone was thinking and felt grateful in her heart, relieved to have such like-minded comrades.

After three people spoke, she chuckled lightly, her gaze sweeping over the two who had not yet spoken, "What about Haozi and Brother Kai?"

Qi Hao raised his hand as a sign, "Can I possibly be absent for the sub-team gathering?"

Zhou Kai’s eyebrows slightly raised, "I’ve always been good for a thousand cups!"

Ji Wanwan’s eyes twinkled with laughter.

Her beautiful eyes wandered to Ming Jing, who was not a sub-team member and who stood fiddling with his toes on the floor, inwardly cursing why he hadn’t just left earlier, "Xiao Ming Jing, how about you, do you want to join us for a drink?"

Ming Jing was startled with delight, "Can I join even though I’m not part of the sub-team?"

Ji Xing’s mouth twitched, his face full of disdain, "My sister already asked, what do you think?"

The feeling of being accepted made Ming Jing’s eyebrows rise in joy, "Yes, yes!"

Having made the call, Ji Wanwan stood up and stretched lazily, "Alright then! Let’s get it started!"

Thus, everyone began to busily prepare.

Some went to get utensils, some to fetch drinks, others to prepare food ingredients, and some to fetch snacks, and there were even those who went to the Outer City to pick some unknown vegetables planted by an old granny.

Watching everyone busily moving around, Ji Wanwan’s eyes twinkled with tears...

...

After three rounds of drinks, everyone began to stagger.

Watching Ji Wanwan bathed in the moonlight, Qi Hao’s throat moved, his slender fingers lightly rubbing the wine glass in his hand as if caressing the cheek of a beloved, his gaze tender and mesmerizing.

Suddenly, he gulped down the wine in his glass as if summoning great courage, exhaling deeply before standing up and walking toward the figure that haunted his dreams.

"Wanwan..."

A shadow fell beside her, and the man’s husky voice carried a suppressed and enduring love.

Ji Wanwan’s eyelashes trembled, and as she looked up to meet Qi Hao’s eyes, her heart skipped a beat.

The man took a long stride and sat down beside her.

He reached for two skewers of roasted meat and handed them over, "I’ve had my eye on these two skewers for a while, they’re a perfect mix of fat and lean. As soon as I saw they were nearly ready, I grabbed them. Try them."

"Thank you." The skewers glistened appealingly and were still sizzling, indeed very tempting. Ji Wanwan smiled faintly and took them.

However, Qi Hao’s eyes dimmed instantly.

He twirled his fingertips and gave a bitter smile, "Wanwan, since when have we become so distant and formal with each other? They’re just two skewers, and you still feel the need to thank me..."

Ji Wanwan felt a lump in her throat, and her food suddenly tasted bland.

She set down the meat skewers and took a sip of her drink, and for a moment, they sat in silence.

When had their relationship changed?

She thought back carefully; it must have been during high school.

At that time, she was just starting to experience the emotions of young love, the first time she noticed that Qi Hao’s looks at her were different from when they were children. It was also then that she suddenly realized that the boy next door had developed special feelings for her.

She was so young then, too young to face such intense gazes and deep affection, so she gradually began to distance herself from Qi Hao.

Then the apocalypse came, and the world flipped upside down overnight. Survival became the primary concern, leaving no room in her heart for youthful romances.

Thinking about it, her actions must have really hurt Qi Hao.

Ji Wanwan pressed her lips together and raised her drink towards Qi Hao, "Shall we toast?"

Seeing her avoid his earlier remark, Qi Hao felt a pang of bitterness but still cooperatively raised his glass, "I’ll drink, you do as you please."

Just as he was about to finish his drink, Ji Wanwan gently pulled on his arm, "It’s late, don’t drink anymore. Drink less so you can rest better."

Qi Hao couldn’t help but smile.

Wanwan was always so rational, so rational it was both frustrating and heart-wrenching.

He gently patted her hand and tenderly pulled the small hand he had always wanted to hold from his arm, "Just this one cup, it’s okay."

Under Ji Wanwan’s guilty and caring gaze, he drained the glass.

Qi Hao’s eyes slightly reddened, not sure if it was the strong liquor burning his throat or the bitterness in his heart. A sheen reminiscent of shattered stars glistened in his eyes, casting a melancholic light on the man and giving Ji Wanwan a sharp pain in her chest.

She couldn’t help but lift her hand and gently touch the corners of his eyes.

Qi Hao tensed up, a flash of confusion and surprise in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by overwhelming joy.

He cherished the gentle touch of his beloved girl’s hand, his voice husky with emotion, "After this battle, if I’m still alive, Wanwan, would you accompany me to watch the sunrise just once?"

Ji Wanwan was momentarily lost in thought, her mind drifting back to when she was sixteen.

That year, after Qi Hao had just been admitted to university, as a celebration, she had agreed to watch the sunrise with him at Tianyun Mountain.

But later on, since Ji Xing had broken his leg playing and her parents were busy with farm work, she stayed home to take care of Ji Xing for over a month. By the time Ji Xing had recovered, everyone had gone back to school and the plan to watch the sunrise was forgotten.

She never imagined that, after so many years, this would remain Qi Hao’s obsession.

Not liking to speak of such melancholic matters, she jauntily smiled, "It’s bad luck to make promises before a battle!"

A flicker of disappointment in Qi Hao’s eyes was quickly hidden as he was about to make light of the situation, but his beloved girl pulled on his hand, "Brother Qi Hao, you are incredible! So you’ll definitely be fine! We’ll definitely watch the sunrise together!"

Looking into the earnest eyes of the girl, Qi Hao was silent for two seconds, then grasped the small hand that was pulling at his own, full of anticipation, "Then, shall we make it a promise?"

Ji Wanwan gave a soft smile, her eyes curving beautifully, "A promise it is!"