Apocalypse: I'm the Landlady of the Refuge

Known as Brother Qi, the half-infected, sadly hung his head and gave a bitter smile, nodding his head, "Yes, that’s true, what if I went mad again..."

But these words stabbed Xiao Yun, his wife, in the heart, "Brother Qi, it’s not your fault..."

The sorrowful crying and the look of despair caused Ji Wanwan a headache, wanting to talk business but feeling powerless to intervene.

Those who had undergone Corpse Transformation were essentially dead, and it was easier to soothe and negotiate with their relatives than with those of the living, though it felt cruel to say so.

But, it had to be said.

Ji Wanwan twisted her fingertips, awkwardly interrupting the couple’s heartfelt exchange, "Um, may I ask why, as a half-infected, your eyes haven’t turned red?"

Brother Qi and Xiao Yun, who had been softly sobbing and speaking, suddenly looked uneasy.

After a moment of silence, Brother Qi chose to be frank, "I am wearing full-eye contacts."

He raised his hand to remove the contacts from his eyes, revealing a faint crimson underneath, and then wiped off the thick foundation on his skin, exposing the pale ash-grey tint beneath.

Indeed, although Ji Wanwan could use Equivalence Healing to detect if someone was a half-infected, with the large number of people in the refuge, it wasn’t possible to check each one individually. Doing so would not only risk exposing her superpower but would also make her seem like a freak.

Thus, the method used to detect half-infected among the group was by visual estimation: first by the eyes, then the skin, and finally, the behavioral state.

Visual checks were superficial after all; with good enough disguise, anyone could deceive everyone. They had been too careless. Going by this, there might be more half-infected among the survivors brought back from Jiang City.

Thinking of this, Ji Wanwan began to make plans.

She took a deep breath and spoke from a position of fairness and justice, "You can’t refute the fact that you hurt people. I need to provide an explanation to the other survivors in the base, do you understand?"

Xiao Yun went pale, wanting to say something but finding herself speechless.

Brother Qi hung his head numbly, finally muttering with a bitter smile after a long while, "It’s my fault, I’m sorry to those two innocent people..."

He gazed affectionately at his wife and daughter outside the Space Barrier, then suddenly lifted his head with a determined look, "You can do whatever you want with me, but please spare my wife and daughter, let them live like normal people in the base."

Ji Wanwan nodded slightly, "You were the one who hurt others, not them."

Relieved by the confirmation, Brother Qi visibly relaxed and grew happier.

Xiao Yun, however, sobbed and shook her head, "No, Tuantuan is so young, how can she be without her father..." She looked at Ji Wanwan with a pitiable plea, "Please spare Brother Qi, just lift your gracious hand, and our family will leave the base and never cause you trouble again!"

Ji Wanwan slightly curled her lips, "It’s not impossible."

For her, the stability of the base was more important than the happiness of one small family. She could not allow the base that was so arduously established to fall into turmoil because of this family of three.

Brother Qi inside the Space Barrier immediately objected, "No! I could go mad at any moment, you and Tuantuan not having any awakened abilities, it’s dangerous to stay near me!

The base provides food, shelter, and protection, it’s the best place possible, and now that they’ve agreed not to pursue the matter with our family, you two can live well, don’t be foolish!"

"Brother Qi..." Xiao Yun cried heartbrokenly.

She was fully aware that what Brother Qi said was the truth, yet she couldn’t accept it.

Ji Wanwan coughed lightly, "I give you five minutes to think it over, and I’ll come back in five minutes. If you haven’t decided by then, I will decide for you."

After speaking, Ji Wanwan no longer looked at them, turned around, left the room, and gently closed the door behind her, giving their family enough private space.

Seeing her come out, Father Ji and Mrs. Ji approached her, "How did it go? Did you handle everything?"

Ji Wanwan shook her head, "I let their family talk, I’ll go in later."

Looking up, she saw Zhou Kai not far away, who was also looking at her at that moment.

Their gazes met, and Zhou Kai stepped forward, "Looking for me?"

Ji Wanwan couldn’t help but smile, "Brother Kai really understands me. Just one look and you know what I’m about to do."

Zhou Kai turned his head away somewhat awkwardly, chuckled self-dismissively, "Ah, if a subordinate doesn’t understand their leader, how can they win the leader’s favor?"

Ji Wanwan couldn’t help but burst into laughter, "Alright, no more joking, I have something serious to discuss."

Zhou Kai nodded, all ears.

Ji Wanwan said, "The half-infected from Jiang City can disguise themselves. I suspect that it’s not just this one; there are other half-infected as well."

Zhou Kai squinted slightly, "What do you want me to do?"

Ji Wanwan shared the plan she had already thought of with Zhou Kai, "We’ll still isolate them in the villa, but in separate rooms with locks, changing the previous method of picking up meals at the villa’s entrance to delivering meals to each bedroom."

Zhou Kai nodded but still expressed some doubts, "Okay, but is isolation enough? What if these disguised half-infected don’t go mad during the isolation period?"

Ji Wanwan smiled faintly.

She had naturally thought of this as well, "The fastest way to identify the half-infected is by blood testing.

Brother Kai, I also need you to find survivors who have nurse experience and can draw blood within the base. Have them help draw blood from each person from Jiang City for testing. Of course, we will pay them with points, and our people will protect the whole process. What do you think?"

Zhou Kai smiled appreciatively, "I think it’s good, so should I go ahead and handle it as the lord desires?"

"Pfft..." Ji Wanwan was at a loss, lightly elbowing Zhou Kai with a chuckle, "Stop teasing, Mr. CEO, if you keep it up, your aloof persona will totally crumble!"

A gentle, starry sparkle of amusement danced in Zhou Kai’s eyes, "As you command, my lady~"

With Zhou Kai’s playful act, the originally solemn mood was also much relieved.

Ji Wanwan sat down next to her parents, snuggling her head sweetly against her mother’s shoulder, "Mom, let me lean on you for a while."

Although her daughter hadn’t said much and still looked carefree and behaved, Mrs. Ji could still feel her daughter’s fatigue and gloominess.

Her daughter had become accomplished, but as a mother, she still wished her daughter could always be carefree.

She raised her hand to touch her daughter’s soft hair, "Lean on me as long as you want, my shoulder is always here for you to lean on..."

Ji Wanwan’s eyelashes trembled, and she smiled silently.

Having family around, this feeling, it was truly wonderful...