There were still two days left before they would reach Base M. Han Fei looked through the rear-view mirror at Qi Yue, who was sitting in the back seat. Qi Yue was fully focused on wrapping dumplings. A big bucket full of meat filling sat on the seat beside him, and next to that was a basin filled with neatly prepared dumpling skins.
Han Fei rubbed his forehead. The guy barely said a single word all day and just kept making dumplings and buns. This wasn’t sustainable. Sure, Qi Yue’s cooking was amazing, but even good food becomes unbearable when you’re eating it three times a day. His brows tightened as he glanced at the large bucket, three days of nonstop wrapping. If this continued, they’d be eating dumplings for the entire year.
“Yueyue, there’s a fruit orchard up ahead. Let’s go take a look. You know how to make fruit salad and stuff, right? Maybe changing things up will help you level faster.” Han Fei suggested. He didn’t care what they ate, he just couldn’t stomach anything with stuffing anymore.
Qi Yue looked up at Han Fei, tempted. In the beginning, his leveling speed had only increased because he used the materials Han Fei gave him. Now that he was close to reaching Level 2, maybe changing foods would indeed help him level. He hadn’t prepared any fruits to cook with before, too troublesome, and he wasn’t sure if fruit juice would remain fresh in his space. But he did have a juicer…
He tilted his head and glanced at Lin Yuze in the passenger seat. Han Fei suppressed the irritation in his chest, Qi Yue was getting bolder and bolder, and he was treating that kid better and better.
“Yeah, since we’re passing by anyway,” Lin Yuze quickly nodded in agreement.
He wasn’t being picky, he really couldn’t take any more. Sure, the apocalypse was harsh; it was only natural to be frugal. But something was off with Qi Yue. Every day it was dumplings and stuffed buns. Boiled dumplings in the morning, steamed dumplings at noon, pan-fried dumplings at night. And if anyone dared complain, he’d switch the dumplings for buns.
Qi Yue shot the two of them a suspicious look. Their relationship had become strangely close recently. They always sat in the front, taking turns driving, always interacting. One suggested something and the other agreed instantly. Something wasn’t right.
He stopped wrapping dumplings, put everything away into his space, and wiped his hands clean. Then he began to scrutinize the two sitting in front. Han Fei used to cling to him, hugging him, touching him, he definitely seemed like a gay. Qi Yue turned to look at Lin Yuze. The kid was handsome, young but good-looking enough to make women swoon. Could he also be gay? Had the two of them fallen for each other?
The years of apocalypse had left him with a habit, he always over-analyzed situations and always doubted people.
Qi Yue rubbed his chin, staring back and forth between the two. He couldn’t believe he had overlooked such a major issue just because he’d been busy grinding his skills lately.
Had Han Fei fallen for Lin Yuze? Or was it mutual? Actually, thinking back… something felt off between them since the very first night. Han Fei hadn’t even slept, staying up with him.
Was it love at first sight? And who was the top? Han Fei should be the top, he looked strong, and he even took advantage of him before. Then Lin Yuze was the bottom? But judging by his presence… maybe not? Could Han Fei be the bottom? Not impossible, he always looked at Lin Yuze with such soft eyes.
Qi Yue suddenly shuddered.
No, Han Fei was a complete pervert. He had taken advantage of him before. No wonder that first night he insisted they sleep together, he wanted to make Lin Yuze jealous. He must have seen that Lin Yuze was good-looking and wanted to toy with him. Lin Yuze was young and naive, he must have been tricked.
Meanwhile in the front, both Han Fei and Lin Yuze were silently confused. What kind of look was Qi Yue giving them through the corner of his eyes?
The orchard Han Fei mentioned was huge, at least a thousand acres. Before the apocalypse, it had been an ecological scenic area full of waterways, lush trees, fragrant fruit, and beautiful old bridges.
They parked on the roadside. Han Fei stored the vehicle and handed each of them an oversized bag. They split up to pick fruit. After the apocalypse, the orchard looked somewhat desolate, many trees had collapsed from the recent heavy rains, but plenty still stood tall, with many fruits remaining.
Qi Yue was the main gatherer, picking and filling the bags while the other two wandered around, occasionally tossing one fruit into his pile. The orchard had many varieties. When a bag filled up, Han Fei stored it in his space and gave them another.
Qi Yue didn’t mind, those two handled safety while he handled this, which was easy enough.
Han Fei was already at Level 3 and close to leveling. Lin Yuze was mid-Level 3. Qi Yue was still at Level 1, though almost ready to level up.
A faint sound came from nearby. Han Fei signaled to Lin Yuze, who had also heard it. Both stayed alert.
Qi Yue kept picking apples while glancing at them. He had seen plenty of men pair up in the apocalypse, so he didn’t really care. But Lin Yuze was different, he used to be nice to him. It was his duty to protect him from being tricked by some gangster.
“Gu-gu—”
The strange chirping noises grew closer. No zombies in sight. A few creatures suddenly burst out from beside the trees, each about the size of a washbasin.
From their silhouettes, they looked like chickens. Giant chickens, clearly mutated.
“Wait!” Qi Yue shouted, stopping the two who were about to unleash their abilities. “These are edible. They’re not post-infection mutants.”
These chickens had no rot or bite marks, just huge in size.
The three of them struggled quite a bit before catching them. The chickens were fat, looked delicious.
“Let’s roast them here and eat before we continue.”
Everyone agreed. After days of eating dumplings, even the best food felt dull.
They divided tasks: Han Fei drew water from his space and built a makeshift stove, Lin Yuze gathered dry branches, and Qi Yue took out a pot, seasonings, and took responsibility for butchering the chickens.
There were six in total. All were killed and cleaned. Three were stored away in Han Fei’s space for later use. The remaining three were for roasting. Even one of these giant chickens was probably too much for one person.
After plucking and gutting them, Qi Yue brought out a small barbecue grill and a metal rack. He chopped the chickens, skewered the pieces, and placed them on the grill and the makeshift stove.
He cut slits into the meat, brushing oil as they cooked. Once golden, he sprinkled salt and cumin. The fragrance filled the air, mouthwatering and irresistible.
He placed the first cooked pieces onto a plate and added more raw pieces to continue roasting.
Han Fei spread out a big bedsheet and brought out a few cans of beer. The three of them sat on the sheet, placing the plate in the middle and eating with their hands. It was satisfying, none of them had eaten barbecue in ages. Mutated animal meat was tender and delicious.
Han Fei hadn’t touched Qi Yue in days, the guy had been too busy making buns and dumplings, barely talking, while obviously paying attention to Lin Yuze. So Han Fei intentionally sat between them, separating the two. From the plate, he picked out a chicken leg and handed it to Qi Yue before grabbing a piece for himself.
Qi Yue accepted it and tore into it immediately, he had been starving after so much grilling. As he ate, he flipped the chicken pieces still cooking. After finishing one piece and reaching for another, he suddenly noticed Han Fei sitting close to Lin Yuze and keeping him away.
He really had bad intentions! Qi Yue’s heart filled with contempt.
The other two ate heartily as well, occasionally drinking beer. The mutated chicken tasted amazing.
After a few pieces, Qi Yue got up to handle the half-cooked pieces. Then he suddenly felt his spiritual energy stir like it was growing. Yes! This was why he wanted to try leveling through food made from mutated animals. He didn’t expect roasting to work too and even faster than before.
By the time the large whole chicken finished roasting, he had cooked another batch and plated them.
Then he realized:
He leveled up! He reached Level 2! He was thrilled!
Han Fei and Lin Yuze were full too. The three grown men only managed to finish two chickens, they were stuffed. The food was too good, and Qi Yue’s grilling skills were unexpectedly amazing.
Qi Yue stored the last chicken in his personal kitchen space. He told the two men something and then quickly entered his space.
“I’m going to check something, I’ll be back right away. Wait for me.”
He appeared in the same spot as before, the storage room. It seemed the entry point was fixed. The room hadn’t changed at all. A little disappointing.
He walked into the inner room and immediately saw it beside the small steamer:
A small porcelain bowl!
He rushed over, picked it up, turned it over again and again, examining its patterns. It looked like an antique! What was it for? Was he supposed to eat with it?
There was no time to test it now, he’d have to wait for the night.
Reluctantly, he put it down and exited the space.
Outside, the two men were already in the car waiting.
Han Fei, who had sat in the front seat for days, was now sitting in the back with the door open, gesturing for Qi Yue to sit next to him.
Did these two really get into a fight in the short time he was gone?
Qi Yue hesitated.
Seeing his reluctance, Han Fei’s anger flared. It was all because of that pretty-boy brat. A few days ago Qi Yue had been obedient, doing whatever he said. Now he was the opposite. Han Fei’s face instantly darkened.
Qi Yue caught sight of Han Fei’s expression and instantly understood.
Ah, so they had fought, and now they were trying to use him as a shield! As expected of a gangster, Han Fei was truly wicked!
