After the three ascended the stairs, Xu Qian reclined on the sofa, closing her eyes to rest, while in reality, she was sorting through the items in her pockets.
In her inventory, she had items for enhanced attack, tear production, a bronze mirror, winged shoes, and a peace buckle.
Invisible items could be purchased at any time.
Xu Qian sighed, deciding to take things one step at a time.
She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Two hours later, as the sun set, her thick eyelashes fluttered open. There was not a hint of grogginess in her dark eyes, as if she had never slept.
Xu Qian got up and walked to the garden, finding an open space. She took out a barbecue grill and charcoal from her spatial storage, placing them to the side. Then she set up a table, disposable bowls, chopsticks, plates, barbecue ingredients, beer, chicken wings, ribs, vegetables, fish balls, and sausages, arranging them all in order.
Using a few leaves, the charcoal quickly ignited.
Once everything was prepared, she put on disposable gloves and began skewering the food. In less than an hour, batches of ingredients were threaded onto skewers. The charcoal fire blazed, and the barbecue began.
Meanwhile, Cheng Liangqing was resting in his room, his mind preoccupied with Xu Qian. He had piled the zombies on the bridge, hoping to prevent both zombies and living people from entering the villa area. He hadn't expected her to trample over those corpses to enter the villa just to relay Xiao Ya's message. Anyone else would have turned and fled upon seeing so many bodies.
She was someone who kept her promises. He had long anticipated that Xiao Ya was dead. In this zombie apocalypse, how many people would survive?
Cheng Liangqing rubbed his slightly damp eyes. A wave of savory meat aroma wafted in. He wrinkled his nose, then got up and opened the window. A small figure was sitting by the barbecue grill, basting chicken wings that sizzled with oil, releasing a rich, meaty fragrance.
Cheng Liangqing swallowed. He decided to go talk to her about tonight's plan and, perhaps, snag a chicken wing. It should be acceptable, right?
As he emerged, Cheng Liangze also caught the scent and came out from the adjacent room. "Brother, where is the barbecue? It smells so good."
"They're having a barbecue. Do you want to go?"
Cheng Liangze's face instantly darkened. He forcefully closed his room door. "I'm not going. Murderer."
Cheng Liangqing sighed and tried to reason with him, "Cheng Liangze, think about it. Did she kill Xiao Ya, or did the zombies?"
Silence filled the room.
Cheng Liangqing shook his head and turned to go downstairs.
The main door was not closed. Cheng Liangqing strode purposefully towards Xu Qian.
"Xu Qian."
Xu Qian's eyes were cast down, her gaze focused intently on the chicken wing in her hand as she casually brushed on some honey.
"Is there something you need?"
Cheng Liangqing leaned down slightly, maintaining a safe distance between them, and lowered his voice.
"Why are we only departing at 12 AM tonight?"
Her face was devoid of any unnecessary expression, her dark eyes looking at him with an unruffled calm.
"I don't want my teammates to take risks with me. This is my own matter, and if they knew, they would definitely want to come with me."
His heart trembled slightly.
"I understand. Then I'll drive tonight. I have a police car in my house, it has good protection and a lot of space."
"Okay."
The atmosphere gradually thickened.
The chicken wings in her hands turned golden brown, emitting an enticing aroma.
Cheng Liangqing swallowed.
A soft gulp was heard.
Xu Qian glanced at him. He appeared somewhat awkward. "Do you want to eat?" She offered him a cooked chicken wing from her hand.
"Thank you."
Cheng Liangqing's beautiful peach blossom eyes instantly lit up. He took it and took a quick bite. "Sizzle." The scalding sensation. How long had it been since he tasted such a delicacy?
She grilled several skewers of chicken wings and ribs and set them aside, but didn't eat a single one herself.
"Why aren't you eating?" Cheng Liangqing looked up and scanned her.
"I'm not hungry yet. I'm grilling these for them."
"You're really good to your teammates."
Xu Qian paused, her voice growing slightly cold.
"They have no reason to stay by my side and take risks with me. Preparing some food for them is nothing."
Cheng Liangqing's heart inexplicably quickened. He turned his head to look at her profile, which was like snow covered ice.
"After I've settled Xiao Ya, can I join your team?"
Xu Qian turned back. The outer corners of his dark, narrow eyes slightly lifted, appearing amorous and captivating.
"It depends on your performance. Not just anyone can be my teammate."
Cheng Liangqing put down the chicken wing and tapped his forehead with one hand, performing a military salute.
"I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Utterly cool.
Gu Qing was the first to rush out upon smelling the aroma.
"Sister Qian, why didn't you call us?"
"This is Gu Qing. Eat quickly, these are ready."
Having met him briefly earlier, Cheng Liangqing noted that this boy who looked like a girl was likely responsible for driving. He smiled and extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Cheng Liangqing."
"Hello, thank you, Sister Qian!" Gu Qing quickly shook his hand and took a bite of a rib. "This is so delicious!" He was so touched that tears welled up in his eyes. How could there be such a wonderful angel?
Gu Qing looked up and shouted, "Lily, Brother Yuebai, come down quickly and eat the barbecue!"
"Gu Qing, don't be noisy!" At that very moment, a pillow was thrown from upstairs, landing near Gu Qing's feet.
"Li Lili! You almost hit me!"