I'd like to thank our new Patreon Diamond member, "melonpan," for recommending this novel for translation. I've read up to chapter 50, and it's a truly engaging read. It boasts a 4.4 rating on NovelUpdates. So you know it's going to be good.
Thank you again, Melonpan, for the sponsorship
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Fu Shiwu packed up and came out, but Tang Xuhai hadn't left yet.
When Tang Xuhai looked at him—dressed in a shirt, trousers, and black leather shoes—he was utterly speechless.
"What's wrong?" Fu Shiwu looked at him, puzzled.
"Nothing!" Tang Xuhai held back. Dealing with this clueless guy wasn't worth it; his discomfort was his own business.
As the two took the elevator to the underground garage, they found many people from their building inside.
Wang Ziping, looking pale, stood by the car, urging his family to get in.
"Tang Xuhai!" Wang Ziping's eyes lit up as he quickly approached, whispering, "Come with us. I have a spot in my car. You don't know the current situation..."
"No need, we'll manage on our own." Tang Xuhai cut him off. Wang Ziping evidently knew the situation wasn't good from the news and was smart enough to leave before nightfall.
"No, do you know where it's safe now? I know a place, in the eastern suburbs..." Wang Ziping tried hard to persuade, having seen Tang Xuhai's skills firsthand that day. Without Tang Xuhai's timely arrival, both he and Liao Ke might have been in trouble.
"No, I'm not alone." Tang Xuhai interrupted again.
Glancing behind him, Wang Ziping hesitated. "Are you sure you can keep them safe?"
Frowning, Tang Xuhai wondered, "Both of them?"
Turning, he suddenly spotted Fu Shiwu talking to the disabled person, Wen Zhaoming, beside him.
His words stuck in his throat. He nodded, "Yeah, I'll take them both. Can you handle that?"
Wang Ziping immediately became reluctant.
Tang Xuhai, truly clueless!
He had a friend who happened to live near the military's battle against the aliens. When the military retreated, his friend took the opportunity to follow. Though the number of extraterrestrial creatures in the city had decreased sharply, encountering them was still possible.
Taking Tang Xuhai along was to leverage his skills, hoping to protect his own family. Taking Fu Shiwu alone was manageable, but adding a wheelchair-bound disabled person would be a burden!
"Um... sorry, my car won't fit." Wang Ziping looked uncomfortable, chuckled awkwardly, then returned to his family.
Tang Xuhai sneered.
He turned and walked over to Fu Shiwu, finding him troubled.
"What's wrong?" Tang Xuhai asked Fu Shiwu with his mouth while eyeing Wen Zhaoming.
Wen Zhaoming calmly said, "I need Mr. Fu's help."
"Not that I won't help, but I can't decide on this matter." Fu Shiwu sought help from Tang Xuhai with his eyes, but unfortunately, the message wasn't conveyed.
Tang Xuhai frowned, suppressing his displeasure, thinking Fu Shiwu wanted his approval.
"What's the matter?" Tang Xuhai asked in an unpleasant tone.
Wen Zhaoming paused before looking directly at him, saying, "I'd like you to take me to the storage center in the east."
"Oh?" Tang Xuhai raised an eyebrow. It wasn't just a military radio he had accepted using unconventional methods. Each person had their means. Despite the unfavorable news on TV about the military's situation, few knew the actual situation in the east. Now, knowing the exact location meant there might be hidden intentions.
Wang Ziping was manipulative, but Wen Zhaoming, secluded, didn't seem the type. His information sources were intriguing.
Tang Xuhai pondered, and Fu Shiwu nervously awaited his decision. With minimal combat ability, he relied entirely on Tang Xuhai and dared not assert himself.
Wen Zhaoming, fearing rejection, persisted, "The person who gave me this information can help us. Without their support, even if we reach the storage center, there's no guarantee."
Wen Zhaoming tried to stay calm, but anxiety flickered in his eyes.
Tang Xuhai suddenly smiled, "Alright, I'll take you along."
Wen Zhaoming was overjoyed, managing a smile, while Fu Shiwu breathed a sigh of relief, also smiling.
"I have an SUV, a off-road vehicle. We can take that." Wen Zhaoming produced keys, tossing them to Fu Shiwu.
Fu Shiwu caught the keys, puzzled. "You have a car?"
"I got it just before the accident. It's been parked in this underground garage since it was delivered. Got it serviced recently, it's usable," Wen Zhaoming said with a touch of sadness.
Fu Shiwu felt he might have asked something he shouldn't have. Socially inept, he stood there looking at Wen Zhaoming, who, in turn, seemed unperturbed.
Fu Shiwu began to worry. Would an apology cause further harm?
Taking the car keys from Fu Shiwu, Tang Xuhai pressed a button, and a black Volvo SUV in the garage went "beep beep."
"Get the water up," Tang Xuhai said.
"Okay." Fu Shiwu got out, opened the trunk, and with Tang Xuhai's help, loaded three cans of water into the car.
"I wonder if the storage center has enough water?" Fu Shiwu expressed his concern.
"Summer is the peak season for cold drink sales. Preparing such items in advance is impossible to expose openly. We might have enough to drink, but there might be limits," Wen Zhaoming said.
"That's good," Fu Shiwu felt relieved. These three water cans should not attract too much attention now.
As the car hit the road, it seemed even more desolate compared to the last time Fu Shiwu and the others ventured out. Back then, there were patrols at least, but now even the patrols were nowhere to be seen.
Occasionally, there were abandoned vehicles on the roadside. It wasn't clear whether they ran out of gas or encountered those alien creatures.
The atmosphere grew tense. Wen Zhaoming broke the silence, "I thought you would let Mr. Fu drive."
Fu Shiwu turned to look at Wen Zhaoming, realizing he was watching Tang Xuhai, who was driving.
Tang Xuhai glanced at him through the rearview mirror with a smirk, "You assumed wrong. I believe in these times, having control of the wheel oneself ensures higher safety. It's better to entrust the driving to someone with better skills."
Fu Shiwu didn't catch on at first, then realized his capabilities, not just in combat but even in driving, were being looked down upon!
"My driving skills are excellent!" Fu Shiwu protested.
Tang Xuhai glanced at him, clearly not buying it.
"At least I'm steady!" Fu Shiwu grew even more irritated.
At this point, Wen Zhaoming intervened, "You misunderstood me. I meant... among the three of us, Mr. Fu's current physical condition is the best."
"That doesn't mean his reflexes are equally good. Driving steadily doesn't guarantee avoiding danger or crashing into safety islands in emergencies," Tang Xuhai said sarcastically.
"Sorry," Wen Zhaoming regretted.
Fu Shiwu was stunned. "What do you mean? My body's better than Tang Xuhai's?"
He looked confusedly at Tang Xuhai's muscular arms, then down at his own pale, less muscular ones.
...Another blow to his self-esteem!
Tang Xuhai stayed silent, and after a pause, Wen Zhaoming finally added, "Mr. Tang has a steel plate in his right leg."
What?!
It was like a bolt from the blue.
"Really?!" Fu Shiwu couldn't contain his surprise.
Having witnessed Tang Xuhai knocking down someone in a green T-shirt, he couldn't fathom that the person had a leg injury despite their strong physique!
"Sorry," Fu Shiwu apologized, feeling particularly guilty.
Tang Xuhai chuckled, "Why apologize?"
"Sorry, I didn't know about your leg," Fu Shiwu felt remorseful. If he knew about the leg with the steel plate, he wouldn't have let Tang Xuhai check on Wang Ziping and the others, nor would he have wandered around carrying two water cans!
Tang Xuhai seemed a bit upset, "Don't treat me like glass. I'm almost healed."
"Even if you're recovering, with a steel plate in your leg, you shouldn't engage in strenuous activity," Wen Zhaoming calmly stated an undeniable fact.
"Tsk, it's just driving," Tang Xuhai grew impatient.
Wen Zhaoming fell silent. They both knew that in extreme circumstances, regardless of Tang Xuhai's leg, even if it became disabled, they'd still have to fight.
Fu Shiwu immersed himself in self-reproach. After a while, he spoke up, "I shouldn't have been so unaware. We've been neighbors for so long, and I never knew."
"It's not your fault!" Tang Xuhai glanced at him, feeling uneasy. "I hate being treated like fragile goods. That's why I didn't tell anyone when I moved here."
Tang Xuhai was too good at pretending everything was fine on the outside and didn't socialize much, so naturally, no one knew.
"What about Mr. Wen?" Fu Shiwu was puzzled.
"I happened to know," Wen Zhaoming looked at Fu Shiwu who turned around, "our doctors are the same. So, during check-ups, we've crossed paths."
However, it was just a nodding acquaintance. Both of them weren't in good moods and weren't really interested in making friends.
Tang Xuhai agreeing to accompany Wen Zhaoming might have been a case of birds of a feather. Thinking about his own condition made him extend a hand.
After Wen Zhaoming became disabled, he was especially sensitive. While Tang Xuhai walked like an ordinary person, to him, it still seemed a bit unnatural.
"Tang Xuhai, let me drive," Fu Shiwu suggested.
Now that he knew about Tang Xuhai's leg injury and that he was essentially a patient, Fu Shiwu couldn't command a patient.
"Why are you fussing?" Tang Xuhai grew angry, yelling at him, "I've almost recovered! Driving won't be a problem! Besides, with your reaction level, what's the difference between you holding the steering wheel and heading to death?"
"What?" Fu Shiwu was stunned.
This person was as irritating as ever!
Fu Shiwu wanted to argue with him. This guy, who changes attitude so easily, what does he mean by "almost like sending to death"? His driving skills aren't that bad! He even drove his car before!
"Bang—", "Squeak—", "Ah!!!"
After a loud crash came the screeching of brakes, followed by people's panicked screams.
Tang Xuhai's expression changed, "Hold on!!"
Saying that, he fiercely turned the steering wheel, throwing Fu Shiwu towards the door.
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