Chapter 23: Part 1

Close to noon, Ruan Ming sent a message to Ye Fengwan—a photo of Little Calico’s face after the swelling had gone down.

Seeing no response, she just assumed the other was busy and didn’t think much of it.

In the afternoon, still no reply.

She glanced at her wristband again. It remained quiet.

She couldn’t resist sending another message: Are you busy? Even if you’re busy, remember to eat a proper meal.

Based on what Ye Fengwan had said before, she sometimes got so focused on experiments that she’d overlook wristband messages. But whenever someone reminded her to eat, she’d usually check her wristband around mealtime. Yet now, there was still no activity at all. It was truly unusual.

By evening, Ah Yuan returned from the Safe Zone and entered Territory 32.

Ruan Ming was surprised: “I didn’t buy anything today.”

Ah Yuan handed her a large bag and said, “Second Miss Ye sent this for you.”

Ruan Ming opened the bag. Inside were two protective suits with matching masks.

Ah Yuan, sharp-eyed, said, “One is a Level 3 protective suit. Sister Ming, Second Miss Ye treats you so well.”

Ruan Ming’s hand paused slightly: “This is nothing for a wealthy person.”

The reason Ye Fengwan was so generous was mostly because of the honey incident last time. Thinking of this, her expression gradually returned to normal.

But Ah Yuan grinned, “A Level 3 protective suit costs three thousand credits! Sis, guess why, with her money, she didn’t just buy two Level 3 suits. Hehe, she must know there aren’t many large mutated beasts here, so we don’t need it for daily use. That’s why she paired it with a Level 1 suit. In my opinion, Second Miss Ye isn’t just rich, but also thoughtful.”

Ah Yuan’s words made Ruan Ming’s heart skip two fast beats.

Thinking that Ye Fengwan hadn’t replied to her all day, she asked, “The person who gave you the clothes, did they mention Ye Fengwan?”

Ah Yuan shook his head: “She left in a hurry after dropping off the stuff, as if there was something urgent.”

He then seemed to remember something. “When I was buying supplies in the Safe Zone, I heard that Qu Wu, the Qu family’s Second Young Master, led a group of people to surround the Ye family’s main gate. There seemed to be some altercation, but they left quickly. I’m not really sure what exactly happened.”

Hearing the words “Qu family,” Ruan Ming’s heart tightened.

The Base Chief’s brother, Qu Baichuan, had died during one of Ye Fengwan’s experiments. The conflict between the two families was immense. But because of Ye Jianggui, they’d maintained a superficial peace, which shouldn’t be broken easily.

Today, Qu Wu suddenly leading men to their door meant something major must have happened.

Could Ye Fengwan’s persistent silence be related to this?

The more Ruan Ming thought about it, the more worried she became.

Seeing her state, Ah Yuan comforted her, “I heard that once Dean Qu arrived, Qu Wu’s men withdrew quickly. It shouldn’t be a big problem. I’ll call a few friends in the Safe Zone later and see if I can find anything out.”

Ruan Ming nodded her thanks.

After Ah Yuan left, she still typed another message and sent it: Received the protective suits. Thank you.

Even by nighttime, Ye Fengwan still hadn’t replied. For the first time, Ruan Ming felt restless and kept staring at her wristband.

Could something really have happened to that person?

When her wristband finally rang, she almost reflexively answered the call, only to find it was Ah Yuan’s voice.

“Sister Ming, I asked a few friends. I didn’t find out much. Today at noon, a truck in the Safe Zone carrying contaminated entities was hijacked by the Rebel Alliance. Qu Wu believes Ye Fengwan was involved and is their insider. So he led people to wait at the Ye family gate, claiming that if Second Miss Ye wasn’t at the institute or home, she must have gone to hijack the truck. He threatened to wait there. If Ye Jianggui couldn’t account for Ye Fengwan’s whereabouts, he’d convict them!”

“However, Second Miss Ye pushed Institute Director Ye Jianggui out of the house right in front of Qu Wu, catching him off guard. Coincidentally, Dean Qu arrived, reprimanded Qu Wu, and that put an end to it.”

“Second Miss Ye was at home the whole time; she should be safe. Don’t worry too much.”

Ruan Ming listened to Ah Yuan’s words, but her mood didn’t improve.

If Ye Fengwan was truly at home, then why hadn’t she sent even a simple reply?

Or did she not care about a trivial person like her at all, finding it unnecessary to respond promptly?

Thinking of this reason, Ruan Ming’s heart instantly chilled.

But Ah Yuan had done his best to get information. Ruan Ming expressed her gratitude.

Ah Yuan quickly said, “It’s nothing, sis. Second Miss Ye is a good person, I was worried about her too. It’s good she’s alright.”

After hanging up with Ah Yuan, Ruan Ming lay in bed, eyes closed, thinking about the little moments she’d shared with Ye Fengwan these days. Though it was only across the network and they hadn’t known each other long, unknowingly, this person had already occupied a large part of her life.

Every time she picked up her wristband, the only person she thought of was her. She instinctively wanted to send her messages, sharing the trivialities of life and simple beauty.

Back when she worked in the Safe Zone, she rarely initiated conversations with colleagues, even partners she’d known for years, were no exception.

But with Ye Fengwan, everything was different.

She had slept with a woman. Same-sex households weren’t uncommon in the Safe Zone, but she’d never dared to think of her relationship with Ye Fengwan in that light. Ye Fengwan was a researcher; she’d have higher aspirations, a more refined and sophisticated life.

Their statuses were worlds apart. She didn’t dare entertain improper thoughts about their relationship.

From their interactions these days, she was almost certain that Ye Fengwan wasn’t the rash, shallow, and incompetent person gossip made her out to be. Even without relying on her sister, she could do very well.

Nor was she as cold and distant as she appeared; she was considerate and thoughtful of others.

But such a good person, what on earth had happened to make her not reply to her messages all day?

Before she slept, she sent one last message: Ye Fengwan, are you okay?

The next morning, Ruan Ming was jolted awake by her wristband’s notification sound.

She’d gone to bed very late last night. Although she was displeased Ye Fengwan hadn’t replied, she still maxed out the wristband’s volume before sleeping.

Picking up her wristband, she saw a new message alert. She almost held her breath as she tapped to open it.

Seeing Ye Fengwan’s name, her entire drowsiness instantly vanished.

“Sorry, my wristband died. Just saw your messages now.”

If not for what Ah Yuan had told her, Ruan Ming might have believed this explanation. After all, just a few days ago, she too had missed messages because her wristband was dead.

Now, seeing this excuse, her chest felt tight and stuffy.

Ruan Ming: Was it really just a dead wristband that kept you from replying?

Simple words, yet thick with pent-up resentment.

Worried for a day and a night, and the reply she got was a dead wristband. How could anyone be placated?

Ye Fengwan clearly sensed her dissatisfaction and quickly sent a message: There were some things that delayed me. I couldn’t reply to you in time, and I made you worry.

This sentence didn’t improve Ruan Ming’s mood. She suppressed her discomfort and replied: I wasn’t worried. Just that seeing you not reply wasn’t like you, so I asked.

Ye Fengwan lowered her eyelashes and replied: I thought you’d be worried seeing me not reply for so long. I was overthinking.

Ruan Ming’s breath caught. What did Ye Fengwan mean by that? Was she blaming her?

Ruan Ming felt a little angry, mixed with some grievance. She was the one who didn’t reply first and didn’t properly explain why, and now she sent such a baffling message.

She didn’t reply, and the other party didn’t send anything further. Ruan Ming wanted to just toss the wristband aside and ignore her, but her hands, beyond her control, still typed out a line: I’m worried about Institute Director Ye. As for your side… just a tiny bit by the way…

Ye Fengwan, seeing this message, her originally pursed lips relaxed: Even if it’s just a tiny bit of concern by the way, I feel gratified.

Ruan Ming stared at that sentence for a long time before replying: Do my feelings matter that much to you?

Ye Fengwan: They matter.

Ruan Ming’s heart started pounding faster now. She didn’t dare continue this topic, afraid of misinterpreting the signals, so she changed the subject: Is Institute Director Ye well?

Ye Fengwan looked at Ye Jianggui lying beside her, whose face was utterly bloodless. After a moment’s hesitation, she said: Not well. She coughed up blood last night, couldn’t sleep the whole night. Only just fell asleep at dawn.

Ruan Ming’s heart clenched tightly: Did drinking the organic honey water not help?

Ye Fengwan explained: It was precisely the honey water that maintained her current condition. Otherwise, it would have been worse.

Ruan Ming guessed: With so little organic food available now, she must be malnourished, which is why she lacks the strength to fight the illness.

Ye Fengwan followed her train of thought: Yes. Her body lacks nutrition, especially protein. Organic meat is very rare now; she’s lucky to eat meat even once a month. Coupled with the Dark Uranium element invasion, she doesn’t have enough physical strength and energy to fight the virus. So, even a slight stimulus can make her condition very poor.

Ruan Ming looked at the messages Ye Fengwan sent and suddenly felt utterly powerless.

A researcher who had fed millions of survivors couldn’t even secure basic nutritional support. The heavens were too unfair.

As if sensing Ruan Ming’s worry, Ye Fengwan messaged: Don’t worry. Many people are helping to find solutions now. A way will be found.

Ruan Ming replied with an “Mm,” then asked: How could Institute Director Ye suddenly cough up blood? You said a slight stimulus can make her very bad. What happened yesterday that stimulated her? May I know?

It took Ye Fengwan a long time to reply finally: Are you sure you want to know?

Ruan Ming: I want to know.

Ye Fengwan: Even if I’m a traitor to the base?

Ruan Ming’s eyelids twitched. A faint suspicion arose in her heart. Without hesitation, she said: I still want to know.

Ye Fengwan’s message came after a while: I participated in the truck hijacking. What was on the truck wasn’t contaminated entities, but civilians the Qu family had kidnapped from the Safe Zone. They planned to sell these civilians to the Unclaimed City as slaves.

Ruan Ming wasn’t surprised at all.

Combined with what Ah Yuan had told her earlier, she’d already had a premonition.

It was merely a guess turning into reality now.

Seeing she hadn’t responded for a long time, Ye Fengwan sent another message: Are you scared now that you know I associate with Alliance people?

Ruan Ming finally came back to her senses and replied: Not scared. Actually… a few years ago, I was almost kidnapped by the Motorcycle Gang too. Only someone saved me later. Now that I think about it, maybe those who saved me were also Alliance people. If so, how could I be afraid?

Seeing the reply, Ye Fengwan smiled. She’d known Ruan Ming’s character since investigating her previously, which was why she felt safe revealing her double identity.

Ruan Ming: Then were you hurt last night?

It took a while before Ye Fengwan sent a picture.

Ruan Ming, suddenly realizing what the picture might show, became tense. Almost holding her breath, she tapped to open it.

The moment the image filled her vision, a faint shiver ran through her body.

In the photo, amidst disheveled strands of hair, on a long, snow-white, swan-like neck, two dark, glaring handprints were branded. The stark contrast against her smooth, fair skin was intense.

Like a snow-white rose ruthlessly ravaged, its petals broken yet still retaining that heart-stirring beauty.

Cruel and shocking, yet inspiring an involuntary sense of pity.

Does it hurt? Ruan Ming asked.

Ye Fengwan: It hurts.

Ruan Ming: You need to be more careful in the future.

Ye Fengwan: You’ll worry, won’t you?

Ruan Ming: I will.

Ye Fengwan: Your concern makes me very happy. I will be careful.