Chapter Twenty-Four: Last Night Was Quite Nice

I picked up the silent clock resting on the bedside table and glanced at the time. I’d slept for about eight hours and felt my energy and spirits had recovered noticeably. Climbing out of bed, I went through my usual routine, stretching and moving my body to restore physical vitality.

In the wasteland era, one must keep their body in prime condition at all times, whether inside a safe zone or not. There’s nothing but benefit in that.

I glanced at Han Shuqing and Old Four, both still fast asleep. I couldn’t help but curl my lips in a wry smile. In the end, I couldn’t restrain myself last night. It seemed that after so long without a woman, my fire was still burning strong.

But Old Four, that mutt, got a free screening of a Japanese AV last night—what a windfall for a dog.

Let’s just hope that when he finds a female dog of his own, he doesn’t imitate my moves. Thankfully, most of them are too advanced for him to learn.

Originally, I hadn’t intended to touch the woman, but after overhearing the conversation between those two at the door last night, I realized there was no trap being set for me; the woman had spoken the truth.

Besides, even if nothing had happened, would those two have refrained from reporting to Huo Tian about what I did? Her cries were clear enough for anyone to hear.

Last night, Han Shuqing yielded after some initial reluctance, offering little resistance. In this devastated world, a frail woman without a man’s protection can barely survive.

It was mutual consent, with no emotional burden on my part—a simple act of appeasing the most basic human desire.

Nor did she seem to harbor any burdens—survival was the only goal. If I had to compare, our relationship was much like those fleeting liaisons between men and women in the old world: play is play, fun is fun—whoever gets attached is a fool.

To think that sharing a bed once means falling in love is utter nonsense.

I must admit, I’m truly a good person—amusing, isn’t it?

On this wasteland, humanity has long since become unfathomable, hearts twisted beyond prediction. Good men with even a shred of decency like myself are few and far between.

Waking up and indulging in a little self-praise, I found my mood instantly lighter.

As usual, I was about to open the door to breathe in some fresh air, only to remember there was no such thing as fresh air here.

“Mr. Cao, the chief asked that you see him after you wake. He has some matters he wishes to discuss with you.”

I nodded lightly at the approaching messenger—he had clearly been waiting in this area for quite some time. He made a point of peering past me into the room, then relaxed with a sigh of relief.

It seemed he’d spotted Han Shuqing, still asleep on the bed, and was now reassured.

“I understand. I’ll freshen up first, then go see him.”

“All right. He’s in Room 01, at the very end.”

“Mm.”

With a click, I closed the door, washed up quickly, and by then Han Shuqing and Old Four had also awakened.

“I… I’ll go now. I need to check on my daughter. I’ve been gone so long—I’m worried she’ll be anxious,” Han Shuqing said, covering her bare chest with both hands, as if asking my permission.

“You may go.”

She dressed and headed for the door, but paused and, in a pleading tone, said, “Mr. Cao, about what happened last night…”

“Don’t worry. I have no interest in bragging about it.” I understood her concern. One could easily imagine how her daughter might look at her, knowing what her mother had been forced to do.

After all, her father had died just recently, and now her mother had been compelled to sleep with someone to survive. It was a bitter, unspeakable reality.

Han Shuqing bit her lip and murmured a thank you before hurrying away in embarrassment.

I shook my head, amused. Although this woman had learned to bend with the wind, she’d grasped the unspoken rules of survival on the wasteland. In a way, she was a strong woman.

Her psychological defenses had held, which was more than could be said for Huo Bing, who, fresh to the world, had caused her teammates’ deaths.

“Old Four, keep an eye on the door. I’ll be out for a bit.”

“Woof… woof…”

…

I arrived at Room 01, where two bodyguard types stood at the entrance. I couldn’t help but marvel at the chief’s privileges—a pair of guards stationed at the door at all times.

“Mr. Cao?”

“That’s me.”

“One moment, please.”

A moment later, the messenger returned to lead me into Room 01.

The room’s furnishings were a world apart from the mid-level quarters I’d been assigned. This space must have been at least a hundred square meters.

The first person I encountered inside was, surprisingly, someone I knew—Huo Bing.

Huo Bing had shed her SWAT uniform for casual home wear and was holding a cup of… coffee? She seemed to be enjoying the good life.

However, the girl’s demeanor toward me was cold today; she didn’t even greet me, her face frosty, despite the fact I’d saved her life. Some gratitude.

“Mr. Cao, you’re here. The chief is in the study—go right in,” she said.

I nodded and pushed open the study door.

“Brother Cao! Oh! Clean-shaven, you look much younger. Before, I thought you were barely a few years younger than me, but now it seems I’m at least a whole generation older!” Huo Tian stood before a mirror, straightening his suit.

I smiled. “Age hardly matters. I’m just a wanderer, while you, Brother Huo, manage this land and its people. You’re practically a savior in this era—you’re in a league of your own.”

Huo Tian smiled without responding. He regarded his suit with a hint of nostalgia, turning once before the mirror, then carefully taking it off and folding it neatly to reveal the casual clothes underneath.

“Forgive me, Brother Cao. I sometimes can’t help reminiscing about the old days. I often feel the urge to put on this suit and show it off. But, to avoid creating a distance between myself and the people of the settlement, I never wear it outside—only here, for myself.”

He sat down in his executive chair and motioned for me to take a seat.

I didn’t stand on ceremony, sitting opposite him across the desk.

His words and actions gave me a new perspective on him; all in all, he seemed a decent man.

What happened with Han Shuqing last night was simply a matter of making efficient use of resources—a businessman’s logic.

“Did you sleep well last night, Brother Cao?” Huo Tian asked, giving me a knowing look.

“Yes, quite well.” I smiled and gave an honest answer—the couple of hours hadn’t been wasted, and I’d experienced all there was to experience.

A soft, disdainful snort sounded from outside the door.

I glanced out, puzzled. Huo Tian might not have heard, but I certainly did. That little sound was from Huo Bing. So what if I spent a night with someone? What’s with the attitude?