Meanwhile, all of this was happening without Su Ling and Gu Shangse’s knowledge.
On the way back to the department store, Su Ling pushed the bicycle with Yangyang following behind, while Gu Shangse cleared zombies ahead to hone his skills.
Despite the immense physical exertion and extreme fatigue, Gu Shangse remained silent.
He had collected crystal cores, but he hadn’t used any, storing them all.
Although Su Ling hadn't explicitly stated it, he could see the light in her eyes whenever she mentioned crystal cores.
This indicated her fondness for them.
Since they were something she liked, he decided to keep them for her.
Physical stamina could be fully restored after a night's rest.
Su Ling gazed at the pink clouds in the sky and then at Gu Shangse, his clothes soaked with sweat.
His physical exertion was evident; his movements while fighting zombies showed he was at his limit.
However, she couldn’t understand why Gu Shangse wasn't using the crystal cores.
She had already taught them how to use them, and he had mastered the technique.
Though puzzled, Su Ling didn’t bother to ask. Looking at the setting sun and the remaining distance to the department store,
She got on the bicycle, rode to Gu Shangse's side, glanced at him picking up crystal cores, and said, "Get on."
Without hesitation, Gu Shangse, carrying his bag, got on the back of the bicycle.
On the way there, Gu Shangse had carried Su Ling.
Now, on the way back, Su Ling was carrying Gu Shangse.
The journey there was easy; the journey back was burdened by added weight.
Yangyang, on all fours, followed behind the bicycle.
Bathed in the setting sun, Su Ling carried Gu Shangse towards the department store.
They reached the department store without any obstacles. As usual, they hid the bicycle in their secret base. Su Ling was about to carry the supplies when Gu Shangse took them all, leaving her with only a very light bag emitting a fragrant scent of cake.
Gu Shangse, physically drained to his limit, still managed to climb the stairs with all the bags and supplies.
They climbed from the first floor to the top, returning to the rooftop. The sky was already dark, and night had fallen.
Xu Lin and the other two had not yet returned.
After putting down the brought-back ingredients, Su Ling asked Gu Shangse to sit down and rest while she prepared dinner.
Recalling the work assignments from the previous day, Su Ling felt they might have been somewhat redundant.
Gu Shangse had no intention of sitting down to rest. While Su Ling was washing rice and starting the stove, he had already begun preparing the vegetables.
Tonight, they would have a very rich and fresh meal of fruits, vegetables, and gourds.
Among the pile of produce, Su Ling had also added a few pieces of pork belly taken from her space.
The sound of their return caught the attention of Zhang Miaomiao, who was resting in her tent.
She lay in the tent, afraid to move, her breathing shallow. She knew it wasn't Li Yunlong and the other three returning, but Su Ling.
After Su Ling had washed the rice and placed it in the large pot to cook, she took the pork belly from Gu Shangse, which he had already washed and prepared. Seeing him still pushing himself despite his exhaustion to accompany her, she felt a pang of pity.
"Crystal cores can help you recover your stamina quickly," she said, her tone blunt but filled with concern.
Hearing this, Gu Shangse looked up at her slightly. "I thought you liked them a lot, so I saved them for you."
At his words, Su Ling's heart skipped a beat.
She placed the pork belly on the cutting board and picked up a cleaver to cut it into pieces.
However, her heart was stirred. She stopped, washed her hands under the faucet, wiped them clean, walked to where the backpack was stored, and returned with a large, red apple.
She handed the apple to Gu Shangse, brought her index finger to her lips, and whispered, "Secret."
Su Ling thought that Gu Shangse held a different place in her heart than Xu Lin and the other two.