It had to be said, Xu Lin was very good at taking care of people.
His words were clearly meant to accommodate Fatty and Skinny.
After all, with his own strength, passing Su Ling's assessment would have been a piece of cake for him.
Conversely, Fatty and Skinny were the ones most in danger.
Killing zombies, digging for cores, and cultivating tacit understanding and teamwork in a cycle was no easy feat.
With Xu Lin speaking up, Fatty and Skinny nodded repeatedly. They looked at Su Ling, and Skinny spoke on their behalf, "No matter how difficult the upcoming assessment is, we will persevere. As Xu Lin said, we need you to be more patient."
"But it won't take too long, we'll reach your requirements quickly."
Su Ling hummed, then fell silent, picking up the lamb chops Xu Lin had grilled and gnawing on them.
It had to be said, Xu Lin had a knack for cooking. The lamb chops were crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and very flavorful.
Seeing Su Ling start on the lamb chops, Xu Lin's eyes held a smile before it vanished. He continued to place other ingredients on the grill.
After saying what she needed to say, Su Ling remained silent, eating her food and occasionally looking up at the starry night sky.
Perhaps it was because she had been reborn and moved her departure date forward, but the people she had encountered so far, though varied, were not of poor quality.
Perhaps it was because the apocalypse had only just begun, and the good and evil in human nature had not yet been ignited?
Su Ling didn't want to dwell on it. The days were long, and she would take things one step at a time.
Dropping the bone in her hand onto the table, Su Ling opened a can of beer and took a long gulp, leaning back in her chair.
Halfway through the can, she looked at Xu Lin, "More chili on my chicken legs and wings, please."
Xu Lin didn't look at her, but his actions were honest as he sprinkled a generous amount of chili and cumin on the chicken legs and wings he was grilling.
That night, all four of them were happy.
Especially Su Ling, she experienced a truly pleasant night in the post-apocalypse.
No scheming, no deceit, just a cool breeze blowing, the aroma of food in the air, and occasional conversations. Everything was so warm and friendly, and she hoped future nights would be like this.
She was already eager to see Sister Na, Han Han, Qing Qing and Yu Ling, and Shang Qi.
She would, they would meet soon!
After eating and drinking their fill, it was time to rest.
Su Ling had killed zombies all afternoon and was covered in sweat. Although the sweat had dried in the wind, she still felt uncomfortable. After saying goodbye to the three, Su Ling left the rooftop, carrying her distinctive backpack.
After she left, Fatty and Skinny were responsible for cleaning up.
The three gathered, and Fatty, in his usual gossipy manner, asked Xu Lin, "Linzi, how did you meet Su Ling?"
Xu Lin packed the trash into a bag and tied it. He then looked at the gossipy Fatty, not trying to hide anything, "I originally had four teammates. When Su Ling appeared, we were on the third floor of this building."
They were all adults, and the implication was clear.
Fatty handed the washed tableware to Skinny next to him and chuckled, "So, you're not with your original teammates anymore, and you've chosen to be with Su Ling?"
The question seemed redundant, as the facts already spoke for themselves.
Xu Lin moved the grill to a corner and set it down. He turned to face Fatty, who had asked the question. Leaning against the wall, he lit a cigarette. "We were on a self-driving trip, five of us. The other four were two couples. The apocalypse disrupted all our plans, and they all had people they needed to protect."
"Before I met Su Ling, I was indifferent. But the moment I met Su Ling, I wavered."