Chapter 372: Completion of the Western District 3 Reconstruction
Su Tao had neither the energy nor the time to bother with Chen Yang’s affairs.
Under the leadership of District Chief Xie, who was practically fueled by adrenaline, engineers worked day and night to complete all the blueprints—stacking up two thick piles.
After evacuating all the residents of Western District 3, Su Tao uploaded each blueprint into the system.
Thankfully, there was a “rapid construction mode.” Without it, building each structure manually would have exhausted her to death.
So, she decided to spend some extra crystal cores and let the system do the heavy lifting.
As the system activated, the ground of Western District 3 trembled continuously. Towering skyscrapers rose swiftly, piercing the sky and standing proudly alongside the sun and moon.
Wide, neatly paved roads spread out like the city’s lifeblood, connecting every corner seamlessly.
In less than ten minutes, Western District 3 transformed completely. Onlookers from afar gawked in astonishment—this scene would be etched into their memories forever.
Soon, an excited crowd surged toward the newly built district.
Anticipating the chaos, District Chief Xie had already stationed armed guards. With three loud gunshots into the air, the crowd immediately quieted down.
“Leaders from each region, control your people! As we agreed earlier, enter in an orderly manner. Anyone who dares to break the rules—well, bullets don’t have eyes!”
Despite the warning, the crowd buzzed with excitement. If not for the threat of the guns, they would have rushed in without hesitation.
Even the old commander, sitting in a car nearby, couldn’t resist stepping out. Supported by aides, he gazed at the new district, squinting to see clearly and eventually requesting binoculars.
“One floor, two floors… twenty floors. How many years has it been since Dongyang had buildings this tall?” he asked Pei Dong and Xing Shuyu beside him.
Pei Dong replied, “More than twenty years. Ever since the first apocalypse destroyed a large portion of the city, Dongyang hasn’t had skyscrapers.”
Although she had been young at the time, she still remembered the tanks firing at the city, wiping out hordes of zombies.
While the zombies were reduced significantly, the city was left in ruins.
For the past twenty years, the old commander had poured his heart and soul into rebuilding a new city from the rubble. And today, Dongyang was on the cusp of an even brighter future.
Those towering buildings stood as the strongest proof of their progress.
The old commander chuckled but soon coughed uncontrollably.
“Looks like my retirement is finally on the horizon. Haha—cough, cough—”
Xing Shuyu patted his back gently. “Grandpa, take it easy. Didn’t you always say this day would come? Why are you still getting so worked up?”
With tears welling in his eyes from the coughing fit, the old commander shook his head. “You don’t understand. You just don’t understand… Let’s head back.”
Meanwhile, Cen Tianjiao and his group also stood watching the newly completed district.
Tang Xingyan asked, “Hey, do you think once all of Dongyang is rebuilt, we’ll finally stop getting sent on missions all the time?”
Staring at the skyscrapers, Cen Tianjiao replied, “Probably. It’s about time we took a break.”
Their boss had already retired ahead of them, spending his nights living it up in Taoyang.
Tang Xingyan shook his head in disbelief. “It’s crazy. Wasn’t it just February when Boss Su only had one room to rent? And now Western District 3 is completely rebuilt.”
Zhou Hai and Zhou Yang, recalling the night Taoyang took them in, nodded in agreement.
With a wave of his hand, Cen Tianjiao said, “Come on, let’s go tell the boss the good news.”
At the medical center, Cen Tianjiao stood before a treatment chamber where Shi Zijin floated in stasis. He tapped on the glass with a satisfied smile.
“Boss, Western District 3 is fully built. You should take a walk there tonight. Stop clinging to Boss Su all the time—give her some breathing room. She’s busy enough as it is.”
As night fell, Shi Zijin’s ghostly form drifted out of the chamber. Hovering in the air, he gazed toward Western District 3.
Under the night sky, the brilliantly lit skyscrapers were indistinguishable from the pre-apocalypse cityscape.
He lingered for a moment before heading straight to Taoyang. Entering a familiar room, he found Su Tao asleep, her face resting on a table covered in blueprints.
Dark circles under her eyes betrayed countless sleepless nights, and her skin looked pale and weary.
If he hadn’t been a ghost, he would’ve carried her to bed and tucked her in himself.
Sensing his gaze, Su Tao stirred and blinked sleepily. “Hmm? You’re here?”
Yawning, she rubbed her eyes.
“With Western District 3 finished, I finally relaxed… and I guess I fell asleep. What time is it now?”
“A little after eleven—it’s still early. Let’s head to bed,” Shi Zijin suggested.
Su Tao shook her head. “I want to check out Western District 3. Come with me.”
Yawning again, she slipped on her shoes.
When they reached the living room, she was stunned to find it overflowing with wooden climbing frames and toys.
Even black sesame had slithered up to the ceiling, flicking its tail proudly as if surveying its kingdom.
Su Tao sighed, rubbing her forehead—clearly, Wen Man had been here again. At this rate, she’d have no space left in her own home.
One person and one ghost soon arrived at Western District 3. Even close to midnight, the area buzzed with excitement as residents celebrated their new homes. The cheerful atmosphere reminded Su Tao of Taoyang.
Shi Zijin silently took it all in before quietly saying, “Tao Tao… thank you.”
He had spent the first half of his life fighting to ensure the safety and stability of the people on this land. Now, that vision was finally becoming reality.
Su Tao glanced at her feet, then up at the moon.
“No need to thank me. You and the old commander protected Dongyang for the past twenty years. It’s my turn to carry on from here.”
They exchanged a glance and broke into warm smiles.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from nearby:
“Hey? Isn’t that the Su family’s little girl?”
Su Tao squinted and immediately recognized Aunt Bai, an old neighbor from the Su family’s neighborhood.
Aunt Bai, now in her fifties, had been an elementary school teacher before the apocalypse. After the schools shut down, she spent years privately tutoring children.
When Su Tao was little, she often eavesdropped on these lessons through the window. Not only did Aunt Bai never shoo her away, but she even sneaked her food on occasion.
Those years of stolen lessons laid the foundation for Su Tao’s education—without them, she might have remained illiterate.
“It’s me, Ms. Bai,” Su Tao said brightly as she jogged over.
Aunt Bai’s eyes widened in surprise. “It really is you, Xiao Tao! You’ve grown into a fine young lady—looking much healthier too. Are you back to see your parents?”
She added with a sigh, “Your dad went to Xindu with Tangdou, and your mom’s still in the hospital after a fall. Let me tell you—since you’ve found yourself a new family, don’t bother going back to that mess of a home.”
Su Tao smiled awkwardly but reassured her, “I just came to check out Western District 3.”
Aunt Bai nodded approvingly. “Good. Focus on your new life and don’t let your parents drag you down. Your husband seems like a good man—take care of yourself.”
She even gave Shi Zijin a warm nod—though, with her aging eyesight, she didn’t notice anything unusual about him.
