Chapter 355: Idle Time with Shi Zijin
Before dawn, Su Tao sleepily walked into the living room and found Shi Zijin curled up on the sofa, resting his head on his hand, watching TV with great interest.
An old historical romance drama was playing on the TV, though it was unclear from which year.
Below the sofa, Xue Dao was lying down, yawning lazily.
Black Sesame was dozing on the backrest of the sofa.
Ling Yu, with its glossy black feathers, perched on the armrest and even adjusted the TV volume under Shi Zijin’s instructions.
Even Chilli Pepper, who rarely played, was carrying her cub around the coffee table.
White Sesame, for once, wasn’t acting crazy. It simply lay nearby, flicking its tail impatiently.
The whole scene was peaceful and harmonious—except for Lin Fangzhi, who stood there in shock.
“…Major General?”
Without taking his eyes off the screen, Shi Zijin greeted casually:
“Good morning, Fangzhi.”
“…What are you doing?”
Didn’t Dongyang say Major General Shi was supposed to be recovering? Why was he here watching TV? And more importantly—did Major General Shi even watch TV?
Lin Fangzhi was utterly confused.
Shi Zijin replied without concern, “I’m just idling here.”
“…?”
Su Tao shot Shi Zijin a glare.
“Explain properly—he has to go to work soon. He’s been swamped these past few days, don’t waste his time.”
Shi Zijin suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.
“Must be tough—getting up at five to go to work. Why don’t you head out now? We can talk tonight. I’m free every evening, no rush.”
And with that, Lin Fangzhi left. If Su Tao hadn’t stopped him, he might have called the Dongyang Pioneering Army to report that someone was impersonating Major General Shi.
After Lin Fangzhi was gone, Shi Zijin asked, “Are you all that busy lately? I thought only you were constantly on the move, but even Fangzhi has to get up at five to work?”
While brushing her teeth, Su Tao replied, “It’s all to take over Dongyang faster. Fangzhi handles business affairs and is our main source of crystal core income. It’s hard work.”
Then, she suddenly changed the subject.
“You used to pull all-nighters like it was nothing. And now you think getting up at five is tough? Your mindset sure changed fast.”
Shi Zijin floated over to her side, leaning against the bathroom door with a sigh.
“You can’t understand the joy of doing nothing.”
Without a word, Su Tao kicked him, sending his form scattering into the air.
Before long, the first light of dawn crept across the horizon. Shi Zijin reformed, checked the time, and sighed.
“I have to go. See you tomorrow night. If you get the chance, find me some TV shows to watch—but only if you’re not too busy. Oh, and one more thing—tell Shen Wencheng and the others that the research on Bone Wings might be related to the illnesses it suffered when it was still human.”
With that, he disappeared in an instant. Morning light spilled through the windows, casting a soft glow over the living room.
Su Tao didn’t fully understand his words but made sure to remember them. After 9 a.m., she visited the research base and relayed the message to Shen Wencheng.
Shen Wencheng’s body jolted as if struck by inspiration.
“I think I understand!”
Without another word, he dashed toward the laboratory.
His assistant, flustered, apologized to Su Tao.
“Our professor is always like this—impulsive and obsessed with research. He got so excited he forgot to say goodbye.”
Su Tao waved it off. “It’s fine. By the way, doesn’t Dr. Shen hold any official titles? Like how Dr. Qiao is an academician?”
The assistant gave a wry smile.
“Dr. Shen’s had a tough life. He graduated from Changjing University’s bioengineering program years ago, and his genius reputation spread far and wide. But later, he was falsely accused of academic fraud. Furious, he left Changjing and eventually ended up at Hekang, where Mr. Ji recognized his talent and allowed him to continue his research.”
“We’re lucky to be working with you, Ms. Su. Dr. Shen doesn’t care much about titles or honors anymore.”
The assistant grew more passionate as he spoke.
“If we can crack the vaccine research, both Dr. Shen and Tao Yang will become true heroes of humanity. That’s the honor that really matters.”
Su Tao wasn’t entirely convinced they could find a breakthrough. After all, it had been twenty years since the apocalypse began, and despite the tireless efforts of countless scientists, no one had found a solution.
What were the odds that she’d stumble across a genius who could crack the vaccine puzzle?
Still, she appreciated their dedication. After handling her morning tasks, she spent part of the afternoon learning business management from Old Master Gu before going to see Ma Dapao about purchasing lab equipment.
To her surprise, Ma Dapao seemed hesitant and asked awkwardly:
“Boss… did you have a falling-out with Captain Song Yuebin?”
“Just spit it out.”
Ma Dapao hesitated before answering:
“He’s been trying to reach you but says you blocked him. So, he came to me, asking me to tell you that Mrs. Wen from Qian’an is on her way to Tao Yang. They’re flying in on a private jet and will arrive tomorrow morning. Captain Song hopes you’ll treat her kindly—he said it’s for the good of Tao Yang and himself. He asked you not to let personal feelings affect the bigger picture…”
After delivering the message, Ma Dapao couldn’t hold back his thoughts.
“Boss, tell me the truth—did you cut ties with him?”
Su Tao’s face darkened. “Yeah, we’re done.”
Ma Dapao slapped his thigh in excitement.
“Good! I’ve been holding this in for too long. Boss, you can’t trust Song Yuebin. He seems righteous, but when it comes to personal gain, he’ll throw anyone under the bus.”
Su Tao raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, his convoy ran into trouble recently. The other convoy leaders he knows have been helping him out. But guess what? He turned around and reported them to Minister Xu Chang, claiming they were breaking regulations. His goal? To get those convoys disqualified so his team could take their place.”
Su Tao wasn’t surprised but still felt a twinge of disappointment.
Ma Dapao shook his head.
“Most of those convoys did nothing wrong—or if they did, it was minor stuff. And these are the same people who loaned him money, supplies, and even used their connections to help him. And this is how he repays them?”
“I didn’t say anything before because I didn’t want to seem like I was stirring up trouble. But I couldn’t stay quiet any longer.”
Su Tao remained silent.
She realized Song Yuebin had a two-pronged plan: first, to use the little Flame to gain favor with Qian’an. If that failed, he’d resort to false accusations to eliminate his competition.
He probably worried she’d refuse to sell the little Flame and might even offend Mrs. Wen outright.
Oddly, Su Tao wasn’t angry anymore. She finally accepted that she and Song Yuebin were never truly on the same path. In the apocalypse, the idea of friendship was nothing more than a joke.
She patted Ma Dapao on the shoulder.
“From now on, just speak your mind. You think I’d trust an outsider over my own people?”
