What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms

Chapter 328: Enjoy Life While You Can

Unexpectedly, within two minutes, the violent noise outside the monitoring room died down entirely.

The black market syndicates had hidden like rats in the bunker for months, never showing their faces. But the moment they thought they had an opening, they couldn’t hold themselves back. And now, they were dealt with.

Once the silence settled, Pei Xiqing turned her attention back to the comms unit, intending to check on Zhang Tian’s status.

Before she could even say a few words, she was suddenly scooped up into Duan Xiaolin’s arms.

“Wait a minute, Sister Tian still needs to tell me—”

He carried her effortlessly and set her down on the edge of the large desk facing the hallway. Through the transparent glass of the monitoring room, the occasional resident passing by could easily see them.

While the base’s population had dwindled significantly, there were still people around.

She placed a palm lightly against his chest. “What are you doing? Why are you suddenly acting so clingy? Is there something you want to say?”

Duan Xiaolin gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her chest. “Let’s just wait until Zhang Tian’s convoy safely reaches the new base. Then, we can finally settle down.”

Pei Xiqing smiled, thinking he was just feeling overly cautious. “Isn’t it peaceful enough right now? Honestly, I don’t really want to go out to the surface anyway, and you need to stay here to guard the access tunnels to the underground black market. As long as we stay down here, we’ll always have peace and quiet.”

Duan Xiaolin lowered his head, and for a moment, she thought she heard him sigh softly.

She must have misheard.

Tilting her head, she pressed her cheek against his neck. “What’s the matter?”

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was weighing heavily on his mind.

Ever since she became pregnant, he had been almost obsessively strict about her health. He didn’t seem particularly interested in the child itself, but he personally supervised her sleep schedule, her meals, and her nutritional supplements. He insisted on regular physical examinations, constantly ran tests for the X-antibody, and repeatedly cross-referenced her vitals with Qiu Chao.

They say women are more prone to anxiety and depression during pregnancy, but in their relationship, Duan Xiaolin seemed to be the anxious one.

She ate and slept as comfortably as she had in her youth. Isolated from the grueling outside world and the constant political intrigue of the larger factions, her life was incredibly comfortable. Especially with Ma Mengxiang cooking for her every day, the food was fantastic.

Over the past few months, the remaining leadership in the base had been completely incompetent. If Duan Xiaolin hadn’t constantly stepped in to maintain the internal balance, the base would have fallen apart long ago.

On top of that, the new Franlun base was far away. Every day, endless reports and urgent matters were transmitted to him via encrypted signals, waiting for his final approval. Separated from headquarters and its strict infrastructure, the burden of responsibility on his shoulders had grown immensely.

Yet, because she was pregnant, he had given up ninety percent of his own opportunities to go outside, choosing instead to stay where she could always see him.

Keenly sensing his troubled mood, Pei Xiqing leaned in and comforted him softly. “Brother Duan, no matter what happens, we will bear it together—and that includes the baby. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”

“When you’re raising a child, there is no motivation without pressure,” he replied quietly.

“Are you under too much pressure, or are you just lacking motivation?” she teased gently.

“There is immense pressure, but there is also boundless motivation,” he said, looking at her. “And it’s all because of you.”

“Did the old headquarters try to contact you again? What’s the situation over there?”

“Two-thirds of their population has already been infected by the new parasites. The place is essentially a dead city.”

“Ah…” Pei Xiqing sighed. The base leaders here should have realized the truth the moment they received that highly suspicious broadcast.

If the old headquarters hadn’t already fallen to the parasites, how could they have possibly allowed such a critical communication to be handled by an infected operator?

Or perhaps the new strain of parasites was simply too cunning. They had managed to sneak under the noses of the elite forces, fish in troubled waters, pass themselves off as human, and infiltrate the communications department without being discovered. That was the best-case scenario.

The worst-case scenario—and the highly probable reality—was that the old headquarters had been completely decimated. The parasites had swarmed the populace, invading their brains and puppeteering their bodies. A horrific tragedy had occurred, leaving few, if any, human survivors in the communications department—or the entire base.

“So, they’re broadcasting a desperate cry for help, and they want you to come save them?”

“Yes.”

“Could you please just… leave them alone?”

This was the first time Pei Xiqing had ever felt so impulsively spiteful. She genuinely hated the arrogant elites who had abandoned everyone else, and she didn’t want Duan Xiaolin risking his life for them.

“Okay,” he answered without hesitation.

Pei Xiqing poked his chest in surprise. “Are you serious? Can you really just ignore a distress call like that?”

“I never had any intention of caring about them from the moment I arrived here.”

“Hmm?”

“Whenever you decide you want to leave, we’ll go directly to the new Franlun base. Nowhere else.”

“Then…”

Before she could finish her sentence, the comms console behind them suddenly lit up, chiming frantically as over a dozen urgent encrypted calls flooded in simultaneously.

It seemed the old headquarters was truly desperate.

Duan Xiaolin didn’t just ignore the console; he reached over and calmly yanked the primary signal receiver right out of the equipment.

The small metal component clattered onto the desk beside her. Pei Xiqing picked up the small triangular chip, glancing at its blinking indicator light. “Brother Duan, it must be someone from the old headquarters trying to force a connection.”

“I know.”

“They’re only coming to you now because they’re desperate. How could they not have foreseen this happening when they cowardly fled and abandoned everyone else? They didn’t say a single word when they left Franlun and thousands of vulnerable civilians to fend for themselves.”

She scoffed coldly and tossed the metal chip into the trash bin.

Let them beg. They would receive no help from here.

The only sound left in the monitoring room was the quiet humming of the remaining instruments.

Pei Xiqing suddenly leaned in closer, wrapping her arms around him. “Brother Duan, whatever happens at that old headquarters isn’t worth you worrying about. From now on, just live for me and the baby.”

She looked up at his deep, intense eyes. “Actually, why don’t we just leave? Let’s go to a place where no one knows us, away from the factions, away from the wars, while it’s still early.”

Duan Xiaolin looked at her, his expression softening. “I agree.”

She stared silently at his handsome face, her heart aching with a profound, overwhelming love for him. Unable to resist, she lifted her head and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the corner of his lips.

Sensing the depth of her emotion, Duan Xiaolin pulled her flush against him. One hand cupped the back of her head, and he returned the kiss fiercely, claiming her lips with a desperate, crushing intensity.

It felt like a brand—a mark meant to last a lifetime.

“I am always willing to run away with you,” he murmured against her lips.

In the end, staying at the underground base remained the most logical choice. The natural disasters on the surface were still raging, so Pei Xiqing and Duan Xiaolin’s “escape” plan had to be postponed.

Time bled away like ink dropped in water, spreading quickly and quietly.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

As her pregnancy advanced, Pei Xiqing found herself feeling increasingly lethargic and uncomfortable. She spent most of her days lounging indoors, entirely too lazy to go out.

If Ma Mengxiang hadn’t come up with new tricks every day to motivate her, she wouldn’t have bothered moving at all.

Ma Mengxiang tugged excitedly at her arm. “Come on, come on! You have to come with me to see the new seeds I planted! They’ve already bloomed! They look absolutely beautiful!”

Pei Xiqing let the younger girl pull her up. “Alright, alright, I’m coming.”

“But please walk slowly! I don’t want you to trip. I’m just excited, I won’t make you walk fast, I promise.”

“I know,” Pei Xiqing smiled. “Hurry up and lead the way.”

Ma Mengxiang led her through the winding corridors of the base, twisting and turning through several different sectors.

After walking for almost an hour, she still claimed they hadn’t arrived yet.

Pei Xiqing eventually caught on. She stopped walking and crossed her arms. “What about those flowers? Could it be that they magically withered because we were a little late?”

Ma Mengxiang scratched her head guiltily. “Hahaha… I’ve been looking for them too, but I think I got a little lost! I might have remembered the location wrong. Let’s just go check the next street over; I’m pretty sure they’re over there!”

She tried to pull Pei Xiqing forward again.

Pei Xiqing gently pulled her hand free. “You didn’t make this whole thing up on purpose, did you?”

“How is that possible?! I really did plant flowers, and they really can bloom down here in the bunker! They don’t even need sunlight!”

“Really?”

“Really!”

Pei Xiqing just stared at her silently for a few seconds.

Ma Mengxiang’s resolve crumbled instantly.

“Okay, okay, fine! I admit I made it up just to get you out for a walk!” she confessed in a rush. “It’s because you haven’t been moving around at all lately! Whenever I ask you to come out, you refuse. Even if you’re pregnant, you still need to get some light exercise from time to time to stay healthy. I was just worried about you, please don’t be mad!”

Pei Xiqing took her hand gently. “I’m not mad, Mengxiang. I don’t blame you at all.” She smiled softly. “Honestly, it has been a while since I’ve been out for a proper walk. Let’s keep going for a bit.”

Relieved, Ma Mengxiang beamed and hugged her arm. “Okay! Brother Duan told me that as long as you move around a little every day, your stamina will improve. When the time comes, the delivery will be much smoother, and you won’t have to suffer as much.”

“Why did he tell you all that? He should just tell me himself.”

Ma Mengxiang chuckled. “You were annoyed with Brother Duan this morning, and he didn’t dare upset you further by nagging you to exercise. So he went to Brother Yingzi for help, and Brother Yingzi told me while we were cooking.”

Pei Xiqing curled her lips in amusement.

They continued their walk for another ten minutes, eventually arriving at the large sector Ma Mengxiang had converted into an underground vegetable garden.

Without natural sunlight, most of the vegetables looked a little wilted and pale, unable to photosynthesize properly. The stalks staggered weakly, lacking vibrant energy. There was certainly no sign of anything blooming. As long as the crops survived and produced edible yields, it was considered a massive success.

Pei Xiqing looked over the garden for a while. Just as she was about to suggest heading back, a tiny flash of color in her peripheral vision instantly caught her eye.

She quickly turned her head, looking closer.

Ma Mengxiang noticed it at the exact same moment. She froze in front of a tiny, pale lavender flower, staring at it in absolute shock for a long time before frantically pointing at it. “You! Look! There really is a flower!”

Pei Xiqing nodded in awe.

“Oh my god! I never thought it would actually manage to bloom down here! How is this even possible?!”

Pei Xiqing stared quietly at the miraculous little blossom.

“It must have gone through untold hardships just to sprout,” Ma Mengxiang said, her voice trembling with excitement. “It wasn’t easy for it. I have to take extra special care of this flower! I absolutely won’t let it wither away!”

“Alright, I’ll leave that important task to you.”

Pei Xiqing leaned against the rough stone wall, looking around the dim cavern with a soft smile.

It was incredibly rare to witness such a miracle in the dark. A fragile flower blooming in a cave carved out of solid rock, completely deprived of sunlight.

Did this mean that the apocalyptic natural disasters were finally nearing their end?

Over the next few weeks, Ma Mengxiang meticulously tended to the delicate plant every single day. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, the flower withered after only half a month.

When she reported the news to Pei Xiqing, her face was crestfallen.

Pei Xiqing handed her a handful of roasted melon seeds. “Don’t be sad. At least now we know that life can still bloom in a place like this. That means there is hope.”

“You’re right.” Ma Mengxiang munched on the seeds, her energy instantly returning. “I just need to continue my research and adjust the soil! I’m going to fill this entire cavern with fresh lilies! Let’s see who dares to say it’s impossible then!”

“I fully support you,” Pei Xiqing encouraged her. “If you need any special equipment or supplies, just talk to Brother Duan.”

“Of course! I’ll tell you what I need first, and then you can tell him. I don’t dare go to him directly. He’s way too scary.”

Pei Xiqing was highly amused by the girl’s dramatic shudder.

After resting in her chair for a while longer, she turned her head to look at Ma Mengxiang. “Mengxiang… I want to go up to the surface to take a look.”

Ma Mengxiang thought she had misheard. “What? You want to go up there? It’s incredibly dangerous outside right now! If you go out, I won’t be able to protect you!”

“It’ll be fine. We’ll just ask Brother Yingzi to come with us. Hasn’t he been secretly following us this entire time anyway?”

“…How did you know?!”

“You keep glancing over your shoulder every five minutes,” Pei Xiqing teased. “How could I not notice?”

Ma Mengxiang let out an awkward, dry laugh.

“Have you two reconciled recently?”

Ma Mengxiang got a little flustered and quickly waved her hands. “What do you mean ‘reconciled’? It’s not like we argue every single day!”

“Oh, so there wasn’t a fight. It seems I was overthinking things. I thought you two were still acting like you did before, constantly bickering and avoiding each other.”

“Oh, Xiqing, stop! He’ll be here any second, so please don’t say anything embarrassing!”

“Okay, okay.”

Pei Xiqing sat quietly for a moment before Shadow silently emerged from the corridor.

“You want to go up to the surface?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then you must be extremely careful,” Shadow advised. “I’ll notify Brother Duan immediately.”

“I’m just going to take a quick look. I won’t wander off.”

“It’s still better to inform Brother Duan.”

“Alright,” Pei Xiqing agreed, slowly pulling on a thick winter coat. “I’ll wait for him.”

A few minutes later, Shadow relayed the message. “Brother Duan says he will be here shortly.”

Sure enough, after a brief wait, Duan Xiaolin pushed open the door and strode into the room.

“You want to go outside?” he asked softly.

“I just want to see it.”

“Alright.” Duan Xiaolin took her hand, then glanced back at the other two. “You two head back.”

Shadow and Ma Mengxiang exchanged a quick look before nodding in unison and retreating down the hall.

Pei Xiqing had only taken two steps toward the exit when Duan Xiaolin effortlessly scooped her up into his arms.

“Why the sudden urge to go up to the surface?” he asked as he carried her.

“Didn’t Mengxiang find that lily blooming down here a few days ago?” Pei Xiqing leaned against his chest, whispering softly. “I just wanted to go up and see if there were any blooming outside yet.”

“There will be eventually.”

“I want to see it with my own eyes.”

“Okay.”

Duan Xiaolin carried her into the base’s heavy industrial elevator.

The machinery hummed to life, rising rapidly toward the surface. In just a few seconds, they approached ground level.

Even before the doors opened, Pei Xiqing could feel the biting cold seeping through the metal.

When the heavy blast doors finally slid apart, the frigid air that hit her face was so intense it felt like it could freeze her solid in an instant.

Through the crack in the outer security gate, Pei Xiqing saw violent flurries of snow drifting inward.

She gripped the sleeve of his coat tightly. “Let’s go out a little further. I want to see the sky.”

Duan Xiaolin grabbed a heavy thermal cloak from the checkpoint and wrapped it securely around her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

As the massive outer gates of the bunker slowly groaned open, the howling wind and freezing air rushed in. She raised a hand to shield her face from the blinding snow. After a few seconds, she adjusted to the glare and looked out.

The world outside was a vast, endless expanse of white. An apocalyptic blizzard was still raging.

Thick snowflakes drifted through the air. A few landed gently on her outstretched palm, the freezing temperature keeping them from melting immediately.

Duan Xiaolin reached out and enveloped her cool hand in his warm one.

Pei Xiqing took a step forward, walking out of the bunker’s threshold.

The apocalyptic wasteland was still shrouded in gloom. The sky above was a heavy, oppressive gray, and the relentless, howling winds and heavy snow buried everything in sight.

Pei Xiqing stepped into the deep snow, the fresh powder crunching loudly beneath her boots. Despite the bleak landscape, her eyes curved into a bright, breathtaking smile.

“Brother Duan, we forgot to bring an umbrella.”

Duan Xiaolin pulled the thick hood of her cloak up over her head and gently rubbed her cold, snowy cheeks. “This is enough. I will block the rest of the wind and snow for you.”

Pei Xiqing took two more steps into the blizzard, turning back to grip his hand tightly.

“Even in the middle of a natural disaster… even if the world really is about to be destroyed… we have to enjoy our lives while we still can.”

She stood on her tiptoes, leaning into the howling wind, and whispered softly, “Brother Duan… I love you.”

Chapter 329: I’ll Wait for You

Duan Xiaolin produced a portable lamp. In the pitch-black night of the apocalyptic wasteland, its glow was like a guiding beacon, cutting sharply through the gloom.

Pei Xiqing took it, staring at the small, yellow light in her palm that radiated enough heat to push back the biting cold.

The man wrapped his large hand tightly over hers, completely enveloping her palm to keep the heat trapped against her skin. “What did you just say?”

Pei Xiqing tilted her head back. The fierce wind and snow ruffled the few strands of hair escaping her hood. “Didn’t you hear me?”

“I didn’t hear it. The wind and snow were too loud.”

Pei Xiqing pushed him lightly and started walking forward. “Then just forget what I said. Those who wanted to hear it heard it themselves.”

A deep, rumbling laugh poured from his lips. His sharp brows softened, adorned with an incredibly doting, tender smile.

“Brother Duan!”

Pei Xiqing’s affection for him bubbled over.

A snowball suddenly smacked him squarely in the chest.

Duan Xiaolin dodged the next one by simply turning his head. “Slow down.”

Pei Xiqing threw several more, but completely failed to hit him. Exasperated, she shouted, “Stand still!”

Duan Xiaolin stopped in his tracks, dutifully letting her hit him a few times. Seeing her bright, crescent-moon smile as she frantically packed new snowballs, he raised his eyebrows helplessly. He stepped forward, sweeping her into his arms and trapping her hands against his chest. “I heard it.”

“What did you hear?”

“What you said just now.”

“Oh, so you only just heard it? Did the speed of sound suddenly slow down in your ears? Well, it’s too late! This is your punishment for ignoring me!”

As she spoke, Pei Xiqing playfully slapped her freezing, snow-covered hands directly onto his warm cheeks.

Duan Xiaolin didn’t pull away. He gently caught her wrists, pressing her cold palms tighter against his face to transfer his body heat to her freezing skin. “Wait until the child is born. Once it’s safe, we will leave everything behind and go.”

“Where are we going?”

“Wherever you want to go.”

Pei Xiqing leaned in closer, having to raise her voice slightly over the howling wind. “Do you prefer boys or girls?”

“I prefer you.”

Pei Xiqing flushed, suddenly feeling incredibly bashful. “I’m talking about our child! Why are you suddenly saying things like that…”

“Weren’t you just doing the exact same thing?”

Pei Xiqing almost dropped the lamp in her fluster.

“I just figured… the end of the world is already here. Whether it’s a natural disaster or the virus that finally gets us, I have to be bold enough to say and do whatever I want.”

She held the lamp steady and pressed herself closer to him. “It’s cold. It’s really cold out here.”

Duan Xiaolin picked her up effortlessly, cradling her securely in his arms and letting her lean against his chest to share his warmth. “Let’s go back.”

“Hmm… okay.”

Held safely in his embrace, surrounded by his heat and the endless warmth of his steady heartbeat, Pei Xiqing clutched the small lamp tightly.

If humanity was forced to live in constant despair and absolute isolation during these endless natural disasters, people would inevitably develop severe psychological trauma.

Pei Xiqing was no exception.

Initially, she hadn’t worried much. But as her pregnancy advanced, a quiet, pervasive anxiety had begun to gnaw at her. Getting out of the dark, claustrophobic bunker and seeing the sky—even a stormy, apocalyptic one—had finally lifted that heavy weight from her shoulders. She felt immensely better.

Carried all the way back down into the underground base, she was so relaxed she nearly fell asleep on his shoulder.

In her drowsy state, she was vaguely aware of Duan Xiaolin carefully checking her vitals and examining her stomach. She shifted comfortably, pulling the thick quilt up to her chin and ignoring his meticulous fussing. Half-asleep, she distantly heard Qiu Chao’s voice crackling through the communicator on the nightstand.

As for what they were discussing, she simply didn’t have the energy left to care.

Having a child in this world was an incredibly terrifying, high-risk endeavor for Pei Xiqing.

Her current physical condition was far from suitable for carrying a pregnancy. As a former host of the most lethal strain of the mutant zombie virus, she was terrified that the dormant viral remnants or the mysterious “Substance X” in her system might somehow affect the developing child.

Driven by this anxiety, she had obsessively researched the topic and repeatedly consulted Qiu Chao and the medical researchers at Long Yan’s division.

Their final, collective diagnosis was cautiously optimistic: while there might be some minor residual impact, given how thoroughly Substance X had rewritten her cellular structure, the developing fetus should not suffer any severe or life-threatening mutations.

“Then I can finally feel relieved,” she had sighed.

When Pei Xiqing finally settled down to sleep, she noticed a small, velvet-lined box resting next to her pillow.

Opening it, she saw five flawless, high-grade crystal cores neatly arranged inside.

She stared at them, stunned.

From the comms device, Long Yan’s voice continued, “What about you, Xiqing? How have you been feeling lately? Any unusual symptoms? Generally speaking, if the viral remnants or the core energy begins affecting the child, the mother should experience distinct physiological warnings or heightened awareness.”

“Hmm? Why did you suddenly go quiet?” Long Yan asked. “Did you fall asleep?”

Pei Xiqing snapped out of her daze. “I’m not asleep. I just… I just noticed something.”

“If you aren’t feeling any unusual symptoms or severe discomfort, then the likelihood of the virus impacting the child is relatively small,” Long Yan reassured her.

“Okay. I’m feeling fine right now.”

“That’s good,” Long Yan said. “Contact me immediately if you need anything.”

“I will…”

Pei Xiqing didn’t even realize when the connection was cut. Her entire focus was locked onto the five crystal cores.

From the sheer purity of their color and luster, anyone could tell at a glance that these were ultra-rare, top-tier mutant cores. Aside from the original cores Xiao Yue had possessed, she hadn’t seen a single crystal of this quality since the apocalypse escalated.

She could only imagine the horrific, life-threatening battles required to harvest something like this.

And yet, they had suddenly appeared under her pillow. Pei Xiqing picked up the box, lifting it to the light to examine the glowing stones for a long time.

Suddenly, a violent tremor ripped through the base.

She quickly sat up. “Mengxiang?!”

Ma Mengxiang rushed out of the kitchen in a panic. “What’s wrong?! Are you hurting somewhere?!”

“No, I’m fine. Why is the base shaking again? That one felt incredibly strong.”

“I don’t know!” Ma Mengxiang cried. “I was just boiling water, and the pot was nearly shaken right off the stove! Wait here, I’ll go out to the main corridor and see what’s going on!”

She sprinted toward the door.

A moment later, she returned, looking completely panicked. “Brother Yingzi won’t let me leave our sector! He’s blocking the hallway! I have no idea what’s happening outside!”

Pei Xiqing lay back down, trying to steady her breathing. “The tremor was intense, but the structure seems to be holding for now. If Shadow is explicitly keeping us here, it means it’s not safe out there. Let’s just wait patiently.”

“Then… then I guess I’ll just go back to cooking,” Ma Mengxiang stammered nervously.

“Thank you, Mengxiang.”

“It’s nothing. Honestly, if I wasn’t busy cooking or doing chores every day, I’d probably go crazy from the anxiety.”

Pei Xiqing lay quietly on the bed, staring down at the box of crystal cores in her hands. The more she looked at them, the more she felt that something about their origin was wrong. She couldn’t quite articulate it, but a deep sense of unease settled in her gut.

She didn’t dare use them. She quietly placed the box back exactly where she had found it.

She knew Brother Duan had left them there for her to absorb, hoping to stabilize her deteriorating condition, but she simply didn’t want to use them right now. Every time she absorbed the energy from a core, an overwhelming wave of guilt and unease washed over her.

Especially now, knowing the horrific physical toll Duan Xiaolin paid whenever he was forced to use his supernatural abilities to harvest them.

Looking at the glowing stones, she felt a profound mix of love and self-loathing.

Eventually, she closed her eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep. When she woke up, only Ma Mengxiang was by her side.

The younger girl had pulled a small stool close to the bed and was quietly, methodically sorting through a handful of unfamiliar, wilted vegetables.

Seeing Pei Xiqing stir, Ma Mengxiang leaned in and whispered anxiously, “It’s been shaking outside this entire time. While you were asleep, the base trembled more than ten times. That’s more seismic activity in a few hours than we’ve had in a whole month!”

“Is that why you moved your stool in here?”

“Uh-huh.”

Pei Xiqing reached out and gently touched her damp cheek. “You’re sweating so much. Are you that scared?”

Ma Mengxiang hitched her stool a little closer to the bed. “Just a little bit… okay, maybe a lot.”

Pei Xiqing smiled softly. “It’s okay. I’m right here with you.”

Ma Mengxiang had never experienced anything like this. It felt as though the world outside the bunker was actively tearing itself apart. Before, even though the base was dark and claustrophobic, it had been packed with people. The constant hustle and noisy chatter had made it easy to ignore the encroaching terror. Now, the base was practically a ghost town. The few remaining residents were scattered across vast, empty sectors. Every time she looked down a silent, pitch-black alleyway, her imagination ran wild with terrifying possibilities.

She leaned closer to the bed. “As long as you’re here, I’ll stay right by your side.”

“Where is Brother Duan?”

“In the kitchen,” Ma Mengxiang said. “He’s making a special black-bone chicken soup for you. He said it’s highly nourishing. After he’s done, I’ll stay here to keep you company.”

Pei Xiqing smiled.

About half an hour passed. She slowly got out of bed, took a quick, careful shower, and then lounged comfortably on the sofa to wait for dinner.

While the world outside was a frozen hellscape, her little duplex was a haven of luxury. Every necessity she possessed was of the highest quality—even the nightgown she wore was spun from incredibly soft, rich silk. She towel-dried her hair, realizing how long it had gotten. It used to be relatively thin, but since becoming pregnant, it had grown thick and unruly, making it a bit troublesome to manage.

Her belly was noticeably rounded now. In another month or two, she might even have difficulty walking unassisted, let alone bathing by herself.

Recently, Duan Xiaolin had insisted on carrying her into the bathroom and practically bathing her himself. She was perfectly capable of doing it on her own, but he was so overwhelmingly anxious about her slipping that he refused to let her out of his sight.

A few minutes later, the base groaned as another tremor rolled through the rock. Pei Xiqing was trying to read a magazine with Ma Mengxiang when Duan Xiaolin emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming ceramic pot.

A rich, savory aroma instantly filled the room.

Pei Xiqing’s mouth began to water immediately. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was.

“It smells amazing! Brother Duan, your cooking skills have improved again!”

Ma Mengxiang quickly grabbed a set of bowls and chopsticks, waving excitedly toward the hallway. “Brother Yingzi! Come in and eat! Super delicious chicken soup!”

Duan Xiaolin poured half a bowl of the rich broth and handed it to Pei Xiqing. “Try it.”

Pei Xiqing blew on the steaming liquid and took a careful sip. “It’s incredible! Honestly, if it wasn’t packed with so many bitter medicinal herbs, it would be absolutely perfect.”

Duan Xiaolin gently pinched her soft cheek. “Drink all of it. This entire pot is for you.”

He then turned toward the kitchen, calling out to Ma Mengxiang. “There’s still half a pot of regular stew left on the stove. You and Shadow can have that.”

Pei Xiqing wailed dramatically. “It’s so bitter! It’s practically medicine!”

Duan Xiaolin pulled out a chair and sat down right next to her, crossing his arms like a strict supervisor. “I know it’s bitter, but you have to drink it. I’ll sit right here with you until you finish.”

To prove his solidarity, he grabbed a spare bowl and poured himself a massive serving of the bitter, herb-laced chicken soup, drinking it without flinching.

Pei Xiqing sighed in defeat. If he was going to suffer through it with her, she had no excuse to refuse.

After dinner, Ma Mengxiang and Shadow left to patrol their designated sector. Pei Xiqing was relaxing in her chair, flipping through her magazine, when Duan Xiaolin suddenly spoke.

“Do not leave this duplex under any circumstances for the foreseeable future.”

Pei Xiqing looked up, alarmed. “Hmm? What do you mean?”

Being forbidden to leave the room meant something catastrophic had happened outside.

“The natural disasters on the surface have escalated significantly. The situation is drastically worse than before.”

“Are you planning to go to the Franlun base to help them coordinate?”

“I’ll leave in the evenings and return the following morning.”

“You’re working yourself to the bone,” Pei Xiqing protested gently. “If you don’t have the time, don’t force yourself to rush back every single day! I can manage things here by myself. Besides, Mengxiang and the others are here to help me. Please don’t exhaust yourself trying to make that dangerous commute.”

“I will come back every single day,” he stated with absolute finality. “Otherwise, I won’t be able to focus. I need to know you’re safe.”

“Then you must be incredibly careful,” Pei Xiqing pleaded, her heart aching for him. “Why do you have to toss yourself back and forth through those blizzards? Maybe… maybe I should just go to the new base with you.”

“No. It is significantly safer for you down here.”

Pei Xiqing sighed softly. “Alright.”

If she insisted on going with him now, her pregnant, weakened state would only become a massive liability and a distraction for the Franlun operatives. If it had been before the pregnancy, she would have fought by his side. But now, she would only cause trouble wherever she went. It was better for everyone if she stayed safely hidden in the bunker.

Duan Xiaolin stood up to clear the dishes, but before he could step away, Pei Xiqing grabbed his sleeve.

She looked up at him, her eyes fierce. “You must be careful when you go out there. Even though I know you’ll always come back to me, you cannot take unnecessary risks! If I see a single new injury on your body when you return, you are doomed. Do you understand me?”

Duan Xiaolin was pulled off balance by her surprisingly strong grip. Having no other choice, he simply scooped her up—blanket and all—into his arms.

“You’ll see me right here when you wake up.”

“You’re lying.”

“I am entirely serious.”

He carried her toward the bedroom.

Cramped tightly together in the small space, they could hear the steady rhythm of each other’s heartbeats.

She wrapped her arms securely around his neck.

After a long, quiet moment, she whispered into the darkness.

“Then I’ll wait for you.”

The days bled into weeks.

The situation on the surface was truly apocalyptic. Even sealed deep within the underground bunker, Pei Xiqing could feel the relentless, terrifying vibrations of the howling winds tearing across the earth above.

But true to his word, almost every time she woke up, Duan Xiaolin was there.

He had kept his promise.

But with every return, the dark circles under his eyes deepened, and the sheer exhaustion etched into his handsome face became harder to hide.

Pei Xiqing leaned against her pillows, gently tracing the tense lines of his brow with her fingertips as he rested beside her.

“Go to sleep,” he whispered blindly, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm.

In the blink of an eye, her due date arrived.

Pei Xiqing remained surprisingly calm, but Ma Mengxiang was practically vibrating with sheer, uncontrolled panic. The younger girl had been pacing frantically back and forth in front of her for seven or eight consecutive days.

Pei Xiqing rested her chin in her hand, leaning heavily against the makeshift table in the underground vegetable garden. Her face was still pretty and delicate, but her belly was now massively round, making her look exhausted and utterly listless.

“Mengxiang, please stop pacing,” she groaned. “Just turn around and eat something. Don’t you care about all these vegetables you grew?”

Ma Mengxiang clasped her hands nervously behind her back. “The vegetables don’t matter right now! I’m just terrified about you going into labor! Do you have any idea how awful it is? When I was younger, several women in the village gave birth. Even just hearing the screams from the doorway made my scalp go numb! It sounded like someone was being ripped in half without anesthesia!”

“Maybe you’ll get to experience it for yourself one day.”

“I will not! I can’t even find a boyfriend! Isn’t it a bit too early to be threatening me with childbirth?!”

“Who says you can’t find a boyfriend?” Pei Xiqing teased weakly. “Isn’t there a perfectly ready-made one standing right over there?”

Ma Mengxiang glanced toward the entrance of the garden, where a tall, broad-shouldered man stood as still and unyielding as a pine tree. She curled her lip defensively. “Forget it.”

Shadow, standing guard at the door, possessed enhanced hearing. Catching every word of the conversation, he subconsciously rubbed his nose beneath his mask, shifting awkwardly.

Pei Xiqing smiled.

“You better focus on taking care of your garden,” Pei Xiqing reminded her. “If you don’t till the soil soon, it’ll harden, and you won’t be able to grow your next batch of greens.”

“I’ll have it done in a flash. It’s simple work,” Ma Mengxiang said, grabbing her heavy hoe.

She swung the tool expertly, breaking up the tough, rocky soil with dozens of rapid, powerful strikes.

Watching her work, Pei Xiqing suddenly gasped, her hands flying to her stomach. She frowned deeply as a sharp, agonizing cramp ripped through her abdomen.

She had been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks, and Duan Xiaolin had always been there to massage her lower back and ease the discomfort. But right now, Duan Xiaolin was on the surface, and this pain felt entirely different. It was violent, sharp, and unmistakably urgent.

“Mengxiang!” she cried out.

Ma Mengxiang dropped the hoe and sprinted over in a blind panic. “What’s wrong?! Are you going into labor?!”

Pei Xiqing’s face drained of all color, and a sheen of cold sweat broke out across her forehead. “It’s… it’s possible…”

She wasn’t entirely sure, but the agony was escalating at a terrifying speed. It was unbearable. The pain was so intense it made her want to die—it felt ten thousand times worse than the agony of the zombie virus mutating her cells.

Just as Ma Mengxiang reached out to help her stand, she looked down and saw a sudden rush of fluid and blood soaking the hem of Pei Xiqing’s skirt.

“Oh my god! Your water broke!” Ma Mengxiang shrieked hysterically. “Brother Yingzi! Come here! Hurry!”

Shadow moved like a blur, appearing at their side instantly. He tapped his comms unit, his voice perfectly calm despite the crisis. “Commander Long Yan. Medical emergency. The baby is coming. Get here immediately.”

Without hesitation, he scooped Pei Xiqing up into his arms and sprinted toward the medical wing they had prepared for this exact moment.

Chapter 330: Can’t Let Go

About ten minutes later, Duan Xiaolin rushed back down the corridor, carrying with him a gust of biting cold wind and the scent of apocalyptic snow.

Long Yan had already completed a rigorous full-body disinfection and was waiting inside the sterile operating room. Shortly after, Zhang Tian and Ji Yao arrived in record time, carrying a highly advanced, professional-grade medical kit.

Qiu Chao, stationed remotely at the new base, was in charge of continuous data monitoring. Through the advanced biometrics connected to Pei Xiqing, he could visually track every microscopic fluctuation in her body. He would notify the team immediately if even the slightest anomaly occurred.

Outside the heavy steel doors of the medical wing, only Ma Mengxiang and Shadow remained.

Ma Mengxiang stood on her tiptoes, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening through the narrow reinforced window. In her frantic movements, she accidentally bumped into the silent operative beside her.

Shadow lowered his head. “Brother Duan is here.”

Ma Mengxiang quickly turned around. But before she could even clearly see his face, she shivered violently from the sheer cold radiating off him.

The temperature outside must have been unimaginably brutal for Duan Xiaolin to drag such a freezing aura all the way down into the underground base.

The door to the operating room opened slightly. Ji Yao, clad in sterile scrubs and a mask, stood in the threshold. “Brother Duan, please wait patiently outside.”

Duan Xiaolin stopped in his tracks. “Is everything okay?”

“Her vitals are good. Because we got her in promptly, her condition is stable. The fetal position is correct, and she is fully conscious.”

“I’m going in,” he stated, stepping forward.

Ji Yao firmly shook her head, blocking his path. “Brother Duan, you cannot enter without undergoing a full-body decontamination protocol. You just came back from the surface, meaning your clothes and skin are carrying an unknown number of viral contaminants. If you enter the sterile field right now, at best, you risk infecting her immune system. At worst, the contamination could trigger a massive viral backlash, causing her to hemorrhage uncontrollably.”

There were even more reasons why he couldn’t be allowed inside. The most prominent one being that Pei Xiqing herself had explicitly requested he be kept out. She was terrified that if she saw his face while enduring the agony of labor, she would lose control of her own emotions and panic.

The man stood frozen at the door, silent for a long, heavy moment. “Tell me immediately if anything goes wrong.”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Ji Yao assured him softly. “Everything is completely stable right now, and none of us want anything to happen to her either.”

With that, she pulled the heavy steel door shut.

Duan Xiaolin remained standing perfectly still in front of the closed doors. His figure was tall and impossibly straight, but his entire body was radiating a silent, terrifying tension.

He simply stood there, refusing to move an inch.

Ma Mengxiang and Shadow stood a short distance behind him, practically holding their breath so as not to disturb the suffocatingly heavy atmosphere.

As the hours ticked by, the wait felt agonizing. Ma Mengxiang’s nerves were stretched to their absolute limit. Every time she heard Pei Xiqing’s muffled, unbearable groans of pain echoing through the thick steel doors, her heart clenched painfully in her chest.

At some point, she realized she was gripping Shadow’s hand like a lifeline. She had squeezed so hard that the back of his hand was covered in red, half-moon marks from her fingernails.

Ma Mengxiang instantly let go, stepping back with a burning flush of embarrassment.

Shadow rubbed his hand silently. Because of his tactical mask, she couldn’t read his expression at all.

The two of them exchanged a quiet, awkward glance.

The silence hung heavy in the air. Time dragged on, making every passing second feel like pure torture.

Three hours, seventeen minutes, and thirty-nine seconds later.

The doors to the operating room finally slid open.

Long Yan walked out, sweating profusely, her sterile scrubs inevitably stained with blood. She pulled off her surgical mask and cap, letting out a massive, shaky breath before breaking into a wide, relieved laugh. “The mother and child are safe! Everything went perfectly.”

Ma Mengxiang was stunned for half a second before she exploded into action. She jumped up and threw her arms around Shadow in a desperate, bone-crushing hug.

“That’s wonderful! AAAAAAAAH!”

Caught completely off guard, Shadow didn’t dare move away. He stiffly allowed her to cling to him, stammering awkwardly after a long moment, “…That is wonderful.”

Hearing Long Yan’s words, the rigid tension finally bled out of Duan Xiaolin’s back. He immediately stepped sideways into the decontamination chamber, stripping off his heavy coat and initiating the rapid full-body sterilization process.

A few minutes later, Duan Xiaolin finally stepped into the operating room.

Ji Yao was gently holding the newborn, carefully wrapping it in a soft blanket before placing the small bundle beside Pei Xiqing.

Duan Xiaolin’s gaze immediately locked onto Pei Xiqing, who was lying exhausted on the hospital bed. He walked over and gently brushed aside the damp, sweat-soaked hair clinging to her forehead. His dark eyes slowly traced her features, taking in her exhausted brows and her pale, drained cheeks.

It took a moment before Pei Xiqing fluttered her eyes open.

In the past, she had always been terrified of pain. But knowing that Duan Xiaolin was waiting for her on the other side, she had felt she could endure anything. It wasn’t that she was blindly foolish for love, nor was she trying to trap herself in a cage of her own making by having a child; she had endured it all because she genuinely, truly wanted to.

She had often thought that giving so much of oneself to another person usually resulted in being let down. She had even promised herself that if she was ever betrayed, she would simply walk away and become completely free. But looking up at him now, she knew that day would never come.

Duan Xiaolin slowly sank to one knee beside the bed. The warmth of his large palm resting against her cheek prompted Pei Xiqing to lean weakly into his touch.

The man, usually so composed and resolute, looked so utterly heartbroken and cautious that he hardly dared to move. “Go to sleep,” he whispered hoarsely.

Pei Xiqing curled her pale lips into a faint smile. “Don’t you want to look at the baby?”

Ji Yao gently pushed the bundled infant a little closer to him. “It’s hard to tell much right now. The baby is still too small, and his features haven’t filled out yet. However, Qiu Chao just ran his genetic data through the biometric simulator to generate a composite of what he’ll look like when he grows up. He’s going to be an incredibly gentle and handsome boy—a perfect mix of Xiqing and Brother Duan.”

Pei Xiqing closed her eyes, her voice weak but laced with a soft laugh. “Then you have to make sure his eyesight doesn’t go bad in the future. If he ends up having to wear glasses like Brother Duan… it’ll be the end of him. He’ll look way too strict.”

Looking at the simulated photo Qiu Chao had just transmitted to the monitor, Long Yan chuckled. “Honestly, you’re right. If he wore glasses and grew up a little, I bet anyone on the street would instantly know he was Brother Duan’s son. He wouldn’t even need to introduce himself.”

Pei Xiqing didn’t bother looking at the monitor. What a computer deduced wasn’t the final reality. This was her first time raising a child, and she preferred the mystery of watching him grow and change with her own eyes, day by day. Seeing the final result right now would ruin the suspense.

Besides, she already knew what he would look like. She just had to imagine Brother Duan as a little boy.

Exhausted from the ordeal, Pei Xiqing had no strength left to speak. She closed her eyes, quickly succumbing to a deep, heavy drowsiness.

Long Yan and Ji Yao exchanged a look. They carefully picked up the newborn and carried him to the sterile incubator set up in the adjacent room, leaving the exhausted couple alone in the ward.

The child was still incredibly fragile. Pei Xiqing’s physical condition was stable, but her immune system was severely depleted. Both mother and child required strict, intensive care.

Over the comms link, Qiu Chao shouted excitedly. “Perfect!”

“I’ve just transmitted the specialized recovery schedule for the next three months!” he announced proudly.

Back at the new base, Ling Lang had been leaning against the wall outside the command center, his head bowed. Hearing Qiu Chao’s shout, he immediately pushed himself off the wall and strode into the room, staring intently at the biometric displays on the screen. “How is the situation?”

Qiu Chao deliberately bumped his shoulder. “Both are completely safe.”

Ling Lang subconsciously broke into a relieved smile. “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Qiu Chao clutched his chest dramatically. “I’m finally relieved too. However, I’ll need to travel over there personally in a few days, or have Ji Yao and Long Yan bring the child here for a comprehensive full-body scan. The initial remote diagnostics confirm the child is negative for the zombie virus, but he’s also negative for Substance X. To be absolutely, one hundred percent certain of his genetic stability, I need to do a face-to-face examination.”

Ling Lang nodded in agreement. “Indeed. It’s much better to check thoroughly just to be safe.”

“You’ve been pacing around here like a caged tiger, unable to sleep or eat properly for days,” Qiu Chao teased. “Now that you know everything is fine, you can finally go back to drilling those poor soldiers properly, right?”

Ling Lang scoffed. “What the hell does that have to do with you? Mind your own business.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll mind my own business. Now, Major General, please return to your post immediately. We all have duties to fulfill.”

Ling Lang shook his slightly messy white hair, grabbed his military cap from the table, and pulled it on. “I’m going.”

As the door swung shut behind him, Qiu Chao looked back at the simulated photo of the child on the screen, clenching his fists in absolute excitement.

“If this child inherits Brother Duan’s supernatural abilities…” he muttered to himself. “In the future, he’ll be able to wield the Qiong Snake and manipulate gravity just like his father! His potential is literally limitless!”

Back in the underground base, Pei Xiqing was drifting in a hazy, half-awake state. Her body ached terribly, but the pain soon began to subside, replaced by a warm, soothing sensation spreading through her veins.

She opened her eyes with some difficulty and saw Ji Yao standing beside the bed, holding a freshly emptied syringe.

Seeing her stir, Ji Yao offered a gentle smile. “Welcome back to the land of the living. You’ve been sleeping for three straight days.”

“That long…?”

“Yes, but it’s completely normal. You suffered a massive loss of blood and vital energy during the delivery, and your constitution was already weakened by the virus. Sleeping for a few days was the best possible thing for your body,” Ji Yao explained smoothly. “That injection I just gave you is a specialized recovery accelerant. It’s only been three days, but you should already be feeling significantly better.”

“Thank you.”

Ji Yao smiled, pulling up a chair and casually twirling a lock of her long hair. “You know, the last time I saw you, you were still so young and inexperienced. I never expected that the next time we crossed paths, I’d actually be the one helping to deliver your baby. I suppose I can officially say I’ve experienced the sheer terror and difficulty of childbirth secondhand.”

“Sister Ji Yao, do you not have a boyfriend yet?” Pei Xiqing asked softly.

Ji Yao shook her head. “I don’t need those kinds of attachments in this apocalyptic world. As long as I have my team at Franlun, that’s enough for me. I don’t dare ask for anything else. As long as my squad is alive and well, and we can still bicker and fight over stupid things when we’re bored, that’s better than any romance. Men would just slow down my shooting speed anyway.”

Perhaps due to the potent recovery potion flooding her system, the intense pain in Pei Xiqing’s lower body had faded to a dull ache, though her lower back still throbbed occasionally.

She adjusted her pillows and sat up slightly, her hair messy but her smile bright. “So that’s how it is.”

Ji Yao poured her a glass of warm water. “I’m not as foolishly romantic as Long Yan. I would never spend years waiting around for a hopeless man. Our youth is fleeting, especially in the apocalypse. It’s simply not worth wasting it pining over a guy. I’d rather be alone. If I waste my time on myself, so be it. But if I waste it crying over a man, that’s a massive loss on my investment.”

Pei Xiqing thought of something. “Is the man Sister Long Yan is waiting for highly skilled in weapon manufacturing?”

Ji Yao raised an eyebrow. “How did you know that? Did Qiu Chao gossip to you?”

“I just guessed.”

“Then you’re incredibly smart.” Ji Yao sighed. “Yes, it’s exactly as you suspect. I just don’t know if the guy she’s looking for is actually still alive. However, there aren’t many elite weaponsmiths left in the wasteland, so it shouldn’t be too hard to track him down eventually.”

“I think I might have met him before,” Pei Xiqing mused. “When I was out in the wilderness, I commissioned a blacksmith to forge two custom sabers and a specialized dagger for me.”

“Then you two definitely have some interesting fate tying you together,” Ji Yao chuckled.

Just then, Ma Mengxiang pushed open the door and practically skipped into the room, holding up a large thermos triumphantly. “Xiqing! You’re finally awake! The loving, ultra-nutritious recovery meal I spent all day making yesterday can finally be eaten!”

Ji Yao stood up, stretching. “This girl is a fantastic cook. We’ve been eating her meals non-stop for the past few days. Honestly, she’s going to completely spoil my taste buds. I don’t know how I’m going to stomach Qiu Chao’s bland cooking when I get back to the base.”

“Sister Ji Yao, you’re exaggerating!” Ma Mengxiang blushed furiously. “My cooking is just average! Chopping wood is my real specialty!”

Ji Yao laughed, straightening her tactical uniform. “Alright, you two enjoy your meal. I’m going to head out.”

“Wait, are you leaving the base?” Pei Xiqing asked quickly.

“Yes, I am.” Ji Yao nodded. “I have other official duties to attend to. Seeing you wake up safely means my mission here is complete.” She shrugged playfully. “After all, I’m the designated ‘Intimate Big Sister’ of Franlun.”

“Oh! Does that mean you’re basically the President of the Women’s Committee?!” Ma Mengxiang asked excitedly.

Ji Yao burst into laughter. “Hahahaha! You’re surprisingly sharp, kid.”

Pei Xiqing pursed her lips, trying to hide a giggle.

“We had that exact position back in our village!” Ma Mengxiang explained proudly.

“I’ll see you next time,” Ji Yao waved playfully as she stepped out.

“Be careful out there,” Pei Xiqing called after her.

“I always am.”

Once Ji Yao left, Ma Mengxiang immediately unpacked the steaming, fragrant recovery meal she had so carefully prepared.

Pei Xiqing couldn’t stop praising the food between bites.

Ma Mengxiang watched her eat, her expression turning somber. “You know, my heart was breaking for you these past few days. Especially when you were in labor. I saw Brother Duan standing outside the doors… he looked like he was about to shatter. He was completely rigid. I guess his heart was breaking too. Giving birth really is terrifying.”

“Yes,” Pei Xiqing agreed softly. “It forces you to think very carefully about your future path, and all the irreversible choices you might face.”

“Uh-huh.”

Pei Xiqing had barely taken a few more bites when the door swung open again.

Duan Xiaolin strode quickly into the room. He sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand immediately coming up to gently cup her face. “How do you feel?”

Pei Xiqing swallowed her soup. “I feel great. The food is delicious, and I even have my appetite back.”

His dark eyes were swimming with an intense, lingering anxiety. He refused to look away from her for even a second. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here right when you woke up. I just had to step away to take care of something.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Thank you for working so hard to take care of me these past few days.”

Sensing the intimate atmosphere, Ma Mengxiang quietly stood up and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Pei Xiqing scooped up a spoonful of the rich broth and held it up to the man’s lips. “Here, try some.”

Duan Xiaolin obediently opened his mouth, swallowing the soup. “It’s good.”

“Right? It seems like Mengxiang’s cooking skills have improved again.”

The man waited with agonizing patience as she slowly finished the rest of her meal.

The moment she set the empty bowl down, he couldn’t bear it anymore. He pulled her fiercely into his arms.

Pei Xiqing, still holding her spoon in one hand, was momentarily stunned by the sudden, desperate embrace.

It took her a moment to realize what he was feeling.

He’s incredibly insecure right now.

Dropping the spoon, Pei Xiqing wrapped her arms around him, hugging him back with all the strength she could muster.

“It’s okay,” she whispered softly into his ear. “It’s all over now. We made it.”

But the man refused to let her go. He held her in a crushing grip for a very long time. If her body hadn’t still been recovering from the trauma of childbirth, she would have genuinely believed he was trying to meld her straight into his own flesh and blood so she could never be separated from him again.

“Brother Duan, please, be happy,” she murmured against his neck. “Our child was born safely and healthily. This world might be broken and terrifying right now, but his arrival represents a brand new hope.”

Duan Xiaolin buried his face in her hair, hugging her even tighter. “Yes.”

Pei Xiqing couldn’t help but sigh softly.

She smiled, a mix of helplessness and profound affection welling in her chest. She had never expected the terrifying, ruthless Chief Judge Duan to possess such a deeply vulnerable, uneasy side.

Beneath his cold exterior, his emotions were incredibly delicate and gentle. His broad chest was a high, impenetrable wall designed solely to protect her, and his strong arms wrapped around her like an absolute shield, offering her a boundless sense of security.

“You stupid Brother Duan,” she teased affectionately. She turned her head, pressing a soft kiss to his ear. “Go and bring the baby over so I can finally see him! I haven’t even gotten to hold him yet, and you’ve been hogging him this whole time!”

“Long Yan is taking excellent care of him in the incubator,” he murmured against her skin. “There’s no need to worry.”

Pei Xiqing’s eyes widened slightly in disbelief. “You just threw our newborn son out of the room like that?!”

“Why not?” The man chuckled darkly. “There’s no rush to see him. My first priority is taking care of you.”

Pei Xiqing lightly slapped his chest. “You are so cruel!”

Duan Xiaolin simply pulled her soft body back into his arms.

Resting his palm securely against the back of her neck, he felt her warmth, her steady heartbeat, and the undeniable reality that she was alive and safe in his embrace. Only then did the crushing terror in his heart finally begin to recede.

He certainly couldn’t bear to be truly cruel to his own child. But right now, in this vulnerable moment, he absolutely refused to let go of her—even if the only thing keeping them apart was their newborn son.

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