Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

Wendy was a little frustrated. "She looks so vacant and slow. Even when she grows up, her mom and that little brat are just going to beat and bully her."

"How do you know for sure she’s slow?" Officer Graham asked Wendy, amused. "Maybe acting that way is just a means of self-preservation."

"She really didn’t look like she was faking it. Could I actually be wrong about someone for once?"

Evelyn Ford recalled the details. ’The little girl did seem vacant, but even someone slow-witted should have some reaction to seeing their mother and brother tied up. All she did was pick at her fingers or stare blankly into space. She was far too calm.’

Perhaps she really had misjudged her.

Quincy glanced at the door. "That harridan’s brother-in-law isn’t going to come cause trouble for us, is he?"

Ethan Dawson shook his head. "Probably not."

"We should keep the outer gate locked from now on. Don’t want any more bizarre neighbors showing up at our door."

"Alright. We’ll leave a gate key for Ronan Kendrick. He’s been going out a lot recently."

Speaking of Ronan Kendrick, Evelyn Ford pulled out her pocket watch to check the time. It was seven o’clock. ’Why isn’t he back yet?’

The two baskets of American ginseng and red sage had been ground into powder. Today, Wyatt Vaughn and Joelle Finch were learning how to cut fabric and make patterns. Evelyn Ford had found quite a few books on fashion design and production in her space. Joelle Finch was a quick study and was already getting the hang of pattern-making and cutting, so the books were perfect for her.

Wyatt Vaughn, on the other hand, was faster when it came to actually sewing the clothes. While Joelle Finch was still trying to coordinate her hands and feet, Wyatt could already sew two pieces of fabric together neatly.

Before dinner, Evelyn Ford went up to the third floor to carry Annie down. Annie was recovering well. His hand was already steady enough to hold chopsticks.

After dinner, Evelyn Ford watched cartoons with Zoe and Annie on the first floor. The portable DVD player had a small screen, and the two children were sitting very close to it. Evelyn told them several times to move back to avoid becoming nearsighted. Annie was more obedient, but with Zoe, it was always in one ear and out the other.

The others were playing mahjong nearby. Taylor Vance and Ethan Dawson were playing chess, while Wendy knitted a sweater across from them.

Evelyn Ford kept glancing at the door. She felt absent-minded, unable to focus on anything until Ronan Kendrick returned.

At 9:30, Annie was already drowsy. Taylor Vance and Zion Lowell couldn’t stay up any longer either. After drinking a bowl of medicine, Zion Lowell went back to his bedroom to rest. Evelyn Ford carried Annie back up to the third floor.

At ten o’clock, the mahjong players packed it in. Quincy and Miles Vaughn went to the kitchen to whip something up, and after everyone had a late-night snack, they went to their rooms to sleep. Evelyn Ford came downstairs, brewed herself a pot of tea, and turned off the main lights on the first floor, leaving just a single kerosene lamp burning. Then, she wrapped a blanket around herself and leaned against the sofa, lost in thought.

For some reason, Evelyn Ford suddenly thought of the girl from next door. She wasn’t jealous or insecure, not really. She just felt a little envious of the girl’s youthful energy. ’Who would’ve thought I’d reach the age where I’m sighing about how nice it is to be young.’

Evelyn Ford took out her phone. When she opened the photo album, it was filled with selfies of her and Ronan Kendrick, as well as many videos of them goofing around together.

Just then, headlights swept in from over the compound wall, followed by the sound of an approaching car. Ronan Kendrick was back. Evelyn Ford’s eyes brightened, and she dashed outside, her slippers tapping against the floor.

"What are you doing out here?"

Ronan Kendrick had just gotten out of the car when Evelyn Ford opened the main gate and poked her head out to look at him.

"Waiting for you! It’s almost eleven, and you weren’t home yet."

Hearing the slight complaint in Evelyn Ford’s voice, Ronan Kendrick walked over with his keys and scooped her up with one arm.

"Sorry, I was held up. I don’t have to go back to the base for the next few days. I’ll just stay home with you, alright?"

"You promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

Evelyn Ford wrapped her arms around his neck. "Fine, I guess I’ll give you a chance. Let’s go home! Are you hungry? Want me to make you something?"

"I’m not hungry. I already ate at the base. What was for dinner tonight?"

Evelyn Ford thought for a moment. "Fish with pickled mustard greens, pig’s feet soup, some greens, and mapo tofu."

Ronan Kendrick suddenly bounced her a couple of times. "Did you eat your fill? How are you still so light?"

Evelyn Ford hugged his head, her laughter muffled. "And you can tell whether I ate enough just by bouncing me a couple of times?"

"Of course. I hold you every day. I know exactly how much you weigh."

Evelyn Ford didn’t want to be all cuddly with him at the gate. If a neighbor passed by and saw them, all sorts of rumors would start spreading.

"Okay, okay, let’s go inside first. I’ve got gossip for you. The house was so lively today."

Ronan Kendrick chuckled. "What a coincidence. I have some gossip for you, too."

After they went through the gate, Ronan Kendrick bolted it shut. He kept bouncing her every now and then, forcing Evelyn Ford to hold on to him tightly.

’This sly man.’

Back in the bedroom, Evelyn Ford told Ronan Kendrick about the incident with May Warren.

"I’ll take care of it."

Evelyn Ford shook her head. "I think May Warren’s brother-in-law will warn her. She probably won’t dare to come over and freeload anymore. Why were you so late today? I was waiting for you downstairs like some lonely wife waiting for her wayward husband."

"I’ll always come home, no matter how late. I collected a lot of things today, and I also had to go to the medicinal fields."

Evelyn Ford looked a little nervous. "What did Rhys Chase say?"

"I turned him down. He didn’t insist. They’re already starting to reorganize the refugee camp, so he’s going to be very busy."

"So what’s the gossip you have for me?" Evelyn Ford’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

"It’s something Liam Sterling told me, so I don’t know if it’s true. It’s about Rhys Chase, and a few others..."

When Ronan Kendrick finished, Evelyn Ford was left wanting more. "Sounds like Rhys Chase got the script for the classic ’overbearing CEO’ character."

Ronan Kendrick looked baffled.

"Based on your description, Rhys Chase must be handsome, mature, charming, powerful, and influential, and he stays away from women. Aren’t those the classic traits of an overbearing CEO? Based on my experience reading novels, he either has an old flame he can’t forget, or he just hasn’t met the one who’ll make his heart skip a beat yet."

The more Ronan Kendrick listened, the more unsettled he felt. "So you think he’s great?"

’He shouldn’t have told her the gossip about Rhys Chase. Evelyn Ford sounded way too interested in him.’ Ronan Kendrick felt a pang of jealousy and a surge of insecurity.

"Not at all."

"Then why were you praising him just now?"

Question marks practically appeared over Evelyn Ford’s head. "I praised him? When?"

"You said he’s handsome, mature, charming, powerful, and influential."

Evelyn Ford felt a little sheepish. ’I can’t believe I forgot what a jealous person the man in front of me was.’

"I was just talking nonsense. Besides, what he’s like is none of my damn business. You’re the best one."

Just like that, Ronan, who had been bristling like an angry cat, was instantly soothed.

"He’s nothing like your ’overbearing CEO.’ He doesn’t like women."

Evelyn Ford’s eyes went wide. "He likes men?"

Then she looked at Ronan Kendrick nervously. ’Don’t tell me... this Rhys Chase isn’t my rival, too, is he?’

The look in Evelyn Ford’s eyes made Ronan Kendrick laugh in exasperation.

"What on earth is going on in that little head of yours? He doesn’t like men, either. All that guy cares about is his lifespan and his appearance."

Evelyn Ford blinked. "Ronan Kendrick, the fact that you know all this... you’re turning into quite the gossip, you know."

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