Surviving the apocalypse with a wife and a system! [GL]

In the past, she might have never paid much attention to those things. But now each one felt very clear and very valuable. She lifted her bowl and drank the last of the soup, then looked up to see that Yan Cijin had not eaten much yet because she kept checking on LiLi and making sure the little one did not spill anything. Bai Li smiled at that and quietly moved a plate closer to Yan Cijin so she would not have to reach far.

Seeing that she had finished, Yan Cijin quickly asked, "Want some more? I’ll cook more if you need more."

"No, I’m full." Bai Li leaned back in her chair to rest, watching the little dumpling wolf down her food, amused by the child’s gluttonous eating. Even while busy eating her wontons, the little girl still managed to smile at Bai Li.

The little dumpling ate with such focus that her cheeks puffed up a little with each bite. She looked small and round in the high chair, with her little feet swinging back and forth in the air. Every few seconds she would stop, look at Bai Li, and grin with a mouthful of noodles or broth, as if she was proud to be eating so well. Bai Li reached over and wiped a tiny spot of soup from the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and the little girl immediately leaned in closer like she wanted more pampering. That tiny bit of trust was enough to make Bai Li’s mood lighten again. It was hard not to feel soft toward a child who could brighten up a room without even trying. Yan Laojin watched the scene and quietly pushed a plate of pickled vegetables toward Yan Cijin, telling her to eat more too. The older woman had been worried and tired these past few days, but after this dinner, even her face looked a little less tight.

However, after the meal, washing the dishes became a problem. There was still some water stored in the house, but it would run out in two or three days. The kitchen sink was already piled with bowls, spoons, chopsticks, and the pot used for the wontons. In normal times, this would have been such a small thing that nobody would even think twice about it. But now, the simple fact of dishwashing made everyone pause and measure every cup of water like it was gold. Bai Li stood there for a moment, looking at the half bucket of water near the sink, and her thoughts moved quickly. The water outage outside had already started to affect the whole building, and she knew it would get worse. If they kept living like this, every day would become more inconvenient than the last. Cooking would be harder. Cleaning would be harder. Even brushing teeth and washing faces would take care and planning. The worst part was that once people got used to running water being gone, they would start fighting over storage, containers, and whatever was left in the taps. Panic always spread faster when people felt they were losing control of the most basic things.

Bai Li helped with the dishes, then looked at Yan Cijin and said, "Why don’t you pack your things and move in with me? My water system can recycle water and help us overcome the water problem, so it’ll be more convenient for you to take showers."

The words came out casually, but once they landed in the room, the air seemed to shift a little. Even the little dumpling stopped chewing for a second and looked back and forth between the two adults with bright, curious eyes. Yan Laojin also paused while wiping her hands, and Yan Cijin lowered the towel in her hand. Bai Li had not meant to make the room stiff. She had just been thinking of the most practical way to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Her place had a water system that she had already treated and improved, and the recycled water could at least handle daily washing and some cleaning. Compared to here, it really would be easier if Yan Cijin and LiLi stayed with her. In the apocalypse, comfort was not the main thing, but it still mattered. A person who could wash up properly was less likely to get sick. A person who could sleep without worrying about water cuts or outside threats would have more strength to deal with everything else. And if the little girl was around, then Bai Li also had a better reason to keep close and help.

Yan Cijin looked at her for a moment without speaking. She was not the type to act shy in a normal way, but even so, this was not something she could answer casually. Moving in together was not the same as sharing a meal or lending supplies. It meant daily life, daily noise, daily habits, and a lot of small things that could become big if people were not careful. It also meant trust. Real trust. Bai Li had already helped her many times, and she had never once acted like she wanted anything in return. That was part of what made Yan Cijin hesitate. The more Bai Li acted naturally, the harder it became to treat her as an outsider. Still, there were practical things to think about first. "Your place is on the twentieth floor," Yan Cijin said after a short pause. "It is not easy to get up and down if something happens."

"It isn’t easy here either," Bai Li answered. "And my apartment is more secure than this one. The door, the windows, the water system, the storage. I already checked all of it. If we stay separate, we will just end up running back and forth every day, and that will waste time and energy."

Yan Laojin, who had been listening quietly, also let out a slow breath. She was not blind to the problem. The building was still calm on the surface, but everybody could feel the tension growing.

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TO BE CONTINUED.

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