“No, there’s only Shelter No. 1. We don’t have the resources or time to prepare another one elsewhere, and there’s no suitable place. But the main reason is, we don’t have the money.”

Ashley Grant let out a sigh. Her father was the richest man, but even he didn’t have a shelter like this.

Without thinking much, Ashley Grant asked, “Are ‘Pipe’ and ‘Ham’ your nicknames?”

“No, those were our code names for our first radio contact. We said we’d change them later, but ended up just using them all these years… Let’s not talk about this!”

Henry Clark felt a pang in his heart. He thought he was fine, but realized he wasn’t, so he had to change the subject.

“What about you… do you have any plans?”

Henry Clark wanted to shift the topic to Ashley Grant, but as soon as he started, he realized he couldn’t ask about Ashley Grant’s family, so he immediately changed the subject.

Ashley Grant was silent for a long time, then said softly, “No plans. Right now, having food to eat and a warm place to sleep already feels like paradise on earth. I don’t have any plans at all. Yuan-ge, do you have any plans?”

The question was thrown back. Henry Clark thought for a moment, then said quietly, “I don’t really have any plans either. I’m a survivalist, so I must be a pessimist, because optimists wouldn’t bother stockpiling supplies for disasters—they’re too busy thinking about good things.”

Henry Clark couldn’t help but smile, but then he sighed, “So I never thought about going back to the way things were. I don’t expect to drive away the aliens, either. The most optimistic plan I can make is hoping the zombies starve to death, then I’ll search the nearby villages for any usable supplies. If possible, I’ll try to find any seeds I can plant, farm the land, and live here long-term—and live comfortably.”

Ashley Grant said softly, “Have you never thought about leaving here?”

Henry Clark shook his head. “Never. I always liked living in the mountains, and now I think only the mountains can keep me alive. So I never thought about leaving. I don’t want to leave at all. Hmm, do you want to leave?”

Ashley Grant answered without hesitation, “Leave? Where to? Where could I go?”

Henry Clark truly had no answer to that.

Ashley Grant sighed and said quietly, “If I could, of course I’d want to find my dad—if he’s still alive… Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Ashley Grant was sensitive and kind. Realizing the topic had gone too far, she immediately chose to stop.

Henry Clark said softly, “It’s okay. I just don’t want to talk about myself. If you still have family alive, I’d be envious and happy for you, really. So if you get the chance, you should go look for your family. If you need help, I’ll help you.”

Ashley Grant said nothing.

In the darkness, Henry Clark couldn’t see Ashley Grant’s expression.

After a long time, Ashley Grant said softly, “Yuan-ge, thank you.”

“Mm, you’re welcome.”

After another moment, Ashley Grant said quietly, “Now you’re my family. Really.”

Henry Clark also said softly, “Same here. Really.”

In the end, they still talked about family, because it was a topic that couldn’t be completely avoided.

Both fell silent. After a long while, Henry Clark finally said, “I’m sleepy. Let’s go back to sleep.”

“Okay, let’s sleep. Good night.”

Chapter 9: Not Friends

Henry Clark woke up—he was woken by the cold.

He sat up and moved his stiff body a bit, glanced at the window. It was already getting light outside. Since he never slept well, Henry Clark was used to waking up early, so he quietly climbed down from the kang.

After getting off the kang, he looked at Ashley Grant, who had taken all the sleeping bags and wrapped herself up. Henry Clark wasn’t angry about being woken by the cold because the sleeping bags were taken; he even couldn’t help but smile.

After living in painful loneliness for two months, now there was a well-behaved and sensible girl by his side—and she was very pretty. If Henry Clark got mad over the sleeping bags, it would only mean he deserved to be alone forever, and that he was really petty, and even more, that he didn’t deserve to be a man.

So Henry Clark wasn’t angry. Not only was he not angry, he was even planning to make a nutritious breakfast for Ashley Grant.

Henry Clark looked again at the sleeping Ashley Grant.

Ashley Grant was beautiful even when she slept. Her cheeks were rosy, not dirty or worried, just very pretty and pleasant to look at. Henry Clark couldn’t help but smile again.

But as he smiled, Henry Clark noticed that Ashley Grant’s breathing didn’t sound quite right—it was a bit heavy.

Wait, heavy breathing, very red cheeks—something’s wrong.

Henry Clark immediately reached out and touched Ashley Grant’s forehead, and then he knew—Ashley Grant had a fever.

Ashley Grant was in a deep sleep, but as soon as her forehead was touched, she woke up immediately. She hadn’t shaken off her long-formed habits yet. Startled awake and sitting up quickly, Ashley Grant first looked at Henry Clark in panic, then finally remembered where she was.