Brother Lin, what do you think of Sister Yun?

About an hour later.

Li Ya leaned lazily against Lin Chen's arm, her cheeks still flushed, her eyes soft as if filled with water, her gaze fixed on his face—this man who was as powerful as a god, yet so incredibly gentle to her.

She was enveloped in ultimate satisfaction and a sense of security, making her want to immerse herself in this world that belonged only to them forever.

She unconsciously traced circles on his chest with her fingertips, feeling his strong and steady heartbeat beneath her, her heart filled with contentment and affection.

However, when she inadvertently glanced up and caught sight of the still-burning, intensified by their intimacy, flame in his eyes, a memory-like weakness made her flinch slightly, snuggling deeper into his embrace, and muttering softly:

"...It really won't work."

Lin Chen's physique had been strengthened multiple times, and in this energy-rich space, he was indeed full of energy at the moment. He saw her "plea for mercy," couldn't help but chuckle, and affectionately ruffled her hair, not forcing her any further.

Li Ya's eyes darted around, and a thought suddenly popped into her head—she could temporarily divert his attention, consolidate her position, and appear considerate and generous.

"Brother Lin..." Her voice was softer than before, tinged with a hint of slyness, "What do you think of... Sister Yun?"

"Hmm?" Lin Chen looked down at her, momentarily stunned. "Su Yun? She's fine. Strong combat awareness, calm, and has a good overall perspective. Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"I mean..." Li Ya's face turned even redder, and her voice grew softer, but she put on a serious tone as if she were "I'm doing this all for your own good." "Sister Yun is beautiful, has a great figure, and most importantly, she's reliable. Besides... I secretly asked Xiao Min and the others, and she should still be a virgin."

Lin Chen understood the implication and raised an eyebrow slightly: "What do you mean?"

"You know perfectly well!" Li Ya lightly punched him, then bluntly stated, "You're so... energetic, how can I handle it all by myself? What will we do in the long run? We need to find a reliable and agreeable 'helper'."

She counted on her fingers, looking thoughtful: "Sister Yun is the most suitable! If you think that's not enough, I think the twins Yingxue and Yingyue are also interested in you. They look exactly alike, so you can consider them in the future..."

"Ha," Lin Chen was amused by her "generosity," "So willing? So eager to push others towards me? Besides, this is all just wishful thinking on your part, isn't it? Is Su Yun willing? What do Yingxue and Yingyue think? You're just making decisions for others?"

"Hmph!" Li Ya raised her chin, revealing an expression that said, "I saw right through you." "You've definitely had your eye on this for a long time! You were just putting on airs and waiting for someone else to make the first move, or for me to speak up!"

The more she talked, the more convinced she was of her guess: "Those two kids were practically drooling over you! Sister Yun is usually calm, but whenever you speak or there's danger, the way she looks at you is off, she just hides it better!"

"So you're not jealous?"

"Of course there's a little bit!" Li Ya pouted, then immediately adopted a "wise and righteous" stance. "But what kind of world is this? What's wrong with a powerful man having a few women? The key is that they have to be controllable, reliable, and well-known! Rather than letting you be seduced by some vixen later, I'd rather vet them and find some good, obedient ones to join! That way, the team will be stable, and I'll have less to worry about!"

The more she talked, the more she felt she was being incredibly clever as a "wise wife": "Besides, I'm creating opportunities for you! Instead of thanking me, you're turning around and blaming me!"

Seeing her adorable "Praise me for being clever" expression, Lin Chen felt both amused and warm inside. He understood Li Ya's feelings—she had a possessive streak, but also a strong sense of the bigger picture and deep concern for him.

This "proactive arrangement" is less about magnanimity and more about a complex wisdom, a mixture of reality, self-consolidation, team harmony, and Lin Chen's needs in a post-apocalyptic environment, and a blend of emotion.

"So how do you plan to 'test' it?" Lin Chen's curiosity was piqued.

"Let's go out right now!" Li Ya suddenly perked up, sitting up with a confident "watch me" expression. "I'll show you right here! I guarantee you'll get what you want!"

She felt confident that she had everything under control. Lin Chen didn't object either; with a slight thought, the two of them vanished from the grass and returned to the bedroom of the hotel suite.

A sense of grounding returned, and the faint sound of blood and rain could be heard outside the window. But between the two, there was now a secret concerning the very foundation of the world.

Li Ya quickly dressed, tidied her hair in front of the mirror, winked at Lin Chen, gave him a "watch me" smile, and then darted out of the room like a nimble cat and went downstairs.

Lin Chen remained alone in the room, shaking his head and chuckling. He walked to the window, gazing at the endless rainy night, his mind replaying Li Ya's surprised and trusting eyes in the room, and her words that were a mixture of jealousy and generosity.

In the end times, how fortunate he was to have a partner who understood him, supported him, and was even willing to "plan" for him.

.................

About fifteen minutes later.

Soft, familiar footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. The sound paused for a moment at the door, tinged with obvious hesitation, before becoming firm again.

"Tap, tap."

A soft knock sounded, exceptionally clear in the quiet of the night.

Lin Chen had already returned to the bedside and sat down. Hearing the sound, he put away the newly refreshed Life Crystal and said loudly, "Come in, the door isn't locked."

"Click."

The lock clicked softly, and the door was slowly pushed open. A tall, slender figure, carrying the cool night air and the fresh scent of a post-bath, approached silently. She gently closed the door behind her, her movements careful and solemn.

Then, step by step, I walked towards the bedroom.

Under the lights, Su Yun's figure was clearly visible.

She had clearly just taken a quick shower; her hair was still damp, flowing smoothly over her shoulders. She wore a pale purple silk slip dress—thin as a cicada's wing, its design so simple it was almost "frugal with fabric," gently hugging her shapely curves, shimmering with a soft, pearly sheen under the light.

She possesses both an untainted purity and an unconsciously captivating allure befitting a mature woman.

The coldness of battle had vanished from her face; her skin glowed with a pale pink. Her eyes were lowered, and she dared not look directly at Lin Chen. Her eyelashes trembled incessantly like the wings of a startled butterfly.

She walked barefoot on the carpet, her body trembling slightly with tension and a kind of reckless determination, almost unable to stand.

But she didn't stop or back down. She walked up to Lin Chen and then quietly closed her eyes.

It was like awaiting judgment, or like offering a sacrifice.

Lin Chen stood up and walked barefoot to her. They were very close; he could smell the fresh scent of her shower gel mixed with her faint body fragrance, and he could clearly feel her body trembling slightly and her heart beating rapidly like a drumbeat.

"Sister Yun," he began, his voice extremely soft and slow, carrying an unmistakable tone of reassurance and respect, "Xiao Ya... she already told you, didn't she?"

Su Yun didn't open her eyes, but simply nodded slightly. The movement was small, yet exceptionally firm.

"Once you step onto this path, there may be no turning back. In this world, there will be more responsibilities, more dangers, and... complicated relationships," Lin Chen continued in a low voice, his gaze fixed on her trembling eyelashes. "You won't regret it, will you? This is your own choice."

Su Yun kept her eyes closed. But this time, she took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and nodded heavily and clearly once again.

Then, as if worried that it wasn't enough, she softly uttered a single word in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz yet incredibly firm, as if it were a resounding declaration:

"Um."

There were no more words, no sentimental declarations, just a single syllable, yet it carried all her determination, trust, and commitment.

enough.

The last trace of hesitation in Lin Chen's eyes vanished, replaced by deep tenderness and acceptance. He reached out and gently embraced her slightly trembling yet soft body.

Su Yun's body stiffened at first, then completely relaxed, softly leaning into his broad, warm chest, as if she had finally found a harbor she had been wandering in for a long time.

Her eyes remained closed, but her tense nerves relaxed, and her trembling gradually subsided, leaving only a steady heartbeat. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, it gradually synchronized with Lin Chen's heartbeat in the quiet room, echoing softly.

The night grew deeper. The blood-red rain outside the window seemed to have lessened, leaving only a lingering drizzle.