Chapter 116: The Reunion of the "Squad"

Kela smiled but did not answer Qingyan.

Before long, a person wearing a white cloak suddenly entered. He came to Kela’s side and whispered, “Master, they have arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Kela rose and walked toward the door. But just as he reached it, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Qingyan.

“Miss, the person you wanted to see has arrived. Come with me.”

With that, Kela turned and left. Hearing his words, Qingyan immediately set down her milk tea and followed him out of the room.

This room was one of the residences in the service area of the Eighth Survival Land. However, it was rather special, because it was the most expensive residence in the entire service area.

It also had exceptionally good lighting and offered a view of the scenery outside. Qingyan had been watching the window moments earlier.

One second before Kela informed her, Qingyan had already seen Xiyan and Lin Shuang entering the courtyard.

…

Kela and Qingyan arrived at the entrance to the service area of the Eighth Survival Land. Xiyan and Lin Shuang were walking along while talking, and when they looked up, they saw Kela and Qingyan.

Xiyan froze for a moment, then looked at Qingyan in surprise and delight.

“Qingyan! Are you all right?”

When Qingyan saw that the person who had come was truly Xiyan, she finally relaxed. But when he asked her that question, she suddenly remembered what Kela had told her earlier, and her cheeks reddened unconsciously.

Xiyan was completely immersed in the joy of their reunion and did not notice her blush.

“It seems the Lord of Nine has eyes only for Miss,” Kela suddenly remarked.

Before he had even finished speaking, Qingyan immediately retorted, “I already told you not to call me Miss anymore. Do you understand, Mr. Kela?”

Kela smiled helplessly. “Of course, Miss Qingyan.”

Qingyan gave a cold snort and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

“I would like to ask, Mr. Kela, why did you suddenly take Qingyan away from the park?”

There was no need for further pleasantries. Xiyan went straight to the point and questioned Kela about why he had taken Qingyan away.

Kela spread his hands, indicating his innocence.

“Lord of Nine, you are questioning the wrong person. I did not take Miss Qingyan away on my own initiative. I was merely following someone else’s orders.”

“Following someone else’s orders? What do you mean?” Xiyan asked with a frown.

“I…”

“Nothing. It is all in the past, so do not bring it up again. You and Lin Shuang have not eaten yet, have you? Come inside and have something to eat. I will treat you.”

Qingyan shot Kela a cold look filled with warning, clearly telling him not to continue.

Kela shrugged helplessly once more and said nothing, merely watching them in silence.

Seeing the exchange between the two, Xiyan understood that Qingyan did not want him to keep asking. Besides, he was already hungry. Since Qingyan had offered to treat them, he naturally had no reason to refuse.

“Since Qingyan is treating us, I am going to eat to my heart’s content!” Xiyan said with a beaming smile. He then turned and entered the shopping district of the Eighth Survival Land.

Seeing that Xiyan did not press the matter, Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. She glared at Kela before turning to Lin Shuang.

“Come on, Sister Shuang.”

Lin Shuang pressed her lips together. She glanced at Kela, then at Qingyan, and finally followed Qingyan into the shopping district.

When Xiyan pushed open the glass door, an enticing aroma immediately rushed toward him. It had been a long time since he had eaten a proper meal.

Ever since the apocalypse began, Xiyan had lived on compressed food, dried provisions, and other items that were easy to store.

Now, faced with so much food, he felt as though he could hardly move.

At that moment, Xiyan was standing before a counter selling prepared food. As he gazed at the roast chickens and roast ducks on the shelves, he felt his mouth beginning to water.

“All right. Give me three roast ducks and three roast chickens. Oh, and these over here—I see they are vacuum-sealed. Give me ten portions of those as well.”

The employee responsible for selling the roast chicken and duck did not immediately begin packing the order. Instead, he asked in a somewhat astonished voice, “Are you certain you want this much? It will cost several hundred thousand points.”

Xiyan paused. When he heard that the food would cost hundreds of thousands of points, his resolve faltered. Although Qingyan had said she would treat him, buying this much did seem a little excessive.

Just as Xiyan was wondering whether he should take one roast chicken or two, Kela suddenly walked up beside him from behind and said to the employee, “Comp these items for them. Understood?”

There was not the slightest trace of a smile on Kela’s face. He looked imposing and aloof, making people instinctively keep their distance.

Seeing Kela arrive in person, the employee immediately answered respectfully, “Yes, my lord. I will prepare everything at once.”

He hurried off to pack Xiyan’s order.

Xiyan turned to Kela. “Is that really all right? This is worth several hundred thousand points.”

Kela turned to face him.

“Even if it were several million points, giving them to the Lord of Nine would still be the proper thing to do.”

Kela’s attitude left Xiyan deeply puzzled. He could not understand why Kela was treating him so generously. Still, he knew the old saying: when someone offers kindness without reason, there is usually a hidden motive. Thus, he did not lower his guard simply because of Kela’s behavior.

“Since this is Mr. Kela’s kind offer, I will accept it. Thank you.”

Xiyan smiled faintly, but the smile never reached his eyes.

When Lin Shuang entered, she happened to witness Kela generously paying for Xiyan’s purchase.

Her brows immediately drew together, and she suddenly became interested in Kela’s true intentions.

Qingyan noticed her gaze and struck preemptively.

“Do not let your imagination run wild. I am telling you, you should return to the main city as soon as possible. Stop monitoring me here. Is that clear?”

At the word “monitoring,” a trace of guilt flashed across Lin Shuang’s face.

“Why should I return to the main city? And why would you say that I am monitoring you, Miss?”

Lin Shuang’s smile was strained. She had seen nothing but icy indifference and a gaze that seemed to see through everything in Qingyan’s eyes.

Qingyan had discovered the truth.

“I am not in the mood to explain it to you right now, but I know that the city lord sent you here to monitor me, didn’t he? You report every one of my actions to him, don’t you?”

Qingyan folded her arms, the corners of her lips curving upward.

When Lin Shuang heard this, her face instantly turned deathly pale. She had indeed come under the city lord’s orders to monitor Qingyan, but she also knew exactly what Qingyan was capable of.

Qingyan appeared calm now, as though she were not angry. But if she truly lost her temper, Lin Shuang’s fate… would probably be little better than death.