The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

The Lou family had all returned by the time dinner was ready.

When Qiu Rong returned, her usually pristine green military uniform was dirty. She hurried to the bathroom to shower and change into home clothes. Lou Tang and Lou Zhan, father and son, entered next, followed finally by Yan Ge, who returned carrying Lou Yan, who clutched a backpack.

One look at Lou Yan's backpack and the Lou family knew exactly what she had been up to. However, within the base, they let her do as she pleased, curious to see what she might accomplish.

During dinner, Lou Zhan informed Lou Dian that he had found a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with a living room nearby for them. They could go see it tomorrow and have anything they needed moved in.

"Old man, why find a place for Xiao Dian and Lingling? Isn't it good living at home? It's not like we don't have room!" the First Aunt exclaimed angrily, glaring at her husband and son, assuming it was their idea.

Lou Tang was already feeling gloomy. He hadn't expected his son to act so quickly. It had only been discussed that morning, and by afternoon, arrangements were already made. Hearing his wife scold him now, he felt even more depressed, slightly regretting agreeing so readily earlier.

"Aunt, please don't be angry. This was our own decision," Lou Dian soothed with a smile, taking the blame to spare Lou Tang and Lou Zhan from further scolding.

By the end of the meal, the First Aunt had to accept the situation. Knowing it was Lou Dian's own wish, and that there was no coercion involved, she finally relented.

After dinner, Lou Tang called Lou Zhan, Lou Dian, and Yan Ge into the study for a private discussion. Lou Yan sought out Lou Ling for a sparring match in the courtyard. Qiu Rong took her son to watch, offering pointers on close-quarters combat.

Although Lou Yan was an ordinary person, she had trained since childhood, making her agile and nimble. Lou Ling couldn't match her in this regard; his strength was useless if he couldn't catch her. However, if Lou Yan were caught, she would undoubtedly lose. Therefore, Lou Yan's combat strength relied on her ingenious weapons. Her agility, combined with these unique weapons, would allow her to protect herself outside the base, provided her weapons didn't run out.

By the time their sparring ended, the sky had turned a purplish hue. The vast expanse overhead brought a sense of openness and serenity.

"Sister-in-law, are you commanding a company now?" Lou Ling asked curiously, unable to imagine the now gentle, motherly Qiu Rong, cradling her son, as a hardened military officer.

Qiu Rong smiled. "Yes. Not all soldiers developed abilities after the apocalypse. Although they are ordinary people, their combat effectiveness is no less than that of ability users. Most importantly, they are disciplined and follow orders. During missions, unlike the often unruly and insubordinate ability users who refuse to cooperate and end up losing their lives, sometimes even taking others with them…"

Lou Ling and Lou Yan listened to Qiu Rong recount her experiences leading troops on missions. Qiu Rong was an openly acknowledged officer, unlike Lou Zhan, who was the captain of a special forces unit that carried out special missions. His subordinates were his personal troops, answering only to him, and were the Lou family's most trusted elite force.

As night fell, everyone returned home.

After showering and washing away the sweat, Lou Ling stood by the window, hands resting on the sill, gazing out at the base in the darkness. Her gaze swept from the mountain range, a dark silhouette against the starry sky, to the base itself, and then to the Lou family courtyard.

"What are you thinking about?"

A gentle voice sounded, and a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Her back pressed against the chest of the person behind her, enveloping her in an embrace. The temperature on the plateau was relatively low, and the night breeze was cool, so even pressed together, they didn't feel too warm.

Lou Ling nestled comfortably in his arms. "Just looking around. Hey, do you think I should plant a mutated vine in the courtyard?" A mutated vine would offer protection. Although the base was safe, Lou Ling still worried about the First Aunt being home alone with her grandson, in case of any unforeseen events.

"Good idea."

Hearing his agreement, Lou Ling beamed, then he turned her around and lowered his head to capture her lips. His slightly lowered eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, stirring her heart. When those eyes opened, they were as dark and lustrous as polished jet, yet seemed to hold the scattered light of countless stars.

He caressed her lips, then finally pulled away, drawing her into his embrace. "Today, I gave some supplies from my space to your uncle and his family… Also, just now in the study, I gave the zombie virus sample we obtained from the research base to your uncle. The base should start researching it soon. If they can develop a cure…"

Lou Ling's eyes lit up, realizing this was excellent news. Lou Zhan had used the data from the zombie virus sample to negotiate with the military headquarters of the Capital Base, sharing it with them. The Capital Base's research institute was also working on it. If an antidote could be developed in time, they would have a weapon against the zombies, and humanity would eventually reclaim their lost territory.

Seeing her so happy, her smile as radiant as the sun, warmed his heart like basking in sunlight. Having experienced such a desperate apocalypse, humanity longed for peace. While not everyone yearned for a return to the rule of law, most did. He was indifferent to the apocalypse or peace, but if it was her heartfelt wish, it became his as well.

The next day, Lou Dian took the key from Lou Zhan and went to see the new apartment.

The apartment was located on a clean street, a ten-minute walk from the Lou family home. The street was inhabited by military families. The neighbors seemed friendly, unaffected by the negativity the apocalypse had brought. This likely stemmed from the base's efficient management and ample supplies. The military families benefited from this, living relatively well, and naturally, negativity didn't fester.

After unlocking the door, Lou Ling excitedly ran around exploring the apartment. She checked the master bedroom, then a guest room and a study. There were two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room connected to a balcony. In terms of size, the apartment was much smaller than the Lou family villa they had been living in. For Lou Dian, accustomed to spacious living, it felt like a birdcage. However, Lou Ling had lived in a small apartment with her mother until she was ten, so she didn't dislike it; instead, she felt a sense of nostalgia, especially for the feeling of "our home," which filled her with joy.

From now on, this would be their home.

Seeing her so happy, Lou Dian, though unaware of the reason for her excitement, was content as long as she liked it.

Lou Dian then began retrieving items from his space to furnish their new home. As for the existing furniture, such as tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets, they could replace anything they didn't like. By morning, the apartment was furnished, especially the master bedroom, which was fully equipped. As long as the Northwest Base remained intact, they would likely live here for a long time, so he put his heart into furnishing it.

Lou Ling also cultivated a small mutated vine on the balcony. Its green leaves and tendrils twined around the railing, creating a vibrant, cheerful atmosphere.

At noon, Lou Yan dragged Yan Ge over. She initially intended to ask if they needed any help, but upon seeing the furnished apartment, she smacked her lips, thinking how convenient spatial abilities were.

After staying at the Lou family home for two days, Lou Ling and Lou Dian moved into their new apartment. Hearing about their move, Lin Baobao came over for a visit. They gathered in the new apartment for a lively meal, a housewarming of sorts to fill the place with positive energy. Lou Dian even brought out beer and juice for everyone to enjoy.

"We've discussed it and plan to take a mission outside the base tomorrow," Lin Baobao said, sipping her after-dinner tea. "Tan Mo can't be cooped up in the base forever. What about you guys? Want to join us?"

Lou Ling glanced at Lou Dian and shook her head. "Lou Dian is helping my uncle these days and doesn't have time. If you're going out, be careful."

Lou Dian had indeed been busy, accompanying Lou Tang to suppress unruly factions. With Lou Zhan's return, some factions had become restless, stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Lou Dian dealt with them mercilessly. He operated in the shadows, so others only knew he was with Lou Tang, but not his identity, ability level, or even the nature of his ability. After being taught a few lessons, they dared not act rashly again. This brought Lou Tang and the others some relief. If these factions were allowed to cause chaos, it would create significant problems for the base's management and security.

Lin Baobao smiled and nodded, then told Lou Ling that Grandpa Mo, with Yan Ge's help, had found a job at the ability users' restaurant. Mo Yingying and Chen Luosheng could attend the school established by the base during the day. The curriculum included not only academic subjects but also combat skills and survival techniques, taught by retired military personnel.

Tan Mo, Lin Baobao, Yi Zheng, and Chen Kaiwei formed an ability user team. They had initially wanted Lou Dian as their captain, but since he was busy assisting Lou Tang, he couldn't join them. As for recruiting more members, Lin Baobao decided to hold off for now. They were currently in the Northwest Base, led by Lou Tang, so there was no need to expand their influence. As long as they were strong enough, they were a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, recruiting new members meant uncertainty about their character. In these times, caution was necessary to avoid inadvertently harming their own.

After seeing them off, Lou Ling began cleaning the apartment, handing the collected trash to the man who stood watching her with his arms crossed like a lord, and instructing him to take it out.

Lou Dian gave her a strange look, then took the trash bag and left. Lou Ling felt a chill down her spine, a sense of danger that made her hair stand on end.

Lou Ling's premonition was correct. That night, as Lou Dian tossed and turned her like a salted fish, she remembered what she had said at the Lou family home. On his own turf, and with her previous promise, he could do as he pleased. Although she was also an ability user, her level and physique were inferior to his, leaving her at his mercy.

The next morning, Lou Ling's legs were like noodles, too weak to support her. She pinched his waist in frustration, but he simply chuckled, taking her hand and diligently massaging it.

"Didn't you say I could do whatever I wanted?" Lou Dian's face was filled with satisfaction, refreshed and invigorated, a clear indication of how enjoyable his night had been.

She retorted, "But you can't be so excessive!" She had been able to get out of bed before, but now she couldn't even stand, making her realize how much he had held back previously.

Lou Dian didn't deny it. Taking an inch and asking for a mile wasn't just a woman's prerogative; it was a man's as well. He couldn't suppress his desire for her, which was why he had been so unrestrained last night.

After spending half the day in bed, she finally regained her energy. Seeing that he seemed free, not needing to go to Lou Tang that day, she dragged him out to explore the base.

However, shortly after leaving their apartment, Hua Zhu hurried over, saying that Lou Tang was looking for them and they should go to his office immediately.

Seeing his grim expression, Lou Ling asked, "Brother Hua, what happened?"

Hua Zhu led them towards the base's administrative building. "Lou Shang is missing!"

Lou Dian and Lou Ling were both startled. Lou Ling hadn't met Lou Shang, but having enjoyed the company of the Lou family these past few days, she naturally didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

The three hurried to the administrative building. Hua Zhu saluted the guards at the entrance. The soldiers recognized Hua Zhu, and Lou Dian, having frequently accompanied Lou Tang recently, was also familiar. They were allowed to pass without much scrutiny.

Upon reaching the office door, the guards immediately notified those inside.

Entering the office, they found Lou Tang, Lou Zhan, and Yan Ge already present. There was another man, an ability user, severely injured, his clothes torn, dirty, and stained with blood. His face was also obscured by blood and dirt.

Lou Tang's brow was furrowed with anxiety. Seeing them enter, he nodded and said to Yan Ge, "Take him to the hospital first and have his injuries treated."

The man struggled. "Commander Lou, I'm fine. I know the way. Let me lead them there."

Lou Tang shook his head, instructing Yan Ge to take him away. Then, turning to Lou Dian and Lou Ling, he said, "Xiao Dian, I may need to trouble you to make a trip. Xiao Shang and his team encountered something dangerous and went missing near the Salt Sea. I'll have Qiu Rong take some people with you. You…"

Lou Dian smiled faintly. "Uncle, don't worry. I'll bring Second Brother back."

Lou Tang managed a weak smile, patted Lou Dian's shoulder, then glanced at Lou Ling, reminding them to be careful.

Author's Note: Today's goals:

Lou Ling's goal: Resist the pervert!

Lou Dian's goal: Overpower his sister!

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