My Dating Sim Just Got an Update - Chapter 61

After being locked in the isolation room for an entire day, they had nothing to eat but the dry rations and mineral water Ren Chenxi had prepared. All the while, they had to stay vigilant against any ill-intentioned survivors nearby. Sleeping meant leaning against stiff seats, which made for a restless, uncomfortable night.

Consequently, the moment they heard Ren Chenxi and the others had secured a place in the villa district, everyone followed along with high spirits. As they walked, they chatted excitedly, asking what their new home looked like. Even after learning that the “four-story building” was actually just an old rural self-built house—with dusty concrete walls, gray floors, and only one toilet and bathroom for the entire building everyone remained genuinely happy.

After all, this was going to be their home from now on.

Once the questions about the house were settled, Tang Ying curiously asked what the scouting team had been up to. Ren Chenxi thought she might have imagined it, but Huo Keyu’s expression seemed to darken for a split second at the question, though she quickly shook her head at Ren Chenxi as if it were nothing.

“Knowing you might be out searching that underground warehouse, we decided to wander around the base after leaving isolation,” one of the S-University girls explained, sounding a bit dejected. “We headed toward the playground where the stalls are. Chen Gu mentioned before that we could earn crystal nuclei by setting up a stall, so we wanted to check it out. But then.”

“But then what?” Tang Ying pressed curiously.

“We ran into some scammers.” the girl muttered.

“Scammers?” Jian Dan looked surprised. “In broad daylight, inside the base?”

“Yeah. We just wanted to see what people were selling. But as we walked past a vegetable stall, several baskets suddenly flipped over. The vendors swarmed us immediately, insisting we knocked them over and demanding we buy all the produce!”

“But we saw those vegetables,” another girl added indignantly. “They were all rotten and stinking. No one else would have bought them, so those vendors tried to pin the loss on us!”

“So how did you get away?”

“It was Senior Mu! Luckily, Mu Ning and Tong Qi arrived just in time. As soon as the vendors saw her, they were so scared they admitted their mistake on the spot.”

“Exactly! If she hadn’t shown up, those people looked like they were ready to skin us alive!”

“Oh, they would’ve done more than skin you,” Zhang Tongqi interjected darkly. “If it had dragged on, they would have forcibly dragged you away and coerced you into that kind of business. You’ve got some nerve, wandering around with new faces and not a single ability user among you!”

Although Zhang Tongqi didn’t spell out what “that kind of business” was, everyone who had lived through the last two years of the apocalypse knew exactly what she meant. For a moment, the atmosphere turned grim.

“Thank you for getting there when you did,” Huo Keyu said. Having survived a run-in with scum before, she loathed that side of the world more than anyone. Her face was pale when Zhang Tongqi mentioned the trade, but she quickly composed herself and sincerely thanked Mu Ning’s group.

Seeing Huo Keyu’s distress, Ren Chenxi stepped in to change the subject. “That’s why you guys without abilities need to stay with us for safety. If you want to walk around the base, make sure Jian Dan or one of the others goes with you, okay?”

Huo Keyu looked at Ren Chenxi’s concerned face, bit her lip, and nodded softly. Mu Ning watched the two of them from the side, her eyes unreadable.

Perhaps because Zhang Tongqi’s words had exposed the rot hiding in the corners of the base, the group previously buzzing with chatter—fell silent. Eventually, Huo Keyu broke the tension, teasing Ren Chenxi: “By the way, you guys were late getting back. I assume you found plenty in that underground warehouse?”

At the mention of their haul, the excitement on the faces of Song Xin and Chang Ling, who were standing nearby, became plain to see. However, since they were still in a public area with people milling about, they couldn’t say much. Song Xin, afraid she’d get too loud in her excitement and attract unwanted attention, leaned in and whispered into Huo Keyu’s ear with a mischievous grin: “The haul was excellent.”

Seeing their expressions, the group from the isolation room immediately understood it was a jackpot. The gloom vanished instantly as they began brainstorming how to decorate their rooms.

Beyond food and daily necessities, Ren Chenxi’s team had discovered something wonderful: unassembled furniture! Once they got back, they planned to transform their empty, gray rooms into something livable.

Among the four ordinary people from isolation, besides Huo Keyu, there were two girls and a boy from S-University. The boy, Fang Hong, had gone to the boys’ building with Yang Xiangrui. The girls, however, rushed to the bathroom the moment they entered the “villa.”

Huo Keyu was the first in line. She stepped inside, only to walk back out a second later with a look of utter disbelief.

“What’s with that face, Keyu? Is the toilet clogged?” Du Tian, another student, joked.

Huo Keyu stepped aside. “You go ahead.”

Du Tian’s smile faltered, replaced by a look of dread. “Wait, is it that bad? Is it one of those rural toilets covered in grime and.?”

“What are you talking about!” Tang Ying huffed, pushing Du Tian toward the door. “I personally decorated that bathroom. Get in there and experience it!”

A moment later, a scream erupted from the bathroom. The third girl, Yue Yue, peeked inside, only to be blinded by the “crystal” decor. She turned to Tang Ying, looking conflicted. “Yingying. this is a bit much. A crystal squat toilet? I don’t think I can go in there.”

“Relax, relax!” Tang Ying patted Yue Yue’s shoulder proudly. “Isn’t it beautiful? Don’t worry, once you get used to it or if you hold it long enough—nature will take its course.”

If the bathroom was that “fancy,” they figured their bedrooms deserved just as much attention. The girls huddled together, chirping about decoration styles and furniture layouts.

But first, they had to eat.

Given their busy schedule of furniture assembly ahead, they opted for a simple lunch. Ren Chenxi announced she would host a grand feast for dinner to welcome Huo Keyu and the others. Initially, Huo Keyu declined, not wanting to be “extravagant” on their account. But Ren Chenxi insisted; they were partners now, and a proper welcome was non-negotiable.

Her words moved Du Tian and Yue Yue to tears. Huo Keyu stared at Ren Chenxi for a long moment, her lips trembling slightly before she gave a small nod and whispered, “Thank you.”

Before lunch, Sun Jia brought Tantan downstairs. Du Tian and Yue Yue were thrilled to see the cat, but Tantan was far too aloof to let them pet him. Instead, he clung to Ren Chenxi, meowing incessantly—much to the playful jealousy of the other girls.

As Ren Chenxi went to prepare Tantan’s meal, a sharp, sour aroma began to fill the air. It wasn’t just the girls’ “sour grapes” over the cat; it was the smell of the pickled cabbage Ren Chenxi had brought out.

Lunch was the same beef noodles with pickled cabbage they’d had the night before. The boys came over to grab their share of the toppings. Even though the girls had eaten it recently, they weren’t tired of it at all. For Huo Keyu and the newcomers, who hadn’t had a meal like this in two years, it was a treasure. The pickled cabbage was perfect sour, spicy, and mouth-watering.

Ren Chenxi swallowed hard, her mind drifting to thoughts of seafood by the ocean.

The meal was a hit. Huo Keyu ate with a runny nose from the spice and emotion, while Du Tian and Yue Yue were practically sobbing into their bowls. Ren Chenxi teased them, “It’s just beef noodles. If you’re crying now, you’ll pass out during the feast tonight.”

The teasing lightened the mood. Once they were full, it was time to work. Aside from Mu Ning’s room on the second floor, the rooms on the third and fourth floors were identical: empty, dusty, and containing nothing but a single bed.

Well, except for Tang Ying’s room, which was an explosion of pink.

They gathered around as Ren Chenxi began pulling the furniture out of her storage space. With so many wardrobes and cabinets to assemble, they had a long, busy afternoon ahead of them.

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