Lam Linh's face flushed deep crimson upon hearing Thien Anh describe her as a "living skeleton." Whether it was the fever or pure indignation, it was hard to tell. She lost her composure, pouting as she muttered:
"You really are… insufferable. Don't you know that every girl loves to hear sweet things?"
Thien Anh didn't even look at her. His calloused, steady hands continued to meticulously clear away the empty medicine vials on the bedside table. He replied in a dry, rasping tone:
"Sweet words don't kill monsters, and they don't fill your stomach. In this world, anyone who wastes time listening to honeyed lies is a person who's about to become rat bait."
With that, he took the freshly ladled bowl of porridge, placed it inside a small insulated container, and let out a sharp whistle for Azure Sky.
"Thanh, take this out to the entrance. When the steam stops billowing and it's just warm to the touch, bring it back in."
Azure Sky gave a sibilant hiss of agreement, coiling her tail around the container before slithering swiftly toward the bunker's hatch, where the freezing blizzard roared. Lam Linh watched in bewilderment as he utilized his "natural refrigerator."
"Why did you have Azure Sky take the porridge out there?"
Thien Anh turned, shooting her a look that asked if she was genuinely that slow.
"To feed you, obviously. You're burning with a fever; how exactly do you plan on eating scalding hot porridge?"
Lam Linh, clinging to a sliver of her former pampered self, narrowed her eyes playfully.
"You could have blown on it to cool it down and fed me. Like they do in the movies, you stone-cold man."
Thien Anh paused his cleaning. He turned fully toward her, a thin, cynical smile playing on his lips.
"You're an adult, not a child. You're over twenty years old; why act like you're still seventeen? Do you honestly think we're starring in some long-running soap opera?"
Lam Linh puffed out her cheeks, turning her face toward the wall in a huff.
"You truly have no idea how to talk to people! Don't you understand that women like sweet talk? Would it kill you to say something nice for once?"
Thien Anh didn't answer. He resumed wiping the table before sitting on the chair beside the bed. His tone suddenly shifted, becoming more serious—laced with a cold authority.
"Once you're feeling better, focus on your training. I won't be the only one heading out forever. You need to know how to handle a gun, how to use a blade. I can't be by your side guarding you every second. Your research and medical work are heavy burdens, too—don't you dare get lazy."
Lam Linh heard the underlying concern beneath his rough exterior. She let out a weak, faint laugh.
"I know. It's not like you have it easy either, staying up all night guarding the door. Since I'm your companion, I have to do my part… But hey, I heard there's a place in this city meant to be a bunker for the President, right?"
Thien Anh raised an eyebrow. "There is. But why do you ask?"
Lam Linh grew animated, her eyes shimmering with the hope of a luxury sanctuary.
"Isn't it better to have two safe havens? If we can't stay here, we'll have somewhere else to live. Or if we're being chased by mutated beasts, we could take temporary shelter there. A place for the President must be incredibly reinforced."
Thien Anh let out a sharp scoff, shaking his head as if he were listening to a child tell a fairy tale.
"You really are naive. You think a place like that is easy to seize? The security countermeasures there are layers deep. If the two of us tried to sneak in, we'd never come out alive. Even a place like this—if someone without the codes dared to intrude, I guarantee there wouldn't even be a corpse left to find."
By then, Azure Sky had slithered back in, carrying the now-cooled container of porridge. Thien Anh opened the lid, scooped a spoonful, and brought it to her lips. His voice remained cold, yet it carried an undeniable sense of protection.
"Besides, we know nothing about the layout there. If we go in blind, the security system could lock us inside for good. Electronic bulkheads are no joke; without the codes, you aren't getting out. Stop worrying about the far future. Just do your job well, and I'll handle the rest. Understand?"
Lam Linh looked at the bowl of restorative dragon-heart congee, then at the man before her. She didn't argue anymore. She simply opened her mouth and swallowed the spoonful he fed her. The warmth from the food and the silent sense of being shielded made the turmoil in her heart finally settle into a quiet peace.