Dinner proceeded in an atmosphere that was both strangely awkward and warmly intimate.
The crystal chandelier cast a warm yellow glow, making the dining room resemble a Michelin-starred private room from before the apocalypse. On the table sat a whole roasted lamb leg still sizzling with bubbling fat.
This was a Grade B semi-prepared ingredient Qin Yu had just obtained from a supply crate. It only needed slight reheating and a sprinkle of cumin and chili powder to release an irresistible aroma that could captivate one's very soul.
Additionally, there was a steaming pot of mushroom and fish soup made with the mutated grouper caught earlier that day. The milky-white broth was so richly flavorful it made one want to swallow their own tongue.
Sizzle. Qin Yu used a silver dinner knife to cut off a piece of lamb with crispy skin and tender meat, placing it in his mouth.
The fat burst open in his mouth.
Satisfaction.
"Eat more," Qin Yu pointed at the plate of lamb and looked at the two somewhat unsettled women before him. "High-calorie food like this can help you resist the cold."
"Although we have the thermostat system indoors, the extreme cold in three days is no joke. Your physical condition needs to keep up."
Yao Qian held a lamb rib but nibbled on it absentmindedly. She secretly lifted her eyelids to glance at her sister sitting across from her.
Yao Xue had changed into a loose white knit home outfit with a rather large collar that revealed a generous expanse of snow-white skin.
Most deadly is.
Yao Qian's sharp eyes noticed a faint red mark on her sister's collarbone that hadn't yet faded.
That was...
Yao Qian's face flushed bright red instantly, and she quickly lowered her head, taking a fierce bite of the lamb rib in her hand as if it were someone's flesh.
"What's wrong? Your face is so red?" Yao Xue served Qin Yu a bowl of soup before turning to see her sister's monkey-butt-red face, feeling somewhat puzzled. "Is the room temperature too high?"
"No! Not at all!" Yao Qian nearly choked on the lamb and quickly took a big gulp of the iced cola beside her. "It's just... just that the chili is too spicy!"
She didn't dare meet her sister's eyes.
The formerly aloof, proud, and ethereal surgical director now had springtime radiance between her brows, her every movement exuding a thoroughly nurtured charm.
This contrast made Yao Qian feel as if a cat were scratching at her heart.
Sour.
Bitter.
And somewhat... curious.
"Alright, stop pretending," Qin Yu put down his knife and fork, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
He found Yao Qian's fidgeting appearance amusing.
"If you're full, go play your games."
"That machine is available 24/7 without time limits, with tens of thousands of games - enough to last you until your next lifetime."
Hearing the word "games," Yao Qian's eyes finally lit up, all embarrassment and shyness instantly forgotten.
"Really? So it's fine if I pull an all-nighter tonight?"
"Whatever you want," Qin Yu leaned back in his chair, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "As long as you can get up to work tomorrow morning."
"Yay! Brother Qin Yu is the best!"
Yao Qian cheered, tossing the remaining lamb bone aside and rushing eagerly toward the esports room shimmering with RGB lighting without even wiping her mouth clean.
"This girl..."
Yao Xue shook her head helplessly as she watched her sister's excitable retreating figure.
"She's grown up, yet still acts like a child."
Qin Yu exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes profound in the swirling haze.
"Being childlike is good."
"In this ruthless world, maintaining such innocence is a luxury."
A privilege only possible under the protection of the strong.
Yao Xue was momentarily stunned.
She gazed at this man several years her junior.
At this moment.
He sat there like a towering mountain, shielding them from all the storms outside.
"Qin Yu..."
Yao Xue's voice softened.
She stood up, walked behind Qin Yu, and began gently massaging his temples with her slender fingers.
"You've had a long day too."
"Would you like... to take a bath?"
Qin Yu grasped her wrist in response.
His palm was burning hot.
"A bath?"
A mischievous smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he turned to look at her beautiful face so close to his.
"Bathing alone is no fun."
Yao Xue's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, the color spreading all the way to her ears.
She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"Then...?"
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Yet in the quiet dining room, it was perfectly clear.
Qin Yu swept the once unattainable ice queen into his arms.
"Fine."
"We can do some after-dinner exercise too."
"Ah..."
Yao Xue gasped in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face against his chest.
...
Meanwhile.
Inside the holographic esports room.
Cool blue light filled the entire space, carrying the faint scent characteristic of electronic equipment.
Yao Qian sat cross-legged on the massive leather gaming chair.
She wore pure white stockings, her toes unconsciously curling into the thick carpet.
On the screen.
Dazzling scenes from "Cyberpunk 2088" played.
The enormous holographic projection enveloped her completely, as if she were immersed in that neon-lit futuristic city.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
She controlled her character, wildly spraying enemies with a smart submachine gun.
However.
Her mind was completely elsewhere.
One minute ago.
She had clearly heard the sound of chairs moving in the living room.
And her sister's brief, startled gasp.
Then.
The heavy sound of the master bedroom door locking.
"Click."
That soft sound amplified infinitely in Yao Qian's mind.
She removed the expensive noise-canceling headphones and tossed them casually onto the table.
The game paused.
The room became terrifyingly quiet.
Only the faint hum of the computer remained.
Yao Qian bit her finger, staring fixedly at the closed door.
Although this was a newly built independent room.
Although the walls used top-grade soundproofing materials.
Whether it was psychological or not.
She kept feeling faint, almost imperceptible sounds traveling through the floor.
Suppressed to the extreme, yet unavoidably escaping soft moans.
"Ah..."
Yao Qian abruptly covered her ears.
Her face burned as if on fire.
"I'm not listening! I'm not listening!"
"Yao Qian, you need to pull yourself together! You have games to play! You have an S-grade computer! Why are you thinking about all that messy stuff!"
She forced herself to put her headphones back on.
Turned the volume to maximum.
Tried to use the intense sounds of gunfire and explosions to drown out the lingering images in her mind.
But.
It was useless.
Even with explosions roaring in her ears.
Her mind kept automatically replaying the sounds she'd overheard through the door crack last night.
Her sister's tearful pleas for mercy.
Qin Yu's heavy panting.
And the overwhelmed creaking of the mattress.
"So annoying!!"
Yao Qian pushed her keyboard away.
Slumped back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
That feeling.
It was like having a hundred ants crawling inside her heart.
Itchy.
But not knowing exactly where the itch was.
She looked down at her long legs clad in White Silk Stockings.
Though not as full and mature as her sister's.
They were still straight and slender, well-proportioned and attractive.
"Could it be..."
"Am I really just a little sister?"
Yao Qian murmured to herself.
As if possessed.
She stood up and tiptoed to the door.
Pressed her ear against the door panel.
Held her breath.
Like a thief.
This time.
Even through two doors, even across the living room.
She seemed... to really hear some faint sounds.
It was her sister's voice.
Not sounding like pain.
More like floating among the clouds.
Yao Qian's body stiffened momentarily, then went limp as she leaned against the doorframe.
A misty dampness slowly welled up in her eyes.
Feeling both ashamed.
And an indescribable... yearning.
Tonight.
Was destined to be another night where she couldn't focus on gaming.
...
Two hours later.
In the master bedroom.
The air was thick with the strong scent of photinia, the lingering aftermath of hormonal release.
On the disheveled large bed.
Yao Xue lay curled under the blankets like a cat drained of all energy, not wanting to move even a finger.
Her hair was damp with sweat, clinging to her flushed cheeks.
Her eyes dazed.
"I can't take anymore..."
"Really can't..."
Qin Yu leaned against the headboard, refreshed and invigorated.
His system-enhanced physique was practically a tireless perpetual motion machine.
But he knew there was such a thing as too much.
There were important matters tomorrow.
"Sleep now."
Qin Yu kissed her smooth forehead and tucked her in properly.
"I'm going to check the harvest."
Yao Xue responded drowsily, turned over, and within seconds was breathing evenly in sleep.
She was truly exhausted.
Qin Yu dressed and left the bedroom.
Passing by the gaming room, he glanced at the tightly closed door.
A playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
No sounds came from inside.
Probably that girl was still battling her inner demons.
Qin Yu didn't disturb her and went straight up to the second-floor balcony.
The sea breeze still carried moisture, but was slightly cooler than during the day.
This was the calm before the storm.
"Buzz— Buzz—"
On one side of the balcony.
The S-grade automatic fishing net was tirelessly at work.
To Qin Yu, that sound of mechanical operation was simply the most beautiful music in the world.
This fishing net required no supervision.
Fully intelligent capture.
Anything that floated by, even a fly, couldn't escape its mesh.
Qin Yu walked over to the large storage trough.
It had already piled up into a small mountain.
Containing all sorts of miscellaneous items.
Sea fish were still flapping there, though most had already been crushed to death.
Besides these.
The most abundant items were various floating construction materials.
Wooden planks, plastic, metal fragments.
Of course.
The most eye-catching were the several chests mixed within the debris.
One blue.
Three white.
And one... emitting a faint purple glow!
"Purple?"
Qin Yu's eyes narrowed as he quickly strode over.
This was a Grade A Supply Chest!
He never expected the automatic fishing net could actually retrieve such valuable loot.
The odds were lower than winning the lottery.
"It seems that 'double resource refresh rate' announcement was genuine."
Qin Yu didn't rush to open the chest.
Now wasn't the time for blind box surprises.
He lifted the purple chest and stored it in his system backpack.
Then he walked to the control console.
There was a massive display screen connected to the ship's entire monitoring system and radar.
Qin Yu had installed the All-terrain tactical satellite terminal (Sky Eye) system here.
"Initiate full-area scan."
Qin Yu tapped several commands on the virtual keyboard.
[Sky Eye System Activated]
[Scanning waters within ten nautical miles...]
On the screen.
Green radar waves rippled outward in concentric circles.
The previously empty radar display, aside from dense clusters representing fish schools, suddenly showed an unusual signal.
Not the red indicating monsters.
But a yellow dot.
[Warning: Artificial object detected!]
[Distance: 4.5 nautical miles]
[Bearing: Southeast]
"People?"
Qin Yu's pupils constricted slightly.
This was the first time he'd encountered living humans since setting sail days ago.
Aside from those two sisters.
"Zoom in."
Qin Yu commanded.
The screen's view rapidly magnified.
Despite the deep night with minimal lighting.
The S-grade Sky Eye possessed built-in night vision and thermal imaging capabilities.
The image instantly clarified.
It was a... structure that could barely qualify as a "boat."
Approximately twenty square meters.
Several dilapidated rafts forcibly lashed together, with visibly swaying ropes at the junctions.
No proper defensive measures around the hull.
Just a few sharpened wooden stakes, appearing utterly destitute.
On that precarious deck.
Two or three shadowy figures stood visible.
Thermal imaging showed their body temperatures were generally low.
Resulting from prolonged malnutrition and exposure to cold.
"That's..."
Qin Yu squinted, examining the magnified details on screen.
Those people held crude stone axes and wooden spears.
Frantically scooping items from the sea with makeshift fishing nets.
Their movements were desperate, rough.
Two even brawled violently over a drifting plastic water bottle.
They were starving wild dogs.
"Is this the reality for ordinary people?"
Qin Yu watched the scene without emotional fluctuation.
No sympathy.
No pity.
This was the truest portrayal of the apocalypse.
Survival came even at the cost of dignity.
"Boss! There seems to be light over there!"
Suddenly.
On the screen, a man thin as a monkey on the raft pointed excitedly toward Qin Yu's direction, shouting.
Though no sound was audible.
Qin Yu understood his meaning through lip-reading and gestures.
Qin Yu's Presidential-class vessel was equipped with the [Artificial Sun · Perpetual Day Lamp (No Energy Consumption Version)].
In the pitch-black expanse of the sea.
It stood like a lighthouse.
Or more accurately... a massive piece of fatty meat.
The man called "Boss" turned around.
He was a burly bald man with a vicious scar across his left eye, wielding a rusty fire axe.
He followed the direction Monkey was pointing.
First came a moment of stunned silence.
Then.
His murky eyes erupted with a heart-palpitating gleam of greed.
Like a traveler dying of thirst in the desert suddenly spotting an oasis.
He opened his mouth wide, revealing a set of yellowed teeth.
Waving his axe, he roared something at the men around him.
Those men too seemed injected with adrenaline, their eyes turning green as they stared fixedly in Qin Yu's direction.
Some even began frantically paddling with crude wooden oars.
Trying to approach.
"Heh."
Watching this scene on the screen, Qin Yu couldn't help but let out a light laugh.
The laughter was filled with disdain.
Like a dragon watching ants armed with toothpicks attempting to slay it.
"Can't you see my cannon barrels?"
"Or perhaps..."
"Has hunger robbed you of your most basic reason?"
That broken raft was still four nautical miles away.
At their turtle-like speed, it would take at least two hours to row over.
Moreover.
They had no idea.
That what they saw as "fatty meat" was actually a fully armed Steel Fortress.
"Since you're asking for death."
Qin Yu's finger gently rested on the red button of the control console.
That was the firing control switch for the [Deep-sea Guardian].
With one press.
A plasma beam would erase that broken raft along with all the trash aboard from this world in 0.1 seconds.
Not even ashes would remain.
But just as Qin Yu was about to press the button.
His movement halted.
"Wait."
His gaze fell on an object in the bald man's hand.
He hadn't noticed it earlier.
But looking closely now.
There was a black object tucked at the bald man's waist.
It wasn't a stone.
Nor was it wood.
That shape...
Looked somewhat familiar.
Qin Yu zoomed in on the image again.
This time.
He saw it clearly.
It was actually a black metal cylinder with several wires connected to its tail.
Though somewhat damaged.
Qin Yu recognized it instantly.
That was...
A wrecked component of a [Small marine thruster]!
Even if it was just wreckage.
It meant these people possessed, or had been to places with, power system-related items!
Qin Yu's eyes instantly lit up.
His initial pure killing intent transformed into the gleam of a hunter spotting prey.
"So you're not here to die."
"You're here to deliver a package."
Qin Yu removed his finger from the firing control button.
He picked up a glass of red wine nearby, gently swirling it.
A cruel curve lifted the corner of his mouth.
"In that case."
"I'll let you live a little longer."
"Come closer."
"Closer still."
"Welcome to..."
"Hell."