Night fell.
The sky was very dark, the moon obscured by clouds. Every home in the Sunshine Shelter turned on its lights, the illumination dispelling the darkness and blanketing this peaceful place.
The normally quiet chat group, following the appearance of a single announcement, instantly exploded like an underwater bomb, sending out a monstrous tidal wave.
[Vuong Khai: A matchmaking event will be held tomorrow at Dien Giac Park. We hope everyone will put down their work and actively participate.]
Everyone in the group was utterly stunned when they saw this message.
A... matchmaking event?
This sort of thing would be perfectly normal in times of peace, but this was the apocalypse. Everyone was struggling to survive. They never expected such an event to happen.
It truly exceeded their imaginations. However, on second thought, it was understandable. Hoang City was very safe now. Other than the small population, there were no other problems. It could be considered a small, self-contained society.
[Quan Hao: Female friends can dress up nicely. Male friends, remember to shower and change into clean clothes.]
[Special Note: Brother Lam will also be at the event as one of the participants.]
Quan Hao's thinking was simple. If it was a shelter-wide matchmaking event, then everyone had to participate. No one could be an exception.
After Quan Hao posted this message in the group.
Many people did not have a peaceful night's sleep.
"Ah..." Duong Giai Vu was just about to doze off. Staying up late was a woman's natural enemy, and now that the apocalypse had stabilized, she once again took this enemy seriously. Just as she was about to sleep, her phone buzzed with a notification. She opened it, saw the message, and shot up in bed. "A... matchmaking event, and Brother Lam is also participating?"
This news was a shock to her. Her little heart couldn't help but start to pound.
Thump, thump, thump.
"The pressure on me is so intense."
Duong Giai Vu cupped her cheeks, took a deep breath, and then turned off her phone.
"I need to sleep early. Starting tomorrow, I have to dress up properly."
This thought wasn't unique to Duong Giai Vu. Nhan Ny Ny was in the same state of mind. She knew she had many competitors. As for who Brother Lam would choose tomorrow, she was incredibly eager to find out.
He should choose me, right?
At this time.
Lam Pham, staying at home, saw the message in the group and couldn't help but widen his eyes. How on earth did he get dragged into this? He just wanted to watch everyone have a good time and be a spectator for the whole thing.
Thinking of this, he quietly sent a message to Quan Hao, saying he should probably sit this one out.
But Quan Hao told him, "Brother Lam, as a member of the shelter, how can you not participate? Besides, this event needs someone to lead the way, and you are the best person to lead the charge."
In other words, the so-called "lead goose."
Lam Pham had no rebuttal for this argument and could only silently agree in the end.
The next morning.
Vuong Khai and Quan Hao woke up very early to start arranging the afternoon's venue.
Dien Giac Park was the best location. It was large and could accommodate many people. Moreover, the place had become a breeding ground, which would also allow everyone to witness our shelter's abundant meat reserves.
During their time at the shelter, they had also gained a group of younger followers. They brought them along, carried their tools, and hurried towards Dien Giac Park.
The setup wasn't overly complicated. They just laid a red carpet at the entrance, put up some balloons, and created a matchmaking atmosphere to make anyone who came feel that this event was very official.
"Brother Hao, do you think I'll get chosen?" Tran Ngang was very much looking forward to the matchmaking event.
Quan Hao said, "Don't worry. Have you forgotten what you used to do?"
"I remember. I used to hand out hot towels at a KTV."
"See? To get into that line of work, you need to have some looks. You're young and not bad-looking. You'll definitely be chosen."
Quan Hao was quite good to this young follower. At least, since he arrived at the Sunshine Shelter, Quan Hao had taken good care of him. The other followers were also young and liked to hang around with him.
Thinking of this, he thought of Brother Sieu.
He didn't know where his Brother Sieu had gone. Perhaps Brother Sieu was working hard somewhere, planning to appear before him in the future and make a stunning debut to shock him.
But that possibility was not high.
After all, no matter what, he, Quan Hao, had already become an Awakener, and he even had several young followers who listened to his arrangements. His life had already undergone a world-shaking transformation.
Perhaps this was the feeling of having already reached the peak of one's life.
Hearing Brother Hao's words, Tran Ngang immediately gained confidence, feeling that what Brother Hao said was completely right.
"Quan Hao, what about me then?" Vuong Khai asked.
"Brother Khai, is there even a need to ask? You're definitely a sure thing. Your deeds have long been spread around. Not to mention anything else, just the Sunshine Shelter Life Guide you wrote is famous. It's even become required reading for the children." Quan Hao rattled off a stream of praises for Vuong Khai.
When he came to the Sunshine Shelter, he had latched onto Vuong Khai.
Once a Brother Khai, always a Brother Khai.
"Don't mention it, don't mention it. It's nothing." Vuong Khai waved his hand, looking very modest but feeling incredibly proud inside. His Sunshine Shelter Life Guide was now over a hundred pages long, a very thick volume, and its contents were very rich.
He himself had never imagined that he would publish the first book of his life during the apocalypse.
And it was even very popular among the people.
This was something he had never expected.
"Brother Khai, in my heart, you are truly outstanding. In the entire shelter, apart from Brother Lam, you are the person I admire the most. Back then, you stayed at the water plant, braving danger to ensure Hoang City's water supply ran normally, saving so many people. If it were me, I definitely couldn't have done it," Quan Hao said.
Vuong Khai said, "That's all in the past. Why bring it up? I believe if it were you, you would have done the same. Alright, enough talk. Let's hurry up and get this set up."
Quan Hao waved to his young followers, "Get to work, get to work..."
. . .
Afternoon, three o'clock.
Dien Giac Park was filled with people who had come for the matchmaking event.
Everyone was dressed cleanly and neatly. If any wandering survivors from the outside saw this scene, they would definitely exclaim, "What are you all doing? This is the apocalypse! Dressed like this, have you forgotten how terrifying the apocalypse is?"
"Master Ha, you came too?"
When Chu Duong saw Ha Khanh, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. Furthermore, looking at what Ha Khanh was wearing, a proper Zhongshan suit, he looked quite charismatic.
"Can't I come?" Ha Khanh retorted.
Chu Duong said, "Of course you can. I was just asking. After all, I really didn't expect Master Ha to think about matchmaking. If this were peacetime, if you so much as breathed a word of this outside, I don't know how many people would be breaking their heads trying to get next to you."
Ha Khanh said, "To add hope for the future is everyone's responsibility. Alright, I'm done talking to you. I'm going to find a good spot before they're all taken."
After speaking, he turned and left, not waiting for Chu Duong to say anything more.
For Ha Khanh, not being able to become an Awakener was truly a source of pain. Although he seemed not to care about it, in his heart, he was always thinking about it.
He had even gone to find Professor Ha to ask if there were any other possibilities.
Professor Ha's answer to him was to cherish his own body and not to think about those things.
He could only accept his fate.
Chu Duong watched Ha Khanh's departing back and couldn't help but sigh. Master Ha's level of awareness was so high. A Master Ha is a Master Ha, after all.
"I need to find a good spot too."
There were truly too many people at the event.
Even the children had come to join in the fun.
The elderly, on the other hand, gathered in groups of three or five, each bringing their own stool, pointing and whispering, discussing amongst themselves. Often, an exchange between a few old men could dredge up a person's entire life story.
"I think that young Zheng kid is quite good."
"Mmm, he really is. Enthusiastic and generous, and handsome too. I wonder which little girl will be lucky enough to be with him."
"Back in the day, when I took my son to the park for matchmaking, you wouldn't believe it. The requirements were a prestigious university degree, a job at a big company, and a monthly salary that had to reach a certain amount."
"Five thousand?"
"What five thousand? It had to be fifty thousand! That's why I say, some of the young girls these days have standards that are too high. Getting married could empty our family's savings."
"Amazing, truly amazing."
The elderly just loved a lively atmosphere. To have survived in the apocalypse was truly not easy. Some of the elderly had experienced the pain of losing their children. Although they didn't die before their eyes, they had seen the horrors of the apocalypse firsthand.
Could they still be alive?
Perhaps.
But the chances were too slim.
In reality, their children were probably dead, but without seeing it with their own eyes, they always held onto a sliver of hope. This was their spiritual anchor.
The people of the Sunshine Shelter were very good to them, these elderly folks, and took great care of them, making them feel warmth.
. . .
Quan Hao waited at his spot. In front of him was a sign displaying his personal information, such as name, age, zodiac sign, horoscope, pre-apocalypse job, and so on.
The only things missing were his work unit and salary.
His eyes darted around, a little nervous, a little expectant.
If this were peacetime, he felt he definitely wouldn't have any advantages. But in the apocalypse, where everyone spoke of fate and not of reasons, he was still quite hopeful.
Just then, he detected a whiff of perfume drifting into his nostrils.
He sniffed the air. It smelled so good.
His peripheral vision caught a beautiful figure. He immediately grew a little nervous, pretending to be calm as he looked up at the woman before him.
"He-hello," Quan Hao stammered, but he still mustered the courage to greet the girl in front of him.
"Hello, my name is Luu Lan Lan. May I get to know you a little?"
"Of course, of course you can."
The girl in front of him wasn't exceptionally stunning, but she gave Quan Hao a kind of girl-next-door charm, which was his type.
"My name is Quan Hao. I'm 24 this year, university educated, never had a girlfriend." Quan Hao felt that what he said shouldn't be a problem.
Luu Lan Lan said, "I know you. When I was first brought to the Sunshine Shelter, I noticed you. You would be on the roof of the shop every day, sitting there for the whole day."
"Ah..." Quan Hao was shocked. He never thought he had been noticed by someone long ago. This news made his heart leap with excitement.
Could it be that I'm really that outstanding?
If I weren't outstanding, why would she have paid attention to me? Thinking of this, Quan Hao couldn't help but feel his confidence rise. Perhaps an outstanding person will be noticed no matter where they are.
Luu Lan Lan said, "Yes, for quite some time. That's why I was looking for you as soon as I arrived today."
"Haha, really? I had no idea," Quan Hao said, scratching the back of his head a little shyly.
"This is my personal information. If you think it's okay, could we try dating for a bit?" Luu Lan Lan handed over a personal resume she had written in advance.
"Ah..."
Quan Hao hadn't expected Luu Lan Lan to be so direct. This left the inexperienced him at a loss for words for a moment. But he quickly reacted. Matchmaking in the apocalypse required speed.
As for the resume, a quick glance would suffice.
Even with a quick glance, the contents were still very clear.
25 years old.
One year older than him.
No problem. Even three years older would be fine.
"Alright, then let's give it a try." Quan Hao decided he must go to the Hoang City library to find a book on dating, study hard, and supplement his knowledge on the subject.
Luu Lan Lan said, "Then shall we take a walk around?"
"Okay, no problem. I'll just give this spot to someone else." Quan Hao stood up, packed his things, and then left side-by-side with Luu Lan Lan. When they passed by Vuong Khai's spot, he noticed Vuong Khai was still sitting there alone, with no girls approaching him.
This made Quan Hao feel very puzzled.
Brother Khai is so outstanding, why is it so quiet over there?
Vuong Khai saw Quan Hao's figure. When he saw a girl walking beside Quan Hao, his eyes widened in disbelief.
What the hell?
Did he succeed in matchmaking?
Quan Hao gave Vuong Khai a thumbs-up gesture and then left with a smile.
Vuong Khai watched Quan Hao's departing back, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth. He then looked hopefully at the beautifully dressed girls around him, as if to say, "Beautiful and cute sisters, won't you please look at me? I'm a good option!"
. . .
At this time.
Ha Khanh looked at the old sister in front of him, who was around forty or fifty years old. For a moment, he was speechless, and could only stare at her. If it were anyone else in such a face-off, someone would surely have shyly lowered their head.
But Ha Khanh was not shy, and the forty-to-fifty-year-old old sister stared right back at him.
"Old sister, did you perhaps go to the wrong spot?" Ha Khanh finally spoke.
"No, it's you. I don't like young ones. I like mature and steady men like you. I know who you are. You're Ha Khanh, once a prominent figure in Hoang City. And I wasn't simple before either. I used to be a successful female entrepreneur. I know your thoughts like the back of my hand. You want to find someone young, but I think you won't find one now. In a situation where money is useless, your advantages are gone. As for your steadiness and maturity, other young girls can't see it. Only I can."
Ha Khanh was speechless.
He felt that the situation was a bit off.
It seemed as if this old sister in front of him had him completely figured out.
"What you said is indeed correct, but what makes you think I would be interested in you?"
"No, it's not you being interested in me, but me being interested in you. Based on your current situation, your physical condition is among the worst in this entire matchmaking event. You're even past your expiration date. So, it's not you choosing others now, but you should be thinking about who will choose you."
The old sister's hardships were only evident from her time wandering in the apocalypse. With the matchmaking event, she had intentionally put on makeup, curled her hair, worn a mink coat, and put on sunglasses. That powerful career woman aura completely burst forth.
Ha Khanh: ???
Unimaginable. He was actually being described as an existence that was past its expiration date.
For Ha Khanh, this was a kind of humiliation.
But after careful thought, he felt that what she said seemed to have a bit of a point.
It was just that he didn't want to admit this kind of reasoning.
"Let's go." The old sister stood up, adjusted her mink coat, and looked down at Ha Khanh.
"What for?"
Ha Khanh was flustered by her actions. What was she trying to do now?
"Just a casual stroll. Do you want to continue waiting here for a young girl to fall into your arms?"
Hearing this.
Ha Khanh took a deep breath, staring at the old sister. Gradually, he couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh and could only stand up. What else could he do?
What she said had truly hit the nail on the head. At his current age and with his physical functions, it was really uncertain if anyone would be interested in him.
"What are you doing?" Just as Ha Khanh walked over to the old sister's side, he found that she had actually taken his arm. Such an intimate gesture made Ha Khanh very uncomfortable. "We can just talk, why are you taking advantage of me?"
The old sister glanced at Ha Khanh. "What do you mean, what am I doing? At our age, what haven't we been through? Do you think you're some innocent little virgin?"
"Aiya, you old broad are really... My Ha Khanh must have suffered for eight lifetimes to have met someone like you in the apocalypse."
"Hmph, don't you talk. If it weren't for the apocalypse, I really wouldn't have even looked at a half-wreck like you."
Ha Khanh was speechless.
They walked out of the park. Chu Duong, who was waiting for a match, saw an old sister holding Ha Khanh's arm, and his expression was quite colorful. He muttered to himself, So the former big shot is into this type.
. . .
"Brother Hang, it's fine if you want to find a match, but why did you have to drag me along? I was still thinking of going outside to clear out zombies."
Lam Pham was being dragged by Co Hang, his face full of helplessness.
He really didn't want to be set up.
"Everyone is matchmaking. If you don't, what kind of example is that?" Co Hang's purpose in dragging Lam Pham along wasn't to get him a match, but to avoid Duong Tue.
Lam Pham said, "I'm still young, I'm not in a hurry at all."
"You have to settle things while you're young. It won't be good if you wait too late," Co Hang said.
Faced with the current situation, Lam Pham was truly helpless and was eventually forcefully dragged over.
With Lam Pham's appearance, the eyes of many girls at the matchmaking event lit up, but that light quickly dimmed. For the girls living in the Sunshine Shelter, Lam Pham was truly the highest quality choice.
It was just that the difficulty was too high, and many girls lacked the confidence.
So there was nothing they could do.
"Brother Lam."
"Brother Lam."
Everyone greeted him.
Lam Pham smiled in response while observing the surroundings. He saw Tu Trach Duong talking animatedly with a girl, his articulate manner showing no sign of restraint.
Even Captain Lei was being helplessly pestered by a young girl.
He saw many, many acquaintances.
He thought to himself, this matchmaking event is really not bad.
"Let's just sit here." Co Hang directly chose a good spot for Lam Pham and pushed down on his shoulders, making him sit.
Just as Lam Pham had barely settled down.
Several beautiful scenes appeared.
Nhan Ny Ny and Duong Giai Vu were dressed very beautifully, their makeup, at a glance, clearly took a lot of time.
"Brother Lam, this is my personal resume. We're here to be matched with you."
"This is mine."
Swish!
Swish!
Two personal resumes were placed on the table.
Lam Pham blinked, staring blankly. Were they specifically waiting for me to arrive?
Nhan Ny Ny and Duong Giai Vu smiled, their eyes sparkling as if they could speak.
"Uh, this..."
Lam Pham had a lot he wanted to say, but for a moment, he didn't know what would be best to say.
Just then.
A weak voice came through.
"Would you mind if I also submitted a matchmaking resume?"
He turned his head to look.
He saw that To Tieu Hieu had also appeared.
To Tieu Hieu said a bit shyly, "If it's for the sake of bearing descendants and continuing the legacy of civilization, I would still prefer to be with my savior."
Nhan Ny Ny was speechless.
Duong Giai Vu was speechless.
They never thought that To Tieu Hieu, who was single-mindedly focused on making bread, was also a hidden competitor.
The people at the matchmaking event who saw this situation were filled with envy, especially Vuong Khai. He still hadn't been approached by anyone, but Brother Lam was surrounded by beauties as soon as he arrived.
Sure enough, comparing people really is impossible.
He was so envious he wanted to cry.
But at this moment.
A very sharp and confident figure walked over.
"One more probably won't matter, right?"
Ha Nha's charisma was outstanding. She also placed her personal resume in front of Lam Pham.
"Ah, Sister Ha Nha, you..."
Nhan Ny Ny and Duong Giai Vu both looked at her in shock.
They never expected Sister Ha Nha to join in as well. Whoa... the competitive pressure had reached its peak, hadn't it?
Ha Nha smiled. "It's fair competition, isn't it?"
"I'll join too. Although I, Han Suong, am not as beautiful as you all, I think one must participate in a matchmaking event to be matched. So I want to give it a try too." Han Suong also walked over with a smile.
"Ah..."
Nhan Ny Ny and Duong Giai Vu were dumbfounded.
Another competitor had been added.
Just then.
A small head squeezed through the crowd and appeared at the front of the table.
"Uncle Lam, I want to participate too! This is my resume. Phi Phi likes Uncle Lam the most!"
Phi Phi placed her resume on the table.
"Huh?"
This time, everyone was shocked.
My goodness, the 'kid king' of the shelter, the great Phi Phi, had actually participated, and even prepared her own resume. This move had truly outplayed everyone.
"Me too."
Dinh Dinh, following Sister Phi Phi, also placed her own resume on the table.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded. What was supposed to be a good matchmaking event had turned very strange with the appearance of Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh.
"Hahahaha..."
Lam Pham burst out laughing. He immediately thought of a solution, then stood up and took Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh's hands. "I've decided. I'll give these two little friends a chance. Let's go, let's go for a walk."
He then looked at Nhan Ny Ny and the others and said helplessly.
"I'm sorry."
Nhan Ny Ny was speechless.
Duong Giai Vu was speechless.
Ha Nha was speechless.
Han Suong was speechless.
To Tieu Hieu was speechless.
Lam Pham led the two children away into the distance.
Co Hang blinked, completely baffled. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
This was not following the script at all.
Suddenly, Co Hang sensed a gaze.
He followed the line of sight and was surprised to find Duong Tue looking at him with a warm smile on her face.
For Co Hang, he knew the situation was about to get truly tricky.
"Uncle Lam, am I especially smart?" Phi Phi raised her head and said very proudly.
"Why is that?"
Phi Phi giggled. "Because I knew Uncle Lam didn't want to participate, so I brought Dinh Dinh to help Uncle Lam out of the situation. Uncle Lam, don't you think I'm smart?"
"Yes, yes, that's right," Dinh Dinh added.
Lam Pham smiled. "Alright, very smart. Uncle Lam must reward you. How about this, let's go to the bookstore first. Uncle Lam will prepare some test papers for you."
Dinh Dinh said happily, "Thank you, Uncle Lam! I love studying the most!"
Phi Phi blinked. "Uncle Lam, why don't you just go back? Dinh Dinh and I will just take our resumes back. We won't participate."
Lam Pham smiled. "Too bad, you can't take them back."
"Aww..." Phi Phi's perky little head drooped.
So helpless.
If she had known, she wouldn't have saved Uncle Lam.
She had to go and get herself trapped in this vortex.