On his hurried journey, Su Can's mind was filled with the chaotic images of Su Lin's family's dilapidation, and his heart burned with anxiety.
The only comfort was the flickering thought that his grandson was still unharmed.
But without his protection, relying solely on those two low-level mechanisms, the shortage of guns and ammunition, and just two people in total!
Could that kid Su Lin really escape unscathed?
Su Can hurried on.
Finally, he arrived in front of Su Lin's house.
And when he saw the grandson's house—a Level 2 Safe House, now a full circle larger than before—he widened his old eyes in surprise.
Then he fell into a long silence.
He put down his giant sword, rubbed his eyes.
Finally, leaning forward, he squinted to look again... and again...
...
Su Lin was completely unaware of what was happening outside the door.
On his first day of time-travel, he had been constantly busy, and after experiencing the tension of the beast tide night watch, he was mentally and physically exhausted, his mind too muddled to think of anything.
Returning to his room on the second floor, he fell straight into sleep.
In his dream, he awoke to find that the time-travel was a nightmare, it wasn't real!
He was overjoyed, grabbing his bags to return to his old home, planning to relax for the rest of his life with the 200,000 yuan savings he had earned over four years.
However, Su Tongxi tearfully ran to him, questioning why he'd reverted to his old ways;
Soon after, Second Uncle Su Qi appeared, harshly reprimanding him for not being able to change his ways;
The little one, Su Yingying, also came, holding the doll he gave her and crying out, "I don't like little uncle anymore";
Afterwards, Old Su Can cast a tired and disappointed glance at him, and his once tall and strong figure seemed hunched and frail, staggering away.
The cool and elegant sister-in-law Zhao Yaxin appeared, her Phoenix Eyes scraping across his bewildered face like hooks, her mouth curling into a "just as I thought" cold smile before turning to leave.
As she walked away, the swaying hips captivated Su Lin.
"Ding-dong—" the phone rang.
He looked down to see a bank notification: The bank card with the 200,000 yuan savings had been permanently frozen.
"No——!!!"
Su Lin abruptly threw off the blanket, sitting up straight with cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
He looked around blankly, his familiar bedroom came into view.
This was the rented house where he had lived for four years after graduating.
"...Time travel... really a nightmare?"
But looking closely at the room, although very similar, was different; the computer, air conditioner, and other electrical furniture were gone, even the phone by the bedside and the wall sockets were missing.
Yet, holding onto a last glimmer of hope, he walked barefoot out of the room.
The first thing he saw was Su Tongxi.
Her slender frame, delicate shoulders, thin waist, and chopstick-like legs seemed as though a gust of wind could knock her over, yet she held the most bountiful and enticing fruits of autumn on her chest.
Seeing him, Su Tongxi's almond eyes lit up, and she smiled, "Brother Kirin, you're up so early!"
Su Lin stood dumbfounded.
His chest heaved exaggeratedly.
His breathing heavy.
A few seconds later.
He dashed forward maniacally, cupping Su Tongxi's adorably surprised little round face with both hands, and lowered his head to give her a hard kiss.
...
...
After washing up, Su Lin had superficially returned to normal.
With the beautiful woman's kiss still lingering, he "sweetly" devoured a wild vegetable rice porridge he had never tasted in his previous life.
Because he had just drunk breakfast milk.
Su Tongxi's crystal-clear earlobes were as red as a pair of gemstones, as she shyly straightened her rumpled clothes, her almond eyes downcast with a hint of charm and shyness, not daring to look directly at Su Lin, she quietly brought up the business:
"Brother Kirin, do you need to go out and search for materials again this morning?"
"The Shadow Core we picked up last night filled up the upgrade bars for the workbench, doors, windows, and walls. But upgrading the construction station still needs 30 pieces of alloy, 200 pieces of metal, and 10 metal nails."
"From the materials leftover yesterday, I can dismantle enough metal to make the metal nails, but we don't have any more alloy or the extra 200 pieces of metal at home."
"I want to upgrade the construction station early... that way, we can make more bullets to sell."
She spoke softly.
Su Lin, like a whirlwind, finished the porridge, devoured a small plate of pickled vegetables, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand:
"Let's go! But don't rush to sell the bullets, keep some at home for backup. Later, you come with me to Grandpa's house, let's borrow the materials we need first; if they don't have them, we'll borrow money to buy them, I'll pay them back later."
He, too, yearned to upgrade the construction station soon.
A bullet cost 20 copper, with a double-side magazine of 20 rounds.
If he were to finish off a fancy shot, he'd have to declare bankruptcy.
It's outrageously expensive!
Better to test the prowess of the tenfold enhanced hand crossbow first.
"Alright, I'll listen to Brother Kirin."
Since Su Lin decided to "turn over a new leaf," Su Tongxi had begun to follow his words, appearing obedient and respectful as if her husband were the sky.
After breakfast, enduring the residual muscle soreness from the previous day, Su Lin performed a few sets of warm-up exercises in the living room.
Then... there was nothing else to do.
"Trash!"
Su Lin cursed lowly.
Constantly playing games, utterly exhausted!
His body was as weak as a thread!
And the meals at home, consistently wild vegetable rice porridge, couldn't possibly provide the nutrition needed for exercise.
"Forget it." He sighed helplessly, calling Su Tongxi to go out and find Second Uncle.
Got to find ways to earn more money, buy meat to nourish myself, I don't want to be a weakling.
...
The sky is still early, but in the post-apocalyptic world, everyone is scrambling for survival.
As Su Lin took Su Tongxi out the door, he saw a group of neighbors gathered in front of his house, pointing fingers and gossiping away.
Seeing Su Lin show up, the crowd gasped:
"Su Lin?! You're not dead yet?"
"Not only not dead, he upgraded to a Level 2 Safe House?!"
"Good heavens, you wouldn't have forcibly upgraded to a Level 2 Safe House to pressure Second Grandfather Su or even Old Su to become your tenants and safeguard your home, would you?!"
"Truly sinful, such an unfilial brat!"
Su Lin felt his head go black with anger, swinging his hand dismissively:
"Get lost! Wailing like it's a funeral in the early morning! What's wrong with me upgrading to a Level 2 Safe House? Who's guarding who? Just the two of us are enough! Think everyone's as filthy-minded as you lot? A bunch of idiots!"
Mechanisms can hide in daily mode, not affecting everyday life.
But the appearance of a Level 2 Safe House can't be concealed.
From a tiny old hut to a semi-new little building, its size has expanded several times, even a blind person could see.
The neighbors thought he upgraded only after the beast tide ended, unaware he's already endured a wave of secondary beast tide.
Hearing him say two people can guard, the crowd jeered, not a single one believed him.
Zhao Zhu, around the same age from the same village, sneered:
"Blowing smoke without a draft, take a look at what you are like in your own urine?"
His gaze swept towards Su Tongxi behind Su Lin, licking his lips lasciviously, he chuckled:
"Su Lin, how about a deal? Now that you have a Level 2 Safe House, whether you have Su Tongxi or not doesn't matter... heh heh, how about this, I'll treat you to three meals of braised pork, and you hand her over to me as a tenant?"
Su Lin, hearing this, squinted his eyes dangerously.
The irritation from today's nightmare hasn't faded, transforming into a viciousness flashing deep in his eyes.
His hand instinctively reached towards his gun holster, then halted midway.
Yesterday Hou Yong committed taboo, but today it's just a minor verbal conflict, pulling out a gun isn't feasible.
Even in the apocalypse, it's forbidden to shoot and harm villagers, the last semblance of order in the wasteland, a hard iron rule.
Zhao Zhu is brawny, without a gun, definitely can't beat him with his current frame.
But... not using a gun, can't beat him, doesn't mean he can't handle Zhao Zhu!
Su Lin suddenly grinned, leaned closer to Zhao Zhu's face, lowering his voice with undisguised threat:
"Kid, have you forgotten who I am? My grandfather is Su Can! You think you can covet my woman?"
As he said that, he took another step forward, his fierce gaze like a ferocious wolf, staring daggers at Zhao Zhu.
Zhao Zhu's face changed abruptly, forced to stagger back two steps by the sudden intimidating presence.
He hadn't thought Su Lin would flip over this.
But recalling how Su Lin, due to his vile deeds, had long been abandoned by the Su Family, his courage grew a few notches, glaring back fiercely at Su Lin, raising his voice to make sure everyone around could hear:
"Didn't you always say Su Tongxi isn't your type? What's wrong with me trading with you? Just you, a loser, still thinking to use Old Su to pressure me? Does he even bother with you for you to use connections to pressure me??"
Su Lin coldly spat two words: "Idiot!"
"You!" Zhao Zhu fumed.
Su Lin, however, stepped back at this moment, his gaze looking down, laden with high-handed scorn:
"Brainless fool, haven't you heard yesterday's tale of me going out for supplies and putting a hole through Hou Yong's arm in front of Captain Chang? My Second Uncle backed me up on the spot! Captain Chang didn't utter a single word!"
Zhao Zhu's pupils contracted sharply.
The crowd erupted:
"Seriously?"
"I only heard Su Lin wanting to die with Zhang Jinlian... turns out he still wanted to drag his former friends down?"
"Key point is Captain Chang didn't arrest him?"
"Really Second Grandfather Su backed him up?"
"Tsk... no matter how unsavory, he's still the sole successor of the Su Family..."
Hearing the surrounding discussions makes Zhao Zhu's heart jittery, standing frozen, face changing, unsure what to do.
Just then.
"Brother Lin——! Father Lin——! Daddy Lin——! Foster father! Dad! Master Lin! Grandpa——!!!"
A series of heart-wrenching, mixed generation cries drew near.
Hou Yong was seen with one arm hung in a sling around his chest, tears and snot streaming as he frantically pushed through the crowd, rushing to within three or four yards of Su Lin, and with a "thud" slid onto his knees, crying mournfully:
"I was wrong! I was really wrong! You've got to save me! Save me, dad!! Grandpa!!"
His remaining good hand reached out towards Su Lin, trying to hug his leg.
"Wait, wait, wait a minute! What are you doing? You're crying at my funeral too?"
Su Lin looked bewildered and annoyed.
He was just about to act cool, but the protagonist jumps out sobbing?
And that acting is way too exaggerated!
Looks like a stunt double I hired!
Didn't notice the change in Zhao Zhu's stupid bear expression, and the crowd's gaze on me has changed too?!
Su Lin's anger flared, kicking towards Hou Yong's body immediately!
That kick made Hou Yong stumble, clumsily falling to the ground, his remaining good hand cradling a bundle behind him.
"Ouch! Grandpa! Watch your step, grandpa!" Hou Yong wailed exaggeratedly.
"Why the hell are you crying at a funeral!"
Su Lin pulled his gun backhand, his movements swift like the wind, without unlocking the safety, the cold muzzle pressed hard against Hou Yong's forehead.
That familiar chill, Hou Yong's eyes instantly cleared.
Su Lin vehemently said: "Was opening a window in your arm yesterday not refreshing enough for you? Came early in the morning looking for death, wanting your grandpa to blow a hole in your skull too?!"
Hou Yong, hearing this, a tall Northland bloke over six feet, actually burst into loud, heart-rending sobs, his voice sharp and clear, piercing everyone's eardrums:
"Grandpa! Master Lin! I was wrong! I've really realized my mistake! Yesterday Captain Chang kicked me out of the squad! Without that salary, the old and young at home all have to starve with me, grandpa! Master Lin! Please, have mercy, save me, Master Lin!"