A thick cloud of dust blew back, spraying exhaust fumes into the faces of those trying to chase.

The RV had driven far away, and someone behind spat in the direction of Yu Xifeng.

Yu Xifeng drove for almost another forty minutes, putting the underground shelter survivors far behind.

The scenery ahead grew increasingly barren.

She stopped the car on a wasteland.

About a hundred meters ahead was a forest—or rather, trunks would be a more fitting description.

The location had a wide open view with no blind spots.

“Let’s rest here for today, study the map to decide our route, and eat something.”

Yu Xifeng got out of the driver’s seat and rubbed her neck and shoulders.

Driving was fresh at first, but keeping focus for so long was tiring.

Tomorrow, she and Zhang Qiu would have to take turns.

Yu Xifeng pulled out two packs of instant noodles from under the cabinet.

One pack wouldn’t be enough; both were hers.

Yu Xifeng said to Zhang Qiu, “Take whichever flavor you want.”

Zhang Qiu replied, “Do you still have the insect powder cake? I’ll just eat that, or meat paste, or anything else. You keep these instant noodles for yourself.”

Yu Xifeng glanced at him and tore open a pack, “There’s no such thing in the car.”

Zhang Qiu stood silently.

There was drinking water in the car, and it could heat water when powered.

Yu Xifeng stacked two noodle cakes together, sprinkled the seasoning on top, and cut a piece of ham sausage.

The strong aroma quickly spread.

Three minutes passed fast.

Yu Xifeng didn’t mind the heat and slurped the noodles right away.

Little Orange jumped down from the second floor and sniffed around Zhang Qiu.

Yu Xifeng finished the broth too.

Zhang Qiu was still standing there.

When Yu Xifeng looked over, Zhang Qiu’s hands and feet were stiff.

He could feel Yu Xifeng’s displeasure but didn’t know what to do.

Yu Xifeng noticed tiny red rashes on Zhang Qiu’s wrists and joints.

Zhang Qiu was allergic to dirt and was always careful about cleanliness.

“If you want to starve yourself to death, I can throw you out right now,” Yu Xifeng said.

Zhang Qiu silently took a pack from the box—the braised beef noodles on the top.

“What was the medicine you took before?” Yu Xifeng asked.

“Loratadine doesn’t work well for me anymore. Now I’m taking Montelukast sodium, or Ebastine.”

“Anything else?”

“Levofloxacin ear drops,” Zhang Qiu answered as he took hot water, “Olopatadine eye drops, Lurimethasone ointment, dry cleaning powder for the stove, and sometimes I drink some traditional medicine.”

“…”

That vague feeling returned.

Yu Xifeng closed her eyes and leaned back on the sofa.

She rummaged through the space stash.

Most of the medicines she’d stored hadn’t been used much.

Many were mixed up and she didn’t know what they were for.

Ebastine—found it.

Lurimethasone ointment, got it too.

What else?

Levofloxacin eye drops? Was Zhang Qiu supposed to put them in his ears or eyes?

Whatever, she’d bring them anyway.

Yu Xifeng opened her eyes and went upstairs.

Before going up, she looked back and said, “The bed at the back of the car is yours. Don’t come upstairs unless necessary; I need to meditate and don’t want to be disturbed.”

Zhang Qiu nodded while holding his instant noodles.

“After you finish eating, clean yourself up. You’re filthy.”

Yu Xifeng pretended to act, going upstairs to fetch the medicine for Zhang Qiu.

Zhang Qiu’s face flushed abnormally, “How do you have these medicines?”

“Why are those rashes even on your face now?” Yu Xifeng examined him closely.

Zhang Qiu put down his noodles and turned to take his medicine and drops, moving like he’d done this many times before.

He said, “You haven’t used the bathroom yet. You go first.”

Though the RV had two floors, it only had one bathroom.

Yu Xifeng felt strange while washing.

A man was waiting outside.

It was too weird.

Yu Xifeng’s clothes weren’t very gender-distinct, and she had picked out a large set for Zhang Qiu from the space stash, which looked fine on him.

When Yu Xifeng finished washing, the heater in the space was on full blast, warm and cozy, so she only wore a single shirt—long sleeves, long dress, and flip-flops.

She switched her flip-flops for light mesh shoes after coming out of the bathroom.

In case of an emergency, flip-flops would be too impractical.

Zhang Qiu had already cleaned the bowls, chopsticks, and plastic noodle bags.

He also fed the chickens in the cage with grains and water.

Yu Xifeng sat on the sofa, scissors in hand, gesturing at her hair.

Zhang Qiu watched her for a while, “Do you know how to cut hair?”

Yu Xifeng said, “What’s there not to know?”

She grabbed a lock and was about to snip.

“Stop! Leave it!” Zhang Qiu tried to grab the scissors, but Yu Xifeng dodged.

He didn’t dare get too close anyway; he was really dirty.

Yu Xifeng smelled nice, warm and damp.

“Wait until I finish washing, please,” Zhang Qiu said.

He quickly changed into the clothes Yu Xifeng prepared for him and came out of the bathroom as if his pants were on fire.

The window had a thin layer of condensation. Yu Xifeng boredly drew patterns on it.

She started with a smiling face.

The condensation ran down from the eyes, turning the smile into a crying face.

Yu Xifeng felt unlucky, wiped it, and redrew a little flower.

“I’ll cut your hair. Got a comb?”

“There should be one above the bathroom.”

Zhang Qiu brought it out along with the hair dryer.

He carefully smoothed Yu Xifeng’s hair bit by bit.

His movements were gentle.

Yu Xifeng didn’t feel a single tug.

Zhang Qiu parted her hair in the middle and tied a small bun with the top layer.

He used Yu Xifeng’s towel to prop up her hair.

“How short do you want it?”

“Just short enough to tie back,” Yu Xifeng asked, “Who taught you?”

Zhang Qiu said, “It was the old man’s profession. He stopped doing it a few years ago.”

Hair fell as Zhang Qiu trimmed her ends carefully, sculpting like carving.

Yu Xifeng urged, “Hurry up.”

“What style do you want in front?”

“Nothing blocking my eyes.”

Zhang Qiu tucked her hair behind her ears.

He trimmed the bangs into a curved layered style with a slight arc, which nicely framed Yu Xifeng’s face.

He was so focused that it seemed nothing else fit into his eyes.

Yu Xifeng shifted back awkwardly.

When finished, the hair dryer turned on and Yu Xifeng sighed with relief.

A lot of stray hair fell onto her face, prickly and tickly.

Before she could frown, Zhang Qiu’s hand brushed her face and wiped it.

“What’s that?”

“Dish sponge,” Zhang Qiu said.

“Oh.”

“?”

Zhang Qiu just cleaned the instant noodle bowls with that sponge and then used it to wipe her face?

Yu Xifeng nearly jumped, “What’s that!”

Zhang Qiu smiled, “It’s clean. This one hasn’t been used yet. I saved it for your haircut.”

Yu Xifeng went to the toilet mirror.

It really looked better than when she cut her own hair.

Zhang Qiu’s blow-drying made it smoother than her own attempts.

Zhang Qiu said outside, “Go to bed early. I’ll keep watch.”

Yu Xifeng didn’t refuse; she was indeed tired. “Wake me up in a couple of hours.”

Yu Xifeng slept until dawn, even past her usual standing meditation time.

There was an operation panel upstairs too. Yu Xifeng glanced at it; the camera hadn’t recorded any abnormal movement overnight.

She went downstairs.

The stairs were narrow and steep, made from storage cabinets.

Zhang Qiu leaned against the sofa, his eyes bloodshot. “Awake?”

“Why didn’t you wake me? Stayed up all night. How long have you not slept?”

“Nothing to do anyway. Resting while leaning here. Want something to eat?”

Yu Xifeng rubbed her eyes. “You go sleep. I’ll just make something simple.”