“Doudou, remember, as long as we stay strong, others can’t hurt us no matter what they say or do. But if we let ourselves be controlled by others emotions, we’ll be heading towards disaster.” 

Even if I’m at home, so what? Who says I have to save him, and who says I can definitely save him? If he’s willing to leave his family behind and die, why should I save someone who doesn’t want to live?” 

Doudou thought that the outside world was far more complicated than her brother and sister-in-law had said. She seemed to understand but not completely. After thinking about it several times, it suddenly became clear. 

But although they let her go on duty, the two were still worried and would frequently ask about what happened outside and how she handled it. 

Doudou had to take care of herself at her uncle’s house when she was only four or five years old. Living under someone else’s roof, she could only cry in secret, since being discovered by her uncle’s family would result in scolding or being denied of food. 

Later, she was slowly guided by Jiang Ning to open up to her brother, but she rarely expressed her true feelings to outsiders. 

Either she remained silent or just smiled and moved on. 

So, even if people outside talk about Jiang Ning, she doesn’t rush to come out and refute them; instead, she keeps it all in her heart. 

When she’s afraid of doing something impulsive and wrong; she’ll just ask her brother and sister-in-law when she gets home. 

Her brother said that some mistakes cannot be made, even once, as the price paid could be life itself. 

There are many things she can only figure out as she goes. 

As for the rumors, Jiang Ning never really cared; she just lived her life.

She stopped going on duty and spends almost all her time studying medical books except for exercising and managing the space. 

Some households in the neighborhood were happy while others were in despair. Some residents had their hidden supplies stolen, while others joyfully retrieved them. 

The eternal night made the division between the rich and poor even more apparent. Apart from suicides, there were also incidents of people overdosing on expired sleeping pills. 

Your sorrow is yours alone, while others happiness is theirs alone; joy and sorrow never overlap. 

Jiang Ning roamed in the ocean of knowledge, and before she knew it, a month had passed. One night, she suddenly became interested and hugged Huo Yishen, wanting to have a deeper conversation, but unexpectedly, she was rejected. 

At first, she was a little confused, but she quickly understood. 

In the past month, they hadn’t been intimate. Although they hadn’t talked about it, they both knew that Xiao Min’s death during childbirth had left psychological shadows on both of them. 

Even with an umbrella, it’s not absolutely safe. 

Jiang Ning smiled and turned off the bedside lamp. “Let’s sleep.” 

Huo Yishen hugged her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Anning.” 

In the morning, after finishing breakfast and intending to continue reading medical books, the intercom sounded, someone was at the entrance of the neighborhood. 

It was Grandma Zhong. 

Jiang Ning thought for a moment; if the child was safe and sound, today would be exactly one month since the birth. 

Grandma Zhong came with her daughter-in-law and brought ten kilograms of rice as a thank-you gift for Jiang Ning’s help. 

Jiang Ning didn’t rush to accept it. “Grandma Zhong, how’s the child?” 

Grandma Zhong, unlike her usual optimistic self, looked much older and worn out, but she still managed to smile at Jiang Ning. “The child is doing well.” 

Xiao Min was a sensible and family-oriented person, but the Zhong family was not well-off. She didn’t take many supplements when she was pregnant, and the child looked very weak. However, after a month of careful feeding, he seemed to be in a much better state, and his eyes moved very quickly. 

He still couldn’t speak, and they hoped that the difficulties during childbirth wouldn’t affect his intelligence. 

The Zhong family had a great-grandson thanks to Jiang Ning, their lifesaver. However, the whole family was still immersed in the grief of losing their daughter-in-law and had no mood for celebrations. 

Especially Zhong Ping, who hadn’t eaten or drunk for several days. He felt that he had caused his wife’s death. If he had been more careful, Xiao Min wouldn’t have become pregnant in the first place. 

If they had noticed the abnormal fetal position earlier and had aborted in time, perhaps she wouldn’t have died. But the child had moved at that time, and Xiao Min couldn’t bear to abort. So, she begged her husband to keep it a secret from the family… 

So, Zhong Ping simply didn’t want to live anymore. 

If it weren’t for the child’s crying that made him feel the responsibility of being a father, perhaps he would have… 

But this was a family matter, and Grandma Zhong didn’t discuss it with anyone. 

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law came over to express their gratitude to Jiang Ning. 

Jiang Ning declined their gratitude. “Grandma, take the rice back and grind it into rice porridge to feed the child. Consider it a gift from me as the child’s aunt for his one-month celebration.” 

The Zhong family had been taken care of by Jiang Ning for many years, and gratitude couldn’t be expressed in just a few words. Grandma Zhong insisted on giving it. 

“Grandma, if you want to thank me, wait until he grows up.” 

Jiang Ning persisted in not accepting it. “As we live up to this day, familiar faces are becoming fewer and fewer. Let’s consider it fate between our two families.” 

One couldn’t help but admit that she was no longer adapting to the cruelty and darkness of the apocalypse. Everything she saw had left her numb, and the joy and sorrow of others rarely touched her emotions. 

The Zhong family was one of the few that could evoke empathy from her. 

If humans lose their emotions, what’s the difference between them and walking machines? 

That’s why she was willing to extend a helping hand, when necessary, whether it was to assist or rescue; it brought some comfort to her heart. 

Grandma Zhong suddenly burst into tears. “Thank you, Little Jiang, thank you so much.” 

If it hadn’t been for Jiang Ning performing a timely cesarean section to save the child, Zhong Ping might have… already collapsed mentally without this child to hold onto. 

In fact, it wasn’t just him; the entire Zhong family felt the same way. 

They had to live well, even if it was difficult. They couldn’t just close their eyes and be done with it. They had to raise this child for both the Zhong family and for Xiao Min, who was no longer with them. 

After seeing the two off, Jiang Ning returned to Building 50 to continue reading. 

Rong Sanshao, who was being bothersome, would occasionally pester her through the intercom. 

“Sis, want to have hotpot?” 

“Sis, want some beef and mutton?” 

“Sis, my family’s medicines are expiring soon, do you want them?” 

Jiang Ning didn’t want to get too close to Rong Sanshao, so she often turned off the intercom. 

The public security outside was getting better and better. Qin Chuan and his gang of secondhand dealers were thriving in business. Not only did they manage the business within the community, but they were also actively expanding their operations outside. 

After the eternal night, the hierarchy among the rich became even more apparent. Many once-wealthy socialites, now fallen into poverty, tearfully brought out their luxury goods — Chanel dresses, LV bags, Hermes high heels, etc. — and sold them in the night market, hoping to exchange them for some food. 

Passersby couldn’t help but mock, “Are these people crazy? Chanel white dress for half a kilo of rice? Can it keep you warm or fill your stomach?” 

Even more some shameless individuals would come to harass, “Beauty, these things aren’t worth half a loaf of bread, but your face is pretty good. Why don’t you come home with me?” 

The socialites ran back home, covering their faces, crying all night. 

Afterward, some people, disregarding their pride and dignity, went to Qin Chuan. “Brother Qin, these are all good items. I spent 1.28 million on this dress, it’s a limited edition worldwide. I’ve only worn it once. And this LV bag, I bought it for collection, I haven’t even removed the tag. Can you sell them?”