Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

"confidence?"

She chuckled softly, her warm breath caressing his earlobe.

"Is the PhD student's confidence based on those cold, precise data models in the lab, or...?"

Her fingertips suddenly slid down, lightly brushing against the sensitive flesh of his waist, causing Bai Shuliu's back to stiffen almost imperceptibly.

"Is it merely a blind certainty about the unknown?"

Bai Shuliu's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes behind his glasses surged with unspoken emotions.

He entered this absurd drama with the mindset of observation and research, but he never expected to be dragged into the center of the vortex so quickly.

Liu Yunshu's untamed vitality and strong control acted like a highly effective catalyst.

Not only did it cause his dormant heartbeat to race out of control, but it also seemed to spread a layer of unfamiliar warmth over his fingertips.

"perhaps,"

He didn't try to break free. Instead, he raised his hand and brushed away a strand of sweaty hair from her temple, a gesture that hinted at a deeper inquiry.

"My confidence stems precisely from my desire to verify it myself."

"Captain Liu's unique vital signs and his behavior that breaks all conventional paradigms are top-level topics that deserve in-depth analysis."

"Topic?"

Liu Yunshu raised an eyebrow and suddenly released her grip on his waist.

She then lifted her head, precisely pinched his chin, and forced him to look up and meet her gaze.

The tears in her eyes had long since receded, leaving only a sharp, clear gaze and an unquenched, burning flame.

"Since I am your 'lesson,' what are we waiting for?"

She released his jaw, her fingertips tracing his jawline with a swift and decisive motion.

He then turned and walked out, his steps brisk and without the slightest hesitation, as if all the intimacy and confrontation just now were nothing more than ordinary.

Bai Shuliu stood still, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a faint light, his gaze behind the lenses fixed on her unwavering back.

The interest in his eyes surged like a tide, and the curve of his lips became even more pronounced.

Lin Yang watched Liu Yunshu's dashing departing figure, his eyes gleaming with an almost worshipful light, and subconsciously murmured:

"Captain Liu is so cool! That aura... he's practically the queen of the apocalypse!"

"I wonder what Captain Liu's criteria are for selecting people. If only I could..."

"Cough cough cough!!!"

Wang Lu's vicious elbow strike interrupted Lin Yang's rambling; this kid really doesn't care about his life!

Lin cried out in pain after being elbowed, and then felt four icy gazes, as if they were real, fixed on him like death rays.

Qin Zheng's sternness, Li Xin's sarcasm, and Chu Sheng's vigilance.

And the seemingly calm yet subtly oppressive gaze behind Bai Shuliu's glasses.

He fell silent instantly, his hair stood on end, and he awkwardly shrank his neck, wishing he could disappear on the spot.

My deadpan mouth! Shut it now!

Get your act together! Think of some excuse to get away with this!

Hey, move your legs! Help! This is terrifying!

Liu Yunshu's voice came from not far away, instantly thawing the frozen atmosphere.

"What are you all standing there for? Get ready to head back."

Lin Yang felt as if he had been granted a pardon and practically scrambled to hide behind Wang Lu.

He only dared to peek out half his face, secretly observing those "core figures" whose auras were different yet subtly connected.

Qin Zheng was the first to compose himself, suppressing all the complex emotions surging in his eyes.

He raised his hand, meticulously straightening his slightly loosened collar, regaining his usual cold and authoritative demeanor, and gave the order in a deep voice:

"Everyone, gather the supplies and take a headcount. We'll depart in ten minutes."

Li Xin raised an eyebrow and didn't dwell on the "exclusionary nature of Dou Dizhu" issue.

He then strolled over to Chu Sheng's side and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, with a mischievous smile:

"Third brother, did you see that? Fourth brother has officially been 'joined' the team. From now on, it'll be even harder for him to monopolize Captain Liu's attention..."

Chu Sheng's dark red eyes narrowed, and he subconsciously clenched his fists, his gaze towards Bai Shuliu filled with obvious hostility.

But then, remembering Liu Yunshu's attitude just now, he became somewhat dejected and muttered:

"As long as my sister doesn't kick me out, I'll stay with her forever."

He turned to Bai Shuliu, adding as if asserting his ownership, "And Xiao Si has to listen to us and isn't allowed to compete with me for her sister's attention!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Shuliu's lips curled into a playful smile, and a hint of interest flashed in her eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses.

"Whom to listen to is probably up to Miss Liu to decide."

His gaze seemed to follow Liu Yunshu's retreating figure almost imperceptibly.

Like a wild rose blooming amidst ruins, dangerous yet dazzling.

Xiao He stood there, the record board in his hand almost crushed.

He looked at the way his PhD student was looking at Liu Yunshu.

The cold, analytical approach to experimental samples that he used to take was gone; instead, there was a burning passion that even he couldn't decipher.

A thought popped into his head: Is the doctor really... turning himself into part of the "experiment"?

Liu Yunshu seemed to sense the gaze behind her, turned around and glanced at the four people one by one.

Qin Zheng immediately straightened his back and regained his composure.

Li Xin winked at her, her peach blossom eyes full of laughter.

Chu Sheng instantly put on his most obedient expression and stared at her expectantly.

Bai Shuliu nodded slightly, her eyes behind her glasses shining brightly, filled with undisguised curiosity and interest.

A hint of a smile flashed in her eyes, but she said nothing more and turned back to continue counting the supplies.

"Load all remaining medicines and compressed biscuits from the west warehouse onto trucks. Store weapons and ammunition separately, and take precautions against moisture."

Her clear and powerful voice instantly calmed the somewhat restless team members, who then got to work and perform their respective duties.

The off-road vehicle's engine restarted, and the sound of it rolling over the gravel road broke the silence of the warehouse center.

Liu Yunshu sat in the passenger seat, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the car window.

The lingering blush on her cheeks had not completely faded, but she had already regained her usual composure.

Qin Zheng's hands remained steady on the steering wheel, only occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror.

The gaze lingered briefly on the three people in the back row before finally settling back on Liu Yunshu's profile.

His eyes held complex emotions that even he himself was unaware of.

The rear seats weren't very spacious, and Chu Sheng was practically glued to Liu Yunshu's seatback.

His dark red eyes were fixed on the top of her head.

He would occasionally extend his fingertip to carefully touch a strand of her hair, then quickly withdraw it.

Li Xin crossed her legs, rested her elbows on the car window, and darted around with her peach blossom eyes.

She glanced at Qin Zheng's tense profile one moment, and then at Chu Sheng's clingy appearance the next.

Finally, the spot fell on Bai Shuliu—the newly joined "Little Four" was leaning against the chair.

His fingertips tapped lightly on his knee, and his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses remained calm and undisturbed.

It was as if the absurd scene in the warehouse just now was just a record of an ordinary experiment.

"Dr. Bai,"

Li Xin broke the silence first, his tone carrying his usual playful tone.

"I never would have guessed that beneath your refined and elegant exterior, you're quite... unconventional."

Bai Shuliu raised her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips:

"In the end times, the old order and morality are inherently fragile."

"Unconventional 'variables' and 'high-quality catalysts' that can trigger dramatic reactions have always been areas of interest in my research."

His gaze drifted almost imperceptibly to Liu Yunshu's retreating figure, his openness revealing an undisguised curiosity.

"Moreover... isn't it the most reasonable human reaction to feel an unusual 'desire to interact' with someone as unique as Captain Liu?"

"Xiao Si is quite frank."

Li Xin raised an eyebrow, a hint of competition flashing in her peach blossom eyes.

"But let me make it clear from the start: if you want to 'win favor' here, you can't just rely on words and theories; you have to show some real substance."

Bai Shuliu remained noncommittal, her fingertips maintaining a steady tapping rhythm.

He gave Liu Yunshu a meaningful look, then turned his gaze to Li Xin, his tone calm yet carrying a subtle hint of provocation:

"Captain Liu should have already made a preliminary assessment of my 'strength.' As for the 'game' itself..."

His glasses gleamed slightly.

"I see that you all are enjoying yourself, perhaps even... wanting more?"

Li Xin had just raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when Chu Sheng interrupted her with an enthusiastic voice.

"Yes, yes!"

Chu Sheng shook his head, his dark red eyes sparkling.

Completely oblivious to the subtle tension in their words, they were simply immersed in their happy memories.

"We played until late last night and weren't sleepy at all. It'll definitely be even more fun with Xiao Si joining! But there are only three of us older sisters..."

"Cough cough! Cough cough cough!"

Chu Sheng's words were abruptly interrupted by a sudden, violent cough from Qin Zheng.

The SUV suddenly jolted, and Qin Zheng's knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly that the blush from his ears instantly spread to his neck.

He stared intently at the road ahead, his voice taut like a taut string: "If you're in the car, concentrate. Don't... don't talk nonsense."

Liu Yunshu's ears burned with embarrassment at Chu Sheng's unfiltered words.

She turned her head slightly to look out the window, pretending to be focused on the rapidly receding ruins along the way.

But he could clearly feel several gazes coming from behind him.

"Hey, Xiao Chusheng,"

Li Xin sighed, feeling both amused and helpless, and reached out to ruffle Chu Sheng's soft hair.

"Some things are better left unsaid; saying them aloud takes away the flavor, you know?"

Chu Sheng then belatedly realized the suddenly subtle atmosphere inside the car.

He blinked, gave an awkward "Oh," and looked at Li Xin as if trying to change the subject.

"Hey, second brother, why do I feel like what you just said... sounded like you were insulting me?"

Li Xin was taken aback by his abrupt question: "What did I say that insulted you?"

Chu Sheng tilted his head, looking serious: "You just called me 'Little Chu Sheng'..."

The carriage was silent for a moment.

"What's wrong with Xiao Chusheng... Pfft! You little... little beast??"

Li Xin suddenly realized what was happening and burst out laughing, slapping her thigh.

"Hahahaha! Third brother! I swear to God! Second brother really didn't mean it that way! It was just a slip of the tongue! A slip of the tongue!"

"Pfft—"

"cough……"

The other passengers in the carriage couldn't help but let out low laughter, instantly dispelling the ambiguous and tense atmosphere from before.