"Chen Junsheng," Jian Yi called him.
Chen Junsheng immediately furrowed his brows. "Sister, I already did the night watch. You should rest properly."
"We have a long journey ahead. You take the first half of the night, and I'll take the second."
Jian Yi got up, handing the sleeping Tong Tong to Zheng Lanxin. "Auntie, you and Tong Tong sleep inside the shop. Chen Junsheng and I will bring the folding bed for you to rest well tonight."
Zheng Lanxin glanced at her son with concern, but Chen Junsheng had already entered the RV without acknowledging her.
Zheng Lanxin sighed, realizing her son had become Jian Yi's follower, not even heeding his own mother's orders. In the past, she would have made a few sarcastic comments, but now she dared not. She had to play along.
If that girl decided to make things difficult for her, her obedient son might not only refuse to help her but also lose his bed.
Seeing Zheng Lanxin's understanding, Jian Yi felt relieved. She glanced at her stepmother, visibly exhausted from using her abilities to transition, and then left the shop. Along with Chen Junsheng, they brought down the bedding and placed it between two shelves to create a comfortable resting area for Zheng Lanxin and Tong Tong.
They also left a small night light to prevent them from waking up in total darkness, making their movements more convenient. With the shelves blocking the view, they also shielded their activities from the envious looks of Zhao Na and Hao Zhenzhu.
Zheng Lanxin felt a bit smug about finally having a comfortable bed. However, she had exhausted herself filling the large water tank with hot water for her son to take a warm bath earlier. She was soon fast asleep, cuddling Tong Tong like a warm baby.
Long Xiaohu and Zhang Ming returned. The outside world was now pitch black, and their visibility was severely limited. They couldn't continue with their route inspection until daylight.
"Long Xiaohu," Jian Yi stood by the shop's door, gesturing to him.
In the silence of the night, every small sound became particularly clear. They immediately heard strange noises coming from the bathrooms and the office, which sent shivers down Zhao Na's spine. Hao Zhenzhu, however, remained relatively calm, perhaps used to such situations. She reassured Zhao Na that the walls and doors were sturdy, and the creatures couldn't get out as long as they kept quiet.
In their conversation, there seemed to be some resentment towards Jian Yi's earlier call.
However, Zhao Na could only smile and remain silent. They each had thin bedding from the shop beneath them, barely managing to combine a couple of chairs into makeshift beds. They lay head to head, too scared to turn or even speak. Any slight movement made the chairs creak, and they could hear terrifying roars from both sides.
Zhao Na was a warm-hearted person, but she knew who was closer to her, and who was more distant. Silence filled the shop.
Zhang Ming watched the three figures at the door. He had initially wanted to listen to their conversation, but his body was too exhausted, and his eyelids drooped, threatening to put him to sleep.
The two doors leading in and out of the shop were tightly closed. Jian Yi left Long Xiaohu inside to open the doors in case of an emergency. As for Zhang Ming and Hao Zhenzhu, Jian Yi didn't trust them at all, especially the latter. If something happened, her survival instincts might cause trouble for them all.
"Sis, should we consider driving those two away tomorrow?" Jian Yi leaned against the bed in the RV, lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside at the pitch-black scenery, and shook her head gently.
"No rush, let's keep them for now."
"But with those two around, it's not easy for us to take the supplies, and there's also Long Xiaohu and his mother..." Chen Junsheng glanced at her expression. When he saw that she didn't react strongly, he continued, "It's also a hindrance."
His sister didn't really need so many people around her. With just him, he could handle everything she needed. But he couldn't say that. His sister hated it when others made decisions for her, so he could only endure it until the day he couldn't take it anymore.
"Chen Junsheng," Jian Yi looked over, the dim night light casting a displeased shadow on her face. "You've been talking a lot lately."
Chen Junsheng panicked and quickly shook his head to explain, but Jian Yi raised an eyebrow and used her index finger to cover his mouth.
The soft touch of her fingertip, warm and tender, stirred something in Chen Junsheng's heart. His anxious expression softened as he gazed at her, his eyes filled with affection and his long eyelashes trembling slightly.
His longing and affection were fully expressed in his gaze, and it made Jian Yi's heart skip a beat. Her finger trembled in response to his, and her eyes uncontrollably fell on his thin lips. A mischievous curiosity suddenly arose.
Her fingertip lightly and seemingly unintentionally brushed against his lower lip, and without surprise, she immediately heard Chen Junsheng's heavier breathing.
His chest rose and fell intensely, as if his heart was about to leap out for her. His eyes were filled with a deep, impending passion.
A charming smile curled up at the corner of Jian Yi's mouth. She enjoyed this sense of control.
Chen Junsheng called out in a hoarse voice, "Sis..."
"No need to explain," Jian Yi said, lying down while pulling the thin blanket over herself. She turned sideways, closing her eyes as if she were about to sleep, giving the impression that her teasing just now was unintentional.
"...Alright."
After a moment, Chen Junsheng finally responded with difficulty. He looked at her back for a long time before turning and going to the dining area. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the surging emotions in his heart.
Outside the window, the night was pitch black. He touched his lips that she had brushed against. It felt like her warmth was still lingering there, along with a faint, elusive fragrance.
Chen Junsheng became lost in his thoughts, repeatedly stroking his own lips. His cheeks gradually reddened, and his heartbeat grew more intense. In the silent RV, there were only rapid, shallow breaths.
He loved her so much that he wished he could blend her into his bones, hiding her away from anyone's view, making her belong to him alone.
Jian Yi suddenly jolted awake, realizing that she had overslept. She checked the alarm clock on her bedside table and saw that it was already four in the morning. Chen Junsheng hadn't woken her up as he was supposed to.
"Why are you awake, Sis?"
Chen Junsheng's cautious voice came from outside. He hadn't woken her up on time, and he wondered if she would be angry.
The sliding door was pushed open with a "whoosh," revealing Jian Yi's stern face. Chen Junsheng involuntarily took a step back, avoiding her questioning gaze. He tilted his head slightly upward, stubbornly believing that he hadn't done anything wrong.
"You were too tired, and I thought you could use more rest," he explained.
Jian Yi grabbed his shirt firmly, her tone icy. "If you continue to act on your own like this, you'll get out!"
"Sis!" Chen Junsheng looked at her with disbelief, seeing her cold expression. "I just wanted you to rest a little longer."
"I've been trying so hard to be good to you, why do you still want me to leave?!" A hint of severity flashed in Chen Junsheng's eyes. He lowered his gaze, and when he looked up again, they were filled with a glimmer of water, like an aggrieved puppy.
Jian Yi's eyes narrowed dangerously. She clenched her shirt tightly in her hand and coldly remarked, "Chen Junsheng, you're not being obedient."