The Golden Pocket Watch

Ning Yu's weapon, unknown to her, had already switched back from the alloy steel blade to Blood Kite.

"What are you doing?!"

Ning Yu felt that Shen Yiyue was taking things a bit too seriously, even considering using an RPG, which made her can't help but ask.

She had already cut off Shen Yiyue's grappling hook and was about to place her blade against Shen Yiyue's neck again.

But Shen Yiyue still didn't give up and didn't answer Ning Yu's question.

She clashed her alloy steel blade with Blood Kite a few times, only to have it knocked away each time.

The hardness of the alloy steel blade was no match for Blood Kite, so Ning Yu deliberately avoided direct clashes, using skill to disarm her.

Shen Yiyue then pulled out a dagger and engaged in close combat with Ning Yu, but by now she was at her wit's end.

Ning Yu quickly subdued her, disarmed her dagger, and threw it to the ground.

Seeing that Shen Yiyue still wanted to fight bare-handed, Ning Yu used brute force to pin her down, rendering her immobile.

"I... lost."

Shen Yiyue finally spoke softly, lying on the ground, struggling to catch her breath.

"Why are you suddenly so serious?"

Ning Yu was genuinely puzzled, releasing Shen Yiyue and retrieving the RPG and alloy steel blade she had knocked away, handing them back to Shen Yiyue to store.

It was then that Ning Yu noticed Shen Yiyue's state, her body trembling slightly, as if in some kind of stress response.

This left her baffled—had she said something wrong or done something to upset her?

Shen Yiyue struggled to sit up, looking at Ning Yu, her lips pressed together, seeming somewhat disappointed in herself.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Yu, I..."

Seeing Ning Yu's injuries, she quickly reached out, placing her hand on the wound on Ning Yu's foot, and soon the wound that had pierced through her foot was restored to perfection.

"I just wanted to become stronger... I don't want to always hold you back, Xiao Yu..."

She spoke softly, like a child who had made a mistake.

"But you've been working so hard, haven't you? Lately, you've been dragging me to train more often than I do."

Ning Yu sat beside her, speaking gently, taking out wet wipes from her system space to help Shen Yiyue clean the sweat from her face.

"Xiao Yu, you don't understand the feeling of insecurity that comes with liking someone..."

Shen Yiyue looked at Ning Yu, who was wiping her face, feeling her touch, her eyes trembling.

"So that's the reason you beat me so hard? And wanted to blow me up with an RPG? Do you think I'm invincible?"

Ning Yu pretended to scold her.

"I'm sorry..."

Shen Yiyue leaned in, gently rubbing her cheek against Ning Yu's, like a kitten seeking forgiveness.

"You're still sweaty, and you're already leaning in~"

Ning Yu tried to push her away, but couldn't resist Shen Yiyue's persistent charm, so she let her continue.

After a moment, she said,

"I'm right here, I won't go anywhere, you don't need to be so..."

"I know."

Shen Yiyue interrupted her, closing her eyes as if savoring the moment of peace.

"You're the best, Xiao Yu."

Glancing at Shen Yiyue beside her, Ning Yu felt something was off, but she didn't know what to say, so she simply hugged her.

Blood Kite lay on the ground beside them, then disappeared, stored back in the system space.

"How about you analyze the fight with me again, Xiao Yu?"

After a brief moment of closeness, Shen Yiyue sat up, her face full of curiosity, eager to hear Ning Yu's insights.

Ning Yu felt like she was dealing with a problem-solving fanatic, but she couldn't resist that pleading look.

She began to seriously point out her shortcomings from the fight.

Ning Yu had noticed how much Shen Yiyue had changed recently; she had already caused quite a bit of trouble for her.

Although she hadn't used any skills, she had to resort to Blood Kite just to gain a stamina buff.

Shen Yiyue's physical abilities were not particularly high, but her mastery of weapons and tools was improving, and with the enhancement of her abilities, her combat awareness was also steadily increasing.

...

"Ah! I'm exhausted!"

After taking a shower, Shen Yiyue collapsed onto the sofa, turning into a limp fish.

Ning Yu was blow-drying her hair; she had just finished showering with Shen Yiyue.

Shen Yiyue was too lazy to dry her hair and just wrapped it in a towel, planning to do it later, as today's training had already drained her.

After their fight at the gym, she had pestered Ning Yu for a long time, discussing various weapon knowledge.

Even Ning Yu was starting to feel a bit tired.

"Sister, why do you and Ning Yu go out every day and come back all sweaty... what are you doing?"

Shen Qianqian was sitting on the sofa, drawing with her feet up, a box of open biscuits beside her.

"What kind of suspicious question is that? Your Ning Yu sister and I are out exercising!"

Shen Yiyue shot her sister a look, reaching for the open box of biscuits and popping one into her mouth.

It was blueberry-filled, the sweet and tangy cream filling making her eyes close in bliss.

"This is delicious!"

"Sister, you're stealing my snacks again, there are others over there, why do you have to eat mine!"

Shen Qianqian was unhappy with her sister's thieving ways, trying to snatch back her biscuits, only to be tricked by a feint from Shen Yiyue.

Shen Yiyue then popped another one into her mouth, returning the box to Shen Qianqian only after her sister's pitiful gaze.

"You know nothing, eating from someone else's plate is the best!"

"You're such a stingy!"

She stood up, securing the towel around her hair, and went to rummage through the snack pile.

When she turned her back, out of Shen Qianqian's sight, Shen Yiyue's eyes grew deep and thoughtful.

Ning Yu finished drying her hair, tidied up a bit, and picked up the mutant zombie serum she had recently acquired, planning to submit it.

Now, Ning Yu no longer had to secretly deliver the serum to Lin Hao but could directly submit it to the research team, as Lin Hao now had full access.

He could conduct his research openly.

Originally, she planned to submit it and return to their small apartment, but today Shen Yiyue had suggested cooking, so Ning Yu decided to visit the Ark's free trade zone.

She wanted to see if she could find any missions.

The place was as bustling as usual, and Ning Yu strolled past each stall, thinking of getting Shen Yiyue a little gift.

She had been training so hard recently that even Ning Yu had to commend her efforts, though she sometimes felt heartache for her.

But every time she saw that stubborn little look in her eyes, Ning Yu couldn't help but take her out for more training.

As she scanned the stalls, Ning Yu suddenly felt her breath catch.

At a stall run by a boy wearing a baseball cap, she saw something that felt very familiar.

A golden pocket watch.