Ninety-nine

The Third Base had already entered the "Light Summer Season" crafted by the volcanic frogs. The Spring Snow Club had stopped heating, allowing the cool breeze to naturally sweep through the ventilation shafts across the entire hall, evoking a pleasant feeling reminiscent of the transition between spring and autumn. Everyone gleefully added plenty of ice cubes to their beer, and the female members had changed into their sexy, flowing dresses—once again, it was a beautiful season.

Zhiqiu was reviewing the bills for the month when suddenly a shadow fell across the papers. He looked up and, upon recognizing the visitor, smiled gently. "You're back."

"Mm!" Ye Yin sat opposite him, smiling warmly. "How's the First Base over there?"

"It's a complete mess. I suggest you avoid going there for now," Zhiqiu replied. "You might get dragged into unnecessary trouble."

"Thank you."

"But you’ll go anyway, won’t you?" Zhiqiu chuckled.

Ye Yin smiled back. "You really know me."

Zhiqiu gathered the documents into a folder and poured her a cup of oolong tea. "Since your farm disappeared, the house on Evergreen Street has been tightly monitored. Are you sure it’s safe to come back like this?"

"I have no choice..." Ye Yin said. "By the way, why have you stayed here all this time? The association should be desperate for people."

"That’s just my stubbornness. There’s someone I’m waiting for, so I can’t leave."

Ye Yin’s interest instantly piqued. "A man or a woman?"

Zhiqiu said, "A woman. And don’t even ask the next question—I’ll tell you straight away—it’s my first love."

Ye Yin gasped in surprise. "Oh my God, you actually have feelings for someone! How rare!"

Zhiqiu couldn’t help but smile. "I’m human too, naturally with emotions and desires. It’s only normal to like someone."

Ye Yin winked playfully. "Come on, since no one else is here, tell me about her."

Zhiqiu smiled and gently patted Ye Yin’s head, his thoughts drifting far back.

"She’s a very strange person," he said, resting his right hand on his cheek, his eyes filled with a tenderness Ye Yin had never seen before. "She faints at the sight of her own scrapes and bruises but can stubbornly clean the wounds of a mangled cat. Her mind’s a bit off—terrible at math, terrible at sports—and she’s always getting hurt for no reason. It’s hard to describe her."

Ye Yin listened, wide-eyed. "So what is it that you like about her?"

"Everything," Zhiqiu smiled. "At first, I just cared a little. But gradually, I realized that being with her made me truly happy, no matter how agitated I was, seeing her would calm me down."

"I see... I hope you get to be with her," Ye Yin said sincerely.

"I will," Zhiqiu smiled, though his eyes held a trace of emptiness. "Although the hope is faint, she will definitely come back."

Just as Zhiqiu said, no sooner had Ye Yin returned home on Evergreen Street than Ye Yu arrived. She came alone, seemingly neither intending to arrest Ye Yin nor attack her en masse. She was dressed in plain clothes, no military uniform.

Ye Yin let her inside and brought out fruits and snacks. "A rare guest. What brings you to see me?"

"I thought you wouldn’t come back," Ye Yu said, staring at Ye Yin as she bent over to get some coffee, grinning like a sly wolf.

"Why?" Ye Yin calmly poured hot water into the pot, as if speaking of something irrelevant. "I have no reason to run in fear."

"I’m not here to argue," Ye Yu said. "Even if you currently occupy the Sixth Base, you’re powerless without my help. Why not cooperate?"

Ye Yin placed the coffee before her. "What advantage do you think you have that would make me want to cooperate with you?"

"Don’t you already know my advantage? Though I’m unsure exactly whom you’ve gathered, I do know they can’t compare to the elite armed forces under my command," Ye Yu said sincerely. "Let the past be past. Why turn against each other out of momentary spite, causing pain to loved ones and joy to enemies?"

Ye Yin’s attitude was even more sincere. "You make a good point. Rest assured, I would never do anything harmful to the Third Base."

Ye Yu was momentarily speechless, then laughed wryly. "Seriously, what exactly do you want?"

Ye Yin replied, "That’s the question I should be asking you. You’ve taken control of the Second Base, are eyeing the Fifth Base, and quietly planning to absorb the Fourth Base. What’s your goal?"

Ye Yu said, "How do you think I’ve managed the Third Base all these years?"

"Very well," Ye Yin answered.

"If I hadn’t stepped in, the Second Base would have been destroyed by the zombie hordes long ago; the Mu family father and son and Old Dog Song at the Fifth Base have colluded, causing the population to drop by thirty percent; the Fourth Base is barely hanging on thanks to Cold Water Sheep, with an incompetent leader lost in debauchery—it was only a matter of time before it fell," Ye Yu stared intently at Ye Yin. "Can’t you see what I want?"

Ye Yin sneered. "Yes, but don’t think I’ve forgotten who drove the Mu family to the Fifth Base, or who forced Leader Song into a corner, leaving him to fight for power at the Fifth Base and causing casualties in an already depleted population. The Fourth Base leader may be useless, but at least he’s harmless. Your ‘taking over’ will only lead to more innocent deaths in the chaos of war. Everything you’ve done is just selfish greed disguised as righteousness. Am I wrong?"

Ye Yu slammed the table. "Absurd! History tells us division and unity alternate, and war to end war is the true path. If I don’t fight, others will. If these bases fall into the hands of beasts, wouldn’t the outcome be far worse?"

Ye Yin slammed the table back. "There’s no need for war to end war. The greatest threat now is the zombies. Once they’re all wiped out, the bases will naturally reunite as one. Why sacrifice the few lives left? Besides the capital, your base dominates, and no one dares challenge you if you don’t move."

Ye Yu slumped back into her chair with a mocking smile. "Have you been wanting to slam the table at me for a long time? You must have felt so frustrated before."

"Patience prevents chaos," Ye Yin slowed her tone and smiled. "My only virtue is that I can wait and endure."

"Indeed, you’ve endured long enough to reach this day," Ye Yu stood. "But don’t get too proud. This is only the beginning."

After Ye Yu left, Ye Yin stared at the map on the coffee table for a while, then slowly reached out and drew a red circle around the First Base.

In Area A of the First Base, a floral wall wound around the artificial river of the Capital Garden, stretching to the end of Area B. It was a well-known scenic line. This floral wall was once the lovers’ spot for the children of the elite families but had since become a grim and eerie symbol of division and separate governance.

Commander Zhuo looked down at the floral wall from the window. His wife wrapped her arm around his and gently rested her head on his shoulder. "If you’re unhappy, don’t look. It only adds to the frustration."

"I can’t understand it. We’ve been brothers for decades, and yet they turn against us just like that," he sighed, pulling his wife closer. "If tomorrow’s peace talks fail, there’ll be no turning back."

"Don’t take it to heart," his wife soothed. "You’ve done nothing to be ashamed of."

"How’s the Ding family?" he asked.

"Fully supportive, because Ze Lian agreed to marry their eldest daughter."

"Did Lian really agree? Didn’t he always say he’d never marry?"

"Yes, I asked him myself. He said he wanted to settle down and it had nothing to do with the family," she said softly.

Zhuo rubbed his head, muttering, "That won’t do. I have to talk to him."

"Not now. Cheng Lan is with him."

"Alright..."

At Zhuo Ze Lian’s residence, the two brothers were in the middle of an argument.

After hearing Zhuo Cheng Lan’s words, Zhuo Ze Lian seriously asked, "So, big brother means you’re going to marry Ding Dong?"

"Don’t joke," Zhuo Cheng Lan sighed, exasperated. "Working with the Ding family isn’t the only way. Don’t shoulder everything alone. I’m here."

"I’ve had enough," Zhuo Ze Lian replied with a smile, as if joking. "It’s always been like this since childhood. Do you think I’m really grateful?"

Zhuo Cheng Lan was taken aback.

Zhuo Ze Lian turned silently and sat down, casually picking up a book and flipping through it. "Anyway, I’ve made up my mind about this. Don’t interfere anymore. Take care of yourselves before worrying about me. Don’t let my sister-in-law run off with someone else."

Zhuo Cheng Lan fell silent, walking to the door. Suddenly, he turned back and asked, "Are you hiding something from me?"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing," Zhuo Cheng Lan frowned slightly. "Since you’ve decided to marry, change your old habits. Whether the Ding family is a political alliance or not, this is your choice. Your wife has done nothing wrong; don’t let her down."

Zhuo Ze Lian said nothing.

After Zhuo Cheng Lan left, his gaze lingered on the page of the book for a long time, not turning it for hours.

That night, Ye Yin’s unexpected visit caught Zhuo Cheng Lan off guard, making him feel as if he were dreaming. He had just returned from his parents’ place and was about to bathe when he was shocked to see Ye Yin sitting on the sofa in his living room, eating an orange.

"Though it’s a bit forward, could you tell me about the current situation at the First Base?" Ye Yin wiped her hands with a cloth. "The news outside is too confused; I don’t know what’s true. After thinking it over, you’re the most reliable and wouldn’t lie to me, so I sneaked in quietly."

Zhuo Cheng Lan snapped out of it and told her everything.

It turned out the strongest five divisions of the First Base suddenly declared they would no longer obey Commander Zhuo’s orders. They formed a new government organization in the government building by the floral wall, managing all affairs west of the wall. Due to the awkward geography, neither side dare fight openly. The situation remained deadlocked, with daily small conflicts and protests. The capital base took a subtle stance, and major factions within the base either watched or secretly stirred the pot. For a time, the future was uncertain and no one dared make the first move.

Ye Yin pondered for a while. "This can’t go on. Whether war breaks out or not, if something big happens, you’ll be the ones to suffer."

Zhuo Cheng Lan nodded. "Tomorrow, my father will have a meeting with that ‘commander’ over there. The outcome probably hinges on that."

"Can I come? I really can’t stop worrying."

Zhuo Cheng Lan was a bit surprised but firmly refused. "There might be emergencies. You shouldn’t go."

"I’m going to handle emergencies. Otherwise, why else would I come?"

Zhuo Cheng Lan looked at her deeply and sighed. "If that’s the case, then it’s up to you. But you must let me come along."

Ye Yin readily agreed and teased him. "Don’t look so grim. It’s not like we’re marching to our deaths. Relax, I’m pretty confident."

Zhuo Cheng Lan nodded. Suddenly recalling something, he asked, "Where will you rest afterward?"

"Probably at a hotel in Area B," Ye Yin thought for a moment. "I came just to see you. Don’t tell your father or anyone else—it’s already chaotic enough. I’m really sorry to bother them."

"Those places aren’t safe anymore. Stay here tonight," Zhuo Cheng Lan said, then quickly clarified, "I’m going to Ze Lian’s."

"But what if he asks about you?" Ye Yin said. "Maybe I should sleep on the sofa? No, that’s inconvenient. Forget it, don’t worry about me. The hotel is pretty..."

Before Ye Yin finished, Zhuo Cheng Lan had already packed his things, sternly saying, "It’s chaotic out there; don’t go anywhere. Rest early. I’ll come find you tomorrow for the meeting." With that, he opened the door and left.

"...Okay," Ye Yin’s reply came too late. Zhuo Cheng Lan was already gone. She sighed and slumped on the sofa.

Come to think of it, did she say something wrong? Why did Zhuo Cheng Lan look a little... shy?