17: Is human nature changing, or is it being revealed?

[Can be used to purchase supplies in the RV System Store; the System Store is not yet open.]

"I see. There's actually a System Store. When can it be opened? After an upgrade?"

[In addition to upgrading the RV, certain Hidden Tasks can also unlock it.]

"Then how can I get a Hidden Task?"

After completing one Hidden Task, Qin Lin had grown fond of them.

Mainly because the rewards were so substantial.

[Upgrading the RV to Lv2 will unlock passenger rooms. Each room can accommodate two people. For every person (limited to females) who boards the vehicle, a Hidden Task can be triggered.]

Rooms could actually be unlocked? And a Hidden Task would only trigger if a female boarded the vehicle?

"Well, it's not like I'd ever let a man on board anyway."

After familiarizing himself with the RV System, Qin Lin applied Anti-Frostbite Gel to the frostbite on his face.

After a wave of cooling sensation, the pain noticeably lessened.

"Good stuff," Qin Lin evaluated.

"Get some good rest tonight,"

Qin Lin said to Su Yuran.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll systematically search for crystal stone fragments. With today's experience, we should be able to find them faster."

Su Yuran nodded, finished tidying up the dishes, and went to the bathroom for a simple wash-up.

Qin Lin lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Eleven days.

It had been eleven days since his Rebirth.

In these few days, he had obtained the RV and activated the System.

He had found the first crystal stone fragment and stockpiled Materials.

He had also... successfully won over his former friend.

That's right, his ex-girlfriend, since Su Yuran had already broken up with him.

This was so much better than the same period in his past life.

At this time in his past life, he was still shivering in a hotel.

The food was almost gone, and Su Yuran cried every day.

But now... he turned his head and saw Su Yuran coming out of the bathroom.

The girl was wearing thick pajamas, her wet hair draped over her shoulders.

She had just wiped herself down with hot water; her face was rosy, and she looked much more energetic than a few days ago.

"What are you looking at?"

Su Yuran noticed his gaze, her face flushing slightly.

"Looking at you."

Qin Lin spoke the truth.

"You're in much better shape than a few days ago."

"Because it's warm, there's food, and..."

Su Yuran paused.

"Because you're here."

She walked to the bedside, lay down, and naturally leaned into Qin Lin's embrace.

Spending every moment together and sharing life and death in the Apocalypse quickly brings people closer.

Besides, it wasn't as if they hadn't done this back when they were dating.

Qin Lin held her, feeling her body heat.

"Qin Lin," Su Yuran said softly.

"Do you think we can really keep living like this forever?"

She had asked this question countless times.

As if asking it would make her feel a bit better.

"We can," Qin Lin said. "As long as we are strong enough and cautious enough."

"Then... what if one day you have no choice but to leave me behind?"

Qin Lin was silent for a few seconds.

"I won't," he said. "As long as I'm still alive, I won't leave you behind."

This was a promise.

After all, he had left her behind once in his past life, and hadn't even dared to acknowledge her.

Su Yuran hugged him tightly.

Outside the vehicle, the wind and snow rose again.

But inside the vehicle, it was as warm as spring.

Safety, warmth, food, and hope.

These were the most luxurious things in the Apocalypse.

And Qin Lin was bit by bit turning these luxuries into daily life... At six in the morning, Qin Lin was awakened by the System's notification tone.

[RV self-check complete, all Systems normal.]

[Recommendation: Find crystal stone fragments as soon as possible to complete the RV upgrade for more security.]

Qin Lin sat up.

The frostbite on his face was mostly healed; the blisters had subsided, leaving only faint red marks.

Su Yuran was still sleeping, lying on her side with one hand resting on his leg.

The morning light filtered through the vehicle window, shining on her face and softening her features.

Qin Lin watched her quietly for a while before gently moving her hand and getting out of bed.

There was still plenty of water, and he could melt snow to replenish it.

Though troublesome, it wasn't a problem.

Everything was looking up.

But Qin Lin knew this was only temporary peace.

In the Apocalypse, danger always lurked around the next corner.

He cooked two packs of Instant Noodles for breakfast and added two slices of luncheon meat.

This was a small luxury.

As the aroma of the noodles drifted, Su Yuran woke up.

"Smells so good..."

She rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"Eat, then we set out."

Qin Lin handed her the bowl.

Su Yuran took it, ate the noodles in small bites, and suddenly said:

"Qin Lin, your face... it's much better."

"Yeah, the medicine worked."

"In the future... don't take such risks."

Su Yuran lowered her head, her voice very soft.

"When you got on the vehicle yesterday, your face was blue. I was so afraid that you..."

She didn't finish, but Qin Lin understood.

"I won't," he said. "With the first experience under my belt, I know how to make it safer next time."

"There's a next time?" Su Yuran looked up.

"I need to find all five fragments to upgrade the RV," Qin Lin said. "This was only the first one."

Su Yuran stopped talking and silently ate her noodles.

After finishing breakfast, the two packed their things and prepared to set out.

Qin Lin tucked the dagger into his waist and placed the medical kit within easy reach in the driver's cabin.

Su Yuran checked the door locks to ensure they could be quickly locked from the inside.

At eight in the morning, the vehicle drove out of the Auto Repair Shop.

Today's destination was still the Science and Technology Park, but Qin Lin planned to change the area.

The Special Materials Laboratory from yesterday had already been explored and the fragment taken. The temperature was starting to rise, so there shouldn't be a second fragment there.

He was heading to the 'New Energy R&D Center' on the other side of the park.

There was a Photovoltaic Lab, a Battery Testing Center, and an Energy Storage Materials Research Institute there.

If the crystal stones were related to energy, there was a good chance a fragment would appear there.

The vehicle drove slowly on the snow-covered road.

The streets were even quieter than yesterday.

Qin Lin saw that the windows of several residential buildings were boarded up, and faint smoke rose from the chimneys.

The people inside were still alive, burning furniture for warmth.

Some shops were completely empty.

At a crossroad, Qin Lin saw a corpse.

It was a middle-aged man, wrapped in a thick down jacket, collapsed by the roadside with a thin layer of snow covering him.

His backpack had been flipped open, and it was empty.

A few empty tin cans were scattered nearby.

He must have collapsed from exhaustion while out looking for food.

Someone had rummaged through his backpack and taken the last bit of food.

Su Yuran turned her head, unable to bear the sight.

Qin Lin drove past expressionlessly.

Only ten or so days into the disaster, and death was already becoming commonplace.

After driving two more blocks, a residential complex appeared ahead.

This was an old-style residential area, six stories high with no elevator.

A group of people had gathered at the entrance of the complex, about seven or eight men in thick clothes, holding clubs and steel pipes.

They were smashing the door of a residential unit.

The iron unit door had already been smashed out of shape, and the glass was entirely shattered.

Cries and screams could be heard faintly from inside.

Qin Lin slowed down, wanting to see the situation clearly.

He saw those men dragging a woman out of the building.

The woman was in her thirties, wrapped in a quilt, her hair a mess, struggling desperately.

One man held a steel pipe against her neck, while the others quickly rushed into the building and soon came out holding several items.

A few bags of rice, several buckets of water, and a small gas tank.

Robbery.

Blatant home invasion and robbery.

The woman cried out, "I beg you... that's the last bit of milk powder for my child... give it back to me..."

The man holding the can of milk powder grinned cruelly:

"Milk powder? My son is starving too! The world has changed; whoever is strongest gets to eat!"

As he spoke, he gave the woman a kick.

It was as if the evil normally restrained by society was being released at this moment.

Qin Lin knew that in this doomsday environment...

The human nature of some was gradually revealing its true side.

While the human nature of others was changing along with the extreme shifts in their environment.