177: Chapter 177 Reaching the Safe Zone

After dinner, everyone returned to their respective rooms.

Qin Lin was about to head to the Drivers Cabin to check tomorrow's route when Han Yurou stopped him.

"Brother Qin Lin, come to 003 tonight."

Qin Lin was stunned for a moment.

"Is this your idea or Aunt Qing's?"

Han Yurou said as if it were a matter of course.

"What do you think?"

Looking at the anticipation in her eyes, Qin Lin's heart softened.

"Alright."

Inside Bedroom No. 003, Han Qing and Han Yurou lay side by side on the bed, leaving an empty space in the middle.

Qin Lin pushed the door open and smiled at the sight.

"Waiting for me?"

Han Yurou patted the spot next to her.

"Come here, quickly."

Qin Lin lay down, and Han Yurou immediately leaned in, hugging his arm.

Han Qing also leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder.

The three of them were just like a family.

"Qin Lin," Han Qing spoke softly, "Are we going to that Safe Zone tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"What do you think... it will be like there?"

Qin Lin thought for a moment.

"It should be much better than out here."

Han Qing fell silent for a few seconds.

"Then... can we still come back?"

Qin Lin was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

"It's just..." Han Qing paused, "If it's really good there, will we still need to continue heading south?"

Qin Lin understood what she meant.

He reached out and gently caressed her face.

"Aunt Qing, no matter where we go, we will be together."

Han Yurou added from the side, "Mom, our family will always be together."

Han Qing smiled.

"Okay."

The few of them lay there like that, chatting.

They talked about plans for the future, names for children, and what the Safe Zone might look like.

...

That night, they slept very soundly.

The next morning, sunlight spilled into the room through the gaps in the curtains.

When Qin Lin woke up, the space beside him was empty.

He sat up and saw Han Qing combing her hair at the dressing table, with Han Yurou standing beside her, helping her choose earrings.

"Mom, this one looks good!"

"Isn't this one too gaudy?"

"Not gaudy at all, it's perfect!"

The dialogue between mother and daughter was like a warm morning song.

Qin Lin leaned against the headboard, watching them.

Han Qing saw him wake up through the mirror, her face turning slightly red.

"You're awake?"

"Yeah."

Han Yurou ran over and pounced onto the bed.

"Brother Qin Lin, you're awake! Get up quickly, we're going to the Safe Zone today!"

Qin Lin smiled and rubbed her head.

"Alright, I'm getting up now."

He got out of bed and walked out of 003.

In the living room, everyone was already up.

Everything was the same as usual.

Yet, something was different.

Because today, they were going to a brand-new place.

A place where normal human civilization might still exist.

A place where they might find their loved ones.

Qin Lin walked to the window, watching the scenery recede rapidly outside.

Sunlight spilled in through the protective shield, falling on everyone.

He turned back, looking at the women filling the vehicle.

Su Yuran was elegant and calm, Lin Wanwan was gentle and quiet, Xu Xue was cute and well-behaved, Li Ying was charming and moving, Han Qing was mature and intellectual, Han Yurou was youthful and lively, and Su Yuling was pure and shy.

Seven women, seven different types of beauty.

All of them were his.

He smiled.

"Let's set off."

The RV started up, heading toward the unknown Safe Zone.

...

Two days later.

The RV drove smoothly across the cracked earth; outside the window was an unchanging scene of desolation.

Cracked earth, dead vegetation, and the occasional abandoned vehicle could be seen.

The thermometer showed an outside temperature of 62°C; the heatwaves distorted the air, making distant objects shimmer as if seen through ripples in water.

"Brother Qin Lin said we'd reach the Safe Zone today?"

Han Yurou asked while eating fruit.

Han Qing nodded.

"It should be."

"What does the Safe Zone look like?"

Han Yurou asked curiously.

"Will there be supermarkets? Shopping malls? Or..."

Han Qing laughed.

"What are you thinking? A Safe Zone just has a relatively safe environment; it's not like returning to a city before the apocalypse."

Han Yurou pouted.

"Then that's so boring."

In the Drivers Cabin, Qin Lin was staring at the holographic screen, watching the constantly changing coordinates.

[Distance to target Safe Zone: 1 km]

[Estimated time of arrival: 5 minutes]

[Outside temperature: 64°C]

Qin Lin pulled up the System's detailed detection report on the Safe Zone.

[Target area: Small Survivor Settlement]

[Scale: Approximately 3,000-5,000 people]

[Environment: External temperature 58°C-65°C, internal buildings possess constant temperature functionality]

[Organization: Unmanaged]

[Threat assessment: Low]

Internal buildings possess constant temperature functionality?

Qin Lin frowned.

What does this mean?

Could it be that these buildings, like the RV, can withstand extreme climates?

"System, explain 'internal buildings possess constant temperature functionality'."

[System Analysis:]

[Certain buildings in this area are protected by a special energy field]

[Rooms inside the buildings can maintain a comfortable temperature of 20°C-28°C]

[Building exteriors and internal public areas remain in an extreme high-temperature environment]

[These types of buildings are similar to safe houses, providing shelter for survivors]

[However, survivors cannot leave the rooms for long periods, or they will face life-threatening danger]

Qin Lin understood.

The so-called Safe Zone wasn't that the entire area was safe, but rather that certain buildings within the area possessed functions similar to the RV, maintaining a suitable internal temperature.

Survivors could only hide inside and were unable to go out.

What's the difference between this kind of safety and being confined?

But on second thought, it was at least better than freezing or burning to death outside.

He continued to check the System information.

[The System has marked all safe building locations]

[A total of 1,230 safe buildings are distributed in this area]

[Among them, large buildings (can accommodate over 50 people): 40]

[Medium buildings (can accommodate 10-50 people): 430]

[Small buildings (can accommodate fewer than 10 people): 760]

Qin Lin looked at this data, lost in thought.

So many safe buildings indicated that this area had indeed received special treatment.

Perhaps like how his RV obtained the System, these buildings had also been modified by some power.

He thought of that white crystal stone he had carried during his Rebirth.

Could these also be related to the crystal stone?

He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

The most important thing now was to find those two female passengers who met the rating criteria.

"System, detect the location of the target passengers."

[Detecting...]

[Detection complete]

[Target Passenger 1: Located at East Longitude XX, North Latitude YY, distance 2 km]

[Target Passenger 2: Located at East Longitude XX, North Latitude YY, distance 2 km]

[Both sets of coordinates coincide, located within the same safe building]

[The building is a medium-sized safe house, capable of accommodating about 20 people]

[Current internal population: 12 people]

The same building?

Qin Lin was momentarily stunned.

These two women live together?

Are they sisters?

Or friends?

He pulled up more detailed information, but the System could only detect the location and could not obtain more details.

"Interesting."

He muttered to himself.

Soon, the RV entered the Safe Zone's range.

Qin Lin looked out the window; the scene was no different from before.

Cracked earth, dead vegetation, and the occasional low-lying building.

The only difference was that there were more buildings here, resembling the edge of a town before the apocalypse.

But the temperature did not drop.

[Outside temperature: 63°C]

"This is the Safe Zone?"