217: Chapter 217 This is the end of the world

"Mom, do you know what the apocalypse is like? Outside, those places are filled with extreme cold, extreme heat, acid rain, thunderstorms, eternal night... Ordinary people wouldn't last a day out there. To be able to live in a RV with food, drink, and a safe place to sleep is already a massive stroke of luck."

She paused: "And Qin Lin is good to every one of us. It's not that fake kind of kindness; it's genuine. He saved my life, he saved Sister's life, he saved everyone's life on this vehicle. He gave us a home."

Li Ran fell silent.

She thought of Su Zhenyun and those young mistresses.

Qin Lin was good to them, and Su Zhenyun was good to them too.

But the two kinds of 'good' were different.

Qin Lin's kindness was sincere, while Su Zhenyun's kindness came with strings attached.

What she found most unacceptable was that he abandoned his wife and daughter for a young mistress and remained unrepentant, never acknowledging his mistakes.

Otherwise, she certainly would have stayed with them.

That was the difference between the two men in her eyes.

Su Yuling looked at her mother's expression and said softly, "Mom, do you think we're crazy?"

Li Ran gave a bitter smile.

"A little bit."

Su Yuling took her mother's hand.

"Mom, I know it's hard for you to accept, but in the apocalypse, just being alive is good enough. Qin Lin is good to every one of us, and that's enough."

Looking at her daughter's resolute gaze, Li Ran suddenly felt old.

Forget it, she didn't want to interfere in the affairs of these young people anymore.

Besides, she hadn't intended to interfere; having her daughter by her side was already the best reward.

"Go to sleep." She turned off the light.

In the darkness, Li Ran lay with her eyes open, thinking about what her daughter had said.

The look in the girl's eyes was different than before.

The Yuling who used to blush just from speaking was gone.

Now, she was calm and steady, and when she spoke of her man, there was a light in her eyes.

What has happened?

...

The next morning, Qin Lin was sitting in the Drivers Cabin.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Li Ran walked in.

"Qin Lin."

Qin Lin stood up.

"Auntie? What is it?"

Li Ran sat down beside him and remained silent for a moment.

"I want to talk to you."

Qin Lin nodded.

"Go ahead."

Li Ran turned her head and looked at him.

"Yuling... is she also with you..."

Qin Lin was silent for a few seconds. It seemed she had noticed after all; it was quite obvious, and no one was trying to hide it.

Qin Lin finally nodded.

"Yes."

Li Ran sighed. Although she had received confirmation from her daughter last night, she still couldn't help but ask Qin Lin.

She pretended she had just found out: "I knew the way she looked at you was off."

She paused: "What about the others? Are they all...?"

"More or less."

Li Ran smiled bitterly: "You... you're even more capable than that old geezer."

Qin Lin didn't know what to say.

Because what she said was true.

However, Qin Lin didn't see any expression of disgust or rejection on her face.

This made him unable to figure out what his mother-in-law's attitude actually was.

"I didn't approve of Su Zhenyun keeping young mistresses; I even loathed it. But I won't stop what's happening between you all now. Do you know why?"

Qin Lin listened to her quietly.

"Because he was willing to abandon his wife and daughter to live with a mistress. Would you?"

"Of course not. I'm not that kind of person."

Hearing this, Li Ran nodded and stood up.

Walking to the door, she glanced back at him.

"Qin Lin, thank you for saving my daughters."

Then she pushed the door open and walked out.

Qin Lin sat on the sofa, not reacting for a long time.

He had thought he would have to have a long talk with this mother-in-law, but he didn't expect it to pass so easily.

But this was for the best; it saved him from having to explain anything.

...

Li Ran went to Bedroom No. 001. Su Yuran had just woken up and was combing her hair.

Xia Qiuyan had already gone out, so she was alone in the room.

"Mom, why are you here?" Su Yuran saw her mother in the mirror.

Li Ran sat down beside her.

"Yuran, Mom wants to ask you something."

"What is it?"

“Qin Lin... is he good to you?"

Su Yuran smiled.

"Yes, very good."

Li Ran asked again: "Then, are you happy?"

Su Yuran thought about it.

"Happy."

Li Ran nodded.

"That's good then."

Su Yuran turned around and looked at her mother.

"Mom, are you just not used to this?"

Li Ran sighed.

"A little bit."

Su Yuran took her mother's hand.

"Mom, don't worry. He's not like Dad."

Li Ran smiled. She had been worried about her daughter being deceived, so she had sought confirmation from multiple sides. Now, she felt better.

"Mom knows. Mom can see it."

Mother and daughter smiled at each other.

Over the next few days, Li Ran began to slowly observe life on the vehicle.

She discovered that the relationships on this vehicle were even more complex than she had imagined.

Han Qing and Han Yurou were actually...

Lin Wanwan and Wang Xiulan were...

Zhou Lingling and Zhou Yueyue were...

Su Yuran and Su Yuling were also...

Every pair was...

Li Ran felt like her brain couldn't keep up.

These relationships were far too messy.

That night, she passed by Bedroom No. 003. The door wasn't closed tightly, and Han Yurou's voice drifted out from inside.

"Brother Qin Lin, are you sleeping here tonight?"

Then came Qin Lin's voice.

"Mhm."

Li Ran stood at the door, her face suddenly flushing red.

She walked away quickly, returned to Bedroom No. 000, closed the door, and leaned against it, her heart pounding wildly.

Su Yuling wasn't asleep yet and saw that her expression was off.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Li Ran shook her head.

"Nothing, it's just a bit hot."

Su Yuling glanced at her but didn't ask further.

Li Ran lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

How could Han Qing and Han Yurou... how could they...

She thought of Su Zhenyun and those young mistresses.

It seemed that except for her younger sister, everything else was somewhat normal.

But now.

She felt like she had boarded a pirate ship.

The next morning, Li Ran found Qin Lin.

"Qin Lin, I want to talk to you again."

Qin Lin saw that her expression was off.

"Auntie, go ahead?"

Li Ran looked at him.

"Is Han Qing Han Yurou's mother?"

Qin Lin was silent for a few seconds before nodding.

"Yes, she is."

Li Ran took a deep breath.

"How could you..."

Qin Lin looked at her without explaining.

He knew that this kind of thing couldn't be explained clearly.

Li Ran's voice was trembling.

"You... how could you be like this?"

"Auntie, this is an apocalyptic 'survival'—striving for 'life'."

Li Ran looked at him, her mind in a mess.

She didn't know what he meant by saying 'survival' and 'life' like that.

She wanted to argue, but she didn't know what to say.

He was right; in the apocalypse, being alive was already very good.

She thought of Su Zhenyun and the women he kept outside.

She hated him, not because he kept women, but because he lied to her, and because he insisted on keeping them even if it meant disregarding his wife and daughter.

If he could have been as honest and responsible as Qin Lin, she wouldn't have hated him so much.

"I... I understand." She turned and left.

Qin Lin looked at her back and sighed.

It seemed this mother-in-law still needed time.

For the next few days, Li Ran deliberately avoided Qin Lin.

It wasn't that she disliked him, but she didn't know how to face him.