231: Chapter 231 Picking Up People

Han Qing emerged from the Drivers Cabin and stood in the corridor, her mind in a mess.

Li Ran had told Qin Lin to call her 'Mom'.

What did that mean? She knew all too well.

Being the same kind of person, she understood that mindset perfectly.

Li Ran was observing Qin Lin, watching the relationship between them, and measuring her own position.

What unsettled her most was that Qin Lin had actually called her that.

She returned to the third floor and stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the projection of the starry sky filtered through the protective shield.

Qin Lin was good to her; she knew that.

Qin Lin had let her live on the third floor, and she knew what that signified as well.

But Li Ran's appearance made her suddenly realize one thing.

She wasn't the only one.

On this vehicle, there was someone else at the 'same level' as her.

Han Qing turned around and looked at the massive circular bed.

The madness of last night was still vivid in her mind; the names Qin Lin had called her made her feel both ashamed and excited.

But now, the thrill brought by those names was replaced by an indescribable unease.

She picked up the water glass from the nightstand and took a sip.

The cold water slid down her throat but failed to extinguish the fire in her heart.

The door opened, and Qin Lin walked in.

“Aunt Qing? When did you come up?”

Han Qing looked at him, and instead of answering, she asked, “I can't come up?”

“Of course you can. This is your room too.”

Han Qing looked at him. “My room? Or our room?”

Qin Lin walked over and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Naturally, it's ours.”

Han Qing leaned into his chest and said nothing.

Qin Lin looked down at her.

“What's wrong? Who upset you?”

Han Qing raised her head to look at him and suddenly smiled.

It was a smile tinged with bitterness. “It's nothing. Stay with me tonight; don't go downstairs.”

Qin Lin nodded.

“Alright.”

Han Qing stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

The kiss came suddenly, carrying a sense of claiming sovereignty.

Qin Lin responded to her, and the two kissed for a long time.

Han Qing let him go, panting for breath.

“Qin Lin, I want to be reckless one more time tonight.”

Qin Lin looked at her.

“How reckless?”

Han Qing took his hand and led him to the bedside.

“I want you to call me by *that* name all night long.”

Qin Lin deliberately feigned confusion for a moment.

“Which one?”

Han Qing's face flushed. She leaned into his ear and whispered two words.

Qin Lin's eyes lit up.

“Are you sure?”

Han Qing nodded.

“I'm sure.”

That night, the large bed on the third floor was far from quiet.

The next morning, when Qin Lin woke up, Han Qing was still asleep.

She was lying on her side, her hair scattered across the pillow, sleeping deeply.

After the exertion that lasted until the early hours, she was exhausted.

Furthermore, she had been the proactive one; it was even more frantic than her usual behavior at night.

Qin Lin rose gently, tucked her in, and walked out of the Master Bedroom.

Downstairs, the living room was already bustling.

Han Yurou was eating breakfast. When she saw him, her eyes brightened.

“Brother Qin Lin! Where's my mom?”

Qin Lin sat down beside her.

“Still sleeping.”

Han Yurou smiled.

“Was my mom very tired last night?”

Qin Lin coughed slightly.

“She was alright.”

Han Yurou leaned closer and lowered her voice.

“Brother Qin Lin, did my mom have you call her *that* last night?”

Qin Lin was taken aback.

“Which one?”

Han Yurou blinked.

“You know, that thing. She's called it out before.”

Qin Lin didn't know what to say.

Han Yurou laughed. “My mom is just like that. Usually, she's shy to death, but at night, she dares to say anything.”

Li Ying walked over carrying a cup of coffee.

“What are you two chatting about?”

Han Yurou quickly shook her head.

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

Li Ying sat down across from them and looked at Qin Lin.

“Brother Qin Lin, you didn't come downstairs again last night?”

Qin Lin nodded.

“Mm.”

Li Ying smiled. “It seems Sister Han Qing is trying to lock you away on the third floor.”

Han Yurou pouted. “My mom isn't that kind of person.”

Li Ying raised an eyebrow in rebuttal. “Then why didn't she come down last night?”

Han Yurou was left speechless.

Li Ying stood up and patted her shoulder.

“Yu Rou, your mom is asserting her sovereignty.”

Han Yurou was stunned.

“Asserting sovereignty?”

Li Ying laughed. “Haven't you noticed? Your Brother Qin Lin hasn't sought anyone else out lately.”

Han Yurou thought about it; it did seem to be the case.

Qin Lin smiled. “Don't talk nonsense. Aunt Qing isn't that kind of person. Besides, you're both pregnant right now; intense exercise isn't suitable.”

Li Ying looked at him.

“Then what kind of person is she?”

Qin Lin didn't answer.

Li Ying turned and walked away.

Han Yurou looked at Qin Lin.

“Brother Qin Lin, is my mom really asserting her sovereignty?”

Qin Lin stroked her head.

“No, she just... wanted to spend a bit more time with me.”

Han Yurou nodded.

...

After finishing breakfast, Qin Lin returned to the Drivers Cabin.

The door was pushed open, and Han Qing walked in wearing a turtleneck sweater that completely covered her neck.

“Aunt Qing? Why did you come down?” Qin Lin stood up.

Han Qing sat down opposite him.

“I'm awake.”

Qin Lin looked at her.

“What's with your neck?”

Han Qing's face turned red.

“You have the nerve to ask?”

Qin Lin smiled.

“Let me see.”

Han Qing glared at him.

“See what? This was all your doing.”

Qin Lin reached out and gently pulled back her collar.

There was a red patch on her neck, along with several obvious marks.

He coughed.

“Last night... I was a bit too excited.”

Han Qing swatted his hand away.

“Be more careful in the future.”

“Alright.”

Han Qing looked at him and suddenly asked, “Qin Lin, what are your plans for today?”

Qin Lin thought for a moment. “We should reach our destination today to pick up those two people.”

Han Qing was silent for a while.

“Then I won't go downstairs today. I'll wait for you up there.”

Qin Lin was surprised.

“You're not coming to see?”

Han Qing shook her head.

“I'm not going. I like it up there.”

Qin Lin looked at her and understood.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go; she just didn't want to go down and face the others.

Even though no one said anything about last night, everyone knew what had happened.

She was embarrassed.

“Alright,” Qin Lin nodded. “Then just wait for me up there.”

“Okay.”

Han Qing stood up, walked to the door, and glanced back at him.

Qin Lin watched the door close and smiled.

In the afternoon, the RV reached its destination.

It was a standalone building enveloped by a protective shield.

Qin Lin stopped the vehicle, put on a protective suit, and stepped out of the door.

It was very hot outside, but the protective suit insulated him from the high temperatures.

He walked to the entrance and knocked on the door.

The sound of footsteps came from inside.

The door opened, and a woman in her thirties stood there. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, her hair tied in a ponytail. Her features were regular, but her gaze was wary.

“Who are you?” she asked.

Qin Lin took off his protective mask.

“A survivor. I was passing through and came to pick someone up.”

The woman looked at him.

“Pick up who?”

Qin Lin took out the piece of paper Su Zhenyun had given him.

“These two.”

The woman took a look, and her expression changed.

“You know Su Zhenyun?”

Qin Lin nodded.

“In a way.”

The woman was silent for a moment.

“He sent you?”

Qin Lin nodded.

“He said there were two people here and asked me to see if I could take them away.”

The woman looked at him and suddenly laughed.

“That old thing, he finally has a bit of a conscience.”

She stepped aside to let him in.

“Come in.”

Qin Lin walked inside. There was another person there, a woman in her twenties, sitting on the sofa clutching a throw pillow.