259: Chapter 259 Because... I want to thank you for coming.

Su Yuling was stunned for a moment. "Why are you asking this?"

Li Ran thought about it. "I'm just curious; I wanted to hear your opinion."

Su Yuling fell silent for a while before saying, "He is very bad, but also very good."

"Ah? What do you mean by bad, yet very good?"

Su Yuling looked at her. "Ranran, what exactly do you want to know?"

Being looked at by her daughter made Li Ran feel a bit guilty, and she shifted her gaze. "Nothing, just casual chatter."

Su Yuling didn't speak, she just watched her.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Li Ran said, "Go to sleep, go to sleep."

Su Yuling gave an "Mhm" and closed her eyes.

But after a while, she suddenly said, "Mom, if you want to ask him something, just ask him directly. You don't need to go through me."

Li Ran's heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"

Su Yuling opened her eyes and looked at her, a strange hint of a smile in her eyes. "Mom, you've been mentioning him all the time lately. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

Li Ran's face turned red. "I... I haven't."

Su Yuling laughed. "Mom, stop pretending."

Li Ran didn't know what to say.

She hadn't tried to bump into Qin Lin much these past few days because she was considering who she should confess to.

Su Yuran or Su Yuling?

She felt the Breakthrough point must be with her second daughter. After all, Su Yuran was more rational and mature, making her feel too embarrassed to ask. Even though Su Yuran had expressed that she didn't care, Li Ran just couldn't bring herself to approach her eldest daughter.

But Su Yuling was different. She was still young, and her mind shouldn't be as mature.

If she really needed to find someone to go see Qin Lin with, that person absolutely had to be Su Yuling.

She just didn't know what the girl thought.

Would she be willing?

Would she scold her?

Su Yuling turned her head back and looked at the ceiling. "Mom, I'm not opposed to it."

Li Ran fell silent.

Su Yuling's words were exactly the same as what Su Yuran had said before.

Both daughters were not opposed to it.

Then what was she still agonizing over?

Li Ran took a deep breath and asked, "Yuling, do you... do you really not mind?"

Su Yuling shook her head. "I don't mind."

Li Ran looked at her. "Why?"

Su Yuling thought for a moment. "He can make Mom happy, so why would I mind?"

"Yuling..."

Li Ran hugged her daughter, tears falling.

She hadn't expected her daughter to say such words.

"Yuling, thank you." Li Ran's voice was choked with emotion.

Su Yuling gave her a squeeze. "No need for thanks, because..."

Li Ran was puzzled. "Because what?"

"Because... I want to thank you for coming."

Li Ran didn't understand; she thought the girl lacked a mother's care and love, needing to be by her side to feel the warmth of a home.

She sighed; this child was truly pitiable.

After hugging for a while, Su Yuling let go and lay back down.

"Mom, let's sleep."

Li Ran nodded. "Okay."

She closed her eyes, her heart feeling warm.

Her daughter's support allowed her to let go of her final concerns.

Now, all that was missing was the right timing.

However, she hadn't yet shared her inner thoughts with her daughter. She was afraid Su Yuling might not agree and felt she needed to test the waters a few more times.

She believed that since she was going to do it, she should just go all the way in one step.

The next morning, Qin Lin went downstairs for breakfast and saw Li Ran sitting in the living room.

Today, she was wearing a light pink dress with her hair down and light makeup on her face, making her look several years younger than usual.

After eating, Qin Lin went to the Drivers Cabin.

Li Ran watched his back, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

Su Yuran saw her mother's expression and understood something in her heart.

It seemed that what was meant to come was finally coming.

In the afternoon, while Qin Lin was in the Drivers Cabin, the System notification sound suddenly rang out.

[Detected special energy fluctuations ahead, source unknown]

[Suggestion: Proceed to investigate]

Qin Lin frowned.

Special energy fluctuations?

This was the first time he had encountered this.

He turned the vehicle and flew toward the direction of the energy fluctuations.

Half an hour later, he reached the target area.

Below was a field of ruins. It should have been a small town before the apocalypse, but now only broken walls and debris remained, destroyed by something unknown.

[Energy fluctuation source: Center of the ruins]

[Suggestion: Exit the vehicle to investigate]

Qin Lin hesitated.

Get out of the car?

What exactly were these special energy fluctuations?

He stepped out of the Drivers Cabin and went into the living room.

Su Yuran was reading a book. Seeing him come out, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Lin said, "The System detected special energy fluctuations ahead and suggests getting out to investigate."

Su Yuran frowned. "Get out? It's so cold outside."

Qin Lin nodded. "I know, but I want to go take a look."

Su Yuran thought about it. "Then be careful."

Qin Lin nodded. "Mhm."

He put on his protective suit, took his weapons, and opened the door.

Qin Lin stepped out of the RV and walked toward the center of the ruins.

The ruins were very quiet, with only the sound of the wind.

Qin Lin walked slowly, observing his surroundings alertly.

After walking for about ten minutes, he reached the center of the ruins.

There was a cellar there.

[Energy fluctuation source: Inside the cellar]

Qin Lin hesitated for a moment but still walked down.

The cellar was very dark. Qin Lin turned on his flashlight, illuminating the path ahead.

The cellar wasn't large, only about a dozen square meters, and was filled with some clutter.

In the corner, there was a metal box, its surface shimmering with a faint light.

Qin Lin walked over and opened the box.

Inside were several crystal stones, but the colors were different—they weren't the usual white or blue, but gold.

[Detected special Advanced crystal stones ×5]

[Use: Can be used for Rank upgrades above Lv7]

Qin Lin's eyes lit up.

Advanced crystal stones!

And special ones at that.

A Lv7 upgrade required 200 Advanced crystal stones. He had been worried about where to find them, and he hadn't expected to encounter them here.

He collected the Advanced crystal stones and continued searching, but found nothing else.

Qin Lin quickened his pace, returned to the RV, took off his protective suit, and went to the living room.

Su Yuran saw the golden crystal stones in his hand and asked, "What are these?"

Qin Lin said, "Advanced crystal stones."

Su Yuran nodded. "That's quite good then."

Qin Lin put the crystal stones away and returned to the Drivers Cabin.