61: Start viewing hidden missions

"Later, Mom wounded someone with a scalpel, and then they became afraid."

Han Yurou said in a low voice, "But we were also completely isolated. We could only hide in a corner, and our food was always stolen."

"In the end, those people started killing each other; some left, some died... By the time only we were left, the food was almost gone."

Qin Lin reached out and patted her head.

"It's all in the past. You're safe now."

The gesture was natural, and Han Yurou didn't pull away.

Instead, she smiled.

"Mm, so I want to help, to prove that I'm useful."

"Brother Lin, the vegetables in the ecological box are growing so fast! It's only been three days, and the lettuce is already ready to pick."

"That's the RV's accelerated cultivation function," Qin Lin said. "But your care is also important. From now on, the fresh vegetables on the vehicle will depend on you."

"Leave it to me!"

Han Yurou's eyes were bright.

At that moment, Su Yuran walked over from the living area.

"What are you chatting about? Yu Rou, it's time to water the vegetables."

"Coming!"

The girl hopped down from the passenger seat and ran toward the ecological box.

Su Yuran sat in the spot Han Yurou had just occupied, looking at Qin Lin.

"Well, Brother Lin, is she pretty?"

"She's still young," Qin Lin said.

"She's eighteen, that's not young. You're only twenty yourself, not much older."

Su Yuran said softly, "Besides, the way she looks at you is a bit different."

Qin Lin turned his head to look at her. "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing," Su Yuran smiled.

"Just reminding you that young girls easily develop dependency and admiration."

"In the apocalypse, you are her savior. That kind of emotion will be even stronger."

"I know."

"That's good then."

Su Yuran leaned against his shoulder.

"Wanwan and Dr. Han are getting along well; both are the gentle type. Yu Rou is lively and helps liven up the atmosphere."

Qin Lin looked toward the living area.

Indeed, compared to when there were only three of them at the beginning, the RV now felt more like a 'home.'

Although space was limited, the functional divisions were clear, everyone had something to do, and life had a rhythm.

Lin Wanwan was in the Medical Room helping Han Qing check her wound. The two were talking in low voices, with occasional laughter.

Over by the ecological box, Han Yurou was humming a song while watering the plants.

She was also holding a small trowel to loosen the soil.

A scene like this in the apocalypse was as precious as a hallucination.

"We'll stop for a bit tonight," Qin Lin suddenly said.

"Stop? Why?"

"To let the RV rest."

Qin Lin pulled up the System status panel.

"Even though energy is infinite, mechanical parts still suffer wear and tear. And... I always feel unsettled if we just keep driving."

This was a lingering effect from his past life.

Back then, hiding in the ruins, every time he heard the sound of a vehicle engine, he felt both anticipation and dread.

Anticipation for rescue, dread of raiders.

Now that he was the one driving, the continuous sound of travel instead made him feel uneasy.

It felt as if stopping and hiding in the wind and snow was safer.

"That's fine too," Su Yuran said. "Everyone can get a good night's sleep. Although the RV is stable, there's always some jolting while driving. Dr. Han's leg injury needs rest."

Qin Lin searched the System map for a suitable location.

There was a highway service area five kilometers ahead.

But those places usually had survivors gathered, or worse—piles of corpses.

He didn't want to take unnecessary risks.

In the end, he chose a relatively isolated stretch of frozen road.

Abandoned farmland lay on both sides, providing a clear field of vision with no buildings to obstruct the view.

The RV slowly pulled off the main road and stopped in the thick snow, which was deep enough to cover the lower parts of the vehicle.

The autopilot System shut down, and the engine sound ceased.

The cabin instantly fell silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning System.

"We've stopped?"

Lin Wanwan poked her head out from the Medical Room.

"Yeah, we're resting tonight."

Qin Lin walked out of the driver's cab.

"Everyone should sleep early; we'll continue our journey tomorrow."

Dinner was relatively simple: rice, canned beef stewed with potatoes, accompanied by a lettuce salad from the ecological box.

Han Qing's cooking was quite good. Despite her leg injury, she sat by the kitchen bar and directed Han Yurou, managing to produce a decent meal.

During the meal, the atmosphere was harmonious.

Han Yurou shared a few funny stories from school.

Su Yuran and Lin Wanwan talked about embarrassing moments from university.

Even Han Qing laughed a few times, which was rare.

Watching this scene, a hardened part of Qin Lin's heart softened slightly.

But then, he remembered the Hidden Tasks he hadn't checked yet.

Since Han Qing and her daughter boarded the vehicle, the System had been prompting him that there were two Hidden Tasks waiting to be viewed.

He had been procrastinating because he knew the task content would likely be related to 'intimate relationships.'

And this time, the subjects... were a mother and daughter.

He needed time alone, and he needed to summon the courage to face the System's requirements.

After dinner, everyone took turns washing up.

Since they had stopped, they could be a bit more liberal with water usage.

The RV's water purification System could extract and purify water from the snow outside.

As long as it wasn't wasted, the supply was more than enough for five people's daily use.

Han Yurou was the first to finish washing and went back to room 003 early to rest.

Han Qing's leg injury made things difficult, so after Lin Wanwan helped her with a simple sponge bath, she also assisted her back to her room.

Only Qin Lin, Su Yuran, and Lin Wanwan remained in the living area.

"Tonight..."

Su Yuran looked at Qin Lin, her gaze somewhat subtle.

According to their previous arrangement, sometimes she would go to Qin Lin's room, and sometimes Lin Wanwan would.

Or the three of them could be together... but that was when there were only the three of them.

Now there were two more people on the vehicle.

"Go back to your own rooms to sleep," Qin Lin said. "I have some things to handle tonight."

Su Yuran was stunned for a moment, then realized something. "A System task?"

Qin Lin nodded.

Lin Wanwan said softly, "Do you need help?"

"Not for now," Qin Lin shook his head. "I'll check the task content first."

The two girls glanced at each other and didn't ask further.

They each went back to room 001 and room 002, leaving Qin Lin alone in the living area.

The lights were dimmed, and the cabin fell into a half-lit silence.

Qin Lin sat on the sofa, took a deep breath, and pulled up the System interface.

A blue semi-transparent screen expanded before him.

At the top was the RV status summary, and in the middle was the function list.

At the very bottom... were two flashing red icons.

【Hidden Task (New) ×2】

He stared at that line of text for a long time before finally reaching out a fingertip and lightly clicking it.

The System interface expanded, the blue light reflecting on Qin Lin's face.

【Hidden Task List】

【Task 1: Bond with New Passengers】

【Task Content: Passenger 003 Han Yurou and passenger no. 004 Han Qing have boarded and their affiliation is confirmed.

Due to the special relationship between the two passengers (Mother and Daughter), and both having comprehensive scores above 90, a special task mechanism has been triggered.】

【Task Requirements: Please choose one of the following options to complete.】

【Option A: Establish an intimate relationship with Passenger 003 Han Yurou (Mutual consent required).】

【Option B: Establish an intimate relationship with passenger no. 004 Han Qing (Mutual consent required).】

【Option C: Host's own discretion, improvise freely.】

【Task Reward: supermarket space unlock progress +10%, plus a survival supply pack corresponding to that progress.】

【Task Time Limit: Complete before new passengers board; failure will result in the deduction of corresponding supermarket space and supplies.】

Qin Lin stared at these three options, silent for a long time.

It was exactly as he had expected, yet also different.

The System had indeed given a task related to 'intimate relationships.'

But because Han Qing and Han Yurou were mother and daughter, it had become a multiple-choice question.

Choose one of three, and there was an 'own discretion' option.

Could this be considered the System's mercy?

Or was it some kind of twisted test?