68: In the end, only Qin Lin and Aunt Qing were left.

Han Yurou's cheeks were flushed red, and she was becoming more and more talkative.

She spoke about everything from interesting school stories to her experience fleeing for her life with her mother.

She spoke of those moments of despair, and then of the surprise of being rescued and brought onto the vehicle.

“Brother Lin, did you know?”

She suddenly leaned in close to Qin Lin, her eyes sparkling.

“The moment you took us away, I felt like you were... like a superhero in a movie.”

“The kind that glows all over!”

Qin Lin couldn't help but laugh: “Where was I glowing?”

“You were! In my heart, you were!”

Han Yurou said very seriously, and then let out a wine-induced hiccup.

Everyone laughed.

Han Yurou laughed as well, but as she laughed, her eyes suddenly turned red.

“I'm just... just so happy.”

She wiped her eyes.

“I thought my mom and I were done for. But you guys came... thank you, really, thank you...”

Lin Wanwan gently hugged her: “It's all in the past, Yu Rou. We're all together now, and things will only get better.”

“Mm!”

Han Yurou nodded vigorously and then grabbed her wine glass.

“I want more!”

“You've had too much.”

Qin Lin took her glass away.

“I have not!”

Han Yurou protested, but her body was already swaying slightly.

She simply leaned against Qin Lin, clutching his arm and refusing to let go.

“Brother Lin, you're so warm...”

Qin Lin stiffened for a moment.

Han Yurou was only wearing thin pajamas.

Everyone had changed into comfortable loungewear before dinner.

Her pajamas were light pink short-sleeved top and shorts, made of soft, thin fabric.

At this moment, her whole body was pressed against Qin Lin's arm, and he could clearly feel her body heat and softness.

Especially those modest curves on her chest, which were pressing tightly against his upper arm.

That kind of sensation... for a man who had been drinking, it was quite a test.

Qin Lin tried to pull his arm away:

“Yu Rou, sit up straight.”

“No, this is comfortable.”

Han Yurou hugged him even tighter, burying her face in his shoulder.

Qin Lin looked toward Han Qing, his eyes pleading for help.

Han Qing had also drunk quite a bit; her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze was somewhat hazy.

Seeing her daughter hugging Qin Lin, she was stunned for a moment before she smiled.

“Let her hug you.”

Han Qing said, her voice carrying a hint of tipsiness.

“This child... likes you.”

This made Qin Lin even more embarrassed.

Su Yuran and Lin Wanwan exchanged a glance, neither saying a word.

But a certain consensus seemed to have been reached through their eye contact.

The hot pot continued, as did the drinking.

Han Qing seemed to really want to get drunk tonight.

She went glass after glass; Qin Lin tried to persuade her a few times, but she just smiled and said, “It's fine, I'm happy today.”

As a Doctor, she was usually very restrained.

But today... perhaps she really needed a release.

The fear, despair, bitterness, and the pressure of protecting her daughter that had been suppressed for a month... all those emotions slowly surfaced through the alcohol.

Gradually, she actually began to shed tears.

The others watched silently, no one disturbing her.

In the apocalypse, everyone has lost something, and everyone has their pains.

Being able to cry it out was actually a good thing.

After crying for a while, Han Qing wiped her tears and forced a smile:

“Sorry, I lost my composure.”

“It's okay,” Su Yuran said softly. “You'll feel better after crying it out.”

Han Qing nodded and poured another glass of wine.

This hot pot meal lasted for nearly three hours.

By the end, everyone was in a tipsy state.

Han Yurou was completely drunk, slumped over the table talking nonsense.

Lin Wanwan and Su Yuran had crimson cheeks and hazy eyes.

Han Qing was still relatively sober, but her movements were noticeably sluggish.

Qin Lin had the best tolerance; although he had drunk a lot, his mind was clear.

“Let's clean up, everyone should get some rest early,” he said.

Lin Wanwan and Su Yuran stood up to help clear the dishes, but their hands and feet weren't very steady.

Qin Lin told them to sit down and that he would handle it himself.

Han Qing wanted to help, but she swayed the moment she stood up.

“Aunt Qing, you stay seated.” Qin Lin supported her. “Your leg injury hasn't healed yet, and you've been drinking. Don't fall.”

Han Qing looked up at him from a very close distance.

She could see the concern in Qin Lin's eyes.

She could also smell the masculine scent mixed with alcohol coming from him.

“Thank you.”

She said softly, her voice a bit raspy.

Qin Lin let go of her and began clearing the dining table.

Han Yurou was helped up by Lin Wanwan and staggered toward room 003.

“Sister Wanwan, I'm not drunk...”

Han Yurou was still mumbling.

“I know, I know, you're not drunk.”

Lin Wanwan coaxed her.

“Let's go to sleep.”

The two of them entered the room.

Su Yuran finished tidying the kitchen and was also preparing to return to her room.

She walked up to Qin Lin, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in his ear:

“Let's skip tonight.”

After saying that, she winked and returned to Room 001.

Now, only Qin Lin and Han Qing were left in the living room.

The dining table had been cleaned, and the dishes were all put into the automatic dishwasher.

The living room lights were dimmed, leaving only a few night lights on.

Outside the window was eternal darkness and falling snow; inside the vehicle was a warm silence.

Qin Lin looked at Han Qing:

“Aunt Qing, should I help you back to your room?”

Han Qing sat on the sofa with her eyes closed, seemingly trying to calm the effects of the alcohol.

Hearing Qin Lin's words, she opened her eyes, her gaze misty.

“Let's sit for a bit longer,” she said. “I need to sober up, otherwise lying down will feel uncomfortable.”

Qin Lin sat down on the sofa opposite her.

Neither of them spoke; there was only the slight sound of the air conditioning System's ventilation.

Alcohol flowed through their blood, making perceptions keen and the defenses of reason weak.

Qin Lin's gaze unconsciously fell upon Han Qing.

She was currently wearing a deep blue silk bathrobe, the collar slightly open, revealing delicate collarbones and a patch of fair skin.

The bathrobe's belt was loosely tied, hinting at the curves of her body beneath.

Because of her sitting posture, the hem of the bathrobe parted, revealing her slender calves.

Her hair was scattered over her shoulders, a bit messy, yet possessing a kind of lazy beauty.

Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, her lips were moist, and her eyes were hazy.

The charm radiated by a thirty-seven-year-old mature woman in a tipsy state was a fatal temptation for any man.

Qin Lin felt his throat go dry; he looked away and took a sip of water.

But his gaze still drifted back involuntarily.

Han Qing seemed to notice his gaze, but she didn't shy away; instead, she met his eyes.

They stared at each other for several seconds.

In the air, an invisible tension began to spread.

Time flowed slowly in the silence.

Qin Lin took another sip of water, trying to suppress the thirst in his throat and the restlessness in his heart.

The alcohol accelerated his blood circulation and made certain thoughts that shouldn't be there exceptionally active.

He looked at Han Qing—the mature woman sitting on the opposite sofa.

The looming curves beneath the bathrobe, the flushed cheeks, the hazy eyes... she was seventeen years older than himself, Su Yuran, and Lin Wanwan, but time seemed to have treated her with exceptional favor.

At thirty-seven years old, she hadn't left many traces of age.

Instead, it added a charm and mature allure that young girls didn't have.

Especially that hug at noon today... the sensation was still fresh in his memory.

“Qin Lin.”

Han Qing suddenly spoke, her voice softer than usual.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“You... why are you so good to me?”

This question caught Qin Lin off guard.