77: It's just a physiological need.

After watering the plants, Han Yurou spent some time trimming branches and leaves inside the ecological box.

Only then did she pat her hands with satisfaction and walk out.

The newly expanded ecological box did indeed require more care, but she enjoyed it.

Watching those green plants grow day by day, bloom, and bear fruit

gave her a feeling of creating life amidst the apocalypse.

"Mom, I'm going to the Drivers Cabin to play with Brother Lin!"

She said to Han Qing, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book.

Han Qing looked up, her brow slightly furrowed:

"Don't go disturb Qin Lin, he's driving."

"The RV is on autopilot, Brother Lin is just watching it,"

Han Yurou said with a giggle.

"I'll just go chat for a bit, I'll be back soon."

Having said that, without waiting for Han Qing's objection, she skipped and hopped toward the Drivers Cabin.

Han Qing watched her cheerful back, her eyes complex.

She could see her daughter's fondness for Qin Lin.

That kind of youthful admiration and dependence was written plainly on her face.

Every time she mentioned "Brother Lin," her eyes would light up.

Every time she spoke with Qin Lin, her tone would unconsciously soften.

This was normal.

In the apocalypse, Qin Lin had saved them, mother and daughter, given them a safe shelter, food, warmth, and hope.

Any girl would be moved by such a man.

Moreover, Qin Lin was the only young man on this RV, and so handsome too.

But... a wave of irritation rose in Han Qing's heart.

She herself had also slept with Qin Lin.

Although it happened after drinking, although she now regretted it deeply and felt ashamed, it had happened.

What did this mean?

Were they supposed to like the same man?

This thought made Han Qing's scalp tingle.

No, she didn't like him.

Her feelings for Qin Lin... it was just drunken recklessness.

Just a physical need, just... stop, don't think about these things anymore.

Han Qing rubbed her temples.

Last night's fragments surfaced in her mind again.

Her body honestly remembered every detail.

Even now, thinking about it made her tremble slightly.

This was just the loneliness of being without a man for too long.

But it absolutely couldn't be called liking.

All she knew was that things had become complicated, very complicated.

If Yu Rou truly fell for Qin Lin,

what should she, as a mother, do?

Stop her?

What reason could she use to stop her?

Say "Mom likes him too"?

Or say "Mom has already slept with him"?

Neither would work.

But if she didn't stop her, should she just watch her daughter get involved?

Qin Lin already had Yuran and Wanwan.

If Yu Rou got involved, what position would she be in?

The fourth?

The fifth?

The more Han Qing thought about it, the more her head ached.

She sighed and decided not to think about these troublesome matters for now.

Right now, the most important thing was to heal her injury well and do her job as a doctor.

As for the rest... let nature take its course.

She stood up, wanting to get a glass of water.

But she moved too hastily, pulling on the soreness on the inside of her thigh.

She couldn't help but hiss.

Thankfully, her foot injury served as cover.

Han Qing was glad she had a legitimate reason to conceal her other physical discomforts.

Otherwise, with Yuran and Wanwan's attentiveness, they would have noticed something was off long ago.

She slowly walked to the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, and took small sips.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the direction of the Drivers Cabin.

What were Yu Rou and Qin Lin talking about?

What were they chatting about so happily?

Inside the Drivers Cabin, Han Yurou was sitting in the passenger seat, watching with great interest as Qin Lin demonstrated new functions.

"Is this the Weapons Console?" she pointed at the screen. "It's so cool! Like a battleship from a sci-fi movie!"

"Something like that," Qin Lin smiled. "But we only have two Electromagnetic Pulse Guns, not quite a battleship."

"That's still amazing!"

Han Yurou's eyes sparkled.

"Brother Lin, can you teach me how to use it?"

"You want to learn?"

"Mhm!" Han Yurou nodded vigorously.

"Okay, I'll teach you," Qin Lin said. "But operating weapons is risky. You must follow orders and can't fire randomly."

"I know!" Han Yurou smiled happily. "I promise to be obedient!"

Qin Lin began teaching her the basic operations:

how to switch perspectives, how to aim, how to fire.

Han Yurou learned very seriously. Although her first attempt was a bit clumsy, she quickly grasped the essentials.

He knew teaching this was actually unnecessary.

Because the RV now had automatic defense and attack functions.

After future upgrades, it would become even more powerful, making manual operation even less necessary.

But he still explained it once.

After all, life was too boring; they needed to find something to do.

Otherwise, it would be too dull.

"Brother Lin, do you think we'll encounter bad people in the future?" Han Yurou suddenly asked.

"We might."

Qin Lin didn't hide the truth.

"In the apocalypse, resources are scarce. To survive, many people become looters. Our RV is too conspicuous; we'll be targeted sooner or later."

"Then we'll use this to drive them away!"

Han Yurou gripped the control handle, her tone firm.

Qin Lin smiled: "Right, drive them away."

The two chatted for a while longer. Han Yurou asked many questions about the RV's System:

how to upgrade it, what crystal stones were needed, what new functions it would have in the future.

Qin Lin patiently answered, but he kept some details involving the System's core to himself.

After all, Han Yurou was still young; knowing too much might not be a good thing.

"Brother Lin," Han Yurou suddenly said quietly.

"Don't you think... my mom has been acting strange today?"

Qin Lin's heart skipped a beat.

"Strange how?"

"Just... not talking much, like she has something on her mind."

Han Yurou tilted her head.

"I asked her if her foot hurt, and she said no."

"But I think she must be uncomfortable somewhere; her walking posture is off."

Qin Lin coughed:

"Maybe... she just bumped into the bed frame and it hurts."

"Bumping into a bed frame could cause that?"

Han Yurou didn't believe it. "My mom is usually very careful; she never moves around much while sleeping."

"And the way she looked at you today was strange too, like... she's angry?"

Qin Lin felt sweat forming on his forehead.

Was this girl's observational skills too sharp?

"Maybe I did something wrong that made her angry," Qin Lin said vaguely. "I'll find a chance to apologize."

"Brother Lin, don't be afraid. My mom is a very nice person,"

Han Yurou comforted him. "She just seems stern on the surface, but her heart is actually very soft."

Qin Lin nodded with a bitter smile.

Aunt Qing wasn't just soft-hearted; her whole body was soft.

If only it were a simple case of making her angry.

"Yu Rou," Qin Lin changed the subject.

"Can you go check if Yuran is awake? I need to talk to her about something."

"Okay!"

Han Yurou jumped down from the passenger seat.

"I'll go then, Brother Lin. Keep researching!"

She cheerfully ran out of the Drivers Cabin.

Qin Lin watched her leave and breathed a sigh of relief.

Chatting with Han Yurou was pleasant, but the pressure was immense.

The girl was too smart, too perceptive. A few more sentences and she might have seen through the situation.

He pulled up the System interface to check Su Yuran's status.