9: I thought that in situations like this, men would... force women.

The two of them counted their harvest in the car:

24 bottles of mineral water, 12 packs of instant noodles, and two barrels of diesel.

There was also a pile of daily necessities.

“This is enough for a few days,” Qin Lin said.

Su Yuran, however, was in low spirits.

She sat by the bed, watching the sky gradually darken outside the window, and suddenly said:

“Qin Lin, what exactly happened to this world? Why did it become like this? Will we... one day freeze to death in the snow like that person on the road?”

Qin Lin looked at her.

There was fear in the girl's eyes—a real, profound fear.

In his past life, he had also felt this kind of fear.

“I don't know what happened to the world.”

Qin Lin told the truth.

“But I know that as long as we are strong enough, we can survive.”

“How do we become stronger?”

“Upgrade this car,” Qin Lin said. “Find crystal stones, upgrade, and make the car capable of handling more dangers. Then we find a safer place, or... build a safe place ourselves.”

Su Yuran was silent for a while.

“Qin Lin, do you believe we can survive this disaster?”

“I believe it,” Qin Lin said. “But not everyone can. Only those who are prepared, those who can survive, are qualified to see the day the disaster ends.”

He paused: “And what we need to do is become those who can survive.”

He knew more; this extreme cold weather would not last forever.

Later, there would be extreme heat.

And other extreme disasters.

Of course, there were some habitable zones, but they were very few.

Moreover, they were controlled, and entering them was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have died in his past life.

Su Yuran looked at him, her gaze slowly becoming firm.

“Mhm,” she said, “I'll listen to you.”

In the evening, the two cooked instant noodles and added ham sausages.

This was the last bit of meat they had scavenged from the gas station's small convenience store.

As the hot soup entered their stomachs, their bodies warmed up.

After the meal, Qin Lin checked the vehicle's status.

【Energy: 71/100】

【survival points: 37】

【Water Tank: Clean Water Tank 12L/100L】

Some water had been used, but adding 24 bottles of mineral water was equivalent to 12 liters.

It was time to sleep.

The two washed up—actually, they just wiped their faces with water.

The bathroom had a sink, but no hot water.

Then it was that small bed again.

Su Yuran was more natural this time and took the initiative to lie on the inner side.

Qin Lin lay down and turned off the lights.

In the darkness, the two lay side by side, able to hear each other's breathing.

“Qin Lin.”

Su Yuran suddenly spoke.

“Hm?”

“You said you wanted to collect interest.” Her voice was very light.

“Interest... what exactly is it?”

Qin Lin turned his head.

Although he couldn't see clearly, he could feel Su Yuran looking at him.

“What do you think?” he asked back.

“I...”

Su Yuran paused.

“I know what you want. I said yesterday that I would do whatever you wanted. So... if you want, I can...”

She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.

Qin Lin smiled.

“There's no rush for the interest,” he said. “Wait until you are truly willing, rather than doing it as an exchange for survival.”

Su Yuran was stunned.

“Besides,” Qin Lin continued, “now is not the time. We are still in danger and need to maintain our strength and stay alert. We'll talk about it when we reach a relatively safe place.”

Su Yuran was silent for a long time.

Then she gave a soft “Mhm.”

After a while, she said again:

“Qin Lin, thank you.”

“Thank me for what?”

“Thank you... for being relatively gentle with me.”

Su Yuran's voice was very light.

“I thought at a time like this, men would... force women.”

Qin Lin didn't speak.

He thought of the things he had seen in his past life.

Indeed, after order collapsed, many men treated women as spoils of war, as tools for venting lust, and as goods to be exchanged for supplies.

He wasn't a Saint, but he had his bottom line.

“Go to sleep,” Qin Lin said. “We still have to find crystal stones tomorrow.”

Qin Lin had some guesses about these crystal stones.

They were related to different disasters.

“Mhm.”

Su Yuran rolled over, her back to him.

But this time, she proactively leaned back a little, her back lightly touching his arm.

A small but clear signal.

Qin Lin closed his eyes.

Outside the window, the wind and snow rose again.

But inside the car, it was as warm as spring.

He had a car, supplies, and a relatively reliable companion.

And most importantly.

He had the memories of his Rebirth and an understanding of this car's potential.

In this life, he really had a chance.

A chance to live well.

【survival points: 38】

The number ticked up.

That night, Qin Lin ultimately did not completely restrain himself.

Darkness is the best cover, and warmth breeds intimacy.

When Su Yuran turned around and proactively curled into his arms, his arm naturally wrapped around her waist.

Through the cotton pajamas, he could feel the soft curves of her body.

“Just consider it as keeping warm.”

Su Yuran said in a muffled voice, her face buried in his chest.

Qin Lin didn't speak, but his hand moved slowly up her back, finally stopping at her shoulder blades.

It was very thin there; her butterfly bones protruded slightly, as if they were about to spread wings and fly away at any moment.

He remembered the last time he saw her in his previous life; she was even thinner then, so thin her cheekbones stood out and her eyes were frighteningly large.

Perhaps she had turned away then because she didn't want him to see her like that.

Just as he hadn't wanted her to recognize him.

But this time was different.

“Qin Lin.”

She suddenly called him.

“Hm?”

“Your hand...” Her voice trembled slightly, “don't move it around.”

Qin Lin's hand was unconsciously stroking her back.

He stopped the movement but did not withdraw his hand.

“You said that before too,” he said. “In the Library, when my hand was on your leg.”

That was back when they had first started dating.

It was summer, she was wearing a short skirt, and the two of them were studying in a corner of the Library.

His hand had slowly moved up from her knee, only to be pressed down by her blushing face.

“It was different then than it is now,”

Su Yuran said softly.

“How is it different?”

“Back then... the world was still normal.”

She paused.

“Now... I don't know if I'll still be alive tomorrow.”

Qin Lin's hand tightened.

“You will live,” he said. “I promise.”

After a few seconds of silence, Su Yuran suddenly looked up.

In the darkness, their faces were very close, their breaths intertwining.

She could smell the faint scent of machine oil and snow on Qin Lin.

“Qin Lin.”

She called his name again, then leaned in and lightly kissed the corner of his mouth.

It was very light and very fast, like a butterfly brushing past.

Then she quickly pulled back, burying her face again, the tips of her ears burning hot.

Qin Lin was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

He lowered his head, found her lips, and returned a deeper kiss.

Su Yuran's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed, her arms wrapping around his neck.

The kiss lasted a long time.

When they separated, both were panting.

“Does this count as a prepayment on the interest?”

Qin Lin's voice was a bit hoarse.

“It counts... counts as a heating fee.”

Su Yuran's voice was even softer.

“Even though it's warm in the car, it's warmer being held.”

Qin Lin didn't tease her anymore.

He held her tightly, his hand resting properly on her waist.

“Sleep.”

That night, the two slept in each other's arms.

Su Yuran no longer turned her back to him; instead, her whole body was nestled in his arms, like a small animal that had found its nest.

Qin Lin's chin rested on the crown of her head, and he could smell the faint scent of the shampoo she had taken from the supermarket on her hair.

It was very cheap, but in the Apocalypse, it was already a luxury.