Chapter 18: The Showdown

Around the dinner table, everyone was chatting.
“Chen Xiao, welcome to Nancheng Warehouse. Leave the past behind and march toward the future together.””Yes, Chen Xiao… Let go of the unpleasantness before. Nancheng needs all of us to protect it!”
Lü XingJi and Lang Fei still looked pale but raised their glasses, albeit reluctantly.It was likely on Jiang YunHan’s orders—they had no choice but to prioritize the bigger picture.
Chen Xiao responded with a derisive snort, a clear dismissal of their hollow words.
“Chen Xiao, I toast to you—thank you for saving Sister Tang!”Jiang ChuXue raised her glass, her gaze pure and earnest.”You’re welcome.”Chen Xiao raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.”Are all these lamb slices created by your talent?”
Jiang ChuXue nodded. “Yeah, what else? Nowadays, real sheep are rotten—even their meat stinks horribly when slaughtered!”Chen Xiao feigned sudden realization. “So how many sheep can you summon in a day?”
Jiang YunHan cut in sharply before Jiang ChuXue could reply:”In the apocalypse, these are your trump cards—don’t reveal them carelessly.”
Jiang ChuXue gave Chen Xiao a helpless little shrug and shot a mildly annoyed glance at her brother.
“Um… ChuXue, ahem… Do you remember the question I asked you a few days ago?”Lü XingJi suddenly spoke, his cheeks pale but his gaze tender as he looked at Jiang ChuXue.
Jiang ChuXue froze, then remembered: “Oh, when you and my brother asked what kind of guys I like…””Let me think.”
Lü XingJi straightened his neck—he’d pursued ChuXue for years, waiting for this moment.Jiang YunHan also sat up straight—he’d protected his sister for twenty years and deserved to be her idol.Even Lang Fei looked up, not sure why—probably because the other two had.
Jiang ChuXue, oblivious, kept eating and drinking, replying casually:”Me? I like…””I like underdog stories—where someone rises to power through their own efforts!””Hahaha, isn’t that unique?”
To everyone’s surprise, Jiang ChuXue hadn’t made her preference specific.Chen Xiao mentally noted this god-tier plot and picked up a huge slice of lamb.”Eat up, everyone—don’t be shy.”When no one moved, Chen Xiao urged them.
Then he devoured a huge, broth-soaked slice of lamb!Fragrant, succulent!Delicious!
That night,Chen Xiao moved into a room on the warehouse’s top floor with Tang Shiyang.It was a one-bedroom, one-living-room, one-bathroom apartment.Spacious and bright, sunlight filtering through the windows cast dappled shadows on the floor.Cozy decorations adorned the walls, adding a warm touch.At the center was a large bed, its sheets and pillows spotlessly clean, emitting a faint fragrance.On the other side was a spacious bathroom.It was hard to believe such a room existed in the apocalypse—It was luxurious!
“Xiao-ge, I lied to you.”A gentle voice came. Tang Shiyang sat on the sofa, head bowed, looking utterly pitiful.
Chen Xiao sat down too, saying nothing, waiting for her to confess.”My talent isn’t the A-rank [Water Ball].”
Before she could finish, Chen Xiao cut in: “It’s the S-rank [Water Source].”“How could you possibly know?!”Tang Shiyang’s eyes went wide in genuine shock—she’d never told anyone, not even Jiang ChuXue!”Because I have it too.”
Chen Xiao confessed in advance to avoid future water supply issues.As he spoke, a ball of misty water swirled in his palm.”Impossible—your strength…”Tang Shiyang had seen Chen Xiao’s power—he could tear down load-bearing walls with his bare hands!How could he have the relatively harmless [Water Source]?”Who told you people can only have one talent?”
Chen Xiao grinned, showing his white teeth, looking harmless.Tang Shiyang was stunned—she’d never considered this.Could someone have two talents?She forced a bitter smile. “So you knew I was lying all along.””Why didn’t you expose me?”
Chen Xiao shook his head. “Back then, we weren’t close. I didn’t care about the lies. But from now on,” his voice softened but held an edge, “I need you to be honest with me.”
Tang Shiyang stared at Chen Xiao, tears welling in her eyes.She wanted to say something but couldn’t.Suddenly, tears fell like broken pearls down her cheeks.Through heart-wrenching sobs, she managed to say: “I understand!”She spoke while wiping her tears.
Chen Xiao moved closer and hugged her trembling body.After a long while,Tang Shiyang leaned against him, calming down.”Xiao-ge, you’re amazing… I feel…””Feel what?””Um… how to put it.””Do you feel uncomfortable?””No, it’s just… I can’t say it!””What is it? You’ve been thinking for ages…””I feel…””I think… I’m falling in love with you.”
“Pfft!”A burst of laughter escaped Chen Xiao—not out of mockery, but from sheer, unexpected delight. Was this a confession?Come to think of it, this was his first confession in two lifetimes.
Tang Shiyang, seeing him laugh at her, playfully hit him with her delicate hand.But it was so weak that Chen Xiao grabbed her wrist.When she looked up to pout, she met his fiery gaze.*”You’re… too much,” she whispered, her protest weak.”Can you blame me?” he murmured, his voice low. “When you’re this irresistible.”