Just then, the woman beside me finished the task I’d given her. With red-rimmed eyes, she walked over and handed me a dagger attached to a belt.

"Now... can we go?"

"Food?"

I didn’t answer. Instead, I took the dagger and shot back a question.

"We’ll give you the food once we’re safe," she replied. I frowned but held my tongue. Her caution made sense—if I ran off with the supplies, this mother and daughter might starve here.

"Don’t even think of breaking your word," I warned. Then I held out my hand. She stared at it, stunned.

"I’m Fang Yuxuan," I blurted instinctively, then froze. That was clearly a man’s name! After a quick mental scramble, I added, "Fang as in ‘square,’ Yu as in ‘rain,’ Xuan with the grass radical."

"Fang Yuxuan? Hello... I’m Bai Xiao." She shook my hand—but squeezed hard, whether on purpose or not. To me, it wasn’t tough, but she kept gripping, face flushed, teeth clenched.

After a pause, when Bai Xiao finally let go, I asked slowly, "Was... that fun?"

"Huff... I... I believe you now. You really can kill a dozen zombies," she panted.

So she’d still doubted me.

But I was suspicious too. My strength had grown since I woke—especially after eating the glucose and sausages. I felt my body strengthening slowly. Now, I even had the illusion that if I jumped, I could reach the three-meter ceiling.

Of course, reason said it was just an illusion. Maybe I’d gotten stronger, but I couldn’t have surpassed human limits overnight, right?

I’m only 1.7 meters tall. Arms outstretched, I’d barely reach two meters. To touch a three-meter ceiling? How high would I need to jump?

Wait...

"Why not try?" I muttered under my breath.

"Huh? Big sister? Try what?" the little girl piped up instantly.

"Uh... nothing. Just testing." I didn’t mention the illusion. Stepping back twice, no running start—I bent my knees and leaped straight up!

*Snap!*

A crisp sound echoed. My palm slapped against the three-meter ceiling!

It’s real. I’ve gotten stronger.

Landing, I stared at my dusty palm. The grime confirmed it: my body had likely surpassed ordinary humans.

"Wow!! Big sister jumped so high! Juan’er wants to too!"

"Fang... Yuxuan? Did you train in martial arts?"

Little Juan’er’s voice and Bai Xiao’s snapped me out of my thoughts. Facing their gazes—one wary, one awed—I awkwardly replied, "Uh... a little." Then I glanced at Juan’er. "You’re too young for that jump. Grow as tall as me first."

Bai Xiao’s eyes shifted instantly. Juan’er’s friendly look turned to pure admiration. Honestly, I wasn’t used to this attention—but it felt good.

"Then... Yuxuan, let’s go now?" Bai Xiao urged. Maybe my jump boosted her hope for survival.

When did she start calling me by my first name?

Whatever. It didn’t matter. This strength lifted my mood. At least... it gave me more hope to live, right?

I nodded, glancing at them. Not bad—no dumb high-heel clatter like in apocalypse movies. Both wore sneakers.

Still...

"Before we leave, tie something around your arms."

I paused, thinking. "Find quilts or cloth. Wrap them on your arms—they’ll block zombie bites. Also..."

I looked at the man on the ground. "Take his bulletproof vest, Miss Bai Xiao. You wear it."

Bai Xiao hesitated for two seconds, then nodded. She vanished down the corridor and returned with two quilts. Using my fruit knife, she sliced them into strips and tied them to her and Juan’er’s arms. Then she knelt by her husband’s corpse, whispering. My sharpened hearing caught every word:

"Husband... I gave away your favorite knife. I’m taking your clothes... I’m sorry. But for our daughter—for Juan’er to grow up healthy and survive... I’m sorry..."

Her voice choked. I tactfully stayed silent, idly popping a piece of gum from my pocket into my mouth. Where’d it come from?

Found it, of course! Perfectly reasonable! Hmmph!