Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Handling the Base Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Handling the Base Gu Pan, three years after the apocalypse, developed severe insomnia. Any slight noise in the night would wake her, and then she couldn’t go back to sleep, sotis spending the entire night with her eyes wide open. Her nerves were like a strand of hair on the verge of breaking. This was why, with her husband gone, she lost all desire to live. Those who had never experienced the apocalypse could never comprehend the kind of ntal breakdown it caused.
At the ti, she had considered seeking revenge, but the adversaries were nurous, ard with guns, leaving her no chance at even a mutual destruction. Rather than dying at the hands of the enemy, she preferred to take matters into her own hands.
With these thoughts, Gu Pan retrieved a dical kit from “Space,” opened it, and took out bandages and anti-inflammatory dication, packing them into a bag. She handed it to her husband.
Lu Ruisheng, carrying the bag, opened the door. Without a word, he followed the woman to the staircase area and handed it to her, “We have so extra dicine at ho, take it for ergency.”
Seeing the amount of dicine, the woman wanted to kneel in thanks, but mid-stairway, it was impossible, so she quickly bowed, “Thank you, benefactor.”
Lu Ruisheng shook his head, “Hurry back, saving people is what matters,” and he walked back.
The woman, indeed agitated, thanked them again and hurried ho.
Returning ho, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng felt sowhat despondent. Even inside No.7 Base, it was hard.
If this was their state, one could only imagine the outside world. The acid rain would take many lives and disfigure many more; it was indeed cruel.
The incident of a resident getting hurt had cast a gloom over the whole building, prompting too many to reflect on themselves and their loved ones.
That night, many slept poorly, especially those who had experienced danger before reaching the base.
The next morning, Gu Pan was awakened by screams and cries echoing down the hallway, shrieks of agony from both a man and a woman.
“Nannan, why couldn’t you bear it? Mom and Dad don’t bla you. Surviving till now hasn’t been easy; why did you have to go like this?”
The voice from yesterday rang out again, not far, most likely right below Gu Pan’s floor.
The sobbing voice continued, “Why, why are you so rciless? With you gone, how am I supposed to live on?”
Gu Pan sat up and looked at Lu Ruisheng, “Was that man from yesterday gone? No wait—” she caught herself halfway, realizing she might be wrong.
Lu Ruisheng knew her thoughts and continued, “It must be his son.”
Gu Pan felt the sa based on the woman’s words about losing hope.
Soon, the female voice cried out again, “Child, you were our life, our everything. Now, you’ve taken both our lives.”
The man’s voice ca through, “Dad said he doesn’t bla you, Dad said it doesn’t hurt anymore, why still…can’t you bear it? Even if Dad were to die, he wouldn’t want you hurt.”
Gu Pan sighed deeply, “Ah, the apocalypse is really too tough, even being inside the base doesn’t spare us from tragedies.”
“ntal illness is never easy to treat, especially not now,” Lu Ruisheng added, shaking his head in dismay.
“The child thought leaving would free his parents, but he didn’t realize what they’d truly lose.”
“Everyone thinks they’re doing what’s best for the other, but…”
Talking brought them both intense discomfort, and they found themselves unable to continue.
They both understood the apocalyptic instinct to cling to life together; each person was a support for the other. Once that support was gone, living seed worse than death. Fortunately for this couple, they had each other.
Lu Ruisheng stroked his wife’s hair, “The apocalypse isn’t sothing we can control.”
Gu Pan nodded, “I know.”
anwhile, the wailing downstairs continued. But there was another issue—it was now around 20 degrees outside, and the body couldn’t just remain in the house, nor could it be carried out.
Currently, no floor leader had been elected, so there was no one in charge.
Lu Ruisheng remarked to Gu Pan, “Not sure how they will handle the body.”
Gu Pan shook her head, “Can’t go out; cremation in the hallway is impossible too.” Then, as if recalling sothing, she said, “It’s been so long, the base should be sending supplies soon, right?”
In her past life, Gu Pan had never heard of a base neglecting its residents; such major news would have erged, especially since she had lived past three years into the apocalypse, slowly hearing any news.
Lu Ruisheng comnted, “With this temperature, three days should be no major issue, any longer is uncertain.”
Their impression of the base made them feel that this wouldn’t pose a significant problem and would be resolved.
That day, the building remained eerily quiet, panic progressively setting in among the residents.
The next day, soone in the hallway started banging on a pot, shouting, “We need to organize and appeal to the base leaders. We can’t have a body lying here, and we’re running out of supplies. Let’s unite and et in the first-floor corridor shortly to discuss our current situation.”
Listening to this, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng decided not to join, knowing base managent wasn’t neglecting them. Stirring up trouble with these people might not be wise.
So, the two stayed indoors. Not many others from their floor left either, only two or three.
Soon, those individuals returned, seemingly without having resolved anything.
At the base, with rules and laws in place, people seed more inclined to wait for direction from above.
Sure enough, by the afternoon, new ssages were broadcasted, “Residents of No.7 Base, although the acid rain continues, the base is stable. The leaders have issued instructions. Starting tomorrow morning, supplies will be distributed door-to-door. Please bring your ID cards for collection.”
The news burst like fireworks in the night sky, sparking joy among everyone.
Gu Pan remarked to Lu Ruisheng, “You know, the base really tis their control well. Just as many families are struggling, they begin to distribute supplies.”
Lu Ruisheng replied, “Anyone leading a base must have so intellect.”
“That’s true.”
“I wonder what the Base Commander looks like? I’ve heard he’s over fifty. I wonder if we’ll ever see him.”
“Who knows? Seeing him or not doesn’t affect our als.”
“I just wanted to record it on cara. I’m increasingly interested in my diary; I feel it might beco a historical artifact soday.”
“That’s quite possible. Actually, eting the Base Commander wouldn’t be difficult. If we find so rare minerals or sothing, requesting a eting would be reasonable, right?”
“You know, that might just work.”
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