Chapter 4 – Breakthrough
“An’an, An’an.”
At Zhou Qi’s gentle prompting, Tang Yu’an opened his eyes and responded weakly, “Brother Qi…”
“Here, let’s check your temperature.”
Zhou Qi handed him a thermometer, coaxing Tang Yu’an to tuck it under his arm.
“How do you feel?”
“So hot… and a bit thirsty.”
Zhou Qi poured some water and helped him drink. After a few moments, he had Tang Yu’an take out the thermometer.
39.2°C.
Zhou Qi’s expression darkened, and he touched Tang Yu’an’s forehead, his eyes reddening with guilt.
He should have been more vigilant when Tang Yu’an sneezed yesterday, especially with the flu going around. On top of that, the stress from their abrupt transport to this place hadn’t helped…
How could he have let him bathe in such a state? It must have worsened his condition…
Overwhelmed with worry and self-blame, Zhou Qi forced himself to calm down with a few deep breaths.
He couldn’t afford to panic. Getting anxious now wouldn’t help; the priority was finding a way to treat An’an’s illness.
“It’s all right, I’m here with you,” Zhou Qi said gently, stroking Tang Yu’an’s cheek to comfort him. Then he went downstairs, ladled out a bowl of porridge, and set it aside. He hurried over to the medicine cabinet where Tang Yu’an’s mom usually kept their medicines.
The cabinet mostly contained ointments for bruises and injuries, as well as some herbal detoxifiers. Finally, he found a bottle of cold medicine tablets and a few packets of herbal medicine.
It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
Zhou Qi collected the medicine, carried the bowl of porridge upstairs, and coaxed Tang Yu’an into eating half of it before giving him two tablets and a packet of the herbal medicine.
After taking the medicine, Tang Yu’an dozed off again.
Zhou Qi stayed by his side, carefully wiping his forehead and behind his ears with alcohol to bring down the fever.
By 11 a.m., Tang Yu’an’s temperature finally began to drop, and he woke up looking more alert.
The weight on Zhou Qi’s heart finally lifted. Just as he was about to get up and prepare some more food, Tang Yu’an tugged weakly on his shirt and murmured, “Brother Qi, I’m sorry…”
Tang Yu’an felt guilty for falling ill at a time like this—it was such a burden.
Zhou Qi paused.
“Don’t be silly,” he said, ruffling Tang Yu’an’s sweat-dampened hair. “Just focus on getting better.”
“Mm…”
Tang Yu’an managed to sit up and drank another half-bowl of porridge. He used a warm towel to wipe the sweat from his body, which made him feel much more comfortable.
At that point, Zhou Qi took out a few bills, intending to trade with him to earn points—the “Seven-Day Special Sale” cold medicine was still available. With 100 points, he could instantly cure An’an’s cold.
However…
“Why isn’t it working?” Tang Yu’an asked in confusion.
No matter how many transactions they attempted, the System didn’t register them, nor did it award experience or points.
Zhou Qi thought for a moment, his expression serious. “It’s probably because I’m considered an employee now and no longer count as a customer. That’s why we can’t trade.”
Without the ability to trade, they couldn’t earn points or complete daily tasks…
Tang Yu’an frowned, troubled.
Even so, he didn’t regret recruiting Zhou Qi as an employee—there was no telling what dangers he might have faced outside. Even something as simple as catching a cold could be troublesome in this place.
But what could they do now?
“I’ll go out and find a new customer,” Zhou Qi said, breaking the silence. “It’s the only option we have.”
Tang Yu’an opened his mouth slightly, wanting to object, but realized he didn’t have a good reason. They would have to leave the store eventually to find new customers—staying inside until their supplies ran out simply wasn’t an option.
Moreover…
“You stay here and watch the store,” Zhou Qi said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Tang Yu’an pouted but knew that in his current condition, going out would only slow Zhou Qi down. In the end, he lowered his head and relented.
“Come back safe,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around Zhou Qi, his voice tinged with reluctance.
A small smile appeared on Zhou Qi’s face.
He leaned down and gently rubbed his chin against Tang Yu’an’s soft hair. “I will. Don’t worry.”
“Pinky promise.” Tang Yu’an held out his pinky finger.
With a sigh, Zhou Qi hooked his pinky around Tang Yu’an’s, sealing the promise.
After lunch, Zhou Qi put on his backpack, grabbed a stick, and left the store under Tang Yu’an’s watchful gaze.
*
The sky was bright, and the temperature had risen quite a bit.
Once he left the store, Zhou Qi began exploring the area around it, keeping the general store as his center point and hoping to find signs of life.
Although he needed to consider how to ensure his own safety if he encountered someone, the first priority was simply to find people.
After observing his surroundings for a moment, Zhou Qi decided to head toward the ruins across the street.
If anyone was around, they were likely hiding in those abandoned buildings.
The collapsed city was eerily quiet, with only the low howling of the wind and the occasional sound of water dripping onto the ground. It felt as though he were the only person left in the entire city.
Zhou Qi navigated the rubble, climbing, jumping, and sliding over obstacles.
Although he was brave, he couldn’t help but go pale when he accidentally stepped on something and looked down to find a weathered, nameless skeleton. The empty eye sockets of the exposed skull stared back at him with hollow darkness.
Stifling his nausea, Zhou Qi bolted away, taking several minutes to recover.
The apocalypse.
For someone raised in a peaceful world, this was his first experience of what the word truly meant.
By now, Zhou Qi’s school uniform jacket was filthy, as if he’d been rolling in the dirt.
Normally an attentive person, he couldn’t afford to care about cleanliness right now. In fact, the dirt and grime oddly helped him feel safer in the strange, silent surroundings.
In this desolate world, being spotless would only make him stand out.
The sun rose higher in the sky.
Squatting by a low wall, Zhou Qi took a bottle of water from his backpack, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip to rehydrate. He glanced down at his digital watch.
Though he wasn’t sure how time was measured in this world, as long as the watch had battery power, it would keep working.
It had been nearly two hours since he left the store.
To conserve his energy and prepare for any unknown dangers, Zhou Qi hadn’t been moving constantly but instead conducted a slow, methodical search through the ruins, so his progress was limited.
Aside from one or two small, fast-moving animals, he hadn’t seen any other living beings.
He wondered if there were any humans left in this barren, apocalyptic city… If not, what would he and An’an do next?
A frown creased Zhou Qi’s forehead, and he felt a brief pang of discouragement.
But he quickly composed himself, stowed his water back in his backpack, and continued his exploration.
More than an hour later, he finally came across what seemed to be traces of human activity.
It was a small, withered tree. The soil around it had been recently disturbed, and there were several shoe prints in the dirt, indicating that the person wasn’t a full-grown adult.
Zhou Qi’s spirits lifted. But when he checked the time, he hesitated. After weighing his options, he chose to head back the way he had come.
It was nearly four o’clock, and the sky would start to darken after five. He needed to get back to the general store before nightfall.
He had been gone for quite a while, and An’an was probably worrying by now. With him still running a fever, the last thing Zhou Qi needed was for him to venture out in search.
The return trip was much faster. In just an hour, Zhou Qi followed his marked path back to the general store.
As expected—before he even got close, he saw Tang Yu’an peeking out from the store’s open door, leaning over a rock and scanning the surroundings.
Fortunately, the boy was alert and quickly noticed Zhou Qi’s approach.
When he saw Zhou Qi, Tang Yu’an’s face lit up with joy, only to freeze as he hesitated, unsure whether to rush back inside.
“Is your fever completely gone?” Zhou Qi asked, now standing in front of him.
Tang Yu’an’s eyes flickered evasively. “I’m much better…” he mumbled, lowering his head. His voice still sounded weak.
Zhou Qi reached up, intending to check his forehead, but noticing the dirt on his own hands, he stopped himself.
“Let’s go inside.”
“Okay, okay!” Tang Yu’an quickly turned and went in.
Zhou Qi took his time, removing his jacket and shoes and leaving them outside. He’d likely need to go out again, and washing them would be pointless. With no way to earn points for more water, they had to conserve every bit.
Once inside, Tang Yu’an carefully shut the door, then asked, “Brother Xiao Qi, you were gone so long! Did you find anything?”
Zhou Qi shook his head. “I didn’t meet anyone, but I did find some traces of activity.”
As he spoke, he began removing his pants, which Tang Yu’an reached to take, only to be gently pushed back.
“They’re filthy. Don’t let the smell bother you.”
“It’s fine, I can’t smell anything with this stuffy nose,” Tang Yu’an replied with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.
The boy’s playful tone eased Zhou Qi’s tension a bit, but he still didn’t hand over the clothes. He hadn’t forgotten the skeletal remains he’d stumbled across, and who knew if he’d come into contact with any bacteria or pathogens. With An’an’s weakened immune system, it was best not to take any chances.
Zhou Qi wrapped the soiled pants in a plastic bag and set it outside, then finally allowed himself to enter.
“Will you be going out again today?” Tang Yu’an asked, following him.
“No, not today.” Zhou Qi replied.
The sky would be fully dark by six o’clock, and going out at that hour would be too risky, with slim chances of finding anyone to trade with.
“What’s your temperature now?” Zhou Qi asked, noticing Tang Yu’an’s flushed cheeks with concern.
“Not sure…”
“Go check it.”
“Okay…”
Feeling reassured by Zhou Qi’s safe return, Tang Yu’an went to fetch the thermometer.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qi went to wash up, scrubbing himself thoroughly and even using alcohol for extra disinfecting. Just as he was coming out of the bathroom, he heard a loud ‘thud’.
Zhou Qi’s expression changed, and he quickly traced the sound to the staircase leading to the second floor, where he found Tang Yu’an lying unconscious.
“An’an!”
He hurried up the stairs and lifted Tang Yu’an into his arms.
Tang Yu’an’s cheeks were burning red with fever.
Calling his name twice, Zhou Qi only received faint, incoherent murmurs in response. Quickly, he laid Tang Yu’an on the bed, grabbed some alcohol, and began wiping his forehead, behind his ears, and body.
After some time, Tang Yu’an’s expression softened as his discomfort eased slightly. Zhou Qi checked his temperature again.
39.1°C.
And that was after applying physical cooling measures.
Why had his fever flared up again?
Zhou Qi’s brow furrowed deeply. He quickly administered the last two packets of herbal medicine and then rushed downstairs, returning with a few ice pops from the freezer. Wrapping them in a towel, he placed them on Tang Yu’an’s forehead.
When Tang Yu’an finally woke again, the sky outside was completely dark.
Seeing Zhou Qi beside him, Tang Yu’an remembered fainting earlier. His worsening illness left him feeling even more frustrated and guilty.
“Brother Qi…” he whispered.
Hearing his voice, Zhou Qi, who had been keeping a close watch, quickly leaned over. “An’an, how are you feeling?”
“…Thirsty…”
Zhou Qi poured some electrolyte water from a thermos, propping him up gently to help him drink.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
After drinking, Tang Yu’an felt a bit better but shook his head. “I don’t really have an appetite.”
“You need to eat something, even if you don’t feel like it. You barely ate anything yesterday, and you need energy to recover.”
Zhou Qi laid him back down, then went to fetch a bowl of freshly cooked vegetable and lean pork congee, spoon-feeding him.
Tang Yu’an managed to drink about half a bowl before he couldn’t take any more.
Zhou Qi didn’t push him, giving him two more tablets before watching him drift off to sleep again. He stayed by his side, keeping watch.
As he observed Tang Yu’an’s pale face, Zhou Qi’s worry grew.
He knew this strain of flu was severe. The news had been reporting that even with timely medication, most people took one to two weeks to fully recover.
But here, they were low on medicine and relying on An’an’s immune system alone. Could he really pull through?
Moreover, Zhou Qi himself had likely been exposed and was just asymptomatic. If he fell ill too, who would take care of An’an?
It was urgent to earn enough points to exchange for the special flu medicine.
*
Tang Yu’an’s fever continued to fluctuate, finally stabilizing around midnight, allowing Zhou Qi to get some rest.
The next morning, however, he still woke at 5:30 a.m.
By the time he had everything ready and was preparing to leave, Tang Yu’an came down the stairs, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
“Brother Qi…”
Hearing his soft voice, Zhou Qi’s tense expression softened.
“Are you feeling better?” He went over and felt Tang Yu’an’s forehead.
Earlier, he had checked his temperature. He still had a slight fever, but it was mild.
“Mm, much better,” Tang Yu’an replied, noticing Zhou Qi’s gear. “Are you heading out already?”
“Yes. I’m starting early today, hoping to cover more ground.”
Today, no matter what, he had to find a customer.
“I might not be back for lunch, so you’ll need to make your own meal. Will you be okay by yourself?”
Tang Yu’an felt a pang of worry at the thought of Zhou Qi being gone so long, but he understood he’d only slow him down if he went along.
“Mm, I’ll take care of myself,” he said, glancing at Zhou Qi’s backpack. “Do you have enough food and water?”
“Yes, I packed enough,” Zhou Qi assured him. “There’s millet porridge in the kitchen. Make sure you eat.”
Tang Yu’an nodded, and just as Zhou Qi was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something.
“Wait, Brother Qi!”
He dashed back upstairs and, after a moment, came running back down, holding a compass which he proudly presented to Zhou Qi.
“I found this while organizing supplies yesterday. Will it help?”
Zhou Qi accepted the compass, pleasantly surprised. He ruffled Tang Yu’an’s hair. “This will be really helpful. Thank you.”
Tang Yu’an grinned and saw him off at the door.
Zhou Qi made him stay inside the store. Once he closed the door, he reluctantly donned yesterday’s filthy clothes and shoes.
He took out the compass to test it.
The magnetic field in this world seemed similar to Earth’s; the compass needle pointed consistently in one direction, regardless of how he turned.
While it didn’t necessarily indicate south, it would still help him navigate.
Zhou Qi nodded, put on his mask, and once again left the general store alone, heading towards the area where he’d found traces of activity yesterday.
*
After Zhou Qi left, Tang Yu’an didn’t sit idle.
He felt much better today, not drowsy and sluggish like yesterday.
After finishing his millet porridge, he tackled the tasks of cleaning and organizing the store’s inventory. When it came to restocking from the Marketplace, he hesitated briefly but eventually decided to redeem another 10 liters of water.
Though 10 liters wasn’t much—just enough to partially fill a bucket—they were still mainly relying on the water stored in the household’s large tank.
With no immediate tasks left, Tang Yu’an drifted off into thought before getting up and heading to the back door. He removed the wooden bar Zhou Qi had used to secure it, then opened the door a crack to peer outside.
After confirming it was safe, he stepped out to water the plants his mother had grown.
Remembering Zhou Qi’s instructions, he hurried back inside once he’d finished, shut the door, and secured it again with the wooden bar.
With nothing else pressing to do and feeling too restless to nap, Tang Yu’an sat down, opened the System interface, and continued organizing the inventory, pulling out items close to expiration. He also carefully examined the panel for any System features he might have overlooked.
Before he knew it, it was noon.
Brother Xiao Qi still wasn’t back…
Growing a bit anxious from the wait, Tang Yu’an eventually took out his schoolbooks and began flipping through the pages.
Halfway through, the System panel suddenly popped up.
[Employee “Zhou Qi” completed a profitable transaction with a new customer, EXP +3, Points +9]
Tang Yu’an’s eyes widened in delight.
“Wow!”
