Chapter 131: To Stay or Leave, A True Teammate"":

Fortunately, Bian Kuang had grown and matured through experience. After a moment of awkwardness, he quickly composed himself and put on a polite, gracious smile. “It’s just that I haven’t been in the best spirits because of what happened to you. I wanted to know more about what happened afterward, so I came by a few times and ended up causing Captain Gu quite a bit of trouble. I really regret it.”

How embarrassing. He’d have to apologize to Xiaoxi in private later—no need to air this out in front of everyone.

Gu Xu said, “You were just too worried about Changxi. I have a younger brother myself, so I understand how an older brother feels.”

Bian Kuang nodded vigorously, his opinion of Captain Gu rising several notches.

“Let’s go inside and talk. Bring your companion in too—it’s cold and windy out here,” Gu Xu said.

Bian Kuang perked up and gave a whistle toward the wall outside. At the same time, Qiu Feng personally went to open the gate. Soon, he led in a young man with wine-red hair.

“Haha, Kuangzi, you’re not all tied up? I thought I’d have to bail you out at the admin office!” The newcomer greeted Gu Xu, Qiu Feng, Qiu Yun, and the others one by one before sidling up to Bian Changxi. “Kuangzi’s little sister, you’re really okay? Kuangzi’s been worried sick these past few days. If you hadn’t shown up, he’d have gone down in history as the first brother to die of worry for his sister.”

Bian Kuang introduced him, “This is my friend, Tao Fa. He’s a speed-type. Since he’s fast, I brought him along—otherwise, we wouldn’t have made it here at all.” He turned to Bian Changxi, “Xiaoxi, do you remember Tao Fa? We all grew up together.”

“Of course I do,” Bian Changxi replied.

Tao Fa chimed in, “Yeah, the three of us, plus Qingyang and Bai Heng, we all used to play together. Now we’re all here, except for that brat Bai Heng, who’s stuck in Country M—”

Bian Kuang quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. “You talk too much!”

Bian Changxi’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly composed herself, as if she hadn’t heard anything. She glanced at Tao Fa. In her previous life, Tao Fa and Xu Qingyang were Bian Kuang’s only true friends. Even when Bian Kuang was at his lowest, they never abandoned him. After Bian Kuang’s accident, it was them who recovered his body.

She felt deep gratitude and respect for them.

“Of course I remember.”

Once inside the villa, even Gu Peiwu, the eldest, was awakened by the commotion. Seeing how many people had been disturbed, Bian Changxi, Bian Kuang, and Tao Fa all felt a bit embarrassed. Gu Xu had Aunt Zhao bring hot tea and pastries, then told everyone else to get back to sleep or their own business, while he stayed behind as host.

Bian Kuang asked Bian Changxi a few questions and learned that her safe return was thanks to Gu Xu. His gratitude and admiration for Gu Xu grew even more. Then he said, “Now that we’ve reunited, why don’t you come back with me?” He turned to Gu Xu, “Sorry for all the trouble, Captain Gu. We’ll come by tomorrow to thank you properly. For now, I’ll take Xiaoxi home.”

Bian Changxi frowned slightly. Go back? To the Bian family? She had no intention of doing that.

Before she could say anything, Gu Xu spoke up first. “As her brother and family, it’s only natural for you to want to take Changxi home. But Changxi has done me a great favor, and she’s an important member of our team. I think I have the right—and the responsibility—to have a say in this.” He noticed that Bian Changxi looked surprised but not displeased, and that she seemed reluctant to return to the Bian family, so he continued, “Frankly, the Bian family has some issues with me, but Changxi is my teammate. If she goes back, she’ll be caught between both sides. And with her abilities, I doubt the Bian family would treat her as just another family member. Now that your family is close with Deputy Commander Xu, if the elders want Changxi to serve him, whose side would you be on?”

Bian Kuang opened his mouth but couldn’t answer.

Gu Xu went on, “Looking at the whole base, Changxi is the most talented wood-type around. Even if we didn’t have a personal connection, I wouldn’t let such a talent go. So, unless she herself agrees, I won’t let anyone take her away from here.”

Both Bian Changxi and Bian Kuang were taken aback. That was a very assertive statement, and Bian Kuang realized that Gu Xu was speaking as Jiangcheng’s top leader.

Gu Xu’s tone softened. “On a personal note, I don’t think the Bian family is a suitable place for Changxi. Have you even asked her what she wants?”

Bian Kuang was stunned and looked at Bian Changxi.

Although Bian Changxi didn’t want to embarrass Bian Kuang in front of outsiders, she could only shake her head. “I’m doing fine here. Even if I leave, I’d get my own place and live on my own. I’m not going back to the Bian family.”

She was more than capable—why should she go back to living under someone else’s roof? Hadn’t she had enough of that in her last life?

She’d originally planned to visit the Bian family to look for Bian Kuang, but now that he’d come to her, there was no need. She didn’t want anything more to do with them.

Bian Kuang slumped. “I didn’t think it through.” After a moment, he frowned and said to Gu Xu, “But still, everyone here is male. It’s not convenient for Xiaoxi as a girl. And what’s her status here? Just one of your subordinates?” It sounded like she’d have no autonomy or freedom.

Gu Xu smiled. “She’s my teammate, just like Qiu Feng and Qiu Yun—a true teammate. As for the ‘inconvenience’ you mentioned…”

Hearing this, Bian Changxi was quite surprised. A true teammate? What did that mean? It meant Gu Xu fully trusted her, that she was under his protection, treated like family. What had she done to deserve this? She’d only saved Shadow once, and that favor had already been repaid.

Bian Kuang and Tao Fa exchanged shocked glances.

How many people wanted to join Gu Xu’s team? Gu Xu was the rising star of the Su City base, with a powerful background—even if most of it was in the capital, a skinny camel was still bigger than a horse. Since he arrived, everything had gone smoothly for him, and even the hundreds of thousands of people from Jiangcheng had benefited, receiving perks others could only dream of. As locals who weren’t part of the main group and whose family even had issues with Gu Xu, they felt this most keenly.

Because they didn’t get any of those perks.

Getting close to Gu Xu, joining his team—even at the outermost level—meant a bright future and generous treatment. As for his core team, that was beyond reach. Everyone knew his core team only had six people, one of whom was his own brother, and the other four were lifelong comrades who’d been through life and death together. It was like a diploma—no matter how capable or ambitious you were, without the certificate, it would never be yours.

But now, with a single sentence, Gu Xu had brought Bian Changxi into this circle. Just how close were they?

Since things had been made clear, Bian Kuang was reassured—actually, he was delighted. To get such a statement from Gu Xu, whatever the reason, was no small thing. Gu Xu was known for being true to his word, so Xiaoxi would have nothing to worry about in the base.

Thinking this, he said, “The living arrangements aren’t a big deal. Captain Gu’s character is well known, and there’s even a housekeeper here. Xiaoxi won’t be inconvenienced. So, Xiaoxi, you’ll stay here?”

Bian Changxi shot her cousin a look—he really could change his tune in a heartbeat, deciding her future just like that. When had he become so easygoing? “I never had any objections.”

“Great, great.” With business settled, Bian Kuang perked up. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring over the things I prepared for you. Do you have any plans? Since you’re new to the base, how about I show you around?”

Bian Changxi thought for a moment, then turned to Gu Xu. “Captain Gu, do you have any instructions for me?”

Gu Xu couldn’t help but smile at how she addressed him, waving the documents in his hand. “You just got here, you should relax a bit. Unfortunately, I have a meeting first thing in the morning and will be busy all day. I was just thinking about who could show you around.”

That was perfect—Bian Kuang and Tao Fa immediately started discussing where to take Bian Changxi. Seeing he wasn’t needed, Gu Xu stood up. “Get some rest. Bian Kuang, Tao Fa, you two can stay here tonight and head back in the morning.”

As soon as he left, Tao Fa couldn’t wait to ask, “Kuangzi’s little sister, how did you get to know Captain Gu? He really values you—a while back, he nearly put the whole base on lockdown to look for you among the new arrivals.”

Bian Kuang pushed him aside. “Xiaoxi, what happened? How did the rumor start that you were dead? You’re really okay now, right?”

Bian Changxi felt warm inside, but remembering something, she put on a stern face. “You’re the one who should explain—why didn’t you come to the new district? Everyone else was heading there, why didn’t you?”

Bian Kuang’s face fell. “It was my old man. He got a call saying there was a special safe route to the Su City base, only five days’ travel. He believed it and insisted our whole family go. He even convinced Tao Fa and Qingyang’s grandfathers and fathers, so our three families and some others went together.

“I didn’t want to go, but the old man said the caller specifically mentioned you, said we had to bring you along. I even snuck by your apartment, but you were already gone.” He watched Bian Changxi’s expression carefully. “The old man said if we couldn’t find you, maybe that person would call you directly, and we might meet up on the road. So I didn’t go to the new district.”

Bian Changxi frowned. “Who was the caller?”

“No idea. Some business associate of the Bian family, I guess. The old man wasn’t sure either.”

Bian Changxi pondered. Boss Zhang had sent Zhang Jingang at the very start of the apocalypse, maybe even before it began. After the apocalypse, her uncle also got a call specifically naming her. Was this two separate efforts, or were they from the same group?

ps:

Not a bad pace, I’m back! I have to go out tomorrow, so I might be late again, but I’ll try to be on time! Please be gentle with me, everyone~"