Chapter 55

Chapter 55: The Resurrected Cactus

After sending the email, Gu Ning once again found herself spacing out, unsure of what to do next. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from Third Brother: “Got it. How did the discussion with our parents go?”

Gu Ning suddenly remembered she hadn’t talked to her parents about living outside yet. She pondered for a moment, then dialed Method’s number.

Method had just returned from work and was fresh out of the shower when he received Gu Ning’s message. He hesitated for a long time, debating whether to send a cold reply or call her directly. But what would he even say? As he was lost in thought, his phone rang, and Gu Ning’s name flashed on the screen.

He deliberately waited for three rings before answering, “Hello?” secretly wondering if this was some kind of telepathic connection.

Gu Ning got straight to the point: “So here’s the thing…”

Before Method could feel down about Gu Ning only calling him for help, he suddenly sat up in bed, shocked, “Wait, are you saying you’ve already passed the initial test for the military?”

Gu Ning calmly replied, “Yes. Since my home is far from there, commuting would waste a lot of time, and the upcoming training is crucial. So, my parents hope you can help cover for me.”

Method swallowed hard and said, “No problem, but first, tell me, how did you pass the initial test?”

Gu Ning paused, then said, “Actually, my marksmanship is pretty good.”

How good would one’s marksmanship have to be to get selected by the Five-Star Brigade? Method had no idea. He only knew that back in military school, the top sharpshooter had been utterly crushed when the Five-Star Brigade came to recruit.

He was momentarily speechless. From what he knew of Gu Ning’s background—her father was a teacher, her mother a homemaker, and Gu Ning had followed a conventional path through school and university—she had no known interest in shooting. The only suspicious part was her three-month disappearance, but surely three months couldn’t turn a girl who had never held a gun into a sharpshooter, right?

He remembered the first time he saw Gu Ning on the roadside, disheveled and dazed… Method couldn’t bring himself to pry into what had happened during those three months. So, he didn’t ask, simply saying, “If you really get into the Five-Star Brigade, I have one request.”

Gu Ning asked, “What is it?”

Method said, “Treat me to a big meal.”

Gu Ning was taken aback, then laughed, “Deal.”

Method said, “Alright, if your parents have any issues, tell them to call me anytime.”

“Okay. Thanks. Bye.”

“Bye.” Method hung up, lying back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, still finding it hard to believe.

After hanging up, Gu Ning went to talk to her parents: “I need to discuss something with you. It takes me about an hour and a half to get to class, and three hours round trip. I was late this morning, and the parents of my students mentioned it too. So, I’m thinking of renting a place nearby for convenience.”

Gu Mama reacted strongly, “That’s not acceptable! It’s not safe for you to live alone! No, I won’t allow it.” Given Gu Ning’s three-month disappearance, her mother’s concern was understandable.

Gu Ning had anticipated this reaction and said, “I’ve thought about that. Method mentioned there’s a place available for rent, sharing with two other girls. It’s a three-bedroom apartment, rent is 1500 a month. Method checked it out with me, and the area is safe. The girls are college students, easy to get along with, and Method lives in the same neighborhood. We can look out for each other.”

Hearing that Method lived nearby, Gu Mama’s stance softened, “That does sound good… How far is it from where you teach?”

Gu Ning said, “It’s in the next neighborhood, just a ten-minute walk. Very convenient. That’s why I’m considering it—it’s both convenient and safe.”

Gu Mama looked at Gu Dad for his opinion.

Gu Dad said, “I have no objections. Gu Ning is old enough to take care of herself.”

Gu Mama hesitated, then asked, “When do you plan to move?”

Gu Ning, relieved her mother had agreed, said, “I’ll move tomorrow. I’ve already arranged everything with them. They have all the essentials, so I’ll just bring a quilt and some clothes.”

Gu Mama said, “I’m free tomorrow, I’ll help you move.”

“No need,” Gu Ning quickly replied, “I’ve already asked Method to pick me up.”

Gu Mama immediately perked up, “See? You said Method doesn’t like you, but if he didn’t, why would he help you so much? You’ve only known each other for a few days.”

Gu Ning, heading to her room, said, “Method is a police officer; it’s just his professional instinct. So, Mom, not every man in the world is into your daughter, okay?”

Gu Mama said, “Alright, but you have to come home at least once a week.”

Gu Ning said, “I’ll try.” Then she went back to her bedroom.

She texted Third Brother to prepare the room, then sat at her computer and noticed a new email.

The email was from the original poster of the forum thread. Gu Ning was surprised he replied so quickly and eagerly opened it.

“Once you ignored me, now you can’t reach me! Not selling the knife anymore!!! Haha, take that!”

Seeing the bold, enlarged font, Gu Ning was momentarily stunned, then amused. What kind of person would do something so childish?

She thought for a moment, then replied with a single word:

“Ok.”

Then she ignored it, having not held much hope in the first place.

Gu Ning packed her luggage—just two sets of sportswear and a few thicker jackets. There wasn’t much else to bring. It was only past seven, still early. Gu Ning decided to go out for a stroll and buy some things.

After leaving her room, she gave her parents her phone number, saying she was going for a walk and to call if needed, then headed downstairs with her wallet.

In the post-apocalyptic world, resources were scarce. Gu Ning wandered around and ended up at a nearby night market.

The night market was just starting, with vendors shouting over loudspeakers and shops advertising massive sales.

Gu Ning first entered a store selling winter down jackets. Piles of black men’s long down jackets, the kind often worn by security guards in winter, were on sale for 80 yuan each. Gu Ning felt the thickness and haggled the price down to 50 yuan each, buying twenty. The shopkeeper packed them into two large sacks. Gu Ning carried them into a secluded alley, made sure no one was around, and then stored them in her space. She came out empty-handed and continued to buy cheap, possibly low-quality quilts and other miscellaneous items, all of which she stored in her space.

Thinking of the children who had caught colds recently, Gu Ning also bought a bunch of cold and fever medicine. In one night, she spent over 5000 yuan. The gold necklace had sold for over 30,000, but debts to relatives were likely to be called in soon. Gu Ning wished she could return to the post-apocalyptic world to “loot” another gold shop.

However, relying on Method to help “fence” the goods wasn’t a long-term solution. She needed to find another channel.

If only the money from the post-apocalyptic world could be used here. Then, robbing a bank would solve all her financial worries.

Gu Ning lay in bed, frustrated.

Unable to sleep, she returned to her space.

Near the entrance, neatly stacked were the items she had bought, forming a small mountain. Gu Ning felt a sense of accomplishment.

The grass by the shore was still tall. Gu Ning made a path through it and walked to the sea, gazing at the vast green expanse, pondering its connection to her special ability. She vaguely felt a link between herself and the sea, and a bold idea emerged—could she control this sea? As the thought crossed her mind, the water in front of her feet began to stir, forming a small whirlpool the size of a finger, which gradually grew to the size of a palm. The center spun rapidly, and the water began to rise like a miniature tornado. Gu Ning’s heart raced as she carefully guided the water vortex toward the door.

The water stream, one end in the sea and the other guided by Gu Ning, moved toward the door, then suddenly accelerated and rushed at it!

It passed through the door silently and disappeared—

Gu Ning stared in shock at the water stream, which seemed to have been absorbed by the door or evaporated on its own. She couldn’t understand what had happened.

She tried several more times, but the result was the same—the water stream passed through the door and vanished.

Returning to her bedroom, she found nothing unusual.

Unbeknownst to her, her room was filled with floating green light particles, gently drifting, creating a strange and beautiful sight. The green particles floated through the door, through layers of walls, and settled into the soil and plants.

On the balcony, the cactus that had been waterlogged and root-rot suddenly came back to life, growing in the night breeze.

The next day, Gu Ning woke up early.

Perhaps because Gu Ning was moving out, Gu Mama was in low spirits. She made breakfast for Gu Ning and then went to the balcony to check on her cactus.

After a while, Gu Mama returned to the room and said to Gu Dad, “Hey, Old Gu, this is strange. Remember how I said you poured tea into the cactus pot and killed it? I just checked, and it’s alive again! Isn’t that weird?”

Gu Dad sipped his soy milk and said leisurely, “I think you’re the weird one. Cacti are tough; they don’t die that easily. You’ve been nagging me about it. See, it’s alive.”

Gu Mama said, “No! Go take a look. Not only is it alive, but it’s also grown a lot. I’ve had it for almost a year, and it barely grew. How did it grow so much overnight?”

Gu Dad casually replied, “It’s probably just your imagination.”

Gu Ning finished her soy milk, packed her quilt and backpack, and said, “I’m heading out now.” Afraid her mother might follow, she quickly left, jogging downstairs with her heavy luggage bag containing a quilt and pillow, yet moving swiftly.

Gu Mama blinked, and Gu Ning was already gone, prompting her to complain, “Why is she in such a hurry?!”

Then she continued to persuade Gu Dad, “Come and see for yourself. Tell me if it’s just my imagination.” She dragged him over.

Gu Dad looked at the cactus on the balcony and was also surprised, adjusting his glasses, “Huh? It really has grown. How did it grow so much overnight?” The cactus had indeed grown, not just a little, but at least ten centimeters taller, clearly noticeable.

“Hey! Old Gu, come and look at this garlic! I dropped a garlic clove here yesterday while peeling garlic. How did it grow into such a long sprout?!” Gu Mama exclaimed, holding a garlic clove with a long sprout.

Gu Dad looked at the resurrected cactus and the sprouted garlic, equally puzzled, “This is really strange.”