Chapter 208

Chapter 208: Ah! This is the grand finale! The Door of Rebirth in the Apocalypse – Full Book Website

Chapter 208: Ah, This is the Grand Finale

By the time Zhuang Chen and Ji Zhaotang arrived, everything had already settled.

“Where’s Gu Yunzhi?”

“Dead.” Gu Ning paused, then considerately asked, “Do you want to take the body back?”

Zhuang Chen was speechless. Despite her speechlessness, they still took Gu Yunzhi’s body back.

With Xiang Xu and Gu Ning managing the situation, Oasis Base miraculously achieved zero casualties, though the injured once again overwhelmed the hospital.

Even Gao Yue was dragged out of the lab to perform surgeries.

Gao Yue was furious and approached Gu Ning about establishing a medical school.

Gu Ning naturally agreed, but with one condition: Gao Yue had to teach at the school regularly.

After some consideration, Gao Yue found the condition reasonable. Plus, Gu Ning had always been accommodating to her requests. It wouldn’t be right to refuse every time Gu Ning asked for something. After all, it’s hard to bite the hand that feeds you. Reluctantly, Gao Yue agreed.

Gu Ning immediately informed Third Brother, who promptly started preparations.

Currently, there are only five doctors in the base capable of performing surgeries. With frequent major casualties, the hospital is overcrowded, and resources are indeed tight.

Two days later, Ji Qige and Zhuang Chen visited again.

They brought news that Capital City Base wanted to coexist peacefully with Oasis Base.

Once again, Ji Qige brought the alliance agreement.

But the content of the contract was entirely different.

The officials from Capital City Base who came with Ji Qige and Zhuang Chen also changed their previously arrogant demeanor, becoming humble and cautious.

After a full day of serious discussions and adjustments to the alliance details, the meeting concluded successfully.

Although the alliance agreement had dozens of clauses, it could be summarized simply.

Oasis Base and Capital City Base would coexist as independent entities, maintaining peaceful and equal relations, and communicate based on friendly principles.

It could be said that Oasis Base had completely intimidated Capital City Base with its strength, dispelling any thoughts of encroachment. Instead, they now focused on how to exchange resources with Oasis Base.

These details would take time to iron out.

Human conflicts seemed to have temporarily subsided.

Oasis Base could finally turn its attention back to the zombies outside.

For Gu Ning, dealing with human conflicts was exhausting, far more complicated than the straightforward killing of zombies.

Having finally resolved the issues with Capital City Base, it was time to start clearing out the zombies again.

According to data provided by Zhuang Chen, there are likely over ten million zombies in Capital City alone.

And the survivors are not limited to those in Capital City Base and Oasis Base. At least a million more are hiding in cities and rural areas, struggling to survive.

With communication devices like the internet and phones no longer functional, many people are unaware of the existence of Capital City Base and Oasis Base.

Not to mention the world, just in Z country, with a population of 1.3 billion, and considering the speed of the zombie virus spread and the actual situation in the cities Gu Ning had visited, the ratio of zombies to humans is optimistically estimated at 10:1. If we don’t unite the remaining one-tenth of humanity, it could soon become one-hundredth, one-thousandth, and eventually lead to extinction.

Gu Ning felt the urgency of time.

After two days of rest, Oasis Base launched a zombie-clearing operation within Capital City. After discussions, Third Brother informed Capital City Base, which agreed to cooperate.

Meanwhile, Oasis Base began encouraging early marriage and childbirth, along with a series of welfare plans for pregnant women. Residents meeting certain conditions could also adopt children from welfare institutions, but they had to accept monthly visits.

The current male-to-female ratio in Oasis Base is 2:1.

Oasis Base provides better protection for women’s rights than before the apocalypse, respecting their autonomy in choosing partners, which has subtly elevated women’s status.

Anticipating future population growth and potential resource shortages, the base introduced a new policy requiring all healthy residents over eighteen to pay taxes, deductible with supplies or crystal cores. The policy faced little resistance, as residents found it reasonable given the base’s generous welfare policies. Finding a job to earn supplies in Oasis Base isn’t difficult, and the taxes are affordable.

Gu Ning offered some input, but the specifics were left to Third Brother and the Taoist priest to implement.

After nearly half a month, Gu Ning finally returned to the other world.

When Ji Jiuzhe returned at 8:30, he instinctively reached for the light switch, only to find the living room already lit.

His heart stirred slightly, and he quickly found Gu Ning curled up on the sofa, already asleep.

Dark circles under her eyes, breathing softly, she didn’t wake up despite the noise of him opening the door, indicating she was deeply asleep. She usually slept lightly, easily awakened by any sound. Sleeping so soundly suggested she hadn’t slept much over there.

Sleeping on the sofa, was she waiting for him? Why didn’t she call?

He sighed inwardly but gently picked her up in his arms. Hmm, she’s lighter.

Gu Ning woke up, opening her eyes slightly to see him, then snuggled closer, finding a more comfortable position against his chest, murmuring with her eyes closed, “I wanted to surprise you.” But sleep overcame her.

Ji Jiuzhe felt a softness in his heart, gently kissing Gu Ning’s forehead, thinking, more than a surprise.

Gu Ning had been out of contact for nearly half a month, though she had warned it might take longer. Ji Jiuzhe was prepared, but the wait felt unbearably long.

Now holding Gu Ning, he had many questions, but seeing her asleep again, he couldn’t bring himself to wake her.

He gently placed her on the bed, where she nuzzled into the pillow and fell back asleep, clearly exhausted. Gu Ning asleep and awake were like two different people. Awake, her eyes often held a distant coldness, pushing people away. But asleep, she was soft, making you just want to hold her.

Hmm. Seems like a good idea.

Ji Jiuzhe thought so and lay down, gently pulling Gu Ning into his arms, soft and small, finally feeling content.

Gu Ning woke up at 9 the next morning, having slept soundly through the night. Opening the curtains, the sunlight was bright, and she saw Ji Jiuzhe watering the lawn in the yard, wearing a green shirt, looking particularly elegant. Sensing her gaze, he turned and looked up, their eyes meeting, sharing a knowing smile.

Gu Ning stretched leisurely, then brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed clothes. Opening the door, she saw Yi Shaoqing in plaid pajamas and slippers yawning as he passed by, startled to see her, “When did you get back?”

“Yesterday afternoon. And you?” Gu Ning asked.

“I’ve been in the lab!” Yi Shaoqing said.

Hearing this, Gu Ning knew Yi Shaoqing must have forgotten dinner again while working on experiments. She shook her head helplessly and went downstairs with him.

Besides Ji Jiuzhe, Zhuang Chen was also in the living room, setting up breakfast: “Come down and eat, I just got back this morning too.”

Ji Jiuzhe came in from outside.

“Did everyone plan to come back today or what?” Yi Shaoqing muttered.

Breakfast was milk, sandwiches, and a tempting fried egg.

After days of porridge and fried dough sticks over there, Gu Ning felt a bit nostalgic.

“Where have you been for the past half month? You disappeared without a word, and your phone was always out of service,” Zhuang Chen asked while eating.

“I had her help me with some things. It’s inconvenient to tell you,” Ji Jiuzhe, wearing a green linen shirt, looked particularly refined.

“Putting love before duty,” Zhuang Chen snorted, though it was unclear who she was referring to.

Yi Shaoqing, biting into his sandwich, suddenly felt as if struck by lightning, a thought flashing through his mind. He looked at Gu Ning, then at Ji Jiuzhe, incredulously: “You two…”

Zhuang Chen laughed, “Spending too much time in the lab has made you dumb. These two are in a romantic relationship now.”

Yi Shaoqing’s mouth dropped, his sandwich falling to the table, staring at Ji Jiuzhe in shock: “Really?”

Ji Jiuzhe calmly replied, “Yes.”

Yi Shaoqing then looked at Gu Ning.

Gu Ning nodded calmly.

“…Unbelievable.”

Gu Ning calmly accepted Yi Shaoqing’s comment, as it was the second time she’d heard it from him.

After breakfast, Ji Jiuzhe drove Gu Ning home.

Finally, some time alone.

Without needing to be asked, Gu Ning recounted the events of the past days.

Though Gu Ning spoke lightly, Ji Jiuzhe listened with bated breath. Even though Gu Ning was safely by his side now, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. If Gu Ning hadn’t returned, he wouldn’t even know where to look… He couldn’t help but reach out and hold Gu Ning’s hand. Gu Ning was startled, feeling the dampness in Ji Jiuzhe’s palm, and after a moment said, “Though it was dangerous, it’s all over now. Capital City Base is handled, and everything will go smoothly from now on.”

Sometimes Ji Jiuzhe selfishly wished to keep Gu Ning in this world forever, but he knew it was impossible. He had never felt such a sense of defeat, especially in front of the woman he loved, leaving him with a deep sense of helplessness.

Gu Ning naturally sensed Ji Jiuzhe’s low spirits and, after some thought, said, “Pull over for a moment.”

Ji Jiuzhe gave her a puzzled look but complied.

“I have something important to say,” Gu Ning said seriously.

Ji Jiuzhe, now nervous from Gu Ning’s sudden seriousness, felt a twinge of unease.

After much deliberation, Gu Ning looked at Ji Jiuzhe and said, “Do you still mean what you said before?”

Ji Jiuzhe looked puzzled, prompting Gu Ning to give a hint.

Gu Ning’s usually cold and distant eyes now held a hint of shyness, but she continued to gaze at Ji Jiuzhe as she slowly said, “I wasn’t sure before if I truly loved you. You’re too handsome, so I thought maybe I was just infatuated with your looks…”

Though Gu Ning was sincerely complimenting him, Ji Jiuzhe suddenly had a very bad premonition.

Gu Ning continued, “When the zombies surrounded the city, and I was trapped, thinking I might die, I thought, if I survived, I would marry you when I got back.”

Ji Jiuzhe was stunned by Gu Ning’s “frivolous” decision.

Gu Ning looked at him, seemingly troubled, “I’ve been thinking, should I keep the promise I made to myself?”

Ji Jiuzhe, very seriously, threatened, “Breaking promises leads to hell.”

Gu Ning, however, looked at him with a calm determination, “Then let’s go to hell together.”