Everyone was a little confused when they were led to the laboratory.

Jiang Si took out a glass jar containing three plump, white worms. Everyone asked, "What are these?"

"These worms suck blood, just like leeches," Jiang Si explained. "I call them white leeches."

Jiang Linhai frowned. "Why did you catch them?"

"They suck blood, and they can burrow into the human body through open wounds. I’m showing them to you so you can be on your guard. There are a lot of them under the trees in the Warmth area of the Snow Monkey Domain," Jiang Si said.

Everyone understood. They all heeded Jiang Si’s warning and committed the worms’ appearance to memory.

When Zhang Qingfang heard that the monkeys ate these worms, she couldn’t help but ask, "Then can our chickens and ducks eat them?"

"They probably can, right?"

Jiang Si smiled. "They can, but it’s not worth the effort to catch worms just to feed the chickens and ducks."

Zhang Qingfang laughed. "I was just thinking, if the worms become numerous, it would be a good way to give them some extra protein."

Niu Niu added, "That way they’ll lay eggs sooner."

Shen Baoying sighed. "The Snow Monkeys are really doing whatever it takes to survive, what with planting radishes and eating worms."

"You wouldn’t be able to survive without some real skills," Jiang Linhai said.

"I hope everything will be all right," Jiang Chengwu said with a sigh.

For the past few days, nothing had happened, and the weather had been very stable.

Everyone was starting to think the apocalypse might be over.

Jiang Si had spent several years of her past life in the extreme cold, and she too had once thought, ’Maybe the apocalypse is over, just like that.’

’Humanity had merely adapted to a new way of life.’

But a sudden disaster had completely upended the life they were all gradually getting used to.

’That’s why they had to remain vigilant at all times and improve their skills for coping with the various disasters of the apocalypse.’

’Even though everyone was busy with other things each day, they still had to learn what was necessary.’

After they had examined the worms, Jiang Si herded everyone into the study for their English lesson.

’Language was something you had to practice every day.’

Jiang Linhai entered the study with a pained expression and whispered miserably to Jiang Si, "We’re so tired from repairing the greenhouse today. Can we cut class short by half an hour?"

Jiang Si smiled. "All right. In that case, Dad, you can just memorize that short essay."

Jiang Linhai was speechless.

The English lesson lasted until seven in the evening, after which everyone returned to their own rooms to rest.

Qin Shen handed her a glass of warm water to soothe her throat.

Jiang Si gave him a sidelong glance. "Watch a movie tonight?"

As their relationship had grown more intimate, their movie nights were no longer confined to the second-floor screening room.

When Jiang Si invited him to watch a movie, she was actually suggesting he join her in her room.

Qin Shen nodded, the corners of his lips curling into an obvious smile, as if he’d been waiting for her to ask all along.

His normally cool and handsome face held a trace of goofiness that didn’t quite match his temperament.

’But it was rather cute.’

Jiang Si linked her arm through his, unable to hold back a smile.

’So far, she had no regrets about trying to date Qin Shen.’

Back in her room, their usual routine was for Jiang Si to go to the bathroom to wash up and change while Qin Shen selected a few movies for her to choose from when she came out.

Previously, whenever Qin Shen was over, she had always worn seamless undergarments beneath her pajamas to avoid any awkwardness.

But sleeping in undergarments was actually quite uncomfortable.

Jiang Si glanced at her silk pajamas, hesitated for a moment, then decided to follow her heart.

’Besides, if something were to happen... they were both adults. It wouldn’t be unacceptable to let things take their natural course.’

She let down her hair and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She wasn’t wearing any makeup and had faint dark circles under her eyes, but they did little to detract from the stunning impression created by her fair complexion and delicate features.

Jiang Si thought for a moment, then picked up her perfume and spritzed a little on herself, feeling satisfied only after she had done so.

When she came out of the bathroom, Qin Shen had already selected three films, all of which were comedies she enjoyed.

Jiang Si chose the one with the highest rating. "Let’s watch this one," she said, then added naturally, "You can go wash up now."

Qin Shen got up and went into the bathroom. As the door closed, Jiang Si stared at the movie screen, a sudden flutter of nervousness in her chest.

She took a deep breath, burrowed under the covers, and couldn’t help but smile.

’To have someone she loved, a family, and a comfortable life... she was truly so, so much more fortunate than in her past life.’

A moment later, the sound of the shower came from the bathroom.

Qin Shen was quick; the alluring sound of the water stopped in less than five minutes.

Even though this wasn’t the first time, Jiang Si still couldn’t help but blush.

The hairdryer WHIRRED to life, and a moment later, Qin Shen emerged.

His tall, well-built frame was clad in a set of silk pajamas similar to her own. His collarbone, partially visible, was an alluring sight.

Jiang Si forced herself to tear her gaze away. Qin Shen pulled back the covers, sat down beside her, and, as was his custom, gave her a fresh-smelling kiss on the cheek.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Jiang Si shook her head. "No."

She turned on the screen. The moment she set down the remote, Qin Shen took her hand and placed it on his thigh.

Jiang Si’s back went rigid. She turned her head to stare at him, but he was gazing at the screen as if nothing had happened.

’It was probably an unconscious movement,’ she thought.

Jiang Si forced herself to focus on the movie.

But this highly-rated movie had a rather awkward opening. The male and female leads started kissing passionately right from the get-go.

She wanted to fast-forward but was afraid Qin Shen would think she was being prudish.

As she forced herself to keep watching, Qin Shen suddenly turned to her. His gaze was intense as he asked, "May I?"

She knew exactly what those two words meant.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say yes.

Qin Shen suddenly smiled, as if he already understood her unspoken answer, and leaned down to kiss her softly.

Halfway through the movie, they had already disappeared under the covers.

For one, neither was in the mood to watch anymore; for another, she was completely drained of energy.

His relentless kisses alone were almost more than she could handle.

But he still hadn’t made his final move.

Jiang Si’s eyelids were growing heavy. She stopped his hand. "Let’s just sleep. I’m sleepy."

Qin Shen kissed her. "You sleep."

Jiang Si couldn’t help but smile. "Stop fooling around."

"Okay."

Qin Shen obediently lay down, pulling her into his embrace.

Jiang Si was a little surprised that he had given in so easily.

She glanced up at his restrained expression and couldn’t stop the corners of her own lips from curling into a smirk.

’Let’s see how long he can hold out next time,’ she thought.

Jiang Si snuggled deeper into Qin Shen’s arms and closed her eyes blissfully.

She slept soundly until broad daylight, when Shen Baoying, who hadn’t come knocking in a long time, suddenly began calling for them in a panic.

"Sisi, are you awake? The ice house and that little cabin your dad threw together have been completely trashed by the monkeys!"

Jiang Si poked her head out from Qin Shen’s arms and called back, "We’ll be out right away."

That one word—"we"—was all Shen Baoying needed. Her face flushed, and she quickly added, "I’ll wait for you in the great hall!"

After getting dressed, Jiang Si and Qin Shen headed for the ice house. They found the area covered in monkey tracks.

Inside, the stove they used for warmth and cooking lay overturned on the floor. All the furs, blankets, and temporarily stored supplies and food had been taken, leaving the place completely bare.