And so, on the way there, Qiangzi didn’t just tell Chi Wan about all the people who’d tried to cozy up to Li Xingye over the years. He also gave her a vivid, emotional retelling of how Li Xingye had once described her.

And just like that, he wasn’t the only one feeling shy anymore.

Only Qiangzi was bursting with excitement. Far from feeling awkward, he was secretly gloating. ’Finally! I can help the Boss get his feelings across! Heh!’

Unlike Li Xingye, who was purely shy, Chi Wan was actually quite happy. A small doubt had once lingered in her heart: ’How much of the special treatment Li Xingye gives me is just because I saved his life?’

That doubt lingered until she heard Brother Qiang recount the words Li Xingye had spoken when he confessed his feelings.

It was a marvelous feeling. She could now see with perfect clarity that Li Xingye liked *her*—the real, living, breathing person she was.

For a moment, a silence fell between the two of them, but it wasn’t awkward. After all, Brother Qiang was still chattering away beside them.

When they finally made it to Duan Qianyu’s office, she’d heard Qiangzi talking nonstop to Li Xingye from a distance. "Since when do you and the Boss have so much to talk about?" she asked good-naturedly.

Chi Wan had to admit, Duan Qianyu looked exactly as she had imagined.

She wore practical work clothes with her hair tied back, looking every bit the capable, easygoing engineering expert.

Chi Wan tried calling out to her. "Sister Qianyu, hi there! Can you hear me?"

Duan Qianyu froze, her eyes darting to Li Xingye. "Is that... Wanwan?"

When Li Xingye nodded, her face lit up with surprise. "We can talk with Wanwan now?"

Qiangzi laughed heartily and slung an arm over Duan Qianyu’s shoulder. "Surprising, isn’t it? I jumped when I first heard the Space God’s voice, too."

Unlike Qiangzi’s simple joy, Duan Qianyu’s mind was already racing. She hesitated for a moment before asking Chi Wan, "I heard the Boss say that your methods of contact have been evolving. Have you two tried to figure out why?"

Chi Wan had noticed this as well, of course. She and Li Xingye had discussed it before, but they hadn’t come to any firm conclusions.

"At first, I realized I could see what was happening on Brother Xingye’s side. Then, I found out Brother Xingye could enter the space as well... I think all of these developments seem to be progressing in step with how much of the space is covered by that soil."

Li Xingye nodded. "Wanwan and I have speculated that the level of our interaction might be related to the soil from the space."

Duan Qianyu’s thoughts turned to the miraculous soil that could grow crops and even slow decay. She mused, "So, we’ve reached this stage, perhaps because the Boss brought soil from the space over to our post-apocalyptic world? In that case, could the soil one day become a bridge between our two worlds, allowing for free travel between them?"

Qiangzi’s face lit up. "Wouldn’t that be amazing? Then the Boss and Wanwan could..."

Duan Qianyu, however, shook her head, her expression turning serious. "You’re oversimplifying things. If our two worlds were to truly merge, it would be a catastrophe for Wanwan’s world. Our base is doing well right now, but that doesn’t mean the situation is under control everywhere else."

"Let’s not even talk about other countries. Just in our own lands, there are still so many people struggling with food shortages and the threat of zombies. Boss, if that’s the case, then you can’t bring any more soil over here for the time being."

Duan Qianyu’s words instantly sobered Qiangzi’s jubilant mood. He looked at Li Xingye. "Then... what about the soil we already have here? Could that affect Wanwan’s side?"

"Boss, we have enough food now anyway. Why don’t we move all that soil back into the space? We can’t let Wanwan’s world suffer the same disaster we have."

Listening to them, Chi Wan understood why Li Xingye was willing to trust these people with his heart.

She smiled reassuringly. "It hasn’t gotten to that point yet. Brother Xingye and I actually tried an experiment. In the most remote corner of the space, he wrapped a zombie in the special soil, tied it up tightly with vines, and tried to send it into the space."

"But every time he tried, nothing would go through—not the zombie, not even the soil that had touched it. So I think the space has its own protective mechanisms. It’s like how I can pull Brother Xingye into the space, and I can reach my hand out to your side, but Brother Xingye can’t cross over to mine, no matter what."

Duan Qianyu breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good to hear. Still, we should be careful and keep a close eye on any changes within the space."

Those like Duan Qianyu, who knew about the space and Chi Wan’s existence, understood better than anyone that Chi Wan was the single greatest reason the base had been able to develop as it had.

Even though they had never met her, they were deeply grateful for and respected her contributions. Naturally, they didn’t want to see their benefactor dragged down by the troubles of their world.

Still, since they could now hear Chi Wan’s voice, did that mean she could actually come to their post-apocalyptic world? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Duan Qianyu asked tentatively, "Maybe if you spread out a patch of the soil here, Boss, we could see if Wanwan can cross over?"

Hearing this, both Chi Wan and Li Xingye immediately thought of the time Chi Wan had reached out and snatched a cookie from him. A thrill of excitement went through them.

Li Xingye was just about to get some soil from the space, but in the very next instant, Chi Wan appeared right in front of them.

Chi Wan herself was a bit surprised. She had only been thinking about trying to land next to Li Xingye, but then her vision blurred, and suddenly she was there!

Qiangzi and Duan Qianyu stared at Chi Wan, their eyes wide with delighted surprise.

Duan Qianyu murmured, "She can just... come right over?!"

She stepped forward and hugged Chi Wan. "Wanwan, it’s so good to meet you!"

Qiangzi, overjoyed, grabbed Chi Wan’s hand and shook it vigorously. He wasn’t even annoyed when Li Xingye pried his hand away. He just slapped his forehead. "I have to go tell Haozi and the others! Qianyu, you should eat first."

"Boss, since Wanwan can come over, we can throw her a proper welcome party!! Wanwan, you have no idea how long we’ve wanted to thank you in person! Don’t worry, it’ll just be us. Would you mind?"

Chi Wan was just starting to process the delightful shock of being able to come to Li Xingye’s world when she was enveloped by their warmth. Of course, she had no reason to refuse. "I have classes this afternoon, but I’ll come over as soon as they’re done!"

Beaming, Qiangzi urged Duan Qianyu one more time to eat her meal before jogging off. "I’m going to tell Haozi and the others!"

Duan Qianyu watched him go with a resigned smile and said to Chi Wan, "Don’t mind him. He’s just overjoyed. A man his age, and still so boisterous."

Chi Wan just smiled. "It’s a good thing. It means he’s full of hope for the future."

Duan Qianyu glanced at Li Xingye, who was standing beside them, and said with feeling, "All this hope... you and the Boss brought it to us. Wanwan, truly, thank you so much."

If not for Chi Wan, they never would have imagined that in this hopeless, post-apocalyptic world, things could actually move in such a positive direction.