From Apocalypse Boss to Farmer: My Vegetables Make Me Stronger!-Chapter 41 - 38: Her Time Is Running Out

Everyone scrambled to get in line, but Gu Xi quietly stepped back to the side.

"Gu Xi?"

Qi Xiang tilted her head, confused. Even the Qin sisters, who were already near the front, stopped and looked back at her.

Before Gu Xi could figure out an explanation, Wei Heng, who was beside her, suddenly spoke up. "Gu Xi used to live alone in the ruins. She doesn’t like, and isn’t used to, being crowded by so many strangers..."

’Ah, I see...’

"Then we’ll go later too." The Qin sisters and Qi Xiang exchanged a look and decided to wait at the back with Gu Xi.

The line in front of them moved steadily forward. There were only a few dozen people in total, and the long queue quickly shrank by a fifth.

Gu Xi stood at the end of the line with her hands at her sides, watching the crowd move slowly forward, her expression calm.

’The fact that I have no X Energy in my body must not be discovered.’

’At least, not now.’

Of course, she could make an excuse and leave now, avoiding Ye Nan’s examination, but that would only make people more suspicious.

’If someone with ulterior motives were watching...’

Her identity was a minefield, and her ability was too unique; she couldn’t withstand any real scrutiny. Not to mention, the Central Superpower Research Institute definitely had a file on her.

Thinking about her own mysteriously missing thirty years... Gu Xi quietly cracked her knuckles. The worst-case scenario would probably be that she’d refuse to cooperate and be forced to flee.

With mutant plants covering the mountains and wilds, no one could stop her.

But what would happen after she left?

Humans are social creatures, after all. She couldn’t spend her entire life alone in the wilderness.

More importantly, she really liked her current life and had no intention of making an enemy of the entire state apparatus.

The line in front of them moved forward at a steady pace, and soon it had shrunk by a third.

Time passed without them noticing, and the sun gradually climbed higher...

As if the sunlight was a bit too harsh, Wei Heng suddenly raised a hand to his brow. "Don’t you guys think it’s a little hot? Why don’t we wait over there in the shade..."

Gu Xi followed Wei Heng’s gaze. The sun cast a shadow beneath the tall surrounding wall. Clumps of weeds had sprung up along the base of the wall at some point, already standing about half a foot high.

Wei Heng’s expression was natural. Seeing Gu Xi look over, he smiled and was the first to walk toward the base of the high wall.

The group of young people squatted in a row in the shadow of the wall, completely disregarding their image.

They immediately attracted a lot of attention.

From a distance, Shen Yue glanced their way through the crowd.

A moment later, he turned his head and murmured something to the person beside him, then slowly walked over. His gaze swept across the squatting group, lingering on Gu Xi for a subtle second.

Gu Xi was looking down, idly pulling at the weeds in front of her, as if she were just bored and passing the time.

Shen Yue’s gaze unintentionally fell on the vibrant green weeds, and he raised an eyebrow slightly.

He asked casually, as if it were an offhand question, "Everyone else is in line. What are you all doing squatting over here?"

’Is he reminding me not to draw attention to myself?’

Gu Xi’s face didn’t show it, but her heart stirred.

This time, however, before Wei Heng could speak, Qi Xiang retorted, "Mr. Shen, we delicate girls aren’t like you... thick-skinned and tough. How could we possibly endure this vicious sun?"

Shen Yue wasn’t happy about that. "What do you mean, thick-skinned and tough?" ’I’m a handsome, dashing guy too, just a little tan...’

Qi Xiang glanced at him. ’Him? Please. Get a clue.’

"..." Shen Yue shrugged and leaned casually against the wall. His long legs seemed to have nowhere to go; one was stretched out straight, while the other was slightly bent, its toe tapping the ground.

His gaze drifted nonchalantly past Wei Heng and landed on Gu Xi, who was still fiddling with the weeds.

"Last night, Ye Nan found a Mutated Locust Tree deep in the woods that has significant research value," he said suddenly. "The Special Service Team might be staying here for a while."

Gu Xi noticed that Wei Heng, beside her, tensed up slightly, and his mood visibly darkened.

She glanced at him, thought for a moment, then looked up at Shen Yue. "How long do they plan to stay?"

Shen Yue looked up at the sky and squinted nonchalantly. "Who knows? It probably depends on how valuable that Mutated Locust Tree turns out to be..."

Gu Xi suddenly thought of the person who had mutated last night... His mutation speed had far exceeded other cases. ’Could it be related to my ability?’

Gu Xi guessed that the man’s body had simultaneously contained her ability, the energy from the Mutated Locust Tree, and his own original X Energy.

Three highly aggressive energies had clashed, and the unlucky one, most likely, was him—the vessel...

’It seems the matter of the Mutated Locust Tree can’t be delayed any longer. It has to be dealt with as soon as possible.’

Thinking of this, she looked up and asked, "Then the helicopter this morning was for..."

Shen Yue looked down at her, his long eyelashes casting a shadow that obscured the expression in his eyes.

After a long moment, he finally spoke.

"The man who mutated last night was a bit strange. The Abnormal Ability Research Institute... they’ve always been well-informed and well-connected. They sent an official request for him last night..."

Shen Yue’s voice was as calm and casual as ever, but Gu Xi detected a hint of cold sarcasm in it.

She raised her eyes slightly to look at him.

She saw him straighten up, give a nonchalant shrug, and turn his head to look at them. "Let’s go. There aren’t many people left over there. We should hurry up, get the check-up done, and go back for lunch."

"I’ve been busy for half the night without even a sip of water. I’m counting on those sweet potatoes at home to save my life..."

Gu Xi: "..."

Wei Heng: "..."

’Pah! Are those *your* sweet potatoes? They’re clearly mine and Gu Xi’s...’

...

Ye Nan worked quickly, managing to screen everyone in just under half a day.

Aside from a few security personnel whose X Energy levels were a bit high, she found nothing out of the ordinary.

"Ye, this must have been hard on you," Mr. Zhao said, handing her a bottle of water.

Ye Nan had been busy all morning. The use of her ability had taken its toll, and her face was a little pale. She took the bottle of mineral water, had a sip, and then shook her head slightly. "Mr. Zhao, you’re too kind. It’s just my duty."

’Besides, about last night...’

Thinking about last night’s events, Ye Nan subconsciously looked up at the young man beside her.

He was still standing by her side, protecting her, his indifferent expression unchanged.

But Ye Nan’s eyes instantly dimmed, and even her voice became downcast. "Mr. Zhao, before Xue Lu is taken away, I want to go see him again..."

With that, she turned and headed for the roof of the laboratory.

The helicopter was leaving in the afternoon.

She didn’t have much time left...

Ye Junhan gestured for two team members to follow her, then looked up at Mr. Zhao, who was about to leave. He suddenly spoke, "I heard you and Mr. Zhang took on a new student here?"

Mr. Zhao was taken aback. He looked up at Ye Junhan, surprised that he would ask such a thing. Even Ye Nan, who had already walked some distance away, instinctively turned to look back.

’Jun Han was never a curious person. Why would he suddenly take an interest in something like this?’

Mr. Zhao chuckled and explained, "Not really a student, but the girl has a real talent for planting. Zhang and I just appreciate talent and couldn’t bear to see hers go to waste..."

Ye Junhan lowered his gaze, his right hand resting casually on the scimitar at his waist. An image of the girl squatting by the high wall, idly pulling at weeds, surfaced in his mind. And that other time at the camp...

"Mr. Ye, why the sudden question?" Mr. Zhao exchanged a look with Mr. Zhang, who had just come out of the lab, and frowned slightly. "Is there... some problem with that girl, Gu Xi?"

"No, just asking." With an indifferent expression, Ye Junhan gave a slight nod to the two professors, then strode off in Ye Nan’s direction, his long legs clad in military boots.

Ye Nan waited where she was, looking at him as if she wanted to say something but ultimately held back.

The group quickly reached the rooftop.

The helicopter was parked in the distance, its cabin door shut tight. But Xue Lu, who was supposed to be escorted inside with the mutated person, was unconscious on the ground outside the helicopter...

Ye Junhan remained perfectly composed. He glanced coolly at the closed cabin door of the helicopter and raised a well-defined hand, making a gesture to the team members positioned around the area.

The next moment, the well-trained Special Service Team members quickly converged on the helicopter...