Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Sierra, Are You Coming With Me to Meet the Parents?

"Lead a team of our own?"

Sierra Sullivan looked confused, not quite understanding what Jayce meant.

Jayce ruffled Sierra Sullivan’s hair. "Even though we’re both Superpower Users, the outside world is complicated and dangerous. Just the two of us won’t be enough; we have to form a team. I’ll talk to my dad, and we can take command of a team directly. It’ll be a way to help him out, too."

As one of the base’s leaders, Jayce’s father needed his own people and a record of achievements to hold his ground against other factions.

That’s what Jayce meant by "helping."

Sierra Sullivan nodded in understanding. "Okay! It’s been a while since I’ve seen your dad, too. I’ll go with you!"

The moment she finished speaking, Jayce leaned in close. "Is this you coming home to meet the parents, Sierra?"

A sly grin played on Jayce’s lips, and his eyes, full of mirth, were fixed on Sierra Sullivan, as if trying to peer right through her eyes and into her heart.

"That’s right!" Sierra Sullivan replied fearlessly. "What? Are you scared to let me go?"

"Of course not! If you’re willing to go, Sierra, I couldn’t ask for more!"

Sierra Sullivan smiled. "So what should we bring for your parents? Rice, flour, cooking oil, spices, snacks, cured meat, canned goods..."

Fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat were actually the most sought-after items these days.

But without a plausible explanation, it was difficult to just produce those things.

Luckily, she had been very thorough when she’d stocked up on supplies before.

After rummaging around in her space for a bit, she quickly found the perfect gifts.

There were all sorts of dehydrated vegetables that just needed to be soaked to be edible.

They were a good source of vitamins, and the texture wasn’t too affected.

Cured meats, sausages, various canned meats, and canned fruits filled one large box to the brim.

Self-heating hot pots, instant rice, all kinds of instant noodles, ham sausages, chocolate, cookies... filled another two large boxes.

The haul formed a small mountain in the living room.

On top of that, there were also rice, flour, cooking oil, and spices.

Looking at all the items, Jayce was naturally touched.

Sierra had prepared such a generous gift for his parents because she considered him and his family to be her own.

’Ever since they were kids, Sierra had always been this kind!’

Jayce pulled Sierra Sullivan into his arms, his large hand gently patting her back.

"Jayce, is this enough?" Sierra Sullivan asked offhandedly, still calculating in her head.

Jayce let out a silent laugh. "It’s too much. Just bringing a few cans will be fine."

"Huh?"

Sierra Sullivan pushed Jayce away and looked at his face. "Are you serious?"

’We’re going to see his family!’

’Just a few cans?’

Jayce’s smile vanished, and he nodded seriously. "I am serious. I know you’re doing this for me, wanting to bring them a lot of things, but it’s not necessary. There’s an old saying: a small favor earns gratitude, but a large one can create resentment. My parents don’t just have me; my eldest brother and his family, and my second brother and his family, all live with them. If you bring this much on your first visit, they’ll just see it as their due. Then, if you don’t bring as much every time you visit in the future, they’ll definitely get sarcastic about it. We don’t need to spoil them."

"My parents aren’t short on food, drink, or clothing right now. If they ever fall on truly hard times, we can take care of them then. It’s really not necessary right now. Bringing a few cans is enough to observe the courtesy!"

Listening to Jayce, Sierra Sullivan gradually began to understand.

’She really hadn’t thought it through before.’

Sierra Sullivan was an only child. When her parents were still alive, there were never any calculations between them. They simply gave each other whatever they had, without a second thought.

But Jayce had two brothers.

And Jayce was over ten years younger than his two older brothers.

Jayce’s two brothers had both been married for ten years and had children of their own.

The Everett Family’s situation was indeed more complicated.

Sierra Sullivan knew she wasn’t good at handling these kinds of relationships.

Since Jayce had put it that way, she didn’t argue. "Okay! I’ll listen to you!"

Sierra Sullivan found another, smaller box and placed a few cans of meat and a few cans of fruit inside.

She put the rest of the supplies directly back into her space.

Jayce carried the box, and he and Sierra Sullivan left the apartment.

It was daytime.

Some light filtered in from the windows outside. The elevator hall wasn’t exactly bright, but it was clear enough to see.

When everyone saw Sierra Sullivan and Jayce come out together, all eyes turned to them at once.

Especially after seeing that Jayce was carrying a box, many people’s gazes were glued to it.

There was no writing on the box, but they instinctively assumed it must be full of food.

A few people even swallowed hard with open longing.

Sierra Sullivan took in everyone’s reactions but said nothing. After locking the door, she and Jayce headed for the stairwell.

They both wore masks, but the indescribable smell in the air still relentlessly assaulted their nostrils.

With so many people living in the stairwells and elevator halls, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves was a major problem.

Although the base required them to use sand for their physiological needs and dispose of it collectively afterward, a lingering smell was unavoidable.

Not only was the smell foul, but as they walked down, they were stared at every step of the way.

The gazes followed them like shadows, impossible to escape.

Jayce’s family lived on the tenth floor of this building.

That’s right, in what used to be Sebastian Crawford’s apartment.

Jayce had killed Sebastian Crawford, leaving the apartment ownerless. For some reason, Jayce’s father had decided to move into it.

Jayce had been to the tenth floor twice in the past few days, but Sierra Sullivan hadn’t gone with him.

Jayce had brought back a walkie-talkie and would use it to contact his parents from time to time. Sierra Sullivan had also chatted with them a few times over it.

But talking over a walkie-talkie and meeting in person were completely different experiences.

Now that she was actually standing on the tenth floor, Sierra Sullivan felt a little nervous.

The tenth floor wasn’t packed with survivors like the other levels.

On the contrary, the security door at the stairwell entrance was closed, guarded by two heavily armed men carrying guns. No one dared to approach.

The two guards recognized Jayce, so of course they didn’t stop him, letting him and Sierra Sullivan pass through the security door.

Standing at the apartment door, Jayce didn’t knock right away. Instead, he looked at Sierra Sullivan. "Sierra, ready for me to knock?"

Sierra Sullivan took a deep breath. "Ready!"

Jayce raised his hand and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door was opened from the inside.

A middle-aged woman, dressed neatly, opened the door. She bore a slight resemblance to Jayce.

Sierra Sullivan, of course, recognized her. It was Jayce’s mother, Yvonne Shelby.

Back when her parents were still alive, their families were neighbors, and she would occasionally see Yvonne Shelby.

In her memory, Yvonne Shelby had always been a capable, career-driven woman who was never without her imposing stiletto heels.

Now, however, Yvonne Shelby was wearing sneakers, and her whole demeanor seemed much more approachable.