After dinner, Alex retrieved a bulging tote bag from the entryway and placed it in front of Gu Ning.

Gu Ning watched as Alex took a thick, black outfit from the bag, along with gloves, a hat, and a pair of heavy, fur-trimmed boots.

"Little Boss, these little gloves would be perfect for you." Seth picked up the gloves, examined them, and handed them to Gu Ning with a smile.

Gu Ning took the gloves. Feeling their thick yet soft texture, she was touched.

She had prepared her own gloves—a pair of Beastman work gloves she’d taken from a toolbox on the wall. They were huge on her and inconvenient, but at least they kept her hands warm.

This pair, however, fit her hands perfectly.

Jite picked up the hat from the table and turned it over in his hands. "Boss, where’d you get this?"

The items were clearly meant for a small Mixed Breed. It wasn’t easy to find clothes in her size in Zone 19.

Alex took the hat from Jite and placed it on Gu Ning’s head. Unlike a work helmet, it wasn’t heavy. The outer layer was windproof, the inside was lined with fleece, and it even had ear flaps. It felt very warm.

Alex then shook out the new jacket he’d prepared for her. "Try it on."

Gu Ning had been planning to wear her long coat to go out, but seeing the new clothes from Alex, she slipped off the blanket wrapped around her and put on the shorter jacket instead.

The new jacket’s material was similar to her long coat—windproof and waterproof. It was a little roomy but still fit well, ending just at her knees. It was much easier to move in.

After she changed her pants as well, Alex gently pushed her down to sit on the sofa. He crouched in front of her and placed the fur-trimmed boots by her feet. "It’ll be a bit cold out. You should change into some thicker boots."

Gu Ning bent down to change her shoes.

Alex was a step ahead of her, taking her ankle and pulling on the boot.

Gu Ning wanted to tell him not to go to all this trouble, but with Seth and Jite right there, she didn’t feel comfortable saying anything. She tried to do it herself but couldn’t get a hand in. All she could do was sit there obediently, her face growing warm as she watched Alex tie her laces.

Jite, watching from the side, was a little surprised by the natural intimacy of Alex’s actions toward Gu Ning.

He nudged Seth with his elbow, motioning with his eyes toward Gu Ning and Alex.

Seth was cleaning up the leftovers, eating what Gu Ning and the others hadn’t finished. After Jite’s nudge, he followed his gaze.

"What?" he asked.

Jite: "..." Never mind.

"There." Alex shot them a glance before saying to Gu Ning, "Walk around a bit. See if they fit."

Gu Ning stood up and walked in a couple of circles.

’They fit perfectly.’

It had been a long time since she’d worn shoes that fit so well.

When she first arrived in this world, she had been wearing a summer t-shirt, shorts, and a pair of flip-flops. She’d nearly frozen to death in a junkyard.

Cook had found her plenty of clothes and shoes, but the shoes were always too big. It was impossible to buy anything in her size.

Though prices in Zone 19 were high, you could still get your hands on most things. Shoes, however, were another story.

Normal Beastman shoes were out of the question, and most Mixed Breeds didn’t wear shoes at all—some didn’t even wear clothes. The smallest size she could find was still far too long on her.

Having no other choice, she had resorted to stuffing her shoes with cotton-filled cloth pouches.

Gu Ning was both surprised and deeply moved that Alex had managed to find shoes in her exact size.

"Let’s go get some air." Alex adjusted her hat and collar, then took her by the wrist and led her outside.

Seeing the two of them leave, Jite slapped Seth on the back. "Stop eating! The Boss is leaving."

"Coming, I’m coming!" Seth, with half a fried fish dangling from his mouth, snatched a piece of bread and hurried after them.

Outside, snow was falling in thick flakes.

Gu Ning stood at the building’s entrance. She hadn’t been outside in days, and it felt as if the entire world had transformed.

It was nearly seven o’clock at night, and the sky had gone dark long ago. Searchlights near the building illuminated the surroundings.

A thick blanket of snow had completely buried the steps at the entrance, piling up even higher than the top step.

And yet, despite the weather, the Beastmen outside weren’t wearing any more layers than usual.

Gu Ning’s gaze swept over a row of Beastmen in form-fitting combat uniforms. ’These must be the Beastman soldiers from the military district,’ she thought.

Their entire bearing was different from that of ordinary Beastmen.

There was no wind today, so Gu Ning didn’t feel particularly cold. Maybe her new clothes were just that warm, or maybe she had simply grown accustomed to the temperature. After all, there wasn’t much difference between the heat indoors and the cold out.

"Wait here for a second." Alex looked down at Gu Ning, then shot a look over his shoulder at Jite and Seth, signaling them to watch over her. He then turned and headed to the right of the main gate.