Chapter 19: Watching the Clown

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Liu Wenchun was utterly incredulous. Normally, who wouldn’t drop to their knees and fawn upon hearing that name? Was she playing hard to get, or was she simply unaware of the prestige and influence of the Hope Base and its commander? Whatever the case, Liu Wenchun felt deeply insulted—an intense, overwhelming humiliation.

With a wave of her small hand, she commanded sharply, “Attack!”

Liu Wenchun and her companions happened to be just ten meters from the RV, outside the designated safe zone. Deer Pear’s mind stirred. At her command, four bodyguards lunged forward like ferocious tigers—“Boom!”—only to seem to hit an invisible wall, rebounding several steps back. They exchanged puzzled glances but remained silent, readying themselves for another charge.

“Boom!” This time they charged with greater force, only to be thrown back even farther.

Deer Pear leaned against the vehicle with her arms crossed, watching the scene with leisurely amusement. Her lazy posture and small, sharp eyes resembled that of a circus spectator watching clowns perform.

Liu Wenchun was furious, turning to scold the four bodyguards, “What did my father raise you for? You’re utterly useless! When we get back, I’ll have him throw you all to feed the zombies!”

The bodyguards paled at the threat but bristled with unwillingness to be belittled. To serve as Liu Wenchun’s bodyguards, they were all at least powered individuals. How could they accept being treated as worthless by a mere girl? Yet none dared offend the only daughter of the base commander.

So, their gazes shifted to the woman inside the RV, watching the spectacle.

“Brothers, attack!” the team leader growled fiercely.

With that, the bodyguards began to channel their energy, preparing to unleash their strongest strike to break through the invisible barrier. The nearby trash stirred as if animated by a silent wind, setting the stage.

Shen Bing stood up calmly, his eyes cool and detached. His palms opened quietly, ready to freeze those men into ice sculptures at a moment’s notice.

He was a seventh-level ice-powered individual—the only one of his kind worldwide. Dealing with these fools would be a trivial matter.

Only Deer Pear remained unhurried, even pulling out an ice pop to eat leisurely. Her casual demeanor was more like a spectator at a show.

Liu Wenchun gritted her teeth in fury, glancing at the bodyguards preparing to strike. They were all second-level powered individuals, while that wicked woman was clearly just an ordinary person.

Taking her down? A mere drizzle.

At that moment, a faint glow enveloped the four bodyguards as they charged forward. Liu Wenchun crossed her arms, imitating Deer Pear’s calm composure, ready to watch the show.

But in the next second, her gaze followed the four bodyguards as they were hurled backward ten meters, accompanied by dull thuds—“Boom—Boom—Boom.”

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They happened to fall into several oversized square trash bins, one per person, fitting perfectly.

Liu Wenchun stood frozen for a moment before pointing accusingly at Deer Pear, “Y-you, what did you do to my bodyguards?”

Deer Pear shrugged helplessly, “What do you think?”

She hadn’t done anything herself—she had merely activated the defense mode of the lottery shop. The area within ten meters of the RV was an absolute safe zone.

Once defense mode was activated, an invisible wall rose at the ten-meter boundary. The harder you tried to break through it, the stronger it pushed back, multiplying the force you applied.

Ignoring the bodyguards, Liu Wenchun hurried back into the base. She intended to tell her father someone was attacking the base—that there were saboteurs causing trouble inside and they must be caught.

Seeing her leave, Deer Pear sighed and placed her hands on her hips. Why did trouble always find her during meal times or when she was off duty?

Chen Zhi and his group had been watching the drama unfold, cheering for Deer Pear enthusiastically. “Boss, you’re amazing! Don’t let those evil forces buy you off or suppress you—we’re all on your side!”

Deer Pear waved them off indifferently. These people were all fair-weather friends, swaying to whichever side was strongest. Trusting them was no better than trusting a deer.

“Alright, alright. I’m going to eat now. Do as you please,” Deer Pear’s stomach growled loudly, dismissing them.

Chen Zhi’s group nodded knowingly but didn’t leave. There were tables and chairs outside; they could nap there or go hunt zombies.

Before lowering the shutter, Deer Pear glanced outside warily, fearing someone else might come to stir trouble. Instead, her eyes met Shen Bing’s indifferent gaze.

She glared impatiently, “What are you looking at?”

Shen Bing replied seriously, “Don’t close the door. I want to smell the food.”

Deer Pear: …

Was it really appropriate to say something so shameless with such a serious expression?

After some thought, she decided not to close it—letting him watch wouldn’t hurt.

At lunch today, she especially craved fried chicken, so she ordered a bunch from the McMurray store in the mall.

McFlurries? Of course. Cola? Absolutely necessary. Hamburgers, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, fries, popcorn chicken—all essential.

She felt like she could devour an entire cow, but out of budget restraint, she remained reasonably prudent.

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The entire order cost just 439 points—not much, and still cheaper than hot pot.

Her order was delivered on a tray, which felt oddly familiar—as if she were really dining in the restaurant, carrying the tray to find a seat.

Unlike hot pot or barbecue, which didn’t come with a table, Deer Pear had to place the tray on the scratch card table.

Shen Bing’s gaze instantly grew intense—Deer Pear noticed and asked in confusion, “Didn’t you just eat hot pot? Still hungry?”

He shook his head, “Not hungry.” His reaction to the food—the swallowing, the longing look—was an instinctive response from the heart.

Deer Pear was the kind of person who ordered with great enthusiasm, even imagining the scene with a TV drama playing. But once the food arrived, her interest and novelty halved instantly. This time was no different.

She inhaled the greasy aroma of the fried chicken, glanced at Shen Bing’s eager expression, and twitched her fingers.

“Here, have some,” she generously offered half the chicken nuggets, half the fries, and a chicken wing and drumstick placed at the corner of the tray.

“For me?” Shen Bing was incredulous, his eyes lighting up like flashlights.

“Yeah, gloves on, eat up,” Deer Pear said matter-of-factly, looking at Shen Bing’s somewhat youthful face trying hard to appear mature.

Suddenly, she thought of her younger brother—about this age, just finished his college entrance exams, still a minor, but far more mischievous than Shen Bing.

Damn this apocalypse! At an age meant for university and dreams, they were trapped in a world of fire and water.

Shen Bing felt unexpectedly honored but masked it well, calmly putting on the plastic gloves.

He picked up the food at the corner, and suddenly, a splash of red appeared before him.

It was Deer Pear squeezing ketchup patiently, “Fries taste better dipped.”

Shen Bing was puzzled. He was still under eighteen, meaning the apocalypse broke out when he was eight.

He had no memory of such unhealthy fast food—only the brutal battles and treacheries of the post-apocalyptic world.