Twenty Thousand Meters Underground

After celebrating the two children's coming-of-age ceremony.

The parents of both families, without prior arrangement, gathered around a table in the living room and started playing mahjong, chatting and laughing.

Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan felt it was a bit noisy, so they went outside for a walk.

The two arrived at a forest path not far from their home, and walked slowly in the evening breeze, enjoying the tranquility of the night.

Wearing a light pink dress, Shen Qinghan revealed her slender, fair legs as she swayed along the path, attracting much attention.

Lin Zichen couldn't help but glance at it out of the corner of his eye several times, but he immediately looked away after only a moment.

"Xiao Chen, how long did it take you to make that specimen photo frame?"

As they walked, Shen Qinghan suddenly asked.

"It's been almost half a year since I started."

Lin Zichen lied without batting an eye.

Possessing Heavenly Human Wisdom Root, he completed the specimen frame in less than a week.

Moreover, during the week of production, he only spent one hour on it each day.

However, it's best to keep this to yourself.

There's no need to say it.

Saying it only took a week to make would make it seem like you didn't put in the effort.

Shen Qinghan might feel disappointed after hearing this.

A gentle evening breeze was blowing.

It feels so nice to have the breeze blowing on my face.

After walking for a while, the two saw two low parallel bars ahead, so they went over and sat down to chat.

Shen Qinghan swung her legs leisurely as she spoke in a sweet voice:

"When I get back, I'm going to hang that framed specimen in my room so I can see the flowers you gave me every day."

"When I get back, I'll hang the watercolor painting you gave me in my room."

As he said this, Lin Zichen's gaze unconsciously fell on Shen Qinghan beside him, and he began to scrutinize her closely.

She has grown to 1.68 meters tall, and her slender, straight legs have become much longer. Her previously unremarkable front and back areas have also become rounded and full, making her look graceful and exceptionally alluring.

Her facial features are still small and delicate, but more three-dimensional and distinct than before.

Especially her bright, watery eyes, which used to look innocent and cute, now have a pure yet mature charm that is captivating.

Eighteen-year-old Shen Qinghan is becoming more and more charming.

She's prettier than those female celebrities on TV who wear heavy makeup and are covered in beauty filters.

"Xiao Chen, you've been staring at my face more and more lately."

Noticing Lin Zichen's persistent gaze, Shen Qinghan turned her head to look at him, her charming peach blossom eyes sparkling as she smiled and spoke.

Now, when Lin Zichen stares at her, she no longer feels embarrassed or shy like before.

Sometimes, she tends to be more playful and cute, full of girlish quirks and charm.

"No, it's just that time seems to fly by."

"In the blink of an eye, we've turned eighteen and grown up. Our appearances have matured a lot, and we've lost the naivety of our youth."

"Sometimes when I think about these things, I want to look at your face now and compare it with the image of you as a child in my memory."

Lin Zichen said with some emotion.

Shen Qinghan suddenly thought of a question and asked with some curiosity, "Do you prefer me as a child or as I am now?"

I like them both.

Lin Zichen answered without hesitation.

He wasn't lying; he genuinely likes them all.

I like Shen Qinghan when she was little, always laughing and peeing a lot; I like Shen Qinghan a few years ago when she was insecure, withdrawn, timid, and hesitant; and I like Shen Qinghan now, who is much more lively and cheerful.

Regardless of the period in his life, Shen Qinghan left a deep and beautiful memory in his heart.

Perhaps this is the bond between childhood sweethearts who grew up together.

Hearing Lin Zichen's answer, Shen Qinghan's smile became even sweeter, her legs under her skirt swayed more lightly, and she even hummed a song happily.

"So, which do you prefer, me as a child or me now?"

Lin Zichen asked the same question.

Shen Qinghan replied without hesitation, "I liked you no matter when you were."

After saying that, she added, "If I had to say which period of you I prefer, it would probably be the you now."

"How so?"

Lin Zichen was very curious.

Shen Qinghan looked into his eyes, her beautiful eyes curving slightly, and smiled sweetly, "Because I like you more every day."

Lin Zichen was taken aback.

After a moment of realization, he smiled and said, "Then I have to change my answer. I like you more and more every day, just like you. I hope our friendship lasts forever."

"Yes, may our friendship last forever."

After saying that, Shen Qinghan extended her slender, fair little finger to Lin Zichen, her voice filled with nostalgia, "When we were little, we made a pinky promise every day, a promise that would last a hundred years. Do you want to relive that now?"

"Okay, let's savor it for a moment."

Lin Zichen also extended his little finger and hooked it together with Shen Qinghan's little finger.

Just as the two were about to say the words "pinky promise".

Suddenly, the ground shook!

Both people sitting on the parallel bars felt a noticeable tremor.

"An earthquake?"

Shen Qinghan looked surprised and uncertain.

Lin Zichen replied, "It looks like an earthquake."

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed several text messages appearing in the Void.

[You survived an earthquake.]

[Achievement: Successfully survived 100 different "extremely harsh environments" or "disasters"]

[Reward: Gain the Biological Attribute - Survival of the Fittest]

[Total number of survival attempts: 1/100]

I actually triggered an Achievement quest?

Lin Zichen's eyes widened slightly, somewhat surprised.

He genuinely hadn't expected that encountering an earthquake could trigger Achievement quest; it was quite unexpected.

"Xiao Chen, there really was an earthquake just now. A lot of people on WeChat Moments are talking about it, and classmates in the class group are discussing it too."

Shen Qinghan looked at her phone and said.

Just as Lin Zichen was about to reply, his phone rang.

It was a video call from Zhang Wanxin.

As soon as the call connected, Zhang Wanxin's worried voice came through the phone.

They said there had just been an earthquake and asked if the two were alright.

Lin Zichen pointed the video camera at himself and Shen Qinghan and told Zhang Wanxin that they were fine.

Once she confirmed that both of them were safe, Zhang Wanxin breathed a sigh of relief and told them to go home early and not to stay out so late.

After ending the video call.

To avoid worrying his parents, Lin Zichen didn't stay outside for long and quickly took Shen Qinghan home.

When I got home, the TV was reporting news about the earthquake.

The speed at which this report was published was astonishing.

Lin Zichen sat down on the sofa and watched the news with his parents.

Relevant departments explained that this was just a normal small earthquake and not a big problem. They said that Shanhai City is not located at a plate boundary, so a major earthquake is unlikely, and the public should not panic.

The underground of Shanhai City.

20,000 meters deep.

The temperature here has exceeded three digits, and in some geologically unique locations, the temperature has even exceeded four digits, enough to cook any ordinary creature on the surface.

However, even in such an extremely harsh environment, hundreds of special Giant Mutant Rat, resistant to high temperatures and pressures, are digging burrows at high intensity.

The once solid ground had been dug into an anthill by them at some unknown time.

At first glance, it is all crisscrossing caves.

P. S.: I'm setting up the bowls, please vote with your monthly tickets and recommendations!