The sunset filtered through a gap in the blackout curtains covering the thickened bulletproof glass, casting a soft, gentle glow over the head of the bed.
When Liu Xi woke, her mind went blank for a moment.
There was no biting wind, no deafening roar of an engine, and none of the lingering stench of decay. In their place were a faint, fresh scent and... a softness beneath her that felt like lying on a cloud.
"Where... am I?"
She instinctively tried to roll over, only to discover that her back, once stiff and aching from sleeping in a cramped sports car, now felt completely relaxed.
Liu Xi's eyes flew open.
Instead of the sports car's claustrophobic roof, she saw a spacious ceiling lined with high-end sound-absorbing fabric. The central air-conditioning vent silently supplied warm air at a steady twenty-six degrees Celsius, while a humidifier beside it released a fine white mist.
Liu Xi froze for a full three seconds before her memories came flooding back.
Being infected by a white spike, nearly dying, making a deal, drinking the [Potent Antibiotics] that could treat the mutant virus...
"I... survived?"
She raised her hand. Her left arm, which had been grazed by a bone spike and infected, had now healed. The agonizing pain was gone, replaced by the tingling itch of healing.
"You're awake?"
A clear, bright voice rang out.
Su Qingqian pushed open the bedroom partition door, carrying a neatly folded stack of clothes.
She wore a beige knitted sweater and jeans today, looking like the girl next door, without a trace of the bedraggled appearance of an apocalypse survivor.
"Since you're awake, go take a hot shower."
Su Qingqian pointed at the frosted-glass door in the corner. "The boss said he won't tolerate any bad smells in the RV."
"A... shower?"
For the first time, a crack appeared in Liu Xi's perpetually icy gaze.
She stared at Su Qingqian in disbelief, then glanced at the decidedly luxurious-looking shower stall.
"There's... water here? I mean, enough water to shower with?"
Back in the [Rose Society], even as its vice president, she had never enjoyed the luxury of washing herself directly with water. She had to carefully ration even the bottled water she used to wipe herself down, repeatedly rubbing herself with wet wipes moistened with just a little water.
A shower?
And a hot shower at that!
That was a luxury she had never dared imagine, even in her dreams!
"Relax. We have plenty of water." Su Qingqian placed the clothes beside the bed, a hint of knowing superiority in her eyes. "Whatever else you might say about this RV, the boss has never asked me to conserve water or electricity."
Liu Xi swallowed. As a woman with a severe obsession with cleanliness, spending the last few days sticky all over and covered in blood had been worse than death.
She practically snatched up the clothes and rushed into the bathroom.
Whoosh-
The instant the warm water poured down over her head.
The nerves Liu Xi had kept taut for five days finally gave way.
She leaned against the tiled wall, letting the hot water wash over her body as her tears mingled with the stream.
It felt so good.
So incredibly good.
The body wash's lather carried away the grease and blood on her skin. Amid the rising steam, she felt as though she had returned to being that female CEO sitting in her sprawling river-view apartment, overlooking the city lights.
"I'm only a temporary employee... and the perks are this good?"
Liu Xi closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the water. The defensive barrier in her heart called "pride" quietly began to loosen beneath that endless stream of hot water.
No wonder that pretty girl, Su Qingqian, was so satisfied.
If these were the perks of working here...
Then maybe this job wasn't such a bad deal?
But this wasn't where she would end up!
Twenty minutes later.
The bathroom door opened.
A cloud of damp steam drifted out.
Lin Hui was sitting on the sofa in the RV's living area, his mind immersed in the alternate space as he sorted through the list of his latest gains. Hearing the noise, he instinctively looked up.
Then his gaze paused briefly.
Liu Xi stood in the bathroom doorway, toweling her wet, long hair.
She had passed over the loose sportswear and instead picked out the outfit that best suited her style from the pile of loot.
A well-tailored, fitted black blazer over a white silk camisole, paired with a black pencil skirt that hugged the rounded curve of her hips.
Best of all, she had even found an undamaged pair of black stockings.
The sheer black stockings wrapped her long, straight legs in a sheen that was both restrained and seductive. She had tucked her top into the waistband of her skirt, outlining her breathtakingly slender waist.
Chin slightly raised, she adjusted her neckline as she approached in a pair of low-heeled leather shoes.
Even inside the RV, she retained the elegance and efficiency of someone accustomed to being in charge.
It was a professional habit ingrained in her bones, and her last remaining pride-even as an employee, she would be the finest one.
"Boss."
Liu Xi stopped before Lin Hui and inclined her body slightly. Her gently curled hair fell over her chest, carrying a pleasant scent of perfume.
Lin Hui raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping unabashedly over her legs as he teased, "Planning to negotiate a deal worth a few hundred million?"
"It's a habit."
Liu Xi remained composed as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Since I'm your employee, maintaining my appearance is part of the job. I don't like dressing like a refugee."
"Well, you've got personality."
Lin Hui smiled and pointed at the sofa opposite him. "Sit. What would you like to drink? Coffee or tea?"
"Coffee, no sugar. Thank you," Liu Xi answered reflexively.
A short while later.
Su Qingqian came over with a tray bearing a steaming cup of freshly brewed Americano, its aroma rich and fragrant.
She glanced at Liu Xi's unmistakably CEO-like outfit, then looked down at her own sweater and jeans, pursing her lips slightly.
Hmph. Who's she dressing so sexily for...? Su Qingqian grumbled inwardly, but set the coffee before Liu Xi with a smile.
"Thank you."
Liu Xi lifted the coffee and took a small sip.
Bitter, with a sweet aftertaste. Genuine Arabica beans.
At Lin Hui's instruction, Su Qingqian went to the driver's seat, started the vehicle, and headed toward their next destination.
As the RV drove on, the scenery outside raced backward-a rugged, uneven expanse of wasteland.
Yet to Liu Xi's surprise, the coffee in her cup remained as smooth as a mirror, without even a single ripple!
"This suspension system..."
Liu Xi was secretly astonished.
As a car enthusiast, she knew exactly what that meant. The vehicle's chassis technology had surpassed anything currently available. It might even be some kind of technology beyond modern science.
And...
She looked around.
The climate control ran constantly, as did the fresh-air ventilation system. The refrigerator, induction cooktop, water heater... all those power-hungry appliances were running, yet the fuel gauge remained full, and there was no sign of excessive strain on the engine.
"Does this thing have unlimited fuel...?"
Liu Xi set down her cup and drew a deep breath.
This man held far more secrets than she had imagined.
"By the way."
Liu Xi put down her coffee cup, straightened her skirt, and sat upright, turning her gaze toward Lin Hui as he fiddled with a drone.
"Now that I'm working for you, even if I'm only a temporary employee, I think there's some information we should share."
"But before that..."
She paused, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Boss, I still don't know your name."
Before you continue