Cooking Gourmet Meals in the Apocalypse

Chapter 180: Chapter 177: Where Does This Shyness Come From?

Chen Xing smiled brightly and looked at Song Yiguo. ”The Lu Family... go ask Lu Bingtian. They definitely know how to use Crystal Cores.”

The apocalypse had been going on for so long; everyone had known about the uses for Crystal Cores for some time now.

Considering the Lu Family’s Research Institute, it was impossible that they hadn’t researched the efficacy of Crystal Cores.

Didn’t everyone just go on a mad scramble for Crystal Cores a while back?

”Lu Bingtian?” Song Yiguo looked at Chen Xing in surprise. ”Are you saying the Xingguang Research Institute has already researched Crystal Cores? And they know how to use them?”

The moment he finished asking, he felt it was a redundant question for her. He immediately said to Vice General Du, ”Go to the Lu Family and ask them in detail.”

After Vice General Du left, Chen Xing stated her purpose for being there. ”I’m looking for a man named Hao Dongbang and his wife, Li Helili!”

”Hao Dongbang?” Song Yiguo knew of him. ”He’s not in the safety zone right now!”

”Where is he now?”

”Lu Bingtian ran into some trouble at the Research Institute in the Capital City. Hao Dongbang and his wife were sent to the United States. It seems they won’t be back for a while!”

”Are you saying Hao Dongbang and Li Helili are both from the Xingguang Research Institute?”

”They’re both veteran researchers. As far as I know, they’ve been with Xingguang for at least twenty years!”

Chen Xing frowned.

’If they’re both from the Research Institute, why would they send their own biological daughter there to be experimented on?’

”I have a friend named Cheng Xiaonan. His family seems to be very wealthy. Can you look into his background?” Chen Xing suddenly recalled that some of the ’lab rats’ released early from the Research Institute not only had parents but also lived quite well afterward.

Song Yiguo opened his computer. A moment later, he looked up at Chen Xing in astonishment. ”His father, Cheng Xiao... was also a researcher at the Xingguang Research Institute, and his mother, Yin Linghua, was an investor in the Xingguang Research Institute’s Hualai City headquarters. But they’re both dead!”

Chen Xing: ”...” ’A coincidence?’

”There’s something fishy about the Xingguang Research Institute!” Song Yiguo sensed it.

He looked at Chen Xing, his gaze clear and bright.

’Her name is fake. He couldn’t find any information related to her anywhere in the country. It was as if she had appeared out of thin air; everything about her was a mystery.’

’And she’s so focused on the Xingguang Research Institute... she either owes it a debt of gratitude or holds a grudge against it.’

”There’s definitely something fishy going on!” Chen Xing didn’t plan to continue this topic and set aside her suspicions. ”Because of the heavy snow, the livestock I promised you will be a few days late. But... compared to livestock, I think you need Crystal Cores more. This batch I have with me was taken from upgraded zombies. Their effect is certainly better than the old ones!”

’Whether it was livestock or Crystal Cores, she would give Song Yiguo whatever he needed. After all, he had saved her life, hadn’t he?’

”Hmm...?” Song Yiguo didn’t give a direct answer.

He didn’t want to make a rash decision until he had confirmed the efficacy of the Crystal Cores.

After all, livestock and poultry were much rarer.

Chen Xing understood Song Yiguo’s thinking, so she didn’t press him for a decision. ”You can take your time to consider. I’ll be staying in the Capital City for a few more days!”

Without waiting for Vice General Du to return, she left Song Yiguo’s office.

On the way here, Vice General Du had told her that the Situ Family’s power had been scattered. Aside from the Superpower Users they acquired in Baling Country, their Song Family hadn’t been able to recruit anyone else to their side.

Most of the forces in the Capital City had been absorbed by the Lu Family, with a small portion joining the Li Family.

’What was most infuriating was that the Lu Family and the Li Family seemed to be on the verge of collaborating.’

Song Yiguo and General Song were under immense pressure.

And at such a tense moment, Yan Junxi had also disappeared.

They had searched inside and outside the Duole Safety Zone but couldn’t find him.

Song Yiguo might look fine right now, but he was actually in agony on the inside.

But... he knew that if he lost his composure, no one would be able to rescue Yan Junxi.

Chen Xing glanced back at Song Yiguo’s office.

’Logically, if Yan Junxi disappeared inside the safety zone, there should have been some clues.’

’For him to disappear right under his nose, it was most likely the work of either the Lu Family or the Li Family. Only they had the ability to pull it off so cleanly.’

’As for why they would kidnap Yan Junxi?’

’Someone must have found out that Song Yiguo cares about him, right?’

Chen Xing’s thoughts ran wild as she walked toward the exit.

”Chen Xing...”

Hearing someone call her name, Chen Xing stopped and turned around.

It was Lu Haoran.

Seeing Chen Xing turn around, he curled his lips into a smile and strode over. ”What a coincidence.”

Chen Xing didn’t know if it was a coincidence or not.

’But him appearing near the Song Family’s territory was a bit strange.’

Although the Four Great Families were all in the same safety zone, they had clearly defined territories, each in their own area.

Only a large central club was common ground for the Four Great Families.

Normally, none of them interfered with the others, let alone trespassed on another family’s turf.

Chen Xing nodded, her expression cool and distant.

She had no favorable impression of the Lu Family whatsoever.

Even though Lu Haoran always acted suave and sophisticated, she couldn’t muster the slightest bit of goodwill toward him.

”I have something to discuss with you. I was wondering if you have the time?” Lu Haoran seemed oblivious to Chen Xing’s coldness, not feeling the least bit awkward.

”What is it?”

”It’s not convenient to talk here. How about we go to the reception hall over there?” After asking, he made an inviting gesture.

「A moment later, the two were in the Four Great Families’ reception hall.」

Lu Haoran solicitously poured tea and served some snacks before sitting down.

Chen Xing looked up at him.

”After our hasty parting in Baling last time, I thought we’d never have the chance to meet again.” Lu Haoran looked up at her, a hint of shyness in his expression.

Chen Xing’s brow twitched slightly.

’Where is this shyness of his coming from?’

”If you have something to say, just say it!” She bluntly ignored his inexplicable behavior.

Lu Haoran: ”...”

”Alright then, I’ll be direct!” Lu Haoran gave an awkward smile. ”I came to warn you that you shouldn’t have come to the Capital City!”

Chen Xing just assumed this was the Lu Family’s way of saying she wasn’t welcome.

”Although the Situ family is done for, they still have many partisans. Ever since Situ Lei Hao and Situ Yuanyuan died, they’ve sent out a lot of people who are determined to kill you! I heard that among this group, there’s even a First Tier Superpower Upgrader.”

’So... you came to warn me out of the kindness of your heart?’

Chen Xing couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, then immediately straightened her face. ”Thanks for the warning!” With that, she stood up to leave.

’If she believed he was warning her out of goodwill, she’d be a complete idiot!’

’Someone from the Lu Family, capable of doing such a good deed?’

She had just taken a single step when Lu Haoran reached out and grabbed her arm. ”Wait...”

Chen Xing’s gaze lowered to his hand.

As if electrocuted, Lu Haoran snatched his hand back, then said awkwardly, ”Believe me... this group of advanced Superpower Users is no joke. You’ve heard of Yan Junxi, Yan the Superstar, right? He disappeared a few days ago. It was probably the work of those people from the Situ family too!”

”It’s too unsafe for you to stay with the Cao Family. Why don’t you... come stay at my Lu Family’s place for a couple of days?”

’Now that was just bizarre!’

Chen Xing looked at him, and he looked back at her.

Just as they were looking at each other, a sudden force came from behind, instantly lifting her off her feet.