Chapter 20: Two Solutions, Xiaoran Takes Action

"First, I can guarantee the removal of the zombie toxin from their bodies."

"I choose the first one!!" San’er cried out eagerly. Was there even a need to consider? Of course, he’d pick the first!

"But do you have one hundred thousand and five hundred crystal cores?" Qiao Jia looked at him calmly and asked.

"...No," San’er muttered, lowering his head in defeat. Forget a hundred thousand—he didn’t even have a thousand crystal cores to his name right now.

"Then let me finish," Qiao Jia continued. "The second method depends more on luck. I have a medical supply blind box here, and it only costs ten thousand and twenty crystal cores."

"If you get an antidote, that’s all you need."

Ten thousand and one hundred thousand—these were the activation fees for the two types of blind boxes. Qiao Jia didn’t have the points to activate them at the moment. Besides, neither of these blind boxes was on her priority list for activation.

"However, whether it’s ten thousand or a hundred thousand, consider it as you predepositing crystal cores with me," Qiao Jia said, her gaze fixed on the wounds of Xie Jinghan and his companion, not sparing a glance at San’er.

San’er seemed to realize something when he heard her words. The boss’s blind boxes seemed to increase bit by bit. He had no idea what her reasoning was, but his gaze at Qiao Jia was suddenly tinged with guilt.

They were being too much trouble for her. Neither of these blind boxes was on her list; it was their request that disrupted her plans. Who knew what other price she might have to pay?

Qiao Jia looked at San’er’s teary-eyed face in confusion. Why was his expression so strange? Forget it—she decided not to worry about him.

Yet the situation with Xie Jinghan gave Qiao Jia a reminder: the survivors in the small town were gradually getting weapons that matched the zombies’ strength, but injuries were inevitable. It was time to introduce medical blind boxes.

The hidden version of the first-level medical blind box could instantly heal wounds—a great boon for these main characters.

"Do you have ten thousand crystal cores?" Qiao Jia asked.

San’er was silent for a moment before he shook his head honestly.

"No problem. We’ll go out and slay zombies right now!" San’er and the two beside him, Si’er and Xiao Wu, grabbed their weapons, ready to rush outside. They truly trusted Qiao Jia, leaving Xie Jinghan and Fox Boy in her care.

"What happened?" Gu Xingye and Fu Beichuan returned from outside, reeking of blood. They were shocked to see Xie Jinghan and his companion gravely injured.

"They were wounded by zombies. They’re about to die," Qiao Jia replied bluntly.

"What?!" Gu Xingye was stunned. He hadn’t expected that, after just a day of acquaintance, Xie Jinghan and Qi Bai would be on the verge of death. As neighbors, Xie Jinghan and his group were from the more approachable Cining Palace. Just last night, they and Shen Tong had brought over many supplies suitable for pregnant women, especially for Su Xiaoran.

"There’s still hope!!" San’er hurried to explain, pitifully glancing at Qiao Jia. Boss, you’re too much—sob...

Qiao Jia raised a hand and made a gesture as if zipping her lips. She would say no more.

"Here’s how it is..." San’er explained the situation to Gu Xingye and Fu Beichuan, repeating the solutions Qiao Jia had just given him, including the details about the zombies.

Gu Xingye and Fu Beichuan exchanged glances and handed over all the crystal cores they’d collected that day.

"These are the crystal cores we gathered today. Take them and use them," they said. Their personalities were quite admirable—they understood the value of reciprocation. It made sense; neither was the domineering or cruel male lead who treated others’ lives as worthless. They were decent people.

"Then... I’ll accept them. Once our leader recovers, I’ll be sure to repay you," San’er hesitated but didn’t refuse. Saving their leader was the priority now.

"What’s going on?" Shen Tong’s puzzled voice called from behind. Why were so many people gathered here?

Everyone turned to see Shen Tong accompanied by more than a dozen survivors, among them the old, the weak, women, and children.

"It’s—"

"Here’s what happened..." San’er quickly explained before Qiao Jia could speak. If he let the boss talk, she’d declare their leader was dying again!

"Why aren’t you hurrying to carry them back?!" Shen Tong exclaimed, looking at Xie Jinghan and Qi Bai, who were barely supported by San’er and Si’er. Two severely wounded men!

Everyone snapped to attention, helping to carry Xie Jinghan and Qi Bai back to the apartment.

With the blind box vending machine now available, Qiao Jia and the system tagged along to watch the commotion. These main and supporting characters were coming back one after another, like the calabash brothers rescuing their grandfather. Would Fu Jingchuan and Su Qianqian be next? And those from the Shen family?

Was this the power of the protagonist’s halo?

Xie Jinghan and Qi Bai were settled on the living room sofa. Shen Tong swiftly organized everyone—some fetched water, others changed dressings—everything was carried out in an orderly fashion. Soon, the two, who’d looked so tragic moments ago, were cleaned up, dressed in fresh clothes, and their wounds properly bandaged with no more bleeding. Only the zombie toxin remained.

"How many crystal cores do you have now?" Shen Tong asked San’er, her brow furrowed.

"One hundred ninety-seven."

"Just now, Gu Xingye and Fu Beichuan gave me seven second-tier crystal cores. Including the first-tier ones and what we have left, we have a total of nine hundred forty-three," San’er replied honestly.

"Still a long way off," Shen Tong muttered as she paced the room. It was quite troublesome. There were only forty-eight hours, possibly less now.

"I have a bit over seven hundred crystal cores myself. All together, it’s less than two thousand."

"Xingye, Beichuan, what happened?" Hearing the commotion, Su Xiaoran came over, heavily pregnant.

"They got hurt?!" At a glance, Su Xiaoran saw the two lying pale and bloodless on the sofa. She covered her mouth, stepping back in shock. Just yesterday they’d greeted each other in good health—how had things changed so suddenly?

Qiao Jia glanced at the scene, then at the two on the sofa whose breathing was barely perceptible. It really did seem like everyone was here to bid them farewell.

If these two happened to become zombies or ghouls, she could share some experience about being a corpse. For instance, never eat the food meant for humans. She’d once given in to temptation and eaten some, and the system had to perform surgery on her in the middle of the night, removing a section of her intestines. How tragic.

"Boss, the leader and Second are still alive," San’er, noticing Qiao Jia’s look, hastily clarified again. "There’s still hope."

"Mhm." Qiao Jia nodded. She knew—they were the male lead and second male lead, after all.

Did the boss really understand? San’er had his doubts.

But now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

"Short on crystal cores?"

"I was just about to tell you. When I was feeding the kitten today, it brought me this—is it a crystal core?" Su Xiaoran lowered her head and pulled out a fist-sized crystal core from her dress pocket.

The system practically trembled with excitement.