Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 361: Chapter 351: So That’s How It Is

Under Qi Jiaming’s pressing questions, Mr. Qi told his son about what their family had gone through since the apocalypse began.

It turned out that although Qi Jiaming’s family was in the food production business, and logically should have had no shortage of food in their warehouse or at home...

...when the apocalypse arrived, the entire social order collapsed in an instant. The Qi Family’s warehouse was plundered by the very employees hired to guard it.

The government mobilized the military’s Strength, but could only maintain basic order at the very beginning. Soon, as food shortages grew, riots became more and more frequent, and no one could stop the masses who were simply fighting to survive.

The food in the Qi Family’s warehouse had a new owner. Of the little food they had left, a good portion was sent to their son at the beginning, and another part was used to feed that Meat Dragon, leaving not even enough for their own family to eat.

George Lin and Qi Jiaming’s father were childhood friends, as well as business partners. The Qiao Family’s ordeal was no better than the Qi Family’s—in fact, it was worse.

As ill luck would have it, at this critical juncture, George Lin’s wife had a flare-up of a chronic illness. Her body was already frail, and the ordeal of the apocalypse left her barely clinging to life.

In the current situation, just filling one’s stomach was difficult; seeking medical treatment had become an extravagant hope. Despite trying every method he could think of, George Lin couldn’t cure his wife.

After learning that her daughter was trapped deep in the mountains, Mrs. Qiao was so worried she couldn’t even sleep.

The couple, worried sick about their child, went so far as to use their last resort when they were already at a dead end: they found a way to throw all their remaining food into the deep mountains, all for a slim chance at Qiao Jin’s survival.

With no food left at home, they would starve to death if they didn’t go out to find more. George Lin had no choice but to take his wife with him to search for food.

He hadn’t originally planned to bring his wife, but ever since discovering a red-eyed Meat Dragon on the third-floor staircase of their house, he couldn’t rest easy leaving his weak wife at home alone.

Fortunately, although Mrs. Qiao’s body was as frail as withered wood, she wasn’t completely bedridden. She could still manage short periods of activity without issue and was willing to stay by her husband’s side.

And so, while searching for food, they ran into Qi Jiaming’s father. The two families discussed it and decided to simply move in together.

The villa area was spacious, and in this apocalypse, its geographical location was clearly more advantageous.

And besides Qi Jiaming’s father and Qiao Jin’s father being childhood friends, their mothers were also bosom buddies before they married, so their bond was naturally exceptional.

If not for Qiao Jin’s personality, given the relationship between their parents, they might have even arranged a marriage long ago.

She wouldn’t be in a situation like now, not even acquainted with Qi Jiaming and without a single friend.

And so, George Lin and his wife moved into Qi Jiaming’s home.

The Qi Family was also completely out of resources at this point, with no extra food to spare. So there was no question of one family taking advantage of the other; the two families simply relied on each other to survive.

Luckily, after the apocalypse began, George Lin’s running speed had become exceptionally fast. When searching for food, he could always quickly shake off the terrifying monsters and turn danger into safety. The food he found allowed the four of them to temporarily maintain their Life.

’So my parents had been living such a hard life while I was away.’ Qi Jiaming’s eyes reddened with heartache as he looked at his father, who no longer had his formerly tall and imposing presence. His mother, too, had taken off the jewelry she never used to part with, looking frail and plain.

’This damn apocalypse.’

"Jia Ming, you should be in the same class as Qiao Jin, right? Since you’re back home, how is Qiao Jin doing?"

After they had said most of what needed to be said, Qi Jiaming’s father asked about Qiao Jin.

"Qiao Jin? Dad, you know Qiao Jin?"

Qi Jiaming was a little surprised to suddenly hear her name. He had been classmates with Qiao Jin for over two years, and her family was ordinary. ’How would my dad know Qiao Jin and even ask about her?’

"Qiao Jin is your Uncle Qiao’s daughter. She had a bit of an accident when she was little and is shy around strangers, which is why we never introduced you two, even though our families are so close."

His daughter had an introverted personality and was not used to interacting with outsiders. George Lin and his wife had never forced Qiao Jin to do anything she didn’t want to. They shielded her from everything they could, creating a small world that belonged only to her.

"Uncle Qiao, Qiao Jin is your daughter?!"

Qi Jiaming was startled. He never would have imagined that his classmate of two years was actually Uncle Qiao’s daughter.

Although his father had just spoken cryptically, the ever-perceptive Qi Jiaming understood the implication. The Qiao Family’s status was definitely higher than his own. While the Qi Family was said to be cooperating with the Qiao Family in business, it was the Qiao Family that led the way.

’Qiao Jin was actually born into a family like that? But why did she never say anything?’

Thinking of Boss Qiao’s strange personality, Qi Jiaming understood.

’No wonder she has a personality like that. I always felt an ordinary family couldn’t raise a daughter like her.’

’But Dad said Qiao Jin had a bit of an accident when she was little...’

’What kind of accident was it?’ Qi Jiaming couldn’t help but be curious, but it was obviously not the right time to ask.

Because Uncle Qiao was staring at him intently, his face full of hope.

"Xiao Jin... is she alright?"

At his age, George Lin was not an inconsiderate man. Qi Jiaming had just had a difficult journey home, and the only reason George Lin was still sitting here, being a third wheel, was because he knew Qi Jiaming and Qiao Jin were classmates.

As a father, he was just too desperate to know any information about his daughter, even if it meant sacrificing his own decorum.

"Uncle Qiao, don’t worry. Boss Qiao—oh, Qiao Jin—she’s doing great. We received the food you sent later. Thanks to your food and the letter, we were able to persevere and make it out of the mountains alive. That’s how I was able to get home."

Qi Jiaming was able to return home entirely because of Qiao Jin, so he naturally felt a sense of gratitude toward her father.

’As for Qiao Jin’s safety...’

’To put it bluntly, even if I died, Boss Qiao would survive just fine. She’s not even human; she’s a being more terrifying than the monsters. She doesn’t need anyone to worry about her at all, okay?’

However, Qi Jiaming could only roast her silently in his heart; there was no way he could ever say these things out loud.

"Then where is Xiao Jin now?"

George Lin’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing that his daughter had also made it out safely.

But he immediately thought of all the monsters in the outside world. ’Xiao Jin is just a girl without the strength to even tie up a chicken, how can she protect herself?’ His heart immediately filled with worry again.

"She was with me right at the front door just now. She refused to come in no matter what I said. She’s probably on her way home now."

Qi Jiaming was filled with regret. ’Why didn’t I insist a little more and have Qiao Jin come in for a bit?’

’If he had just insisted a little more, Qiao Jin could be reuniting with her parents right now.’

But the world is unpredictable, and its myriad causes and effects are beyond one’s control. There are no "what ifs" in life.