A beautiful woman in the apocalypse is pregnant, and all the big shots are vying to be her father.

Chapter 184 Deterrence
"Xiao Jue, tell everyone to stop what they're doing and come inside quickly! Have a bowl of ginger soup to warm up, and I'll have someone bring these things over," Qiao Xi hurriedly instructed.

Xie Jue smiled at her, his voice unaffected by the cold, full of energy: "Sister, it's nothing, we'll just move in. We were lucky this time, we raided a mutated zombie's lair and got a lot! After we've finished counting, I'll give you the best batch of crystal cores!" His tone was filled with joy.

"Okay, let's come in first and talk."

The group walked inside.

It was only then that Shen Han noticed the massive crowd in the base's passageway, several times larger than when he left. He frowned, wondering, "Why are there so many more people all of a sudden?"

Josie took his arm and led him inside, explaining, "They're all survivors who couldn't make a living nearby. They heard it was safe here and came one after another for refuge. There are a lot of people, so it's a bit crowded."

She gently patted his arm to comfort him, "Don't worry, I have a plan. We'll temporarily settle them down and help them get through this harsh winter. Once the weather warms up, we'll immediately start construction to build a more robust outer security zone around the base. Then we can relocate them to live outside, which will provide labor and also create a buffer zone."

After they finished speaking, they had already walked through the crowded passageway.

"Xiao Jue, you should go back and wash up and rest first. I'll have someone bring the food to your room."

After everyone else responded with smiles, Qiao Xi pulled Shen Han away together.

On the way, they met Lin Wei. "Xiao Wei, Xiao Jue and the others have gone back to wash up. Tell the logistics department to prepare food and send it to them in a bit."

After Lin Wei responded, she immediately turned around and walked back.

Qiao Xi and Shen Han quickly returned to their residence.

The heavy metal door closed behind him, shutting out the noise from the base's passageway.

The room was well-heated, and the air was filled with Josie's faint, comforting fragrance.

Shen Han locked the door behind him, and almost simultaneously, he couldn't wait to pull Qiao Xi into his arms again.

It was much stronger than the restrained hug at the base entrance, as if trying to squeeze out all the longing from the past ten days of separation and let it seep into each other's very bones.

He still carried the chilling air, the smell of blood, and the dust he had brought back from outside. His chin rested against the top of her head as he greedily inhaled her warm and sweet fragrance.

Josie nestled obediently in his arms, raising her hand to hug his strong waist, feeling the powerful and rapid heartbeat in his chest.

"Xixi..." he called her softly, his voice unusually hoarse from the long journey and his current emotions.

But he restrained himself and only hugged her for a while before letting go: "You've gotten your clothes dirty, let me wash them."

He loosened his grip and took a half-step back.

He gave her a deep look, his eyes seemingly hooked, then turned and strode toward the makeshift shower stall in the corner of the room.

Soon, the sound of rushing water came from the shower room, and a layer of misty water vapor covered the frosted glass, blurring a strong and upright figure.

Josie sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for him quietly.

Suddenly, a series of urgent and slightly panicked knocks broke the atmosphere in the room, followed by the anxious voice of the young guard coming through the door: "Sister Xixi, are you in there? Something bad has happened! The new guys in the outer area are fighting with our old warehouse management team. They've grabbed weapons, and it looks like they're about to fight. Brother Zhao can't hold them off!"

Josie suddenly stood up.

Almost simultaneously, the sound of water in the shower stopped abruptly.

Shen Han, still damp from being wiped off and surrounded by a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, abruptly flung open the door.

He had only hastily wrapped a bath towel around his waist; his bare upper body was muscular and glistening with water droplets, with several new, faint scars running across it, adding to his wildness. His hair was wet and hung over his forehead, and the passion in his eyes had faded.

"Wait a minute, I'll go with you."

Josie turned to the messenger and said, "Got it! I'm coming right away!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at Shen Han, her tone decisive, "You just got back, rest first. I'll handle it."

She didn't even have time to glance at Shen Han, nor did she care about his reaction. She quickly walked to the door, deftly opened it, and went out.

The door closed again.

Shen Han was left standing alone, water droplets still clinging to his body, sliding down his taut muscles and dripping onto the cold ground.

He wiped the water droplets from his face, walked to the bedside, picked up the combat uniform that had been thrown on the floor, and quickly put it on.

Rest? All he wanted to do right now was get out of there and see which bastards were asking for trouble by bothering him and Xixi at this time.

Josie walked quickly, looking at the two groups of people facing off. She didn't shout at them, but stood on the high place with a cold face, her gaze sweeping over the troublemakers and the onlookers like an icicle.

Even though she didn't say anything, the noisy scene instantly quieted down because of her arrival.

"Are you done making a scene?"

When the two groups of troublemakers saw her, their arrogance vanished instantly, and they involuntarily lowered their heads.

"Not saying anything? That means you're not done making a scene!" Josie's gaze swept indifferently over the crowd in front of her. "Then pick up your tools and start hitting me. I'd better not stop until I tell you to."

After he finished speaking, no one dared to move.

Josie stopped talking, and the room, filled with dozens of people, was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long while, she spoke again.

The voice was clear and cold, carrying an unquestionable authority, echoing throughout the area: "I'm saying this for the last time! Here, you must abide by the rules! Safety and order are the bottom line! Anyone who dares to cause trouble or engage in private fights will be recorded! First offense: warning; second offense: severe punishment; three or more offenses..."

She paused deliberately, her icy gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Expel them, never to be accepted again! Anyone who wants to challenge the rules had better think twice. Once you leave here, can you find another place where you can survive the winter?"

The cold and realistic words, like icy snow water, extinguished all the restless flames.

People looked at each other, their eyes revealing fear and deliberation.

Yes, it may be crowded here, and you may have to work hard, but there are warm walls, food to fill your stomach, and a safe night.

Once you leave this place, all that's left is endless cold, hunger, and death.

No one wanted to give up this only Noah's Ark in the end times.

Seeing the crowd quickly calm down and even begin to maintain order on their own, Josie's expression relaxed slightly.

She knew that human nature was complex, especially under the pressure of the end times, and that good and evil were often separated by a single thought.

She cannot expect everyone to be a saint, but as long as her rules are strong enough and her deterrent effect is effective enough to make the vast majority of people choose to obey for their own benefit, then this base can continue to operate and become a source of hope for the survival of more people.

(End of this chapter)