Su Yun walked to Lin Chen's side, gently rested her head on his shoulder, and said softly, "Do you know? Chinese New Year is just two days away."

Lin Chen was taken aback, looking down at Su Yun in his arms: "Really? I forgot... Why didn't you tell me?"

He silently calculated that it was now the 133rd day of the apocalypse, and in two more days it would be New Year's Eve.

Su Yun didn't look up, but said softly, "I know you're under a lot of pressure, so I didn't dare tell you. Xiaoya said she'd tell you after they left."

To outsiders, Lin Chen always appears calm and composed.

Only his bedmates knew how taut the string in his heart was.

Su Yun and Li Ya had both seen him wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, covered in cold sweat, sitting in the dark panting for a long time.

Lin Chen didn't speak, his body stiffening slightly for a moment.

Strictly speaking, this is already his sixth year facing the apocalypse.

Chinese New Year? He had almost forgotten what that felt like.

Steaming dumplings, the noisy Spring Festival Gala, the crackling of firecrackers outside the window. Those memories seem like something from a past life, so blurred that only a faint shadow remains.

He reached out and pulled Su Yun into his arms, holding her tightly.

Su Yun leaned against his chest and whispered, "Don't blame yourself. This is the apocalypse, and there are still unknown enemies waiting for us. No one can afford to relax."

Lin Chen nodded. Yes, the people have already been sent out; there's no way to call them back.

He muttered, "Remember to tell me next time it's an important day like this."

Su Yun nodded gently in his arms.

Lin Chen rested his chin on Su Yun's head and said softly, "Let's give everyone a holiday on Spring Festival and give out another gift."

Su Yun snuggled closer to him, her voice muffled: "I've already made the arrangements."

Lin Chen didn't say anything more, but just hugged her even tighter.

--------------------

Suzhou, outside the city, at the highway exit from the direction of Shanghai.

After a three-hour drive, the convoy lined up and stopped at the ramp entrance.

During the journey, she had already parted ways with Qin Yi, who was going to Anhui Province, and Liu Feifei, who was going to Nanhe Province; their journeys were much longer.

The journey has been difficult; the highways are littered with wrecked vehicles, but there are relatively few zombies.

It's unclear whether it was killed by a survivor or a mutated beast.

Li Ya pushed open the car door and jumped out. A cold wind hit her face. She squinted and looked at the gray city outline in the distance.

Suzhou, once a city of gardens, is now frozen under a snowfield, so quiet it's unsettling.

Zhou Xiaomin and Ma Xiaoyan followed behind her, standing half a body length apart.

After a while, Zhou Xiaomin asked, "Xiaoya, what do we do next?"

Li Ya thought for a moment and said, "My husband said that the military has already contacted the military here. I want to go to the military to find out some information before deciding on the next step."

Ma Xiaoyan said, "I think it's a good idea. The military is usually local strongmen. With their support, our plan will definitely be fine."

Li Ya nodded: "That's right, to complete my husband's task, we need to unite more people."

The group got back into the car, the engines roared, and the convoy slowly drove into Suzhou along the snow-covered road.

Following the map, the group quickly found the location of the Suzhou military base.

The sentries outside the camp gate were taken aback when they saw the large convoy, and then stopped them.

Li Ya got out of the car and walked forward alone: ​​"We're here to discuss cooperation. Commander Zhao from Shanghai should have already given us his regards."

The sentry dared not delay and rushed in to report.

Less than five minutes later, the camp gates swung open, and a middle-aged officer with two bars and four stars on his shoulder insignia strode out to greet them, followed by a group of staff officers and guards.

"Which one of you is Comrade Li Ya?" The voice arrived before the person, carrying the crispness characteristic of a soldier.

Li Ya stepped forward: "That's me."

The officer grabbed her hand and shook it vigorously, his face beaming with joy: "We've been waiting for you! Commander Zhao's orders came down a long time ago; we've been looking forward to it day and night!"

Li Ya smiled slightly and exchanged a few polite words.

The officer hurriedly ushered her inside, introducing the situation in Suzhou as they walked: the distribution of zombies, survivor gathering points, supply reserves, and surrounding forces.

The information was extensive but well-organized, indicating that it was prepared in advance.

With the help of the local military, things went much more smoothly from there.

Li Ya did not rush to take action. Instead, she led a few key members to follow the officer on a tour to inspect the terrain and the distribution of zombies.

Suzhou is quieter than Shanghai, but quiet doesn't mean safe. Who knows how many zombies and mutated beasts are hiding in those ruins half-buried in snow.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll proceed in sections." Li Ya stood atop a tall building, overlooking the gray city. "The military will be responsible for perimeter security and personnel regrouping, while we'll be responsible for clearing the core area."

The officer nodded repeatedly, his smile deepening.

-----------

Qin Lu, who was in charge of Nanjiang Province, also led her team to Xingcheng at this time, but her operation did not go so smoothly.

According to the plan, she should first make contact with the local military to obtain intelligence and support.

However, when she and her group stood at the military base marked on the map, what greeted their eyes was an unfamiliar flag and heavily armed sentries. This place had been occupied by a social force called the "Iron Blood Alliance".

Qin Lu frowned, her gaze sweeping over the dilapidated fortifications.

The military's traces have been almost completely erased, replaced by a strong sense of banditry.

Xiao Yan, standing beside Qin Lu, looked at her with her mouth slightly agape, somewhat at a loss: "Sister Lu, what do we do?"

Ye Qingyu also stared at Qin Lu, waiting for her to make a decision.

After a long silence, Qin Lu slightly curled the corners of her lips, her smile carrying a hint of coldness: "Since the military is no longer here, let's change our tactics."

To complete Lin Chen's mission, their 2,500 men alone are not enough; they must mobilize local forces to help.

The military was originally their primary partner, but now that's gone...

Qin Lu pointed to the converted camp in the distance: "Subdue all these forces and make them work for us!"

Ye Qingyu opened her eyes wide, somewhat hesitantly: "What if... we can't subdue it?"

Qin Lu turned her head, looking at her calmly, but her tone was nonchalant: "Then beat her up. If she doesn't submit, then I'll have to kill her."

She patted Ye Qingyu on the shoulder and added, "Remember, this is the apocalypse, there aren't so many rules now. Might makes right. Our goal is to complete the task our boss assigned us."

Ye Qingyu and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. They knew that Qin Lu's methods were far more ruthless than Li Ya's and Liu Feifei's.

Qin Lu turned around and walked towards the camp. Her steps were neither fast nor slow, but she carried an aura that made people afraid to look directly at her.

Behind them, the girls of the Fourth Regiment silently dispersed, like a net slowly closing in, slowly enveloping the camp that was unaware of the impending disaster.

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