Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

The two remained polite for a long time.

"Old woman, hurry up and cook! It's Xiao Lin's first time back, so we have to make a proper meal!" Liang's father snapped out of his reverie, his face beaming with hospitality—it was his son-in-law's first visit, and as the head of the family, he had to make a good impression.

Mother Liang, however, looked worried: "...What should we do now? The water is almost gone."

The tap water is contaminated and smells of blood, so I dare not use it anymore; the remaining purified water at home is too precious to drink, let alone have enough for cooking.

"This..." Liang's father choked for a moment, his previous imposing manner instantly deflated, and he could only awkwardly rub his rough palms and mumble a vague sound in his throat.

"Auntie, I have water." Lin Chen smiled when he saw this, and with a thought, two brand-new bottles of mineral water were quietly placed on the living room floor.

Mother Liang's eyelids twitched, and she was secretly surprised: This child is not simple. Where did this water come from?

Liang's father's pupils contracted slightly, a thoughtful and solemn look flashing across his eyes. He seemed to have thought of something, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything in the end. Instead, his gaze on Lin Chen deepened.

Liang Siqi wasn't surprised at all; she had already witnessed Lin Chen's abilities. So, she grinned, picked up a bucket of water, and, linking her arm with her mother's, led her to the kitchen: "Mom, don't just stand there, let's cook!"

What she didn't know was that the elderly couple already had a heavy burden weighing on their hearts.

They were old and had given up hope of surviving the apocalypse. They had gritted their teeth and persevered until now, their only wish being to see their daughter one more time.

Now, not only has their daughter returned unharmed, but she is also accompanied by a steady and reliable young man, and they can even sit together and have a hot meal—for them, this is God's final mercy.

Before the meal, Liang's father called Lin Chen to sit down next to the old sofa, his expression unusually serious.

"Xiaolin, you and Siqi aren't really boyfriend and girlfriend, are you?" the old man asked bluntly.

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback, not expecting the other party to be so perceptive. He calmly met the other party's gaze and waited for what was to come.

"Siqi can't keep things to herself. If she really had a boyfriend, she would have told us loudly long ago, instead of waiting until now to bring him home." Mr. Liang's tone was gentle, but every word was clear. "But you managed to bring her back safely from that chaotic place at the port, you must be very capable. I will remember this favor."

He paused, fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes, and lowered his voice: "She didn't deny the 'boyfriend' thing just now, and her eyes lit up when she looked at you. That means she accepts you. I don't think you're a completely innocent person, but your eyes don't suggest you're evil either, and you act with method. With Siqi with you, we... feel at ease."

At this point, he reached out and gently patted Lin Chen's hand: "After this meal, take her away. Find a safer place and don't worry about the two old folks."

"Uncle, I'm capable enough to protect everyone, and supplies aren't a problem. Why do you insist we leave?" Lin Chen asked, puzzled.

Mr. Liang gave a bitter smile, a smile tinged with weariness and clarity: "Your aunt and I are practically half-buried in the ground. In this world, living is just a burden. Even if you can find food and drink, when will this apocalypse end? We don't want to become the stones that bind you."

He remained silent for a moment. This professor, who had spent half his life teaching, now seemed so powerless—his vast knowledge could not save the collapsing world, nor protect those he wanted to protect. He could no longer comprehend this sudden, barbaric era.

Looking into the deep grayness in the old man's eyes, Lin Chen, whose heart had been hardened by five years of hardship in the apocalypse, was actually touched. He said solemnly, "Uncle, I don't know when the apocalypse will end. But as long as I'm here, I won't abandon any of you."

Upon hearing this, Liang's father's eyes suddenly reddened.

A young man who can unhesitatingly accept the "burden" of old age in a post-apocalyptic world—that character and sense of responsibility speak louder than a thousand words. The last lingering worry in his heart about his daughter's future finally settled down.

The two chatted for a long time. When Lin Chen mentioned that he was stockpiling supplies, gathering manpower, and planning to establish a famous order based on zombie crystal cores, Liang's father nodded frequently, his eyes flashing with approval—this "son-in-law" was ambitious and had a broad vision.

Lin Chen gradually discovered that this professor, who came from a science and engineering background, had an astonishingly deep accumulation of knowledge in history, society, and even the humanities. He quoted extensively from classical texts and had a unique perspective, which was far beyond that of ordinary scholars.

Suddenly, Liang's father's expression turned serious, and he asked, "Xiao Lin, have you ever thought about how civilization will continue?"

Lin Chen was taken aback: "I am indeed trying my best to save the survivors..." As for the point about "prioritizing the rescue of women", he wisely swallowed it back.

"I just heard you say that you collect supplies but never books, is that right?" Liang's father asked, his eyes piercing.

"Yes." Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely grasped something.

Seeing his expression, Liang's father knew he had grasped the point and said earnestly, "Human civilization over thousands of years has relied not only on the propagation of bloodlines, but also on the transmission of ideas, history, and skills. Books are the shell of these. Nowadays, electricity can be cut off at any time, and electronic data can be destroyed overnight. Only words printed on paper are the most reliable source of inspiration."

"I understand." Lin Chen nodded solemnly. He suddenly realized that although he possessed a system, space, and power, his vision was still narrow in the face of the long river of civilization.

He immediately decided: after settling in here, he would immediately plunder the university town's library!

"The National Sun Yat-sen University has the most complete collection, especially ancient books and scientific documents, which are very well preserved," Mr. Liang added, his tone carrying the unique appreciation of a scholar.

"Thank you, Uncle." Lin Chen said solemnly.

At that moment, he not only gained the approval of his father-in-law, but also the guidance of a wise man.

In the apocalypse, survival is the only rule, but if we forget why we live, even if we survive, we are no different from the zombies wandering outside.

"What are you chatting about? Dinner's ready!" Liang's mother's call came from the kitchen, carrying the warm scent of cooking.

The four sat around the table. Liang Siqi even brought out a bottle of her treasured red wine. The candlelight flickered, and the aroma of food filled the air—this brief but precious warmth in the midst of the apocalypse seemed to shut out all the gloom.

The meal was eaten slowly, lasting more than an hour. Laughter, reminiscence, and mundane everyday conversations were like the last embers of a fire, weak yet stubbornly resisting the howling and despair outside the window.

The sky had fully brightened. The blood-red rain gradually subsided, leaving only the occasional lingering sound of dripping water from the eaves.

After dinner, Lin Chen went to the balcony alone. Liang Siqi followed silently. In the distance, zombies still roamed the streets, emitting tireless low howls.

"What's wrong?" Liang Siqi asked, noticing Lin Chen's unusual expression.

"The blood rain is about to stop," Lin Chen murmured, his face expressionless.