Apocalyptic Flood: Sexy Beauty Neighbor's Midnight Plea for Food Chapter 1108 - 453: Li Hanzhong and Shen Yunxi

Yangshan Complex, ground floor, bustling Food Street. Within Gao Bai Zhuang’s sweet shop, Li Hanzhong stared with palpable excitement at the two women standing before him. His vision blurred with moisture as his eyes turned crimson, and he whispered, "Yunxi, never did I dream of crossing paths with you here." Shen Yunxi’s own eyes mirrored his emotion, her voice trembling as she replied, "Uncle Li, I am just as shocked."

"How are your parents faring?" Li Hanzhong inquired after a moment of hesitation. A shadow of sorrow crossed Shen Yunxi’s features as she shook her head slowly. "I wasn’t home when the massive flood struck. Maintaining contact with Mom and Dad was possible for a time, but once the signal died, I lost all connection..." Her voice broke, and tears began to track down her face. Lin Ya quickly reached out, offering a tissue to comfort her.

The bond between Shen Yunxi and Li Hanzhong went far deeper than simply having attended the same university or worked on a shared project. In truth, it was largely through Li Hanzhong’s influence that Shen Yunxi had secured her professor position at the School of Shipbuilding. Li Hanzhong had been a long-time, intimate friend of her father, and his wife, Shen Hongmei, shared a familial connection with the young woman. For all intents and purposes, he was an elder in her life. During various holidays, she had been a frequent visitor to their home.

Nevertheless, given she was meeting Liang Yuan for the first time—and unsure of what opinion he held of Li Hanzhong—she had intentionally concealed the intimacy of their relationship. Maintaining the facade of being mere colleagues was the safest route; should Liang Yuan harbor any bitterness toward the man, declaring a close bond could have invited unnecessary conflict. It was a testament to Shen Yunxi’s sharp intellect and inherent caution. Having grown to understand the dynamics of Yangshan, she had finally gathered the courage to seek Li Hanzhong out.

As Li Hanzhong questioned her struggles, Shen Yunxi detailed the harrowing journey she had taken, from her period of disguise to rising as the captain of the Queen. As she recounted her hardships, her resolve crumbled, and the frustration she had long suppressed burst forth like a rushing river. Li Hanzhong, his heart heavy with sympathy, shared a look with Lin Ya and sought to console her. "Where are you staying now? Come dine with us this evening—Aunt Shen will be overjoyed to hear you have survived."

Shen Yunxi’s face lit up with surprise and relief. "Aunt Shen is here in Yangshan, too? Are you both safe?" Li Hanzhong nodded warmly, stating, "Indeed. We owe our lives to Mr. Liang; without him, Aunt Shen would never have made it." Shen Yunxi asked with curiosity, "Is he truly the virtuous man you claim, that Mr. Liang?" Li Hanzhong’s expression grew grave as he corrected her, "Yunxi, Mr. Liang is an exceptional leader—a man who balances the upright with the unconventional, strength with humility. Has there been some misunderstanding between you?"

Shen Yunxi hesitated, her own negative encounter with Liang Yuan still vivid in her mind. Yet, she trusted Li Hanzhong’s judgment deeply. Observing the genuine contentment on the faces of the Yangshan settlers, it was clear that those residing here were hardly being oppressed. Could he truly be a benefactor? As she drifted into thought, Lin Ya broke the silence: "Professor Li, we are currently stationed at the Meishan Military Base, required to work daily and return each evening." Shen Yunxi realized this was true, adding, "That is correct; the instructors require a full month of service from us."

Professor Li nodded in understanding. "That is the standard protocol for Yangshan. Join us for lunch tomorrow instead, both of you." Shen Yunxi ventured, "Uncle Li, is there any way you might ask Mr. Liang to overlook our service commitment?" Li Hanzhong gave a firm shake of his head. "My influence does not extend that far. While Mr. Liang appears approachable, he is a man of unshakable principle. The regulations of Yangshan are his design, and they are absolute. Furthermore, this month of service is actually to your benefit."

Confused, Shen Yunxi asked, "Benefits? What kind, exactly?" Li Hanzhong chuckled. "It is a period to acclimate you to the community and help you build connections. Do not underestimate it; those working alongside you now may well become your closest allies in this place. Plus, the points you earn are essential for your continued survival here. Ultimately, Yangshan assesses your character and capability through this service to determine your future contributions. Everyone in this place has a role to play."

Shen Yunxi and Lin Ya exchanged a glance, suddenly aware of the hidden depth behind the service period. Li Hanzhong inquired, "Where are you both stationed?" Shen Yunxi answered, "I don't have a specific role; I assist the agriculture department with planting and harvesting." Lin Ya added, "I am with the construction department handling infrastructure, though the Weapon Factory occasionally recruits me for assembly tasks." Li Hanzhong raised an eyebrow at Lin Ya. "May I ask, what is your specific ability?"

"What is wrong, Uncle Li?" Shen Yunxi inquired nervously. Li Hanzhong explained, "Those departments are high-priority, and they rarely scout outsiders so quickly." Lin Ya clarified, "My ability is [Solid], which allows me to reinforce the durability of any structure." Understanding dawned on Li Hanzhong; such a gift was immensely valuable in both engineering and munitions. He smiled, "It seems both Old Ma and Old Ren are eager to keep you in their fold. Your potential is quite remarkable."

Shen Yunxi expressed her admiration, leading Lin Ya to mention her professional background in design, though noting that current necessities favored sturdiness over aesthetics. Shen Yunxi suggested, "Perhaps you could design weapon aesthetics, then? Wouldn't that be incredible?" Lin Ya paused, the possibility dawning on her. Li Hanzhong let the thought linger, turning his attention to Shen Yunxi. "And you, Yunxi? What is your specialty?"

"I am a Spirit Ability User," she replied, "with an ability called Spiritual Barrier, capable of blocking mental influence." Li Hanzhong’s smile widened. "Marvelous! Your mental acuity is exactly what we need. When your service concludes, join us at the Research Department. Your background as a professor fits perfectly with the tasks Mr. Liang has set for us." Shen Yunxi was stunned by the proposal, given the department’s renowned secrecy. Li Hanzhong assured her, "With my recommendation, there should be no issue." Shen Yunxi was overcome with gratitude, thanking him repeatedly as the group shared a warm, laughter-filled reunion.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the Research Department’s restricted chamber, Liang Yuan surveyed a collection of at least a hundred Rune Bones. Many had been gathered from butchered mutant beasts in the slaughterhouse. While the majority were mere White Quality bones, he focused his attention on the Green Quality specimens. Using [Spiritual Ability Assessment], he quickly scanned the bones for latent Causal Skills. His search was methodical, and soon, a glimmer of satisfaction lightened his face. "There is something here after all."