Chapter 1 Assembling the Team

Nearly two months was enough time for Mu Chen to assemble a team of Espers.

As early as half a month ago, Mu Chen had already withdrawn from the rescue team and formed a team of nine Espers, including the ordinary people they were carrying.

These nine people included the Zhen brothers with their two children, Lu Xiaoyao and Bai Xiao, Mu Chen, and the Wang Wenfei sisters.

Now, with Mingmei, there were a total of ten people, just reaching the upper limit of the team size required by the authorities.

Mingmei and Mu Chen chose their team's residential address on the border between the inner and outer city. There were many small courtyards there, all designed for Esper teams.

On the way back with Lu Xiaoyao, Mingmei heard her chattering non-stop the entire way.

"I'm curious, your brother also formed an Esper team, why didn't you join him?"

After being rescued by Mu Chen, Lu Gui and the others had no intention of accepting the government's recruitment. They quickly gathered a team of Espers in the shortest possible time.

After that, they only accepted reward missions that they liked. Otherwise, don't even think about ordering him around. He acted like, "Our relationship is purely monetary, don't bother me," and his alienated attitude towards the authorities was very obvious.

Mingmei and Mu Chen only realized after contacting them that the higher-ups didn't seem like a reliable force, so they chose to leave. Lu Gui making such a choice from the beginning was admirable.

Among them, Qi Hai Kui and Li Yuan, who first met Lu Gui, naturally went with him.

The fact that Lu Gui was comparable to a walking zombie meat grinder in the wild gave the two of them unparalleled sense of security.

Although their first encounter with the search and rescue team had some misunderstandings, in fact, when the three of them were on the road, Lu Gui was definitely the first to charge forward. It was just that they were fooling around during a temporary rest that day, and unexpectedly, someone saw them.

And Hu Yue immediately joined Lu Gui's team as soon as she heard that Li Yuan had joined.

When recruiting people to form a team, Qi Hai Kui also helped Lu Gui recruit two students from the Federation. Eventually, their team even recruited several powerful NPCs.

"My brother said I wasn't suitable..." Lu Xiaoyao recalled her concern for her brother, but, "He actually thought I was stupid! I didn't even dislike him!"

"He doesn't have anything to dislike, does he?" Bai Xiao glanced at Lu Xiaoyao, "Your brother, at least in everyone's eyes, should be a qualified successor, even though he only showed up recently..."

Bai Xiao recalled her family's affirmation of the suddenly emerging heir of the Lu family, and she glanced at Lu Xiaoyao again, secretly thinking that it was no wonder the Lu family dared to raise Lu Xiaoyao like this all these years.

Lovable and brainless~

"Dear brother~" Mingmei nodded slightly in agreement. Only a real brother would be so honest.

She didn't need to say the second half of the sentence; she just exchanged a knowing look with Bai Xiao.

Mingmei: Get it?

Bai Xiao: Got it.

Having suffered from Lu Xiaoyao's tricks, those who understand, understand _(：3」∠)_.

Only Lu Xiaoyao was confused.

Did she miss several episodes?

"Oh, we're home~"

Not giving Lu Xiaoyao a chance to open her mouth and get to the bottom of what they were talking about, Bai Xiao quickly shifted her attention, pointing to the closed courtyard not far away, and excitedly shouted that they had arrived.

For some reason, just as Mingmei looked over, Mu Chen happened to open the door from the inside. When he looked up and saw Mingmei, Mu Chen immediately raised a warm smile. The moment their eyes met, there was no one else in their eyes.

Lu Xiaoyao and Bai Xiao smacked their lips in disapproval.

"Ooh~~~"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk~"

This was too much to ship!

Although these two hadn't kissed, hugged, or lifted each other high, and were even quite far apart, their gazes seemed to last for an eternity.

"They're so far apart, how can they still be drawing silk?"

Without realizing it, Lu Xiaoyao blurted out what she was thinking.

Mingmei: "..."

Silently, Mingmei put away the gentle smile on her face and glared at the innocent Mu Chen!

Mingmei: Beauty misled me!

Mu Chen: ???

"Let's go in first, it's still hot outside..."

Ruined by Lu Xiaoyao, Mu Chen had no choice but to open the door and let the three of them into the courtyard. Lu Xiaoyao, who came in last, only felt a chill down her spine.

Lu Xiaoyao: ???

…

A small courtyard was surrounded by houses on all sides. Mingmei's room was in the main house, facing south. Just standing in the courtyard and looking inside through the window, one could feel the taste of sunshine~

The wooden furniture inside was fresh and clean, and it was clear that it had been specially decorated.

Only Mingmei lived there, and she felt a little embarrassed: "I'm really troubling everyone."

Seeing Mingmei's apologetic expression, Lu Xiaoyao also hoped that Mingmei wouldn't feel burdened, so she said, "Oh, don't say that. This room isn't as good as you think."

Mingmei: 0.0?

Mu Chen, who had personally selected and furnished the room:?

"This room is small to begin with, and it's crowded with many people, so it can only accommodate one person at most. Moreover, this south-facing window is very sunny, and there's no shade from the trees around your window when it's hot, so it's going to be scorching. Don't feel pressured to live here~"

Everyone fell silent after hearing what Lu Xiaoyao said. At the same time, they secretly peeked at Mu Chen, who was standing there expressionlessly.

After Lu Xiaoyao finished speaking, she saw that everyone was silent. She also saw that Zhen Hu, who was still coaxing the children just now, turned his back and said that he was going to take the two babies back for an afternoon nap.

Children can't learn some things~

"So... my room is so bad?"

Mingmei understood Lu Xiaoyao's intention immediately, but her words were too speechless. She didn't realize what she had just said when everyone was looking at her like that.

She had to point it out.

So, just now, Lu Xiaoyao was still complacent about persuading Mingmei to accept such a good room without feeling guilty, but the result...?

Huh? Is this house terrible?

This was personally arranged by the boss, how could it be?!

Lu Xiaoyao, who had first denied Mingmei's statement in her heart, realized it in the next moment.

Wasn't she the one who said the house wasn't good just now?

Soon, Mingmei saw Lu Xiaoyao's neck slowly turn to Mu Chen, whose smile had disappeared and seemed to have countless black auras rising from his back, like a rusty machine. Lu Xiaoyao gave Mu Chen two dry he he laughs.

Mingmei: "..."

Mu Chen: "..."

Mingmei looked at Lu Xiaoyao's tearful expression and finally opened her mouth to save the awkward atmosphere in front of her. She quickly said, "Alright, alright, it's almost noon, it's time for lunch later. What are you all doing standing in the courtyard? Get busy, get busy~"

Saying that, she wanted to send everyone away, and Lu Xiaoyao took the opportunity to run out directly.

It was too socially awkward, she needed to go next door to find her brother for comfort~

Seeing that everyone had dispersed, Mingmei also walked into the room and planned to take out the packed luggage and put it in the room's closet.

Mu Chen naturally didn't leave. Lu Xiaoyao said everything that should and shouldn't have been said. Mu Chen followed Mingmei pitifully, and finally stopped at the door of her room. Without Mingmei's permission, he would not enter her room at will.

So, Mingmei was folding her clothes halfway through when she couldn't stand the burning gaze behind her and turned her head to look at Mu Chen, gesturing with her eyes, "Something wrong?"

"I plan to find someone to transplant a grape trellis near your window, so it won't be so sunny in the future... It's just that many plants have mutated a bit, and I'm still going through the procedures..."

In the background of this game, zombies are no longer limited to people; animals may also become zombies, and so are plants.

Similarly, just like humans can become Espers, plants and animals naturally mutate in order to survive. Therefore, the entire base has a clear order: except for the designated planting areas, no one is allowed to plant plants privately, unless they are wood-type Espers who can handle them with their abilities and accept registration.

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"

Mingmei smiled and accepted Mu Chen's kindness, but their team was not very popular with the higher-ups in the first place. This repeated flaunting of their abilities might not cause them to suffer at the hands of zombies, but they might be backstabbed by the base.

"It's okay if it's not convenient. Anyway, the weather will turn cold soon, and it'll be better to have the sun then~"

In response, Mu Chen shook his head, revealing a mysterious smile, and said, "We have someone above us."