"An'an, what are you doing with the kerosene lamp?"
Xu An paused, "It's a bit complicated to explain, just wait."
The kerosene lamp she carried had glass on all four sides and a kerosene wick in the middle for illumination.
All of these could be removed.
Xu An didn't say what she was going to do, but Qin Chuan seemed to have figured it out.
He was about to say something, but remembering his voice, he stopped.
Anyway, Xu An should be able to handle it herself, and he didn't need to be nosy.
As expected, Xu An called Zhou Haimei and they went outside to find some dry twigs about the length of a thumb. Then Xu An took some gasoline from the car.
After disassembling the kerosene lamp, it surprisingly turned into a small portable heater.
Xu An lit the wood and gasoline.
The weak flame instantly grew strong, shining brightly in the cold wooden cabin.
Instantly, a warmth enveloped everyone.
"Now I can eat with peace of mind."
Xu An took out a clean, unused bowl and served Qin Chuan a bowl of porridge.
"You're injured, so you can't eat seafood. Have some porridge instead."
She handed the porridge to Qin Chuan, who didn't say anything, but silently took the bowl, nodded, and expressed his gratitude.
Actually, Xu An was overthinking.
He hadn't eaten a normal meal since coming down from the lighthouse.
Qin Chuan was even worse off than Zhou Haimei; at least Zhou Haimei had the sense to carry some nutrient solution.
He, on the other hand, had actually packed a backpack full of compressed biscuits and weapons.
For Qin Chuan, food didn't seem to make much difference; as long as it kept him alive, it was fine.
However, this mindset completely changed after being washed ashore on the island.
For several consecutive days, he hadn't had a hot meal, and there were countless monsters lurking outside.
Under the dual pressure of internal and external threats, Qin Chuan felt a sense of fatigue for the first time.
So Xu An didn't know that the ordinary bowl of hot porridge in her hands
was actually Qin Chuan's most cherished desire, the one he dreamt of.
Thinking of this, Qin Chuan thought of the survivors on the island.
He looked at Xu An, picked up the bowl, but didn't eat. It was as if mist had entered his eyes, making them slightly moist.
Xu An didn't notice Qin Chuan's actions. She just served another bowl of porridge to Zhou Haimei, and then to herself.
Exactly three bowls, no more, no less.
Just as she was about to eat, Xu An noticed Qin Chuan's peculiarity. He kept looking down at the porridge in front of him but still didn't eat.
Xu An thought, was Qin Chuan being picky?
That shouldn't be the case!
Back in the desert, she had personally seen Qin Chuan eat desert rats and snakes.
How could he now find human food unappetizing?
While she was wondering, she saw Qin Chuan pick up the bowl and slowly begin to eat.
As if guided by inspiration, Xu An looked at Qin Chuan and suddenly remembered something.
"Do you have other survivors?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu An saw Qin Chuan's mood seem to become even lower.
He nodded gently.
Looking at Qin Chuan's actions, Xu An understood his current behavior.
Because his teammates were in trouble, but he was rescued, was Qin Chuan blaming himself?
When did he become a living Bodhisattva?
Xu An hadn't forgotten how Qin Chuan had abandoned Hawoer in the desert without looking back, his expression so indifferent.
Compared to the taciturn Qin Chuan now, he was like a completely different person.
Thinking of that person, Xu An's heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, the dense pain seeking an outlet.
Her gaze towards Qin Chuan became increasingly unfriendly.
This was Xu An overthinking. Qin Chuan was worried, but not about the lives of those teammates, but about whether the lighthouse could locate them.
After all, the team that descended this time
was almost considered abandoned by the lighthouse.
Even if they returned, it wouldn't end well.
After all, they had already been labeled as "spies" by the lighthouse.
Suspicion was the beginning of all misfortune.
Zhou Haimei, on the other hand, didn't notice the undercurrents between Xu An and Qin Chuan.
She was happily munching on a grilled fish.
"An'an, this fish is so delicious!"
"If you opened a restaurant before the apocalypse, it would be packed!"
While eating, she also kept showering them with praise.
"Eat up, you." Xu An replied with a smile, the hostility on her body gradually dissipating.
Thus, the three of them finished their meal, each with their own thoughts.
Xu An handed Qin Chuan another glass of water, the same antibiotics.
After taking the medicine this time, Qin Chuan's condition improved significantly.
His physical condition was already strong, and his injuries only looked terrifying on the surface.
In reality, Qin Chuan had protected himself very well and had not suffered any severe internal injuries.
The only fatal injury was the burns caused by the unknown liquid, which were toxic.
However, Xu An had injected him with an antidote, so there wasn't much of a problem.
After drinking the water, Qin Chuan looked up, his gloomy eyes scrutinizing Xu An, and then he spoke.
"Why did you save me?" As soon as he spoke, Qin Chuan realized his voice had improved considerably.
Although it was still hoarse and unpleasant, his throat no longer hurt.
His throat had been burned by inhaling the gas from the toxic liquid during the intense chase with the monster.
Before Xu An could speak, Zhou Haimei, who was beside them, walked over angrily.
"How can you talk like that? We saved you, and instead of thanking us, you question why we saved you! What would we want from you?"
"If we didn't save you, we'd just watch you die!"
"Do you know that to save you, An'an used her only antidote on you? Do you even know how expensive that stuff is!"
"..."
Zhou Haimei's tirade was unstoppable. Xu An couldn't stop her. She poured out everything, from their arrival on the island, their encounter with the villagers, to finding Qin Chuan on the beach.
Xu An looked at Zhou Haimei with an expression that seemed to say, "You're such an ungrateful little b*tch," and felt a bit speechless.
How could Zhou Haimei be like a sieve, leaking all her affairs?
She didn't use the antidote on Qin Chuan for free; Xu An wasn't stupid.
What she gave out, she would definitely get back.
But with Zhou Haimei saying it now, if she were to negotiate, it would make her seem calculating and like she was setting a trap for Qin Chuan.
Just as Xu An was feeling troubled.
Qin Chuan's voice slowly sounded, "I can compensate you. Either with trading currency or by doing things for you. As long as it doesn't violate my principles, I can agree to anything."
Zhou Haimei was still stunned, seemingly not understanding how her outburst was interrupted by Qin Chuan and turned into some kind of transaction.
She was about to say, "We didn't save you for money!"
But before the words could escape her lips, Xu An interrupted her.
As if afraid Qin Chuan would go back on his word, Xu An immediately stood up and walked in front of Qin Chuan.
"You said it yourself, don't go back on your word. Help me do three things!"
Zhou Haimei: "..."
Qin Chuan: "Okay."