Chapter 14: The Energy Base

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Xiao Guang held a large instruction manual in his left hand, using the baseball bat in his right hand to push open the iron gate decorating the exterior of the small wooden cabin.

He had underestimated things—no matter how long he thought about it, he still couldn’t grasp just how wealthy the rich truly were.

It was like trying to figure out rich people’s lifestyles by imagining golden toilets; it reminded him of the old story about an emperor using a golden hoe. His perspective was simply too narrow.

Though called a small cabin, its actual size was not small at all—about two hundred square meters on one floor. The shiny objects on top, if Xiao Guang guessed correctly, were solar panels. Looking at the steel bars installed on the small wooden bed’s window, Xiao Guang pressed the switch by the door and cautiously stepped inside.

This was the energy hub of a wealthy person’s home. Above were solar panels; below were three full floors of batteries—not AA, AAA, or D cells, but those large suitcase-sized batteries.

Xiao Guang didn’t understand the difference but followed the stairs down to the basement. Comparing the instruction manual in his hand, he saw gasoline generators, diesel generators, ethanol could be used, natural gas too?

“For daily electricity, the solar panels are sufficient. Without sunlight, the batteries can last three months, and in power-saving mode, up to a year. There are three generators, and the box beside them holds accessories.”

Xiao Guang read through the manual, checking the basement’s equipment. Look at this—so to reduce noise, they placed everything underground.

“It can withstand a magnitude seven earthquake, ordinary intercontinental missiles… what does that mean?”

Xiao Guang glanced at the fine print on the manual. Would a serious homeowner really build a villa to such standards?

He looked up at the long lawn behind him and decided to put away the manual. He wandered around the energy base thoughtfully. Suddenly, a question struck him—there were more than just this one villa nearby; could it be that everyone was equipped like this?

He glanced back at the villa not far away. The energy base was about thirty meters from the villa, so if he planned to use this as a safe base, that whole area would have to be included.

Haste makes waste. In any case, there were few zombies outside, and they didn’t seem to have mutated badly. He’d better start by gathering some food. From the outside, the villa looked like a simple three-story small building, but in reality, it had three basement levels as well.

“Let me show you my plan for today: first, I’ll drive out to get some food, then rest well, and later walk out to get another car.”

He waved the paper in front of Bae Joo-hyun’s eyes. From the luggage he brought yesterday, he found several packs of instant noodles. Since there was electricity here, all electrically powered devices could work. The water purification system could finally let him safely make some soup instead of eyeballing water buckets like before.

“By the way, it’d be best to get a few extra-large water containers to store in the living room.”

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Xiao Guang wrote another note on a nearby piece of paper. Watching the water gradually boil, he threw in the instant noodles and then began to stare blankly.

When the aroma of the seasoning packet wafted through, Xiao Guang hastily used chopsticks to loosen the noodles, watching as each strand swelled. He quickly fetched not one, but two bowls.

“This flavor should be familiar—Nongshim’s spicy noodles, kimchi flavor. By the way, do you have a sense of smell?”

Xiao Guang lowered his head to look at Bae Joo-hyun, but she showed no reaction. He took her hand—it was very soft—and placed a pair of chopsticks in it. As expected, they dropped to the floor.

He tried a fork instead, with a clang, but the result was the same. Xiao Guang sighed.

He had at least shown off two and a half bags of instant noodles but had no more left to show. Looking at the noodles left in the bowl and then at Bae Joo-hyun, he considered himself a hospitable person.

Oh no—the noodles were spraying out of Bae Joo-hyun’s nostrils. Xiao Guang quickly loosened his legs and used them to gently clamp her body. It was improper, but to prevent Bae Joo-hyun from turning as gray and lifeless as the zombies outside, she had to get some nutrition.

As for whether instant noodles had any real nutrition, surely it was better than just tasting the air. Xiao Guang put down the bowl and carefully pulled the noodles from her nostrils, cupping Bae Joo-hyun’s small face and giving her a kiss.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Be good. I’ve fed you so many times already; how come you still can’t swallow? Watch me teach you.”

He took two bites of air, then made a slow swallowing motion. Bae Joo-hyun looked at him with reddened eyes but didn’t respond.

“There’s only a little left—just finish it.”

Xiao Guang got up again, clamping Bae Joo-hyun between his legs. One hand pinched her cheek to keep her mouth open, while the other carefully poured the last bit of noodles into her mouth.

Xiao Guang was a gentle man, so he crushed the noodles finely, making them slippery. As expected, Bae Joo-hyun choked slightly, spat out some broth, but then swallowed it all smoothly.

Xiao Guang patted Bae Joo-hyun’s stomach—or rather, a bit higher, where her stomach should be. It seemed a little bloated, and the two spots beside it were even more so.

Reluctantly withdrawing his hand from the costume, he took a nearby tissue to wipe her face. He wondered when she would learn to eat properly. Even those zombies on the street knew to chew after biting off a chunk of flesh.

“You stay home and play nicely. Don’t leave this house, understand? If you’re scared, run to the bedroom. You know where the bedroom is, right? The place where we slept last night.”

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Xiao Guang got dressed and, frankly, he was quite eager to go out—not to gather supplies, but because he enjoyed driving.

He wasn’t sure if this was a typical male trait, but after learning to drive, his hands would itch whenever he saw a car. Thinking of how he had driven recklessly and stylishly yesterday, he waved at Bae Joo-hyun and headed straight for the truck.

Bae Joo-hyun followed, still holding the iron chain. He didn’t know where she had found it—he remembered it was casually tossed near the flower bed at the door.

“Are you coming with me?”

“Aren’t you worried about me?”

“Or do you think I’ll abandon you?”

Still no response. Her little ball rolled from her left cheek pocket to the right. Xiao Guang walked over, looked at her adorable face, and kissed her forehead. If she was willing to follow, then so be it.

He lifted Bae Joo-hyun into his arms and placed her in the passenger seat.

“I don’t even treat my mom this well. I’m so reluctant to let you go on the road. As expected, when a son grows up, he can’t be kept at home.”

“Can you hear me? I’m telling you, I really treat you well.”

“Alright, let’s hit the road. Keep an eye out—I don’t believe there aren’t any talking zombies.”

Maybe it was the sound of the truck starting, or maybe it was Xiao Guang’s words, but Bae Joo-hyun turned to look at him. The little ball in her mouth didn’t move, but she shifted the iron chain from beside her leg to the middle.

Xiao Guang didn’t notice. Feeling the engine’s roar, he excitedly pressed the accelerator.

“Let’s go. Today, I’ll take you to play a game of running over zombies with a car. Later, we’ll take over the mall. Whatever luxury goods you want, it’s on me today. Pick whatever you like.”