This Must Be a Hard Worker

In the darkness, Ning Yu opened her tightly shut eyes.

The rustling sound seemed to be coming from the supermarket's main entrance.

She silently left the supermarket's living room and nimbly climbed the high wall of the backyard.

Skillfully maneuvering between the anti-theft spikes on the high wall, which could deter ordinary people but had no effect on her.

Ning Yu moved across the rooftop towards the direction of the supermarket's front door.

A few scattered zombies were moving aimlessly around, completely oblivious to her presence.

She quietly summoned the titanium alloy crossbow she had just acquired, feeling its cool touch on her arm.

The crossbow bolt was loaded and ready to fire.

Ning Yu reached the spot directly above the supermarket's front door and looked down, but saw no one.

She slightly narrowed her eyes in thought.

The front door of this supermarket had been locked from the inside by those two thugs earlier today.

Even if someone picked the lock, the door would still be held shut by three chains locked from the inside, making it impossible to enter.

Ning Yu, wearing a form-fitting black dress top, gracefully jumped down from the roof like a black cat.

She landed without making a sound.

In the sparse, pale moonlight, she saw that the door lock hadn't been opened, but there were clear signs of tampering.

Perhaps someone had opened it, discovered the chains inside, and promptly gave up, closing it again.

Hidden in the shadow of the eaves, Ning Yu looked around.

At the far end of the street, a dark figure was slowly disappearing into the night.

It must have been that person.

However, Ning Yu didn't pursue them.

Anyone daring to come out at night to search for supplies, while managing to avoid the zombies' attention, must have at least some skill in stealth.

She was still completely unfamiliar with this neighborhood, and rashly chasing after them wouldn't necessarily lead to finding them.

Moreover, they had likely already given up.

Her heart sank slightly.

There were many supplies here, enough for two people to live on for a long time, and it would be a shame to abandon them.

But as time passed since the apocalypse began, people facing food and water shortages would soon set their sights on this place.

It seemed necessary to think of ways to fortify this location, to prevent future problems.

As she pondered this, she silently returned to the supermarket.

Around 2 AM, Shen Yiyue came out of her room and entered the living room with sleepy eyes.

Her oversized pajamas had shifted during sleep, exposing one snow-white shoulder, and her jet-black hair was casually draped over her shoulders.

She saw Ning Yu busily moving about, doing something unknown, and asked in surprise:

"What's happening, Xiao Yu?"

Ning Yu glanced at the inadvertently exposed Shen Yiyue but didn't stop what she was doing:

"Someone tried to break into the supermarket's main door, but they gave up."

"So instead of waiting until tomorrow, I've decided to reinforce the supermarket's defenses tonight."

Shen Yiyue was startled, but relieved that nothing serious had happened. After a pause, she said:

"Let me help too!"

Ning Yu didn't stand on ceremony with her and instructed her to start working together.

The supermarket's main door was secured with three chains, so it didn't need attention for now.

Ning Yu never used the main door to leave anyway, and Shen Yiyue currently lacked the ability to go out.

They searched the warehouse and other rooms for windows without security bars.

These were directly sealed off with thick wooden boards, steel plates, and similar materials.

The anti-theft spikes on the backyard's high wall were also inspected, and no vulnerabilities were found.

Still not satisfied, Ning Yu found wire, nails, and other items to set up additional obstacles around the high wall.

By the time they finished, dawn was breaking, and Shen Yiyue collapsed exhausted into a chair in the living room.

Ning Yu, however, appeared unfazed. She slowly walked out of the living room, turning back to say to Shen Yiyue:

"It should be safe for now. You don't need to keep watch for the second half of the night, go get some more rest."

"We'll start training first thing in the morning."

Then Ning Yu returned to her own room, locking the door securely before resting.

Shen Yiyue watched Ning Yu's small, cute figure retreat, and for some reason felt an inexplicable sense of security.

It was as if with Ning Yu around, any danger could be easily overcome.

But she couldn't rely solely on her; she needed to work hard too!

With these thoughts, Shen Yiyue also returned to her room.

......

Morning sunlight filtered into the heavily fortified small supermarket, with only a few stray beams making it through.

However, it was enough to wake Shen Yiyue.

She got up and glanced at the clock; it was only around 8 AM. She yawned and was about to freshen up.

Just as she left her room, she heard noises from the backyard.

Shen Yiyue's heart skipped a beat, and she hurried over.

When she reached the backyard door, she discovered:

It was actually Ning Yu, already doing her morning exercises.

Could she really manage with just two hours of sleep? Shen Yiyue found herself completely believing what Ning Yu had said.

Shen Yiyue also remembered what her homeroom teacher had drilled into her, as she was about to take the college entrance exam:

"Those smarter than you, those stronger than you, will only work harder than you."

She felt that if Ning Yu were in school, she would undoubtedly be a top student.

In the bright morning light, Ning Yu's movements were swift and powerful.

Her athletic attire clung to her small, delicate frame.

Her silver-white hair was slightly damp with sweat, and a few drops of perspiration slid down her fair face onto the ground.

Her cherry-colored lips were lightly pressed together, her expression utterly focused.

Her amber eyes were like jewels, particularly beautiful in the sunlight.

On such a lovely morning, this scene was like an incredibly beautiful landscape.

Shen Yiyue found herself staring, transfixed.

If not for the low moans of zombies outside, and the occasional screams and shattering glass, this might have been just another beautiful, ordinary day.

Ning Yu didn't stop her routine because of Shen Yiyue's appearance.

She was always strict and disciplined with herself.

To survive in this apocalyptic world, the primary short-term goal was to do everything possible to become stronger.

After a while, Ning Yu finished her workout and picked up a nearby towel to wipe her sweat.

She spoke to Shen Yiyue, who was still standing dazed in the doorway:

"Hurry and get ready, we'll start training this morning."

Shen Yiyue finally snapped out of it, quickly agreed, and ran inside to freshen up.

For Shen Yiyue at present, to become Ning Yu's capable assistant,

She needed to improve her strength on one hand, and train in combat skills on the other.

Ning Yu had drawn up an aerobic and strength training plan for Shen Yiyue, all of which could be completed using the equipment available in the supermarket.

It was all written out in detail on a piece of paper.

The entire morning would be dedicated to aerobic and strength training.

The afternoon would focus on hand-to-hand combat and weapon combat training.

As for firearms training, Ning Yu didn't have a gun herself yet, so that wasn't possible.

For the morning portion, Ning Yu taught Shen Yiyue the proper techniques and postures for the relevant exercises, which she would then practice on her own.

The afternoon portion, however, would require direct instruction.

After Shen Yiyue began her independent training and before the afternoon combat training,

Ning Yu planned to go out for a while.

She wanted to survey the surrounding area and kill some zombies to earn points, in preparation for the next "Weekly Special Sale."

Seeing Shen Yiyue already working hard at her training, Ning Yu was quite satisfied.

For a high school girl her age to see such a complex and demanding training plan,

And to start learning and acting on it immediately without a single complaint,

Perhaps this was the drive to survive, the hope to see loved ones again.

Ning Yu tucked away her dagger and axe.

She summoned the titanium alloy crossbow from her system panel and concealed it in the sleeve of her Western-style clothes.

Fully armed, she climbed over the high wall of the backyard and set out.

She had just emerged from the alley by the supermarket,

When a swaying zombie, like a dog catching the scent of a bone,

Lunged at her with bared teeth!