Waking up, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Lu Chen had planned to sleep for another minute… or maybe another billion minutes…
But when he glanced at the time, he shivered, all sleepiness vanishing.
The time displayed on his wristwatch was a stark 11:30 PM!
He had returned to the Safehouse at 12 PM and had slept for a solid 12 hours!
“Guess I was really tired.”
Rubbing his eyes, Lu Chen scanned his surroundings.
The Safehouse expansion should have been completed within the 6 hours while he slept.
But the scene before him remained the same cramped room.
Except that a door had appeared on the previously blank wall.
Lu Chen tried to focus his attention, but no information surfaced. It seemed he'd have to test it himself.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Chen gently pulled the doorknob and pushed the door open.
Outside was a short corridor, with a small room on each side.
Lu Chen went in and found, to his surprise, that one was a bathroom, and the other a shower room.
“Nice. Separate wet and dry areas… quite considerate.”
This way, he wouldn't have to worry about smells or hygiene, and he could achieve washing freedom within the Safehouse.
Across the corridor was a spacious living room, roughly three times the size of the Safehouse.
The living room was simply furnished, with only basic chairs and tables, no additional decorations.
It seemed Lu Chen would have to add his own bricks and mortar, continuously renovating this space.
With the newly expanded area, including the original room, the entire "Survivor Base" formed a "工"-shaped structure.
While it looked a little out of place and lacked windows.
At least it looked like a place to live.
Compared to the previous cramped space, it was practically a prison.
“Right, there should be a notification about the expansion… let me find it.”
Lu Chen scrolled through the message list on his wristwatch, finding the notification he missed while sleeping.
-
【Safehouse has been expanded to "Intermediate Survivor Base within ‘Gathering Place’"】
【The current Survivor Base has the following additional functions】
【1: You can invite other players to visit your current Base】
【2: When teleporting, players located at this Base will teleport to the same danger zone】
-
The first function was explained in the original blueprint.
But the second additional function only appeared after the expansion was complete!
“This means that as long as Mai and the others gather here and teleport… they'll be in the same ‘Doomsday City’ area?”
After reading the notification, Lu Chen was instantly excited, his spirits lifting!
This was a kind of "informal team-up" function, even though it lacked any features exclusive to teams.
But at least it ensured that the players in Gathering Place wouldn't be scattered and end up in different danger zones.
“It's a solution of sorts.”
“Although it's different from the ‘joint action’ I imagined… there’s no other way for now.”
After preparing a bit, Lu Chen opened the chat room’s friend list and found that there was indeed an invitation option.
“I wonder how they’ll appear… I’ll send the invitation anyway.”
【You have sent a Base visit invitation to player “Sakurajima Mai”, waiting for acceptance…】
【You have sent a Base visit invitation to player “Toyohina Kaoru”, waiting for acceptance…】
Soon, Sakurajima Mai’s chat box popped up.
“You’re awake? I’ll be right there… clicking ‘Confirm Acceptance’ should be right, right?”
Before Lu Chen could reply, a bright white light suddenly erupted from the living room direction, attracting his attention.
【Player “Sakurajima Mai” has entered your Survivor Base】
【You can end this player’s visit at any time】
The two messages appeared just in time, causing Lu Chen to understand.
The subsequent restrictions were clearly intended to prevent someone from using this method to harm the owner of the Safehouse.
Although Lu Chen didn't think Sakurajima Mai would do anything to him.
Considering the power gap between them… it would be the other way around.
Leaving the small room in the Safehouse, Lu Chen entered the living room and saw the black-haired girl scanning her surroundings.
It was strange. They had spent quite some time together before returning to the Safehouse.
But seeing Mai in the Safehouse felt different.
“How was your rest?”
Seeing Lu Chen, Sakurajima Mai asked with concern.
“My sleep quality was fantastic…”
Hearing this, Lu Chen shrugged and casually replied.
“That’s why I only sent you the invitation now.”
“It’s not too late.”
Sakurajima Mai nodded slightly, saying softly.
“I just woke up myself. Although this kind of schedule is… unhealthy for my usual self.”
“So now we’re accomplices.”
Lu Chen chuckled, his gaze moving past the girl’s curvaceous figure and landing on her handbag.
The bag looked bulging, as if it contained many things.
“These are change of clothes for Kaoru.”
Seeing Lu Chen notice the handbag, Sakurajima Mai gave him a meaningful look.
“We can’t have her wearing that nurse’s uniform all the time… unless that’s your particular interest.”
This suggestive remark caused Lu Chen to awkwardly scratch his nose, unsure how to explain.
Fortunately, Sakurajima Mai didn’t pursue the topic further, instead beginning to tour the expanded Survivor Base.
“A separate bathroom… I wish my Safehouse could be like this.”
Sakurajima Mai genuinely sighed.
For girls, the need for sanitation, to clean themselves and maintain a neat appearance, is second only to the need for water and food to sustain life.
This is especially true for professional actors like Sakurajima Mai, who pay particular attention to their image.
“Actually… if you want to take a shower.”
Thinking for a moment, Lu Chen seriously suggested.
“You can bring a change of clothes and use the shower room here.”
“Don’t worry, considering our relationship, I won’t charge you rent.”
“…. Should I be reassured by that?”
As if anticipating Lu Chen’s response, Sakurajima Mai rolled her eyes at him.
But then she crossed her arms, seemingly contemplating something.
“But this is the only option. Rather than letting myself ferment… I’m willing to be peeked at while showering.”
“…. Why is it premised on ‘I’ll definitely peek at you while you’re showering’?”
“What, are you not satisfied with just peeping anymore?”
“Even though you say that, Ms. Mai, your ears are starting to turn red.”
Seeing Mai, clearly blushing yet trying to act mature, Lu Chen shook his head with a smile.
“Unless that’s your particular interest, I wouldn’t do something like peeping.”
That was because Lu Chen always watched openly.
But this statement successfully relieved Sakurajima Mai, and she seemed to actually be considering using Lu Chen’s base as a “bathroom”.
Just then, another white teleportation light blossomed.
A petite, beautiful girl, half a head shorter than Sakurajima Mai, made a grand entrance—
“Guk…”