Chapter 48: The Pioneering Trio

Then came a series of 'pop', 'pop', 'pop' sounds, and a room filled up with furniture—tables, chairs, sofas, and rugs. Anyone unaware would have thought Qiao Suisui was popping popcorn.

She stood at the doorway, surveying the overall layout, and nodded in satisfaction. The room's style was warm and minimalist. She had specifically designed the lighting, avoiding overhead fixtures in favor of light strips embedded where the walls met the floor. They were motion-activated; as soon as one entered, soft light would illuminate the entire room.

She found the right angle and took several photos of the room from different perspectives.

"Room 1, missing a curtain," she recorded meticulously in her notebook.

Next was Room 2, a partition created from the living area. Since one wall wasn't a solid structure, it wasn't very soundproof. Qiao Suisui brought over several packages and followed the same process: placing them, then tapping the confirmation key. The furniture appeared as if by magic.

This room was to be rented out as a single room at half the price of the others, yet it lacked none of the basic amenities. A single bed, a small sofa, a desk and chair, a wardrobe, a rug, and even a potted plant for decoration—the overall style was neutral and minimalist, looking very comfortable.

Qiao Suisui took photos of Room 2 and made her notes.

Having finished two rooms, she felt a bit tired and was about to rest when suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

She checked the time, thinking it shouldn't be Leian, and approached the door. Remembering Lanze's warning, she cautiously asked first: "Who is it?"

"We're from a Pioneering Team. We'd like to borrow some tools."

Qiao Suisui looked at the visual monitor and saw three people standing at the door. One of them seemed injured and was being carried on the back of a burly male. There was no reply from outside, and the person knocking looked anxious.

"We don't need anything else, just clean water, thread, and scissors."

"Sang Yan, forget it. We just heard a female's voice inside. If her guardian or mate isn't home, she probably won't open the door for us."

"But Gaimailun, he..."

Before he could finish, the heavy door slowly creaked open, revealing a small head.

Both males froze as they looked over. Standing in the doorway was a girl in a white dress. Her hair was dark and lustrous, like silk, cascading from her back to her shoulders as she turned slightly. Her small, palm-sized face featured exquisite, stunning features, especially those unforgettable eyes that were currently observing them—a mix of nervousness and caution, yet sharp and intelligent.

"What happened to him?" Qiao Suisui asked, looking at the unconscious male on the other's back.

Sang Yan finally snapped out of his daze. "He was bitten by a stray beastman. We need to stitch his wound as soon as possible."

The burly man at the bottom of the steps gently laid the injured one on the ground and unfastened the clothes wrapped around Gaimailun's abdomen, revealing a gruesome wound.

Qiao Suisui covered her mouth upon seeing the man's white intestines nearly spilling out.

"A Yao! You scared her." Sang Yan quickly stepped forward to block Qiao Suisui's view. "I'm sorry. We mean no harm. If you have water and thread, could you spare some?"

Qiao Suisui realized they intended to stitch the wound themselves, but with a wound of that size, if they didn't disinfect it, what if it got infected?

She glanced toward the distance, seeing the military personnel on guard nearby, and felt slightly relieved.

"Bring him inside."

Qiao Suisui said, pushing the door wide open and stepping aside to let them in.

Sang Yan and A Yao couldn't believe it. Especially when they noticed Qiao Suisui's pregnant belly, their eyes filled with shock. She wasn't a man-made female, but a natural-born one? She had been standing behind the door, shielding most of her body, so they hadn't noticed until now.

A Yao looked at Sang Yan, looking unsure.

Sang Yan frowned, looking at Qiao Suisui. "Are you home alone? Where are your mates?"

She sensed that although these two males weren't bad people, she didn't want to discuss her situation, nor did she want them to think she was helpless. "They've all gone out, but they'll be back soon."

Sang Yan felt it was inappropriate for them to enter this little female's home. He had never seen a pregnant female in his life; he could only imagine how much her mates must treasure her. They often carried out missions on high-radiation planets; what if they affected her?

"If you hesitate any longer, he might die from blood loss."

Sang Yan looked at Gaimailun, whose breathing was growing weaker, and frowned deeply.

"How about this: you just give us the supplies, and we'll handle the rest ourselves."

Qiao Suisui understood he didn't want to enter, so she stopped insisting. She nodded, closed the door, and retrieved the 【Medical Kit】 from her storage grid, along with a small bucket of water.

"I think you'll need this."

Sang Yan quickly stepped up to take the heavy items from her hands, and A Yao kept saying thank you.

"Thank you. You... make sure to lock the door. We're leaving."

Qiao Suisui nodded, watching Sang Yan and A Yao walk to a tree not far away to begin stitching Gaimailun's wound. She wondered if they could rest well in such a place, then shook her head to clear the thought and closed the door to get back to work.

An afternoon passed. Gaimailun's wound was properly treated. A Yao took off his blood-stained gloves and even finished by tying a girlish bow on the bandage, then wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

"That should do it. I didn't expect the supplies to be so complete. Gaimailun will definitely recover quickly."

The items in the medical kit provided by the system were custom-made for this world—comprehensive and professional.

A Yao said this but heard no reply. He looked up at Sang Yan, who was staring at the two-story building, his eyes unblinking, his brow furrowed.

"What are you looking at?"

"Why haven't her mates returned yet?"

"Why do you care? That's their business."

"Stray beastmen could appear here at any time. She's home alone, and this is the only residence in the entire area. What if..."

Sang Yan trailed off, unwilling to entertain the possibility. That little female looked so fragile, so trusting of strangers, and even invited them into her home—she was clearly too well-protected and unaware of the danger.

A Yao had intended to lean against the tree to rest, but hearing Sang Yan's words, he felt it made sense and walked over to stand beside him.

Sang Yan glanced at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Standing guard for the little female."

A Yao's thinking was simple: whoever saved his brother was his brother.

Sang Yan said nothing, and the two of them silently stood guard over the small building until the sky turned completely dark, when a flying ship slowly descended in front of the house.

(End of Chapter)