Chapter 290: The List

【System detects safe zone material reserves are sufficient. Can initiate daily necessities exchange plan.】

When the cold, mechanical voice sounded in Lin Chen's mind, he was standing at the entrance of the safe zone's supply warehouse,

clutching a supply list in his hand. The warehouse's iron door was open, and inside it was piled high with various boxes—compressed biscuits, antibiotics, protective suits, and some miscellaneous items, piled up like a small mountain.

Xia Nuan followed behind him, holding a notebook, occasionally looking up at the items in the warehouse and recording something while looking down.

Team members were moving in and out, carrying boxes, the sounds of footsteps and talking mixed together,

appearing exceptionally lively. Lin Chen scanned the list; it detailed the supplies that needed to be exchanged, mostly daily necessities—soap, towels, and underwear.

【System prompt: Daily necessities exchange plan can improve the happiness of safe zone personnel and reduce the probability of negative emotions breeding.】

Lin Chen did not respond to the system; he stepped into the warehouse, his gaze sweeping over those boxes.

He walked to a box labeled "underwear," bent down, and opened it. The items inside were piled messily—undershirts, socks, and all kinds of underwear: briefs, boxers, patterned, solid-colored—dazzling to the eye.

He picked one up at random, pinching it in his hand; the fabric was very soft, pure cotton. He remembered that before the apocalypse, these were the most ordinary daily items,

but now they had become hot commodities. Most people in the safe zone wore tattered clothes, and underwear was even more patched up; being able to make do was good enough.

"Team Leader Lin, how should these underwear be classified?" A team member walked over, holding a few pairs of underwear, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.

Lin Chen glanced at him, then at the items in his hand, and said casually, "Classify them by style; put the briefs in one pile and the boxers in another."

The team member nodded, hugged the underwear in his arms, walked to the side, and began to classify them. Xia Nuan walked over, looked at the items in the box, frowned, and said, "Are the quantities of these items enough? There are quite a few people in the safe zone; I'm afraid it won't be enough to go around."

Lin Chen squatted down and rummaged through the items in the box; the number of underwear inside was quite large, with briefs making up the majority. He picked up a pair of briefs, held them up to the light to look—the fabric was very thick and should last a long time. He handed the briefs to Xia Nuan and said, "Look at this quality; it should hold up for a while."

Xia Nuan took the briefs, pinched the fabric, nodded, and said nothing.

She looked down and recorded something in her notebook, the pen tip sliding across the paper, emitting a rustling sound.

【System detects inferior supplies in the warehouse. Suggest screening before exchange.】

Lin Chen did not ignore the system's prompt; he just squatted in front of the box,

rummaging through the items inside. He picked out the briefs that looked to be of good quality and set them aside, and picked out the tattered ones and set them on the other side. The team members gathered around, looking at the items he had picked out, their faces showing expressions of anticipation.

"Team Leader Lin, are these good ones being saved for the wounded?" a team member asked.

Lin Chen looked up at him, shook his head, and said, "Distribute them by head count; everyone gets a share, but the wounded can pick first."

The team members cheered, each one rubbing their hands, waiting to distribute the items. Lin Chen looked at their appearance, the corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily. Happiness in the apocalypse was just this simple; a pair of new briefs could make people happy for half a day.

He stood up, patted the dust off his hands, and walked toward the outside of the warehouse. Xia Nuan followed behind him, still holding that pair of briefs, looking down at it, not knowing what she was thinking. The team members in the warehouse had already started distributing items, noisy and bustling, as lively as a holiday.

【System prompt: Daily necessities exchange plan is progressing smoothly. Safe zone personnel emotion index has risen by 15%.】

Lin Chen walked to the warehouse entrance, stopped, and looked back at the scene inside. The team members were surrounding those underwear, picking and choosing, all with smiles on their faces. He remembered the briefs he had just picked out, remembered the expectant eyes of the team members, and his heart suddenly became very calm.

He turned and walked toward the square, his steps steady. The sunlight shone on him, carrying a hint of warmth. In the distance came the laughter of children and the voices of team members talking. In his mind, the image of those briefs in the warehouse still echoed.

Xia Nuan caught up, holding that pair of briefs, handed it to him, and said, "This, do you want it?"

Lin Chen glanced at the briefs, then at Xia Nuan, shook his head, and said, "No need, leave it for someone who needs it."

Xia Nuan said nothing, just stuffed the briefs into his pocket. Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, touched the soft fabric in his pocket, and said nothing. He looked up at the sky; the sky was very blue, without a trace of clouds.

He and Xia Nuan walked slowly along the street; when they passed a room, a burst of laughter came from inside. A woman's voice sounded: "These briefs are really nice; it's my first time wearing something so new."

Lin Chen's steps paused, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he continued to walk forward. Xia Nuan followed by his side, occasionally looking up at him, her face carrying a hint of a smile.

【System detects the host's emotions are stable; the probability of the darkened personality awakening continues to decrease.】

Lin Chen did not ignore the system's prompt; he just touched the briefs in his pocket, feeling the soft fabric. The streetlights on both sides of the street were on; although it was daytime, they still exuded a sense of warmth. The laughter of the team members came from all directions, mixed with the noise of children, like a cheerful song.

He walked to the center of the square, stopped, and looked at the distant wall. The forest outside the wall was lush and green, the wind blowing through the leaves, emitting a rustling sound. He touched the briefs in his pocket, and an inexplicable emotion suddenly arose in his heart.

Xia Nuan stood by his side, looked at his appearance, and said softly, "Actually, a pair of briefs can also make people feel very happy."

Lin Chen turned to look at her, nodded, and said nothing. His gaze fell on the distant forest, on that lush green, on that land full of hope. ===== CHAPTER 291 =====