Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 80: Chapter 74: A Stranger’s Proposal

”What is it, Uncle Wen?”

This was the first time Wen Jianshu had ever called Tang Mo, and it startled her.

”Momo, you made it onto the ranking board? Well done, well done! You’ve really made our family proud. I’m so proud of you.”

Wen Jianshu’s usually calm and rational voice held a suppressed joy.

”You just stay home and keep your mom company for now. When I get back, we’ll celebrate properly!”

He hung up before Tang Mo could say anything else. It seemed less like a call to congratulate her and more like he was simply venting his own joy.

Tang Mo blushed. She felt a little embarrassed to receive such praise for being in one-hundredth place.

’What if the person behind me surpasses me tonight? Then wouldn’t everyone have gotten excited for nothing?’

’What a headache. It really is lonely at the top.’

It wasn’t just Qin Ling and Wen Jianshu; even Song Qing and Li Lanlan sent video calls, each congratulating Tang Mo.

Li Lanlan was now with her family in a small base. Her Strength Attribute Value was quite high, so she’d joined a permanent squad, and her life was reasonably comfortable.

Song Qing’s home was in S Base. When she heard Tang Mo had just arrived, she immediately sent an invitation.

Tang Mo asked Song Qing to send her location. She didn’t have much to do today anyway and planned to go find her in a little while.

She got dressed, went downstairs, and had breakfast with her mom. Fortunately, Lin Yi usually just watched TV and played with the dog at home and didn’t pay much attention to things like ranking boards. She still didn’t know her precious daughter had entered the top one hundred in Huaxia.

This saved Tang Mo a lot of trouble; she had been congratulated quite enough by now.

On the way to Song Qing’s house, Tang Mo was still thinking that if she arrived and found Song Qing’s family living under strained circumstances, she would offer some help.

’After all, she’s one of my best friends in the apocalypse. She’s different from the others; I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’

However, Tang Mo seemed to have forgotten that when Song Qing left their school, she had been picked up in a helicopter sent by her family...

Only when she reached Song Qing’s front door and was stopped by armed guards did she realize how much she had been overthinking things.

She checked the address Song Qing had sent her again.

’Unless I’m mistaken, this is... the Li Family estate, right?’

The compounds of the Qin, Wen, and Li Families were the most recognizable landmarks in S Base. Never mind their splendor and magnificence; they were all surrounded by armed guards.

Standing at the gate, Tang Mo called Song Qing to come out and get her, then looked up at the sky, speechless.

’How did I never know the people around me had such powerful backgrounds? Just how much did I miss in my last life?’

When Song Qing arrived, she saw Tang Mo craning her neck to look at the sky.

”What are you doing?” she said, giving Tang Mo a solid pat on the back from behind.

Song Qing had always been composed, only revealing this girlish side of hers in front of Tang Mo and Lanlan.

”Long time no see,” Tang Mo said, looking at her with a smile that made her eyes crinkle.

Because she had first visited the Qin Family’s compound and then stayed with the Wen Family for two days, Tang Mo was already becoming immune to the luxurious architecture and decor of the Li Family’s estate.

’It really is easy to get used to luxury after living a simple life,’ she thought.

The two good friends, who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, sat chatting on a large, comfortable sofa.

”Did you come to S Base for your boyfriend? He’s a real celebrity in the base now.”

Song Qing had met Qin Ling back at school, but only after returning to the base did she realize her best friend’s boyfriend was no ordinary person.

”So now that the star-crossed lovers are reunited, your days must be so sweet, right?” Song Qing teased.

”I actually didn’t come for him. My family lives here, so I came back mainly to spend time with my mom.”

The topic of Qin Ling still gave Tang Mo a bit of a headache.

”Actually... my stepfather is Wen Jianshu.”

Tang Mo’s roommates all knew about her family situation, and the fact that she was living with the Wen Family couldn’t be hidden forever, so she decided to just tell Song Qing the truth.

”What?” Song Qing blurted out, her voice rising uncontrollably.

Her mother was a daughter of the Li Family—the younger sister of the family’s current patriarch.

As a member of the Li Family, Song Qing understood perfectly how awkward the situation between Tang Mo and Qin Ling was.

”Then...”

”Let’s not make it public for now,” Tang Mo said. ”My mom is still pregnant. Besides, things are complicated. We should wait until everything is more stable.”

She didn’t feel she couldn’t tell Song Qing. Although Song Qing was from the Li Family, the matter wasn’t a huge deal, just a troublesome one. Even if it did involve the Li Family, it wouldn’t be something Song Qing would have to worry about.

”That’s true. It’s just hard on you,” Song Qing said, giving Tang Mo a sympathetic look.

”Enough about me. What about you? Are you still in touch with An Yang?”

At the mention of An Yang, Song Qing’s expression no longer held the same strong emotions as before.

”He’s in S Base too. He still messages me sometimes, but it’s impossible for us to get back together.”

Tang Mo nodded knowingly. Given An Yang’s character, it didn’t matter whether he genuinely liked Song Qing or was only chasing her after finding out about her family’s background. And given Song Qing’s personality, the two of them were simply not meant to be.

It was for the best. Ever since seeing An Yang’s previous attitude toward Wenqing, Tang Mo had felt he wasn’t worthy of Song Qing.

”You probably don’t know this yet, but Wenqing is here in S Base too. She’s exhausted her Space Farm to the point where it no longer produces food. However, its space is the largest of any known Space Ability, so mission-bound squads are always fighting to take her with them.”

At the mention of Wenqing, Tang Mo suddenly remembered something.

She was certain that Wenqing wasn’t a Space Ability User, but rather someone who possessed a Space Treasure, just like herself.

’In that case, if I could get my hands on her Space Treasure and merge it with my necklace...’

Thinking of the sheer size of the farm in Wenqing’s Space, Tang Mo could barely imagine what kind of reaction would occur if the two merged.

Tang Mo felt not a shred of guilt toward Wenqing. Setting aside the law of the jungle, just based on how Wenqing had targeted her before, it was only fair to return the favor, right?

”Sis, we have a guest?”

A muscular young man, who clearly loved to work out, came down from the second floor.

His face, which bore a slight resemblance to Song Qing’s, was quite delicate. Paired with his brawny physique, it gave Tang Mo a strangely unsettling feeling.

”Yep. This is my friend, Tang Mo, from the Wen Family. Tang Mo, this is my brother, Song Feng.”

Tang Mo stood up and greeted him politely.

”From the Wen Family?”

Song Feng’s head shot up, and he scrutinized Tang Mo.

Neat short hair, practical athletic clothes, a clean face.

”Will you marry me?”

...

Everyone was stunned by his words.

Tang Mo stood there, dumbfounded, completely forgetting how to react.

’What in the world is going on?’

’Did I just get proposed to?’

’But I don’t even know this guy!’

’Even taking a huge leap and assuming it was love at first sight, shouldn’t he confess his feelings first?’

In that instant, a million thoughts flashed through Tang Mo’s mind.

Finally, she figured it out.

Song Qing’s brother...

...must have some screws loose.