Chapter 761: Chapter 761: Good News

In the time that passed, everyone’s injuries had gradually healed. Wendy’s and Zoe’s hearing had returned to normal, and even Annie’s skin condition had improved. It seemed like everything was getting better, yet the smiles on everyone’s faces were fewer. Zoe no longer asked for her mother; she now understood what death meant. She would only call out a few times while talking in her sleep. Even when she woke with swollen eyes, she had learned to tell a white lie, telling everyone she’d just been bitten by mosquitoes.

But in this harsh environment, there were no mosquitoes to be found.

Rhys Chase couldn’t find anyone to play chess with. He often lamented that he would never again find a kindred spirit and opponent like Taylor Vance.

Everyone had long since lost track of the days, numbing their minds and bodies with endless labor. The trees they planted taking root was their only hope, their only anchor.

After a busy day in her space, Evelyn Ford took a shower before coming out. Everyone else was still working. She was so hungry she felt weak, her limbs trembling. Seeing this, Officer Graham quickly served her a bowl of rice and told her to eat first. Evelyn didn’t hold back. She wolfed down the food, and by the time she finished, she had fallen asleep, slumped over the dining table.

"Why is Evelyn slumped over here? Is she asleep?"

"Shh, be quiet. She’s exhausted. Let her rest."

Quincy nodded. "I’ll go get Ronan, then. He can carry Evelyn back. This table is so hard, it’s already leaving an imprint on her face."

The others started trickling back in, all of them exhausted. Zoe was covered in mud and yawning with every step. Her once round, chubby face had thinned out, making her little chin look pointy.

When Ronan Kendrick returned, he went to the kitchen and carried Evelyn back to their tent. Seeing her so exhausted, everyone grew worried.

"Why don’t we take a couple of days off? Planting the trees is important, but so is our health. If we all work ourselves into the ground, it’ll do more harm than good."

Quincy nodded. "Exactly. Especially the kids. They’re working with us every day. I’m honestly worried it’ll stunt their growth."

Zoe had been drowsy, but her ears perked up at that.

"That won’t happen! I’m going to grow really, really tall, as tall as Uncle Ronan!"

Her childish declaration made Quincy laugh. "Your Uncle Ronan is over six-foot-two. If you get as tall as him, you’ll be a giant! It’s good enough to be as tall as your Auntie Evelyn. Your uncle is just a clumsy giant; don’t be like him."

Zoe pouted. "But I want to be as tall as Uncle Ronan! And he’s not a clumsy giant, he’s super awesome!"

Quincy’s mouth twitched. ’My little girl is already taking his side.’

"Alright, alright. Well, if you want that, you have to try hard. Eat lots of vegetables and meat, go to bed early, and don’t stay up late. Can you do that?"

Zoe grinned. "I can! But... I don’t like vegetables. Can I just eat meat?"

"Nope. If you don’t eat vegetables, all your teeth will fall out. And if you don’t have any teeth, you’ll only be able to drink porridge. Plus, you’ll look really ugly. Do you want to be ugly?"

Zoe definitely didn’t want that; she was terrified.

"Then I’ll eat lots of vegetables! I don’t want my teeth to fall out!"

Quincy smiled, satisfied. "You said it yourself. Daddy’s going to watch you every day from now on."

Meanwhile, Evelyn woke up as Ronan carried her back to the tent.

"You’re back?"

Ronan hummed in acknowledgment. He then unpinned Evelyn’s hair from the bun at the back of her head, picked up a towel, and began to dry the parts that were still damp.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Evelyn yawned. "No, just sleepy. I can’t believe I fell asleep during dinner, haha. Is everyone else back?"

"They’re back. Let’s take the next two days off. They need a break, too."

Evelyn, of course, had no objection. "Alright, let’s take two days off. The saplings I was cultivating in the space have sprouted. I think in about half a month, we’ll be able to transplant them outside. I grew a variety of different types this time."

Ronan nodded. "Has the space gone back to normal?"

"It’s back to normal. Mina and the others are all awake. I’ve been harvesting wheat in the cultivation zone for the past few days. If we don’t have enough of the black soil, we can just dig up the dirt from the regular fields."

Ronan felt a pang of frustration. He couldn’t enter the space anymore, so all the work inside fell on Evelyn’s shoulders. She had to dig up the black soil, cultivate saplings, and haul water out of the space, crate by crate, for everyone to water the trees. And now, she had to harvest the wheat, too.

"Can you handle all that? You know, the soil about three meters down is good enough for planting. It might not be as rich as the black soil, but the trees will still grow."

"I only feel a little tired once the work is done. When I’m actually doing it, I feel like I have endless energy. Don’t worry. The space is full of machinery. Harvesting just means using the combine harvester; it’s not like I have to cut everything by hand. Digging isn’t tiring either! I just sit in the excavator and operate it. It’s so easy. As for the saplings, I cultivated several hundred thousand at once, so that’s enough for now. And moving the water? That’s even easier. The water tanks in the space are huge. One tank holds, what, ten tons of water? We don’t even use that much in a day. It’s really no trouble. Don’t worry about me. I’m full of drive."

Ronan watched her in silence. "If you get tired, you have to tell me. Don’t try to shoulder it all by yourself. Everyone cares about you. If you were to get sick, they wouldn’t have the heart to work. They’d all just be worrying about you. You’re the backbone of this group now."

"I’m not their backbone," Evelyn teased. "I’m only *your* backbone." Her words finally made Ronan laugh. Seeing the tension leave his brow, she threw herself into his arms.

"I can’t afford to collapse. If I get sick, my Kendrick will worry. He might even secretly wipe away a few tears."

Ronan’s face flushed. "I don’t cry."

"Oh, really? A certain someone has cried in front of me a few times already, and now he won’t admit it."

Ronan rubbed his ear. "I don’t remember. It’s not that I’m denying it."

"Okay, I believe you. Go have dinner. When you get back, I’ll tell you some good news."

Ronan’s gaze darkened. "Tell me now."

"Go eat first."

"I want to hear it now."

Evelyn smiled. "Alright. But don’t be too surprised when I tell you. Do you remember Mina’s partner, Blackie?"

"I remember."

Evelyn clapped her hands. "You’ll never guess—Blackie gave birth to two baby squirrels!"

’Ronan... That’s it?’

"Congratulations to Mina on becoming a dad. Should we set off some fireworks to celebrate?"

Evelyn burst out laughing. "No need for that. Mina and his partner are pretty incredible, though. Having babies at their age! I thought they were different species and couldn’t reproduce. The babies look just like Mina, with the same reddish-brown fur. They’re super cute. The environment outside is too harsh, so I can’t bring them out yet. I’ll show them to you once things get better."

Ronan nodded. "Okay."

’His feelings were a little complicated. Not long ago, Evelyn had been worried sick, thinking Mina was on his last legs. But no, the little guy had been quietly getting things done, and now he had babies—twins, no less.’

’He’s doing better than I am.’

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