"This isn’t a deception, is it?"
"I haven’t been outside for a long time; I don’t even know what it’s like out there anymore."
Lin Fan looked at the excited crowd, who had just heard the good news, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Hadn’t he been working hard to clear out the zombies just to see such smiles?
He never thought of himself as a savior.
It was simply that he felt he had some ability.
If he did nothing with it, he might feel somewhat guilty for wasting his potential.
The heavy responsibility of rebuilding the prosperity of Huang City couldn’t be carried by him alone; it required everyone’s effort. What he could do was to eliminate the zombies that hindered the restoration of Huang City’s prosperity.
"Everyone, Huang City is truly safe now. From now on, you can walk around in Huang City as usual, without fear or worry about the future. Everything will develop in a good direction," Lin Fan said softly.
He Mingxuan asked, "Did you come here to take them to Sunshine Shelter?"
Lin Fan looked at the people around him, seeing the hope in their eyes, and replied, "Yes, rebuilding Huang City depends on everyone’s efforts. I alone am not enough; therefore, I want to invite you all to Sunshine Shelter, to unite and face this post-apocalyptic world."
This was one of his rare group invitations.
It was an unusual situation. He had encountered many survivor groups with varying conditions, but the survivors in the prison gave him a very good impression.
Changes in human nature during the apocalypse didn’t stem from environmental pressure, but whether one wanted to change. As long as one desired change, no environment could stand in the way.
Listening to Lin Fan, He Mingxuan looked at the people around him. Ever since they came to the prison, they had been living together, from the earliest days under Chen Zhiyong’s tyranny, to later under Sun Neng, and now to him.
Having gone through so much, his personality and temperament had quietly changed.
He was no longer as cynical as before, nor as selfish. Occasionally, he even began to consider others. Maybe having seen too much helplessness and danger made him start to reflect on his character and temperament.
He could see the longing in everyone’s eyes.
It was a longing for a better future.
While He Mingxuan was looking at the people, they were also watching him cautiously.
In this time, He Mingxuan had taken very good care of them. Often, it could be said he saved their lives. When they went outside to search for supplies, some people were just not cut out for it. Walking on the streets, they could be so frightened that their legs would tremble.
If they encountered zombies, they wouldn’t be able to run away.
So, they were grateful to He Mingxuan. If he didn’t want to go, they might not either, as it seemed somewhat inappropriate to leave him behind.
"Sure, you lead them there," He Mingxuan said, exhausted. "I’m tired of this place. I want to go back and see my house, the work of my lifetime."
He thought of his heavily industrial-styled house.
Everyone looked at He Mingxuan. They didn’t expect him to leave the prison, not to go to Sunshine Shelter, but to his own house. This was unexpected to them.
He Mingxuan waved them off, "Fate brought us together, but every encounter has its end. I, He Mingxuan, never wrong myself. I don’t want to go to Sunshine Shelter, so don’t try to persuade me. You all go there and live well. He can be trusted."
Perhaps He Mingxuan really was petty, always remembering things, but the apocalypse had profoundly changed him compared to who he used to be.
Miao Yi clutched at He Mingxuan’s sleeve, "Brother Mingxuan, I don’t want to be separated from you."
He Mingxuan patted his head, "Go with your sister. Why follow me? I have my own life. I’ve always hated having other people around, it’s annoying."
Lin Fan observed the situation. It wasn’t that he remembered only what He Mingxuan used to be, but the impression the former He Mingxuan had left was deep—he truly was the sort of person even dogs would disdain.
But now, he honestly hadn’t expected the people there to show such friendliness towards He Mingxuan, even to the point of being willing to give up the idea of going to Sunshine Shelter for him.
Though it wasn’t said outright.
Being liked by everyone meant that He Mingxuan had done good things for them.
Lin Fan sighed inwardly; the apocalypse was indeed terrible, but it also had the power to change people. It could turn a once good person into a terrifying one, and a once despised person into someone loved and respected.
This change didn’t mean the apocalypse was all darkness; rather, it showed that some people could find their once overlooked shine in the darkness.
Lin Fan said, "Have you decided? The area of Sunshine Shelter is large. In fact, if you don’t wish to have much contact with me, we might not even meet."
He Mingxuan looked at Lin Fan, "Yes, I want to go home, to my own home."
Lin Fan didn’t try to keep him further. Everyone had their own thoughts, and he hoped that others could live well in the post-apocalyptic world.
Of course, Huang City was now truly safe.
Everything that needed cleaning had been cleaned.
Even if there were stragglers, he would spend this time carefully searching, ensuring there would be no slip-ups.