Chapter 46: Watching a Variety Show for a While

The next morning, sunlight filtered through a thin layer of clouds, spilling over the rooftops of the villa district. Jiang Qiyu arrived at the rooftop early. Holding a delicate pair of binoculars, her gaze intently scanned every surrounding corner. The distant mountains, the nearby woods, the winding paths, and even the architectural details of every building in the district were committed to one by one in her memory.

On the rooftop, a gentle breeze rustled Jiang Qiyu’s hair, making it sway softly. She sat on a folding chair, beside which lay a thick notebook and several pens of various colors.

The lenses of the binoculars turned from time to time. Her gaze sometimes lingered on the distant mountain ridges, and sometimes focused on a patch of woods nearby.

Occasionally, she would lower her head, swiftly sketching a few strokes in her notebook as if recording some important information.

At noon, she happily stretched her arms, pulled her phone out of her pocket, and casually swiped her slender fingers across the screen to open a popular variety show.

On the screen, celebrities exchanged witty banter, and their exaggerated expressions and hilarious lines made Jiang Qiyu burst out in a chuckle. The corners of her lips turned upward, and her eyes curved into crescent moons as she immersed herself in this rare moment of joy.

Yet this relaxed moment did not cause her to lower her guard completely. Every so often, she would abruptly snatch up the high-powered binoculars placed beside her.

She stood up with athletic grace, her gaze piercing through the lenses as she vigilantly swept the perimeter of the villas.

In her notebook, a map of the villa district was gradually taking shape, with smooth lines and rich details. Even the windows and doors of every single building were clearly visible.

A black-and-white cat silently sauntered onto the rooftop, lazily rubbing against her leg before jumping onto the adjacent railing, leisurely basking in the light.

Jiang Qiyu glanced at it, the corners of her lips lifting slightly as she returned her focus to the map in her hands.

As evening approached, Lu Yao finally could not hold back any longer. He hadn't seen much of Jiang Qiyu all day, and feeling somewhat uneasy, he decided to go upstairs to check on her.

Pushing open the rooftop door, he saw Jiang Qiyu sitting there, pen in hand, intently drawing something in her notebook.

Stepping closer to take a look, he couldn't help but freeze—the notebook contained an extremely detailed map, capturing every nook and cranny of the villa district with precision, even cleverly incorporating the distant mountains and woods into the composition.

"Sister, you draw so well!" Lu Yao couldn't help praising, a hint of astonishment in his tone.

Jiang Qiyu raised her head, glanced at him indifferently, and without saying much, simply let out a soft "Mhm" in response.

Lu Yao squatted down, carefully examining her notebook, and couldn't help asking, "Did you study art?"

Jiang Qiyu nodded, her hand never stopping its movement with the pen, and answered blandly, "I studied it a little before."

Lu Yao smiled, a teasing tone coloring his voice: "Sister, you're amazing. You draw with such detail, it looks practically like the work of a professional cartographer."

Jiang Qiyu did not pick up the thread of conversation, simply continuing to concentrate on the map before her.

Neither did Lu Yao leave. Instead, he sat down beside her, quietly keeping her company.

On the rooftop, there was only the rustle of the pen tip gliding across the paper, occasionally mingled with the laughter drifting from the television and the occasional purr of the cat.

As the sky gradually darkened, Jiang Qiyu finally stopped her pen. She scrutinized the map in her notebook, her brows furrowed slightly as if pondering something.

Shortly after, she retrieved a book from her bag, turned to a page, and began reading with utmost concentration.

The pages were densely filled with treatises on the distribution of geographical environment resources. Jiang Qiyu’s gaze moved back and forth between the book and the map, as if cross-referencing something.

Curious, Lu Yao leaned in closer and asked, "What are you looking at, Sister?"

Without raising her head, Jiang Qiyu replied softly, "This book mentions some principles regarding the site selection for a lumberyard. I need to determine the most suitable construction area based on these principles."

Lu Yao nodded. Although he didn't quite understand the specifics, he could sense Jiang Qiyu's earnestness and focus. He sat quietly to the side, watching as she circled three areas on the map and marked them with detailed notes using different colored pens.

At last, Jiang Qiyu closed her notebook, let out a long breath, and said, "Tomorrow, I will go conduct on-site investigations of these three locations and then decide on the final sites."

The first area circled was the lumberyard. It was an open space located at the edge of the mountain forest, surrounded by dense woods whose thick branches blotted out the sky, casting mottled light and shadow.

Jiang Qiyu had written beside it: "Lumberyard: Abundant timber resources, usable for reinforcing base buildings and crafting weapons, but caution is required against scavengers and other survivors."

Next, she circled the quarry. The quarry was situated in a relatively low-lying terrain, enclosed by steep rock cliffs like a huge stone pit. The pit was piled high with stones of various sizes. "Quarry: Plentiful stone materials, can be used to construct defensive fortifications and enhance base security. However, the path leading to the quarry is rugged and difficult to traverse, and hidden dangers may exist."

The final circle designated the residential sanctuary. This was a large building converted from an abandoned factory, its outer walls reinforced to appear exceedingly sturdy. The sanctuary's gates were tightly shut, and makeshift defensive facilities had been set up at the entrance.

Lu Yao looked at her, a flash of admiration in his eyes: "Sister, do you want me to go with you?"

Jiang Qiyu shook her head, her tone calm: "No need, I can go by myself."

Hearing this, Lu Yao immediately furrowed his brow, an aggrieved expression blooming on his face as his voice softened: "Sister, just let me come with you! I promise I won't be a burden, plus I can help carry things and chat with you, how wonderful is that!"

Jiang Qiyu lifted her gaze to look at him, her tone remaining indifferent: "There's no need, I can handle it myself."

Unrelenting, Lu Yao simply squatted in front of her, resting his hands on her knees, tilting his head up with a spoiled, pleading look in his eyes: "Sister, please take me along! How bored would I be at home all by myself? Besides, I wouldn't feel at ease with you going to such a distant place alone!"

Finding this behavior somewhat helpless, Jiang Qiyu slightly knitted her brows while keeping her voice composed: "You won't be of any help if you go; instead, you'll just distract me."

Seeing this, Lu Yao deployed his ultimate weapon, his voice sounding as soft and sweet as a kitten's: "Sister, please say yes! I promise to listen to you, I'll do whatever you ask me to, and I absolutely won't cause trouble! Furthermore, I can drive for you, take notes for you, help you with... In short, I'll be very useful!"

Tormented by his persistence, Jiang Qiyu finally sighed, a hint of helplessness threading through her voice: "You truly won't cause trouble?"

Lu Yao nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at rice, his eyes shining brightly: "Absolutely not! I swear!"

Observing him for a few seconds, Jiang Qiyu ultimately compromised: "Fine, but you must follow my arrangements and not act on your own accord."

A brilliant smile instantly broke across Lu Yao's face as he nodded repeatedly: "No problem! Whatever Sister says goes!"

Night had fallen completely, leaving on the rooftop only the faint illumination of the lights and the distant, starlike glow of urban dwellings. Jiang Qiyu packed up her things, picked up the sleeping cat, and turned to leave the rooftop. Lu Yao followed closely behind her, harboring a quiet, lingering sense that she held many secrets he knew nothing about.