As a seasoned fan, Bai Xiaotang is naturally eager to share everything about her idol, especially when she sees a passerby turn into a fan because of her introduction, which brings immense achievement and satisfaction.
Suddenly she put down Xiao Huang and ran to Ji Ning's side.
"Sure, sure, I have all the 'War God' series films and spin-offs, including comics, novels, merchandise. Which version do you want to watch?"
As she spoke, she enthusiastically hooked Ji Ning's arm, pulling her into the living room as if recruiting for a multi-level marketing scheme.
She couldn't be more enthusiastic.
Ji Ning used to be surrounded by "little brothers," and didn't have many female friends.
The only close contact was when she clenched her fists to punch someone.
This kind of familiar contact, like Bai Xiaotang's, was her first.
It gave her a strange feeling, awkward and instinctively a bit repulsive.
Ji Ning resisted making a hurting move, trying hard to pull her body away from Bai Xiaotang, but this "little saint" was clinging to her like an octopus.
Would it be inconsiderate to chop off this "little saint's" arm now?
When Ji Ning was at her limit, Bai Xiaotang finally let go of her.
"Sister Ning, I'm going to get some snacks and drinks. Just pick a movie yourself."
Ji Ning looked at the ring placed in her hands, examining it repeatedly, confirming she didn't know how to operate it.
The Female War God, always invincible in the apocalypse, now lost to a piece of small metal.
"Xiao Zhi, play the Su Qiangwei version of the 'War God' movie."
Ye Tong walked over with a plate of cut fruits at the right time, "Don't worry, at first, I didn't know how to use this either."
The things used by the young Miss probably wouldn't be seen by those at the bottom level their entire life, like this smart brain that combines the functions of a computer, phone, television, and remote control, she had never even heard of it before.
With Ye Tong's command, the wall a few meters away from them suddenly opened, revealing a gigantic screen.
Ye Tong kindly explained, "This is a smart display screen that can show files being played by the smart brain."
As the movie's opening theme sounded, Ye Tong seemed to casually sit down, but her position left the best viewing spot for Bai Xiaotang.
Ji Ning squinted slightly, gently tapping her arm with her fingers.
About five minutes into the film, Bai Xiaotang finally came back carrying a box of snacks.
"Sister Xiaotong, Sister Ning, hurry and split the snacks. Two bags each. Huh? How come it's already playing this part? Xiao Zhi, Xiao Zhi, start from the beginning."
The familiar opening theme sounded again, and Ji Ning glanced at Ye Tong not far away, her smooth long hair tied up high, revealing a slender neck, wearing cartoon pajamas the same style as Bai Xiaotang's, a bit small, exposing a segment of her calf.
The snacks casually tossed to her by Bai Xiaotang were placed nicely by her side, not opened.
She should be the "fallen girl" picked up by the little saint.
"Ah, Sister Xiaotong, I forgot to get the fresh juice from the fridge." Bai Xiaotang put her hands together, pleading to Ye Tong.
Ye Tong good-naturedly got up, went to the kitchen to get the juice for her, and considerately brought several different drinks for Ji Ning to choose from.
"Sister Ning, Sister Ning, you have such great taste. This version of 'War God' is considered a classic. The subsequent series of movies and TV shows were all filmed using this version as a reference. Su Qiangwei later starred in the TV version of 'War God,' let's watch together afterward."
Bai Xiaotang generously praised, Ji Ning glanced at Ye Tong, didn't take the credit: "She picked it."
"No wonder, Sister Xiaotong's favorite actress is Su Qiangwei. This movie was acted by her at 16 years old, and was once commented by Chief Fu as the actress most resembling Chief Ji Ning. Later, her promotional photo was even included in textbooks, when I was young, I even thought she was Chief Ji Ning herself…"
Ji Ning watched the short-haired woman on the big screen, falling into thought.
Could it really be the same name and surname?
As the movie progressed, Ji Ning sunk deeply into self-doubt...
Until a scene like a documentary appeared at the end.
Ji Ning's pupils instantly enlarged.
Damn it...
Where are these three little daredevils buried?
120 years have passed, the grass on their graves must be taller than her, right?
Ji Ning clenched her fist, staring at the screen fiercely, usually settling scores on the spot, but now feeling extremely suffocated.
Her hands were itching to dig the three out from the cemetery and ask them if she had dug up their ancestral graves or robbed them of their wives in her past life?
Is this how they blackened her?
Not to mention the plot, where did this sudden romance come from?
She's killed countless men in chaos, still time for romance?
In chaos, grab any man and ask, you'd get the right answer:
Men only slow down Ning Daddy's punches.
"Sister Ning...Sister Ning...what's wrong?" Bai Xiaotang looked fearfully at Ji Ning's expressionless face, not understanding why she suddenly got angry.
Ji Ning tried to suppress the anger in her heart, stabilize her voice and ask, "When did these three chiefs pass away?"
120 years have passed, no matter how long they lived, they couldn't possibly be alive now.
Especially as a superpower user, lifespans are unique, some live long, some live short.
Bai Xiaotang recited like a textbook, "In the year 82 of the new century, on May 31st, Chief Li Zhan passed away from illness at Beijing Hospital, the same year Chief Ye Jianxiu weakened and passed away on February 28th of the next year. Chief Fu Huayu passed away in Beijing Hospital in the third year after the two chiefs passed, also the day after this movie was released."
The anger in Ji Ning's heart gradually subsided, but the snacks in her hand had already been crushed into powder.
The three were saved by her from heaps of corpses, although sometimes a bit dull and holding her back in fights, they accompanied her for eight years.
They fought side by side, endured life-and-death crises, and built up Anhe Base, this "home," from scratch...
"Where... are they buried?"
"Beijing Cemetery."
***
The autumn rain is neither as fragrant as spring, as cool as summer, nor as cold as winter, but carries a sense of desolation and decay.
Ji Ning stood by the window, staring at the raindrops sliding down the glass, her face unreadable of joy or sorrow.
From the moment she traveled till now, it's clearly only been three days, yet it feels like a different lifetime.
She recalled fragments before she traveled, only to find some memories have suddenly become a bit blurred, as if time wanted her to forget the past and to no longer linger.
"The weather here is very changeable, sometimes sunny at noon, raining in the afternoon, have some hot water." Ye Tong's voice came from behind Ji Ning.
Ji Ning turned around, took the cup from the tray, and thanked her.
Ye Tong did not leave, walked to her side, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly took a deep breath, half-turned, looking directly into Ji Ning's eyes: "Bai Xiaotang is the direct line eldest daughter of the Beijing Bai Family, her elder brother is the Bai Family Patriarch."
Ji Ning took a sip of hot water and looked at her.
Ye Tong continued, "People from noble families in Beijing, in a small place like Anhe, can cause storms with just a stomp."
Ji Ning's complexion remained the same, holding the cup calmly drinking water.
The aura of calmness about her made Ye Tong somewhat exasperated, the courage she finally mustered was completely ruined by Ji Ning, and in a sulk, she reminded: "Anyone who wants to deceive or bully her should be prepared for retaliation from the Bai Family."
After speaking, without waiting for Ji Ning's response, she was about to leave, but suddenly Ji Ning's voice came from behind: "What is your purpose?"