C127 The Generator Lit up Hope and Qin Mengli Warned Tang Bing!

"Generator?!" As Tang Bing dragged wires out of the workshop and began fitting light bulbs around the room and staircase, the onlookers caught sight of the generator inside and exclaimed in surprise.

Qin Mengli could hardly believe her eyes. "Tang Bing, did you build this generator? When did you learn to make something like this? And, does it actually work?"

"It sure looks the part!" Lin Leyan was equally astonished. "If it really generates power, that would be amazing!"

"Bing, if you can produce electricity, I'll worship you like a deity!" Sun Meng clung to his arm. "Just give the word, and I'll do anything you ask! Lighting candles and using flashlights every day is such a hassle. Plus, once the batteries die, that's it! I truly miss the days of having electricity. Humans really can't live without it!"

"First, let go of my arm!" Tang Bing gently nudged Sun Meng's head away. "You're getting in the way of my work. Step back, please."

Pushed aside, Sun Meng felt a twinge of frustration. He's so clueless! I've made my feelings quite clear; does Bing genuinely not get it, or is he just playing dumb? It's not easy for a girl to put herself out there like this, is it? They say it's only a thin veil between a pursuing woman and a man, but somehow that doesn't seem quite right...

Tang Bing, oblivious to Sun Meng's mood, secured the electric wire along the staircase, connected it to the switch and bulb socket, and then hung up an energy-saving light bulb.

"Bing, let's give it a shot! Come on, try it out!" Zhao Dagang couldn't contain his excitement, even though Tang Bing hadn't finished installing lights in all the rooms and corridors.

Feeling the weight of everyone's eager gazes, Tang Bing was filled with a rush of excitement. He nodded and headed back to the workshop.

He had installed a small engine, salvaged from a vehicle outside, into the generator, selecting the six that were in the best condition.

The engine's quality was key to the amount of electricity generated, but the current lighting needs of the house were minimal, so it was more than sufficient.

Back in the workshop, the team members gathered around Tang Bing, watching the generator with bated breath.

Tang Bing accessed the generator's interface and repeatedly clicked on the refueling option. A small bucket of gasoline from the virtual backpack was automatically consumed, filling the generator's fuel gauge to the max.

Next, he hit the power switch, and sure enough, the generator roared to life with a deep rumble.

"Is it working? Is it on?" Zhao Dagang asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Yep!" Tang Bing rose to his feet, nudging them aside as he strode over to flip the light switch on the wall.

With a sharp "click," the once-dim workshop was bathed in bright light.

"Wow!" The whole team erupted in cheers, the four women hugging and jumping for joy.

Zhao Dagang watched them with a touch of envy before attempting to embrace Tang Bing, only to be promptly pushed away.

"Tang, you're absolutely incredible!" Lin Leyan exclaimed, her admiration genuine. "Following you was definitely the right decision!"

"We have power! At last, we have electricity!" Liang Hui, unable to contain her excitement, pulled out her phone, which had long since gone dead. "So, can I charge it now?"

"What good will that do? Whether we can even make calls to the outside world is still up in the air," Qin Mengli pointed out.

"No worries!" Liang Hui waved her phone, a grin spreading across her face. "I've got several offline games saved on here. It'll be great for killing time!"

"All you think about is playing!" Lin Leyan chided, tapping her daughter's head, her thoughts clear: How can you be in the mood for games at a time like this?

"Tang Bing, how much power does this generator have?" Qin Mengli inquired, more concerned about whether the electricity was sufficient to run various household appliances.

"It should be no problem," Tang Bing pondered for a moment. "If we can secure more engines, we could build additional generators to meet more power needs. Plus, if we set up some solar panels, we'll pretty much eliminate any worries about running out of electricity!"

At this news, another round of cheers went up from the group.

"Bing," Zhao Dagang suddenly asked, a new concern dawning on him, "But the generator is so loud, what if it draws the zombies here?"

"Do you think I chose such a secluded spot for our base by accident? It's hours by car to the nearest village or town," Tang Bing replied with a sidelong glance. "This place is usually deserted, visited only occasionally by tourists or villagers heading up the mountain to gather firewood. While zombies in urban areas do wander, the chances of them stumbling upon us here are slim. The most we might encounter are wild animals that have mutated from drinking water tainted with the zombie virus, and they're few in number. So we can use the generator boldly, without much worry! Besides, if zombies do happen to find their way here, we'll have ample time to fortify this place into an impenetrable fortress!"

"If you're reassured, then I am too," Zhao Dagang let out a sigh of relief. "So, our place is basically a hidden paradise?"

"Pretty much!" Tang Bing agreed with a smile. "And you raise a good point. Next time we head into town, let's look for some soundproofing boards! If we can fully soundproof this room, it'll be even more secure."

"I think that's a great idea!" Zhao Dagang nodded with enthusiasm.

"So once we get the water hooked up, we can start using the hot water heater?" Sun Meng's eyes sparkled. "Bing, is that for real? I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"Rest assured," Tang Bing assured the hopeful faces around him, "we'll have the hot water heater up and running in no time. And once we have the solar panels, showering won't be a problem at all."

"That's amazing! I haven't showered in two days, and it's driving me crazy!" Sun Meng exclaimed joyfully, grabbing Tang Bing's hand. "Bing, you're the best!"

"Ah?" Tang Bing was taken aback. Sun Meng had always been warm and close to him, but her sudden declaration of love caught him off guard.

Sun Meng had spoken impulsively and quickly realized it. She felt a bit embarrassed under the teasing glances of Lin Leyan, Liang Hui, and Zhao Dagang, but she stood her ground, looking back at them defiantly, unashamed.

Qin Mengli's eyebrows flickered almost imperceptibly, and her gaze towards Sun Meng turned colder, though she remained silent.

"Okay, okay!" Seeing the team, aside from Qin Mengli, looking on with amused, gossip-hungry eyes, Tang Bing shook his head in resignation and clapped his hands. "There's still a lot to set up. I want to have every corner of the house lit up before dark. Go on with your tasks, and no more distractions here!"

At Tang Bing's words, Lin Leyan quickly tugged at Sun Meng, "Mengmeng, let's go set the table, shall we? That way, Tang can dig in as soon as he's finished!"

"Right!" Sun Meng nodded eagerly. "Sure thing, Teacher Lin, it must be ready by now!"

"Alright, let's get moving!" Lin Leyan then turned to her daughter, "Huihui, come down and lend a hand!"

"Got it!" Liang Hui promptly followed suit.

"Huihui, wait up for me!" Zhao Dagang, seeing Liang Hui departing, quickly chased after her.

"Stay away from me!" Liang Hui snapped back at him, "You didn't even offer a word of comfort earlier, are you blind?"

"Isn't it okay for me to comfort you now?" Zhao Dagang pleaded, his face a picture of groveling.

"I don't need your comfort now!" Liang Hui huffed, "Just leave me alone!"

"Huihui, please, don't be mad~"

Their conversation faded away as they descended the stairs.

Tang Bing noticed Qin Mengli was still beside him and asked, puzzled, "Why haven't you left?"

Qin Mengli peeked down the stairs to make sure everyone was gone before turning to face Tang Bing. "A pretty girl confesses her love for you, and you're not thrilled?"

Why bring this up out of the blue? It was so odd! Tang Bing went into the studio to shut down the generator, giving her a perplexed look.

Qin Mengli, catching his look, huffed, "I'm just trying to give you a friendly warning. Don't be so naive as to think Sun Meng really likes you. Do you honestly believe that?"

"What's it to you?" Tang Bing felt a twinge of discomfort at her words, even though he shared the sentiment. It was as if she was putting him down.

"I'm just looking out for you!" Qin Mengli retorted, clearly annoyed, "Everything she's done has an ulterior motive. You're decent in other areas, but when it comes to romance, you're as naive as a puppy. Don't let her pull the wool over your eyes."

"You needn't concern yourself with that," Tang Bing said, frowning at her.

"If you don't want to hear it, fine!" Qin Mengli snorted, "Sun Meng is only using you. Everyone on the team looks to you as the leader. They know establishing a good rapport with you now will pay off later. Especially since everyone's aware you're not just any regular Joe. We may not know exactly what your powers or special skills are, but it's clear they're a huge asset for survival in this post-apocalyptic world. Don't you see? Sun Meng has been deliberately cozying up to you, trying to seduce you!"

"Don't put it so harshly. What's with the accusation of seduction?" Tang Bing turned to look at her, "Weren't you two as close as sisters before? Your relationship was great! And now, you're acting like sworn enemies. Does that make sense to you?"

"She's up to no good!" Qin Mengli retorted, her voice heated, "She's deliberately getting close to you for a reason!"

"What's it to you?" Tang Bing replied coolly, a hint of amusement in his tone, "Whether she has an ulterior motive or not, how does it affect you?"

"I..." Qin Mengli faltered, her lips quivering, unable to find the words.

Her stance was indeed inappropriate given the circumstances. She had once rejected Tang Bing, employing rather childish and extreme tactics to do so.

Maybe Tang Bing still held onto the memory of that designer bag incident, that thorn lodged firmly in his side. Coupled with everything that had transpired since, her position was precarious at best.

Qin Mengli struggled to speak, her words stumbling over a repetitive "I... I..." as if she were stammering. Tang Bing let out a soft sigh, "In this day and age, it's common for the weak to seek the protection of the strong. Honestly, what does it matter if she has an ulterior motive? I'm single, she's single. If she wants to throw herself at me, I'm not losing out. How does this concern you anyway? You've made it clear that there's no chance for us..."