Chapter 32 : Just Picking Up My Sister—Is That an Evil Smile Really Necessary?

“This is… definitely a problem now…”

Christine frowned as she looked at the error codes flashing on the monitor.

“How’s it looking? Can you fix it?”

Standing beside her, Li Yiming rubbed his chin as he asked.

Faced with Li Yiming’s question, Christine helplessly shook her head.

“No, the circuit board got water-damaged. It shorted out.”

She closed the maintenance panel with a sigh.

“This is bad… Without this machine, we can’t proceed with the drug production.”

Christine rubbed her head in frustration.

Neither of them had the technical skills to repair the device.

And without this particular machine, a key step in the pharmaceutical process was completely blocked.

Unlike Christine’s distress, however, Li Yiming remained unusually optimistic.

“If we can’t fix it, then let’s just find another one.”

“There are tons of Umbrella research labs all over Raccoon City.”

“There’s no way this is the only machine.”

He said it with cheerful confidence.

“Well, that’s true.”

“There’s another one in the underground lab right here at Sacred Heart Hospital,” Christine nodded, but then sighed again.

“Even though there’s a pharmaceutical lab down there…”

“It’s also where they kept a lot of bioweapons.”

“And if the Lickers managed to escape from that underground lab, then that means…”

“That the containment systems in the entire underground facility must have failed.”

Her expression turned grim.

With their current strength, heading down there would be pure suicide!

After hearing what Christine said, Li Yiming didn’t respond much.

Having read the comic, he naturally knew what the underground lab was like.

As the dedicated bioweapon testing site—nicknamed “The Hive”— Going down there now to borrow the lab would be no different from walking into a death trap.

But that’s only if they went now.

Li Yiming showed a faint smile.

Sure, the drug couldn’t be made for now.

But that didn’t affect his plans at all.

After all, he had thoroughly studied the comic.

He knew exactly where in the city the mutant zombies were, and where the protagonist Shen Feiyan’s power-ups would appear.

He wasn’t strong enough yet, but once he powered up a bit—

That underground lab at Sacred Heart Hospital would basically become his personal ATM for harvesting zombie crystal cores!

With such an advantage, Li Yiming wasn’t panicked in the slightest.

He patted Christine’s shoulder, breaking her train of thought.

“It’s fine. Going down there now is suicide, sure—but that doesn’t mean it’ll always be that way.”

“Once I get stronger, I can just go later, right?”

He shrugged, speaking with casual ease.

“Huh?”

Christine gave him a suspicious look.

This guy… isn’t he being a little too optimistic?

After all, he’s carrying the T-Virus in his body like a time bomb!

Sure, as long as he keeps absorbing crystal cores, he can stave off death—and even get stronger.

But it’s not like crystal cores grow on trees!

What, does he think zombies drop them like cabbages?

Christine was speechless.

What she didn’t know, however, was that for most people, those zombie crystal cores were hard to come by.

But for Li Yiming, it really was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

Not to mention the countless mutant zombies the comic barely mentioned.

Even just by following Shen Feiyan’s route and intercepting the events, he’d have a nearly unlimited supply of crystal cores!

Unaware of this crucial detail, Christine naturally sank deeper into her worries.

Seeing Christine racking her brain over his future, Li Yiming smiled softly and reached out his hand to pat her head.

“Relax, I have my own methods and plans.”

He gently ruffled Christine’s hair, trying to ease her concerns.

“Instead of worrying about all those future what-ifs…”

“Why don’t you just calm down for now and go absorb that crystal core?”

“Once you’ve recovered a bit, I still need to take you along to pick someone up.”

As soon as Christine heard Li Yiming say he needed to “pick someone up,” her expression instantly changed.

“Pick someone up? Who?”

“Male or female?”

She looked at Li Yiming with obvious suspicion.

Seeing Christine so doubtful, Li Yiming explained everything that had happened before he arrived at Sacred Heart Hospital in full detail.

Only after hearing the whole story did Christine finally let go of her doubts.

Phew, thank goodness—it’s just a simple sibling relationship.

Even though she wasn’t entirely sure why she was so tense just now, Christine still patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief.

“So, when are you planning to go pick up your sister?”

“Isn’t it dangerous to leave her in a survivor squad all alone?”

Now more relaxed, Christine turned to Li Yiming and voiced her concern.

“Don’t worry—she’s an ability user too.”

“She’s traveling with a survivor squad, so she’s safe for now.”

“As for when we head out…”

“Well, let’s wait until you’ve fully absorbed the crystal core, and then decide based on how you’re feeling.”

Li Yiming spoke confidently.

With his knowledge of the comic’s plot, he knew exactly where the survivor squad was and what they were doing.

That was precisely why he had arranged for Li Xiaoyao to temporarily stay with them.

Back then, he hadn’t had the power to protect a support-type like Li Xiaoyao, who had no combat ability.

Now, although the ticking time bomb of the T-Virus was still unresolved, Li Yiming had finally gained the strength to protect her.

So, going to pick up Li Xiaoyao now was the perfect timing.

Especially now, with the T-Virus boosting his body, and after absorbing that zombie crystal core—

Li Yiming had acquired enough strength to stand toe-to-toe with the protagonist, Shen Feiyan!

He knew that ridiculous protagonist’s personality all too well.

Stealing away one of his future harem members?

That would hurt Shen Feiyan even more than killing his parents!

Li Yiming was sure of it.

When the time came, even if it meant going against Li Xiaoyao’s own wishes, Shen Feiyan would never let him just take her away so easily!

So when he went to pick up Li Xiaoyao, a battle between them would be inevitable.

To succeed, he’d need the power to beat that cheat-code main character Shen Feiyan.

Right now, with the T-Virus strengthening him on one side, and an unabsorbed zombie crystal core on the other—

Combining both, he’d definitely have enough firepower to beat Shen Feiyan before he fully developed into his overpowered self.

Li Yiming revealed the same kind of sinister grin as Anya from Spy x Family.

Shen Feiyan, oh Shen Feiyan…

I wonder what kind of face you’ll make when you see me again?

Li Yiming’s wicked smile made Christine, still sitting on the hospital bed, twitch her lips in disbelief.

Seriously?

You’re just picking up your sister.

Is that evil grin really necessary?