From his description, Nadia figured Harrison's injury wasn't too serious. Out of habit, she asked, "Have you eaten yet?" "Not yet. Lily's working on it." Lily, making breakfast? She couldn't even reach the stovetop. "She has to learn eventually." He had a point. Kids in the apocalypse didn't have the luxury of being pampered. They either adapted or didn't survive. "Ah!" A sharp cry from Lily came through the walkie-talkie. Nadia frowned. "What happened?" Could she have burned herself, just like Harrison had the other day? However, there was no response on the other end.Knowing that she was the reason for Harrison's injury or Lily wouldn't need to step up to cook, Nadia grabbed her jacket and headed straight for Unit 1801. "Lily?!" She knocked several times before the door creaked open. Lily stood there, clearly unharmed but looking a bit defeated. It turned out she'd volunteered to take care of her brother and decided to start by making breakfast. Unable to reach the stove, she'd climbed onto a short stool but lost her balance and fell. Thankfully, her honed reflexes—courtesy of Harrison's rigorous training—kicked in, and she adjusted her landing to avoid injury. Still, the little girl looked miserable, her head down as she fidgeted with her fingers. Tears glistened in her eyes. "I'm really useless, aren't I, miss? I can't even make breakfast." It looked like she was on the verge of crying. "Of course not," Nadia said, patting her head. "You're only five and already trying to make breakfast. That's a feat. Your brother only learned how to cook a little while ago." Harrison, minding his business, wasn't too happy about the subtle jab. Still, he backed her up. "Yeah. Lily's way better than me." Feeling guilty that her injury had left them without breakfast, Nadia offered, "Lily, what do you want to eat? I'll teach you how to make it." "Dumplings!" Lily perked up immediately. "Harry wants dumplings!" So, with renewed enthusiasm, Lily climbed back onto her stool while Nadia patiently guided her through the process. Even Colby stood on its hind legs, leaning against the counter like it wanted to join in. If it weren't for the apocalypse, Nadia might've enrolled the dog in college, and maybe it'd come back with a degree. Surprisingly, Lily had quite the knack for it. She boiled water, washed dishes, and wiped down the table—all with remarkable skill for her age. But instead of being impressed, Nadia found her brows furrowing.Harrison drove a Hummer, which screamed wealth. So why was Lily so good at doing chores? The answer was obvious: she must've been forced to learn these things by her neglectful uncle's family. Thinking of Harrison's ruthless, no-nonsense personality, Nadia couldn't help but feel a bit curious. What happened to his uncle's family in the end? Still, that was his private business, and she wasn't nosy enough to ask. The two of them, plus the dog, busied themselves in the kitchen while Harrison stood by the door, observing. He might not have even noticed the slight smile tugging at his lips. It had to be said—Lily's cooking skills were leaps and bounds ahead of Harrison's. Not only were the dumplings perfectly cooked, but none of them broke apart. The little girl beamed with pride as she carefully ladled out half a bowl. "Harry, try the ones I made!" She didn't stop there, either. She scooped some for Nadia and even tried to serve Colby."I already ate," Nadia said, waving her off. "Enjoy them yourself." But Colby, the ever-greedy dog, dashed off and came back with the washbasin from Nadia's bathroom. It placed the washbasin on the floor, wagging its tail. Fill it up! Nadia's face burned with embarrassment. Colby acted as if she abused it. She tugged on its ear and chided, "They're filled with garlic chives. You can't eat them—you'll die." Colby froze, its whole body stiffening like a statue. After a long pause, the dog grabbed the washbasin in its teeth and stomped off in a huff. Can't eat this, can't eat that—what's the point of living anymore? Harrison sat at the dining table, eating and casually complimenting Lily on her cooking. Then he looked up at Nadia and asked, "Are you sure you don't want some?" Nadia shook her head. "I've already eaten," she replied firmly. It wasn't just that she was full; even if she hadn't eaten, she wouldn't casually take someone else's food. In the apocalypse, taking another person's share was as good as taking a slice of their survival. No matter how well-off Harrison seemed, she wasn't about to cross that line. Once he finished his meal, Nadia spoke up. "Your injury still needs some ointment." Though she was professionally trained, Harrison seemed uneasy. "Lily can do it for me later." Lily quickly chimed in, "I'll help Harry with it!" Appreciating his attempt at propriety, Nadia let out a quiet sigh of relief. Just as they wrapped up, there was a knock at the door. Caleb and Levi showed up, asking for help learning how to make bamboo arrows. When they saw Nadia there, neither of them looked surprised. Instead, they exchanged a subtle look of understanding. Harrison, unable to use his injured shoulder effectively, led the lesson in the living room. He showed them how to trim the bamboo to even lengths, shape it with a knife, and fire-treat it to increase its flexibility.Both Caleb and Levi picked it up quickly, their hands moving with practiced efficiency. Still, Caleb couldn't help but voice a concern. "Harry, crossbows are great and all, but with people bundled up so much in the winter, wouldn't the arrows have trouble piercing through?" "That's why I want you to improve your aim. When the time comes, target their eyes." Caleb's jaw dropped with incredulity. Eyes were tiny and moving. It was practically impossible. However, they didn't have many options, only practice. It was better than waiting to die. Nadia, sensing their stress, added, "You can aim for their faces too. Scarves are thinner." That small reassurance seemed to lift their spirits. "Nadia, you're the best." "Well, don't compare yourselves to me. I'm aiming for the eyes." Caleb groaned with exasperation. Sure, go ahead. Start the rat race, won't you?! Despite the cold, the banter kept the mood light. The living room felt lively, with Harrison occasionally chiming in while Lily played with Colby in the corner. At one point, Levi asked, "Harry, got any thermal wear you don't use? Can you give me two? We'll make you a makeshift bulletproof vest." Harrison thought it over and eventually nodded. "Sure." With teamwork, they managed to make a decent bundle of bamboo arrows quickly, though they'd need to stockpile more in the coming days, given how fast they'd burn through their supply. Since Harrison's shoulder injury put sparring out of the question, Nadia returned home, holding Colby while doing squats for her daily workout. But something felt off. She quickly brought Colby over to Harrison's. "I don't know if it's me, but Colby feels bigger." "Consistent exercise builds muscle in Malinois," Harrison explained. "It's not just that," Nadia insisted. "He's heavier, and his frame feels larger."Her seriousness got Harrison's attention. He had Colby lie down for an inspection, running his hands over the dog's body to check its bones. But as he examined it, his expression darkened. Colby's bone structure had definitely changed—larger and denser than before. Not only that, but its fur was denser, its paws larger, and its pads thicker. Even Harrison looked perplexed. "Animals don't have tools or medicine to adapt to harsh conditions like we do. When faced with extreme climates, they have no choice but to evolve rapidly, forcing their bodies to adapt." Evolve? That reminded Nadia of the mutated creatures from her previous life—giant cockroaches, oversized rats with razor-sharp teeth, and snakes reproducing at alarming rates. Every one of them had grown more vicious. A chill ran down her spine. No wonder Colby's appetite had grown, along with his occasional bursts of aggression. "This kind of evolution… could it make him lose his sense of self?" she asked hesitantly."Survival of the fittest," Harrison replied. "Most will become more aggressive. But animals with higher intelligence, like Colby, can be guided."