Silence.
Lin Weiran opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but just before she spoke, she realized that her thoughts couldn’t be put into words.
How could she say it?
Was she supposed to say—The mayor only entertains ability users, and you’re just an ordinary person, so you don’t deserve this treatment?
This was something everyone knew, yet it wasn’t something she could openly say.
Lin Weiran was momentarily at a loss for words and instinctively looked at Zhao Zhenyu.
The latter did not disappoint her silent plea for help and immediately let out a merciless sneer.
“Everyone gets a share? Are you ‘everyone’? Do you have an ability?”
“The mayor is entertaining us, the ability users. And you? You’re shameless enough to squeeze in? Do you even deserve it?”
Zhao Zhenyu’s words grew nastier with each sentence, showing no regard for Su Su’s dignity as he completely degraded her in public.
For a moment, the atmosphere turned particularly awkward.
Lin Weiran, slightly embarrassed, glanced at the mayor and said, “Sorry, our teammate has a bit of a temper. I hope you don’t take offense.”
“No worries, no worries. Conflict is normal.”
The mayor’s gaze flickered for a few seconds, finding the situation somewhat amusing.
In his eyes, this group of ability users was full of flaws—only that Si Zhe still had some composure.
As for Zhao Zhenyu and Lin Weiran… there was no need to mention the former, and as for the latter, she didn’t seem as genuinely kind and generous as she appeared on the surface.
After all, Su Su was her cousin, yet she let her teammates mock her in public while she herself came over to apologize to him… interesting.
“It’s understandable if she’s unwilling. How about this—you all stay in the town for a few more days? That way, I’ll have more opportunities to prove myself, and little Su will also have more time to think. Who knows? Maybe she’ll change her mind.”
Before Lin Weiran could respond, Si Zhe, who had remained silent until now, declined first.
“No need. We’re in a hurry to reach the southern base. The longer we delay, the more unpredictable the journey becomes. It’s best to leave as soon as possible.”
Whether Su Su stayed in the town or not had nothing to do with him.
But the mayor, though appearing kind, was actually deeply calculating. Staying even a moment longer could lead to unforeseen complications. The best choice was to leave tonight.
“Oh, is that so…”
The mayor looked a little regretful, but he didn’t insist. Instead, he changed the topic.
“In that case, there’s nothing I can do. Since you can’t agree to my request, the supplies that were just brought in might have to be reduced by seventy to eighty percent.”
“Seventy to eighty percent?” Zhao Zhenyu shouted in shock. “That much? On what grounds?”
A hundred pounds of rice—reduced by seventy to eighty percent would leave only twenty pounds.
Three boxes of instant noodles—reduced by seventy to eighty percent would leave barely half a box.
Thirty pounds of sausage—reduced by seventy to eighty percent would leave barely five or six pounds.
…
They had five grown men and one woman, all of whom were ability users with large appetites. How long could this little food last them?
Zhao Zhenyu’s furious questioning did nothing to wipe the smile off the mayor’s face.
“Ability User Zhao, I’ve already treated everyone quite generously. Take the crystal stones, for example—I’ve been splitting them evenly with you all. As for supplies… I still have to consider the entire town.”
Bullshit!
If he were really thinking about the town, why hadn’t he considered that earlier? Wasn’t it just because he had his eyes on Su Su and wanted to use the supplies to force them into leaving her behind?
Zhao Zhenyu was furious but had no outlet for his anger. He held it in for more than ten seconds but still couldn’t bear to give up the extra “eighty percent of supplies” that should have been theirs.
“Si Zhe, why don’t we stay a few more days?”
They could enjoy the town’s comforts a little longer and still receive a good amount of supplies. They were going to the southern base sooner or later—what difference would a few days make?
“No.” Si Zhe refused without a second thought. “We’re leaving tonight.”
Zhao Zhenyu was momentarily speechless.
His frustration flared even more. Looking around, the mayor refused to budge, and Si Zhe wouldn’t compromise either. That left only one option…
He strode up to Su Su and glared down at her with a furious expression.
“What the hell is your problem?”
“Staying in the town means food, drink, and shelter without a single worry. It’s safe, stable, and you can live comfortably for the rest of your life. What more do you want?”
At this moment, only Zhao Zhenyu was speaking, but everyone’s gaze was pressing down on Su Su, creating an invisible sense of oppression.
Silence was also a form of oppression.
Su Su had come to understand this truth in her past life.
She let out a soft laugh.
“What more do I want?”
“Zhao Zhenyu, along the way, have I ever eaten your food? Drunk your water? Or when zombies came after me, did any of you save me?”
“Did you? No, you didn’t!”
“When Wu Zhi stole my food, you all stood by and watched! When he dragged me into the woods, planning to violate me, you all still stood by and watched! But when Wu Zhi was bitten to death by a venomous snake, all of you turned around and blamed me for not calling for help!”
She listed her accusations one by one, and Zhao Zhenyu only found her words grating on his ears.
“So what? What do you want us to do? Provide for you unconditionally? Feed you, clothe you, and treat you like a princess? You’re just a useless ordinary person—don’t act all high and mighty just because of your looks! Be realistic, will you?”
Su Su ignored him and instead looked at Lin Weiran.
“And you? Do you think the same?”
Lin Weiran had been watching from the sidelines, not expecting to be dragged into this. She hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “Zhenyu’s words are harsh, but… he has a point.”
Again.
Su Su smiled.
“Cousin, when the apocalypse began, you just so happened to be in F City. At first, I thought you had come to see our family, but later, I found out you were actually here to meet an online friend and only stayed with us for a few days.”
At this, Lin Weiran instinctively glanced at Si Zhe.
The truth was, she had gone to F City to meet a soul mate she had been chatting with online for a year. Unfortunately, before they could meet, the apocalypse hit, and the internet collapsed on a large scale. She had lost contact before they even had the chance to see each other, then fell into a coma after awakening her ability.
Later, it was Si Zhe who had saved her.
And even later, as they fought side by side, they realized that they were the very online friends who had been in contact all along.
Lin Weiran didn’t understand why Su Su suddenly brought this up.
“What are you trying to say?”
Su Su stared straight at her. “Cousin, when F City fell, you returned to my house with your man. What did you say?”
Lin Weiran’s entire body stiffened.
“You said you were leaving F City and needed to borrow my family’s modified seven-seater SUV.”
“My parents had already died in the mouths of zombies, but I gave you the car, handed over the last remaining medical kit in my house to treat your man, and let you take all the remaining supplies… My only request was that you take me with you to the southern base.”
“And now? Today is the 48th day on the road. Along the way, you’ve taken in so many new teammates. Once the initial food supply ran out, I started finding my own food. When there wasn’t enough space in the seven-seater SUV, I voluntarily moved to the vehicles in the convoy.”
“I know—a car and a medical kit are a small, small favor. I never expected you to worship me like a saint. But now? Are you going back on our original deal? Are you really planning to dump me in this small town, leaving me with a man I’ve only known for two days?”
Lin Weiran’s face turned pale, shifting between blue and white. She opened her mouth several times, wanting to explain, but the words just wouldn’t come out.
Su Su let out a mocking laugh, her gaze shifting back to Zhao Zhenyu.
“You asked me why I’m not satisfied? Then tell me, why should I be satisfied?”
“Is it because you’re selling me off to a divorced man while you all leave with full bellies and a load of supplies?”
With every word she spoke, she took a step forward. Her unprecedented imposing presence forced Zhao Zhenyu to instinctively retreat several steps.
“Eighty percent of the supplies in exchange for one ordinary person. Am I supposed to be happy that you got a great deal?”
Su Su’s words were like needles, pricking the spines of everyone present, one after another.
Lin Weiran’s face was ashen as she bit her lip lightly. “That’s not what we meant…”
“Enough.”
Si Zhe suddenly spoke. He pulled Lin Weiran behind him.
“If you’re so dissatisfied and have so many complaints about this journey, then there’s no need for you to follow us anymore.”
Lin Weiran was stunned. “Si Zhe?”
Si Zhe patted her hand reassuringly. Only when he faced her did his eyes soften slightly.
“Weiran, listen to me.”
Lin Weiran hesitated for two seconds before finally nodding. “Okay.”
Si Zhe turned back to Su Su. “I’ll return the SUV to you. You can have the medical kit back too. We can even give you some supplies. From today onward, don’t follow us anymore. We have no obligation to take you south.”
His tone was calm, but his gaze was sharp as a blade, slicing through the girl who was “greedy like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.”
“This arrangement should satisfy you, right?”
Su Su met his gaze. Suddenly, she found it amusing.
So she laughed.
Si Zhe frowned. “What are you laughing at?”
What was she laughing at?
She was laughing at how they had gotten the better deal but still acted like they were being magnanimous—how they had used the medical kit to heal their wounds, relied on the modified SUV to escape the fallen F City, yet now resented the small favor she had provided.
She was laughing at how, the moment she spoke up about the unfairness, they acted as if she were ungrateful.
And there was more that Su Su found amusing.
In this life, for the first time, she finally had the courage to refuse. She no longer needed to “know her place.”
She no longer had to be like she was in her past life—too afraid to voice her grievances, forced to beg Lin Weiran not to abandon her.
Back then, they had simply assumed she should stay behind and “enjoy a good life.” It wasn’t until they had packed up and were ready to drive away that she ran out with a dagger.
Right in front of the mayor and Lin Weiran, she had lifted the blade and slashed two deep wounds across her face, from her brow bone to her cheek.
She had used the most desperate act of self-harm to force the mayor to give up on her. Then, she had tearfully pleaded about the small “kindness” she had once shown them, pressuring the only one with a voice—Lin Weiran—into giving in out of guilt and hesitation, ultimately abandoning the supplies and continuing to take her south.
Back then, she hadn’t even dared to blame them. She had only dared to play the fool, to act pitiful, every word she spoke laced with blood and tears.
Su Su finished laughing and finally said, “Alright, I’m very satisfied. Now, please return my things as soon as possible.”
Si Zhe’s voice was icy. “No one wants to take your things.”
But Zhao Zhenyu was not having it.
He turned to Si Zhe in shock. “Captain?!”
That modified SUV—its chassis was stable, its performance was powerful, and even if they were surrounded by a horde of zombies, it could floor the gas and charge straight through. No ordinary car could compare to it.
Not to mention, it was a seven-seater, capable of fitting all their teammates. If they folded down the seats, two adults could even lie down inside.
With that vehicle, their journey would be so much easier!
If they returned it, how would they ever find another vehicle as suitable in the apocalypse?
Lin Weiran had already sensed Si Zhe’s determination. After a brief hesitation, she chose to support his decision.
“Zhenyu, whether it’s the SUV or the medical kit, we can find another one.”
Find another one?
But what about in the meantime?
Zhao Zhenyu swallowed his frustration. He wanted to argue, but he didn’t dare to offend Si Zhe. In the end, he could only slam his fist on the table in anger.