Li Xiang's hatred

Green Radish stood beside the vehicle, all smiles, an undisguised gleam in her eyes, like a shark scenting blood.

Lin Qi naturally knew how unbelievably powerful Green Radish's healing ability was. He did not mind her stated price; what worried him was whether there might be some hidden cost.

Green Radish healed everyone she came across. There was definitely some secret she could not reveal.

Lin Qi did not need to think it over. His injuries were not life-threatening, so he flatly refused Green Radish. "Sorry, I don't need anything for now."

"Oh, you! You don't appreciate a good deed..."

Seeing how stubborn Lin Qi was, Green Radish could only walk away with a sigh.

Not long after Green Radish left, while Lin Qi was clumsily tending to his scrapes, another gentle female voice spoke up. "Lin, I've learned how to do this. Let me help."

Lin Qi looked up to see Yi Xue gazing at him through the window, her face full of worry.

"Mm, all right."

Lin Qi did not refuse Yi Xue. She seemed like a sweet, naive girl. Compared with Green Radish, Yi Xue, an ordinary person, was still worth trusting.

The main reason, though, was that he simply could not figure out which of the things in his hands were useful and which were not...

Yi Xue opened the passenger door and climbed in. The glass fragments scattered inside startled her at first, and the worry in her eyes turned to distress. "Lin, you must have run into quite a bit of trouble getting back."

Listening to Yi Xue's concern, Lin Qi felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

After spending so many years with Huang Li, this was the first time he had ever felt cared for by a woman.

But he knew perfectly well that her concern was only because she had seen what he could do in the apocalypse. If he were just an ordinary survivor, she might not even spare him a glance.

Yi Xue's concern did little to move Lin Qi. Instead, his voice was calm. "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

Yi Xue's small hands froze as she searched for the medicine, then quickly returned to normal. Her usual gentle smile appeared on her face. "Understood, Lin."

Yi Xue did not speak again. She simply picked up the medicine bottles and carefully began disinfecting and dressing Lin Qi's wounds, her movements as practiced as though she had demonstrated them countless times.

Li Xiang stood at the bus door. The students on the bus were all resting. When he saw Yi Xue leave, he followed her off the bus out of concern for her.

But just as he looked into the SUV through its glassless windows-

Seeing Yi Xue sitting in the passenger seat, leaning down, he clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. "You bastard Lin. You deserve to die. You really deserve to die..."

"Want revenge? Want to take your woman back?"

A low, enticing voice came from the darkness nearby.

Li Xiang turned almost instinctively and saw Scarface leaning against the side of the van, an indescribable smile covering his sinister face.

"Heh." Seeing that it was Scarface, Li Xiang did not approach. Instead, he sneered disdainfully. "Don't think I don't know about that crap between you and Lin. Want me to stick my neck out for you? You're not worthy."

At Li Xiang's words, Scarface's expression abruptly darkened. "Kid, dare to say that again?"

"What?" Li Xiang's smile grew even more contemptuous. "You think the three of you can take on a dozen of my classmates?"

"Fine, fine, fine. You've got guts. Just you wait." Scarface had not expected this stupid college student to not only refuse to join him, but even dare to oppose him.

He viciously ground his cigarette butt out underfoot, murderous intent already stirring within him.

Li Xiang paid no mind to Scarface's threat. He took one last look toward the SUV, barely concealing the hatred in his eyes. "Looks like it's time to make some changes. Teacher Gu..."

"It's the apocalypse now..."

"The world's already ended. Why am I still pretending to be a good little student..."

Lin Qi handed Yi Xue two packets of instant noodles. "Your payment."

"Thank you."

In the past, Yi Xue would definitely have refused, but now she understood her classmates' situation. Without more food, they probably would not last more than a few days.

"Mm. If there's nothing else, you should go."

Lin Qi leaned wearily against his seat, his tone making it clear he was dismissing her.

Yet Yi Xue hesitated for a moment, pressing her lips tightly together as if she wanted to say something. Only when she saw Lin Qi slowly close his eyes did she muster her courage. "Lin, could I do some things for you in exchange for supplies...?"

"Hmm?" Lin Qi opened his eyes again and looked at Yi Xue in puzzlement. "Aren't there jobs you can do with the Transcendent Squad?"

"I..."

Yi Xue's voice grew a little quieter. "There aren't enough jobs with the Transcendent Squad to go around as it is. I feel bad competing with the older ladies for them..."

At this point, as though afraid Lin Qi might misunderstand and think she did not dare compete because she could not do the work well, she hurried to explain. "I-I can definitely do a good job. It's just, I'm young. Missing a few meals won't hurt me, but those ladies are getting on in years..."

"All right, all right."

Lin Qi did not know what was going through her mind. He pointed at the windshield. "Can you fix the glass?"

Yi Xue stared blankly at the empty windshield opening. "I-I can't..."

"Then never mind."

Lin Qi did not have anything he needed Yi Xue to do right now. Once he had rested, he could remove the glass from an abandoned vehicle by the roadside and install it himself.

"I-I..."

Yi Xue was clearly getting anxious. Her slightly frantic gaze swept quickly through the vehicle before finally settling on the thoroughly soaked clothes Lin Qi had changed out of and casually tossed into the back seat. Her bright eyes finally lit up. "I can wash your clothes!"

"I can just pick up a new set while I'm scavenging for supplies. Do you think washing them is necessary?" Lin Qi countered.

This time, however, Yi Xue's eyes positively shone, her two little pointed canines fully visible in her smile. "Hehe, here's something you don't know, Lin. The captain said we're going to stay here and rest for a while..."

"Stay here and rest for a while?" Lin Qi paused. If that was true, he really would not be able to go scavenging for clothes anytime soon.

It was almost the end of June now, and the weather was getting hotter. Clothes would reek of sweat after a few days. No matter how much he could endure, he could not travel in clothes that stank of sweat.

As for washing clothes...

He certainly had no inclination to wash them.

He would be better off spending that time resting and recovering his strength.

After a little thought, Lin Qi actually found himself persuaded by Yi Xue. "All right. I'll give you a packet of biscuits. Will that do?"

"Hehe, thanks, Lin."

Yi Xue happily took the biscuits and the soaking clothes, then jogged off into the darkness.

A rainstorm had just passed, and water was everywhere.

Yi Xue's small figure began exploring the abandoned vehicles nearby, collecting the water that had flooded inside...