NOVPUBChapter 105: Chapter 105: Impossible to be Soft-hearted
Chapter 105 -105: Impossible to be Soft-hearted
When the two of them drove back, they were very cautious, but they almost fell into an ambush at a roadblock. Fortunately, the ambushers didn’t seem professional enough, their hiding spots on either side of the road were not very concealed, Gu Pan spotted them from afar with a pair of binoculars. They quickly changed their route and evaded trouble.
Now, venturing out, if one left the urban area, into deserted places, one person would drive while the other would definitely watch the surroundings with binoculars to avoid ambush. Of course, they didn’t drive too fast, in case a tire was punctured and the car went airborne, that would be dangerous.
When they got back to the complex, they didn’t have to undergo the guards’ interrogation. Now they were free to come and go, which was nice.
As soon as they entered the complex, they hadn’t gone far when they saw Lin Feifei crying her eyes out, arguing with Lin Ran by the rockery in the garden.
“What are you crying for? This is reality. If we don’t find anything to scavenge, we’ll be hungry tomorrow. We should go out again before dawn. It’s necessary. Your mother is not in good health, your grandfather is old. Besides you and me, who else can go?” Lin Ran’s voice trembled.
Lin Feifei was desperately aggrieved, “But I really can’t walk anymore. I already walked for three hours when we went out earlier tonight. I’ve only rested for an hour at home before having to go out again. I really can’t walk anymore. I’ve got blisters on my feet.”
Listening to their conversation, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng exchanged a look. Weren’t those two always out scavenging? And they even had time to rest for an hour? Then they couldn’t have gone far; there couldn’t be any resources left nearby. Others would hate to waste a moment, setting out at nightfall and not returning until the dawn. The further they walked, the more they’d find.
Lin Ran spoke again, “If you want to starve, then don’t go. If you don’t, then get moving quickly.”
Lin Feifei had never been starved before. She didn’t seem to grasp the situation, “Then I’d rather be hungry.”
Lin Ran seemed unable to persuade her daughter, “Then go back; I’ll go out by myself to look again.”
Upon hearing Lin Ran’s conceding words, Lin Feifei happily agreed and ran back towards home.
Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng shook their heads involuntarily as they walked towards their home. They noticed Lin Feifei didn’t go home but headed towards Yuan Jiang’s place instead. After knocking on a door that nobody answered, she dejectedly returned home.
These things had nothing to do with Gu Pan and the others, they were just onlookers to the commotion. Once the excitement died down, they went home.
After returning home, the two of them went to sleep. They were finally not worried about being disturbed by the Inner Circle people.
They slept until the afternoon before waking up.
After washing up and eating something, they sat in their room and read for a while. The sun was westward, casting a gentle red glow. If not for the apocalypse, this would have been the idyllic peace people talked about.
As evening approached, the walkie-talkie suddenly crackled to life, “Brother, sister, come save me, someone seems to be coveting my beauty.”
Gu Pan frowned at Lu Ruisheng, “It doesn’t seem to be a big deal.”
Lu Ruisheng nodded, “I think so too.”
“We should still go check it out, see who still has the mood to kick up this fuss at this time.”
“Alright.”
Dressed and ready, they left and went to Cheng Yang’s house.
Upon entering the yard, they saw Cheng Yang with a broom in his hand, warding off a young woman, shouting, “Back off.”
The woman, in her early twenties, was thin and fragile, dragging a suitcase and standing timidly inside the yard with her head lowered.
Gu Pan’s mouth twitched at this scene. Why was this guy always so ridiculous?
Seeing Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng, Cheng Yang finally found his main support, “Bro, sis, that woman wants to move into my house. I don’t agree, but she insists, even tried to touch me. It scared the life out of me.”
Although Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng hadn’t anticipated this, the scene before them wasn’t too surprising. They were able to stand up to the people in the Inner Circle, they had weapons, and since they hadn’t waged war before, nor taken over the Inner Circle or charged protection fees, it proved they were more compassionate and capable. So it was a quick and good choice for those struggling to survive to attach themselves to them.
Yesterday’s Huihui and her mother, now this girl – neither affection nor emotion was needed. All driven by interest, all to survive.
But, they weren’t a charitable hall, nor could they casually take in more people, not even relatives and friends. Otherwise, everyone would struggle to survive, let alone these strangers.
They weren’t in this to be lords of the land, so they couldn’t afford to be dragged into such drama.
She told the young woman, “We can’t accommodate outsiders. Miss, don’t harbor that idea. You should look elsewhere.”
The girl’s eyes brimmed with tears, “I, I had no choice. We came out of the Inner Circle, couldn’t find any food at home. My grandfather is old, my parents used to work in offices, not good at scavenging. We had resources in the Inner Circle but… I just really have no other option,” she stuttered, her words lacking confidence.
Cheng Yang was frightened, “Whether you have food or not, you can’t just impose on me. The little food I have isn’t easy to come by. Please go, I can’t take you in.”
The girl wiped away tears and looked at Cheng Yang, “You’re also a grown man, it’s not bad having a woman around. It’s the apocalypse, everyone is lonely. I don’t eat much and I can work.”
Cheng Yang waved a hand, “That’s not it. Even if I did want company, it would have to be someone I like. Otherwise, I’d rather be alone.”
The girl pressed, “But you don’t have anyone now, do you? With the apocalypse, who knows when it will end. Couldn’t you just think of me as a life partner?”
Gu Pan thought the girl was quite clever, hitting the nail on the head. A life partner, in the apocalypse without a mate, one could easily go mad—part of the reason she didn’t live alone after her husband died in her previous life. Facing all these alone was worse than death.
Cheng Yang scratched his head, “I, I’ll have someone eventually, but not you.”
After that, he called to Gu Pan, “Sis, help me persuade her to leave, my arms are aching.” He had been holding the broom the whole time, afraid the girl would push her way in.
Gu Pan sighed and turned to the girl, “You know what you’re doing, but he doesn’t need you. He has his own life. Clinging on to him like this is useless. And I can assure you that we can’t take in outsiders. So, you should spend your time thinking of another way.”
When the girl heard Gu Pan, she understood there was no way through here. She looked at Gu Pan with a sad expression, “I, I really don’t know what to do. Can you show me a way?”
She was desperate to survive, carried so little with her, the sensation of hunger left her devoid of vitality, as well as the uncertainty and fear of the future. She could only place her hope on someone else, and now she really hoped Gu Pan could show her a clear path.
