Dong Fei, as if anticipating what was coming, adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharp and menacing. "I won't push anyone. If you're unwilling to help, fine—but don't expect to claim anything from the supplies we retrieve."
"I'll go!" one person volunteered.
"Me too!" A few married men stepped forward with surprising courage. With families depending on them—elderly parents and young children—they knew they had no choice but to act.
Two convoys were formed, and Dong Fei naturally took the lead in one of them. "Go home now. I'll update everyone through the group chat later. But if you think you can sit back and still reap the rewards, think again about what you're offering in return."
An Bai looked at her boyfriend and whispered, "Ning Gu, there's no food left at home."
Ning Gu replied impatiently, "What's worrying you? My dad said he's working on sending us some food. Do you really want me to risk my life out there?"
"No, that's not what I meant," An Bai quickly clarified.
But Ning Gu pressed further, "Then what exactly do you mean?"
An Bai's face paled—because deep down, she did mean it.
About three hours later, two vehicles returned, their wheels sparking from friction. Six people had left; only four came back.
The waiting family members, seeing their sons or husbands missing, broke into sobs.
"Was my husband caught in the rain?" one woman cried.
"My son… Oh, my poor son…"
Dong Fei's voice was cold and unyielding. "It's chaos out there. Everyone is fighting over supplies. Your husband and your son didn't die from the rain—they were killed by others."
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, fear gripping their faces. But when they saw the food and water packed in the rear seats and trunks, their terror gave way to desperate longing.
"I need water! Give me water!" A skeletal man lunged forward without hesitation.
Dong Fei grabbed a bloodstained baseball bat and swung hard, shattering the man's jaw. But he didn't stop there. He continued to beat him mercilessly until the man's skull caved in.
Splattered with blood, Dong Fei turned to face the crowd. "Anyone else feel like trying their luck?"
Witnessing someone beaten to death before their eyes, the crowd froze in silence.
"Listen carefully! Men who want supplies must go out and earn them. Women who seek provisions will have to trade their bodies." Dong Fei's words sent shockwaves through the group.
But no one could fault him. These supplies had been paid for with lives. Why should they be handed out freely?
In this post-apocalyptic world, survival dictated its own rules.
Later that night, a soft knock interrupted Tang Ze as he sat eating pizza. He set the slice down, wiped his hands, and walked to the door, pausing to check who it was first.
When he recognized the familiar face, a sly smile spread across his lips. "I wondered how long you'd last."
She looked stunning tonight—dressed in a white dress, her makeup flawless, almost rivaling an airline stewardess.
Opening the door, he found Sun Ting standing there. Who watched live streams anymore? Even if there was income, those virtual numbers couldn't buy real necessities. Just earlier, a fellow streamer had gone to barter for supplies and returned traumatized after being abused by a group of men—all she got was a cup of water and a single Oreo.
So Sun Ting had come here, knowing this delivery guy probably hoarded plenty of food. She'd dressed up, hoping it would soften him enough to share something.
As soon as the door opened, Sun Ting caught a whiff of a familiar yet distant aroma.
New Orleans-style pizza!
Her eyes widened in disbelief. There, steaming on the coffee table, was a fresh pizza. How could anyone still afford such luxury?
"What do you want?" Tang Ze asked coolly, opening a bottle of mineral water and taking a sip.
Though she wore lipstick, Sun Ting's cracked lips betrayed her desperation. As a streamer, having some food stashed away wasn't unusual—but the real issue was the lack of water. Instant noodles were useless without it.
"Big brother, could you spare me some water?" The sight of Tang Ze drinking made her throat tighten with thirst.
Tang Ze's grin widened. "I liked you better when you were arrogant. Go back to calling me 'dirty loser.'"
"Big brother, forgive me. I was blind," Sun Ting stammered, abandoning her original plan. At this point, all she cared about was getting a drink of water; anything else was secondary.
Tang Ze let out a slow "Oh" and tilted the bottle, letting the precious liquid spill onto the floor. Sun Ting scrambled to catch it, horrified at the waste.
"So, kneeling isn't just a figure of speech," Tang Ze remarked, tucking the bottle away as he leaned back on the sofa, watching her intently.
Sun Ting slowly raised her head, her eyes locked on the bottle in his hand, her thirst overwhelming her pride.
"You want more?" Tang Ze teased, shaking the bottle slightly.
Sun Ting dropped to her knees, nodding eagerly. "Yes, please… I do."
"Alright, here's a little more."
Sun Ting reached for a cup, but Tang Ze poured the water onto the floor again. Desperate, she obediently licked it up.
"You've cleaned the floor so well—it deserves a reward." He tossed a slice of pizza onto the ground.
Once upon a time, Sun Ting wouldn't have touched such junk food, fearing it would ruin her figure. But now, it felt like gold. Ignoring her dignity, she devoured it hungrily.
"Hmm, look at you, all dirty. Go take a shower."
Sun Ting blinked in surprise. "You have water for a shower?"
"Of course. Clean yourself thoroughly, use plenty of soap."
Without wasting a second, Sun Ting dashed to the bathroom and found clean running water. Leaving the door wide open in her haste, she began scrubbing herself furiously. For someone accustomed to daily showers, going even a day without one was unbearable—let alone nearly a week.
This scene provided quite the spectacle for Tang Ze. After all, women who became streamers often possessed striking appearances.
After her bath, Sun Ting realized the door was still open and quickly closed it. Dressed neatly, she emerged moments later.
"Well, I should head back. Thank you." Sun Ting didn't want to stay any longer. This 'dirty loser' wasn't like the other men. He'd already given her food, which she considered repayment enough.
Tang Ze chuckled softly. "You ate my food and now you're leaving just like that?"
"I already repaid you—and you saw it," Sun Ting snapped, reverting to her usual demeanor. Tang Ze seemed pleased and pulled out a sleek black pistol.
Seeing the gun, Sun Ting froze—but then forced a laugh. "Is that supposed to scare me? Is it a lighter or a toy water gun?"
Bang! The gunshot echoed through the building, startling everyone in the neighborhood. Lights flickered on throughout the complex.
Who fired that shot?!
And then Sun Ting noticed the shattered ornament lying on the floor. It was no joke—this was real.