Han Yanyan had a dream. She saw a pair of cold eyes, and under their gaze, the entire world crumbled. Whether inorganic or organic, stone and flesh, plants and blood, everything turned to dust and disappeared without a trace.
It was midday the next day when Han Yanyan finally woke up from the nightmare, covered in cold sweat. Hearing noises in the hallway, she got up and opened the door.
In groups of threes and fours, women were heading out to eat. Just as Ding Yao mentioned last night, at Thunder Strike, the women who were willing to lie down and sleep with someone didn’t have to worry about meals. As for what the men would give them, it was up to the women. The men of Thunder Strike were strong fighters and always had good stuff on them. Compared to the outside world, these women were living quite well. If you had to compare, you could say it was a high-paying job with benefits that ensured personal safety.
But who would willingly choose this path if they had any other choice?
Han Yanyan didn’t look down on these women. If she didn’t have some special talent, if she had really been born as a native woman in this world, who knows where or how she would be now.
She saw Qi Tongtong from room 321, and they exchanged greetings. Qi Tongtong was knocking on room 317’s door and asked her, “You look terrible, didn’t sleep well last night?”
Han Yanyan forced a smile and replied, “Used too much of my special abilities.”
“Take it easy,” Qi Tongtong advised.
Zhao Yuxuan was coaxed out by Qi Tongtong’s knocking, and Qi Tongtong called to Han Yanyan, “Come on, let’s eat.”
Han Yanyan didn’t move. After hesitating, Zhao Yuxuan said, “She’s in the scouting team, she doesn’t get a meal.”
Qi Tongtong looked at Han Yanyan like she was a fool.
With a pale face lacking any trace of blood, Han Yanyan softly said, “I’m not at the point where I can’t survive yet.”
Zhao Yuxuan sighed and pulled Qi Tongtong’s arm. Qi Tongtong, in a huff, said, “With your pitiful abilities, don’t get stubborn over nothing! Just like I used to! Isn’t that how everyone gets by?”
Zhao Yuxuan, pulling her arm, dragged Qi Tongtong away, but she still turned back and pointed a finger at Han Yanyan, shouting, “Just wait until I come back, and we’ll have a proper talk!”
Han Yanyan leaned lazily against the door frame, watching them disappear down the hall, and couldn’t help but smile a little.
As the other women passed her, some openly stared, while others peeked secretly. Han Yanyan didn’t fear these looks; she met their gaze, and most of them quickly withdrew, though a few would roll their eyes or give her a disdainful sneer.
They were all pretty women, the type who, before the world ended, would have been treated like princesses, cherished and pursued by men.
Han Yanyan enjoyed watching these living people.
It was just a professional habit.
She closed the door and returned to her room. Using the last tub of water from the night before, she washed up, then ate the instant noodles and cookies she had earned, feeling her strength returning, though her stomach was not quite full. She glanced at the canned food but held back from eating it.
By this time, the women who had gone for lunch were gradually returning. Han Yanyan went door to door. Although the tap water had been restored, her water was no longer sellable, but ice was in high demand. Especially for the rooms on the southern side of the hotel, which turned into steamy saunas by midday.
Han Yanyan ate on the spot once she received food until she was full. Only after that did she store any food she received. Holding a variety of foods, she returned to the hallway where Qi Tongtong was knocking on her door again.
“Where did you go?” Qi Tongtong complained.
“Earning my food,” Han Yanyan showed her the rewards she had earned and opened the door.
Qi Tongtong didn’t hesitate to follow her in.
“I heard from Zhao Yuxuan that Ding Yao is interested in you?” She spoke directly, even more so when asking questions.
“He told me three meals a day, five people a day,” Han Yanyan said.
“Then why are you still joining the scouting team?” Qi Tongtong asked.
“I didn’t agree to it. I just want to join the scouting team,” Han Yanyan replied.
Yet Ding Yao had brought her back.
The scouting team went out to search for supplies. Although Nanling City barely managed to keep running, it could only provide basic survival necessities. Humans need a lot to live, and they had to find these things outside.
The work was both demanding and dangerous, requiring a large workforce. These workers were recruited from outside and usually were ordinary people without special abilities or those with weak powers. If these people scavenged alone, the chances of dying were higher.
Joining the squad as part of the scouting team meant splitting the findings in half, but the chances of survival were considerably better.
But who would bring someone who wanted to join the scouting team back? Yet Ding Yao brought Han Yanyan back, which clearly showed his intent.
“What’s with that expression?” Han Yanyan asked, speechless.
“Jealousy,” Qi Tongtong admitted.
Han Yanyan: “…”
“Anyway, it might not be a good thing,” Qi Tongtong sighed. “Let me share a bit of my experience, unsuccessful though it may be; perhaps it will be of some help to you.”
Han Yanyan indicated she was all ears.
“If you’re not a hundred percent sure you can win Ding Yao over, don’t sleep with him,” Qi Tongtong said.
Han Yanyan raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not trying to harm you; it's from the pain of personal experience,” Qi Tongtong said, still regretting it.
“That’s how it is, on our level... no need to beat around the bush, we’re all like public buses. You understand.” She explained, “Some girls get lucky first meeting someone they click with and manage to stay in a man’s room, still getting slept with but at least no longer being like public transport.”
“I, I was a complete fool back then. I never should have set my sights on Ding Yao. I was a total idiot,” the pretty girl said self-deprecatingly.
“There was this really strong ice power user in one team, Zhang Youquan. He liked me quite a bit. If I had been willing to be with him from the start, I wouldn’t still be struggling on the third floor.
But I idiotically insisted on going after Ding Yao. Ding Yao slept with me, but he didn’t want to keep me. Once he didn’t want me, I couldn’t just eat for free without doing anything, so others could also sleep with me.
But since Ding Yao had already slept with me, no one else dared to sleep with me, even if they wanted to unless Ding Yao stopped being interested. But without a steady man, Ding Yao wouldn’t stop sleeping with me. If he wanted to, could I even say no?
Unless I had a death wish,” thinking about her own frustrating situation, Qi Tongtong felt like spitting blood.
Han Yanyan understood and couldn’t help but feel frustrated for Qi Tongtong. “A vicious cycle,” she said.
“Zhang Youquan is just a coward!” Qi Tongtong cursed, “He didn’t have the guts to tell Ding Yao he wanted to keep me. Ding Yao wouldn’t have cared in the slightest if he had the nerve to say something!”
But this man wouldn’t ever say it. He liked Qi Tongtong but not enough to fight Ding Yao for her.
Men were always more pragmatic, more calculating, more ruthless than women.
Whether Qi Tongtong understood this before or not, she certainly did now.
“You weigh up your options. If you don’t have the confidence to win Ding Yao over, quickly find someone else you like to pair up with. If you do have the confidence…” Qi Tongtong gleefully encouraged her, “Sister, just go for it! Maybe you can even free me!”
Compared to Zhao Yuxuan, Han Yanyan liked Qi Tongtong more.
Zhao Yuxuan was still alive but gave off the feeling that her soul was dead. Qi Tongtong’s soul, on the other hand, was very much alive, and she could find humor amidst the hardship.
In the evening, Sun Lijun appeared on the third floor. Some women teased him playfully, “Oh my, Brother Sun, sneaking out for a bite with Sister Ling not around?”
Sun Lijun chuckled and scolded them, “Nonsense! Don’t get me into trouble!”
He came and knocked on room 315’s door. “The boss wants to see you,” he said.
“Which floor?” Han Yanyan asked.
“The top floor.”
“Which room?”
“The only one with the open door. The boss lives alone on the top floor.”
Han Yanyan understood. The man who had slept with Qi Tongtong the previous night was Ding Yao.
Han Yanyan took the elevator up to the top floor herself and easily found Ding Yao’s room. It was the only room on the top floor with open doors, wide double doors at that. Ding Yao resided in a luxurious suite on the top floor.
Even though the doors were open, Han Yanyan still knocked. She heard a man’s voice from inside say, “Come in.”
Stepping into the room, it was hard to believe this was a world where people starved every day. It was lavish and clean, with air conditioning running, making it pleasantly cool. Several dishes were laid out on the dining table, with steaming white rice.
Ding Yao was sitting on the leather sofa in the living room, reading a book. Upon seeing her enter, he closed the book.
The girl who had appeared so out of place in her white cotton dress the previous evening was now wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, finally blending into the environment somewhat. Her clothes were too large, but at least she had a belt. Her T-shirt was tucked into her pants, emphasizing her slight waist as if one squeeze would break it.
The black against her skin made her fair skin look even whiter, as pure as fresh snow.
Ding Yao did not invite her to sit, so Han Yanyan could only stand in front of him. Ding Yao closed his book and regarded her boldly, and Han Yanyan lowered her eyes.
After a long time, as if satisfied, Ding Yao spoke, “Hungry? Eat first.”
“Thank you, but no need,” Han Yanyan replied, lifting her eyes. “I’ve already eaten.”
Ding Yao looked surprised.
Han Yanyan explained, “I traded ice for food with people on the third floor.”
Ding Yao raised an eyebrow.
“No need to work so hard. You can stay in this room and live a life just like before,” Ding Yao offered her a condition. “No need to care about others, just keep me happy.”
The offer sounded even more attractive than yesterday’s “five people a day” or “four people a day” arrangement, a dream for many women on the third floor, one that Qi Tongtong would have longed for.
But Han Yanyan had set up for herself the persona of a “resilient, tenacious, unyielding” strong young woman, and she was supposed to gradually grow. She met Ding Yao’s gaze firmly and said, “I’m here to join the scouting team.”
Ding Yao nodded, his tone indifferent, “Alright, the scouting team is leaving tomorrow morning at seven. You can leave the base with us.”
Han Yanyan thanked him and asked if she could leave. Getting Ding Yao’s permission, she turned to go.
Although Ding Yao spoke softly, and his expression wasn’t severe, even his attitude appeared amicable, Han Yanyan found herself involuntarily tense in his presence. Not until she walked out the door to the elevator area, and the pressure of his gaze disappeared, did her shoulders finally relax.
The next day, she woke up early, packed some dry food in a worn-out bag, and left. She came across Qi Tongtong, who was heading out for breakfast.
“You really are going to the scouting team?” Qi Tongtong looked wide-eyed.
“If lying could get me a steamed bun, I’d do it. I haven’t had breakfast yet,” Han Yanyan joked. In truth, she wasn’t much of a talker, but for some reason, she enjoyed chatting a bit with Qi Tongtong. Maybe it was just fate?
Qi Tongtong rolled her eyes at her and said, “Wait a moment!” She went back inside and returned with a backpack with shoulder straps for Han Yanyan. “Borrowing it to you, remember to return it to me when you get back.”
With someone straightforward, Han Yanyan didn’t stand on ceremony. “Thanks.”
They split up on the ground floor, Qi Tongtong heading to the dining area—now essentially the cafeteria—while Han Yanyan walked outside.
“Hey!” Qi Tongtong called out to her.
Han Yanyan turned around.
Looking at her, Qi Tongtong said, “…Come back alive.”
Han Yanyan smiled, then turned and walked out.