Miao Miao understood immediately and, before He Minyan could retract her hand, she snatched the bread away. “Thanks, big sis. I’m starving. Is this all you have? I’d rather have some meat.” Miao Miao rummaged through her bag and pulled out several cans of luncheon meat, two packs of beef jerky, a few bottles of yogurt, mineral water, and dry bread and biscuits, tossing them back. “This is all? It’s so little. Big sis, I tend to eat a lot, so you’ll have to help us out more in the future.”

He Minyan was shaking with anger but since she was no match for Miao Miao and still had to maintain her “pure and virtuous” image, she could only swallow her frustration.

Du Yan, the young, hot-headed man couldn’t hold back. He immediately moved to slap Miao Miao, but Ye Bingkun grabbed his arm. “The young girl has been looking out for our daughter. Food is nothing significant, we’ll work harder in the future.”

“Dad.” Du Yan’s forehead was practically bulging with veins. This was their family’s rations for several days, and the luncheon meat was a personal stash.

Indeed, it was a personal stash. Many in the crowd were already showing signs of displeasure.

“That bitch is always sticking close to Kong Fenglin. Who knows, maybe she got all that food from his bed at night. Shameless.”

Lan Shiru didn’t know whether the insinuations about her bedding habits were true, but reflecting on her previous life, she remembered how often He Minyan came back late at night, claiming she’d been to the bathroom. It was probably true, right?

“Thanks to my parents and siblings. I don’t eat much, but since I’m nursing, I need to eat well. Sorry to trouble you. The baby’s still small and restless, and I can’t handle it alone. I’ll need to rely on you all. The baby needs diapers and formula—though the formula can wait until three months, diapers are urgent. Oh, and there’s also Jiang Xiang. He’s big and picky, only eats meat.” She said this without any emotion, yet there was an underlying tone of superiority.

The large Jiang Xiang bared his teeth at the crowd, growling, which caused a wave of people to retreat in fear. How could they have missed such a terrifying creature earlier? Were they all blind? Was it possible he was working with the monsters?

Du Yan was also startled, his anger rising as he glared at Lan Shiru but Ye Bingkun maintained his calm and elegant demeanor, stopping him from acting out.

Lan Shiru sneered coldly. Still pretending at a time like this? Pretend until you drop dead. Don’t you ever get tired of it?

He Minyan forced herself to keep smiling. “Brother Kong, as you can see, my younger sister is struggling so much with the baby. Our whole family is just a group of defenseless people who can’t lift a finger to fight. We’ll have to rely on everyone here in the future. But don’t worry, Brother Kong, we won’t take advantage of anyone. We’ll do our best to help out. Of course, the baby can be noisy sometimes, and I hope everyone can be understanding. Once he grows up and learns to behave, things will get better.”

“Better?” someone snapped. “How long until that brat grows up and learns to behave? Three years? Five? What if his crying brings monsters down on us? Who’s going to kill them—your family, or you? Don’t count on us! Why should we risk our lives for your baby?”

“Exactly! Aren’t you some big philanthropist? What happened—decided to give up charity in the apocalypse and switch to being an executioner? Are we supposed to die to protect you?”

“I don’t agree with letting them join. Unless they ditch the kid. Otherwise, it’s too dangerous! We’re not risking a whole group for one baby.”

“Right, either get rid of the kid, or leave.”

“And the dog too! Who knows if it’s infected or already a monster. It looks terrifying—definitely a problem.”

“Yeah, the dog has to go. No exceptions.”

The group erupted into chaotic shouting. Lan Shiru watched coldly, saying nothing until she caught the expectant gazes of her adoptive family. Her response was simple. “I won’t abandon my child, and I won’t abandon Jiang Xiang.”

He Minyan bit her lip, eyes glinting with suppressed frustration. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’ll stay here to take care of my sister. Dad, Mom, Yan, you three go with the group.”

The crowd fell silent. It didn’t matter who stayed or went, as long as it wasn’t them.

Qiu Rong’s face filled with urgency. “That won’t do! You’re just a young girl—what can you possibly manage? At my age, if I can die protecting the mother and child, then it’s worth it. I’ll stay. You all go.”

“Mom, no!” He Minyan’s eyes brimmed with tears. “That would be unfilial. How could your daughter let you do such a thing?”

“Enough,” Ye Bingkun interrupted, his tone firm. “Listen to your mother. She and I will stay. You two, take your brother and leave. Don’t worry—I’m not so old that I can’t protect them. I’ll get them to N City. We’ll meet there.”

“Father—”

“I said enough!” Ye Bingkun cut him off, exuding the authority of a family patriarch. He turned to Lan Shiru. “Shiru, don’t worry. Your mother and I will take good care of you and the child.”

Lan Shiru smiled faintly. “Sure, sounds good.”

The family of four was left stunned.

Du Yan lunged forward, pointing a furious finger in Lan Shiru’s face. “Lan Shiru, you heartless ingrate! How can you let Mom and Dad stay behind to die? That bastard child is your own disgrace—your fault for being so shameless and insisting on keeping it. What does that have to do with Mom and Dad? And now you want them to die for him? Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution? You’re no sister of mine!”

Lan Shiru’s eyes narrowed. Bastard child? Her tongue pressed against the inside of her cheek. You know what? Forget waiting. Let’s end this here and now.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, two figures moved faster than Lan Shiru. Each delivered a devastating kick, sending Du Yan crashing into the opposite wall with such force that the entire building seemed to shake. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he collapsed in a heap. The sheer power was undeniable.

Miao Miao glanced at the alluring woman beside her, who made a graceful gesture of invitation.

Miao Miao raised her chin haughtily and shouted. “You’re the disgrace! Your entire family reeks of it—top to bottom! You act lowly and then try to act righteous, playing the victim while scheming behind everyone’s back. Deciding who stays or goes like you own the stage, and then throwing a tantrum when people won’t follow your script. Shameless, the lot of you! Disgusting!”

Even a perennial white lotus couldn’t hold their composure after that. The three remaining members of the family helped Du Yan to his feet, all wearing expressions of wounded indignation. With eyes full of false grief, they turned to Lan Shiru. “Shiru, you’ve hurt us so deeply.”

“Oh, for crying out loud!” Miao Miao rolled up her sleeves, her face a storm of fury. “You people are absolutely revolting!”

Before she could charge, Yun Shuiyao casually grabbed her by the back of her collar as if picking up a misbehaving kitten. “Now, now, honey. When it comes to drama, I’m the real queen here. Oscar-winning caliber, mind you.” Her voice dripped with playful arrogance before her tone shifted, sharp and cutting. “If my sources are correct, all the Ye Family’s charitable assets legally belong to Lan Shiru. That scandal involving her was orchestrated by her foster sister, who drugged her. While the incident was initially covered up, it was later deliberately exposed by her foster parents and siblings. Even worse, the hospital staff confirmed that under the guise of ‘protecting the pregnancy,’ Lan Shiru was essentially imprisoned at their request. Am I wrong?”

The family of four looked like they’d been dipped in tar, their faces dark and ashen.

Miao Miao leaned in toward Yun Shuiyao, narrowing her eyes. “Are you… a paparazzi?”

Yun Shuiyao smirked, her expression teasingly seductive. “Darling, I’m a superstar adored by paparazzi.”

Miao Miao’s brain whirred to life. That face… it really did look familiar.

Bang.

Bang! Bang!

“Not good! Something’s ramming the door! Mr. Kong, what do we do?”

Kong Fenglin frowned, his gaze shifting toward the blood stain Du Yan had left behind. That must’ve attracted the monsters. He turned to Lan Shiru, his expression heavy with regret. “I’m sorry. I truly want to take you all with us, but I can’t act recklessly. I have over a hundred lives to consider and protect. Keep the supplies. I hope we meet again in N City.”

Lan Shiru stared at him deeply, her eyes betraying layers of meaning. “Be cautious of those closest to you. Stay alive.”

Kong Fenglin froze, unsure of the implication behind her words, but he nodded nonetheless. “You too. Farewell.”

He pushed his way through the crowd, raising his voice. “Ability users, get your weapons ready! Everyone else, move to the back and stay clear! When the door opens, stay together and charge out as a group. The longer we stay here, the more monsters will gather. It’ll only get harder to escape. Is everyone ready?!”

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