Chapter 57: The Male and Female Leads Meet

Chu Jiangyue looked at the three: “You already have identity cards, and there’s some money on them. You can buy food or temperature-regulating suits—whatever you like.

Once you’ve bought what you need, go to Building 2 to find the B City Base personnel. They’ll see when they can escort you to the Base.

However, you’re not residents of Jianglin Hotel. You can only stay inside the hotel for two hours per day, so keep track of the time.

If you can’t go to the Base today, you can stay within a 10-meter range outside the hotel for the night. Don’t worry, there won’t be any zombie attacks there.”

Of course, the conditions for staying outside weren’t ideal.

Thinking about the 10-meter zone outside Jianglin Hotel, Chu Jiangyue realized this was also a business opportunity.

It was a pity that she hadn’t drawn any prizes like tents yet—otherwise, she could sell tents to guests without rooms.

“Thank you, sister! I still have some food. I want to buy a temperature-regulating suit.”

Although it had durability limits, she had three days to wear it and could go outside again to trade for other items.

Chu Jiangyue glanced at the girl and didn’t comment on her decision.

She could save people, but she couldn’t be responsible for their future lives. Their future depended on themselves.

The mother and child chose to buy food.

Their balances weren’t high, so they could only choose one item each.

Jin Churan and his group weren’t as constrained. They bought several temperature-regulating suits as if they cost nothing, and their team’s space-type ability user helped store them.

Seeing a second space-type ability user appear, Chu Jiangyue raised an eyebrow.

It seemed she had been very ignorant in her previous life. This was already the second space-type user to appear, yet she only received news of such abilities a year after the apocalypse—how isolated she had been.

“Do you want me to take you to the restaurant?”

For minors and women with children, Chu Jiangyue was relatively considerate.

“No, no, we can go ourselves.”

The little girl declined Chu Jiangyue’s escort.

They had already been saved once by her, and they didn’t want her to treat them specially just because they were weak.

If others found out, they might think she was being unfair.

The girl had thought of many things, though Chu Jiangyue was unaware.

Still, she felt a little sympathy. Since the girl refused, she simply agreed.

“All right, add me as a friend. If anything happens, you can send me a message.”

As long as it was within her capability, she didn’t mind helping them.

Children were the hope in this desperate, uncertain apocalypse.

“Boss Chu, should we add her as a friend too?”

On the way to B City, Jin Chuyu had repeatedly heard her brother praise Boss Chu. Now, with the opportunity to interact directly, she didn’t mind connecting with her more.

“Add, add, add! She’s the female lead—host, quickly add her!”

Hearing Jin Chuyu wanted to add her, the little fox chattered inside Chu Jiangyue’s mind.

“Got it, quiet!”

The little fox immediately quieted.

“All right.”

Chu Jiangyue only added Jin Chuyu. If others didn’t ask, she wouldn’t proactively add them.

The two girls added each other and exchanged a smile.

“Let them follow us to the restaurant; we want to check it out too.”

Jin Chuyu, being a girl, felt some sympathy for the little girl and the young mother, and wanted to help where she could.

“Thank you, sister!”

“Thank you, Xinxin. Say thank you to sister.”

“Thank you, sister.”

“Let’s go.”

However, as they left the office hall, they collided with Zheng Wen’an and Liu Yiyi coming in from outside.

Perhaps due to the natural magnetic pull between male and female leads, Jin Chuyu and Zheng Wen’an locked eyes.

Liu Yiyi, now very reliant on Zheng Wen’an, saw him staring at another girl and shook his arm: “Brother Wen’an~ what are you looking at?”

Jin Chuyu thought: Σ_(」∠) Ugh, so pretentious, it makes me physically uncomfortable.

She immediately looked away, not glancing at Zheng Wen’an again.

Huo Juan, on the other hand, raised his eyes and glanced at Zheng Wen’an. For some reason, he felt something off about this man. Subconsciously, he moved next to Jin Chuyu to block the man’s view.

Zheng Wen’an, being tangled by Liu Yiyi and now blocked, had no choice but to retract his gaze.

Watching this dynamic between the male lead and female supporting character, Chu Jiangyue lost her previous gentle demeanor. She sat down directly in a hall chair and poured herself a glass of water.

“Hey! We’re all here, why are you just sitting? That’s not how you serve people!”

Liu Yiyi, annoyed with Chu Jiangyue, became brazen because Zheng Wen’an had awakened his fire-type ability, and her tone grew arrogant.

She didn’t realize that within Jianglin Hotel, aside from Chu Jiangyue, no one else could use their abilities.

“Hello, I’m the hotel’s newly appointed steward. If you need anything, you can ask me.”

Chu Jiangyang glanced at Liu Yiyi. His black-and-white pupils flickered with light briefly, then vanished.

Chu Jiangyang’s words dismantled Liu Yiyi’s haughty attitude, leaving her in an awkward position.

Meanwhile, Zheng Wen’an acted as if he saw nothing. He took out gold, silver, jewelry, and zombie crystal cores from his backpack for exchange.

“Brother Wen’an, you’ve already exchanged everything? You didn’t leave any for me!”

Liu Yiyi felt uneasy. To her, as childhood sweethearts, Zheng Wen’an should take care of her in the absence of their parents.

Yet so soon, he hadn’t left her even a single item?

What about her room fees and daily meals?

Her expenses at Jianglin Hotel were calculated at double the normal rate, and she couldn’t earn enough on her own.

“Yiyi, I don’t have much either. I risked my life to earn this. You’re an adult now; you need to take responsibility for yourself.”

Indeed, Zheng Wen’an didn’t want to be treated as a cash machine. Everything he brought back through hardship, he wanted none of it shared.

Moreover, since moving into the hotel, Liu Yiyi hadn’t gone out much. Without money, she came to him demanding things.

Zheng Wen’an himself hadn’t earned much, yet he had to support Liu Yiyi, a bottomless pit. Of course, he was unwilling.

“Brother Wen’an, are you ignoring me?”

Liu Yiyi looked up tearfully, appearing wronged and on the verge of crying.

For others, this might have worked, but Liu Yiyi had used this tactic on Zheng Wen’an many times. The first time, he might have compromised; the second, third, fourth time—he grew tired.

Who would willingly give away their hard-earned possessions for free unless they were a saint?

Zheng Wen’an knew he wasn’t a saint and couldn’t be that generous.

This scene captivated Chu Jiangyue. Indeed, childhood sweethearts in novels, male lead and female supporting character—the atmosphere was perfect!

“Brother Wen’an, if you don’t help me, I’ll really be kicked out!”

She stayed in a regular single room but had to pay double the room fee daily.

This was far beyond what she could afford.