Chapter 19: Not Accepting Discarded Metal (Please Follow, Please Vote)

Zhang Su thought this woman named Zhong Xiaoshan was at least sensible; she understood the concept of exchange and didn’t beg with the usual “please, have mercy on me” routine.

“That Director Hu sent you here to party and didn’t even prepare any food—aren’t you afraid you’ll pass out from low blood sugar in bed? How reckless of you!”

“That’s not him… he hasn’t come back. I brought some water, but no food.”

Zhong Xiaoshan said awkwardly, “Sir, Miss, you two clearly are kind people—I don’t need much food, just a few of those self-heating rice boxes. I’ll give you all this.”

As she spoke, Zhong Xiaoshan yanked off her ring, earrings, and necklace and dumped them on the coffee table; to show her determination, she pushed them slightly toward Zhang Su.

Zhang Su glanced at the pile of gold jewelry and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ms. Zhong, but answering questions used up all your money and jewelry. These belong to me now—you can’t trade them for food.”

Normally, Zhang Su was generous and openhanded, but only because he had plenty of supplies and never lacked food—he traded what he didn’t need for favors, to maintain good relationships around him. That didn’t make him a benevolent soul!

On the contrary, Zhang Su was extremely selfish; he did everything for his own benefit. Even cultivating good relationships was purely for his own convenience.

He’d come to this unfamiliar city alone right after turning eighteen. Though he carried a good amount of cash, he walked on eggshells—and it taught him the coldness of human nature.

“How could this happen…”

Zhong Xiaoshan hadn’t expected Zhang Su to say this; her face froze, helpless.

“Didn’t you forget what you said yourself?”

Zhang Su showed no sign of compromise, but he also didn’t pick up the jewelry—he considered it worthless now.

“No, I didn’t forget, but I… I’m really hungry.”

Zhong Xiaoshan’s face pleaded.

Many slim people restrict their diet daily, giving the false impression they don’t need much food—but such people are often extremely vulnerable to hunger. Long-term restriction has pushed many bodily functions to the brink; skip two meals and they’ll collapse.

In contrast, those who eat heartily every day—complaining they can’t go a meal without feeling faint—when truly starving, can survive three days with nine skipped meals like nothing. With water, they’re tougher than camels.

“Ms. Zhong, do we look like people who can cook? We’ve got enough supplies for two or three days, and we don’t even know what comes next—we simply can’t help you.”

Zhang Su remained unmoved. Before securing a safe path, he would never offer aid lightly.

Zhong Xiaoshan felt utterly powerless seeing Zhang Su so unyielding. If Zheng Xinyu weren’t sitting beside him, she’d have given Zhang Su a full-body massage right then—just to get one meal!

Thinking of Zheng Xinyu, Zhong Xiaoshan immediately turned her pleading gaze to her. If the man wouldn’t budge, maybe the softer-hearted girl would.

“Miss, Sister, please—I’m dizzy just sitting here. If I don’t eat soon, I won’t last long. Please, save my life!”

Zhong Xiaoshan had never imagined prolonged hunger could be this painful.

“Ah, I… ”

Zheng Xinyu looked troubled. A moment ago, she’d despised this woman flirting with Zhang Su—but now, faced with this desperate plea, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

Still, she wouldn’t rashly agree. She knew perfectly well who held authority in this room—even though most of the supplies belonged to her, she had no say.

“He’s right. We really don’t have much left. I’m sorry.”

Zheng Xinyu, who could talk circles around people during livestreams, hadn’t realized lying in real life was so hard—especially when facing life-or-death situations. Deceiving someone like this was even harder.

Her conscience ached, but she wouldn’t make her own decision.

Zhang Su was deeply satisfied with Zheng Xinyu’s reaction—until Zhong Xiaoshan spoke next, which made him furious.

“In the face of such disaster, aren’t survivors supposed to stand together? Why? Why can’t you sell me even a little food when you have so much? Won’t your consciences hurt watching me starve to death?”

Zhong Xiaoshan pointed toward Zheng Xinyu’s room, her expression sorrowful, voice weak.

Zhang Su frowned slightly and glanced at Zheng Xinyu—he remembered they’d left the room in a hurry to stop Zhong Xiaoshan’s loud shouting and forgotten to close the door.

“I, I… forgot to close the door.”

Zheng Xinyu made a face.

“Ms. Zhong!”

Zhang Su suddenly stood, his face cold. “Too many people have died outside. If there were ghosts, the sky would be black with them. Don’t expect others to give you life-saving supplies unless you offer real value in exchange!”

“Real value—not these useless pieces of metal!”

Zhang Su pointed dismissively at the jewelry on the table.

In times of peace, antiques are valuable; in chaos, gold is king—but this “chaos” has limits.

If human civilization suffers a massive blow and global turmoil erupts, gold’s value as a store of wealth vanishes—it becomes nothing but dirt.

Overwhelmed, Zhong Xiaoshan felt another wave of dizziness—but she steadied herself. “I have value! I was a nurse—I know plenty of first-aid knowledge. Hospitals are overwhelmed now. With me, you’ll be much safer!”

Zhong Xiaoshan pushed hard to sell her skills.

Zhang Su shook his head sincerely. “Ms. Zhong, I admit your skills are useful—but I don’t need them yet. Trading a skill that might never be needed means you expect us to keep you fed indefinitely?”

If conditions allowed, Zhang Su wouldn’t mind having a nurse around—especially one as attractive as Zhong Xiaoshan.

But the situation was dire. Safety was only temporary. Who knew how many zombies wandered the hallway? Danger was everywhere!

“No, Sir, not just one skill! CPR, basic respiration, injections for all kinds of cases, immobilizing broken bones—so many! I know how to handle diseases, drug pharmacology—I know a lot!”

“Please! I’ll eat just a little, just a tiny bit! When rescue comes, I’ll repay you a thousandfold—I have savings, over three hundred thousand yuan. I’ll give it all to you. Please, save me!”

Overcome with emotion, Zhong Xiaoshan slid off the sofa and knelt on the floor, tears streaming, looking up at Zhang Su with a pale, desperate face.

Since beauty couldn’t sway him, she might as well cry—maybe tears would move him.

“Cough, uh, I’ll go close the door.”

Zheng Xinyu realized how hard it was to harden her heart—nothing like what she’d imagined.

In her mind, villains would storm in with weapons, snatching food—she’d fight back fiercely, even kill them without remorse. But now, facing this woman barely able to stand, she couldn’t bring herself to drive her away.

At this moment, she was glad—glad it wasn’t her decision to make. Otherwise, she’d have been torn apart.

(End of Chapter)