C8 Chapter 8

The two women glanced at Jiang Ruan with gratitude and devoured the canned food ravenously. The men watched with a pang of distress as Jiang Ruan handed the cans to the women.

"Quality supplies, wasted on women—it's like throwing them away," Lu Ming, the youngest man in the group, commented. At 25, he was four years Jiang Ruan's senior.

Jiang Ruan's face clouded over at his words. What was wrong with being a woman? Women could survive in this post-apocalyptic world without depending on men!

Sensing Jiang Ruan's displeasure, Zeng Qiang quickly rebuked Lu Ming, "What are you saying, Lu Ming? Miss Jiang is a woman too!"

Chastened by Zeng Qiang's words, Lu Ming's face fell. "I meant those... those useless women," he stammered.

Jiang Ruan scoffed silently. With Lu Ming harboring such attitudes, she resolved that she wouldn't lift a finger to help him if danger arose.

"Get some rest after you've eaten. We make our move at dawn!" They couldn't afford to linger in S City any longer, and their fate now hinged on the woman before them.

The group fell into a knowing silence. They had long since learned to read the true nature of people in these end times.

The next morning dawned sunless, the sky a blanket of unrelenting gray.

Jiang Ruan, accustomed to rising early, freshened up with some mineral water. Zhu Zhengyan bit into his bread and couldn't help but blurt out, "We're running low on drinking water, and you're using it to wash? Can't you see we're on the brink of starvation?"

"Exactly. Miss Jiang, you should stop using the mineral water for anything but drinking. We all need it," the two women said, eyeing her with scorn. Who had the luxury to worry about appearances at the end of the world?

Jiang Ruan was at a loss for words. "I gathered these supplies myself. I see no issue with using them as I please. If that bothers you, there's not much I can do."

"Yours and mine? Once you joined our team, everything you have became communal property!" a man with a sharp face and monkey-like features said, glaring at Jiang Ruan with anger.

"We're struggling just to find enough to eat and drink, yet here you are using mineral water to freshen up. Do you realize that a little bit of water could sustain both of us for a whole day?" The seven onlookers glared at her with indignation.

Jiang Ruan's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "So, what you're saying is, I should hand over all my belongings to you, is that it?"

"Of course, aren't we all on the same team?" Zhu Zhengyan had been eyeing Jiang Ruan's backpack with envy, suspecting it held even more supplies. Greed shone in his eyes, and he could barely contain his urge to grab it from her.

Noticing Jiang Ruan's expression darken, Zeng Qiang cleared his throat and intervened, "Let's not dwell on this issue any longer. Everything in Miss Jiang's backpack belongs to her, and that's that. We should be focusing on how she's going to lead us out of here."

His words served as a reminder that they needed Jiang Ruan to navigate their escape from the desolate S City, implying she was untouchable for now. Yet, the underlying message was clear: once she lost her usefulness, her fate was up for grabs.

But Jiang Ruan was never one to be manipulated. As long as she could conceal her identity and locate her brother, her ties with this group would be severed.

Seeing Jiang Ruan's expression soften, Zeng Qiang finally relaxed. He instructed everyone to keep their weapons and resources close.

Jiang Ruan and Zeng Qiang took the lead, with Zhu Zhengyan and the other three men in the middle, and the two women trailing behind.

The women harbored envy towards Jiang Ruan. Why should they be reduced to mere playthings, subordinate to men in this apocalyptic world, while Jiang Ruan could lead and hold significant influence? But they weren't foolish. As long as they could safely reach B City, dealing with Jiang Ruan afterward wouldn't be an issue.