Chapter Twenty-Two: Upholding Principles

The important thing is that in the few days since I joined the company, she was one of the few who never showed any strong hostility toward me. Although we were never close, judging by what Ou Xiang said, the two of them interacted frequently at the office. Yet, her reaction this time was somewhat baffling.

Watching her keep her head down to avoid looking at me, I could actually understand it. After all, in an environment like this, it is not strange for people to be selfish in order to survive.

However, seeing Ou Xiang’s sour expression as she glared at Huang Jianfen, I could only heave a soft sigh. I certainly could not speak up to offer comfort, but thinking about the changes over these past few days—how such a situation could arise simply because of food—and considering the road that lies ahead, my brows knit tightly together.

In contrast, Liu Huan, the fair-skinned woman, had only had a brief, passing encounter with me that day; I didn't even know what her relationship with Jia Lue was. Yet, at this moment, from the food inside that backpack, she actually took the large bottle of water I had been drinking from—the bit that was left—and a small pack of fish-flavored peanuts, and came over to hand them to me.

Seeing that I was hesitant to take them, her mouth twitched as if she wanted to say something. She tilted her head slightly, not looking at anyone in particular, and murmured in a low voice, "Take it. Here, just take it..."

I knew I couldn't change anything at this moment. Besides, the sky seemed even darker now. Watching her fair, delicate hand in the fading light, it looked like a white lotus root. This strange thought flashed through my mind, and I reached out mechanically to accept the things that had originally belonged to me.

"Consider yourself lucky, but we probably won't be seeing each other again!" I don't know what Zhou Jianguo was thinking, but seeing Liu Huan give me the items, a flash of dissatisfaction crossed his face. Then, Liu Huan picked up the backpack, and the chubby guy lowered his body to take it, shouldering the pack directly.

Watching his upper body, his movements were somewhat mechanical, which suggested his injuries hadn't improved. The fact that they made him carry the backpack showed that these people clearly viewed the fatty as useless. I felt a pang of pity for his situation, but I had nothing to say to him.

"We won't be seeing each other again, that's true, but who knows what will happen to whom..." I hadn't intended to start a war of words, but hearing Zhou Jianguo’s remark made me inexplicably annoyed. Especially when I saw him looking at me coldly, even with a touch of sarcasm, I felt a complex mix of emotions.

I didn't think I had any conflict with this guy, but seeing his gaze suddenly fixate on Lan Fang with a faint glimmer of jealousy, I instantly understood: the reason lay with her.

Lan Fang was indeed beautiful; many people in the company used to talk about her behind her back. As a young woman who had achieved more and possessed more than most, she naturally invited speculation and fantasy. But as for coveting her, no one in that city dared to harbor such thoughts.

After all, this world holds too many unknown forces that ordinary people cannot touch or even begin to understand.

"You'll die long before I do!" Zhou Jianguo spat at me, though he kept his distance.

At this point, I couldn't be bothered to argue with him. Seeing them preparing to leave, I actually hoped they would disappear immediately. But as I watched the fatty’s back as he carried the bag, I suddenly realized something!

"Wait a moment!" I gripped my hiking stick tightly, keeping my composure, and looked at the group, my voice turning somber.

I didn't know if they were aware of Brother Wen’s group or if they had already crossed paths. At the time, I wondered if Jia Lue was the one who had attacked Luo Wei, and how Brother Wen would retaliate once he found out. But thinking of their shamelessness, that was no longer my concern.

I still had my own business—things I had to stand up for. Seeing them about to leave, I hurriedly spoke up, my voice raised: "There is medicine in that bag. Sister Lan’s leg was pierced and it’s already infected; she needs medicine! You don't need it right now, so you must share some with me!"

My tone was calm, not a request, but rather an act of defiance.

I knew that if I let them walk away, our hope would be completely extinguished. I had stayed behind specifically because I didn't want Lan Fang to suffer like this. Now that we had found medicine, I couldn't just watch her fall into despair, so I had to fight for it.

"Wait, there’s medicine? Why didn't you say so?" After the initial excitement over finding food, they clearly hadn't checked the contents carefully. Or perhaps, in their rush to divide the spoils and leave, they hadn't bothered to look. But upon hearing my words, it was Peng Qian who was first to react with surprise: "What kind of medicine? Where is it?"

Seeing everyone turn back, glaring at me with hostile eyes, my heart sank. Were these people really going to turn on me completely?

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the hiking stick, but I stood my ground, staring them down without moving. I would not back down; even if it meant fighting them right here and now, I would hold onto my resolve.

I knew Lan Fang couldn't hold on much longer. Without that medicine to reduce the inflammation and boost her strength, Ou Xiang and I could only watch her die. Given the humid climate and the sweltering heat, the fact that she had lasted this many days with such a wound was due, first, to her own willpower, and second, to the simple herbal poultices I had made.

But I knew better than anyone that these measures wouldn't solve the problem.

Hearing my words, some of them began to look at the chubby guy, Han Yu, who was carrying the bag and shivering slightly. It was clear they realized the fatty was injured too, and if those medicines were there, they would undoubtedly be life-saving.

I couldn't be bothered to entangle myself with them further, because if they left, they would eventually discover the medicine anyway, and I didn't want to delay Lan Fang’s treatment. So, I said coldly, "There are anti-inflammatories and some antibiotics in the bag. You just need to leave me the sutures and needles from the first-aid kit!"

Even though I was anxious, I had no choice but to do this.

"Fine, if there are any, we'll leave some of the medicine for you!"

Because I was staring them down so intently, and despite knowing how shameless they were, I still wanted to make this final push. Peng Qian seemed hesitant, clearly a cold-hearted man who felt no nostalgia for our past time together.

I had already realized that when he so decisively abandoned Lan Fang. But to my surprise, it was Jia Lue who spoke up.

Although I didn't know what he did for a living, I immediately understood that this was the truly decisive person among them. Their group—the fatty, Huang Jianfen, and Zhou Jianguo—all appeared to support Peng Qian on the surface. I wasn't sure if the short-haired Chen Zhimeng or the fair-skinned Liu Huan would support him.

But it seemed he had the final say, and even his own agenda; no wonder Peng Qian was wary of him and didn't dare to overstep his authority in his presence.