019 Not Accepting Scrap Metal (Please follow and vote~~)

Zhang Su thought this woman named Zhong Xiaoshan was somewhat sensible—at least she understood the principle of value exchange and didn’t immediately resort to pleas of “have mercy, pity me.”

“That Director Hu sent you here to have fun, yet you didn’t bring any food at all? Aren’t you afraid of fainting from low blood sugar right on the bed? How reckless you all are!”

“That’s not his fault... he hasn’t come back yet. I brought some water, but no food,” Zhong Xiaoshan said sheepishly. “Handsome guy, beautiful lady, I can tell you’re good people. I don’t need much, just a few boxes of those self-heating rice meals—I’ll give them all to you.”

As she spoke, Zhong Xiaoshan quickly took off her ring, earrings, and necklace, placing them all on the coffee table. To show her sincerity, she even pushed them slightly toward Zhang Su.

Zhang Su looked at the pile of gold jewelry on the table and shook his head slightly. “Sorry, Ms. Zhong, answering questions has already cost you your money and jewelry. These items belong to me now; you can’t use them to barter for food again.”

Normally, Zhang Su was generous and open-handed because he had abundant supplies and didn’t lack food or drink. He used his surplus to curry favor and maintain good relationships around him. But that didn’t mean he was a philanthropist.

On the contrary, Zhang Su was extremely selfish—everything he did was for his own benefit. For instance, maintaining good relationships was purely for his own convenience.

Coming alone to a strange city just after turning eighteen, even though he had a good amount of money in his pocket, he had to tread carefully, which made him see the true nature of human relationships.

“How could this be...” Zhong Xiaoshan hadn’t expected Zhang Su to say that, and her expression stiffened in confusion.

“Have you forgotten what you said yourself?”

Zhang Su showed no sign of compromise, but he didn’t bother to gather the jewelry either, as in his eyes, those items were worthless now.

“No, I haven’t forgotten, but... I’m really hungry,” Zhong Xiaoshan pleaded.

Many slender people who habitually control their diet give the impression they don’t need much food, but often they can’t endure hunger at all. Due to prolonged dietary restraint, many bodily functions are already in a precarious state, and missing two meals can lead to collapse.

Conversely, those who usually eat well and are overweight often complain about hunger if they miss one meal, but when truly starving, they can endure three days without food as if nothing happened. As long as there is water, they can outlast even a camel.

“Ms. Zhong, do we look like cooks? We only have enough supplies to last two or three days and have no idea what will come after that. We really don’t have the means to help you,” Zhang Su said firmly.

He was unmoved. Without securing a backup plan, he would never give aid casually.

---

Zhong Xiaoshan felt utterly helpless in the face of Zhang Su’s stubbornness. If it weren’t for Zheng Xinyu sitting beside her, she would have wanted to give Zhang Su an all-encompassing care treatment just to get a meal.

Thinking of Zheng Xinyu, Zhong Xiaoshan immediately shifted her pleading gaze to the girl. Since the man was unyielding, she might as well beg the softer-hearted woman.

“Pretty lady, I beg you. I feel dizzy just sitting here. If I don’t eat soon, I won’t survive much longer. Please save my life.”

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

“Ah, I...” Zheng Xinyu looked troubled. A moment ago, she had despised this woman’s flirtations with Zhang Su, yet now that she was begging her so desperately, she found it hard to refuse.

Still, she wouldn’t agree rashly, knowing full well who held the real power in the room. Even though most of the supplies belonged to her, she wasn’t in charge.

“He’s right. We really don’t have much left. Sorry,” Zheng Xinyu said.

Sharp-tongued in live broadcasts, Zheng Xinyu found lying in real life much harder—especially when facing issues of life and death, deceiving someone was even more difficult.

Her conscience ached, but she wouldn’t act on her own.

Zhang Su was quite pleased with Zheng Xinyu’s reaction, but what Zhong Xiaoshan said next deeply displeased him.

“In the face of such disaster, shouldn’t we survivors unite? Why? Why, when you have so much food, can’t you sell me just a little? Doesn’t your conscience hurt watching me starve to death?”

Zhong Xiaoshan pointed toward Zheng Xinyu’s room, her face full of sorrow, her voice weak.

Zhang Su frowned slightly and glanced at Zheng Xinyu, then remembered they had left the door open after rushing out to stop Zhong Xiaoshan’s foolish shouting.

“I… I forgot to close the door,” Zheng Xinyu made a grimace.

“Ms. Zhong!” Zhang Su suddenly stood, his face cold. “Too many people have died outside. If there are restless spirits, the sky would surely be pitch black now. Don’t expect others to share survival supplies with you unless you can offer something of value in exchange.”

“Useful value, not this worthless metal!”

Zhang Su pointed bluntly at the gold jewelry on the table.

---

In prosperous times, antiques and gold are treasures, but this “chaos” has limits.

If human civilization has suffered severe shocks and the world is in widespread turmoil, gold’s value as a store of wealth disappears, becoming nothing but worthless debris.

Overcome with emotion, Zhong Xiaoshan’s head spun again, but she steadied herself and said, “I have value. I—I used to be a nurse. I know a lot of first aid. Hospitals are overwhelmed in times like this. With me here, you’ll be much safer!”

Zhong Xiaoshan earnestly tried to sell her skills.

Zhang Su shook his head sincerely. “Ms. Zhong, I admit your skills are useful, but I don’t need them right now. Trading for a skill of uncertain use means we’d have to support you indefinitely.”

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

But the current situation was dire. What seemed safe was only temporary. There could be countless zombies lurking just within the unit—danger was everywhere.

“No, handsome guy, I have more than one skill: CPR, simple breathing techniques, injections for various conditions, bone setting for fractures, many many things—treatment for certain diseases, pharmacology. I know a lot!”

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

Speaking passionately, Zhong Xiaoshan slid off the sofa and knelt on the floor with a thud, tears streaming as she looked up at Zhang Su, her face pale and distressed.

If seduction couldn’t entice him, then crying might—cry as much as you want; perhaps it will move him.

“Um, I’ll go close the door,” Zheng Xinyu said, realizing how hard it was to harden her heart—quite different from what she had imagined.

In her mind, villains would be wielding knives and clubs, fiercely stealing food, and she would fight them tooth and nail, even kill them if necessary. But facing a weak woman barely able to resist, it was truly difficult to drive her away.

At this moment, she felt grateful it wasn’t her decision to make; otherwise, she would be torn apart by the dilemma.