Chapter 90: Are You Still Looking for People?
Lin Xiao let out a confused grunt, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at Su Mubai with a baffled expression.
Su Mubai completely ignored him. Turning his attention toward Chu Yang, he asked a surprisingly direct question: “Third Brother, what do you think? Do you still… have feelings for Jiang Lin?”
The question cut straight to the point. In an instant, every eye in the cabin swung toward Chu Yang. Even Jiang Jue’s gaze landed heavily on his face, those dark, fathomless eyes betraying not a single ripple of emotion.
Chu Yang’s heart gave a violent jolt. Almost purely on conditioned reflex, he denied it emphatically: “No! Absolutely not!”
His response was swift and decisive, his eyes wide and frank. He subconsciously threw a quick glance at Jiang Jue. Seeing that the sharp, icy edge around the man’s jaw seemed to soften slightly, Chu Yang let out a quiet breath of relief.
He had no idea why he had rushed to deny it with such urgency, as if hesitating for a single second would trigger some catastrophic disaster. An instinctive alarm in his chest had simply compelled him to draw an immediate, unmistakable line.
“I really don’t like her like that!” Chu Yang added, striving to make his expression look as earnest as possible. “Besides, I spend every waking moment following Brother Jiang around. Where would I even find the time to think about that kind of nonsense?”
The statement was half-true. The original host of this body had indeed carried a torch for Jiang Lin back in the day, but he wasn’t that person! He harbored zero romantic interest in her whatsoever.
Sitting nearby, Li Yu noticed the lingering tension and quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “Yeah, that’s true. Brother Chu barely says two words to Jiang Lin whenever they cross paths; he’s always completely indifferent around her. If he still had feelings, everyone would’ve noticed long ago.”
The room fell quiet as everyone turned their eyes back to Jiang Jue, waiting for his final verdict.
Jiang Jue remained silent, his thumb slowly brushing against his knee.
His irritation earlier had little to do with Jiang Lin herself. Rather, it stemmed from a deep-seated possessiveness—an innate aversion to anyone or anything that might draw Chu Yang’s attention away from him, especially when tethered to some lingering romantic past.
Yet Chu Yang had just rejected the notion himself with absolute conviction, and the practical consensus was clear: having another Water user would genuinely benefit the group.
Jiang Jue’s gaze swept across the scattered crystal cores on the table, then shifted toward the shimmering heatwaves rising outside the window.
After a long pause, he gave a curt nod. His voice remained flat, but the matter was officially settled: “Fine. Let her join. But the rules must be laid out clearly.”
Hearing the approval, the tight knot in Li Yu’s chest unraveled completely. A bright smile broke across her face as she nodded vigorously. “Thank you, Boss! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she understands the ground rules thoroughly!”
Meanwhile, inside the silver Wuling Hongguang minivan parked along the curb.
Wang Li sat rocking the drowsy Niu Niu gently in her arms.
In truth, she had very little to pack. Ever since they had joined the refugee convoy, all of their earthly possessions—a single spare change of clothes, a small handful of dry rations, and a plastic water bottle—were crammed into a single canvas rucksack, ready to be slung over her shoulder at a moment’s notice.
Even so, she double-checked the contents with great care. She folded a small cotton vest Niu Niu had shed in the heat, tucked it neatly inside, and smoothed back her own messy hair. Her deliberate movements carried a solemn, steady calm now that her future was finally secured.
Li Wang, who had been dozing in the passenger seat, was stirred by the rustling. Squinting through the afternoon glare, his voice was thick with sleep: “Sister Wang? Are you… packing up? Did you find a working car to head out on your own?”
He assumed she was simply sick of the suffocating heat and cramped quarters and intended to strike out alone—a risky, desperate move that wasn’t uncommon in the wasteland.
Wang Li shook her head quickly, a warm, genuine smile lighting up her tired face. “No, Brother Li. I can’t thank you enough for looking out for me and Niu Niu these past few days.”
“It’s… Captain Jiang’s squad,” she explained in a clear, hushed voice that carried through the quiet vehicle. “They need someone dedicated to cook their meals, and Sister Li Yu put in a good word for me. They’ve agreed to take me in.”
Liu Juan, who had been listening intently from the back row, leaned forward instantly with shining eyes. “Really, Wang Li?! Does that mean… they’re providing all your food and water from now on?”
Wang Li nodded, her tone filled with a sense of dreamlike relief. “Yes. Sister Li Yu confirmed it. I’ll be treated as an official member of their core team, with the exact same benefits as everyone else.”
An unmasked flash of envy crossed Liu Juan’s face. Glancing down at her frail, skinny son, an opportunistic thought struck her. Lowering her voice, she asked eagerly, “Sister Wang… does their squad need any more hands? Can you really handle cooking for all those fighters by yourself? Could you… maybe put in a word for me too? I’ve got plenty of strength; I could easily work as your kitchen helper…”
Looking into Liu Juan’s desperate eyes, Wang Li let out a quiet sigh in her heart. Keeping her tone gentle, she offered a polite, tactful deflection: “I… I’m really not sure. Right now, they only mentioned needing one cook. If another opening comes up later on, I’ll… I’ll definitely keep an eye out for you.”
Knowing that pressing the issue would only put Wang Li in an awkward spot, Liu Juan backed down with an embarrassed nod. “Ah, of course… That makes sense. I’ll trouble you to keep us in mind, then. If a good chance comes up, please don’t forget about us!”
Hearing the commotion, the other survivors gathered around the van windows, chiming in with a chorus of congratulations.
Their voices carried a mix of sincere goodwill and a subtle undercurrent of envy.
“Sister Wang, that’s incredible news!”
“Sticking with Captain Jiang means you and the little one are actually safe now!”
“That’s right! Once you’re living comfortably, don’t forget the rest of us who weathered the worst of it with you!”
Throughout the chatter, Wang Li kept a modest, polite smile on her face, offering agreeable nods and gentle acknowledgments to every comment.
She didn’t let the stroke of good fortune go to her head, nor did she show an ounce of arrogance simply because she was moving up from the bottom of the ladder.
She understood all too well that in this brutal, unforgiving world, making an ally was always safer than creating a hidden enemy. Her life had finally caught a glimmer of real hope; there was no need to invite unnecessary trouble.
Watching Wang Li handle the crowd with such quiet grace, Li Wang nodded approvingly to himself. She’s a sensible, grounded woman.
Slapping the armrest, he called out in a loud, boisterous voice: “Alright, alright, that’s enough crowding! Sister Wang, go on ahead and give it your all! Captain Jiang and his people are solid folks; they won’t treat you poorly!”
Just then, Jiang Lin stepped up to the side of the van, carrying her sleek tactical backpack.
In truth, she had never left any of her gear inside the vehicle, having guarded her personal belongings fiercely from the start.
Yet, having shared the road with these people for several days, basic courtesy called for a proper farewell before parting ways.
She reached out and tapped lightly on the open window, her clear voice ringing with decisive confidence: “Brother Li, Sister Liu, everyone—I’ve officially joined Captain Jiang’s squad as well. Thank you all for looking out for me during the journey.”
Li Wang blinked in mild surprise before nodding in realization. Taking in Jiang Lin’s striking appearance—which remained remarkably polished despite the grim post-apocalyptic conditions—he thought to himself: Of course. She’s a genuine Ability User, and a Water user is priceless in this extreme heat. It was only a matter of time before an elite squad snapped her up.
He offered a warm, respectful nod. “Congratulations, Miss Jiang! You’ve got a bright road ahead of you!”
The rest of the survivors echoed the sentiment with polite congratulations. Yet unlike their warm banter with Wang Li, their tone with Jiang Lin carried an unmistakable layer of deference and distance—in the end, Ability Users and ordinary mortals walked in two entirely different worlds.
