Chapter 349 : Waiting on Fate
The meeting concluded successfully, with everyone in agreement on Zhang Yi’s plans.
Around noon, they gathered to officially welcome Liang Yue to their team.
The dining table was filled with steaming, sumptuous dishes: fragrant roast chicken, tangy garlic-braised fish, tender pork knuckles, savory lamb soup, and soft, stewed pig trotters with soybeans.
Even though these meals were a regular occurrence at Zhang Yi’s table, for Liang Yue, it was a feast beyond her imagination. Her mouth watered at the sight, and her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her chopsticks.
Even back at West Hill Base’s Second Life Pod, she’d never enjoyed a meal .
If the people struggling out in the icy wastelands saw this spread, they'd go insane with envy!
In a world where people were ready to risk their lives for a stale bun, Zhang Yi’s group was living in utter luxury. The contrast was almost painful.
Liang Yue couldn’t deny she felt secretly glad she'd made the right choice in joining them.
Holding her stomach, Liang Yue turned a bit pale.
Everyone froze momentarily, then rushed to check on her.
Zhou Ke’er suddenly had a realization and slapped her forehead. “Oh, it must be from the rich food. Her stomach isn’t used to it after what she’s been eating!”
Since they were accustomed to such fare, they’d overlooked Liang Yue’s situation.
Zhou Ke’er quickly helped her to her room, gave her some medicine, and made her lie down.
“Just rest for a bit; you’ll be fine!” Zhou Ke’er said gently, tucking her in.
The kindness touched Liang Yue deeply, almost bringing her to tears.
In the aftermath, this was the first time she had felt genuinely cared for, and it stirred a growing attachment to the Shelter. In just one day, her outlook had shifted drastically.
“Actually…this life really isn’t so bad.”
After lunch, Yang Siyah, Zhou Ke’er, and Zhou Haimei took care of the cleaning.
Zhang Yi noticed a strange, slightly troubled look on Lu Keran’s face and beckoned her over with a smile.
“Keran, what’s going on? I noticed you seemed off during lunch.”
At his words, Lu Keran quickly waved her hands. “It’s nothing, Big Brother! I’m perfectly fine.”
Zhang Yi smiled and flicked her forehead lightly.
“No need to act all mysterious with me. Just say whatever’s on your mind.”
“Remember, we’re family. There shouldn’t be any secrets between family, alright?”
Reassured, Lu Keran glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then looked up at Zhang Yi.
“Big Brother, why did you agree to protect those students? They’re awful!”
So that’s what was bothering her.
Zhang Yi couldn’t help but smile.
Lu Keran's face grew serious as she continued.
“You probably remember how things were back then. Those people were far from decent, and after the apocalypse, Xinxin and I went through hell because of them.”
“So I really don’t want to see their ugly faces again.”
Though generally easygoing, Lu Keran was still an eighteen-year-old who loved and hated with intensity.
She couldn’t forget everything she had endured because of her classmates.
Zhang Yi’s smile grew.
Just then, Yang Xinxin, passing by, noticed their conversation. She and Zhang Yi exchanged a knowing look before she walked away.
Often, Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin shared an unspoken understanding.
Being highly intelligent, Yang Xinxin could restrain her emotions with logic, much like Zhang Yi. Both of them prioritized whatever benefitted themselves and the Shelter.
Zhang Yi put a comforting arm around Lu Keran’s shoulders and led her to a quiet corner of the room.
He lowered his voice and said, “Keran, if I completely ignored your classmates, what do you think your teacher, Liang Yue, would do?”
Lu Keran frowned slightly. “Hmm… Knowing her, she’d probably leave the Shelter. She’d go off to protect them or take them somewhere safer.”
Zhang Yi nodded, smiling. “Exactly. Even though I don’t care about your classmates, Liang Yue is valuable to us. We need her to stay.”
Understanding dawned on Lu Keran. “Ah, I see! So you’re doing this to keep Ms. Liang around!”
“But, does that mean you’ll support them forever?”
Lu Keran pouted slightly, sounding irritated.
“Why should those jerks get to live off you? They don’t deserve it!”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be for long. In these harsh conditions, weaklings like them will either freeze or starve soon enough.”
“And besides, I’ve got some plans.”
Zhang Yi’s smile held a hint of cunning.
He thought of the Superhuman he’d killed from Chaoyu Base.
Losing even one Superhuman was a big deal for any faction, which would only increase contact between the Shelter and outside forces.
He’d assured Liang Yue he’d protect those students if anything went wrong.
But if a conflict broke out, he would have plenty of reasons to explain why he couldn’t intervene in time.
After all, Cloud Manor was quite a distance from Xu Family Town, so even a brief delay would be enough for the outside factions to wipe them out.
Lu Keran’s eyes lit up—Big Brother never let her down!
She was about to ask something else when Zhang Yi held up a “shush” gesture.
“Let’s keep this out of the house. Tomorrow, we’ll head out to search for materials to repair the Shelter, and I’ll fill you in on the details then.”
Although Liang Yue was resting in her room, it was best to keep their plans discreet.
With her worries gone, Lu Keran smiled brightly.
She nodded enthusiastically. “Alright, Big Brother! So, where are we going to find the materials?”
“There’s a materials factory not far from here. It’s still within West Hill Base’s control, so it should be relatively safe for now.”
“Got it! I’ll go start a materials checklist.”
With that, Lu Keran hurried to her workshop to prepare.
Watching her go, Zhang Yi began to strategize.
His plan was simple: leverage external enemies to eliminate Liang Yue’s students. He had no intention of feeding freeloaders.
Especially those students, who he saw as ungrateful troublemakers.
If they weren’t going to help, they’d only bring trouble.
The best solution was to remove any potential threats.
Additionally, this would serve as a small payback for what Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran had endured.
“But of course, other factions aren’t my subordinates; they won’t just do what I want.”
“For now, I can only wait and see if fate takes its course.”
While Zhang Yi hoped the other factions would unwittingly take care of Xu Family Town’s students, he wouldn’t deliberately provoke them.
His own safety remained his top priority.
When those students died wasn’t a concern.