The young man panicked, but tried to put on a brave face. "What do you want?! If you dare to do anything reckless, Uncle Zhao will kick you all off the island!"
Tan Xiao leaned in and whispered to Bai Youwei, "Vivi, what are we supposed to do with him again?"
Bai Youwei glanced at him indifferently. "You just watch."
Tan Xiao thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright."
Bai Youwei addressed Zhang Qi. "Actually, it's nothing serious. We're new here and there are some things we don't understand, so we want to ask you a few questions. Answer them properly, and we'll let you go."
Zhang Qi looked at them suspiciously. "What do you want to ask?"
"What's your name?"
"… Zhang Qi."
"How long have you been here?"
"Two months."
"Have you been to West Mountain Island?"
"No!"
"You've been with Uncle Zhao for so long, why wouldn't he make an exception and take you there?"
Zhang Qi's face showed anger, but he was afraid of these people and didn't dare to lose his temper. He replied with a sullen face, "Uncle Zhao is only responsible for taking people. Whoever West Mountain chooses, he takes them there. He can't make the decision!"
"Can't make the decision…" Bai Youwei pondered for a moment, then asked, "What kind of people were chosen to go to West Mountain Island before?"
Zhang Qi frowned. "Why are you asking this?"
"Just answer." Bai Youwei smiled at him. "As for the rest, you don't have to worry about it."
…
In the enclosed room, Zhang Qi told them everything he knew about the people who went to West Mountain Island. There were men and women, old and young. At first glance, the selection of personnel seemed random, and the age range was quite average…
Bai Youwei didn't say anything after listening. She just glanced at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo looked at her too.
Tan Xiao was completely clueless, watching the two of them exchange glances. He got a little anxious. "Can you two stop communicating with your eyes and say something for me to hear?"
"It's nothing." Bai Youwei smiled faintly and her gaze fell on Zhang Qi again.
Her smile didn't reach her eyes, making Zhang Qi feel a chill down his spine. He forced himself to speak. "I've told you everything I know! Can I go now?"
"Don't worry." Bai Youwei said, "We'll keep our promise, but before that, I want to give you a reward…"
Zhang Qi asked cautiously, "What reward?"
"Come here." Bai Youwei beckoned him with her finger. "I'll tell you an earth-shattering secret."
Zhang Qi looked at Shen Mo, then at Tan Xiao, and walked over with gritted teeth.
"Bend down." Bai Youwei said, "I'm only telling you."
Zhang Qi bent down as he was told.
Bai Youwei whispered something in his ear.
Zhang Qi's expression changed several times, and shock filled his eyes.
Bai Youwei smiled. "Alright, you can go now."
Shen Mo, who was beside them, opened the door.
Zhang Qi didn't move.
He stood frozen in place for a long, long time… Finally, he lifted his foot and walked out, his face ashen.
After he was gone, Shen Mo closed the door and looked at Bai Youwei. "The selection of personnel is suspicious, but based on this alone, it's a bit far-fetched to convict the old man."
"It's two points."
Bai Youwei raised two slender fingers and said with a smile:
"First, Old Man Zhao arranged for people to plant crops as early as July, indicating that he never considered going to a safe base and was determined to be self-sufficient. This is strange, isn't it? When a disaster strikes, a normal person's first thought would be to seek rescue, but he's only guarding this small island.
Even if he's reluctant to leave his homeland, how do you explain the second point? The people he sent were either elderly people and patients who couldn't do physical labor, or alcoholics and gamblers who were restless. If a normal base were to choose people, they should prioritize those with skills, right?"
"That's not right…" Tan Xiao interrupted, "Aren't Zhang Qi and Sun Wei doing well on the island?"
Sun Wei was the strong man.
Bai Youwei smiled contemptuously. "If I were Old Man Zhao, I would keep them too. They're strong, obedient, not very bright, and quite docile. Why wouldn't I keep them?"