Chapter 536: Bus Properties
Chapter 536: Bus Properties
Later, when Zhan Lian still hasn’t returned, An Ran grows anxious. She steps out of the RV again, surveying the mountain above the tunnel, wondering what she should do if Zhan Lian doesn’t come back.
She can’t go looking for him herself—the conditions don’t allow it. If she leaves, she won’t be alone; she’ll have to take Doll with her. But the snowstorm is too strong, and Doll too small.
Fatty’s children have been battling colds and fevers over the past few days. To prevent the flu from spreading, Fatty has isolated them. Carrying Doll out of the RV in such a heavy snowstorm is far from wise.
From the sleeper cars ahead comes a bustling chorus of sounds: children crying, elderly people talking, and women chatting. The noise is lively and unceasing. A few men stand not far away, smoking.
As An Ran lowers her head to walk past them, their leering gazes make her expression instantly harden, her face becoming icy.
“Hi~~” One of the men, with a greasy side-parted hairstyle and a cigarette dangling from his fingers, waves at her.
An Ran says nothing, standing still, hands in the pockets of her down jacket, her eyes cold.
Seeing her ignore them, the men laugh. One, Liu Dong’s driver, spits. “Still pretending to be innocent!”
“Are you kidding me? It’s cold. Can anyone really do that?” another chimes in.
All of them are part of Liu Dong’s team, many powerful in their own right. Birds of a feather, they share a temperament similar to Liu Dong’s—arrogant, talkative, and lewd when gathered together.
Somehow, rumors about An Ran’s “everyone-gets-on-the-bus” nature have spread through Liu Dong’s group.
So when these men see An Ran stepping off the bus, alone, with the unapproachable Zhan Lian absent—rumors swirling that she might be scouting ahead or abandoning her burdens—they become opportunistic.
In the apocalypse, women like those in Fatty’s group—clean, fair, neatly dressed, not grimy or disheveled—are rare. Looking at vulnerable women on the road, most wear expressions of sorrow. Even the slightest expression of satisfaction is uncommon. An Ran, however, radiates fairness and vitality, her presence brightening the surroundings. Naturally, these men’s ulterior motives surface—they intend to take advantage of her.
Nearby, Liang Ziyu, on guard, seems to notice their intentions and takes a step forward to drive the offending men away. Passing by Yun Tao, he is stopped by a hand.
“Brother Tao, An Ran is in danger,” Liang Ziyu says, frowning, confused at being held back.
Yun Tao lowers his head, his voice deep and calm. “If you want a young eagle to spread its wings, don’t interfere too much. An Ran can handle these little chores on her own.”