Given Yin Qing's personality, Qing Ying strongly suspected that Qi Wu had been deceived by her innocent facade and was already involved with her.
"Qing Qing, how did you join the Blazing Flames team?"
Qing Ying handed Yin Qing a bottle of water and affectionately linked arms with her, just like they used to. She was trying to extract information from Yin Qing and learn more about Qi Wu and Yin Qing's past, which would help her formulate her next plan.
"That's a long story. I'll tell you from the beginning, and I even know about Qi Wu's past."
Yin Qing unscrewed the cap of the mineral water bottle, took a sip, and casually placed it in her backpack, a smug expression on her face. Qing Ying recognized this look; it meant Yin Qing was about to spill everything she knew, no matter how trivial.
At the beginning of the apocalypse, Yin Qing hadn't yet obtained her spatial ability and lacked the ambition and foresight she would possess in her previous life. She was still the insecure, petty, and manipulative Yin Qing. Moreover, she would seize any opportunity to show off anything she perceived as superior to herself.
Through Yin Qing's account, Qing Ying learned about Qi Wu's experiences and confirmed that Yin Qing indeed had designs on him. When the apocalypse struck, Qi Wu was excavating an ancient tomb and had fainted inside. Upon waking, he discovered he had fire abilities and had also found a fire elemental pearl within the tomb. When he emerged from the tomb, he realized the world had changed. The archaeology team members had either turned into zombies or were killed. He used his abilities to kill the zombies and then left. He went to the nearest city and formed the Blazing Flames team.
This city was Yin Qing's hometown. While leading the Blazing Flames team to gather supplies, Qi Wu rescued her after she was attacked by zombies. Yin Qing awakened wood abilities after being scratched by a zombie. She was adept at assessing situations and latching onto powerful individuals. Qi Wu was the strongest person she had ever met. She believed following Qi Wu would ensure her safety, so she requested to join the Blazing Flames team. She was interested in Qi Wu, but her innocent persona prevented her from openly confessing her feelings. Qi Wu, being a straightforward man, remained oblivious. These details were not explicitly stated by Yin Qing but were inferred by Qing Ying based on her understanding of Yin Qing and Qi Wu.
As the environment deteriorated and resources dwindled, the city where the Blazing Flames team was located became unsuitable for survival. They decided to seek refuge at a human survival base. After deliberation, they deemed the Yuncheng Base in the north to be a suitable destination. They left their city and headed for Yuncheng, where they encountered Qing Ying.
After Yin Qing finished speaking, she fell asleep, but Qing Ying remained awake, contemplating. She pondered how to quickly establish a relationship with Qi Wu and how to deal with Yin Qing. In the following days, Qi Wu began to notice Qing Ying's affection towards him. He didn't seem to mind, and their relationship became ambiguous, with only an official announcement needed to inform the other team members.
Meanwhile, Yin Qing's situation worsened. She realized all the members of the Blazing Flames team were ostracizing her, though she didn't know why. Conversely, everyone seemed to adore Qing Ying and maintained good relationships with her, which fueled Yin Qing's hatred for Qing Ying. Qing Ying relished seeing Yin Qing, who clearly despised her, pretend to be her good sister. This was the desired outcome; Qing Ying was merely using Yin Qing's own past manipulative tactics against her.
"Look at her, acting all seductive, practically clinging to the captain. She's such a vixen."
Zhuange looked at Qing Ying, who was chatting and laughing with Qi Wu by the campfire, and said to Yin Qing with sharp sarcasm. Zhuange was one of the two other female members of the Blazing Flames team and Yin Qing's close friend.
"Don't talk about Qing Ying like that. She's my good friend, and even if she has some bad habits, I won't allow you to speak about her that way."
Yin Qing outwardly defended Qing Ying, but her words carried a hidden meaning, her innocent facade once again at play.
"Bad habits? I heard you were college classmates with her, so you must know a lot about her. You must know her well. Tell me, what are her bad habits?"
Hearing the subtext in Yin Qing's words, Zhuange's curiosity was piqued, and she eagerly inquired about Qing Ying's past.
"Those are all understandable. It's not Qing Ying's fault. Her mother died young, and her father neglected her. That's why she lacked affection and warmth at home and associated with unsavory men. She just seems a bit more open. As for stealing in college, that's just a rumor. Even if there was evidence, I wouldn't believe it. She's my best sister, and I believe she's a kind person."
Yin Qing put on an act of unwavering faith in her "best sister," Qing Ying, while simultaneously spreading damaging rumors and slandering her.
"Yin Qing, you're too naive. You've been fooled by that vixen, Qing Ying. Look at her seductive appearance, like a mistress, and her sticky fingers. She's clearly not a good person. If you ask me, we shouldn't have kept her. Look, it's only been a few days, and the male team members act like they've had stimulants when they see her. Also, we need to keep a close eye on our supplies and guard against her. Don't let her steal anything."
Knowing Qing Ying had a habit of stealing, Zhuange immediately became concerned about the team's supplies, which were crucial for their survival in the apocalypse. The next morning, her fears materialized when the team member responsible for guarding the supplies reported that items were missing. Everyone gathered around, anxiously asking what had been stolen. They all knew how precious food was now; without it, they would starve. Fortunately, only a few packs of bread and some sausages were missing; most of the supplies were still there. However, this incident incited outrage among the team members, who vowed to find the thief and expel them from the group.
"It must be her! Last night, when I went to the restroom, I saw her lurking around the supply vehicle. It's her! We shouldn't have taken her in from the start. Kick her out immediately! Our team cannot harbor a thief."
Upon hearing about the stolen food, Zhuange's first reaction was to suspect Qing Ying. She pointed at Qing Ying and shouted accusations. After listening to Yin Qing's words, she had started monitoring Qing Ying's movements. Last night, she had indeed seen Qing Ying leave her sleeping quarters in the off-road vehicle and head towards the supply vehicle.
"Qing Ying, how could you do such a thing? If you were hungry, you should have told me. We are good sisters, and even if I were starving, I would have saved food for you. Why would you steal? You know the food in the supply vehicle belongs to everyone. We need this limited food to reach Yuncheng. You're risking everyone's lives! Apologize to everyone and the captain immediately, and promise not to do it again. Perhaps then everyone will forgive you."
Before Qing Ying could speak, Yin Qing grabbed her and earnestly urged her to confess, feigning disappointment and deep sisterly affection.
"Yin Qing, are you sure it was me who stole the items? You've convicted me without any evidence?" Qing Ying asked calmly, a faint smile on her face, facing Zhuange's direct accusation and Yin Qing's indirect condemnation.
"Qing Ying, I don't believe you would do such a thing either. However, we slept in the same vehicle. You went out with your backpack for a long time last night, and I can testify to that. Don't blame me. I'm also a member of the Blazing Flames team. I can't cover for you just because you're my good sister; that would be unfair to the other team members."
Yin Qing appeared conflicted, but her stance of upholding justice over friendship made her seem genuinely distressed between loyalty and duty.
"Yin Qing, don't be upset. You're doing the right thing. Such a person doesn't deserve to be your friend! Search her backpack. The food must still be in her backpack. You wanted evidence, didn't you? Catch the thief with the stolen goods. Let's see what she has to say now."
Zhuange snatched Qing Ying's backpack and dumped its contents onto the ground. Amidst the few personal belongings, several sausages appeared in everyone's sight.