Ten worm crystals weren't that many, after all, the cowgirl and her teammates had them too.
They were just surprised that Wang Yu had them as well, and judging by his demeanor, he seemed quite affluent, otherwise, he wouldn't have been so nonchalant about the worm crystals!
The cowgirl, referred to as Sister Mei, chuckled sarcastically, "My esteemed sir, you are truly generous, giving away ten worm crystals so casually for such an unrelated, lowly woman!"
She had initially assumed Wang Yu was the man of the white-T shirt woman, but the bewildered look on the white-T shirt woman's face just now made her certain they didn't know each other at all.
Upon hearing the word 'lowly,' Wang Yu couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly. However, he calmly asked, "Just tell me if you want them or not."
"..."
Sister Mei truly hadn't expected Wang Yu to play such an unconventional hand. Shouldn't there be a bidding war where she increased the price and he countered?
"I want them!" Sister Mei knew she was in the wrong and that further persistence might lead to the enforcement team being called. Thus, she snatched the ten worm crystals from Wang Yu's hand.
Simultaneously, she fiercely declared, "We will meet again."
Wang Yu watched the cowgirl and her companions leave without uttering a word. The surrounding people soon dispersed, some to resume their work, others to go about their errands.
After all, even within the base, the pressure to survive was considerable.
"Sir, I heard Sister Mei's team is an affiliated force of the Mad Bull Brigade. You... I am truly sorry for causing you trouble."
The white-T shirt woman spoke softly beside Wang Yu, expressing her apologies.
The Mad Bull Brigade again?
Upon hearing this, a hint of an unreadable emotion flickered in Wang Yu's eyes, and he responded with a flat, "Oh."
White-T shirt woman: "..."
Affiliated forces were essentially smaller teams secretly recruited by the brigades for their own development.
The official limit for brigade members was a hundred. To develop without openly opposing the authorities, the brigades had to resort to such methods.
It was a form of implicit competition, as other brigades would do the same if one didn't.
The authorities were, of course, aware of this situation. However, as long as these brigades didn't overstep, they would turn a blind eye.
An army of over ten thousand wouldn't spare a thought for a few hundred low-level evolvers.
With this thought, Wang Yu suddenly felt that secretly developing his own affiliated force might be a good idea.
Seeing Wang Yu seemingly lost in thought, the white-T shirt woman stood obediently by his side.
*Grumble...*
Her stomach, however, soon protested.
"By the way, what's your name?"
Wang Yu asked, as if he hadn't heard anything.
The white-T shirt woman, knowing he was likely trying to save her face, breathed a silent sigh of relief and replied, "My name is Xue Qi. May I know how you are addressed, sir?"
"Wang Yu."
He paused, then asked, "How long have you been in Haiyuan Town?"
"Not long, only three days. I was planning to keep hiding, but after receiving the military's announcement..."
Xue Qi's face suddenly paled slightly as she recalled the bloody and terrifying memories of her escape.
This reaction was perfectly normal, and Wang Yu was quite accustomed to it.
He then asked, "Do you have a man here yet?"
"Ah?"
Xue Qi’s emotions couldn't shift gears quickly enough. After a moment of stunned silence, her pretty face flushed, and she became flustered, "Um, I, I..."
"Oh, you misunderstood. It's for a friend of mine..."
Wang Yu intended to explain, but seeing Xue Qi almost turn into an ostrich, her head nearly dipping between her breasts, he decided not to say anything further.
His saving Xue Qi wasn't out of romantic interest, but rather because a few of his brothers were still single.
Xue Qi's composure when faced with everyone's pressure earlier was commendable; she was neither humble nor arrogant.
Furthermore, she was quite attractive. Wang Yu thought she would be a good match for Lin Hao, hence his intervention.
However, while Wang Yu thought this, Xue Qi clearly didn't interpret it that way!
When a man says "I have a friend," doesn't that mean himself?
Those who know, know.
So, Wang Yu decided to remain silent, lest it only make things worse...
After exchanging addresses with Xue Qi, Wang Yu left.
Helping her was a casual act, meant to leave an impression. They would inevitably cross paths again, at which point he could arrange for Lin Hao to meet her.
Being such a good brother, he deserved commendation.
...
After bidding farewell to Wang Yu, Xue Qi walked along the main road for a while, then turned into a small alley, navigated through twists and turns, and finally entered an unremarkable three-story building with a predominantly gray exterior.
"Nan Shuang, I'm back!"
Xue Qi's call brought out a tall, young woman also wearing a white T-shirt.
However, compared to Xue Qi, this woman was undoubtedly more outstanding and eye-catching.
Standing at a height of about 1.72 meters, her not-so-tight white T-shirt snugly encased her ample chest, and her slender waist could be held in one hand, with an extremely exaggerated hip-to-waist ratio.
Even without looking at her face, just her figure alone was enough to qualify her as a stunner.
Moreover, her looks were equally striking: large eyes, a high nose bridge, eyelashes like fans, skin like white porcelain, beautiful and dignified.
She was the epitome of a northern beauty.
Jiang Nan Shuang had been quite happy to see Xue Qi enter, but when she saw Xue Qi's empty hands, a flicker of imperceptible disappointment crossed her eyes. She smiled and consoled Xue Qi, "Xiao Qi, it's not easy to find work at the base, but if not today, then tomorrow; you'll find something eventually!"
Xue Qi cheerfully pulled two worm crystals from her pocket and said excitedly, "Although I didn't find work today, I feel like I've gained much more!"
"Nan Shuang, you have no idea, when I returned today..."
Xue Qi recounted her encounter with Wang Yu in detail to Jiang Nan Shuang, leaving no stone unturned, even detailing her own internal thoughts.
"Nan Shuang, truly, Mr. Wang Yu is the best person I've met since the apocalypse. He intervenes when injustice is done, is lavish with his spending, and anyone who casually gives away worm crystals must be quite powerful."
"Most importantly, he's very handsome too! Clean-cut and sunny, he's exactly my ideal type!"
As she spoke, Xue Qi's expression gradually became wistful, as if foreseeing a happy and beautiful future.
Jiang Nan Shuang also felt happy for her good friend, but she also wanted to remind her not to get her hopes up too high. This was still very early in their potential relationship; wasn't she already thinking about what to name their children?
As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment, dear sister!
However, she couldn't bring herself to dampen her good friend's spirits.
"Xiao Qi, then... if you have time, you could visit his place more often. Perhaps you two will be together soon."
Xue Qi's eyes lit up, feeling that Jiang Nan Shuang's advice was absolutely correct!
She blurted out, "Then we..."
But she stopped herself halfway through.
Jiang Nan Shuang understood her concerns and smiled slightly, "I won't accompany you. I'll wait at home for your good news."
Xue Qi was momentarily unsure of what to say. She let out a complicated "Mm," and her initial enthusiasm waned slightly...