78 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

The five individuals following Yi Yi were visibly startled for a moment; they hadn't expected Yi Yi to emerge just like that. However, they quickly caught up with her. As Yi Yi walked ten or so steps away from the exchange point, the two leading male alphas surrounded her. "Hey there, pretty lady, all alone? Do you want us big brothers to escort you home?" Huang Ya grinned at Yi Yi, his crooked smile revealing his yellow teeth. The other four with him were equally eager and ready. "Sure, let's find a place where no one else is around," Yi Yi responded with a smile, her expression still relaxed. "Damn, you really know what's up. Let's head to that grove behind the building; we'll show you the sights, and you won't be disappointed," Huang Ya said with a lewd grin, prompting the others to burst into laughter. Huang Ya then attempted to reach out and touch Yi Yi, but she deftly dodged. "What's the rush? Aren't we headed to the grove over there?" Huang Ya chuckled, "True enough, let's go, guys. We've got a meal waiting." "This woman has spunk. Too bad she's not an Omega; an Omega's body would be softer," said the man with a scar near his eye, eyeing Yi Yi as he spoke. Huang Ya kicked him. "Be grateful for what you got, you picky bastard. You're last in line." "Come on, man, let's negotiate." Listening to their banter behind her, Yi Yi sneered. The reason she planned to go to the grove was simply that she found these louts bothersome. She had no intention of holding back against this sort of scum. Picking up her pace, Yi Yi prompted more laughter from the men behind her, with Huang Ya spouting vile words, "In a hurry, are you? What's the rush, sis?" "Haha, she's eager," chimed in the scarred man. Yi Yi led them on, not bothered in the least. Roughly five minutes later, they arrived at the grove. Huang Ya eyed Yi Yi with a sleazy grin, baring all his yellow teeth. "Alright, sweetheart, I'm up first. The brothers are lined up and waiting." Yi Yi's smile vanished as she tucked the box of allergy medicine into her pocket and walked directly toward Huang Ya. Huang Ya was taken aback by Yi Yi's forwardness. Usually, when they pulled stunts like this, women and male Omegas alike would be screaming and fleeing in terror, never approaching willingly like Yi Yi did. Just as he was about to taunt her further, his vision blurred, and a stabbing pain emanated from his face. When awareness returned, all he could feel was a scorching pain on his back. Snapping sounds emitted from his body, and a hot fluid welled up from his chest. By the time he hit the ground, he was nearly unconscious. The tree behind Huang Ya cracked under the force of his flying body, shattering from the impact. He didn’t even have the strength to lift his eyes before he passed out. The remaining four men stood frozen in shock, some beginning to panic. The scarred man tried to muster the courage to speak, "Damn it, let's fight her! Don't be afraid! She just got lucky before. Let's all attack at once, don't chicken out." "Get her!" The male alphas tried to rally each other and charged at Yi Yi. Yi Yi's expression remained unchanged. The more that attacked, the better—it saved her time. This secluded spot allowed her the freedom to unleash her full strength. As they lunged, Yi Yi countered with speed several times greater than theirs. With two punches, two men flew out, hitting trees as Huang Ya did, only stopping when the trunks broke. Their bones shattered instantly, and blood spewed from their mouths as they died. Now thoroughly terrified, the scarred man and the remaining alpha dared not face Yi Yi directly. The scarred man even shouted as he ran, "Fuck, this woman’s wicked. Split up, or else no one will..." "Survive," the scarred man couldn’t finish his words, feeling a snapping pain in his neck as it was twisted. The last remaining alpha was kicked from behind by Yi Yi, sent flying into a tree, breaking it upon impact. Yi Yi looked over the pathetic fools, a cold smirk forming on her lips. Even a few dozen more like this bunch wouldn’t be enough to challenge her. How pathetic it was that they thought they could bully her. Finding them laughable, Yi Yi pulled out the allergy medicine she had picked up, and leisurely made her way back to the D-zone tent 982. Along the way, others watched with either blatant curiosity or secretive observation as they trailed behind her, trying to ascertain her destination. Unbothered by the attention, Yi Yi returned to tent 982 after ten minutes. As Yi Yi entered, Chen Wan quickly asked, "How did it go? Any trouble?" Yi Yi smiled at her, handing over the medicine. "Yes, but it’s taken care of. No need to worry." "Good," replied Chen Wan, trusting in Yi Yi’s abilities, and didn’t press further. Instead, she turned to Jiang Yan Xin with instructions, "Yan Xin, Yi Yi got the allergy medicine, let Wan Ning take it before sleeping. It's no joke to leave allergies untreated." "Alright," Jiang Yan Xin replied, gently touching Jiang Wan Ning’s face and softly calling, "Wan Ning? Wake up, sister's here. Take this medicine, will you?" In her slumber, Jiang Wan Ning seemed to hear her sister's voice. Her thoughts muddled by her fever, she struggled to think clearly as she opened her eyes, appearing dazed as she saw her sister. In a sleepy voice, she murmured, "Sister? Why are you still here? This dream feels endless." Then, breaking into a smile, she added, "But it's nice. I get to see you more. It's been so long." "This isn’t a dream. Once your fever subsides, you'll see. Look, Yi Yi brought back allergy medicine. Take it and rest, okay?" Jiang Yan Xin gently coaxed her disoriented sister. Jiang Wan Ning shook her head, "I can't. Sis, I'd rather die than have that lot after me. Once the spots on my face and body clear, it's my time to go to hell." Jiang Yan Xin’s eyes welled up with tears, yet she maintained control and tried to soothe her sister, "But wouldn't you like to look as you did before, at least in a dream? It’s okay in dreams, right?" Half-conscious and swayed by her own belief she was dreaming, Jiang Wan Ning agreed, taking the medication and washing it down with water, noting the bitterness even in her dream state. Her body frail from prolonged malnutrition, sickness overtook her quickly, and she drifted back into sleep. Relieved to see her take the medicine, Chen Wan relaxed slightly, gently picking up Cai Cai, who settled quietly in Chen Wan’s arms, her little hand clutching at Chen Wan's clothes. Chen Wan kissed Cai Cai’s cheek, soothing her with soft words, "Once we pick up Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt, we'll leave this place, alright?" "Okay, mommy. I don’t like this place. I like the car," Cai Cai whispered, rubbing against Chen Wan. The people here seemed strange, and some were quite mean and nasty! "I don't like it either. We'll go as soon as we've found everyone. Just be patient a bit longer, okay?" Chen Wan gently squeezed Cai Cai’s tiny hand. Cai Cai nodded obediently. Waiting often tested one’s patience, and Chen Wan found herself idly playing with Cai Cai’s chubby little hands, like squeezing a stress ball, as they bounced back delightfully. Unaware she was being toyed with, Cai Cai merely thought her mommy was trying to make her smile, and she brightened up. Meanwhile, an elderly woman in her seventies, who had been resting, was now awake and sitting up. Living with her son and husband, she wasn't in the best health, so they had taken on all tasks to earn points. They lived sparsely but better than Jiang Wan Ning's circumstances. Smiling at the adorable child in Chen Wan's arms, the old woman asked, "How old is this little one?" Chen Wan gently prodded Cai Cai, "The nice lady is asking you. How old are you?" Cai Cai held up three fingers on her left hand and bent the index finger on her right, "I'm three and a half~." "So sweet," the old woman sighed, wondering if this child could grow up healthy in such times. As Chen Wan chatted with the old woman, the noise outside the tent grew, an uproar approaching from afar. "Kai, they're inside the tent. They claim to be Jiang Wan Ning’s sisters. There are four women and a kid, and I must say, these women are just as stunning as Jiang Wan Ning." "Yang Feng, you’re proving useful. If it turns out to be true, I'll let you roll with me from now on," Kai Zi chuckled lightly, clearly in a good mood. As they reached the entrance of tent 982, Kai Zi scrunched his nose in disdain, saying, "What the hell is this stench of poverty? It reeks. How am I supposed to go inside this pigsty?" "Right away, I'll fan it out for you," Yang Feng responded eagerly, trying to please Kai Zi. Though fanning was pointless, Kai Zi wasn’t new to bothering Jiang Wan Ning. He performed this little act simply to enjoy the satisfaction of being catered to. It was akin to a boss demanding endless revisions on a draft, only to settle on the first version—deep down, he knew no one would pay attention to the presentation. The whole exercise was about the thrill of wielding power over others. After Yang Feng fanned the air a dozen times in a fawning manner, Kai Zi finally feigned seriousness, furrowed his brows, and stepped into tent 982.