84 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chen Wan was taken aback for a moment; she hadn't expected to run into the original's 'white moonlight' here. But after a few seconds of surprise, she hurriedly explained, "I'm not planning on getting a divorce anymore. Yanxin is quite nice. You should wait by the main gate; we have other things to do." Wu Qianran was thrown off guard by Chen Wan's words and nearly burst into tears on the spot. Before the apocalypse, she had a decent job, and Chen Wan was just one of her many backups. Among them, Chen Wan had pretty good conditions. If she hadn't broken up with her rich first-generation girlfriend, she never would have considered the already-married Chen Wan. They had planned to marry once Chen Wan got divorced, so meeting again post-apocalypse only to have Chen Wan change her mind was unexpected. "Chen Wan, but we had an agreement back then. Did something happen in these past few months? Why did you change your mind? Didn't you say you no longer had feelings for Jiang Yanxin? That I was the one you loved..." Wu Qianran couldn't believe Chen Wan could have changed her mind, especially after how devoted Chen Wan had been to her before the apocalypse, nearly like a devoted dog. How could things be different now? Wu Qianran couldn't understand it. Chen Wan frowned and said, "People change. Just consider the previous me dead." She was anxious to clean up the place and didn't have time for Wu Qianran's drama. After all, this was a debt—the emotional one—left by the original Chen Wan. Why should she be the one to pay it? Having said this, Chen Wan grabbed Qin Ke's arm and walked straight toward the five-story building, leaving behind Wu Qianran with tears brimming in her eyes. Qin Ke couldn't help but glance at her close friend, surprised that someone as obedient to her wife as Chen Wan could utter such classic lines of a scoundrel. This brought her a bit of relief; otherwise, if Chen Wan decided to take this woman along, wouldn't the interior of the RV be an ongoing scene of drama? That would be too intense. As Chen Wan and Qin Ke made their way toward the five-story building, they kept seeking cover since some people inside already wielded firearms and were shooting at them. However, only a few dared to shoot; most of Xiang Jiawei's henchmen were still hiding in the building, hoping that Chen Wan and her entourage would leave quickly and forget about those inside. With their vast experience, Chen Wan and Qin Ke quickly moved into the building's ground floor by finding cover. They broke all the windows on the first floor using guns, igniting the curtains with a lighter scavenged from a corpse. Soon, those curtains were ablaze, spreading the fire to other flammable wooden furniture in the rooms. The building fire spread rapidly from one floor to the next, often within mere seconds. In no time, flames had engulfed the first floor. Seeing this, Chen Wan and Qin Ke wasted no time in running towards the main gate. In such a situation, unless a fire truck appeared with water, those inside would have no hope of putting out the fire themselves. By the time they reached the main gate, the flames had almost consumed the third floor. Chen Wan saw this and shouted loudly while pressing a button on her remote, "Everyone, hurry up and leave! It's only going to get worse!" Heeding her words, the crowd surged out through the gate, with sixty-odd people rushing out in no time. Chen Wan glanced at Wu Qianran, who was still waiting beside them, and frowned, "You should leave too. Some people will surely make it out alive, and it's dangerous here." Wu Qianran did not expect such impatience from Chen Wan. She began to cry, "Chen Wan, how could you change your heart so quickly? We had an agreement, didn't we? What spell has Jiang Yanxin put on you? Didn't you say she was too cold for you to handle?" "I told you, people change. Now I like that she's cold. Stop saying so much. It's dangerous here; hurry up and leave. Don't make things more chaotic for us." Chen Wan said this to Wu Qianran, but her eyes were fixed on the blaze in the building. Qin Ke glanced at Wu Qianran, then at Chen Wan, and pursed her lips, deciding to blend into the background as an observer. Who knew her friend could have been so unreliable in relationships before? But watching her cower before Jiang Yanxin in the RV, where was the dislike for Jiang Yanxin's cold demeanor? Wu Qianran couldn’t believe how resolute Chen Wan's attitude was. She didn't even spare a glance her way. Still clad in just a bikini with no way to hide her alluring figure, she had been forced to wear that by the captors along with the other Omegas. Left with no choice, Wu Qianran gritted her teeth and stepped outside the gate. But she didn't go far, opting instead to wait for Chen Wan outside. She had previously lived alone in D Zone and didn't feel like going back after encountering Chen Wan. After all, she had witnessed Chen Wan's capabilities. Staying with Chen Wan promised more safety than being alone. And in this apocalyptic world, it wasn't uncommon for capable Alphas to have several Omegas. The thought of sharing Chen Wan, even with some compromise, seemed manageable if it meant she could stay safe. Unbeknownst to Chen Wan, Wu Qianran had spun so many stories in her head. Chen Wan and Qin Ke focused on the inferno not far off. Only a few survivors managed to escape, about five or six, who desperately ran towards the gate, only to be taken down by the prepared Chen Wan and Qin Ke. Seeing it was nearly done, Chen Wan and Qin Ke exited through the gate and locked it behind them using the remote. Chen Wan turned to find Wu Qianran still there and frowned as she walked by, "Why aren't you leaving?" "You're chasing me away? But Chen Wan, we weren't like this before. Did Jiang Yanxin say something to you? It doesn't matter; I just want to be with you. In the base, many Alphas have more than one Omega." Wu Qianran practically spelled it out for Chen Wan. Qin Ke followed beside them, inwardly exclaiming 'well played'; if Wu Qianran went back with them to Tent 1267, who knew what kind of backlash Chen Wan would face from Jiang Yanxin. Despite appearing fearless outside, Chen Wan turned into a docile figure in face of Jiang Yanxin's presence back at the RV. "I'm not like other Alphas. Having only Yanxin is enough for me. Understand? I'd rather not have you following me. Depending on others in this apocalypse isn't reliable. If you want to protect yourself, the only way is to become stronger. That's all I have to say to you." Chen Wan spoke, ignoring Wu Qianran, and quickened her pace towards Gate A. Liu Zi and Zhao Lei had sensed something was wrong, especially when black smoke started billowing from A Zone. People began to run from A Zone, and when questioned by Liu Zi and Zhao Lei, they only knew that Xiang Jiawei's villa was on fire, nothing more. Soon, Chen Wan and Qin Ke reached the gate to A Zone. Liu Zi hurriedly asked, "What happened with Xiang Jiawei? Did you all return safely?" "It seems their improper electricity usage caused a fire. It's probably burning fiercely now. I don't know the details," said Chen Wan, the arsonist, fabricating an excuse. She left with Qin Ke, Wu Qianran trailing behind them. Among returning D-Zone inhabitants were several dressed similarly, attracting stares but not standing out. After leaving Gate A, Chen Wan and Qin Ke walked for nearly ten minutes before returning to their tent. Jiang Yanxin had been holding Zai Zai, worried about Chen Wan. Despite knowing Chen Wan's abilities, the sheer number of people and firearms on the other side made her anxious for both Chen Wan and Qin Ke's safety, enduring agonizing hours. Ye Lan and Jiang Zhaoyuan, being the longest in the base, knew who Xiang Jiawei was and had accepted the likelihood of Chen Wan and Qin Ke's return as slim. Ye Lan, not wanting to upset Jiang Yanxin, cried privately. In the apocalyptic world, life was fragile, and a person's death could seem as trivial as an ant's. Yet, it's something ordinary people have to face and endure. With that understanding, when Chen Wan and Qin Ke returned unscathed, the camp fell into an odd silence until Jiang Yanxin came to her senses, handed Zai Zai to Yi Yi, and enveloped Chen Wan in a hug. "I knew you'd be fine, Chen Wan. You scared me," Jiang Yanxin murmured, her eyes slightly red, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness. Chen Wan soothed her gently, "It's my fault, alright? I won't make you worry again." "Hmm," Jiang Yanxin replied softly, not caring if others were around. She just wanted to hold Chen Wan tight, not wanting her to leave even a step away. However, the sweet atmosphere was short-lived. Soon, someone else entered the tent. Jiang Yanxin, who had been nestled in Chen Wan's embrace, intending to enjoy a bit of affection, looked up to see a woman standing not far away. Her expression immediately turned cold. Qin Ke, worried about potential drama, hurriedly moved over to where Yi Yi and Zai Zai were, sitting down to watch the unfolding scene. Others in the tent also noticed the woman and were momentarily confused about the situation. Jiang Yanxin stood up from Chen Wan's embrace, her mind in turmoil. She knew that the Chen Wan before her had a changed persona, but seeing Wu Qianran still stirred a bit of anger. She didn't care much about the previous Chen Wan, especially since she no longer had feelings for that version. But this current Chen Wan was hers! It was clear Wu Qianran wasn't there with good intentions. "What brings Miss Wu here?" Jiang Yanxin asked with a cold smile. "I was also taken to Xiang Jiawei's place. Fortunately, Chen Wan was there; otherwise, who knows what terrible things might have happened," Wu Qianran replied, her eyes shifting towards Chen Wan standing beside Jiang Yanxin. Chen Wan paid no heed to Wu Qianran's gaze. However, noticing Wu Qianran's scant attire, she nonchalantly pulled a T-shirt and a pair of jeans from her backpack and handed them over.