175 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

"xbanxia.com Becoming the Scumbag A in a Wasteland Novel, Chapter 175 (Additional Update) - Banxia Novels Approx. 4 Minutes 'You're a devil, not a human. Do you know that every single second with you feels worse than death itself? Shitou, could you help me, please? I'm begging you to help me,' Qing cried as she spoke. Shitou didn't need any more prompting. He immediately grabbed his rifle, ready to fire at the enemy. The man shouted aggressively at Shitou, 'Hold on! Let's see who's got the real guts. Or are you scared?' Provoked, Shitou tossed his rifle aside and lunged at the man with fists ready. The man tossed his steel plate aside too but aimed instead for Qing. Shitou quickly adjusted his stance, delivering a punch that the man tried to counter with his abilities by blocking with his extended arm. As the two wrestled, Shitou, being taller and stronger, gained the advantage quickly. In no time, with his bare fists, Shitou had the man's face bruised and bloody, his mouth bleeding, possibly from internal injuries. Qing, watching them fight, looked visibly relieved. She knew the man was an adept with powers, but she hadn't anticipated the military-dressed Shitou to be so skilled, an adept as well. Shitou rendered the man unable to fight back, and the soldiers returning from the building harbored no sympathy for the man after witnessing the horrors on the 10th floor. Someone ended him with a shot. Commander Chai rescued 20 hostages from the 10th floor. He ordered their arrangements to be coordinated. Qing, however, crouched in a corner, her eyes fixed on Shitou, clearly not wanting to leave. 'Can I stay with you? I'm really scared. Please help me. I don't want to be alone anymore,' Qing spoke, tears flooding down her cheeks as she stared directly at Shitou. Shitou, seemingly interested in Qing, glanced at Wei Siyu and Chen Wan, then awkwardly suggested, 'How about we let her ride with us? I promise to protect her and not be a burden.' Chen Wan looked at the woman, unfamiliar with this world and unaware of Qing's fame. With a thoughtful, lingering gaze, she smiled at Shitou, 'Don't worry about burdens. If you want to bring her, go ahead, but inform Commander Chai.' 'Oh, right! I'll do that now,' Shitou nodded and ran to speak with Commander Chai. Commander Chai pondered but eventually nodded. After all, it was Qing's choice to stay with Shitou, and Shitou was part of Wei Siyu's adept group. There was no need to create discord over this, especially since organizing these people upon return to District One required collaboration. 'Okay, she can travel with you to the base, but accommodations will be arranged upon arrival,' Commander Chai smiled. 'Of course. She's been through a lot, and the road seemed unsafe to her. She should feel better once we're at District One,' Shitou smiled back. After the commotion, soldiers arranged the Omega individuals to rest in a vehicle while others continued to move supplies. They worked until the sky darkened at 7 PM, finally retreating to rest. Chen Wan and her group boarded the vehicle where Qing was resting. Her face lit up seeing Shitou, 'You're back? Thank you for your hard work.' Shitou blushed at her gratitude, cleared his throat, and replied, 'It wasn't hard. You should rest.' He sat beside Qing, handing her military-issued canned food and crackers. Qing thanked him, smiling warmly. Silently observing, Chen Wan ate her meal, occasionally glancing at Qing. Something about Qing felt less innocent than appeared, but whether these suspicions were unfounded or due to the harsh world they lived in, she couldn't be sure. Besides, empathetic people like Wei Siyu were rare. Qing and Shitou whispered, the presence of a stranger creating a slight tension within the group. After her meal, Chen Wan looked at Jiang Yanxin, 'Need to step out?' 'We should,' Jiang Yanxin replied, finding the atmosphere strange and following Chen Wan out to the restroom. Their departure prompted others to follow, forming a group that ventured into the building. Chen Wan genuinely needed a break and some fresh air, as did several others. 'Do you think Qing's trustworthy?' Jin Can asked uncertainly. 'Not sure, but Shitou seems fond of her, and she seems to be going through a tough time. If they end up together, it's not bad,' Huang Lili remarked. 'I don't mean to imply she's bad, just that Qing seems not entirely innocent. Anyway, don't take my wild guesses seriously,' Jin Can waved it off, suggesting, 'Let's find a place.' Restrooms were long defunct, so they'd settle wherever possible. Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin took their time, casually strolling the first floor with flashlights before Jiang Yanxin pinned Chen Wan against the wall. Seeing Jiang Yanxin's playful move, Chen Wan grinned and leaned in to kiss her only to be playfully blocked. Jiang Yanxin poked Chen Wan's chest, pointing the flashlight at her face, making her squint against the sudden brightness. 'Did you just sneak looks at Qing in the vehicle? Hm?' Jiang Yanxin's tone lifted playfully. Sensing potential trouble, Chen Wan quickly defended herself, 'She seemed a bit off, but I can't pinpoint why. I might just be too sensitive. I glanced, not even recognizing her face now.' Knowing Chen Wan meant no harm, Jiang Yanxin teased, 'After all afternoon, you still can't recall her face? Since when has your memory been this poor?' 'I've got you. Other girls, especially Omegas, are just passing glances. Forgetting faces is normal,' Chen Wan softened her voice, soothing Jiang Yanxin. It was dark within the mall, too dim for Chen Wan to gauge Jiang Yanxin's expression, but she felt confident her wife was charmed. Jiang Yanxin’s flashlight illuminated the ground nearby as she wrapped her arms around Chen Wan’s neck, lightly kissing her. Feeling the briefest touch on her lips, Chen Wan embraced Jiang Yanxin’s waist, deepening the kiss. Qin Ke and the others had finished, searching for Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin. They noticed the glow of a flashlight and redirected it, only to find the two entwined. Laughing lightly, Qin Ke said, 'Carry on. I saw nothing. Just letting you know it’s time to go.' Caught in the act, Jiang Yanxin blushed, nudging Chen Wan away as they moved to rejoin their group. Meanwhile, in the armored vehicle, Qing worried aloud as she leaned back, 'Your friends, they don’t seem to like me, do they?' Shitou, oblivious to any dislike, quickly reassured her, 'Not at all! They're good people, just a bit shy because you're new. Give it time.' ‘That’s a relief. I was afraid I might affect your friendships,’ Qing forced a smile. 'No worries. We’ve survived so much together; nothing can easily disrupt us,' Shitou chuckled. Qing lowered her head, blinking, her gaze resting on Shitou, 'Are you from a military squad? Are you the leader?' Shitou shook his head truthfully, 'Nope, we’re an adept team here on a mission with the military. That’s how we ended up in Yang City.' Surprised, Qing remarked, 'You’re all adepts?' Considering how the previous leader ruled Yang City alone with his powers, it was astonishing to hear that Shitou’s entire group comprised adepts. Hiding her delight, Qing casually inquired, ‘So, are you the leader? Most teams have one, right? I wouldn’t want to cause trouble for you.’ Momentarily caught off guard, Shitou admitted, 'We’re friends, no formal leader. Chen Wan makes decisions mostly, or Wei Siyu does if she's absent.'""" Shitou noticed that Qing still seemed uneasy, worried about not being able to stay with them. He quickly reassured her, "Actually, the leader is Chen Wan. She usually makes the decisions for our group. She's a very kind person who listens to everyone's opinions and respects others' thoughts. Don't worry, we'll make sure you safely get back to District One." Qing was momentarily stunned, not expecting Chen Wan to be the decision-maker. She had assumed the leadership role would be held by the only male alpha in their team. Clearly, she had been mistaken. Moreover, Shitou mentioned that everyone in their group was an adept. To lead such a group and gain everyone's respect, Chen Wan must be quite remarkable. Qing wondered if she had chosen the wrong person to align with. Suppressing her inner thoughts, Qing looked at Shitou with teary eyes, "Do you plan to just take me back to District One and then abandon me? What if I say I always want to be with you?" She lowered her head, her eyes reddening, "After all, I've been mistreated by that brute. You probably wouldn't want someone like me as a girlfriend." Tears fell as she spoke, leaving Shitou flustered and scrambling to wipe them away, wishing he had more words to explain himself.