187 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

On the other side, Yang Commanders seized a moment of Cao Wei’s unpreparedness, raised his gun, and fired a series of shots. In that fleeting instant, Shang Nuan shielded Cao Wei; however, the bullets posed no threat to them. Athena's Aegis Shield gently swung, and moments later, Yang Commanders stood in place, transformed into a stone statue. Feng Zhi Yun and Wang You Long tried to flee, but they were shot down by a few of Cao Wei's personal guards and collapsed to the ground. While relieved, Cao Wei glanced toward the foreign woman beside her, glaring at Shang Nuan in anger, exclaiming, "Who told you to take a bullet for me?" "Protecting you is my duty," Shang Nuan admitted, standing obediently as she listened to Cao Wei's reprimand after realizing her anger. Cao Wei shook her head with a sigh, "Thank you, but you mustn't do that again; it's too dangerous." Shang Nuan remained standing straight, offering no response to Cao Wei's words. "Forget it, I don't expect you to promise anything. Go ahead and individually question the backgrounds of these newly joined soldiers and arrange accommodations for them." Cao Wei smiled wryly. Shang Nuan promptly replied, "Understood!" and led the soldiers off, leaving Shi Tou to rise and search for Ke Qing, only to be summoned by Cao Wei, "Wait, I heard you became the captain of some special unit on the opposing side? Why did you join them?" Shi Tou furrowed his brows at Cao Wei, responding through clenched teeth, "I thought you all wouldn’t return." Ke Qing, seeing Shi Tou halted, remained in her place, hoping to blend into the background. Despite Shi Tou treating her well, she was unwilling to suffer alongside him. "You thought we wouldn’t come back? That your friends all perished outside? People as unreliable as you are unwelcome in District One." With that, Cao Wei ordered her soldiers to take aim. As the soldiers were about to shoot, Cao Wei heard Wei Si Yu’s voice from behind. "Hold on," Wei Si Yu asserted, making her way to the forefront of the crowd. Seeing Wei Si Yu, Cao Wei’s gaze softened, seemingly understanding her intent, and spoke first, "Wei Si Yu, I know you’re a good person, and Shi Tou was part of your team, but today we returned safely after dealing with a mutated lion. What if we hadn't? How many would have been harmed by people like him? I’ll spare their lives, but they cannot stay in District One." "Cao Commander, you’re right, but he was my friend, and I thank you on Shi Tou’s behalf," Wei Si Yu quickly expressed gratitude, relieved at the reprieve. In the distance, Ke Qing heard her fate of being expelled and rushed to Shi Tou’s side, begging tearfully, "Wei Si Yu, Cao Commander, we were just momentarily out of our minds. Please, don't expel us from District One. How will we survive outside? Wei Si Yu, please plead on our behalf." Wei Si Yu looked troubled, knowing Shi Tou had crossed the line. Cao Commander sparing their lives was already generous. Shi Tou comforted the sobbing Ke Qing in his embrace, declaring loudly, "Don’t cry, we don’t need their mercy. Ke Qing, rest assured, even if we leave District One, I’ll ensure you have a good life." Turning to Wei Si Yu, he added, "I don’t need your pity. Wei Si Yu, I once thought you were a good partner, but now I see you, and the rest, for who you truly are. You all look down on me, don’t you?" Receiving no response, he shouted, "Don't you?" Wei Si Yu looked at Shi Tou, shaking her head in disbelief, never having considered her comrades as underlings, "How could you think that?" "What I’m saying is the truth. You’re all so fake, I’ve seen through you," Shi Tou said, intending to pack up and leave with Ke Qing. Cao Commander blocked their path, "The gate is over there. Escort them to the outermost gate of District One, and they are never allowed back." "Yes, Ma'am," the armed soldiers complied, escorting Shi Tou and Ke Qing out. Watching Shi Tou gradually disappear from sight, Wei Si Yu felt increasingly uneasy. Chen Wan patted Wei Si Yu’s back, comforting her, "It's not your fault, he’s ungrateful. Don’t dwell on it, he’s not worth it." Wei Si Yu nodded, remaining silent. Cao Wei approached Jiang Yan Xin, expressing gratitude, "Thank you so much earlier. Without your ability, A-Nuan and I could have been in real danger. Thank you." "No need, with you in District One, everyone feels secure," Jiang Yan Xin smiled. Seeing District One stabilize, Chen Wan and her companions returned to rest. Back in room 301, Yi Yi had somehow found a deck of cards and was playing a train game with Jiang Wan Ning and Zai Zai. Eager to play, Zai Zai learned several words and knew he could collect matching ends. Having just learned, Zai Zai was lying on the bed, engrossed in the game, his little hands almost unable to hold the cards. Hearing a commotion outside, Zai Zai called out, "Mommy, Mama~" Returning to the bedroom, Chen Wan saw Zai Zai with cards in hand, a long line of cards on the bed, and teased him with a laugh, "Sweetie, how did you learn to play cards in just one day?" "Aunt Yi Yi and Auntie taught me; Mama, playing the train game is so much fun, play with me," Zai Zai pleaded with his tiny hand, wanting Chen Wan to join in. Chen Wan chuckled, comforting him, "Play a while longer with your aunts, Mama needs to take a bath first, then I’ll hold you." Zai Zai nodded, continuing the train game, newfound fascination taking precedence over cartoons. After Chen Wan and Jiang Yan Xin bathed, they joined the train game with Zai Zai. Meanwhile, Wei Si Yu's group was in a heavy-hearted mood. Having spent less time with Shi Tou, Chen Wan's group felt a brief discomfort, but it quickly passed. Conversely, Wei Si Yu and her companions had once shared life-and-death moments with Shi Tou; his departure left them struggling to come to terms. "How could Shi Tou think that way about us? We’ve been together for nearly six months, surviving the apocalypse without separating. How could he view us like that?" Jin Can was puzzled by Shi Tou’s attitude, as was Huang Li Li. "Yes, after all we’ve been through together, now that things have settled, we face such an issue?" Huang Can Can voiced his frustration from the couch. With a sigh, Wei Si Yu commented, "Perhaps we never truly understood him. Regardless, I wish him well." "I think Ke Qing did no good, fueling Shi Tou’s misguided thoughts—previously just burgeoning ideas, but Ke Qing ignited them into a blaze. Ultimately, his mindset was flawed," Jin Can analyzed with a sigh. "Yes, perhaps it’s just fate," Wei Si Yu concluded, lacking energy for further discussion, retreating to her room, followed by Jin Can and Huang Li Li. Elsewhere, Shi Tou and Ke Qing were unceremoniously escorted beyond the last checkpoint of District One. Ashen-faced, hair burnt unevenly, wearing tattered clothes, Shi Tou stood outside District One’s gate, cursing, "One day, I’ll make you all pay. Wei Si Yu, Chen Wan, you just wait! What makes you so exceptional? Why do you look down on me?" A guard, growing tired of Shi Tou's tirade, aimed a gun at him, "Scram, disturbing our duty here gives us the right to decide." Expelled from District One, Ke Qing knew finding another place was no easy task. Shi Tou wasn’t a powerful mental-type ability user like Chen Wan, but an ability user nonetheless. She would have to stick with him to survive the apocalypse. Thinking of this, Ke Qing hurriedly advised, "Shi Tou, let's stop cursing. Think about me; it's going to get dark soon, and we need to figure something out quickly. Don’t worry, Shi Tou, even if Wei Si Yu and the others abandon you, I won’t leave your side. I’ll stay with you and support you." Shi Tou, his eyes red, hugged Ke Qing close. "Thank you, really, for staying with me and believing in me. Don’t worry, Ke Qing. I promise I'll provide you with a life of luxury, even more splendid than being with Wei Si Yu and her group. I’ll make it happen, trust me." "Yes, I trust you," Ke Qing replied with an affectionate look, though her mind raced, urging Shi Tou to quickly find a place since they didn’t yet know where they'd stay the night. However, being a strength-type ability user, Shi Tou had ample survival experience. He soon managed to commandeer a car from the roadside, planning to take Ke Qing to a nearby town for the night and find some food and drink in the process. The two left together and finally reached a small town before nightfall. They found a convenience store with some food and juice left behind. Shi Tou secured the store door means to spend the night there with Ke Qing. Sitting on the hard floor, Ke Qing's thoughts were swirling. Her limited affection for Shi Tou vanished. If she could latch onto someone like Chen Wan, she might avoid this suffering. How could she possibly sleep on such a hard floor? It was all Shi Tou's fault for being incapable!