Xu An's mind had gone haywire. Seeing Ji Rourou surrounded by zombies, she couldn't resist her overflowing compassion, thus saving the other's life.
Ji Rourou, if she couldn't do anything else, was adept at playing the victim, feigning ignorance, and faking tears.
After Xu An killed the zombies, Ji Rourou, just like in the novels, acted like a damsel who had to repay a rescuer with her own person, and followed Xu An around with hopeful eyes.
She was impossible to get rid of, no matter how much Xu An tried.
However, when others repaid a life-saving grace by offering themselves, they also cooked and did laundry.
Initially, Xu An's heart softened, and she took care of Ji Rourou. But later, Ji Rourou acted like a little princess, unthinkingly enjoying the supplies Xu An had painstakingly acquired, hiding behind her, and letting Xu An protect her.
This gradually made Xu An quite displeased.
Later, when they encountered other survivors halfway, Xu An, for safety's sake, formed a team with everyone.
As a result, because of Ji Rourou's presence, Xu An became the target of everyone's accusations.
Everyone stood on the moral high ground and condemned Xu An.
"Rourou is still so young. You've already saved her, and now you won't look after her? That's indirectly causing her death!"
"Exactly. She's such a pitiable girl. What's wrong with you protecting her if you have the ability?"
"We're all compatriots. What's wrong with sharing your food with Rourou? Can you bear to watch Rourou starve to death?"
"..."
Because she was strong, she deserved to be at the forefront. Because she was strong, she deserved to protect Ji Rourou?
Xu An didn't understand. When did the rescuer become the one placed on a moral pedestal, subjected to universal condemnation? And when did being capable become a reason for coercion!
What kind of twisted logic was this!
Such words, endless and one after another, echoed in Xu An's ears.
Over time, if she still didn't realize that Ji Rourou was up to no good behind her back, then she truly would have lived in vain.
Ji Rourou had a baby face with big, round, watery eyes.
Whenever Xu An righteously refused her, Ji Rourou would look at Xu An with those moist, big eyes.
Once or twice was acceptable, but Ji Rourou always used this trick in front of outsiders, making everyone misunderstand that Xu An was bullying her.
This made the deeply wronged Xu An laugh out of anger.
This little green tea, all the way, ate her food, drank her drinks, and still schemed behind her back. Even with Xu An's good temper, she couldn't stand it anymore.
Finally, during a scavenging mission, the long-simmering conflict erupted.
At that time, Xu An found a piece of chocolate hidden under a shelf in a dilapidated supermarket.
At first, she wondered why no one had picked up the chocolate, which was a rare supply.
She only understood why when she approached.
Not only was there chocolate under the shelf, but also a zombie flailing its limbs.
As soon as she got close, the zombie opened its foul-smelling mouth and waved its arms incessantly, looking quite terrifying.
No wonder no one dared to pick it up.
But she wanted it. So, she and Gou Dan put in a lot of effort to retrieve the chocolate.
Although some people who saw it were envious, everyone had seen that it was Xu An who risked danger to snatch the chocolate.
So, no one said anything more.
But while some people had a sense of shame, not everyone did. Ji Rourou had been watching Xu An all along, perfectly portraying the image of a weakling.
Whenever Xu An found something good, she would always run up to Xu An crying, not saying a word, just shedding silent tears.
At first, Xu An would share her food with her. Later, she gradually realized what kind of person Ji Rourou was and stopped paying attention to her.
This time, Ji Rourou wanted to repeat her old trick. First, she told everyone in front of them that she had low blood sugar and felt dizzy, then she looked longingly at the chocolate in Xu An's hand.
She had a look of wanting but not daring to ask.
Before Xu An could speak, a man sitting nearby suddenly said, "Little Xu, didn't you just find a chocolate bar? Rourou has low blood sugar, why don't you let her have it first? It's a waste for you to eat it anyway."
"Why should I?" Xu An refused directly.
"What do you mean, 'why should you'? Rourou already said she has low blood sugar. It's a special situation, and there are no medicines. What's wrong with you letting her have the chocolate to replenish her sugar?"
He then added, "Xu An, why are you so selfish!"
He forgot to mention that this man who was "righteously speaking up" was Fang Chang, who had just helped Ji Rourou escape over the wall.
This man was good at putting on a show.
Although Xu An felt wronged after hearing this, she didn't let herself be pushed around and manipulated any further.
She knew that she had to completely fall out with Ji Rourou now, otherwise, that little green tea would endlessly latch onto her, sucking her dry like a parasite.
"The chocolate can be given to her, but it must be exchanged for supplies. Three bottles of mineral water and two loaves of bread."
Xu An wasn't asking for an arbitrary price. Ji Rourou had eaten and drunk her food all along and had accumulated quite a bit of supplies, which she could definitely afford.
Upon hearing this, Ji Rourou's delicate, innocent flower demeanor almost cracked. She jumped up excitedly and said, "What? Why don't you go rob someone! You want so many of my supplies for a broken chocolate bar? I even treated you like a sister, and you're so heartless!"
As she spoke, she started crying again.
Listening to the other party's groundless accusations, Xu An was so angry she laughed.
"I'm not forcing you to exchange supplies with me. If you think it's too expensive, then don't take the chocolate. What are you crying about? You're making it seem like I'm bullying you."
"You..." Ji Rourou was rendered speechless, pointing at Xu An for a long time but unable to utter a word.
Xu An snorted disdainfully. Let alone who had shamelessly mooched off her food and drinks all along, just how much of the supplies Ji Rourou had was tricked out of her.
What's more! Who are you calling sister!
Xu An was displeased and rolled her eyes, saying, "Also, stop calling me 'sister' from now on. Who's older is not yet determined!"
She had accidentally seen Ji Rourou's ID card before. She was born in '94, making her 28 years old, while Xu An was a genuine post-00, just turned 22 this year.
Suddenly, she felt like she had been blinded by her own kindness, to have saved such an ungrateful wretch.
As expected, Ji Rourou's strength lay in shifting her own problems onto others.
Thus, because of a small chocolate bar, things escalated.
It turned into Xu An being cruel, cold-blooded, and heartless, disregarding Ji Rourou's life and wanting to force her to death.
She didn't know what magic the small chocolate bar possessed that it ultimately led to such a result.
Many people pressured Xu An, telling her to hand over the chocolate.
Actually, Ji Rourou was no longer the main issue in the end. It was human greed at play.
Everyone present had coveted that chocolate bar, but no one had the means to obtain it.
Suddenly, Xu An's appearance broke this balance, and some people began to feel disgruntled.