Apocalypse: Resources consumed by women will be returned ten thousandfold.

--Translated by likesnovel--

Song Siyin immediately felt her anger flare up again.

But she was so weak and exhausted that even her voice sounded powerless.

"It's just a belt... Want some?"

Song Yuanfan froze for a moment before answering awkwardly.

"Uh..."

Not wanting to argue with her younger brother, Song Siyin shifted her gaze to the backpack hanging behind him.

"What about the food? Did you get any?"

Song Yuanfan nodded.

"I traded for 2 cans of fish."

In reality, he had managed to get 4 cans.

But he secretly hid 2 of them for himself.

Song Siyin's expression darkened instantly.

"A gold ring... only got us 2 cans of fish?"

Song Yuanfan hurriedly concealed the truth.

"Food is getting scarcer every day. Getting this much is already lucky. Sis... we can't let this continue. Have you heard anything from Jiang Fan yet?"

Song Siyin bit her lip.

"He blocked me. What am I supposed to do?"

Song Yuanfan said unhappily,

"How is that guy generous at all? It was just a little favor asking him to order some food. Why is he making such a big deal out of it?"

The 2 of them split the canned fish equally.

Once food finally reached their stomachs, the tormenting hunger eased somewhat.

After regaining a little strength, they began discussing how to survive.

Song Yuanfan suddenly said,

"Sis, why don't you add him again?"

"Men care about their pride more than anything. Jiang Fan is probably just acting tough. If you soften up a little, cry a bit, he'll definitely give in."

Song Siyin had no desire whatsoever to lower herself before Jiang Fan.

But when she thought about starving to death, she realized she had no choice.

In the end, she sent another friend request.

She wasn't expecting much.

But what shocked her was—

The request was accepted almost instantly.

Song Siyin's eyes lit up.

"He accepted it!"

Song Yuanfan laughed excitedly.

"See? I told you. Men are all the same!"

"You've got him wrapped around your finger."

Song Siyin's confidence immediately returned.

"Don't worry. Jiang Fan? I know exactly how to handle him."

After thinking for a moment, she immediately initiated a video call.

The call was answered quickly.

Jiang Fan's face appeared on the screen.

Beside him sat 2 beautiful women attending to him attentively.

The moment Song Siyin saw Jiang Fan's healthy, radiant appearance, blood rushed to her head.

She was practically starving to death.

Yet he was eating well, living comfortably, and surrounded by 2 gorgeous women.

Jiang Fan looked at the woman on the screen.

Messy hair.

Pale complexion.

Weak and exhausted.

There wasn't even a trace of the arrogant woman she used to be.

He couldn't help sighing inwardly.

*I really was an idiot for chasing a woman like this for so many years.*

The more he thought about it, the better his mood became.

Jiang Fan smiled broadly.

"What? On a diet?"

"A diet my ass!"

Song Siyin nearly coughed up blood from anger.

Her eyes widened as she shouted,

"Jiang Fan!"

Jiang Fan casually nodded toward Tang Xuerou.

She immediately understood.

Picking up a piece of steak, she gently fed it to him while leaning closer against his body.

Jiang Fan chewed happily.

Then he reached out and stroked Tang Xuerou's head as if petting a kitten.

"What did you call for?"

Song Siyin stared at the scene with so much jealousy she nearly went insane.

Drool unconsciously formed at the corner of her mouth.

Her stomach, which had finally calmed down, immediately started growling again.

While she was chewing on boiled leather belts just to stay alive...

Jiang Fan was casually enjoying premium steak.

Song Yuanfan, standing beside her, became anxious and quickly signaled her with his eyes.

Song Siyin took a deep breath before speaking.

"Jiang Fan... you've really disappointed me."

"I never thought you'd become this kind of man."

Jiang Fan leisurely took a sip of ice-cold cola.

Then chuckled.

"I disappointed you?"

"Wait a second... Didn't we already break up?"

Song Siyin hurriedly defended herself.

"You never understood me!"

"We dated for so many years, but you still couldn't even buy a house!"

"You weren't working hard enough!"

"I broke up with you because I wanted to motivate you to improve yourself!"

Jiang Fan slowly nodded.

"Mhm."

"Keep going."

"Go on. I'm listening."

At that moment, Xu Mengqian picked up a piece of braised pork.

Then gently brought it to Jiang Fan's lips.

Her voice was sweet and soft.

"Brother Jiang, is it good?"

Jiang Fan took a huge bite.

Chewing contentedly, he nodded.

"Mhm. Not bad at all."

"You bitch!"

Song Siyin nearly exploded from rage.

She swallowed hard before screaming,

"You shameless slut!"

Then she turned back toward Jiang Fan and glared fiercely.

"Jiang Fan!"

"I admit it—I was wrong for breaking up with you!"

"But are you seriously saying you did nothing wrong?!"

“Look at other people's boyfriends. They're all working hard. What about you?”

“You work at a convenience store and drive for a ride-hailing app. What kind of future can jobs like that possibly have?”

“And what about our future children? I don't want our kids to fall behind others right from the starting line!”

...

Wow.

She was even using their future children as an excuse now?

Jiang Fan chuckled softly before replying in an unhurried tone.

“Don't drag children who don't even exist into this.”

“Besides, if you wanted to break up, then fine. But could you explain something to me first...?”

“Why did you empty my bank account before leaving?”

1 day before breaking up with Jiang Fan, Song Siyin had secretly transferred all of his savings away.

The total amount was worth tens of thousands of yuan.

That money had been earned through years of hard work by his father.

The moment the subject of money came up, Song Siyin fell silent.

For a brief moment, she didn't know how to respond.

How had Jiang Fan changed so much?

Anxiety began creeping into her heart.

In the past, he had never spoken so sharply or hit her where it hurt.

Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied,

“I never wanted that money!”

“I just wanted to see your attitude!”

“But you've really disappointed me!”

“My attitude?”

Jiang Fan couldn't help laughing.

“Alright.”

“Since you wanted to see my attitude, I'll give you a chance as well.”

Song Siyin's eyes immediately lit up.

Could it be...

Was he softening up?

Of course he was.

There was no way Jiang Fan had completely gotten over her.

Excited, she quickly said,

“I promise I'll treat you better from now on.”

“Let's get back together.”

Inside, she sneered.

Jiang Fan was still the same Jiang Fan.

A man who came when called and left when dismissed.

Once she got back together with him, she would find a way to get rid of those 2 women.

After that, all the food would belong to her.

Song Yuanfan's face also brightened with excitement.

However, Jiang Fan merely smiled faintly before continuing.

“No rush.”

“I'd like to see your attitude too.”

“So right now...”

“Kneel for me.”

Song Siyin froze.

The next second, her face turned red with anger.

“Jiang Fan!”

“You’re insulting my dignity!”

Song Yuanfan immediately panicked.

The food they were about to obtain was slipping away right before their eyes.

He hurriedly whispered,

“Sis! Just go along with him for now!”

Song Siyin hesitated.

Hunger was far more terrifying than embarrassment.

If she had been alone with Jiang Fan, she might actually have done it.

But now...

There were still 2 other women sitting beside him.

And her younger brother was right here as well.

How could she possibly kneel?

Unfortunately...

Jiang Fan had no intention of giving her time to think.

He let out a cold laugh.

“You still have the nerve to talk about dignity?”

“I'm not insulting you.”

“I just want to see your attitude.”

“Song Siyin...”

“You've really disappointed me.”

The moment he finished speaking, he ended the video call.

Beep—

The screen went dark.

“Damn it!”

Song Siyin nearly exploded with frustration.

Song Yuanfan's face turned green with anger as well.

“Sis!”

“Didn't you and he do all kinds of weird couple stuff before?”

“What's the big deal about kneeling?”

“And now you're worried about your pride?”

Song Siyin's expression changed instantly.

She stared at her brother in disbelief.

“Yuanfan!”

“How can you say something like that to me?”

“And besides, Jiang Fan and I never did anything like that!”

Song Yuanfan shouted back impatiently,

“Sis!”

“It's just kneeling!”

“What's so strange about that between a boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“Now the deal's completely ruined!”

“We're about to starve to death!”

Song Siyin clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

“Can't you see it?”

“He was deliberately humiliating me!”

Song Yuanfan snorted coldly.

“Being humiliated is still better than starving!”

With that, he turned around and stormed into his room.

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

Silence returned to the apartment.

Song Siyin sat there alone.

A trace of regret slowly emerged in her heart.

Maybe...

Maybe she really should have knelt just now.

Song Siyin had always been a woman who valued reality more than emotions.

Back in university, she dated Jiang Fan because he was handsome and stood out from the crowd.

Having a boyfriend like him made her feel proud.

But after graduation...

Jiang Fan became nothing more than an ordinary man.

No house.

No car.

No promising future.

So when she successfully passed the civil service examination, she abandoned him without hesitation.

But now...

The world had changed.

Food had become the most valuable resource in existence.

And Jiang Fan was one of the people who possessed it.

Without even realizing it, he had become part of the new upper class of this apocalypse.

If kneeling once could secure her survival...

Then maybe it wasn't such a big deal after all...

Right?

Song Siyin stared at Jiang Fan's chat window.

Her finger hovered over the screen for a long time.

Yet in the end, she still couldn't make up her mind.

After all, she had only eaten half a can of fish moments ago.

She could still hold out a little longer.

She would think about it again later.

---

**14:00 PM**

It was finally time for the trading market to open.

Zhou Tianhao left his apartment together with Song Jie and Chen Yun.

A thick crimson fog blanketed every corner of the building.

Visibility had dropped to only a few meters.

The 3 of them moved cautiously along the wall, advancing step by step.

Zhou Tianhao narrowed his eyes slightly.

A cold smile appeared on his face as he thought to himself,

“I hope that guy... the one offering food and shelter in exchange for supplies... shows up in person today.”

“If that happens...”

“Then today's going to be very interesting indeed...”