Cooking Gourmet Meals in the Apocalypse

Chapter 172: Chapter 169: Little Monster

Seeing that the whipping had finally stopped, Hao Wenli let out a breath and looked toward Chen Xing.

’Serves you right!’

’This is what you get for not helping me!’

A good show was about to start, and Hao Wenli felt the pain from her wounds lessen in anticipation.

Chen Xing glanced at the men and women lying on the floor.

Judging by their twisted postures, many of their bones had been broken.

One person’s foot was twisted completely backward.

’This Li Tong is completely inhuman!’

”You think I need your Brother Jin’s protection?” Chen Xing asked coolly.

She had now seen for herself just how ruthless this girl could be.

The more arrogant Chen Xing acted, the more thrilled Hao Wenli became.

’Let’s see if you’re still so arrogant after this little psycho is done torturing you.’

Li Tong was furious, almost losing her mind when she saw that Chen Xing wasn’t the least bit afraid.

She had managed to capture Chen Xing, and Brother Jin hadn’t shown up to stop her. Still, he had warned her that if she hurt Chen Xing again, he wouldn’t let her get away with it.

And Brother Jin always kept his word.

When Hao Wenli saw that Li Tong wasn’t doing anything, she grew angry but didn’t dare say a word.

’I can’t afford to offend either of them.’

’Li Tong is one thing, but Chen Xing is someone the boss wants. Besides... looking at how things are going, I’ll probably have to rely on her to get out of here.’

”You dare look down on me?” Li Tong’s whip twitched as she bit her lip, restraining herself.

’I’ve got it all figured out,’ she thought. ’If Brother Jin doesn’t come for her in the next few minutes, it proves she means nothing to him.’

Just as she was relishing the thought, Brother Jin hurried into the room.

His face was flushed with rage. He strode forward and grabbed Li Tong by the collar. ”Didn’t I tell you not to touch her? What, is my word not good enough for you?”

Li Tong instantly froze.

She was instinctively afraid of Brother Jin, but her heart was filled with resentment.

Her eyes reddened. ”Brother Jin, are you serious?”

Brother Jin didn’t answer, his icy gaze fixed on her.

Li Tong shook her head in disbelief. ”Sleep with her! Just do it! Once you’ve had her, you won’t find her so special anymore, right? Then I can do whatever I want to her, can’t I?”

’I can tolerate him sleeping with other women, but I can’t stand him developing real feelings for someone. I’m the only one he’s allowed to love!’

Brother Jin’s fists clenched. ”Remember this: you are not to touch her again!”

Li Tong could practically hear her own heart shattering.

’So... Brother Jin fell in love at first sight with this woman he just met?’

”You... you really like her?” Li Tong asked in disbelief.

Brother Jin released her and turned his gaze to Chen Xing. ”You weren’t scared, were you?” he asked, his voice infused with all the gentleness in the world.

Chen Xing looked up at him.

’I don’t understand his attitude at all. I don’t believe in love at first sight.’

’Either this man has some other ulterior motive, or he was also sent by the Research Institute.’

’But I’ve heard Li Tong has known Brother Jin since she was a child—for at least seven or eight years.’

’Based on that, it’s unlikely Brother Jin was sent by the Research Institute.’

Just then, a young woman slumped over a piece of equipment suddenly spoke. ”Brother Jin, just kill me!” Her voice was filled with utter despair.

There was a time when she, too, was the woman Brother Jin cherished most.

But how long did that last before she became a plaything for Li Tong to take her frustrations out on? Before one wound could heal, another would be inflicted.

Today, she felt as if all her internal organs had been shattered.

She couldn’t go on living a life worse than death.

Even now, she found it hard to let go of Brother Jin, but she no longer had the courage to watch him fall in love with yet another woman.

Brother Jin’s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Li Tong.

Li Tong was in no mood to deal with anyone else. With a heart full of rage and nowhere to vent it, she shot the woman a vicious glare. ”You think dying is that easy?”

’My prey doesn’t get to die unless I’m tired of playing with them.’

The woman looked up at Brother Jin in despair, blood from the corner of her mouth soaking her collar. ”I gave you my heart, and you won’t even grant me death? Hah... Hey, pretty girl, you’d better wake up. This man has no idea what love is. Once he gets bored of you, he’ll toss you to this ’sister’ of his to be her plaything. In the end, you’ll be just like me—wanting to die but not being allowed to!”

Hao Wenli, off to the side, thought, ’...’ ’At least you got to sleep with him. What about me?’

’I didn’t even get a taste before I became this little monster’s plaything!’

This time, Li Tong didn’t bother to argue with the woman.

’It would be perfect if her words turned Chen Xing and Brother Jin against each other.’

”Hah... You think you can compare to her?” Brother Jin sneered. ”You’re just a plaything to be tossed aside when I’m bored! She’s completely different!”

He was telling the truth.

For some reason, from the very first moment he saw Chen Xing, he’d felt an incredible sense of familiarity.

It was as if she were the person he had been waiting for all this time.

Li Tong said nothing, biting her lip so hard it bled.

”So... I don’t even have the right to choose to die?” the woman asked, her eyes bloodshot.

’How pathetic am I?’

’I gave him my heart, and all I got in return was being treated like his cold, disposable toy.’

Chen Xing’s gaze fell on the woman’s battered face. ”Do you want to live?” she asked softly.

Although her face was badly damaged, the unblemished patches of skin revealed that she had once been a beautiful girl.

The girl gave a desolate smile.

She shook her head. ”I only want to die.” ’I can’t possibly go on living like this.’

’Besides, I know the price for staying alive... endless torture.’

Li Tong seized on Chen Xing’s words. ”What, you want to save her? You can’t even save yourself, and you want to save someone else?”

Chen Xing tilted her head to look at Li Tong and gave a single, cold reply: ”Yes.”

Originally, she had planned to stay the night to scope out the situation and then deal with these marauders.

But now, it seemed wiping out this group right away wouldn’t be a problem either.

”I want to live... save me...” another voice pleaded. It was a young man lying among the contraptions, begging Chen Xing for help.

’No matter what, I have to try to survive.’

’I’ve been through so much since the apocalypse began just to make it this far.’

’I can’t accept dying here like this!’

’My mom’s dying wish was for me to live a good life.’

’I tried, I fought through so much, only to fall into the hands of this psycho.’

’I’ve gritted my teeth and endured this life that’s worse than death.’

’Maybe... maybe this woman was sent by heaven to save me.’

The corners of Chen Xing’s lips curved into a faint smile.

She slowly turned her head toward Brother Jin.

The tenderness in Brother Jin’s eyes didn’t fade at her wanting to save these people. ”I’ll do whatever you want.”

Chen Xing was speechless. ’...He completely misunderstood that look.’

’I was looking at him to declare war. I’m going to take them all down myself.’

Li Tong felt a tightness in her chest, and tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.

’Brother Jin, I’ve been yours since I was twelve! From that moment on, I decided I would never marry anyone but you. You can’t do this to me, you can’t!’

After a long moment, she spoke to Brother Jin in a gentle, obedient voice. ”Brother Jin, I’ll listen to you. We can release whoever you want.”

Just as Brother Jin was about to praise Li Tong, a beast-like roar suddenly echoed through the building.

The sound reverberated between the floors, and even Brother Jin’s expression froze.