Zhang Ye calmly asked, "What do you think?"
Beside Fang Yuqing, Wang Min and the others nudged her, signaling her to get to the point.
Sniffling, Fang Yuqing cried out, "Zhang Ye, Zhou Peng and the others were shot by you, and now they're severely injured. We don't have any medicine at home, and they'll die from infection."
"You bought a lot of medicine before, right? I'm begging you, can you lend us some?"
"I... I promise we'll never bother you again in the future!"
Zhang Ye paused as he was cooking, baffled by Fang Yuqing's twisted logic.
"Fang Yuqing, do you know why I shot them with rusty arrows?"
"It's so they'd suffer and die painfully from the infection—that was my goal!"
"And now you're coming to me for medicine? Is there something wrong with your brain?"
Zhang Ye laughed as he scolded her.
Fang Yuqing and the others understood this, of course. But if they didn't shamelessly ask Zhang Ye for help now, they'd just have to watch their companions die.
The three men, including Zhou Peng, were their only hope for survival.
Crying, Fang Yuqing continued, "Zhang Ye, we were wrong. Please, spare them this time. We promise we'll never cause you trouble again."
"And given how hard things are right now, shouldn't we be helping each other?"
"Why are you so heartless? Would their deaths really make you happy?"
Before Fang Yuqing could finish, Zhang Ye firmly replied, "Yes, I'm very happy right now."
Fang Yuqing was at a loss for words.
Wang Min anxiously stepped forward and said, "Zhang Ye, it's me, Wang Min. Do you remember me? I even treated you to a meal before!"
Zhang Ye rolled his eyes.
Wang Min had once asked for his help in getting some goods at a low price from the warehouse. Zhang Ye did accept the meal, but later helped her make a good profit.
"You think that's relevant now?" Zhang Ye sneered in response.
Wang Min swallowed hard, and from the living room, Zhou Peng's agonized screams echoed once more.
Hearing that, Zhang Ye felt at ease, wishing he could see their miserable expressions.
Wang Min said, "Zhang Ye, we're all struggling to survive right now, and with that thug Chen Zhenghao taking lives, wouldn't it be wise to leave a bit of room for future favors?"
"If you give us the medicine this time, I, Wang Min, will remember your kindness and repay you in the future!"
Zhang Ye scoffed, "Kindness? Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Those guys are injured because of me, and there's even a corpse outside my door. No matter what I do, this feud is already a life-or-death matter. Helping you now would just give you a chance to take revenge later. You're killing me with laughter!"
Wang Min tried to explain, "We're not that kind of people!"
"Enough! This is pointless."
Zhang Ye clicked his tongue. "Whether you're that kind of people doesn't matter to me. What matters is that I don't believe you aren't. So I won't help you."
Help someone who wanted to harm him?
That would be pure saintly behavior, and no matter how sweetly they spoke, Zhang Ye wasn't swayed.
Seeing that Zhang Ye was unmoved, the group grew anxious.
Wang Min's brows furrowed, and she angrily said, "Zhang Ye, don't push us too far! If you really want us dead, we don't know what we might be driven to do!"
Zhang Ye snorted at her threat. "Haven't you already tried everything?"
"If you were capable of more, you'd have already broken into my house, killed me, and taken everything. I'm not afraid of your threats."
Fang Yuqing grabbed the phone again, crying as she said, "Zhang Ye, do we really have to go this far? We used to be so close."
"Why can't we let go of our grudges and start over? I've always had feelings for you, Zhang Ye!"
At that moment, Zhou Peng was biting down on a towel as they tended to his wound. Hearing this, his eyes bulged in fury, and he groaned even louder.
Zhang Ye admired Fang Yuqing's audacity—her shamelessness rivaled the thickness of a city wall.
But it wasn't surprising. In this environment, Zhang Ye was like a rich man. A gold-digger clinging to a wealthy man was a typical scenario.
Suddenly, a wicked idea formed in Zhang Ye's mind.
He knew the others weren't far away, and Zhou Peng could hear their conversation.
So Zhang Ye deliberately said, "Sigh, Yuqing, I still have feelings for you. It's just that you hurt me too deeply before, and I can't get over it."
This was like striking a match, igniting Fang Yuqing's hope.
Ignoring the furious glares from those around her, she trembled with excitement. "I knew it, Zhang Ye! I knew you still loved me!"
"You're so silly. I've always liked you the most. All those things before were just tests. You blockhead, how could you not understand my feelings?"
Wang Min and the others felt nauseous at her words, and Zhou Peng was so angry he nearly passed out.
But they remained silent, thinking that if Fang Yuqing could seduce Zhang Ye, they might get a chance at his supplies and shelter.
"Zhang Ye, let me move in with you! I'll be your woman from now on. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do. Okay?"
Zhang Ye smiled slightly.
"Alright!"
Fang Yuqing was overjoyed, bouncing in excitement.
Lin Cainin anxiously chimed in, "Take me with you! Take me too!"
Fang Yuqing shot her a cold glance, inwardly mocking her.
Then Zhang Ye's cold voice came through the phone again.
"But, Yuqing, I only love you. So I can only accept you coming here alone."
"As for those... other people, you should keep your distance. In these difficult times, we shouldn't let others drag us down. Don't you agree?"
As soon as Zhang Ye said this, everyone's faces changed.
They had been counting on Fang Yuqing to cozy up to Zhang Ye so they could all benefit.
But now it sounded like Zhang Ye wanted to cut them off?
Fang Yuqing, completely focused on her own survival, didn't care about the others at all. Nodding eagerly, she said, "Yes, yes, whatever you say, Zhang Ye! I'll do anything you ask!"
"Then come over right now and forget about the others."
"Mm, mm! I'll come right away. Wait for me, Zhang Ye!"
Fang Yuqing's face flushed with excitement as she thought of escaping her current hellish life. She rushed for the door without a second thought.
Wang Min and the others, filled with rage, couldn't hold back anymore.
As Fang Yuqing tried to leave for Zhang Ye's place, Lin Cainin grabbed her by the arm.
Fang Yuqing turned around, her face twisted with anger. "Get off me! Don't stop me from going to Zhang Ye's! I've had enough of this life!"
Before she could say another word, Wang Min's heavy slap landed hard on her face.
"You shameless b*tch! After all the trouble you've caused us, now you want to abandon us? Not a chance!"