White Ru returned to the dirt slope, filled with worries, only to see Jack sitting at the edge of the slope with his back to the camp, holding a nearly burnt-out cigarette. As she gazed at his broad back, which evoked endless longing, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes. Perhaps she didn't just want to seduce Jack for the sake of being protected by him. After shedding the dazzling halo of a superstar, she was just an ordinary woman, a woman in need of love from a man, and a responsible, caring man seemed like the best choice.
White Ru slowly walked over and sat down on the sand next to Jack, naturally resting her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and affectionately rubbed against him, softly saying, "I never thought human nature could be so complicated. Ryan Li keeps saying she did it voluntarily, but how could I not see her insincerity?"
"Ryan Li's choice is the right one!" Jack slowly replied, not looking at White Ru but gazing into the vast darkness. "Ryan Li cannot follow me, so she naturally has to seek another refuge. Although Old Hu may seem a bit shameless in your eyes, his survival experience is far greater than yours. He is not as useless as you imagine. Following him is not a bad choice, and don't forget, among the hundreds of survivors in the small factory, he was the only one who escaped with us. Protecting a little woman like Ryan Li is not a problem!"
"Actually, I understand. Ryan Li's actions are indeed justifiable. We women don't have much of value now; perhaps the only thing we can use as a bargaining chip is our bodies. Since we have to use our bodies as a bargaining chip, how others play with them is their freedom. As for the spiritual aspect, who would still demand anything?" White Ru sighed lightly, fell silent for a moment, and then asked softly, "In this apocalypse, will humanity become more and more depraved?"
"Yes! Depravity will only lead us to destruction! However, humanity began to decline long before the apocalypse, even from a very young age!"
Jack glanced at White Ru, who looked somewhat puzzled. He flicked the cigarette butt from his hand, and it traced a bright red arc in the dark sky before slowly falling to the ground and bursting into a shower of sparks. Jack pointed at the cigarette butt and said, "In fact, I am also in a state of decline. I know smoking is bad for my health, yet I can't quit that habit. Cigarettes are like demons from hell; they provide comfort while quietly taking away your life. So, humanity is often in a state of decline while also struggling against it. The more we are in an apocalypse, the more we should maintain our true selves. Once we completely fall, very few can climb back up!"
"Completely fallen! Ah… just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine!" White Ru shook her head and slowly rested her head on Jack's knee. After a long while, she gently said, "If I ever reach that day, when you see me again, please kill me, okay…"
"When that day truly comes, perhaps you won't think that way anymore..."
It wasn't Jack who spoke; a gentle voice came from behind the two. Bai Ru looked up in surprise to see Cao Mei standing gracefully behind Jack, holding two bottles of red wine. Jack, however, seemed unfazed; he must have known Cao Mei was coming.
Cao Mei was wearing a black blazer over a white low-cut top, paired with tight beige casual pants that hugged her hips, and white flat sneakers. Her slightly curled long hair cascaded down as she slowly sat down to Jack's left. After handing one bottle of red wine to Jack, she uncorked the other bottle, wrapped her thin, sensual lips around the mouth of the bottle, and tilted her head back to take a big gulp.
After finishing her drink, Cao Mei gently wiped the corners of her mouth with the back of her hand. Her face was free of makeup, showcasing her delicate and clear features, which were no less striking than Bai Ru, a big star. Her bosom seemed even more prominent and full than Bai Ru's. With a hint of amusement, she looked at Bai Ru and said, "Falling from grace can only be a willing choice; no one can force you. What you see as falling might not even be falling at all; it could just be a means of survival. Engaging with other men while living a comfortable life is what true falling is. Life forces you to make choices, and if you want to keep living, you have to accept your fate!"
"Accept my fate?" Bai Ru shook her head, straightened up slightly to look at Cao Mei, and said, "If accepting my fate means using my body to exchange favors with different men, I really can't agree. That would be worse than killing me. If it comes to that, I might as well choose to commit suicide!"
"I told you, when it really comes to that point, you won't think that way!"
Cao Mei also shook her head with a smile, gently clinking her wine bottle with Jack's. After watching Jack take a big gulp, she tenderly wiped the wine that dripped from the corner of his mouth before taking a sip herself. Then she looked at Bai Ru and said, "You can't understand unless you've been in that situation. Besides those who are naturally promiscuous or have psychological issues, how can women like us, who have been raised with traditional values, accept selling our bodies? Yes, I have been someone else's mistress, but that doesn't mean I'm promiscuous. I have my own difficulties. I like that man for one reason, and he provides me with material support for another. Just like I can admire Lin Ye's integrity and bravery, I can also appreciate that man's wealth. There's nothing shameful about liking money; after all, it's one of his merits. So, Bai Ru, there are some things you can't judge without experiencing them yourself…"
"..." Bai Ru was momentarily stunned, her brows furrowed in deep thought.
"Come on, big star. I can see that something's off with your mood. Drinking a bit will definitely make you feel better. That's what I do when I'm troubled and can't find a way to vent!" Cao Mei said, leaning over to place the wine bottle in Bai Ru's hands. Bai Ru hesitated for a moment but still tilted her head back to take a big gulp. Perhaps she drank too quickly, as she started coughing, her pretty face turning red. She covered her mouth and handed the wine back to Cao Mei.
"Bai Ru!" Cao Mei, holding the wine bottle, leaned against Jack and looked at Bai Ru with a playful smile, saying, "To say something a bit arrogant, among all these women, including the late Thomas Hong, the only one I can truly appreciate is you. It's not because of your beauty, but because you share the same pride as I do. Perhaps your pride is immediately apparent, while I am more focused on the soul. For survival, I have given up many things, but I also have my principles. Just like I would never call anyone 'husband,' that term is sacred to me. You can only have one in a lifetime, and once I say it, I, Cao Mei, will be absolutely loyal to him until death!"
When she said this, Cao Mei was looking into Jack's eyes, her bright and sparkling gaze filled with deep emotion. Jack, however, merely assessed Cao Mei and said lightly, "Cao Mei, you don't need to say these things to me. You should know my character; I will have my own judgment!"
"Cao Mei…" Bai Ru looked at Cao Mei, furrowing her beautiful willow-like brows and asked, "Is it really worth losing your dignity just to survive? Since you have the courage to choose a life of humiliation, then dying doesn't seem that difficult for you, does it? Do you really think living like this is worse than dying?"
"Do you think I haven't thought about it? But things are really not as simple as you imagine. Suicide requires more than just a little courage!" Cao Mei sighed slightly, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp of wine. Excess wine spilled from the corner of her mouth, flowing down her delicate and smooth neck, pooling in her deep cleavage. The deep red wine contrasted sharply with her fair and rounded breasts, creating an indescribable allure and temptation when looked at directly.