Qin Yu had already taken off her white lab coat, and a plain V-neck dress made her look exceptionally elegant and graceful. Her two long, fair legs, combined with her perpetually indifferent expression, gave her an ethereal quality. In stark contrast to the surrounding group of foul-smelling ruffians, Jack couldn't help but feel an impulse to protect her!
"Oh~ After all this time, our Lin Daguoren can also be mesmerized by a woman!" Thomas Hong keenly noticed that Jack's attention was entirely focused on Qin Yu, and he wore a look of astonishment. She smiled nonchalantly and teased, "It seems that little sister Yu is your type. What do you think? Should I help you tie a red string?"
"A Hong!" Qin Yu lightly scolded, her slightly furrowed brows indicating her displeasure. Thomas Hong seemed to understand her temperament and realized that if she continued, Qin Yu would leave, so she quickly stopped and looked at Jack with interest.
"Oh! Doctor Qin is indeed very beautiful!" Jack nodded generously, not hiding his appreciation for Qin Yu's appearance, but it was merely admiration. He felt that he had no chance of developing anything with this cold-faced beauty.
"Hehe~ You're quite frank, but why do you change your demeanor around me?" Thomas Hong chuckled, her eyes revealing a strong interest. Jack could only smile wryly, passively responding to Thomas Hong's teasing. He felt he was not worthy of such a passionate and fiery woman, and moreover, he didn't want to engage in anything unethical with a friend's woman.
"Let's go to the private room. We've disturbed Doctor Qin for two consecutive days, and I haven't had the chance to thank her yet. This meal is on me!" Jack dared not linger on the topic of men and women with Thomas Hong, so he changed the subject and looked gratefully at Qin Yu.
"Come on, little Yu, we just caught a local tycoon today, so make sure to eat well!" Thomas Hong laughed heartily, pulling the somewhat reluctant Qin Yu toward the private room.
The four of them entered the innermost private room together. The small woman holding the pipa had not yet received her reward, so she naturally followed suit. The so-called private room was merely a small space separated by a few painted wooden boards; even if someone outside farted, it could still be heard and even smelled inside. However, the furnishings inside were replaced with a more elegant glass table and genuine leather sofas, which were quite rare in the apocalypse.
After entering the private room, the proprietress surprisingly followed them in, chatting familiarly with Zhang Hong for a few moments, then asked Qin Yu several gynecological questions. Under Thomas Xu's impatient glare, she reluctantly took their orders. However, Thomas Hong didn't actually intend to gouge Jack as she had jokingly suggested, and since it wasn't mealtime, the two women were originally there to enjoy chilled drinks. After simply ordering a few items, they concluded the ordering process.
"Jack, you used to be a soldier, right?"
As soon as the boss lady left, Thomas Hong's eyes lit up as he stared at Jack's entire body. Jack's original T-shirt was already soaked with sweat, and standing there bare-chested in front of two beautiful women was quite impolite. Fortunately, modern women have become accustomed to such scenes, and there were hardly any men in the gathering who wore shirts.
"I guess so!" Jack replied ambiguously, trying to adapt to Thomas Hong's aggressively intense gaze. In fact, with his experience, he understood that despite Thomas Hong's seemingly open and generous demeanor, getting into her bed was not an easy task. This actually hinted at her true nature; her teasing was likely more of a prank than genuine interest.
"Heh~ you really are a dullard. With two beauties in front of you, you don't even know how to liven up the atmosphere. If you and Xiao Yu become a couple, and neither of you likes to talk, a dullard with a dullard would be quite interesting!" Thomas Hong said meaningfully, glancing at Qin Yu beside her. Qin Yu sat there calmly, gazing out at the monotonous scenery, as if she hadn't heard Thomas Hong's words at all. Moreover, judging by her wandering gaze, it was clear her mind was elsewhere.
"Sister Hong, our Lin Ge is suffering from aesthetic fatigue! Just think about it, his partner is an international sensation, a rose of Huaxia. Although both Sister Hong and Dr. Qin are stunning, seeing too many beauties can become mundane. It's no wonder Lin Ge has nothing to talk about!"
Thomas Xu chimed in with a grin, pulling out an unopened pack of cigarettes from his pocket. After opening it, he handed one to Jack and one to Thomas Hong. Thomas Hong took the cigarette, hesitatingly looking at Qin Yu beside her, while Qin Yu seemed to sense it and shook her head without turning around, clearly indicating that smoking didn't need to concern her.
"That's not how it works, is it?" Thomas Hong elegantly lit her cigarette, and her smoking action surprisingly carried a hint of the dominance typically associated with men. Looking at the silent Jack across from her, she smiled and said, "I don't believe he's a modern-day Liu Xia Hui, able to remain unperturbed. Even if his wife is a big star, there comes a day when one gets tired of beautiful women. Besides, every woman has her unique charm; how can you know the nuances without trying it yourself?"
"Uh…"
Jack suddenly froze, looking down at the table in surprise. A small foot, having shed its high-heeled sandal, was now climbing up his calf, gently rubbing against it. The small foot was painted with bright red nail polish, just like its owner's bold personality, playfully lingering on Jack's leg, the seductive intent was unmistakable.
"Thomas Hong, don't you think a woman should have her own self-respect and modesty? Being too casual can sometimes be off-putting!" Jack exhaled a puff of smoke, staring directly at Thomas Hong across from him. His words were somewhat harsh, but without them, he couldn't shake off Thomas Hong's advances, regardless of whether she truly just wanted to tease him.
Indeed, if Thomas Hong didn't have a husband and didn't care about any labels, Jack would definitely be interested in having something happen with her. He was a man, and he too felt impulses when he saw beautiful women. However, that didn't mean he could tolerate a friend's wife trying to seduce him in such a blatant manner!
"I don't think so. As long as a woman has her principles, why should she hide her nature?" Thomas Hong was not the least bit embarrassed; instead, she provocatively looked at Jack and said bluntly, "Hmph~ dare you say you don't want to be with me?"
"Pfft~"
It was now Thomas who sprayed the rice wine he had just swallowed all over, desperately holding back his laughter as he waved his hand at the others, saying, "Sorry... I didn't mean to!"
"You are changing the subject, challenging a man's morals with his nature!"
Jack was somewhat annoyed. Faced with such a stubborn woman, he held back his anger and said, "It is true that a man's nature is to want to mate constantly, but if we only act on our instincts and jump on anyone we see, what's the difference between us and beasts? You are very beautiful, and it's normal for men to feel attracted to you, but Qin Yu is also very beautiful, and I feel the same attraction towards her. Does that mean I can just jump on her right away? Uh…"
Qin Yu looked at him with her large, beautiful eyes, cold and filled with a strong killing intent. Realizing he had misspoken, Jack hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I was dizzy from Thomas's wine, I misspoke!"
"Haha~ Let's see how you explain this, your true colors are showing, aren't they?" Thomas laughed heartily, clapping his hands, while Jack could only look at her with a face full of frustration, feeling like a scholar encountering a soldier, unable to articulate his reasoning!
Just then, a waitress walked in with a tray, placing drinks in front of everyone, which relieved Jack's embarrassment. He had no desire to continue the previous topic or say anything more, sulking as he picked up a glass of iced sour plum juice and drank it down. At that moment, a soft voice, as beautiful as a celestial melody, rang in his ears.
"Can you play 'Moonlight Serenade'? No need to sing, just play it!"
This was the first thing Qin Yu said after sitting down. She gently stirred a bowl of ice shavings in front of her, tilting her head to look at the singer by the door, causing everyone to remember that there was indeed another woman in the room.
'Moonlight Serenade' is also a piece imbued with a faint sadness. As the pipa played it with a unique flavor, it easily evoked images of a heartbroken beauty, quietly mourning by the window. As the pipa began to play, Qin Yu slowly leaned back on the sofa, slightly closing her eyes in enjoyment, feeling the enchanting melody gently dancing in her ears.
Originally wanting to tease Jack a bit more, Thomas felt too shy to speak up and silently ate a bowl of red bean ice, looking at Jack with a face full of reluctance.
Jack didn't care about Thomas's bright red eyes; he turned his gaze to Qin Yu, who was sitting directly across from him. Although Qin Yu had her eyes closed and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, Jack could clearly sense a faint sadness surrounding this woman. If Jack was a mystery, then Qin Yu was also a woman with many stories. She seemed to always be on guard, unwilling to let others easily touch her inner self.
"Huh~"
Qin Yu suddenly opened her eyes without any warning, directly meeting Jack's gaze, who was observing her. Jack knew it was impolite to stare, but since he had already looked, he could only smile at Qin Yu in a friendly manner. However, Qin Yu frowned slightly in displeasure and turned her head away again.
A gathering that should have been quite enjoyable ended silently. After listening to the music, Qin Yu said nothing and directly got up to leave. Thomas Hong could only smile apologetically and followed Qin Yu out the door.
"Qin Yu's personality is really a bit strange, isn't it?" Jack said with a wry smile as he looked at Thomas Xu. Thomas Xu shrugged helplessly and replied, "She has always been like this. If she weren't our only doctor and didn't have Ryan protecting her, sigh~ with her arrogance, who knows how many times she would have been in trouble!"
"Maybe it's because she has had everything go smoothly that she maintains this arrogance!" Jack smiled faintly and stood up, saying, "Let's go, it's time to head back!"
Jack and Thomas Xu left the restaurant and walked back side by side. Since they had nothing else to do, Thomas Xu took Jack through the streets, familiarizing him with the general layout and personnel distribution of their gathering place. During this time, they unexpectedly encountered Qin Yu again, but this time her expression was quite unpleasant, a thick cloud of gloom almost overshadowing her entire beautiful face.
Jack had already experienced this woman's strange temper and had no intention of greeting her and making things awkward. However, when Qin Yu saw Jack, she surprisingly stopped in her tracks, staring at him for several seconds as if she wanted to say something but then hurriedly walked away, leaving Jack feeling quite puzzled.
When the two returned home, they found that only Lu Jia and William Fang were there, and it was Lu Jia who was cooking dinner. Lu Jia, with her prominent belly, brought several steaming dishes to the dining table. Upon seeing Lin and Thomas, she smiled and said, "Brother Lin, Sister Ru and the others asked me to tell you that they were called by Luo Yudie for beauty treatments and won't be back for dinner!"
"Is that so? Why didn't you go?" Jack casually kicked off his military boots, and since Cao Mei was not home, the sturdy William Fang brought him a pair of slippers to change into.
"What would a pregnant woman like me do in the middle of all that excitement? They would have to worry about taking care of me!" Lu Jia shyly shook her head. After placing the dishes on the table, she called out, "Are you both hungry? Come and eat!"
"Hehe~ I have to try my sister-in-law's cooking today." Thomas Xu hurriedly ran over, picked up a piece of ham and threw it into his mouth. He immediately praised Thomas with a thumbs up and said, "The dishes cooked by my sister-in-law are so fragrant. They are so delicious. They are better than those cooked by professional chefs."
"Haha~ You're just talking nonsense." Lu Jia knew that Thomas Xu was coaxing her on purpose, but she still covered her mouth and smiled happily. Then she gave Thomas Xu a large bowl of rice on the table and said, "If it's delicious, eat more."
"Okay." Thomas Xu nodded, and squatted on the chair without any image and began to eat. Then he looked at Jack beside him and mumbled and asked, "Brother Lin, Luo Yudie is a shrewd woman. It is not convenient for her to win over you, so she went to get close to Sister Ru and the others. They are afraid that you will regret it."
"It's just human nature." Jack slowly chewed the rice in his mouth and said nonchalantly, "As long as it is within my ability, I will still help if I can. Besides, what Ruian Qiang said last night is very clear. I am not only helping them, but also the entire gathered survivors. I should take action due to circumstances and reasons."
"Well, Ruian Qiang is quite a good person. With a piece of meat from him, everyone will definitely have a bowl of soup to drink. It's just William Chenghu..." Thomas Xu also nodded seriously, but suddenly stopped the bowls and chopsticks in his hands and glanced at William Fang opposite. William Fang With a piece of kelp hanging at the corner of his mouth, he blinked inexplicably. He didn't understand why Thomas Xu looked at him calmly. Lu Jia was smarter. She pulled William Fang and said, "Afang, let's go see if the mung bean soup in the pot is ready. Sister Ru and the others will come back to drink it."
"Oh, ok," William Fang then realized. Knowing that Thomas Xu had secrets to tell Jack, and that she couldn't listen in, William Fang nodded hurriedly and helped Lu Jia into the kitchen.
As soon as William Fang left, Thomas Xu suppressed his faint smile and said to Jack in a gloomy voice, "Brother Lin, William Chenghu is a very unstable factor. If there is a chance, can you take action..."
Looking at Thomas Xu slowly making a motion of wiping his neck, the thick murderous look on his face was not concealed at all, and Jack also put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hands, took out the cigarette from his pocket and threw one to Thomas Xu, then shook his head slightly and said, "William Chenghu cannot be killed."
"Why?" Thomas Xu was stunned for a moment. He didn't even know how to put down the lighter in his hand. He just let it burn and looked at Jack in confusion.
"The situation here is actually very delicate. They are restrained by each other. If he didn't really understand Ruian Qiang, William Chenghu wouldn't be able to move easily."
Jack lit the cigarette in his mouth, placing the cigarette box and lighter in one corner in front of him, forming a tripod with his bowl and chopsticks. He squinted and said, "These three major forces seem to have a gap, but in reality, they are all wary of each other. Ryan Qiang is buying people's hearts everywhere, and his reputation is the best. But can you guarantee that after William Chenghu dies, with his family dominating, Ryan Qiang can still maintain this mindset?"
"This…"
Thomas Xu was left speechless. Indeed, no one could guarantee what Ryan Qiang would do after taking control of the entire settlement. Who knew if the generosity and righteousness he displayed now were just a facade? Once he sat in the top position and became the leader of the settlement, would he turn into a bigger bastard than William Chenghu? Only he himself would know.
"The further you go in understanding human nature, the more noble the morals; if you take a step back… you're worse than a pig or a dog!"
Jack looked directly at Thomas Xu and said, "Neither of us understands Ryan Qiang, so there's no reason to help him clear obstacles. Compared to him, William Chenghu is quite obvious; he practically has the word 'bad guy' stamped on his forehead. So what we need to do now is to minimize the gap between Ryan Qiang and William Chenghu. We must not let him surpass William Chenghu, nor let him be eliminated by William Chenghu. Only when William Chenghu feels threatened will he realize the importance of winning people's hearts. In the end, the ones who benefit will be the survivors of the settlement!"
"Let's hope so!" Thomas Xu nodded gloomily. He understood that what Jack said was a kind of helpless strategy. This stalemate couldn't last long; perhaps one day, a conflict would suddenly erupt, leading to a life-and-death struggle. But the environment was as it was, so let's allow the survivors to have one more day of peace if possible.
"By the way, why haven't I seen Old Hu and the others?" Thomas Xu picked up his chopsticks and looked around curiously, frowning as he said, "That dead chef hasn't been seen since he got up this morning. Old William and Old Gao have gone off with him; who knows where they've gone!"
"Old Hu probably wants to regain his former glory!" Jack said with a playful smile, exhaling smoke. "Old Hu is someone who can't be content with the status quo; he has a gambler's personality. Now that he's here, he must want to rally a group of people to follow him. He hasn't come back yet, so he might be doing quite well!"
"Hmph~" Thomas Xu scoffed disdainfully and said, "Does Old Hu think this is still his little food factory? That a single gun can intimidate everyone into recognizing him as the boss? With his kind of soft personality, he might scare the common folks, but the men brave enough to go out and look for food here are all desperate. Who would listen to him? If he doesn't end up dead in the streets, it would be a miracle!"
"Some people won't be satisfied until they hit a wall!" Jack smiled meaningfully, and Thomas Xu seemed to understand Jack's implication, a hint of a mocking smile appearing on his face. He then tossed away his cigarette butt and began to focus on his meal.