Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Chapter 372: Malice

Chapter 372: Malice

After finishing his chat with Zhou Ke’er, Zhang Yi left the infirmary.

From the living room, the lively sounds of a card game carried over clearly. Zhou Haimei came by almost every day to play mahjong with the women in Zhang Yi’s household.

It proved, once again, that no matter the time or place, playing cards was always a simple and reliable source of joy.

The Shelter remained as bright and opulent as ever, radiating a sense of security and comfort—a veritable post-apocalyptic haven. It seemed as though this peaceful state could last forever.

No, not just seemed.

Zhang Yi quietly assured himself, I’ll make sure this comfortable environment lasts until the apocalypse ends.

Just then, a pleasant and steady voice called out behind him.

“Zhang Yi, there you are! I’ve been looking for you in the west section.”

Zhang Yi turned to see Liang Yue approaching.

He smiled lightly. “Look at me, almost forgot about your task.”

Without waiting for her to say more, he retrieved food for ten people from his spatial storage and packed it neatly.

Liang Yue’s face flushed slightly. “Thank you!” she said, taking the food. Her fingers brushed against his, causing her to tremble ever so slightly.

Zhang Yi chuckled. “Why so polite? Like I said, as long as you’re here, we’re family. In the apocalypse, the only real family are those who stick together. Your problems are my problems.”

Since Liang Yue joined the Shelter, Zhang Yi and the others had been reinforcing this idea: they were family, united against the apocalypse. This belief clearly set them apart from those students who simply awaited rescue.

Living in such an environment, people’s mindsets were bound to shift. Liang Yue’s changing demeanor showed she was gradually embracing this philosophy.

“I understand. Thank you, Zhang Yi, for indulging my little whims.” Liang Yue looked up at him, her eyes carrying a hint of unspoken emotion.

“Once they can fend for themselves like the villagers of Xu Family Town, I won’t bother you anymore. That’s a promise.”

They won’t trouble me for long, Zhang Yi thought, glancing at the food in her hands.

“Yeah, self-reliance is good. Take your time; there’s no need to rush or pressure yourself.”

Liang Yue bit her lip, but realizing such a gesture didn’t suit her image, she quickly straightened her expression. “I’ll head over now.”

“Alright, the sooner you go, the sooner you’ll be back!” Zhang Yi waved, watching her leave.

At this moment, Yang Xinxin wheeled herself beside him. She followed his gaze, looking at Liang Yue’s retreating figure, then spoke thoughtfully.

“Brother, I think Teacher Liang has fallen for you.”

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow but responded with a faint smile.

Recently, he had spent a lot of time with Liang Yue, particularly during their martial arts training. Such close contact was inevitable, and over time, her gaze toward him had indeed changed.

How did Zhou Botong and Ying Gu get together? Through martial arts training.

“Love? Attraction? It’s just hormones messing with people,” Zhang Yi remarked casually. “Humans have instincts, and in a high-stress, apocalyptic environment, the urge to reproduce only intensifies.”

He touched his face. “Besides, there are only three men in the Shelter. Compared to Uncle You and Fatty Xu, I’m clearly the best catch. It’d be strange if she didn’t feel something for me.”

Yang Xinxin tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Why not make Teacher Liang your girlfriend? With her rigid personality, once she decides you’re her man, she’ll be loyal for life.”

She leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, “I’ll let you in on a secret—Teacher Liang has never had a boyfriend. Women like her, who’ve been single for years, are actually easy to sway. To put it bluntly, they’re easy to fool.”

Zhang Yi gave her a sideways glance. “Wow, you really know your stuff. Even willing to trick your own teacher?”

Yang Xinxin smiled faintly, interlacing her slender fingers on her lap.

“I just don’t want to see her waste her life. With her personality, if she didn’t have you looking out for her, she wouldn’t survive long in this apocalypse.”

Zhang Yi looked out the window, his gaze falling on Liang Yue’s determined silhouette.

“Let’s deal with that matter first,” he muttered. “Getting involved with such a stubborn woman would only give me more headaches.”

Though Zhang Yi enjoyed the company of beautiful women, he despised trouble. If he had to choose, he’d rather keep his freedom.

---

Meanwhile, in Xu Family Town.

After some time living independently, the group had gradually learned to fish. It was a difficult process—once accustomed to laziness, even small efforts felt like a monumental task. But hunger eventually forced them into action.

Among the students, a few physically strong boys stood out, with Ye Xiaotian, a modified superhuman, taking the lead. As a result, he held the most authority.

However, Ye Xiaotian’s character was aloof, and he had no interest in power struggles. He focused solely on gathering food as Liang Yue instructed, never abusing his influence.

This left room for Wu Chengyu, a schemer, to step in.

In their academy days, Wu Chengyu had a degree of influence among his classmates. Now, he made a point of ingratiating himself with Ye Xiaotian, calling him “brother” at every opportunity.

Ye Xiaotian, though aware of Wu Chengyu’s intentions, was still a nineteen-year-old prone to enjoying flattery. Over time, he tolerated Wu Chengyu’s antics, allowing him to exploit his authority.

One day, the group gathered around a small fire in their snow house. Fuel was scarce; most of the deadwood and furniture in the area had been burned. They had even resorted to burning the clothes of the deceased, albeit sparingly.

“Damn it! Why do we have to live like this?” Wu Chengyu gritted his teeth, cocooned in a thick blanket. Despite the insulation, the cold gnawed at them, leaving their limbs numb.

However, was the cold truly his greatest torment? Perhaps not.

Back at Tianqing Academy, they had endured icy conditions for extended periods without such resentment. Wu Chengyu’s suffering stemmed from knowing that, across the river, Zhang Yi, their teacher, and two classmates lived comfortably in a luxurious, heated mansion.

It was not scarcity but inequality that fueled his malice.

“If only Teacher Liang cared about us!” Class leader Shen Miaoke muttered bitterly. “She could’ve fought for our entry into the Shelter. But no, she only looks out for herself.”

“Forget it,” Wu Chengyu sneered. “Teacher Liang wouldn’t dare! She already belongs to Zhang Yi. Hehe, maybe she got into the Shelter by trading her body for it!”

“Wow! Seriously?”

“Hmph, it’s very likely. Don’t be fooled by her serious demeanor during the day. I bet deep down, she’s the shy, flirtatious type—wild at heart!”

“Hahaha, let’s dive deeper into this topic!”

...

Author's Note