Thinking this, Zhou Tingna's confidence soared. She stepped out from the crowd, positioning herself at the forefront.
Looking at Wen Shangsheng, who was smoking, Zhou Tingna asked in a sweet, coy voice, "Young man, what should I call you?"
Wen Shangsheng was smoking and shivered at Zhou Tingna's saccharine voice. It was too sickeningly sweet.
Hearing Zhou Tingna's voice, Wen Shangsheng looked up and glanced at her. "Wen Shangsheng."
Politeness was ingrained in Wen Shangsheng's very being.
However, Wen Shangsheng's polite response made Zhou Tingna believe her charm had worked. She became even more pleased with herself and, under Wen Shangsheng's gaze, struck a seductive pose. "Your name sounds lovely. I'm Zhou Tingna."
Wen Shangsheng was utterly uninterested in Zhou Tingna's self-introduction.
He could be considered a straightforward man, or perhaps someone who was acutely aware of what he wanted. He wasn't ignorant of Zhou Tingna's intentions, but what of it? He simply didn't care for her.
The woman he would eventually love would have to be a heroine like his third sister-in-law.
As for someone like Zhou Tingna, her intentions were obvious at a glance, and he didn't like it.
He admired strength. He didn't require the woman he liked to be as strong as his third sister-in-law, but at least on par with him.
Wen Shangsheng looked at Zhou Tingna, who was flaunting herself. He was completely devoid of any flirtatiousness and asked directly, "Do you want to go or stay?"
Zhou Tingna had been anticipating Wen Shangsheng's next move. Seeing him look at her, she thought he was interested in her and was full of anticipation. To her surprise, when Wen Shangsheng finally spoke, he asked such an irrelevant question.
A sense of disappointment welled up within her. She felt that this person was completely unromantic and killed the mood.
However, she quickly reconsidered, thinking that Wen Shangsheng was probably feigning indifference to assert his authority in front of everyone.
With this thought, Zhou Tingna felt she could still manage. She grinned at Wen Shangsheng, revealing her yellow teeth, "Stay."
If she left, she would have nothing. By staying, there was still a glimmer of hope.
Wen Shangsheng didn't look at her. He flicked the ash off his cigarette and then looked at his own people. "Remember this."
After Zhou Tingna announced her name and intention, the people behind her came forward one by one, following her example.
Once the tally was complete, everyone chose to stay, and no one chose to leave.
They weren't fools. This was the apocalypse; choosing to leave would be digging their own graves.
To put it bluntly, it was like escaping one den of danger only to fall into another.
Since someone was willing to take them in and provide shelter, they might as well stay.
There was risk involved either way, so they might as well take a gamble.
After the count, Wen Shangsheng looked up at the sky. The sun was setting, and they could watch the sunset on the way back.
"Take them to the vehicles," Wen Shangsheng instructed his people. He then threw his cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it, before lifting his foot to stamp it out. "Let's go."
Peng Yansheng, Li Yang, Qin Yun, and others were clearly divided in their tasks, moving supplies and escorting people to the vehicles.
Wen Shangsheng remained seated, crossing his legs and looking rather nonchalant.
Zhou Tingna did not leave with the main group. She had her sights set on Wen Shangsheng, her eyes fixed on him. The little scheme in her mind was evident in her constantly darting eyes, impossible to conceal.
Wen Shangsheng, wearing sunglasses, intended to bask in the sun. Although it was a hot summer day, it didn't dampen his mood.
But his sunbathing was interrupted. Without even looking, he knew who was blocking his sun.
He was too lazy to speak. He raised his hand, intending to ask Zhou Tingna to move away and stop obstructing his sunbathing.
However, before his hand had even moved, Zhou Tingna bent down and grasped it.