CHAPTER 656: DOESN’T YOUR CONSCIENCE HURT?

I heard it was because they received a report alleging Jing Shu was hoarding food.

Liu eagerly handed Jing Shu her exclusive teacup, adding, "It’s cold outside. Have some hot water." There was no tea; they were just making do with what was available.

Li Chenglong gave Liu a thumbs-up, as if he had learned something. Look at how attentive Liu is, no wonder Sister Jing didn’t accept my water.

Jing Shu nodded naturally as she took the water. She then looked at the two groups on either side of the villa. One was a squad from the building’s armed forces, with more than a dozen people blocking the villa’s entrance.

The other was Young Master Lan with a group of college classmates, who were there to watch the commotion. Of course, many others were crowding around as well.

"I heard someone’s hoarding food. If we find it, we’ll split it among everyone."

"How much could we even get from a split? When they go in to search, we should sneak in during the chaos and grab something for ourselves."

...

Gold Dominator snorted but instinctively felt the yogurt balls in his pocket. He didn’t want Jing Shu’s private stash to be confiscated; otherwise, he wouldn’t get any.

Li Chenglong also felt the yogurt balls in his pocket and strode forward. "What’s all the fuss about? What happened?"

Li Chenglong was the team’s second-in-command and Li Yuetian’s nephew.

"Captain Li, we received reports from these people that this villa is hoarding food," Zhang Shan replied loudly.

Gold Dominator also walked up, disgruntled, and asked Young Master Lan, "What’s going on with you guys? Got nothing better to do? Who reported it?"

Which fool dares to target my yogurt balls? No, I have to impress Jing Shu today so she’ll give me lots of yogurt balls.

No one in the crowd spoke. Jiang Changke, however, stepped forward, pointed at Young Master Lan, and said sarcastically, "It was Young Master Lan who reported it. He insisted on reporting, and I couldn’t stop him at all. We’re all classmates here; how does reporting her benefit you? You just can’t stand to see others do well."

Young Master Lan’s face turned an ashen red; he was clearly embarrassed. The plot wasn’t supposed to go this way! Facing Gold Dominator’s gaze, Young Master Lan stammered, "It’s not... not like that..."

"Then what is it like?" Gold Dominator demanded, hands on his hips. He scrutinized Young Master Lan, visibly dissatisfied. I thought this guy knew how to read people and make them comfortable. I never expected him to target my yogurt balls!

Weren’t reports supposed to be anonymous? And weren’t true allegations supposed to be rewarded? Isn’t this a setup? So many people are here... And why on earth did my brain short-circuit today and make me file a report? Even if it came to the worst, couldn’t I have just sent that brainless woman, Sweet Dumpling, to her doom?

Young Master Lan couldn’t bear the infamy of ’betraying a classmate,’ so he could only say, "I was just joking. Everyone is taking it too seriously..." he said, signaling with his eyes to a few female classmates.

Jiang Changke wore an expression that said, You expect me to believe that crap?

Young Master Lan still held a high status in the eyes of the female classmates, especially close ones like Sweet Dumpling. She stepped forward and said, "Exactly! We just wanted to see what Jing Shu had to eat."

"It was purely out of curiosity..."

Gold Dominator nodded in satisfaction and gave Li Chenglong a look. "See? It was all a joke, a misunderstanding. Let’s all disperse."

Li Chenglong was also pleased. "Alright, Zhang Shan, let’s disperse. It’s a misunderstanding."

Zhang Shan was also preparing to leave when two more people stepped out from the crowd.

"No, we can’t just let this go! This guy previously said he had evidence. She never eats in the cafeteria; she must have a private food stash!"

"Right, let’s search first!"

Young Master Lan’s face turned a shade of purplish-black. When the hell did I ever say those things?

Fuming, Gold Dominator put his hands on his hips, ready to curse. What the hell is Young Master Lan up to, saying such things?! Young Master Lan shook his head vigorously. Though he didn’t care about Jing Shu, he didn’t want to offend Gold Dominator. Strange, when did Gold Dominator start siding with Jing Shu?

At that moment, a few more people started shouting, wanting to search the villa.

Jing Shu furrowed her brows, feeling something odd about the several people who had suddenly appeared. She then glanced at a man in the crowd who had pulled his hat brim low—it was Da Ji, the one who had hidden food in the tunnel under the toilet!

After Da Ji noticed Jing Shu looking at him, he turned and walked away.

Before Jing Shu could get angry, Li Chenglong lost his temper. Daring to oppose my Sister Jing is like opposing me!

Li Chenglong grabbed Zhang Shan’s megaphone and shouted, "Be quiet! Search the villa, my ass! I bet you just want to use the chaos to steal some good stuff! Don’t any of you want dinner tonight? I’d like to see who today dares to say Jing Shu is hoarding food and wants to search the villa! Come on, step forward, all of you!"

Jing Shu pressed her forehead. Why has Li Chenglong started cursing people out? And why is he so worked up?

Sure enough, this prompted some people to start pushing back:

"Oh, so you officials are covering for each other now, huh? You won’t let us search the villa?"

"There must be something fishy here."

Even Young Master Lan seemed to sense an opportunity. Sweet Dumpling lowered her head and clenched her fists. She, more than anyone, wished for Jing Shu’s downfall. Unfortunately, I don’t know what good things Jing Shu has been secretly eating lately; she’s even gained weight!

Don’t misunderstand; in the apocalypse, gaining weight is a compliment, a symbol of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Go ahead and search, Jing Shu thought. Search all you want. If you find even a scrap of food, I’ll believe you. However, the villa is still full of snakes and insects. If you get bitten to death, don’t blame me!

Amidst the clamor, a gunshot suddenly rang out. Then, another team arrived.

Someone shouted, "Captain Li has come!"

Only then did the entire hall fall silent.

Li Yuetian arrived with his men. A single sharp glance from him instantly quieted the scene. He stepped onto a platform and spoke through the megaphone, "You can search. Why not? Those who just said they wanted to report and search the villa, step forward. You, you, you, and you over there—yes, you. Come stand here."

Li Yuetian pointed at several people.

Young Master Lan shook his head like a rattle drum. "I’m not reporting." I’m not that foolish, he thought.

The remaining few hesitated.

Li Yuetian continued, "Reporting an ordinary person isn’t this troublesome. But the Jing Shu you want to report is no ordinary person.

Right, I forgot to tell you all something. The food for the more than two thousand people in our building—all the red worm cake—is provided solely by Jing Shu.

Whether you have a next meal, and all the food everyone in our building will eat from now on, depends on Jing Shu. We will be relying on her for many days to come.

Hoarding food? She alone has provided so much food for the building, saved so many lives, and even pays out of her own pocket to give you food every day, yet you still want to report her?

Doesn’t your conscience hurt?!"

Li Yuetian’s rebuke echoed throughout the building. For a moment, the hall was utterly silent; not a soul spoke.