Chapter 103: Annoying, Not the Obedient Kind

(from *Restarting the Farm at the End of the World*)

Bian Changxi felt a rush of satisfaction—so this is what it feels like to take things openly and without guilt! It was amazing!

She couldn’t help but laugh at the dumbfounded look on Chu Hao’s face, quickly pulling him into a nearby alley. The next moment, Old Baldy appeared with a dozen people in tow.

“You two, grab what you can! Take as much as you can carry—even if you can’t use it, you can sell it in Sucheng for a good price.” That was Old Baldy’s voice.

Bian Changxi nodded to herself. The Sucheng base really was short on this kind of equipment. Electricity was scarce there—this summer, who knew how many people couldn’t even afford to run a fan? In winter, things like air conditioners or space heaters were luxury items. No wonder so many fire-type ability users made a fortune every winter, raking in money hand over fist.

So, solar equipment would definitely sell well. Old Baldy was thinking ahead.

His spatial ability user must be pretty capable, too.

Before she could finish her thoughts, she heard Old Baldy shout, “How come there’s nothing left?!”

“Did someone get here before us?”

“No way, it was all here yesterday. The people from Chai’s group don’t have a spatial user. Could it have been that Chu Hao?”

“Maybe it was that Bald Qiang guy. No one’s ever seen him use his powers—maybe he’s a spatial user too.”

“Or maybe it was Chai’s group after all. Didn’t they come by yesterday? Who knows if they have a spatial user or not.”

“Enough! Is this the time to argue? Go check upstairs!”

Someone thundered up the stairs, then called down, “Boss, there’s more up here! Some of it’s still unopened!”

Bian Changxi was a bit frustrated—she hadn’t expected there to be more upstairs.

But then she thought about it and let it go. The stuff downstairs was probably just samples, a bit dusty but definitely the best and most complete selection. She was only taking what she needed, not trying to get rich off it. Enough was enough—no need to be greedy.

Besides, she’d managed to grab at least two or three models of each item. She could even give away a set or two if she wanted.

Feeling pleased, she was about to leave when she turned around and was shocked by what she saw behind Chu Hao.

Chu Hao, still dazed from earlier, followed her gaze—and nearly screamed.

A short, one-eyed zombie was standing right behind Chu Hao, staring at them curiously. Suddenly, its face twisted into a snarl and it bared its fangs.

Instinctively, Bian Changxi moved to shield Chu Hao, but he grabbed her first.

The next moment, their vision blurred. When they could see again, they realized they were in a different place.

Bian Changxi blinked. “Teleportation?”

Chu Hao was doubled over, gasping for breath. Bian Changxi glanced around—turns out they’d only teleported about twenty meters away. The short zombie was still searching for them. She shoved a white core into Chu Hao’s hand and dragged him along as they ran.

But this time, things weren’t as smooth as before. Zombies were everywhere—a wrong turn and they’d run right into one. A glance over the shoulder might reveal a claw reaching for them.

Luckily, she had a gun. One shot, one silent kill. To keep the fallen zombies from blocking their escape, she stuffed each one into her spatial storage. It might cause a bit of contamination, but the crystal cores would fetch a good price later.

She even managed to duck into a convenience store and haul away about seventy percent of the remaining goods.

By the time they finally escaped, both of them were weak in the knees and drenched in sweat. Chu Hao looked like he’d seen a ghost. He stared at Bian Changxi in horror. “You, you…” She was a total lunatic! Even in such a dangerous situation, she hadn’t forgotten to stuff things into her space. He’d never seen anyone so bold.

Bian Changxi leaned against the wall, watching Old Baldy and his group still struggling in the thick of it. “What about me?”

Chu Hao swallowed. “You have a spatial ability too?”

She just smiled at the setting sun.

Revealing her spatial ability wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Ever since she recovered, she’d been thinking about whether or not to reveal her space after reaching Sucheng.

After all, she’d disappeared, but her luggage was still with the convoy. With Gu Xu’s personality, he’d definitely pack up her things for her. Then he’d notice that the guns he and Shadow had given her were missing.

Shadow knew she hadn’t taken those guns with her, but had instead pulled out a submachine gun that shouldn’t have existed. Plus, she’d collected the little guy, Milk, right in front of Shadow.

So, in Gu Xu’s eyes, it was undeniable that she had a spatial ability.

Since she’d decided to build a good relationship with him and maybe rely on him as a backer in the future, it wouldn’t do to keep hiding it.

Secondly, Boss Zhang had tried to kill her even without knowing about her space. There was no point in hiding it anymore. Once she reached the base, if anyone started watching her closely, she’d eventually slip up unless she stopped using her space altogether. Better to admit openly that she was a dual-type user—wood and space—and take the initiative.

As for the claim that dual abilities other than with psychic types are impossible—who had actually proven that? If she insisted she was dual-type, who could say she was lying? That so-called reborn person? She’d love for them to expose themselves.

Third, if she was going to work with Chu Hao and the others, being honest about her space would make things much easier. She was also curious to see if Chu Hao would be jealous of her space, which was bigger and better than his.

But after staring at her for a long time, Chu Hao just sighed, “Seriously, if you had a space, why didn’t you say so earlier? With the way you collect things, just a wave of your hand and it’s done. Why did I have to work myself to death?”

He was still dizzy from it all!

Bian Changxi was once again convinced that this guy’s brain worked differently from everyone else’s. He was tall and strapping, about twenty-six or twenty-seven—prime age for ambition and guts.

Shouldn’t a normal person be thinking, “Oh my god, she has a space and hid it for so long—what’s she up to?” Or, “Wow, her space seems amazing—why don’t I have one?” Or even, “She’s been hiding her strength—can I use her for something?” Something like that?

Or was Chu Hao’s reaction actually what a good citizen should have?

She couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you worried? All the supplies are with me. What if I just take off with everything?”

Chu Hao blurted out, “Would you?” Then, a bit dejected, “Honestly, I don’t think you even care about those little things.”

Bian Changxi choked, forcing a smile. “Come on, every meal is hard-won. I treasure it too.”

She glanced at the sky. “Let’s go back. I doubt Old Baldy will get much out of this. We can come back tomorrow.”

Come back?

Chu Hao opened his mouth, but then, thinking of Bian Changxi’s abilities and space, he started to feel it would be a shame to leave all those good things behind. Even if they couldn’t use them, like Old Baldy said, they could sell them at the base.

Speaking of the base, he started to worry again. What was he supposed to do about those two at home?

When they got back, both were gone.

Ye Xiaojin apologized, “Brother Chen hasn’t come back since he left this morning. Granny Gu wanted to go home and have a look, so George went with her.”

Now even Chu Hao, usually so laid-back, was annoyed. What the heck? Didn’t they know how dangerous it was outside? Chen Guanqing was the strongest ability user here, but instead of protecting the weak, he just ran off on his own. What if zombies or wild animals attacked? Did he think the lives of everyone here had nothing to do with him?

And Granny Gu—what was an old lady doing running around? He’d already helped her pack all her keepsakes into his space. If she wanted to reminisce, she could wait for him to come back and look at them all she wanted!

Couldn’t any of them think about his feelings?

Chu Hao felt more exhausted than ever. He crouched down, holding his head in silence.

Bian Changxi frowned, glancing at the terrified Xiao Anran, the pale and visibly relieved Ye Xiaojin, and Wang Dezhou, who was in poor health, sitting by the door with a suitcase and a chainsaw in hand.

They were clearly ready to deal with any danger or make a run for it at any moment.

This little team was always on the verge of falling apart.

Bian Changxi said, “Want me to go out and help you look?”

Chu Hao took a breath and stood up. “No, you stay here and keep an eye on them. I’ll go. I know where they’d go.”

Bian Changxi thought about it and agreed. It was getting dark, and just because nothing happened last night didn’t mean tonight would be the same. “Be careful.”

Chu Hao nodded and strode off. Bian Changxi turned to the three remaining people, feeling frustrated. Well, you can’t get something for nothing—every gain comes with its own troubles. Still, even if she wasn’t trying to score points with Chu Hao, she probably wouldn’t just walk away. She was starting to understand him a bit. Even though these people weren’t family or loved ones, once you took responsibility for them, it became a habit that was hard to break.

Trying to adjust her mood, she said, “Have you eaten? I’ll make something hot.”

There was still some rice and beans left. She washed all the rice and put it in the pressure cooker, steaming a bowl of soybeans on top. She found a small bag of dried mushrooms and black fungus—some of it was moldy, and she wasn’t about to torture herself, so she swapped them out for the fresh ones she’d just collected from the convenience store, soaking a bit for soup.

There was still half a chicken soaking in a basin from yesterday. She was a bit troubled—leave it any longer and it would spoil, but dealing with it was a hassle, and she didn’t want to eat it anyway.

Before she could decide, Xiao Anran’s cries came from outside: “Sister Ye, don’t go! Don’t leave us!”

She went out to see Ye Xiaojin helping Wang Dezhou, dragging a suitcase, about to leave under someone’s guidance. When Ye Xiaojin saw her, she gave an awkward smile. “Miss Bian, this place just isn’t working out. If we don’t split up today, we’ll have to tomorrow. We’re all just trying to survive, you know? I… I have no choice.”

Bian Changxi understood at once—someone had poached them. And that idiot Chu Hao had been so sure everyone was united."