15: Chapter 15: Recruiting Su Wanqing!

A young woman of striking beauty.

She wore a Japanese-style maid uniform in navy blue and white. The crisp fabric of the navy skirt accentuated her slender shoulders. The white trim at the cuffs traced a clean arc around her wrists, and a pale beige bow hung at the collar, drooping like a soft piece of milk candy.

Her delicate, fair feet were clad in a pair of white mid-calf socks. The ribbed edge of the socks hugged her ankles, making her skin appear luminous.

Her head was slightly bowed, black hair cascading down. The white maid headdress atop her head was adorned with ruffled lace, looking like a crumpled wisp of cloud under the cool white light, so serene that passersby instinctively softened their footsteps.

Her gaze rested quietly on Ye Fan before her, and then, in a frail voice, she spoke haltingly.

"You... hello, my name is Su Wanqing. Thank you..."

"Hello, my name is..."

Before Ye Fan could finish speaking, the woman in front of him turned pale, her legs gave way, and she staggered, falling forward.

Seeing this,

Ye Fan reacted instantly, swiftly extending both hands to catch the woman as she fell toward him.

And the young woman, going with the momentum, ended up collapsing right into Ye Fan's arms.

"Are... are you okay?" Ye Fan was momentarily stunned, then looked at the girl in his arms and asked with some concern.

"I'm so hungry! Kind sir, I'm so hungry. Do you have any food? Could you give me something to eat? I haven't eaten for almost three days."

The uniformed girl wore a pitiful expression, looking up at Ye Fan with pleading eyes. Her voice was weak as she spoke slowly.

Hearing this, a strange look crossed Ye Fan's face.

He couldn't help but think to himself: *Damn, is she after my food? This...*

Ye Fan hadn't expected at all that the girl's first words would be to ask him for food.

However,

Looking at the girl in his arms, her face deathly pale and her body appearing extremely frail,

It didn't seem like an act.

Perhaps it was true, just as she said, that she hadn't eaten for nearly three days.

But this was the apocalypse. Ye Fan wouldn't just give away his food to others for no reason.

She'd have to offer something in exchange!

A faint smirk curled at the corner of Ye Fan's mouth as he looked at the girl in his arms. He slowly began to speak.

"Food? Of course I have some! Here, let me help you inside to rest first!"

"Really?" The girl in Ye Fan's arms instantly showed a flash of surprise on her face, then spoke excitedly.

"Absolutely! I have plenty of food." Ye Fan spoke with confidence.

As he spoke, Ye Fan pretended to slowly reach his right hand into his pocket, rummaging for something.

With a thought, Ye Fan instantly pulled out a can from his pocket—seafood congee.

Ye Fan waved the can in front of the girl's eyes, then said with a smile, "See? Food! Like I said, I've got plenty."

The moment the girl in Ye Fan's arms saw the can in his hand,

Her eyes instantly lit up, as if she had seen a lifeline. She reached out to grab it.

"Give it, give it to me, please! I want to eat..."

"Hey! Not so fast. Let me help you inside to rest first. There'll be plenty of time to eat later."

Ye Fan quickly withdrew the can and spoke calmly.

Then,

Seeing Ye Fan's firm attitude, the girl stopped trying to grab it. Looking weak, she let Ye Fan slowly help her back to his place.

*Bang!*

After helping the girl inside, Ye Fan smoothly closed the door behind them.

Ye Fan guided the girl to the sofa in the living room and helped her sit down slowly.

"Can you give me the food now? I'm really starving, please..."

Sitting on the sofa, the girl looked pleadingly at Ye Fan, gently tugging his hand as she spoke pitifully.

"Of course!"

Ye Fan took out the can again and held it before the girl's eyes.

Seeing it, the girl forced a weak smile, suppressing her hunger.

She quickly reached out to take the can from Ye Fan's hand.

However,

Just as the girl's hands touched the can Ye Fan was holding,

Ye Fan slowly pulled his hand back this time, then looked at the girl beside him with a serious expression.

He said solemnly, "You should know how things are in this world now. You understand the importance of food."

The girl on the sofa was no fool and naturally grasped the meaning behind Ye Fan's words.

Tightening her grip on Ye Fan's hands, she quickly said, "As long as you give me food, I'll do anything you ask."

"Good. My demand is quite simple." Ye Fan's tone was very even.

Then, his gaze turned to the girl beside him as he spoke again, word by word.

"That is, from today onward, you are Ye Fan's woman. As for what it means to be my woman... you should understand the rest."

Upon hearing Ye Fan's words, the girl's hands, which were holding his arm, slowly released their grip.

She lowered her head, falling silent as if contemplating something.

"What? Don't agree?"

Seeing this, Ye Fan merely uttered a faint remark. Holding the can, he slowly stood up, preparing to leave.

Seeing Ye Fan about to leave, the girl clearly panicked.

Her fair, delicate hands clenched her skirt tightly. Gritting her teeth, she called out weakly, her voice frail.

"W-wait..."

Ye Fan turned to look at her. "What? Made up your mind?"

The girl gave a slight nod.

"I can be your woman, but you must not touch me without my consent."

"Hmph! Then forget it."

Ye Fan turned and left again, not even glancing back at the girl behind him.

Ye Fan felt utterly speechless inside.

*Seriously?*

*If I can't even touch her, how can she be called my woman?*

*What's the difference between that and keeping a freeloading dog?*

*No... there is some difference.*

*At least a dog can guard the house!*

Seeing Ye Fan's retreating figure, the girl's inner turmoil intensified.

In this apocalypse, without a steady supply of food, she was doomed to die.

The moment this thought crossed her mind, Su Wanqing's face instantly showed fear of death.

Gritting her teeth again, she quickly stood up and, dragging her weakened body, called out to the departing Ye Fan.

"Wait, I agree."

At this moment,

A smirk couldn't help but appear on Ye Fan's face as he was about to step out of Su Wanqing's doorway.

"As long as you give me food, I can meet any demand you have, including..." The girl's weak voice came from behind Ye Fan again.

Only then did Ye Fan slowly stop, turn around, and retrace his steps.

"Should have been like this from the start! If you'd agreed earlier, your stomach would be full by now."

"I..."

"Since that's the case, from now on, you are Ye Fan's woman."

A triumphant smile spread across Ye Fan's face.