Chapter 12: Ambush
Several shivering figures huddled in the snow, clad in mismatched dark-colored coats, as if scavenged from others.
The relentless snow fell, chilling them to the bone; their lips were blue with cold.
One of them, trembling, said, “Boss, there’s probably no one left alive. Let’s go.”
Slap! A sharp slap echoed through the snow-covered wasteland. A harsh voice bellowed, “Go? Where would we eat? You think I don’t want to go? Bunch of useless idiots!”
The leader spat on the ground, his eyes filled with malice, silencing his men.
The snow continued to fall. Finally, another man spoke. He had unremarkable features except for his sharp, calculating eyes—far more intelligent than the previous speaker.
“Boss, this snow won’t stop anytime soon. If we wait, our vehicle will be stuck. Near the government building, I remember a few kids who should have some supplies. We could get them before someone else does. What do you say?”
“Are you sure?” the leader asked, turning around sharply.
“Boss, I wouldn’t lie,” the man quickly flattered the boss.
“You’re always the smartest one,” the boss patted the man’s shoulder, a sinister smile spreading across his face. He stood up, waving his hand, “Let’s go.”
They sprang to their feet, eager to leave.
As they reached a minivan, a light appeared in the distance.
“Wait…” The leader took out binoculars and walked forward, raising them to his eyes.
Upon seeing the light, his eyes gleamed with malicious glee, “Good. We’ve been waiting for hours.”
He spat and rubbed his hands, then excitedly shouted, “Get ready!”
His men trembled, “Yes!”
Meanwhile, a black military jeep sped down the open road, its speed like a gust of wind.
Su Hao accelerated after choosing a direction.
The north wind howled, whipping snow into a frenzy. The ground was covered in white; the jeep’s tracks cut through the snow, a stark contrast.
The air was hazy, likely due to the cold. They were nearing the city entrance.
Just as Su Hao was about to increase speed, Su Mo warned, “Brother, something’s wrong.”
Screech! Tires squealed on the empty road.
Su Hao narrowed his eyes, observing a minivan in the distance.
“No signs of a struggle, no damage to the vehicle, unusual positioning,” Su Mo analyzed, “Someone’s there.”
“This is the main road between A City and B City,” Su Hao noted, a cold smile playing on his lips.
They were being ambushed.
Their eyes met; Su Mo smirked, “Guests from afar, let’s see how this goes.”
“I’ll go; you stay in the car,” Su Hao said decisively.
Su Mo sighed, “Brother, I can handle myself.”
“No,” Su Hao insisted.
“Brother, it’s not the time to argue. I have ways to protect myself, no matter what happens. Trust me,” Su Mo said, understanding his concern. She needed to show him her strength.
Su Hao fell silent, then finally said, “Be careful.”
Su Mo smiled, opening the car door and walking towards the minivan without hesitation.
The sky was turning pale, a winter mist hanging in the air, devoid of its usual freshness.
Su Hao watched her, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. Her light footsteps fell heavily on his heart.
As Su Mo neared the minivan, she heard unusual sounds. She continued walking, seemingly oblivious.
The air felt thick. As she reached the vehicle,
Suddenly, an excited voice yelled, “Don’t move!”
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Chapter 13: Cooperation
Su Mo stopped just as she was about to take a step, turning her head.
Several men in black, coarse overcoats emerged from a pile of withered grass.
Leading them was a large, powerfully built man whose clothing made him appear even more bulky and cumbersome.
Behind him were several other men, each holding a gun. In a single breath, they all sprang from the grass.
Facing the men pointing guns at her, Su Mo remained motionless, her expression unchanged, showing no sign of panic.
The men opposite her, however, whether from excitement or cold, trembled incessantly as they held their pistols, appearing almost afraid of the girl at gunpoint.
The scene was rather comical.
Snow continued to fall from the sky, the accumulating white seeming to heighten the tension.
The open road was unusually quiet. A petite girl was surrounded by several large men.
She was dressed in close-fitting attire, her figure curvaceous. Her snow-white skin and a somewhat cold expression revealed not a trace of fear.
“Boss, she’s a hottie,” one of the men said instantly, his eyes filled with greed as he stared at Su Mo.
The others immediately nodded in agreement, their eyes lustful.
The leader, his eyes like those of a viper, swept a glance over Su Mo, a sinister smile playing on his lips. “If you like her, you guys can have her later.”
“Really? Thanks, Big Brother,” the man exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement. The others were equally thrilled, their minds already indulging in fantasies.
Noticing their leering gazes, Su Mo narrowed her eyes, a cold smile curving her lips.
Seeming to sense her change in demeanor, the leader’s eyes flickered, his lips curling into a sneer. He pressed the barrel of his gun against Su Mo’s forehead. “Tell me, how many others are in the car?”
The dark muzzle exuded a chilling coldness. Su Mo’s expression remained unchanged. She calmly scanned them before fixing her gaze on the leader. “How many are in the car isn’t important. What’s important is that we might be able to make a deal.”
“A deal?” The man seemed startled, then threw back his head and laughed. “This is the first time anyone’s tried to negotiate with me.”
After a moment, he stopped laughing, his eyes filled with menace as he stared at Su Mo, a sneer twisting his lips. “Alright, I’ll hear what you have to say. But be careful, these bullets don’t have eyes.”
“Don’t worry. With so many of you and guns, I can’t pull any tricks, even if I wanted to,” Su Mo replied, seriously considering the leader for a moment before continuing with a slightly seductive tone.
A flicker of doubt crossed the leader’s mind, but he couldn’t quite place it. He frowned, his voice edged with impatience and harshness. “Don’t play games. Just tell me.”
“I think you’re from City B, judging by your accents,” Su Mo stated confidently, basing her assessment on their conversation.
“So what? Another word, and I’ll shoot you,” the man roared, his already frayed patience snapping.
Ignoring his threat, Su Mo continued, “Since you’ve been waiting here for so long, you must know we’re from City A. You just want to rob the food from our car, right?”
“Since you know, you should understand that everything in that car is ours for the taking. What leverage do you have to negotiate?” The man, unfazed by Su Mo’s quick deduction of their motives, smirked, a mixture of approval and mockery in his expression.
“No leverage, but I have some information,” Su Mo nodded in agreement, then changed her tack.
“Information? Tell me,” the man said, surprised by Su Mo’s composure under pressure.
Su Mo didn’t beat around the bush. “I can tell you that the food in the car behind me will only last you half a month. But I know of a place in City B with abundant supplies—enough to last you a year. It’s dangerous, though.”
“So, you want to cooperate?” The man said instantly, a hidden current flashing in his eyes.
“Exactly,” Su Mo replied, unexpectedly impressed by the man’s quick thinking.
Noticing his suspicion, Su Mo continued, “Don’t doubt me. Don’t worry about us competing for supplies. As a sign of good faith, you can take what’s in my car. Just leave us enough food for two days. You’re gambling two days of our lives for a year’s worth of supplies. You’re not losing anything, are you?”
Su Mo fell silent, watching the man’s shifting expression as he weighed her words. She waited patiently, her demeanor unchanged.
Snow continued to fall, the cold seeping into their bones.
Inside the Car
Su Hao, sitting in the driver’s seat, his dark eyes like pools of ink, his face grim, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, barely resisting the urge to jump out.
Time ticked by. Eventually, a hint of sunlight pierced the gloom. The man seemed to finally reach a decision, the deep furrow in his brow beginning to relax.
Sure enough, the next second, the man spat, his voice harsh. “You better not be lying to me. Otherwise, you’ll wish you were dead.”