Chapter 13: The Jade Bracelet, the Theft Incident

Everyone turned to look in the direction of Bian Changxi’s startled cry. Inside the small, flat box lined with yellow silk, there was a ring-shaped indentation—anyone could tell that something like a bracelet had once rested there. But now, the box was empty.

Bian Changxi’s face went pale, her lips trembling as she turned her backpack upside down. Aside from food, there was nothing else—not even a trace of her jade bracelet. She grabbed Jiang Hui and asked, “Is this everything I had?”

Jiang Hui, startled by her icy, panicked expression, quickly nodded. “Aside from your bike and weapons, which we borrowed for a bit, Haijun didn’t let anyone touch your other things. Isn’t that right, Haijun?”

Cheng Haijun nodded. “I specifically told everyone not to touch your stuff. Did any of you take Bian’s jade bracelet?”

“No, of course not.”

“Come on, it’s the end of the world—what use is a bracelet? Who would want it?”

“What does it look like? Maybe we can help you look for it?”

Zhang Yuwen suddenly chimed in, “Maybe you lost it earlier? Or maybe those soldiers took it?”

Cheng Haijun sounded unsure. “Those people seemed pretty decent.”

Zhang Yuwen sneered, “These days, you never really know what someone’s like inside.”

Cheng Haijun still didn’t quite believe it, but Bian Changxi felt a chill run through her.

She remembered that in her previous life, there was a girl by Zhu Yunhua’s side who had some kind of detection ability—she could sense valuable items. It was that girl who discovered the extraordinary nature of the jade bracelet. Could it be that one of those soldiers had a similar ability? Or did something happen to the bracelet while she was unconscious, making them think it was some rare treasure?

No! The jade bracelet and the farm inside were hers—no one else could covet it!

Her bracelet! Her bracelet...

Suddenly, Bian Changxi felt a strange pull, as if something was calling to her. She looked around and her gaze locked onto Wang Yan—or more precisely, onto the red leather bag slung over Wang Yan’s shoulder.

Could it be...

She pressed her lips together, abruptly stood up, strode over, and yanked Wang Yan’s bag away. The bag was stuffed full—tissues, cosmetics, glasses, candy, sanitary pads—she dumped everything out, tossing items onto the ground one by one. Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, then shrieked and lunged at her. “You lunatic! What are you doing? Give me back my bag!”

Bian Changxi suddenly stopped. From the bottom of the bag, she pulled out a jade bracelet. Its lustrous, creamy-white glow stood out even in the dim warehouse—it was unmistakably hers.

She examined it carefully, let out a sigh of relief, and then gave a mocking laugh. “Care to explain this?”

Wang Yan’s face went from pale to green, but she insisted, “Explain what? That bracelet was mine to begin with!”

“Oh, really?” Bian Changxi tossed the bag aside and slipped the bracelet onto her left wrist. Covering it with her right hand, she focused, and immediately felt her spiritual energy drawn into a vast space.

Joy surged in her heart—the farm was open!

Well, maybe not the farm itself, but at least the bracelet’s space was there. Bian Changxi could hardly wait to check it out. She felt a wave of comfort and happiness, but kept her expression calm, shooting Wang Yan a cold, piercing look.

Did this woman steal the bracelet out of greed, or did she sense something special about it?

Her gaze was like an ice pick, like a bolt of lightning. Wang Yan felt as if she’d been stripped bare, shivering from head to toe. She jabbed a finger at Bian Changxi and snapped, “We took you in out of kindness—fed you, gave you a place to sleep, even had someone look after you. And this is how you repay us? What’s the big deal about a stupid bracelet? Why can’t I take a little reward? I’m telling you, I’m keeping that bracelet. If you don’t hand it over, don’t even think about staying in our team!”

Everyone stared at her in shock.

Suddenly, someone in the warehouse snorted. “Reward? Didn’t those soldiers already pay you guys?”

Wang Yan’s face froze. She spat back, “That was their business. This is ours. Mind your own business!”

Bian Changxi understood now.

She turned to Cheng Haijun. “A reward? So you only took me in because you got paid?”

Cheng Haijun’s face turned red. Jiang Hui quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Bian, it’s not what you think.”

Zhang Yuwen anxiously grabbed her hand, shooting her pleading looks. “We’re all classmates—we’ll have to get along in the future. Changxi, don’t make a scene. Wang Yan likes the bracelet, just give it to her. It’s not worth much anymore anyway.”

Bian Changxi looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Zhang Yuwen felt stifled by her gaze, and was full of resentment. He didn’t understand why Bian Changxi never gave him any face—yesterday, today, always the same. Did she still think she was some rich heiress? That she could go anywhere with just a car and a few knives?

What a joke!

A sickly, inexperienced college girl would have to rely on the team in the end. If things got this tense, what was she planning? She’d only end up dragging him down too.

Besides, the way Bian Changxi had handled the zombies before—her courage and skill—had stirred something in Zhang Yuwen. He felt that his “girlfriend” seemed different now; her cold, sharp aura was actually... alluring. Because of this, he wanted to keep her close. If he was the one who got her into the team, and the one who smoothed things over, she’d have to depend on him, right?

If she really was capable, he’d benefit the most. If she turned out to be useless, he had plenty of ways to kick her out.

Especially—especially that thing he and Wang Yan had discussed. They had to make it happen.

His mind raced, eyes fixed greedily on the bracelet on Bian Changxi’s wrist. He bitterly regretted not telling Wang Yan to hide it better. Who could have guessed Bian Changxi would know exactly where it was and have the guts to snatch it back in front of everyone?

Seeing the other team members glancing at him, their looks toward Bian Changxi turning unfriendly and disapproving, he grew bolder and said righteously, “Changxi, you should know how to be grateful. You were covered in wounds, half your shoulder was burnt to a crisp, and you had a raging fever—completely unconscious. If we hadn’t taken care of you, do you think you’d have recovered? Who do you think you have to thank for being able to stand here now? Wang Yan just wanted a bracelet as thanks, and you can’t even do that? How can we trust you if you’re so selfish? I’m really disappointed in you!”

He didn’t mention the so-called reward at all, just tried to paint Bian Changxi as immoral and ungrateful.

Wang Yan caught on, her eyes darting as she suddenly burst into tears, drawing everyone’s attention. “Changxi, we used to be so close—ate together, slept together. You even said you’d give me this bracelet for my birthday, remember? I really liked it, that’s why I took it. I know I shouldn’t have taken it without asking, but if you were upset, we could’ve talked about it privately. Why did you have to snatch it back in front of everyone?”

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