Chapter 899 - 870: An Important Harvest

Chapter 899: Chapter 870: An Important Harvest

Ignoring the little ones who were frightened out of their wits, Li Jiong maintained a consistent pace as he walked to the back, stopping in front of the little girl.

Li Jiong’s astonishing eyesight allowed him to see the fine hairs on the girl’s ear even at this distance. Unlike others, she held a teddy bear missing one ear in her arms. The plush toy was old and worn, with the dark stains on it gleaming. But for her, it was the most precious thing, held tightly against her chest.

Even though she tried to conceal her fear, the observant Li Jiong noticed the unrest in her heart from the way she clutched the teddy.

Li Jiong seemed to savor this feeling, standing still beside the little girl like a sculpture, waiting patiently.

After some time had passed, and the little girl’s clothes were soaked with sweat, Li Jiong finally spoke, "What’s your name?"

His voice was steady, but the sudden question made the little girl jump. She took a step back in shock and lowered her head further, speaking in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, "Xiaoxiao."

"Xiaoxiao?" Li Jiong found it curious and asked again.

"Yes, Xiaoxiao," the girl replied.

Li Jiong remained expressionless, "I’m looking for a doll."

The little girl said nothing.

Li Jiong chuckled, pointing at the girl’s doll, "A doll like this one."

Seeing Li Jiong’s action, the girl appeared extraordinarily alarmed. She instinctively stepped back, but in her haste, she stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud.

On the ground, the girl looked extremely flustered, struggling to get up, moving further away from Li Jiong.

Li Jiong did not relent; he took another step forward, closing the distance with the girl. He gazed at her, even if she didn’t dare meet his eyes.

"Three meals a day, and even snacks on weekends—if you want dolls, I can give you a hundred, a thousand. But in exchange, I want your earless teddy bear."

This was a shocking proposition, causing an uproar among the other orphans who were originally panicking. In a post-apocalyptic world, they understood the value of these things more than anyone!

A room! Food—even snacks. Wouldn’t they trade even their own parents?

Having survived the apocalypse for so long, they became more realistic. Although weak and helpless now, their minds were already lost in confusion and darkness.

At this moment, they openly showed their jealousy and resentment, all looking at the little girl with hearts riddled like a million insects scratching away inside, unable to believe why she would have such an opportunity?!

The girl was more surprised than anyone at Li Jiong’s offer. Gripping her teddy bear tightly, she knew better than anyone how ordinary it was. She thought it was a joke or a prank.

But looking at the luxurious City Lord’s mansion and sensing the man’s dominating presence before her, she had no doubt that if she nodded, she would truly receive those things he mentioned.

Three meals a day? Would there be scrambled eggs with tomatoes, her favorite dish?

Snacks and dolls? It had been a long time since she had any new toys.

Wonderful, it was all truly wonderful—so much better and more precious than the teddy.

The girl lowered her head, speaking amidst envious and admiring gazes from everyone, "I... I won’t trade."

"She said she won’t trade! Dear heavens, why doesn’t this opportunity fall on me? Wait... she said she won’t trade!"

"Is she an idiot? Surely her brain is not working!"

"Are you joking? Or are you slow-witted?!"

The girl’s refusal was akin to a bombshell. The children, previously oppressed into silence by Li Jiong, now became wildly agitated. Like frantic puppies, they couldn’t believe she would say no.

Agitation, madness, disbelief, and even schadenfreude filled the confined space. If you get something I can’t, I resent it; if you don’t get it either, it’s fair.

Compared to gaining, the other children preferred this outcome.

They communicated with glances; as a reward, fists were necessary, and in the darkness, they planned to "reward" her stupid actions with admiration.

The girl’s head hung even lower. She too felt ashamed of her choice.

But she remained silent, indirectly expressing her unwavering conviction and decision.

...............

In the end, Li Jiong still chose Xiaoxiao. Amid jealousy and admiration, Xiaoxiao followed Li Jiong to the courtyard.

Looking at this unfamiliar place, Xiaoxiao’s eyes turned vacant. Although she was a Heavenly Giver, her powers weren’t particularly outstanding as she had recently awakened. Thus, she hadn’t received much attention; not long ago, she was cramped in a house with seven or eight others, treated no differently than ordinary people.

She appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old, yet her actual age was already fourteen. She considered herself somewhat cute, but that was long, long ago, before the apocalypse. Though she was a professional, her low rank ensured she didn’t stand out. Meals were often scarce, not to mention bathing.

Xiaoxiao knew the world had drastically changed, revealing a myriad of perverts and darkness. She had often witnessed girls her age being led away by bad men outside the fence of her residence. She didn’t know what they experienced, but it wasn’t good.

Poor kids have to grow up fast.

Xiaoxiao’s talent had recently awakened. Not long ago, she lived like an outdoor wanderer, surviving by scavenging every day.

In that dark environment, she experienced all walks of life.

Xiaoxiao remained vigilant around Li Jiong, her small fists clenched tightly. Though she tried to disguise it, her trembling legs revealed her nervous mindset.

An excellent patrol team member would always be on guard with their surroundings, creating a good model. Moreover, she could still maintain herself under intense temptation, greatly reducing the possibility of being bribed by criminals.

Combined with her abilities...

Xiaoxiao’s ability was mainly supportive. She wasn’t much stronger than her peers, but she possessed one exceptional skill—she had a photographic memory, allowing her to remember everything she saw, not limited to books but also differentiating people and things.

Previously, Li Jiong conducted an experiment, showing her a stack of photos labeled with names. She viewed each photo for no more than a second, yet afterward, Xiaoxiao accurately named each person and matched them correctly.

This kind of ability applied to patrolling work yields unimaginable results!

She was a true genius.

A true patrol genius!

Li Jiong’s heart blossomed like a flower. He seemed to foresee catching criminals swiftly and getting promotions with Xiaoxiao’s incredible abilities aiding him!

This wasn’t luck; it was indeed a true treasure!

"Praise Order!"

Li Jiong sincerely expressed goodwill towards Order, finding back the excitement he once had on this land after enduring so much pain!

Ambitious?

Having dreams is good; at least, it makes him feel human, not just an unconscious corpse!