Chapter 86: 86
The atmosphere inside the plane was tense, with survivors either sharing their relief at being alive or quietly sobbing. The sudden slap from Yu Zhiwan left everyone stunned. The young, beautiful woman was clearly an Omega, and even with a stern expression, she didn't seem that intimidating. However, only the man who was slapped knew how powerful the blow had been; it left him seeing stars. After a few seconds, he recovered enough to shout back:
"You're crazy! Hitting people out of nowhere, I could sue you!"
The man had recognized Pei Yujang as a social media personality and saw an opportunity to gain attention by criticizing her. In his mind, even in such a situation, there were always people who lacked sense, and he thought he could rile them up, record their argument, and post it online. If he positioned himself as morally superior by condemning influencers who didn't contribute to society but made big money, he might gain some fame too.
But his plan was quickly derailed by Yu Zhiwan's slap.
The plane's staff soon stepped in to restore order, telling everyone to sit down and fasten their seatbelts. The man had no choice but to swallow his pride and glare at Yu Zhiwan from the back of the plane.
Yu Zhiwan didn't care in the slightest. Once she confirmed there was no further danger, she leaned on Pei Yujang's shoulder and fell asleep. The journey through the snake-infested forest had taken a heavy toll on her, and as an Omega, it had been a struggle to keep up. Exhausted, she quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
A few days later, the Yaocun City Safety Bureau released a new public announcement.
The water gates of Qianshui Island had deteriorated and failed, allowing seawater to flood into the lake. The local government decided to hold the administrators and engineers responsible. The sharks that entered the lake were identified as a new species capable of surviving in water with a 5% salinity level.
Since Qianshui Island's lake was a freshwater lake, it was unexpected for sharks to appear, so the lake wasn't equipped with shark nets. Upon inspection, the broken sections of the regular protective net showed signs of shark bites, leading to the conclusion that the sharks had broken through the net.
The sharks that entered the lake were about three to four meters long, with underdeveloped teeth. They weren't the deadly ocean predators people feared, but their sudden appearance in the lake had caused panic, leading to a stampede and the disturbance of wildlife, resulting in a few casualties.
Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan were having lunch in the office when they saw the news. Yu Zhiwan, sipping her seaweed egg soup, frowned slightly:
"A new species?"
Pei Yujang's expression grew serious:
"In my previous life, I saw some mutated animals. It could be due to industrial waste being dumped into the water. These creatures may not be as dangerous as the zombie beasts, but their mutation is nature's final warning."
Industrial pollution can cause acid rain, which corrodes the land and burns human skin, leaving permanent scars on the earth. Land damaged by acid rain can't produce crops for a long time, presenting a serious challenge to humanity.
Pei Yujang felt a pang of regret. If she had been more decisive, she could have checked out the newly evolved sharks. In her previous life, Qianshui Island had been isolated, with no rescue and no one caring. If the residents encountered sharks, wouldn't it have made them even more desperate and hastened their deaths?
"Maybe not," Yu Zhiwan noticed Pei Yujang's downcast mood and offered some comfort. "Humans are incredibly resilient; otherwise, we wouldn't have survived until now. If we were truly that fragile, we would have been wiped out when the zombies first appeared. Small sharks have lower destructive power and weaker jaws, so even if the island's residents were trapped, the sharks wouldn't have posed as much of a threat as you might think."
Sharks can eat people, but people can also eat sharks. Shark meat may not be delicious, but in desperate times, it's certainly edible.
"Don't worry too much. Many things haven't happened yet, and you can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone. What's meant to come will come, and no one's fate depends solely on one person." Yu Zhiwan stood up and moved her chair closer to Pei Yujang. "Make some space."
Pei Yujang, slightly confused, scooted back a bit, and Yu Zhiwan sat down next to her, their arms touching.
They often ate lunch together, especially after they started dating. Pei Yujang had quickly made changes to the office so Yu Zhiwan could join her, making it clear to the company that they were a couple.
Since they were already in a workplace relationship, Pei Yujang didn't hide it from her online followers, officially announcing their relationship a few days ago.
But Yu Zhiwan wasn't the type of Omega who clung to her partner all the time. When Pei Yujang was about to ask what she was up to, Yu Zhiwan scooped up a spoonful of rice with some tomato and egg sauce and held it up to her.
"Ah—"
Yu Zhiwan mimed the word with her mouth.
Pei Yujang couldn't help but laugh.
She couldn't remember ever being fed by someone, not since she was very young and didn't have memories of it. She had always been independent, raised to be strong from a young age. As a former Alpha who grew up in a military training camp, she was used to hardship and never spoiled herself.
But since being with Yu Zhiwan, she had noticed that Yu Zhiwan seemed to enjoy spoiling her.
Yu Zhiwan let her do whatever she wanted, always cleaning up after her messes. Even when she got angry, it would pass in a few days. Now, Yu Zhiwan was even feeding her. If it were anyone else, Pei Yujang would have insisted on doing it herself, but when Yu Zhiwan gently asked her to open her mouth, all her little resistances crumbled.
Oh well, she could pretend her teeth weren't working today!
As she chewed, Yu Zhiwan also took a bite of her own food, and the two slowly finished their meal together. Pei Yujang didn't lift her chopsticks once.
Pei Yujang wasn't picky and was easy to feed. The food at Yuetong's cafeteria was excellent, made with fresh ingredients. By the end of the meal, Pei Yujang had forgotten about the unpleasant thoughts from earlier, satisfied and full, and returned the dishes.
On her way back, she passed by the planning department. The people who had just finished eating were getting ready to fetch water. A woman with a cup almost bumped into her. Pei Yujang quickly stepped aside and recognized the woman as Zhao Manlin.
Since their last encounter, Zhao Manlin had been much more respectful toward Pei Yujang. Seeing that she had almost collided with her, Zhao Manlin immediately apologized.
They were on familiar terms by now, and Zhao Manlin quickly changed the subject:
"Little Pei, I have a process for you to approve. Once it's signed off, finance can process this month's budget. We have a batch of goods that procurement needs to handle."
Pei Yujang nodded. "Got it."
She was efficient and quickly reviewed and approved the process, though she wondered why the marketing manager always needed to handle these approvals.
After the incident on Qianshui Island, life returned to normal. The event had caught the attention of higher-ups, and the leaders of Yicheng had been replaced. Now, they were cautious, not daring to overstep. In November, Yuetong was officially listed on the stock market.
When the company went public, Pei Jinhui gave Pei Yujang a 30% stake, and even Yu Zhiwan received 10%, signaling her intention to relinquish some control.
But no matter what, the company's main decision-making power remained with Pei Jinhui. Although some people were puzzled, they didn't dare question it. Pei Jinhui also distributed some initial shares as goodwill gestures to trusted individuals, and Zhao Manlin was among those who received the opportunity to purchase shares.
Zhao Manlin was overwhelmed with gratitude, moved to tears. Initial shares were priced low, and as their value increased, she could either sell them for a profit or hold onto them as a stable source of wealth.
As long as Yuetong remained successful, Zhao Manlin would have a steady income stream, even higher than her regular salary. She was now working as a department manager, young and in a secure position, which fueled her motivation.
Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan frequently traveled between Yicheng and Xiangcheng. The mayor of Xiangcheng shared good news with them: at the beginning of November, officials had secretly visited for inspections. This decision must have taken considerable deliberation at the top, not something done lightly. Regardless, the outcome was favorable for them, and Pei Yujang was pleased, agreeing readily to help with another favor the mayor requested.
In mid-November, Boss Ji returned from abroad, arriving in Xiangcheng tired but eager to reunite with her friends. Yu Zhiwan hosted a small gathering in a private room, treating them to hot pot. As the weather turned colder, hot pot was the perfect warming meal, and they ordered a traditional lamb broth. When Boss Ji entered, Yu Zhiwan had already set the pot to boil.
The moment she stepped inside and removed her scarf, the rich aroma of hot pot broth filled the air, and she inhaled deeply.
Pei Yujang was sitting with Yu Zhiwan, browsing an iPad to choose dishes. She suggested ordering some tripe with extra sesame paste, but they should skip the fermented bean juice—it was the only thing she couldn't stomach, preferring soy milk instead.
Seeing the couple so affectionate, even while ordering food, Boss Ji made herself comfortable beside them. Pei Yujang greeted her politely but with a cool tone, while Boss Ji enthusiastically responded. She had a lot to share after her time abroad, where she had been too busy to chat, working so hard she felt like she needed to be in two places at once.
"Hey, I've met this amazing Omega recently. Just wait, I'll bring her to our New Year's gathering!"
Boss Ji announced confidently.
"Oh?" Pei Yujang's interest was piqued.
So, Boss Ji had found a new crush? And wasn't thinking about her girlfriend anymore?
That was great news!
For the first time, Pei Yujang took a closer look at Boss Ji, noticing her high nose and well-shaped eyebrows. She really was quite the beauty, so she sincerely complimented her:
"If an Omega caught your eye, she must be wonderful. Do you want me to recommend a relationship coach?"
Pei Yujang: I'm a relationship expert now.
Boss Ji: ...…
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone