Zhang Yi treated Fang Yuqing with noticeable detachment.
Both Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining sensed something off but mistook Zhang Yi for a hidden wealthy heir (fu'erdai). Far from being annoyed by Zhang Yi's frosty demeanor, they instead became even more proactive.
"Hey, Zhang Yi, did you just eat at that restaurant?" Lin Caining asked, feigning casualness.
Zhang Yi's brow furrowed ever so slightly; this woman was no better than Fang Yuqing, both cut from the same cloth.
She had played a part in his past downfall, even contributing to his ultimate demise.
"Yeah."
His response was chilly, after which he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked toward the supermarket.
Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining hastily followed.
"Zhang Yi, where are you off to?" Fang Yuqing asked with feigned tenderness.
"To the supermarket," came Zhang Yi's cool and rather impatient reply.
If he hadn't wanted to let her experience the despair of the apocalypse first, he might have had thoughts of killing her.
Catching Fang Yuqing's eye signal, Lin Caining quickly interjected, "What a coincidence, we were planning to buy some things too. We can go together!"
By now, Zhang Yi had realized what was happening.
They must have witnessed him eating a luxurious meal at the Michelin-starred restaurant and assumed he was a wealthy fu'erdai.
That's why they suddenly became so effusively friendly toward him.
He couldn't be bothered to explain and headed straight to the supermarket.
The more he ignored them, the more Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining were convinced of his supposed wealth. Why else would he behave so arrogantly?
They shadowed Zhang Yi closely, with Fang Yuqing edging even closer, sometimes deliberately touching him.
When Zhang Yi glanced her way, she'd turn her head away shyly, her cheeks flushed as if she were coquettishly bashful.
Zhang Yi internally sneered at the act.
"Green tea actress, you're really good at this. You could win an Oscar for that performance," he thought sarcastically.
Zhang Yi entered the supermarket and started filling a shopping cart.
Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining also hurriedly grabbed a cart and followed.
"Zhang Yi, were you dining with someone?" Fang Yuqing asked, smiling.
"I can't eat alone?" he coolly responded as he approached the food aisles.
Fang Yuqing quickly jumped in, "Oh no, I just meant that everything's so expensive there. I thought you were treating someone!"
Lin Caining couldn't help but chime in, "Zhang Yi, don't you earn just over ten thousand a month? That meal must've cost you half a year's salary."
"It seems like you must have a considerable sum tucked away by your family," she mused.
Fang Yuqing gave Lin Caining a fierce glare.
Idiot, that's not the kind of thing you just ask!
For a top-tier green tea persona, the golden rule was: talk love to the wealthy, and money to the poor.
Lin Caining realized her faux pas and quickly tried to amend it, "Haha, just joking. We're all good friends here; money doesn't really matter."
Zhang Yi, however, paid them no mind.
In the food section, looking over the wide array of goods, it felt like a treasure trove to him.
In his previous life, he had known the gnawing hunger that made a single pack of instant noodles last two days.
And so, he had an insatiable desire for food.
He indiscriminately tossed items from the shelves into his cart—sausages, instant noodles, self-heating hotpots, and various condiments; he purchased them in bulk.
This behavior left Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining dumbfounded.
"Zhang Yi, why are you buying so much food? Are you going camping or something?" one of them asked.
"Yes."
Zhang Yi responded blandly to their inquiry.
Lin Caining whispered doubts to Fang Yuqing, "Would a fu'erdai even eat this kind of stuff when camping?"
Fang Yuqing too was puzzled but, recalling the Michelin star meal, didn't want to let go of the notion that Zhang Yi was wealthy.
She approached him, "Do you need any help?"
With free labor at hand, Zhang Yi saw no reason not to take advantage.
Also, watching Fang Yuqing's feigned naïve smile sparked a thought of retort within him.
He wanted Fang Yuqing to know he was stockpiling a vast amount of supplies.
When doomsday hit and she came begging for mercy, he would relish turning her down harshly.
His lips curled up slightly, "Then you can help push the cart."
Fang Yuqing quickly agreed, and Zhang Yi directed Lin Caining to fetch another cart.
Although both were skeptical, they followed his instructions.
Zhang Yi stocked up on non-perishables like instant noodles, tinned meat, and cured meats.
He dedicated another cart solely to fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and live fish, eager to test how his unique storage space would handle fresh products.
The three laden carts, one filled with meats and cans, were left in the care of the two women, weighing perhaps more than 500 pounds and leaving them sweating profusely.
Fang Yuqing complained, pouting, "Zhang Yi, who's going to eat all this? Are you organizing some event without telling me?"
Zhang Yi chuckled disdainfully,
"Ah, never mind, it's alright if you don't want to say it. Why make such a joke?"
"But you know, I helped you out a lot today, so you should treat me to a meal later!"
Fang Yuqing's eyes were filled with hints.
She was looking forward to Zhang Yi taking her to a Michelin three-star restaurant for dinner.
Zhang Yi slightly curved the corners of his mouth and replied, "Sure, that sounds good. But I'm pretty busy recently, no time. Maybe next month!"
Fang Yuqing said with joy, "Alright, that's a promise then!"
Lin Caining hurried over and chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, let's go together, hee hee!"
She was obviously thrilled at the prospect of a lavish meal for just helping push a cart.
Fang Yuqing gave Lin Caining a disapproving look, but Lin Caining pretended not to notice.
Zhang Yi went to pay for his purchases, which amounted to over ten thousand yuan worth of supplies.
He paid the bill without batting an eyelid.
In the apocalypse, the value of these supplies could be multiplied by tens of thousands!
Since Zhang Yi bought a significant amount, the supermarket was more than happy to lend him the carts to use.
Zhang Yi unapologetically ordered the two women to help him push the goods home.
Although he had a car and could have easily driven the goods back, with free labor at hand, he saw no point in not making use of it.
Despite the women complaining of fatigue, the promise of a sumptuous meal later restored their enthusiasm.
Thus, the trio pushed three heavily laden carts, drawing curious looks from passersby as they made their way back to the residential area.