The chat channel went quiet for a split second before completely exploding.
Cheng Shuili’s private message notifications started popping like corn, and her system panel automatically displayed 999+ unread messages.
"What's going on?"
She frowned and clicked the most recent one.
【Tough Guy in Tears】: Boss Crow, please give me a bite to eat. I haven't had water in three days (cry.jpg). I'll trade my clothes for it!
Cheng Shuili nearly choked on her own spit.
She quickly swiped past this one, blacklisting and deleting it in the process, only to find the next one even more ridiculous:
【Pretty Boy Waiting Online】: Boss Crow, you're so amazing and cool at killing monsters! Can you give me a ride? My eight-pack abs can be your pillow.
"What kind of freaks and monsters are these..."
Cheng Shuili’s mouth twitched as she opened the chat channel and finally understood the reason. Someone had forwarded the photo of the self-heating hotpot she just posted to the public channel. Now the whole server knew "Angry Crow Takes Flight" had a massive amount of food.
Actually, she didn't even need these people to promote her.
Cheng Shuili shrugged. Was it really that hard to guess?
Messages in the public channel were flying by:
【Wise College Student】: @Angry Crow Takes Flight, look at me, boss! I'll trade two vehicle upgrade material shards for a box of self-heating rice!
【Tornado Destroying the Parking Lot】: Boss Crow! I'm your long-lost biological younger sister!
【Fake Spinach】: Does anyone have anti-inflammatories? My teammate is dying! Please!
【Building Materials King Ge】: @Angry Crow Takes Flight, I'll trade the location of a Gold Supply Crate for a box of your self-heating mini hotpot.
Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes, ignoring the messages from idiots and creeps. Her finger paused for a moment on the message about "vehicle upgrade material shards."
She had the upgrade core; all she needed now were the shards.
If she could trade for them, her vehicle's safety and speed would both see a significant boost!
Her food was enough for now. Besides, it was the early stage of the game—the time of greatest food scarcity. Only now would these people be willing to trade shards for a bite to eat.
Cheng Shuili didn't hesitate. She clicked directly on that person's chat box.
【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Too few. Not trading.
Playing hard to get.
After sending that, she closed the chat with 【Wise College Student】 and stared thoughtfully at the other messages.
She ignored the Tornado one and dismissed King Ge's as a cheap scam. Cheng Shuili sneered. If she were in his shoes and knew the location of a Gold Supply Crate, she wouldn't trade it for ten boxes of hotpot, let alone one!
What interested Cheng Shuili more was the teammate mentioned by 【Fake Spinach】.
Humans are social animals; perhaps lone wolves wouldn't survive in the later stages. But for now... Cheng Shuili grinned. This lone wolf was living quite comfortably.
She just hadn't expected these people to find teammates to group up with so quickly.
Just as she was wondering, a new message popped up in the public channel.
【Black Whirlwind Li Kui】: Song Jiang, Song Jiang! It's me, Li Kui! Your brother! Contact me quickly!
Cheng Shuili suddenly understood. These people were finding friends from the real world to huddle together. They had a foundation of trust, making cooperation easier.
She was a workaholic and an orphan. She really didn't have much of a social life. She was always alone when she went home. That was why she only realized it now.
The supervisor at that crappy company had even used that as a reason to suppress Cheng Shuili, saying things like, "You're alone at home anyway, you might as well contribute more to everyone at the company." Absolute filth!
Back then, Cheng Shuili had been honest and dutiful, working herself to the bone. All she got in return was the supervisor exploiting her time and time again!
But now, having died once, the transformed Cheng Shuili shrugged. She silently vowed that if she ever saw that supervisor again, she would definitely slap that fat face hard!
Having finished her thoughts, Cheng Shuili reopened the chat page. 【Wise College Student】 had sent several more messages.
【Wise College Student】: Boss, then how about I give you three? I only have three on me!
Cheng Shuili hadn't replied for just two minutes before he sent another.
【Wise College Student】: Boss Crow, please have mercy. I've been opening crates all morning and haven't found a single thing to eat! How about I add a baseball bat? I found that too. I really have nothing else besides this!
Two more followed immediately.
【Wise College Student】: Boss Crow, I found another one! Will four trade for a box?
【Wise College Student】: At least let me die knowing why, Boss Crow.
"Heh."
Cheng Shuili chuckled. She had only stepped away for a moment, and this guy had started haggling with himself. She read through them carefully before replying leisurely.
【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Four shards plus the baseball bat for one box of self-heating rice. Firm price.
The moment the message was sent, the other party's status changed to "typing..."
As expected, he had been waiting the whole time.
【Wise College Student】: Boss! Can't you really give a bit more? I have a teammate...
It was too late to say that now. Cheng Shuili looked at the person's ID and nodded to herself. He really lived up to the name. She didn't reply. There was no need for nonsense. The other party would understand her meaning after being ignored for a while.
Sure enough, in less than thirty seconds, the system notification rang.
【Player Wise College Student has initiated a trade request. Accept?】
Cheng Shuili opened the trade interface. The other party had already placed four metal shards glowing with blue light and a baseball bat that looked fairly sturdy.
She checked the item descriptions to make sure everything was correct before taking a box of self-heating rice from the cart's storage space and putting it up.
"Trade successful."
Following the system prompt, four vehicle upgrade material shards appeared in Cheng Shuili's inventory.
She couldn't wait to check the details:
【Vehicle Upgrade Material Shards】
【Description: Collect ten to perform one vehicle upgrade. Works better when used with an upgrade core.】
Not bad. Six more to go.
Just as she was about to close the chat page, the other party sent a friend request.
"Player 【Wise College Student】 has requested to add you as a friend."
Cheng Shuili had no need for friends and ignored the message. She narrowed her eyes and used the chopsticks from the hotpot to pick up a piece of potato. Seriously, it was delicious!
While eating, Cheng Shuili kept an eye on the trade channel. She wanted to find six more shards and upgrade her vehicle immediately.
Messages in the trade channel refreshed quickly. Players were short on many things.
【Highway Survival Emperor】: Someone trade me food. Anything edible is fine.
【Wishing to the Sea Breeze】: Trading, trading! Rolls-Royce car keys. You can drive the car away once we get out of here. Trading for food, any food! Foodies, come through!
【Akk Steel Pipe Softened Water】: vehicle upgrade material shards for food! Honest trade, bartering goods for what we need.
Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow. Found it!
She clicked directly into 【Akk Steel Pipe Softened Water】's private messages. Her message was concise.
【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: "How many?"
Rate on N.U.
