Chapter Fifty-Three Jiang Huan: I Don’t Mind What You Did Just Now

One message after another appeared in the group chat, and just like that, Jiang Huan became the target of everyone’s ire.

She mulled it over for a long time—one against dozens. She was no special agent reborn with superhuman skills; taking on the whole group was simply impossible.

Yet to be sacrificed just to buy those fools a fleeting moment of safety? She would never agree to that, either.

Jiang Huan paced the room twice, running through every item she had in her personal storage. At last, she found something useful.

With a cold laugh, she brazenly announced in the group chat, “If you weren’t part of the mob trying to guilt-trip me, lock your doors and windows and give me half an hour. As for the rest of you idiots, do as you like.”

The word “idiots” set off another round of curses. If they could, they would have reached through the screen to drag her out for a beating.

And they called her rude.

When her life was on the line and none of them cared, why should Jiang Huan bother with politeness?

She then materialized a drone from her storage, carried it up to the rooftop, took a moment to familiarize herself with the controls, and fastened a small bottle to it before flying it out over the building.

The buzzing drone was stark against the snowy landscape. Even more striking was Jiang Huan’s voice, which seemed to ring out right beside the listeners’ ears.

“Leave Star City Community immediately, or I will take action.”

A high-powered loudspeaker broadcast her warning, word for word, to the group below.

“She’s bluffing! What’s she going to do with a drone? That thing can’t even fly a few miles. Rescue teams wouldn’t find us here anyway, idiot,” someone sneered, raising a gun and firing at the drone.

Bang.

The drone stalled, dropped like a stone, and exploded on impact, splattering liquid everywhere. Some landed on a man’s pant leg and soaked through; he immediately felt a burning pain. “Hiss—that stuff’s acid! Are you crazy, firing like that? If I’d been any closer, I’d be blind now. Would you take responsibility?”

The moment they heard “acid,” the group jumped back from the drone.

The shooter was stunned as well. “I didn’t know she had that stuff! How was I supposed to know?”

Brother Dao—their leader—turned and slapped Liu Xiuguo. “This is the woman you said just had a bit of strength and luck?”

Clutching his face, Liu Xiuguo stammered, “She can’t have anything else—it was just a drone! Knock it down and it’s over, Brother Dao. Trust me.”

“Idiot.” No one shows all their cards when their life’s at stake.

Who knew what else that woman had up her sleeve?

As Brother Dao debated whether to storm in or retreat, Jiang Huan brought out another drone. “You have twenty minutes. Take Liu Xiuguo and your people and leave Star City Community, or next time, it’ll be a grenade.”

A grenade!

Now Brother Dao didn’t even need to issue the order. His men quickly crowded around. “Boss, let’s go. We can’t take this place. We’ll get them next time, but we can’t go up against grenades.”

Some wanted to take the risk. “A grenade only explodes if you pull the pin. Unless she gets close, a drone can’t do much to us.”

“You think these are antique weapons like in those old war movies?” Others argued back, and the debate went on and on.

Brother Dao raised his hand. “Enough. Quiet.”

He glanced up at Jiang Huan’s balcony. “We’re too exposed here. It’s risky. Jiang Huan doesn’t strike me as the sort to sacrifice herself for others, so we underestimated her. Do as she says.”

But—

He said to Liu Xiuguo, “Better leave someone behind to keep us posted. Otherwise, there’s no point taking you with us.”

Liu Xiuguo saw the murderous intent in Brother Dao’s eyes—if he lost his value, he could be dead the moment they left the community.

“I… I have people inside. This Jiang Huan must be eliminated, or she’s a huge threat. Don’t worry, Brother Dao—I’ll handle it.”

Brother Dao took his radio and sent a message: [We were misled and disturbed you. We’re leaving now. Until we meet again, Miss Jiang.]

Seeing he still dared to taunt her as he left, Jiang Huan hurled two more bottles from above.

They shattered with loud cracks—both filled with acid.

“Go!” Brother Dao didn’t waste time posturing; he quickly gathered his men. One by one, they piled onto the yellow school bus.

Brother Dao drove off with Liu Xiuguo in the cars they had brought, taking several strong young men with him.

Once he was sure Liu Xiuguo had left a mole behind, Brother Dao glanced at the rooftop one last time, then got in and left.

The turn of events was so abrupt, it was almost unbelievable.

It was like a farce.

No one had expected Jiang Huan to have a drone—or a grenade.

Right away, someone messaged: [Thank goodness Miss Jiang had a trump card. Let’s see who dares mess with our community now.]

[Can I open my door now? I dragged my sofa in front of it after Miss Jiang’s warning—no way was I letting anyone break through my home defense.]

There were some who had worried for Jiang Huan and sided with her—not many, but about a fifth showed real concern, two-fifths remained neutral, and the rest either disliked her or were so frightened they’d betray her in a heartbeat.

Jiang Huan noticed the woman who had been most aggressive was quick to change her tune and thank her. Her husband had returned safely, and all her previous actions were “unavoidable,” or so she claimed.

[Miss Jiang is generous and surely won’t hold a grudge, right? It all turned out fine.]

A chill wind swept past, making Jiang Huan shiver. She made her way downstairs, tapping the screen as she went. [It’s fine. Everyone makes their own choices.]

As the woman sighed in relief, Jiang Huan suddenly did something unexpected—she took the initiative to ask: [Those who neither attacked me nor spoke against me just now—and even stood up for me—if you don’t mind, come live in my building. There’s a welfare guarantee.]

What did that mean?

[Welfare guarantee? What is that, may I ask?]

Standing at her front door, Jiang Huan considered for a moment before replying: [Handle hallway cleaning, one meal a day, join the team to search for supplies. After paying the maintenance fee, you get an 8:2 split in your favor. I’ll provide two more meals daily, and if you promise loyalty and unity, you get three meals a day. Special skills get extra benefits.]

[Ahh! I cursed out Liu Xiuguo earlier—sis, take me in!]

[I didn’t side with them either. I’ll be loyal—never a backstabber.]

[What kind of welfare is this? She’s basically subsidizing us. Miss Jiang has plenty of survival supplies and luck—if we go out with her, we’ll never come back empty handed. I’m packing right now. Miss Jiang, I have proof—I tried to talk them out of trusting those bandits!]

Jiang Huan had no need to verify every claim. “Mr. Li and Xiaoyi are the developers—this is your area of expertise, so I’ll leave the vetting to you. Anyone you vouch for can get the key to an apartment below the fifteenth floor from Captain Wu. If anyone needs help moving, help each other. I have plenty of basic supplies—move in at your own pace.”

Jiang Huan then tagged Lin Lili and her husband, as well as Xiao Wu—people who had advocated handing her over earlier. [By the way, ninety-nine percent of this building is mine. If you’re still nervous about me tossing something through your window one day, it’s your call whether to move.]

Behind the screen, Boss Qiu patted his chest in relief.

(End of this chapter)