“Tangtang, did you score something good? You look so happy.” Lin Daiyu, who had been resting in the shade early to avoid the heat, spotted Shen Tangtang skipping over.
Sure enough, the scavengers resting in small groups nearby overheard her and immediately cast glances toward Tangtang.
Some were spying, some were greedy, and others were plain jealous.
Great. That was the one downside to this “white moonlight” character—she had no filter. Even though she meant it out of concern, anything coming out of her mouth somehow always sounded off.
“My dear sister, look at my sack—it’s completely empty, nothing in there. My luck wasn’t great this morning, so I’ll have to hunt around some more this afternoon.”
As she spoke, Shen Tangtang gave her sack a lift. Aside from half a bottle of water, there was zero food inside. Feeling the surrounding gazes dwindle away, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“What’ll you do then? I lucked out today and found a leaf, let’s share it in a bit.”
Hearing this, Lin Daiyu grew worried. Scavengers from their orphanage concentration camp didn’t pack lunch; everyone had to forage for their own midday meals. When they headed back in the evening, whatever food they collected had to be weighed before the camp distributed corresponding credits.
“It’s fine, I’m not hungry right now. I’ll search around again in the afternoon.”
Could Shen Tangtang really tell her she was already full? She had run too fast earlier, her stomach had been growling, and she felt like she wouldn’t have the energy to run all the way back to the resting spot just to eat, so she had eaten half-way back.
She had to thank her lucky stars that those mutant ants hadn’t chased after her; otherwise, she’d have been their lunch.
Shen Tangtang wiped her mouth—leaving zero trace behind.
Lin Daiyu assumed Tangtang was starving and wiping away drool. Feeling a pang of pity, she broke off a small section of the leaf and handed it over.
Looking at the food offered right to her mouth, Shen Tangtang debated whether or not to eat it.
Suddenly, she felt a cold gaze pierce through her. She raised her eyes to look at the young man sitting next to Lin Daiyu.
When Bai Yanjun saw Shen Tangtang looking at him, he flashed a harmless, innocent smile.
Bah, scumbag dog. Don’t think just because you hid it fast I didn’t see you glaring at me.
Seeing Lin Daiyu’s worried expression, Shen Tangtang sighed and reached out to take the leaf. Besides, she used to share her food with Lin Daiyu all the time back then; consider this collecting a bit of interest!
She said softly, “I’ll pay you back later.”
“No need. Whenever I couldn’t find anything, you were always sharing your food with me. If you still treat me like your bestie, stop talking nonsense.”
Lin Daiyu blinked at Shen Tangtang, her gentle expression impossible to refuse.
“Alright.” Shen Tangtang nodded. Following the two of them into the deep shade, she took off her straw hat and, using it as cover, swept the leaf toward her wristband.
[Scan result: Radiation level 50%, safe for minimal consumption.]
I knew it. Always right on the line.
Still, this counted as edible food in the wasteland world. Scanning it a second time wasn’t about distrust—in the wasteland, you had to be cautious with anything going into your mouth.
Shen Tangtang also knew Lin Daiyu’s habits; she would never touch food with a radiation level hovering right at 50%.
Sure enough, lowering her straw hat, Shen Tangtang noticed Lin Daiyu stealthily pulling out an identical leaf from her own sack.
Whatever. Her mental fortitude was strong, and she wasn’t picky—getting food at all was a win.
Acting as if no one else was watching, Lin Daiyu earnestly discussed with Shen Tangtang how bitter and stringy the leaf was, claiming it tasted awful.
Shen Tangtang chewed on the leaf in her mouth. Where on earth had Lin Daiyu picked this? It wasn’t bitter at all; it actually had a faint hint of sweetness.
This “white moonlight” was a bit lacking in the competence department.
If she didn’t have a bit of luck on her side, she wouldn’t be scoring food every single time.
She remembered that the male lead’s luck was terrible right now; ever since they met, he had survived entirely on food found by his supporting-character white moonlight. It wasn’t until he met the true female lead two years later that his luck slowly turned around.
When she took Lin Daiyu’s leaf just now, the male lead must have thought she was stealing his food.
Right, stealing.
He had been watching Lin Daiyu for a long time; otherwise, he wouldn’t have just happened to walk by and play the hero.
Shen Tangtang had noticed his presence earlier, though she never figured out who it was. She originally wanted to warn Lin Daiyu, but then she learned the guy’s name from her.
Such inescapable fate. She had to hand it to herself—she really knew how to transmigrate, landing right in the body of a minor mob character who died the moment she reached adulthood.
The novel barely spent any time describing her insignificant mob self. Aside from a fleeting thought by the white moonlight supporting character about the wooden plaque’s origin when the female lead tried to steal it, she didn’t even get a full name.
If Lin Daiyu and Bai Yanjun’s names hadn’t left such a deep impression on her, and if she hadn’t lacked any fresh information to flush out her clear-as-daylight brain after arriving in this world, she honestly wouldn’t have remembered.
Shen Tangtang wolfed down the palm-sized leaf in a few bites. Refusing to give even a single glance to Bai Yanjun—who kept curiously peeking at her—she picked up her little straw hat, scooted her butt over, and retreated deeper into the shade.
This sun was much too vicious; getting baked by it for even a few seconds made her arms burn with pain.
“Tangtang, why don’t you stick with us this afternoon? Otherwise, if you don’t find any food to bring back, the director is going to dock your credits.”
Lin Daiyu was slowly chewing her leaf, completely unaware that her best friend had already retreated to the back and was lost in her own thoughts. Her words struck like a bolt from the blue, freezing Shen Tangtang mid-scoot.
“Let’s not! It’d be awkward to intrude on you guys!!”
“It’s fine, it’s not an intrusion. Right, Jun-ge? …Hey, what are you blabbing about? What do you mean ‘you guys’…”
Lin Daiyu snapped out of her daze and turned her head to see her best friend tucked away in the corner. Her face flushed bright red. She shot Shen Tangtang a reproachful glare, then cautiously glanced at Bai Yanjun, who was smiling as pleasantly as a spring breeze, making her blush even deeper.
Shen Tangtang felt a twinge in her teeth. Am I, this humble fairy, just part of your romance play too?
Looks like you really are starving—you can’t even see the scheming hidden beneath his hypocritical mask.
Shen Tangtang sighed. A woman’s IQ drops to zero when she falls in love; men truly only slow down a woman’s sword-swinging speed.
“I want to head out a bit further on my own to search. Everyone’s already picked this area clean, and my luck isn’t great—I definitely won’t find food here.”
Just a tiny bit not great, oh yeah. If I tag along with you, everything edible you touch will magically be found by you, and I won’t stand a chance.
Lin Daiyu looked like she wanted to argue further.
Shen Tangtang pulled her straw hat over her face, refusing any further communication.
With words hanging on her lips, Lin Daiyu looked over at Bai Yanjun and ultimately let the matter drop.
All morning, Bai Yanjun had been hearing Lin Daiyu talk about Shen Tangtang, and now he found himself growing rather interested in this cold, aloof girl.
Glancing one more time at the napping Shen Tangtang, Bai Yanjun pulled Lin Daiyu aside and whispered, “Daiyu, how come I feel like your friend doesn’t like me very much? Do you think she feels like I stole you away? Should I go explain myself?”
Looking at Bai Yanjun in utter puzzlement, Lin Daiyu blinked. “Jun-ge, why would you think that? Tangtang is a really nice person, she’s just not much of a talker.”
“No, that’s not what I mean, I just felt…”
Seeing Lin Daiyu’s pure, innocent expression, Bai Yanjun waved a hand and ultimately swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
Could he possibly tell her that her best friend looked at him like she wanted to murder him? He had never even provoked Shen Tangtang before today—hell, this was only the second time he’d ever laid eyes on her.
Shen Tangtang’s ears twitched. She rolled over and went back to sleep.