"Mmm..." Cao Mei let out a soft, satisfied moan as she set the wine bottle down. She wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth, her eyes now gzed with a hint of intoxication. She stared directly at Bai Ru, her voice heavy with emotion. "Actually, I’ve been quite lucky. Have you ever experienced a situation where you couldn’t even die?"

  "Like Ah Xue," Cao Mei sighed deeply, her tone filled with resignation. "She didn’t even know who took her virginity. Back then, she was pinned down by over a dozen filthy old men who hadn’t bathed in ages. They forced her onto the muddy ground, and Old Hu was among them. Ah Xue was still a virgin, and they took turns vioting her. She screamed in agony—didn’t she want to die? But could she? Her mouth was gagged with one of their... things. If she struggled too much, they’d sp her hard across the face..."

  "...She passed out several times during the ordeal. I still remember it vividly. It was like she was nailed to the ground, unable to move. Her legs were bent at such an angle they almost snapped in half. Even when she fainted, those men didn’t stop. They were like wild beasts, excited and relentless. Ah Xue couldn’t even scream anymore; all she could do was spit blood."

  Cao Mei tilted her head slightly, her expression bnk as she looked at Bai Ru. "They kept abusing her for over half a month. At first, she fought desperately, but eventually, she became completely numb. And when those men grew tired of her, they stopped giving her food. If it weren’t for her cssmates, who sold their bodies to bring her scraps, she would’ve starved to death. But in the end, Ah Xue had no choice but to sell herself too. Without it, she couldn’t survive. Bai Ru, let me ask you—if you were in Ah Xue’s pce, what would you do? Used and discarded in a corner, stripped of your chastity and pride, starving to the point of madness—could you still cling to your dignity?"

  "I..." Bai Ru’s face turned pale as she looked at Cao Mei. She hesitated for a long time, but in the end, she couldn’t answer. She truly didn’t know. As Cao Mei had said, without experiencing it firsthand, it was impossible to understand.

  "We’re all normal women. We’re not whores. No one willingly degrades themselves. It’s this damned apocalypse that’s forced us into becoming what we are."

  Cao Mei gripped the wine bottle tightly, her voice low and filled with anger. But after venting for a moment, she shook her head helplessly. Seeing the confusion in Bai Ru’s eyes, she smiled faintly. "Alright, Bai Ru, go back and get some rest. Remember what I’ve said—this isn’t the world we used to know. You need to look at things from a different perspective."

  Bai Ru studied Cao Mei’s flower-like face for a moment, then nodded slightly. She stood up silently and walked toward the vehicle. Lin Tao, who had remained quiet the entire time, also prepared to head back to sleep, but Cao Mei suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist, looking up at him with a pleading gaze. "Lin Ye, you can spend the night with Bai Ru, but can’t you spare even an hour for me? Even if you don’t care for me, can’t we at least be friends and talk for a while?"

  Lin Tao gnced at her but said nothing. Instead, he rexed his posture. Cao Mei smiled happily and quickly pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. She lit one and pced it between her soft, pink lips, taking a light puff before offering it to Lin Tao. He accepted it without protest, taking a few drags before looking at her and asking, "You don’t smoke?"

  Cao Mei shook her head, still holding onto his arm. "I know you probably wouldn’t like getting this close to a woman who’s just finished smoking."

  Lin Tao didn’t respond, his gaze shifting back to the dark night sky. "You said all that to Bai Ru, but really, you were trying to tell me, weren’t you?"

  "Not entirely," Cao Mei leaned her head on Lin Tao’s shoulder, her voice soft. "I know that telling you these things won’t move you much. You’ve seen far worse on your journey. Our struggles are nothing in comparison. But even if it’s futile, I still wanted to say it, hoping you might understand me. Like you’ve told me before, being selfish in this world isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m just trying to survive. I want you to try to see past my selfish exterior—to understand that Cao Mei isn’t heartless. As for Bai Ru, I just don’t want her to judge us with prejudice. Before the apocalypse, my pride was no less than hers."

  "I understand why you told Bai Ru, but saying all this to me feels unnecessary. As friends, mutual respect is enough. Understanding each other deeply is something for couples. Do you think there’s a chance for us to... fall in love?" Lin Tao turned his head slightly, looking at her with a serious expression.

  "Ha... I’ve never dared to hope for that. Not even in my wildest dreams," Cao Mei ughed bitterly, lowering her head. Her voice grew quiet. "No matter how much I try to justify my actions, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m no longer pure. If I were still untouched, even if only by one man, I’d boldly tell you that I want you to love me. But... I’ve bowed my head to several men. It was humiliating, but I complied. I don’t want a righteous man like you to fall for a woman who’s already tainted..."

  "...Whether you believe it or not, these past few days by your side have been the most peaceful of my life. The nightmares that haunted me for years have stopped. Knowing you’re nearby, I’ve been able to sleep soundly. Don’t think I’m being insincere—I really do like you. It’s not love yet, but I don’t think it’ll take long to get there. I’m not asking for your affection. I just want to stay by your side, to have you shield me from this cruel world. Even if it’s just as a casual lover, someone you can call or dismiss without a second thought, I’d be content."

  "You know I can’t do that. You’re a person, not an object. If we’re together, I can’t ignore your feelings. So being lovers... it’s impossible," Lin Tao frowned, his voice firm.

  "Being cared for is nice too. I’d serve you even more devotedly. But care doesn’t equal love. Without love, being lovers can still be wonderful. And..."

  At this, Cao Mei smiled softly, her body suddenly seeming to transform into that of a graceful serpent. She gently hooked her left arm around Lin Tao’s neck, sliding into his embrace. Her face pressed close to his, her warm breath carrying the faint scent of wine as she whispered, "Men need release, just like yesterday when you didn’t refuse me. Even though I’m no longer pure, you can’t deny that my body is still beautiful. Don’t you think it’s time to rex after a tense day? Just as casual lovers do—pure physical pleasure, separate from love."

  As she spoke, Cao Mei’s smile turned sultry, her natural allure radiating effortlessly. Lin Tao felt a momentary daze. He had never imagined a woman could be so captivating, so dangerously enchanting.

  Her arm still around his neck, Cao Mei’s lips curved into a seductive arc. The open colr of her shirt revealed her chest, and Lin Tao could see clearly that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Yet her breasts were fwless, like works of art—firm, full, and glistening with faint traces of red wine. It was impossible not to want to lick away the lingering droplets.

  Cao Mei’s eyes, already mesmerizing, now shimmered with a misty allure. She tilted her head, slowly closing the distance between them. As her fiery red lips met Lin Tao’s, her free hand guided his rough palm to cup the softness of her chest.

  "Mmm..."

  A low, intoxicating moan escaped her as her agile tongue slipped into Lin Tao’s mouth, eagerly seeking his. Her body seemed to melt against his, and as his hand began to knead her breast, a look of triumph flickered in her eyes.

  It had to be admitted—Cao Mei was an extraordinary woman. Not only was she mature and beautiful, but she was also fiercely sensual. Most importantly, she understood men deeply, knowing exactly what they wanted and how to please them. The word "stunning" wasn’t enough to describe her. If anything, she was a true *femme fatale*.