A few people immediately pushed back on Xiao Li.

"Of course you would say that. You were neighbors."

"Maybe you got something from her before?"

"People like you always speak for the rich ones."

Xiao Li replied again.

"I am speaking because I know what I saw. Before all this, Bai Li bought supplies in the name of business because she had a lot of household and company matters to handle. That does not mean any of it is for you to demand now."

The moment Bai Li saw that, her expression eased just a little. Not because she was moved beyond words. It was because at least one person in that building still had a brain. Not many. But one was enough to make the whole mess look even more pathetic.

Then the opportunists started to surface in full. These were the people who never wanted to look greedy, so they wrapped their greed in round words.

"I am not saying Bai Li must hand everything over, but maybe she should at least take out some extra water. It would help the building as a whole."

"If we do not work together now, later things may become ugly."

"Maybe we should make a list of households with more supplies and discuss this more fairly."

"Fairly," Bai Li repeated in her mind, and the word almost amused her. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

One man who had always acted clean and polite in the hall even typed, "I think everyone should look at the bigger picture. There is no need to be so selfish. We are all residents. If Bai Li has more, she should at least contribute a part. If she refuses, then it makes people wonder."

Wonder what? Bai Li thought. Whether they would die faster than the zombies could reach them? Whether their mouths were this loud because their brains had already turned to paste? She continued reading with calm eyes.

A woman who liked to stay neutral in every dispute but always knew how to benefit from confusion typed next.

"Maybe there is no need for strong words. We do not know how long rescue will take. If Bai Li is really a good person, perhaps she can lend some supplies first and then discuss it later."

Borrow. Lend. Discuss later. Bai Li’s face remained still, but she almost smiled. These people always used soft words when they wanted to take something they had not earned.

Then came the most ridiculous part. Someone suggested making a group to go upstairs in person.

"I think we should send a few people to Bai Li’s floor and explain the situation face to face. If we all speak together, she may understand. We cannot just sit here and wait. This is for everyone’s survival."

Another person added, "Yes. We should go together. If she sees so many people, she will know this is not a private matter. It is about justice."

Justice.

Bai Li looked at the word for a long moment. Then she let out a soft breath through her nose. If people like this wanted to call their greed justice, then the world really was in trouble.

The chat kept moving.

"Bai Li bought all those supplies before the apocalypse. That was obvious. She was preparing for something."

"Maybe she knew something and did not tell the rest of us."

"That is suspicious already."

"Exactly. If she had the brains to stock so much, then she should also have the brains to know she has to share."

Bai Li’s eyes cooled by a degree. Now they were not just greedy. Now they were also trying to frame her as suspicious, as if the fact that she had prepared well was itself a crime. That was a common human habit. If one person was better prepared than the rest, the weak always tried to turn that into a debt.

She kept reading, and the nonsense only became more obvious.

"Everyone, do not make trouble in the chat. We should be civilized."

Then, right after that, the same person said, "But Bai Li really should understand the situation. If she has extra, she should give it out. Otherwise she is being too cold."

Civilized. Bai Li almost laughed again. The whole building was already chewing on the idea of tearing down one person’s door in the name of unity, and they still wanted to call themselves civilized.

Another name jumped out then, someone who had always liked to flatter the building manager. He typed:

"I support the manager’s idea. In special times, we need special handling. I think we should go to Bai Li’s floor and discuss this with her. If she refuses, then everyone will know."

Then another resident replied, "Yes, go together. Don’t let her bully us because she has more."

Bullies, Bai Li thought, sitting alone in her apartment with a half empty plate and a phone in hand, while a dozen people outside were arguing over how to steal from her in the name of morality. She looked at the screen and felt only a kind of distant amusement. These people were already short on food, short on courage, and apparently short on brains as well. If they really wanted to come to her floor and demand supplies, they were welcome to shorten their lives a little faster. She would not even need to waste many bullets.

The group chat went on with more voices joining the farce.

"Bai Li, if you are reading this, please respond."

"If you can survive, the rest of us can survive too."

"Do not make this ugly."

"What is ugly is hiding food while other people starve."

"If she truly has enough, she should at least bring some out."

"Maybe she has a lot because she buys for business."

"Business or not, she cannot just keep it all."

There it was again. The same logic, dressed in different clothes. Bai Li had bought supplies before the apocalypse began, not because she was some kind of saint, but because she had money, plans, and the habit of preparing ahead.

.

.

.

To be continued.