Zhang Miaomiao looked at Su Ling. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke, "May I hug you?"
Su Ling didn't want to. She wasn't comfortable with physical contact.
But seeing Zhang Miaomiao's expression, she agreed with a "Mm."
With Su Ling's permission, Zhang Miaomiao stepped forward and hugged her with one arm. "I was rather rude to you before. Thank you for not holding it against me. Thank you for taking me in and looking after me during this time. Even if we don't see each other again, I will often think of you. You should… think of me occasionally too."
After speaking, Zhang Miaomiao released Su Ling and stepped back to stand beside Li Yunlong.
Xu Lin had already left separately with Gu Shangse. Li Yunlong was saying his goodbyes to Jiang Jiang, Fatty, and Skinny.
Gu Shangse took the cigarette Xu Lin offered, lit it, and held it in his mouth.
Xu Lin exhaled a thin plume of smoke slowly, looking at Gu Shangse. "There's really nothing much to say. I just hope you can take good care of her."
He had no chance or hope left, so he could only hope Gu Shangse wouldn't let down his withdrawal.
Gu Shangse looked at Xu Lin. "Is your withdrawal because of me?"
Gu Shangse was straightforward and asked what was on his mind.
Xu Lin seemed surprised by Gu Shangse's directness. His smoking paused for a moment, then he shook his head. "No."
He had simply realized that in this team, he was destined to be superfluous.
Just as he had seen, he had lost. He had lost to Su Ling.
Since he had lost, he might as well withdraw completely. There was no need to linger.
Gu Shangse didn't ask further. He took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Don't worry, I will protect her."
The moment he chose to go to her residence to find her, it was already determined that she was someone he would protect with his life.
Xu Lin said nothing, only looking at Gu Shangse.
In that instant, he seemed to understand where he had lost and where he had fallen short.
Although Gu Shangse, like him and Fatty and Skinny, had told Su Ling that he would collect crystal cores for her and fight alongside her.
But when it came to actually doing it, only Gu Shangse had acted upon his words.
Take the crystal cores, for example. He, Fatty, and Skinny had collected and used them along the way.
But Gu Shangse had not. He had given all the crystal cores he collected to Su Ling, not using a single one.
In terms of action, wherever she went, he followed. He had never let her act alone.
He would bet that if Gu Shangse had been on night watch last night, he would have left with Su Ling instead of watching her leave alone.
Perhaps, this was the difference. This was the real reason he had lost.
They all approached Su Ling with certain intentions, wanting to join her team.
Only Gu Shangse had approached her without knowing how formidable Su Ling was.
Only Gu Shangse had come to Su Ling's side without any ulterior motives.
If there was any purpose or self-interest to speak of, it was probably Gu Shangse's liking for Su Ling.
That affection was his self-interest and his purpose.
After finishing his cigarette, Xu Lin patted Gu Shangse's shoulder. He said nothing. As his hand slid down his shoulder, he had already walked away.
Gu Shangse flicked the cigarette butt to the ground, stepped on it to extinguish it, and turned to walk towards Su Ling and the others.
As their routes diverged, the two groups bid farewell at the entrance of the department store and proceeded along their respective paths.
On the upper floors of the department store, survivors who had moved from the lower floors of the supermarket were peeking out from the windows, watching Su Ling and her group leave.
They were tempted too, but they dared not.
They decided to wait. To wait for the authorities to come and rescue them.
And before the authorities arrived, they could only wait.