Slave Recruitment:

"Stop wasting time. Send the photo."

C Block #3301 Softheart:

"...Can I trade a gold necklace for a pack of instant noodles?"

Slave Recruitment:

"I don't want a gold necklace. Send a full-body photo immediately, or I'll block you."

Shirley Inr Won hesitated for a few minutes before sending a full-body photo.

In the photo, Shirley stood expressionless in front of the camera, her black, silky hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore a light green silk nightgown, her fair skin pale from hunger. Despite her condition, she still exuded an unparalleled beauty.

The system window popped up with the following data:

[Shirley Inr Won]

Age: 25

Quality: 9/11 (Elegant and refined)

Virtue: 11/11(Virgin)

Overall Score: 9/11

[Ding! Meets system requirements!]

James Lon smiled in satisfaction.

Slave Recruitment:

"Alright, come to my place."

C Block #3301 Softheart:

"...Can I go back home to sleep at night?"

Slave Recruitment:

"No. This is a trade—you have to live here. Are you coming or not? Don't waste my time."

Shirley fell silent again.

James wasn't in a hurry; he knew she was still hesitating.

Fine, starve then. It's not like I'm hungry.

James pushed Shirley out of his mind and went back to watching videos.

A live stream popped up on his feed.

Four men had ventured outside to search for food, and one of them was broadcasting their journey.

James immediately focused on the screen, eager to learn more about the outside world.

Through the camera, the roads outside were shown to be overgrown with dense wild grass, some taller than an adult's thighs.

The asphalt was completely destroyed.

Plant roots, as strong as steel rods, pierced through the pavement and jutted upwards like iron spikes.

James had no doubt these could puncture tires with ease.

"No vehicles can get through anymore. There won't be any large-scale military rescues. We're on our own..." said the streamer grimly.

The camera panned to a banyan tree with a trunk so wide it took four people to encircle it. The tree extended straight into the sky, disappearing into the red mist above.

From the streamer's perspective, it looked like a terrifying tower to the heavens.

As the group passed a row of shops, the camera captured the overgrowth of plants everywhere—walls, floors, and ceilings were all covered in bizarre vines.

More and more enormous plants appeared in the video, making the men seem like dwarves wandering into the land of giants.

What had once been bustling city roads were now deserted, overrun with wild grass and abandoned vehicles entangled in vines.

In just a few days, the vibrant urban landscape had transformed into a primeval forest.

Suddenly, a massive cat leaped silently from above, swiping one of the men with a paw and killing him instantly.

"Holy sh*t!"

"Help!"

"Run! Run!"

The remaining three scattered, screaming in terror.

The streamer dropped his phone in panic, and the camera caught a brief glimpse of blood splattering across the lens before the screen went black.

James Lone's face darkened.

The outside world was far too dangerous.

Shirley picked up her phone, then put it down again. She repeated this several times, unable to make up her mind.

She felt both ashamed and helpless.

"I have no other choice."

Her parents were away on a trip and unreachable. Two days ago, she'd finished the last of her food. For the past two days, she had been surviving on plain water.

If she didn't find a solution soon, she'd starve to death.

Initially, she despised [Slave Recruitment], thinking she could hold out and that she'd rather die than lower herself to such a despicable man.

But after experiencing real hunger, Shirley realized that pride meant nothing when faced with starvation.

The unbearable hunger felt like shards of glass grinding against her stomach—painful and relentless.

After another half hour of suffering, she couldn't take it anymore.

She sent another private message.

C Block #3301 Softheart:

"Can I really eat as much as I want?"

James saw the message but didn't respond, deliberately leaving her on read.

Oh, now you want to talk? You think you can come and go as you please?

Think again. Stay hungry.

Shirley waited anxiously for over ten minutes without receiving a reply.

Desperate, she tossed and turned in bed, enduring another sleepless, hungry night.

Not far from Sunshine Garden, in a rented apartment...

Jackie Wont lounged lazily on the sofa, scrolling on his phone.

"Sis, I'm starving. Can we eat now?"

"Alright," Anna Karenina said, quickly getting up. She opened the empty fridge, her anxiety growing.

The fridge was completely empty of fresh or frozen food.

Only a few packs of instant noodles, two cans of luncheon meat, and a few marinated eggs remained—the last of their supplies.

Anna Karenina Wont was deeply uneasy.

What would happen if Jackie went hungry? He was the only heir of the Won family!

After some thought, she reluctantly took out a pack of instant noodles and a marinated egg.

The noodles were quickly prepared. Anna divided them into two bowls, giving herself only a few bites while leaving most of the noodles and the egg for her younger brother.

Jackie poked at his bowl with a frown.

"Just this? I'm still hungry."

Anna replied softly, "Jackie, we have to make do. We're almost out of food."

"Out of food?!" Jackie's face turned pale. "Then what are we going to do? Sis, go buy some more!"

Buy? From where? Anna thought, terrified as she glanced out the window.

All she could see was the eerie purple mist.

Just yesterday, she had seen a rat the size of a cat scurrying outside!

In her panic, she remembered her ex-boyfriend, James Lon.

He must still have food from all those expiring items Fatty Eric forced him to buy...

And he hasn't even sent me anything. What kind of man is he? Just because I broke up with him?

Anna seethed with resentment.

"James Lone definitely has food."

Jackie immediately urged her, "Then what are you waiting for, Sis? Ask him for some! I'm starving! Tell him to bring it over!"

"Alright!"

Anna recalled James's post in the group chat about recruiting female slaves, which annoyed her even more.

So you're recruiting new girls now, huh? Men really can't behave without someone to control them!

She grabbed her phone and angrily called James.

James saw Anna's name on the caller ID and chuckled. With nothing better to do, he answered the call.

"James Lone!" Anna's cold voice came through, sounding accusatory.

James couldn't help but think of Anna Karenina.

She was beautiful, sure, but always carried that icy, holier-than-thou attitude.

Looking back, James thought, I must have been out of my mind to fall for this manipulative ice queen.

James Lone spoke coldly,

"What do you want?"

Anna Karenina, full of self-righteous indignation, replied,

"Why haven't you sent me food yet?"

James let out a mocking laugh.

Back when Anna graduated from university and wanted to pass the judicial exam to become a judge, James had worked nights and driven taxis during the day to support her for three whole years. She had finally passed this year, only to turn around and dump him, claiming that he couldn't provide the life she wanted and that they were no longer in the same "class."

"Send food? To you? Who are you? Didn't we break up?"

Anna was taken aback and panicked. She hadn't expected James to defy her. She tried to justify herself, raising her voice:

"James Lone! Break up? That was just a test! I was testing you! I can't believe you failed the test and now you're even trying to find other women!"

James scoffed.

"A test? No need to test anymore. I'm just a regular guy, and we're definitely not in the same class now."

Hearing this, Anna was furious and brought up the old argument about their relationship.

"Is that what I care about? What matters is your attitude! Think carefully about this..."

Click.

James hung up the phone.

"Dare to hang up on me?" Anna was livid.

Jackie Wont, worried, asked,

"Sis, where's the food?"

Anna forced herself to stay calm, pretending to be confident.

"Don't worry, James will call back."

James would never dare raise his voice at her.

"If I just hint at reconciling, he'll be overjoyed!" Anna reassured herself, her confidence restored.

Jackie chuckled.

"So your ex-boyfriend's a simp, huh?"

"Ex-boyfriend?" Anna sneered.

She was going to be a judge soon!

How could she possibly date a lowly convenience store clerk?

With disdain, she replied,

"I'm just asking him for some food. He's not worthy of me."

Jackie grinned.

"Alright, sis, once he gives in, make him send everything over. Don't leave him anything!"

"Uh, well... James isn't stupid. He won't give me everything. But I can probably get most of it."

"Here's an idea, sis: lie to him. Tell him you've heard that the government is organizing a massive rescue effort soon, so keeping too much food is pointless."

"...Alright!"