Global Flood: I Survive on Duckweed

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Brazen and Shameless, Lured off the Small Boat

As a fellow woman, Lu Jiamei got goosebumps just hearing the voice of Ren Yuanyang’s ex-girlfriend.

"Chief, are all men into that kind of voice?" Lu Jiamei asked in a low voice.

Ren Yuanyang paused for a moment, then rolled his eyes, leaving her to figure it out for herself.

"There’s someone here, alright. An old acquaintance, in fact!" Ren Yuanyang shouted back, his voice laced with bitterness.

Hearing Ren Yuanyang’s voice, his ex-girlfriend’s family froze.

’He’s not dead?’

’Someone must have saved him. There has to be someone else in that container with him!’

’This could be trouble!’

’What’s the big deal? If we could throw him off the ship once, we can do it again!’

The three of them conferred in low voices before rowing their boat a little closer.

By now, Ren Yuanyang had moved most of the Round Duckweed to the front of the container’s opening.

The small boat steered by his ex-girlfriend’s family bumped into the patch of Round Duckweed. Thanks to the entangling pull of the bitter grass, the Round Duckweed didn’t part to let the boat pass. Instead, it formed a solid barrier, holding the small boat at bay and preventing it from getting any closer.

The ex-girlfriend’s father jabbed at the Round Duckweed with a paddle, only to find he couldn’t push it under the water.

"This Duckweed has really evolved! I bet a person could walk on it, no problem!"

"No kidding. A person doesn’t weigh anything. This stuff can hold up a shipping container, so of course it can hold a person!"

"Mom, Dad, what do we do now?"

"Since we know him, let’s talk!" The ex-girlfriend’s mother forced a smile and called out, "So it is you, Yuanyang! It’s only been a few days, and you’re already living in a shipping container. I always knew you were a promising young man, otherwise I would never have let my daughter date you. The other day, her father was just being impulsive. You’re alright now, so I’ll have him apologize. We can just let bygones be bygones. He is her father, after all. Surely you can find it in your heart to forgive him?"

Ren Yuanyang and his ex-girlfriend had been on the verge of getting married. He’d even started brazenly calling her parents "Mom" and "Dad," acting as if they were already his in-laws.

Hearing this, the would-be father-in-law looked resentful. He was about to say something but was silenced with a single glare from his wife.

He could only scowl and tighten his grip on the paddle.

’Just wait until you come out. I’ll make sure to get you again!’ the would-be father-in-law thought.

Hearing the woman’s words, Ren Yuanyang snorted, then got up and walked to the container’s opening. Lu Jiamei hurried after him, holding a small, round table over his head with one hand to shield him from the rain while her other hand clutched the pistol hidden in her jacket.

"I really didn’t think you could be so shameless!" Ren Yuanyang said, his voice cold. "You tried to kill me, and you think a simple ’sorry’ will make everything okay? If apologies worked like that, I’d be sure to offer you one myself!"

The would-be mother-in-law’s face stiffened before she squeezed out another smile. "Yuanyang, dear, we know what we did was wrong, but we were desperate. After you fell in the water, our Juju has done nothing but cry. She’s been worried sick about you!"

"That’s right! Not a moment has passed these last few days that I haven’t been thinking of you!" his ex-girlfriend immediately chimed in, her voice turning sorrowful and weak.

In the past, this was all it took for Ren Yuanyang’s heart to soften. No matter what she had done, he would forgive her.

"Is that so? Then hurry up and come over," Ren Yuanyang replied, his eyes narrowing.

Lu Jiamei knew he was deliberately trying to lure them off their boat. She could feel the monstrous hatred radiating from him.

She immediately got ready to fight. Given her physical condition, she figured she could handle the two women.

’The gun in her jacket was their last resort.’

Ren Yuanyang’s words stunned his ex-girlfriend’s family.

"He forgave us? Just like that?" The would-be father-in-law found it hard to believe.

"It has to be a trap," the would-be mother-in-law declared.

Only the ex-girlfriend was feeling confident. "Not necessarily. He can’t resist my charms!"

Her mother shot her a look. "They say bimbos have big chests and no brains. Your chest isn’t even big, so why are you so clueless?"

There’s nothing more cutting than an insult from your own mother.

"Mom, how can you say that? I’ve had Yuanyang wrapped around my finger for ages. I know him way better than you do!" the ex-girlfriend retorted, unconvinced.

Her mother glared at her again, not bothering to argue further. Instead, she called out to Ren Yuanyang again. "Yuanyang, dear, this container can’t be all yours. We think it’s best if we meet the owner first!"

’She’s a cautious one,’ Ren Yuanyang thought. Then, pointing to Lu Jiamei behind him, he called back, "This lady right here is the owner of the container."

His ex-girlfriend’s family squinted to get a better look. There was a woman standing next to Ren Yuanyang!

"That woman is definitely not the owner," the would-be mother-in-law said in a hushed voice.

"You think there are other people inside?" the ex-girlfriend asked, frowning.

"I don’t know about that, but have you ever seen a master hold an umbrella for their servant?" her mother retorted irritably.

It finally dawned on the ex-girlfriend. "You’re right. Ren Yuanyang is obviously lying to us! So what should we do? Should we just leave?"

The would-be father-in-law snorted, a vicious glint in his eyes. "I don’t care who’s in there. We have to try. I’m sick of drifting around on this little boat!"

"That’s right. Our food is almost gone," the would-be mother-in-law agreed. "It’s too hard to find supplies on this endless ocean!"

Seeing that her parents had reached an agreement, the ex-girlfriend had no choice but to nod.

"We’ll go over together in a minute. Your father can’t control both of them by himself; we have to help," the would-be mother-in-law instructed in a low voice. "Watch me for my cue!"

The other two nodded.

The would-be mother-in-law called out again, "And what should we call this lovely lady?"

Lu Jiamei ignored her question and got straight to the point. "If you want to come aboard this container, you’ll need to show some sincerity."

"I can give you all the supplies on our boat!" the would-be mother-in-law offered without a moment’s hesitation. "How about you come over here first and take a look at what we have?"

Hearing this, the would-be father-in-law’s eyes lit up. ’If she dares come over, she’s not going back alive!’

Lu Jiamei sneered. "How about you bring the supplies to us."

The would-be mother-in-law put on a show of reluctance, hesitating for a long moment before finally agreeing. "...Alright."

They went back under the boat’s canopy and brought out a few bundles.

"Where should we put them?" the would-be mother-in-law asked.

"Put them on the Duckweed in the middle. No funny business," Lu Jiamei replied, relaying Ren Yuanyang’s instructions.

The small boat was now less than four meters from the container. If they walked to the midpoint on the plants, they would be less than two meters away—close enough to launch a surprise attack.

The would-be mother-in-law gave the other two a look, and they understood immediately.

Each carrying a bundle, the three of them climbed off the boat. They tentatively stepped onto the Round Duckweed and, finding that it really could support their weight, began to walk forward cautiously.

Seeing them step off the boat, Ren Yuanyang smiled.

If they had stayed on their boat, it would have been difficult to deal with them without using the pistol.

The creeping stems of the bitter grass had a powerful grip underwater, but that power was greatly diminished once they were out of the water.

Furthermore, part of the boat was above the surface, and its hull was smooth, making it difficult for the stems to wrap around and hold the entire vessel.

But now that they had left the boat and were standing on the Round Duckweed, their lives were firmly in Ren Yuanyang’s grasp.