Zhang Liu didn't respond. He looked at the two girls in front of him with concern.
Anyone who could raise two younger sisters alone after their parents died of illness wasn't a fool. Anyone who could find the best path to learn and follow it successfully wasn't a fool either.
Zhang Liu, possessing both qualities, had long experienced the harsh realities of the world. So, he could easily see through the tension between the two girls in front of him.
Qin Ruoshuang's stance was clear: she was backing him in front of Anya. And she was making it direct. Who should have the final say right now?
But Zhang Liu didn't dare accept her support too quickly, nor did he dare dismiss it outright. His biggest goal was to escape this deserted island as soon as possible and take care of his two younger sisters.
Agreeing with Qin Ruoshuang would offend Anya. Denying her would offend Qin Ruoshuang.
Zhang Liu knew the influence both girls held. Offending either one would make his future far from easy. But he also knew he had to answer this question. If he didn't, he'd end up offending both of them.
He didn't hesitate for long. In less than three seconds, he gave a decisive response.
"Well, this place is pretty spacious, isn't it?" Zhang Liu said with a smile to Anya, who seemed to relax a bit. "Anya, I know you value your sleep quality, but for now, we'll have to make do with this."
"Yeah," Anya replied softly, not saying much else. She understood that Zhang Liu was giving her an out.
Qin Ruoshuang noticed the beads of sweat that had just slid down Zhang Liu's forehead. After a moment's thought, she realized her earlier frustrated words might have put him in a tough spot.
"Zhang Liu…" Qin Ruoshuang called out softly, pushing down her guilt. "What's the plan now?"
"Let's head to the wreckage and see if we can find anything useful," Zhang Liu said, glancing at Anya, who was fidgeting with the gravel on the ground nearby. "Anya, could you show me the way?"
"Okay!" For Anya, who was feeling awkward, Zhang Liu's words were a welcome direction. She nodded quickly in agreement.
Just as she turned to head down the steps nearby, Anya remembered Qin Ruoshuang's current condition. She turned back to Zhang Liu and said, "Go down first and wait for me by the coconut grove. I'll be right there."
"Huh?" Zhang Liu was momentarily confused, but seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he nodded and slowly descended from the cave.
In the roughly 20-square-meter cave, only the two girls remained.
As Anya looked at her, Qin Ruoshuang felt a flicker of nervousness. She had no idea what Anya was planning.
After a brief hesitation, Anya spoke directly. "Qin Ruoshuang, let me put on your pants first. Can you give me the skirt?"
"What?" Qin Ruoshuang was caught off guard by the request. She couldn't understand why both a guy and a girl were asking her to wear pants.
"Look, mine are red, and it's risky for you to go without underwear in this situation," Anya said, pointing at the blood on Qin Ruoshuang's thigh. "We're both girls, so I'll just say it straight."
"Okay," Qin Ruoshuang replied, glancing at the blood on her thigh. She didn't argue further. With a slight nod, she stood up and untied her skirt.
Anya pulled off her red sweatpants, revealing her toned hips and thighs.
"Are you wearing black?" Qin Ruoshuang couldn't help but comment, noticing Anya's black panties. She'd always imagined Anya as the type to wear teddy bear-patterned underwear.
"It's just a personal preference!" Anya said, her cheeks flushing. "It's no big deal."
The two girls quickly swapped clothes.
Qin Ruoshuang now wore her school uniform top paired with red sweatpants. Anya had on a sportswear top and a ruffled lily skirt.
Though the outfits were a bit odd, they were the safest option for now.
"Here, I'll give these back to you," Anya said, pulling white underwear and black stockings from the pockets of her skirt and handing them to Qin Ruoshuang. "I'm going to find Zhang Liu now."
"Mm…" Qin Ruoshuang opened her mouth to say something but stopped after taking the clothes. She wanted to ask Anya how Zhang Liu planned to survive on this deserted island.
But just as the words reached her lips, she remembered Zhang Liu was waiting for Anya, and it didn't feel right to keep her. So, she held back and watched Anya leave helplessly.
As the sound of Anya's footsteps faded, Qin Ruoshuang suddenly felt anxious. She slapped her cheeks to calm herself down.
Her period would only weaken her slightly, so she could still do some work within her ability.
For example, she could clean the cave in advance, gather coconuts for food reserves, or use foam boards as bedding.
Qin Ruoshuang carefully climbed down from the cave's edge. The first thing she needed was a useful tool to clean the ground.
Meanwhile…
"Is the wreckage really that far?"
Zhang Liu had planned to head straight to the plane wreckage, but when Anya said it would take at least a day's journey, he hesitated.
Without supplies or accurate navigation, leaving for that long could lead to unpredictable problems.
"Yes," Anya replied with a serious nod.
"When did you lose the mineral water bottle?" Zhang Liu decided to settle for the next best thing. Finding a plastic water bottle would still be a win.
"I lost one before going to bed last night and another this morning," Anya said. "If we walk over, it shouldn't be far."
"Do you remember where you dropped them?" Zhang Liu's heart lifted at her response.
"Maybe this way?" Anya lowered her head to study the footprints in the coconut grove, then took the lead.
As Zhang Liu scanned their surroundings, he thought about what supplies they could bring back.
Soon, his eyes locked onto a particularly straight fallen log by the path.
This piece of wood hit all the right spots for a guy's aesthetic. It was about half a person's height, with a spherical knot at the top and a cluster of broken branches above it.
It was practically a dream come true! Even in such a dangerous situation, Zhang Liu couldn't help but feel excited about the stick.
"Wow, this branch is awesome!"
Before he could decide whether to grab it, Anya had already darted over. She picked up the branch and swung it in her hand.
"The balance is perfect, and it feels soft yet firm, with just the right amount of give…" Anya swung it through the air a few times, tossing out comments that sounded impressively professional.
Zhang Liu could only watch with quiet envy. He wanted that stick too…