Shen Mo said flatly, “When you’ve seen it enough, you naturally know. A fracture doesn’t look like that.”

Bai Youwei: “Oh…”

She rested her chin on her hand and thought, then spoke slowly. “If Wu Lili is faking… then there are only two possibilities left. One, Zhang Qi told Wu Lili what I said, and Wu Lili wants to go to the safe base, so she’s pretending to be injured.”

Shen Mo asked, “And two?”

Bai Youwei narrowed her eyes, looking at Shen Mo with a meaningful gaze.

“Two, Wu Lili has designs on you, so she’s been lingering and paying attention near our room. She saw Zhang Qi come out from here and, out of curiosity, tricked this information out of Zhang Qi, then persuaded him to cooperate in staging this act.”

Shen Mo: “…”

Analyze all you want, but she just had to drag him into the plot and embellish it.

“This possibility is quite high.” Bai Youwei extended an index finger and waved it, looking quite serious.

Shen Mo ignored that finger and directly ended the topic. “Teacher Cheng wants to stay here. What do you think?”

Bai Youwei was momentarily stunned. “…He’s old and doesn’t want to wander around everywhere—that’s human nature. Plus, he and Uncle Zhao seem to get along well. It’s appropriate for them to chat and keep each other company.”

She paused for a second, then murmured, “If we’re both wrong and Uncle Zhao is a good person, I don’t oppose Teacher Cheng staying.”

Taking refuge at a stable safe island, or even a safe base, would naturally be better than camping rough with them.

Shen Mo nodded slightly.

…

The next day, everyone got up early, crowding outside the bungalow where Uncle Zhao lived, waiting for the selection results.

Outside the house was a large tree. On the trunk was posted the previous batch’s selection list.

Sun Wei came out of the house carrying a cup of paste, walked under the tree, spread paste on the old document paper, then took new document paper from Uncle Zhao’s hands and pasted it over.

The paper wasn’t large, just about A4 size, with some names printed on it.

Everyone surged forward in a rush. Some showed joy, others were once again disappointed.

Shen Mo and Bai Youwei exchanged glances, both understanding what the other’s eyes conveyed—no wonder no one had suspected Uncle Zhao for such a long time. The names were printed, which meant the safe base was equipped with a generator.

This detail was indeed very convincing and easily deceived people.

“They’re so lucky. They just registered their information yesterday, and today they’re already selected.”

Someone in the crowd quietly commented.

The paper had the names Shen Mo, Bai Youwei, and Cheng Weicai written on it.

“The old man is more ruthless than I thought…” Bai Youwei looked at the list on the tree, her eyes cold.

She hadn’t expected Old Zhao to write Cheng Weicai’s name on it. Although Cheng Weicai was old, he wasn’t so old he couldn’t move, and Cheng Weicai had knowledge and was willing to contribute to the island’s construction. Why wouldn’t Old Zhao keep him?

They’d chatted so harmoniously yesterday…

Bai Youwei’s small cleverness couldn’t fathom the complexity of human hearts.

Sun Wei stood under the tree and said, “Alright, alright, everyone disperse. Those on the list go back and pack up. Gather at the dock at ten sharp! Did everyone hear?”

Everyone gradually dispersed.

At this moment, Zhang Qi suddenly stepped forward and shouted, “This list is fishy! I won’t accept it!”

Everyone froze and looked over in unison.

Including Old Zhao and Sun Wei.

“Zhang Qi! What are you going crazy about?!” Sun Wei bellowed.

“I’ve been on the island for two months! Not selected once! I won’t accept it!” Zhang Qi’s voice was fierce, his face full of anger. “Wu Lili broke her leg and can still be selected! Why can’t I go to the base?!!”