"I don't know what her boyfriend is thinking. What's so good about a woman like that?"

"She's so flirtatious and casual; if it were me, I would have dumped her long ago." A young man mocked.

"That Chen Fan is pitiful too. He was played like this, yet he's still devoted to her!"

"Yes! Didn't he notice anything amiss?"

"It was so obvious, we could all sense it, but we didn't say anything for fear of upsetting him."

Hearing the mockery around her, Ya Jie's face flashed with anger. She gritted her teeth and said softly, "How...how can you say that about me? I just wanted to help the captain share some of the burden."

"Tch...Are we blind? Can't we tell the difference between helping and seducing?" an old woman retorted.

"You..." Ya Jie retorted, her feelings exposed.

"Brother Fan, I didn't, I really didn't!"

Chen Fan listened silently without interrupting.

He had long seen through Ya Jie's true colors; he knew she was only interested in Jun Jue because of his handsomeness and aloofness.

He himself was merely a tool in her schemes.

"Whether it's true or not, you know in your heart. I know nothing." After saying that, Chen Fan changed his position and went back to helping.

Seeing the other person's coldness, Ya Jie glanced at them disdainfully.

What's so great about you? Once I hook up with that big shot of yours, I'll dump you, you idiot.

At this moment, the Duke turned his head and saw the mocking expressions of the survivors around him. He glanced at them coldly and then continued to concentrate on his work.

The atmosphere gradually quieted down, and the survivors also gradually stopped talking.

As the temperature plummeted to minus ninety degrees Celsius, Junjue lit several braziers of charcoal in the room, creating a roaring fire that brought the indoor temperature up to a bearable level.

A group of survivors sat around the fire.

As the ruler looked at them, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

He deeply understood that in this world, warm food was more precious than money.

Junjue quickly started blanching various hot pot ingredients.

After careful preparation, he adjusted the boiling water in the pot to the appropriate temperature and then added various meats and vegetables, including lean meat, chicken, beef, and various seafood.

In an instant, an enticing aroma filled the air, making everyone in the room drool.

Junjue smiled at everyone and said coldly, "Everything is ready, everyone hurry up and eat something to warm up!"

This moment is precious; we must cherish this heartwarming moment.

Hearing Junjue's words, everyone felt a surge of warmth in their hearts.

In this cold world, they have been suffering from hunger and cold for too long, and even a hot meal is difficult to come by. A steaming hot pot has become a luxury.

Now that the King is so generous in letting them share this sumptuous feast, how could they not be excited?

Dozens of survivors, their hands and feet ice-cold, ignored everyone else and eagerly headed towards Junjue's hot pot.

Their eyes revealed a longing for the food, and their mouths were already watering as soon as they got close to the hot pot.

Seeing this, Junjue couldn't help but smile and said, "Take your time, don't rush."

Enjoy this delicious food; I'll make some warming drinks later.

"Thank you, Captain."

"Thank you for preparing the food. We will try our best to eat it all."

Upon hearing this, everyone became even more excited.

They realized that the King wasn't just providing them with a hot pot meal, but rather giving them a chance to relive the good times in life.

"Don't be shy, sit down and have something to eat!" Junjue said, looking at the group of people swallowing hard.

As the survivors sat down one by one and began eating hot pot, the room was filled with various sizzling sounds.

Everyone deeply missed the past when it wasn't frozen by ice and snow, but they were also grateful because today, they finally had the opportunity to taste the deliciousness of hot pot.

As they ate Junjue's hotpot, the survivors gradually felt an indescribable warmth.

That warmth, emanating from within, made them feel as if they had returned to the past, to a world without cold and despair.

Everyone used spoons to scoop up the steaming hot slices of meat, picked them up and put them in their mouths. For a moment, the world spun around them, and their taste buds seemed to be activated.

They ate with relish, completely forgetting the cruelty of the world.

The delicious hot pot warmed their hearts and souls, and also strengthened their bonds. They chatted around the hot pot, sharing their stories and experiences.

In this cold world, they became each other's support and their most steadfast partners.

"It's so delicious! It's been such a long time since I've had this taste!"

"I need to eat more, otherwise there won't be any left next time."

"Why didn't I think these meat dishes were so delicious before?"

"It's so delicious I want to swallow my tongue! Have I just not eaten meat in a long time?"

"It would be even better if there was some wine!"

"Brother is right, I've always liked this kind of food."

"It's been a long time since I've had a drink. With so much meat and vegetables available now, it would be perfect with some wine too."

Hearing the discussion of a group of middle-aged men, Junjue stopped picking up his bowl and chopsticks and said to the men in front of him:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have plenty of wine here. Just tell me what you'd like to drink!"

A group of people who used to enjoy drinking, upon hearing Junjue say there was wine, exclaimed excitedly:

"Really? It's all set up!"

"Hurry up and drink! We've been cooped up in this apocalypse for so long, tonight we're not stopping until we're drunk!"

"Hey, do you have any Moutai? Let's get a bottle for our table!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!