<h4>Chapter 24: Bartering Supplies, Discounted Price</h4>


    "So, so after being roommates for two years, is this how you all see me?"


    The other dorm mates remained silent, seemingly confirming Alex''s suspicion.


    Alex felt bitter.


    Clearly, he had ordered a milk tea today to treat himself after a hard day of work, but his mouth still tasted bitter.


    Seeing Alex''s silence, Frank took advantage and continued to press aggressively.


    "Alex, if you want to prove your innocence, it''s simple. You, and your suitcase, just let us search them."


    Alex couldn''t tolerate such humiliation and cursed out directly.


    "Get the hell out of here!!"


    The quarrel between the two attracted other ssmates from the dormitory, who gathered at their door.


    "Frank, Alex is not that kind of person. Although his family is poor, he is still very upright."


    Other ssmates echoed, "Yeah, after two years of being together, aren''t you roommates more aware of Alex''s character?"


    But Alex''s other roommates sided with Frank.


    "You guys don''t understand. Just search the luggage, see if there''s anything there, if not, then forget it, it''s not a big deal..."


    Alexughed bitterly.


    He felt choked up inside.


    He didn''t expect that the ones speaking up for him would be ssmates from other dormitories.


    And his roommates whom he had lived with for two years were all siding with Frank.


    Search his belongings?


    Alex believed in his integrity and didn''t fear being misunderstood. Being searched was an insult to his character!


    He couldn''t ept it!


    Seeing that Alex refused to yield, Frank pulled out his phone and threatened.


    "Alex, I''ll give you onest chance, or else, I''ll call my dad. You have no idea about his influence in our city. Do you believe I can have you locked up in the police station for thirty-seven days?"


    Alex became furious andughed in disbelief.


    "I''ll say it again, I didn''t steal your watch. If you want to search my personal belongings, sorry, I won''t agree. If you''re so powerful, just let the policee and search me!"


    "Fine, very well, Alex. I''ll call my dad right now."


    Frank sneered and dialed the phone.


    "Hey, Dad, someone stole my watch, but he won''t let me search him. Can you tell the police to send some people over?"


    Because the call was on speakerphone, many people heard what Frank''s dad said next.


    "Your watch? I was just about to tell you, the maid found your watch on the sofa in the living room today. You forgot to wear it back yesterday when you came home! Always so forgetful!"


    Frank was momentarily stunned, then he regained hisposure, and nonchntly said, "Oh, got it, I''lle pick it up tomorrow."


    Then he hung up the phone.


    Smiling at the other students outside the dormitory door, he said, "It was just a misunderstanding. Let''s all go to bed and sleep!!"


    At this moment, Alex spoke up.


    "Frank, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, shouldn''t you say something to me?"


    The smile on Frank''s face froze suddenly.


    After a moment of silence, he walked up to Alex, reached out his right hand, patted Alex''s arm, and said with a smile, "Sorry for the misunderstanding, Alex."


    Throughout the exchange, he never uttered the words "I''m sorry," but maintained a superior attitude towards Alex, as if he were a superior speaking to a subordinate.


    On the second day after the incident, Alex went through the procedures for staying off-campus and moved out.


    This was the entanglement between two people.


    Even though it had been nearly two years since they graduated from college, Alex still felt angry recalling this unpleasant memory.


    As for Frank, he had absolutely no good feelings towards him.


    Never in his wildest dreams did Alex expect Frank to also enter this apocalyptic world.


    And he even ran into Olivia, forming a team.


    After some thought, Alex asked, "So, you and Frank now, I mean, are you together?"


    Olivia quickly replied, "No, not at all. I don''t like him."


    "Just in this kind of environment, I have to find a helper. Frank has been my ssmate for four years of college, rtively speaking, he can be trusted a bit."


    Alex looked at the message from Olivia and inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.


    Throughout their four years of college, Olivia had never had a boyfriend.


    Now that Frank wasn''t taking advantage, it was also good news.


    "Oh, by the way, you suddenly came to find me, it''s not really just to acknowledge our rtionship, is it? We''re old ssmates, don''t be so formal."


    Olivia messaged, "You really can''t hide anything from you... Indeed, I have a bit of selfishness. I want to buy some supplies from you, the price is negotiable. I''ll send you my inventory list, you can see what supplies you need in exchange."


    Alex had guessed early on that Olivia was probably here for supplies.


    After all, almost everyone knew that he nevercked food and water.


    It''s like someone providing him with an unlimited supply.


    If Olivia didn''t know how to be grateful and just demanded, Alex would definitely block her without a second thought.


    Since it was an exchange of supplies, he had no reason to refuse.


    "No problem at all, why would I miss out on business thates to my doorstep! Just send me the list of items you want, and I''ll consider what supplies to exchange."


    Although they were ssmates, Alex had no intention of letting himself be taken advantage of for no reason.


    Olivia immediately messaged back, "Really? Thank you, Alex! Actually, I don''t want anything else, just water, food, and a nket, so I don''t freeze next time it rains..."


    Alex readily agreed.


    "These are not a problem, you just take some wood, steel, and cement, building materials like that, to exchange with me."


    Compared to essential living supplies, collecting building materials was not so difficult.


    Because in the ruined city, there was wood and stone everywhere.


    And in low-grade material crates, there were also many such materials.


    As long as one was willing to collect them, they could generally obtain them.


    Now, there were also many people on trading tforms collecting these things in exchange for essential living supplies.


    Olivia seemed somewhat surprised, her message filled with puzzlement: "Alex, exchanging these building materials for your living supplies, isn''t that too much of a loss for you..."


    Alex replied, "I happen to have some building blueprints, it''s not a loss at all, everyone gets what they need..."


    Olivia: "Thank you, Alex."


    Alex didn''t say much, he directly opened the trading window andpleted the transaction with the other party.


    Afterpleting it, Olivia messaged, "Received, happy cooperation."


    Alex asked, "Would it be convenient for you to send me your current coordinates? I''ll see if they''re far away."


    As for that scoundrel Frank, Alex harbored deep hatred towards him.


    He hadn''t had the chance before, but now it was a heaven-sent opportunity, and he would surely settle the score sooner orter.