Trapped in The Barrens, a Sponsored Student Fills the SUV's Fuel Tank with Water

: Such a Good Idea

After college graduation, my parents suggested I go on a road trip with all the students sponsored by the Sterling Family.

While passing through The Barrens, the fuel tanks of our three SUVs were about to run dry. Chloe Shaw suggested filling the tanks with water.

"Adding a little water will make the fuel last longer."

My boyfriend agreed with a smile, and the other sponsored students all chimed in their approval.

I was firmly against it. Pouring water into the gas tank would wreck the cars.

I couldn't bear to let everyone die out here, so I took a hard stance. I siphoned the gas from two of the cars into one and risked my life driving off to get help.

After the car ran out of gas, I walked for a day and a night until I finally found a rescue team and brought them back.

On the way back, Chloe Shaw insisted I looked down on her. She ran off crying, only to run into a pack of wolves and have both her legs bitten off.

She tearfully accused me of luring her to the wolves. My boyfriend, enraged, threw me out of the car.

I was attacked by the wolf pack, and not even my bones were left.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Chloe Shaw suggested filling the gas tanks with water.

I gave a faint smile. "Go ahead and fill them up. Pouring water in the tank makes the car run faster."

.....

"Gas stations mix water into their fuel anyway. If we pour water into our tanks, we can definitely save some gas."

Chloe Shaw's voice reached my ears.

I pinched my own cheek.

It hurt!

'Have I been reborn?'

"Miss Sterling, don't be so stubborn. Just listen to everyone. Maybe this method can help us get out of The Barrens."

Chloe Shaw looked at me timidly, as if I were going to eat her.

Rhys Rhodes and the other sponsored students were all staring at me. If I dared to reject Chloe Shaw's suggestion, they would all denounce me in unison. I had been through this countless times.

I smiled. "Chloe is so clever to have thought of such a great idea."

"Go ahead and fill them up. Pouring water in the tank makes the car run faster."

Standing nearby, Rhys Rhodes gave a rare, gratified smile.

"This time, you're being sensible for once."

I didn't want to get tangled up with them. My mind was already racing, plotting my escape from The Barrens.

There were eleven of us on this trip, in three cars.

Originally, Rhys Rhodes and I were supposed to be in the same car, but Chloe Shaw insisted he ride with her instead. So, I had been driving one car all by myself this whole trip.

In my past life, my car had the most fuel left. To fight for a chance at survival, I left all the supplies for them and drove off alone into the vast Barrens to find help.

Reborn into this life, I absolutely will not care whether this pack of idiots lives or dies. As long as I can escape by myself, that's enough.

Based on my experience from my past life, I knew that heading west for a hundred kilometers would get me out of this wasteland.

My car had enough fuel to go seventy kilometers. Fortunately, I've loved extreme sports since I was a child, so my strength and stamina are solid. I could walk the remaining thirty kilometers before dark, and the supplies in my car were more than enough.

Having secretly formulated a detailed plan in my mind, I gradually began to relax.

Just to be safe, I took a watch out of the trunk.

It was a birthday gift from him.

In my past life, he found this watch at the place where the wolves attacked me. He wept bitterly, slapping himself in a frenzy. He blamed himself for not telling me in time that the watch had a Satellite Positioning System, and that as long as it was turned on, he could find me no matter where I was.

The corners of my mouth turned up slightly. After fiddling with it for a moment, I turned on the Satellite Positioning System.

'This time, I hope he can find me.'

Seeing the designer watch on my wrist, a flash of jealousy crossed Chloe Shaw's eyes.

"Miss Sterling, don't you have a case of mineral water in your car? Get it out for us."

My heart sank.

'Are they planning to use the water from my car to fill the gas tanks?'

2

"You have four cases in your car. Why aren't you getting them out?"

I shot back.

Chloe Shaw pouted, her voice brimming with self-righteousness.

"Luna, we're in the middle of a desert. Water is precious; you can't hoard it all for yourself."

I laughed in anger. 'Just a moment ago, she was washing her face with bottled water, and now she decides it's precious?'

Rhys Rhodes took a step forward, staring right at me.

"Get them out."

His tone left no room for argument.

I took a deep breath, swallowing my anger, and tried to reason with him.

"I bought the water..."

"At a time like this, you're still fussing over what's 'yours' and 'mine'?"

Chloe Shaw cut me off, her expression utterly sanctimonious.

"We need to stick together when things get tough. If everyone was as selfish as you, how would we ever make it through The Barrens?"

The moment she finished speaking, the other sponsored students turned on me, their glares full of contempt.

"You can't drink a whole case of water by yourself. Bring it out so we can all share."

"Luna Sterling, hand over the water! Don't make us take it from you."

"Typical capitalist's daughter, so selfish. She's not nearly as considerate as Chloe."

...

'Selfish?'

'If the Sterling Family hadn't sponsored your education, you people would be hauling cement on some construction site. Forget about college, let alone getting a job at the Sterling Group after graduation.'

I suddenly understood why my parents had insisted I go on this graduation trip with them.

Unexpected crises on a trip are the best way to reveal someone's true character. This was my parents' final test for all of them.

When I didn't say anything, they went right ahead and opened the trunk, pulling out the supplies. I tried to stop them, but the others pinned me to the ground.

I watched helplessly as they poured the water into the gas tank.

'Without that water, I'll pass out from dehydration while driving under this scorching sun.'

"Give me back my water..."

I struggled to get up.

Seizing the chance, Chloe Shaw grabbed a handful of sand and shoved it into my mouth. "Shut up!" she snarled. "Say one more word and I'll fill your whole stomach with sand."

I choked, gagging and dry-heaving. Sand shot up my nose, sending me into a coughing fit. Tears and snot streamed down my face. I was a pathetic mess, crawling on the ground.

Seeing my miserable state, the sponsored students roared with laughter.

"Is this really the great Miss Sterling? She looks more like a dog to me! HAHAHA..."

I gritted my teeth, stood up, and raised my hand to slap Chloe Shaw.

The next second, someone grabbed my wrist in a death grip. As soon as Chloe Shaw realized what was happening, she slapped me hard across the face.

SLAP!

Rhys Rhodes froze, instinctively letting go of my wrist.

My strength gave out and I collapsed, my cheek burning.

Chloe Shaw hid behind Rhys Rhodes and said timidly, "I'm sorry, Luna. You tried to hit me first. It was just self-defense."

Rhys Rhodes held out a hand to me, his face full of disgust. "Get up. Stop making a scene."

I forced back my tears, lifted my head, and looked him straight in the eye.

"Rhys Rhodes, let's break up!"

"It was just a knee-jerk reaction from Chloe. She didn't do it on purpose. Why are you throwing a tantrum?"

Rhys Rhodes pulled Chloe Shaw behind him, watching me warily as if I were about to snap his precious delicate flower in two.

A wave of helplessness washed over me.

'Throwing a tantrum?'

'From the moment we started dating, any time I didn't go along with one of his decisions, I was the one "throwing a tantrum."'

'Not getting into the same university as him was me throwing a tantrum.'

'Choosing to study abroad was me throwing a tantrum.'

'The moment Chloe Shaw started to cry, *I* was the one throwing a tantrum.'

...

"Rhys Rhodes, we're not on the same path. It's better for both of us if we go our separate ways."

Time had corroded the man I loved, leaving him unrecognizable.

When I was twelve, I snuck off to an outdoor food stall for some barbecue. That's where I first saw Rhys Rhodes, huddled in a corner washing dishes.

His hands moved with mechanical speed, washing greasy dishes, but his eyes were fixed enviously on the students in their school uniforms.