Island Diaries: My Life with Ten Beauties

Chapter 24

I held Zoe, patting her back gently, and said, "Don't be afraid. New rescuers will come soon!"

Meanwhile, Leo's face was pale.

I noted Leo's reaction, becoming increasingly wary. Previously, everyone had maintained some restraint because we all believed that rescue would come soon, and societal morals and laws still held sway over us. Now, knowing we might never leave this island, who knew what crazy things Leo might do?

I tried to stay calm, comforting Zoe and the other women while thinking of a plan. Suddenly, I had an idea. "We could build a bamboo raft and sail out to sea. There are many small islands around the place where we were shipwrecked. Some might even be inhabited!"

As soon as I finished speaking, the girls stopped crying and looked at me with excitement and hope.

I continued, "From what I know, some of the nearby islands have military garrisons because of maritime disputes. If we can paddle out, our chances of escaping are pretty high!"

Eva nodded in agreement, looking at me with newfound admiration. "Your idea is pretty good."

Our spirits lifted instantly, and everyone started chatting and laughing again.

Zoe wiped her tears and remembered that everyone was hungry. She went to check my catch for the day, preparing to cook. When she saw it, she gasped in surprise. "Zack, you caught so much prey today! This lobster is huge!"

Everyone gathered around, their mouths watering at the sight of the large fish and shrimp.

"This is a volcanic lobster! It's so delicious!" Stella explained enthusiastically. She was practically drooling, making me laugh.

"Zack, you're amazing. I've been eating crap on this island, but now it looks like a feast," Eva said, giving me a thumbs up.

"That's right. Just stick with me, and you'll be enjoying all the food," I boasted, patting my chest and making a funny face.

The girls laughed, and the gloomy atmosphere lifted significantly.

Zoe rolled up her sleeves and started preparing the food, and soon a rich aroma filled the cave.

Everyone ate heartily, while Quinn, fearing my wrath, only picked at the leftovers. I didn't bother with her.

As for Leo, he wasn't getting any food. This useless pig could probably survive without eating for ten days with all the fat he had on him.

Eva, fully satisfied, lay down in the grass bed we had just made for her and tossed me her backpack generously. "From now on, we're companions. We should share our resources. These are the medical supplies from the rescue plane," she said.

Eagerly, Zoe and I rushed over to check the contents of Eva's backpack. We couldn't contain our joy. The medical supplies were comprehensive, including hemostatics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antivirals, and even antivenom serum. The only downside was the limited quantity. With these supplies, our chances of survival on the deserted island increased significantly.

Good news kept coming, lifting everyone's spirits. With the addition of insulated grass mats, we all slept soundly that night.

However, in the middle of the night, I felt waves of cold pressing in on me. I woke up freezing, having had a terrible nightmare. In the dream, a heavy snowfall covered the entire island. I walked through a white world, cold and hungry, ultimately waiting to die alone. The cold woke me up.

The chill from outside seeped through the makeshift door I had created.

"Why has it gotten so cold suddenly?" I frowned, getting up to check.

As soon as I opened the door, a blast of cold air hit me, making me shiver.

Looking around, I was stunned.

The rocks and plants outside were covered in a thin layer of frost. Frost indicated that winter was approaching!

I couldn't believe it. Just a few days ago, it was summer, and now winter had arrived in the blink of an eye. The weather on this island was truly bizarre.

A gust of wind blew, and my thin clothing offered no protection against the cold. I hugged my arms and stamped my feet to keep warm.

Worried about hypothermia, I returned to the cave quickly. After closing the bamboo door, I added an extra layer of grass mat to it, but it didn't help much.

Inside the cave, the body heat from the group, along with the campfire and grass beds, made it significantly warmer than outside. Although it was still cold, it was bearable. Clearly, the cold had become the biggest obstacle to our outdoor activities.

The cold air I let in while going in and out of the cave woke everyone up. I gathered everyone together to discuss our current situation. Witnessing the cold snap firsthand, the girls gasped in fear, their eyes filled with both terror and confusion.

No one knew why the weather suddenly turned cold. We could only find ways to deal with it.

"In the cold wilderness, if we can't find a way to keep our body temperature up, we're all going to die sooner or later," Mandy said with a serious expression. "Although we have a campfire, it looks like the temperature will keep dropping. Frost is just the beginning; eventually, we won't be able to hold out."

"I took the snow jacket from the Japanese corpse in the underground bunker. That might be our only solution to the cold," I said, shrugging with a bitter smile. "Back then, I wondered why the Japanese would wear a snow jacket on a tropical island."

"This place is truly bizarre," I said, spreading my hands helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Zoe took the snow jacket off the wall and handed it to me. "This snow jacket has been cleaned, and it doesn't smell bad at all," she said, blinking expectantly. "Zack, put it on."

I was taken aback for a moment, then shook my head immediately. "No, this jacket is for you girls. I'm a man; I can handle the cold."

I couldn't let the girls suffer in the cold while I stayed warm. What kind of person would that make me?

Meanwhile, Leo, shivering as he hugged himself, stared longingly at the snow jacket. His desire was obvious.

Eva, however, shook her head and spoke up. "Once the weather turns cold, animals will hibernate, making it difficult to find them. Obtaining food will become a major issue. We have a few days before the real winter sets in. During these days, we need to stock up on supplies as much as possible."

Mandy nodded in agreement. She took my hand and persuaded me gently, "Zack, you're our only hope. You're the only one who can hunt."

"You have to wear this jacket," Stella said firmly, taking the snow jacket and pushing it into my hands.

"I..." I was about to protest when Zoe suddenly leaped forward and kissed me on the cheek.