Chapter 29: Steve Is Spoiled?

Steve's eyes lit up. Is there really such a good thing? Why were they being so polite?

After Steve took the bag, he found that the contents were quite simple: two rolls of gauze, a bottle of iodine, and that was it.

Although it was a small supply, it was better than nothing.

Steve carefully put the items away and didn't rush to use them. He thought it would be a waste if he used them too soon.

When he returned, he planned to ask his companions to help bandage his wound.

If he didn't need to use them right away, he could save them for future injuries. After all, if anyone got hurt later, these supplies could still be used.

After organizing his things, Steve noticed it was getting late, so he stood up and continued on his journey.

Meanwhile, back at the original camp, Mina was staring blankly at two barrels of seafood.

The afternoon's sea fishing had been quite productive. She had picked up two small buckets of seafood, mostly conchs and similar shellfish, on her own.

However, there was one problem: there was no fire. The fire sticks had been left at the new camp.

Mina had expected Steve and Chris to return soon, but even after the sun went down, there was no sign of them.

Mina grew increasingly anxious. She kept pacing back and forth, unable to stay still. Finally, she could no longer bear it and stood up, heading east to meet Steve and the others.

Just a short distance into her walk, she spotted a figure walking toward her with some difficulty.

It was Steve!

Though it was already dark and she couldn't see his face clearly, Mina immediately recognized him as the man who had occupied her thoughts all day.

Her heart racing with relief, she quickly stretched her legs and ran toward him.

"Steve!" she called out, her voice full of concern.

"It's me," Steve responded weakly.

When Mina reached him and saw the miserable state Steve was in, her heart ached.

"Are you tired? Let me support you."

As she spoke, Mina stepped forward and took Steve's arm, but accidentally brushed his injured hand.

Steve gasped in pain.

"Hiss—no, be careful not to touch my hand."

A puzzled expression crossed Mina's face. Was he really in that much pain? Those small cuts from earlier this morning were practically healed. Could they still be that painful?

She glanced down at Steve's palm, which was wrapped in black cloth. The bandage covered it so tightly that no blood could be seen, especially in the dim light.

Looking at the tightly wrapped palm, Mina didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss over such a small injury?

But despite her amusement, she couldn't help feeling a sense of tenderness. Steve's behavior was almost childlike, like a spoiled child, and it made Mina feel protective, as if she were caring for someone in need.

"Alright, I won't touch your hand. By the way, where's Chris?" It was only then that she realized Chris was missing.

Beauty, they say, is in the eyes of the beholder, and for Mina, her focus was entirely on Steve.

Steve sighed when he heard this question. "Let's talk about it when we get back."

Mina frowned, her heart sinking slightly. She didn't press further and instead helped Steve back to the shelter.

A while later, the two returned to the shelter. Before entering, they noticed a figure holding a torch walking toward them from the west.

As the figure drew closer, they recognized him: it was Jarvis.

"Steve! Mina!" Jarvis called from a distance.

"It's us, Sister Jarvis."

At last, the group had reunited, now including Jarvis, Kevin, and Peng Peng.

When they saw Steve's condition, the group quickly rushed over.

"What happened to you?" Jarvis asked, her voice full of concern.

"Your hands?" Kevin added, eyeing the cloth strips wrapped around Steve's hands with a confused expression.

Steve nodded. "Let's talk inside." He turned and walked toward the shelter.

Once inside, he collapsed onto the bed. The exhaustion from the day's ordeal and the blood loss had left him incredibly weak. Finally lying down to rest, Steve felt a wave of relief.

Thankfully, they hadn't moved the bed when they shifted to the new shelter, as they had thought it would be too much trouble.

Now, Steve had no strength left in him. His lips were dry, and he felt both thirsty and hungry.

"Here, drink a coconut first." Mina handed him a coconut.

Steve was eager to drink but realized his hands were in no condition to hold such a large coconut.

He looked at Mina awkwardly. "My hands aren't very useful right now. Could you feed me?"

Mina's face flushed a deep shade of red. She hadn't expected Steve to make such a request in front of so many people.

He really knew how to act spoiled.

She gently lifted the coconut to Steve's mouth.

Steve, trying to keep his hands as still as possible, adjusted the coconut with his wrists and began to drink deeply.

The three onlookers exchanged strange glances, unsure of how to react.

Bai Xiaolu had already informed them about Steve's minor hand injury.

The oyster shells had caused several small cuts, and he had bled quite a bit.

But, in all honesty, it shouldn't be that serious. A few small wounds didn't usually require someone to feed you water, right?

Kevin shook his head inwardly. It was clear that Steve had never really faced hardship.

Though he worked hard and was knowledgeable about the ways of the world, Steve was still young and inexperienced.

After all, these were just tiny cuts. There was no need for him to act as though his life were in danger.

Kevin felt that it was time for him to step in and help Steve learn to toughen up. After all, he was a man now, and small injuries should never hold him back.

Peng Peng, standing nearby, couldn't help but suppress a laugh. The idea of Steve needing help to drink water was simply too much.

He recalled Bai Xiaolu's description—just a few small cuts less than one centimeter in size, and Steve's hands were wrapped so thoroughly that anyone who didn't know better would think he had broken a bone.

As for Jarvis, she was growing increasingly frustrated. When had Steve become so delicate?

And why did Mina have to feed him? Why couldn't she do it?

She was convinced Steve was playing his own game with Mina.

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