Chapter 6: Late Night Talk

Chang Jianyi lowered her voice, a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them: "Most people flinch even at killing a chicken, but look at this—you're not just unafraid of zombies; you're almost exhilarated. That worries me more than your strength."

Shen Feng took a moment to reflect on her words. What had happened to him? There was an odd thrill dancing in his veins at the thought of combat. He couldn't shake off the adrenaline-fueled high from his earlier encounter. Would killing zombies feel the same as it would with human life? He pushed the thought away, his mind racing with conflict.

Chang Jianyi turned to the group, her authoritative tone cutting through the unease. "Let's move the zombies out of the hall for now. It's not safe having them around. We'll work together to throw them out from the second floor, and be careful not to toss them behind the building; we need to keep our escape routes clear."

Everyone nodded, their sense of urgency palpable as they began heaving the grotesque corpses out toward the street. But with every body they disposed of, more zombies seemed to draw near, their moans echoing through the dimly lit building. Soon, a throng of zombies surrounded the entrance, scratching and clawing at the door. Despite their numbers, they lacked the intelligence to breach the defenses, granting temporary safety to those inside.

Taking a moment to breathe, Chang Jianyi rummaged through a pile of courier clothes and changed in the utility room. She stacked a layer of clothing atop a cardboard bed for warmth. Compared to those huddled together in the hall, creating makeshift nests, her accommodations felt inadequate—but safety took precedence over comfort.

Despite the allure of the crowded warmth below, both Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi opted to remain upstairs. The utility rooms seemed less claustrophobic, offering a thin veneer of protection from the outside world. She discarded the paint bucket that had served as a makeshift toilet, a step away from unsanitary conditions.

Later, as darkness fell, Shen Feng returned to the utility room. "Senior sister, I found a power bank downstairs!" he exclaimed, excitement lacing his voice. "I can charge my phone!"

Chang Jianyi's expression remained flat, the practicality of the apocalypse dulling her enthusiasm. "Even if your phone can charge, what good is it when the internet is down? Will you play games in a situation like this? The server's gone, Shen Feng."

"Actually, I have some stand-alone games!" he grinned, the sparkle in his eyes a flicker of normalcy amidst chaos.

With an exasperated sigh, she swatted at him. "This is my bed, Shen Feng. If you want to sleep, you better make your own!"

He remained defiant, "But Senior, you're the one who invited me here! You can't just kick me out now. Besides, with so many people together, we could attract attention!"

Chang Jianyi walked to the door, closing it softly. "Listen, if we want to escape the city, we'll need to work with these people. I've observed them over the past few days. By ourselves? We couldn't make it through the zombie packs out there. It's simpler to use a vehicle, but small cars are easily slowed down—a single zombie will be a roadblock."

Understanding dawned on Shen Feng. "So we need someone else to drive since neither of us can handle big vehicles. But do these people know how?"

"I've seen at least a couple of middle-aged members who can drive well. Strong people, too. In a crucial moment, we could have them distract the zombies for us. We're young and fast; we can run when things get tough," she explained, her intent clear.

Nodding vigorously, he acknowledged the cunning nature of her plan. "You're sharp, Senior. I see why you brought me along."

"This isn't just about survival; don't get too comfortable. Use them as a means to an end. If times get tough, they might serve as shields too—quicker to sacrifice them than us," she stated coolly.

Shen Feng's admiration for Chang Jianyi mixed with an unsettling realization. The kindness she displayed masked a willingness to make harsh decisions. It startled him, the depths of her practicality revealing a side he hadn't expected. Yet, part of him felt reassurance in her capability—perhaps she understood life and death better in this hellish reality.

"What are you staring at?" she interrupted his reverie, noticing his gaze. "Got flowers on my face?"

He quickly looked away, pulling up a game on his phone to distract himself. "Just... preparing for the grind."

Recognizing his suppressed excitement, she warned, "You need to control your emotions, Shen Feng. If you get too high on adrenaline, that could turn into something dangerous—don't let it consume you."

"I'll keep it in check," he promised. "But sleeping on a bed we made isn't anything less than comfortable!"

Sighing in resignation, Chang Jianyi drew a line on the cardboard bed with a marker. "Cross this line, and you're a beast."

Unsure of his own thoughts or intentions, Shen Feng remained silent, wondering what crossing that line might unlock within him. Chang Jianyi, oblivious to his inner battle, turned away to start preparing for sleep.

The morning sun crept in through the window, and Shen Feng woke to an unexpected warmth. Startled, he found Chang Jianyi leaning against him, her proximity stirring a mix of confusion and a hint of comfort he hadn't anticipated. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her waist, but he kept it delicate, not wanting to disturb her.

Is this how it feels to be embraced by a beautiful woman? he mused, a twinge of giddiness accompanying his thoughts. Yet, there was discomfort too—was this crossing the line?

Chang Jianyi stirred awake and bolted upright, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she realized their position. "What… dawn already?"

"Yes! We need to deal with the zombies quickly so we can make our escape!" he jumped to his feet, adrenaline rushing as they prepared for the day ahead.

As they surveyed the streets, dread clawed at Shen Feng's gut. Below, he estimated at least three hundred zombies swarming the vicinity. "How are we supposed to deal with all that?"

Chang Jianyi squinted at the crowd and then noticed something odd. "Have you seen the bodies we threw out yesterday? They've been… eaten?"

Indeed, the heads of the zombies were cracked open, the brains missing. "That can't be good," Shen Feng murmured, feeling a creeping fear engulf him. "Are they eating their kind out of instinct?"

"But how long will it take to kill so many of them?" she pondered aloud.

"Maybe if we only need to lure them away instead of kill them?" Shen Feng suggested eagerly. "As long as we can draw them off, we might be able to escape!"

"Yes! Standing our ground won't work," Chang Jianyi agreed. "If we can distract them long enough to flee, that might be our best option."

With the plan taking root, they descended downstairs and framed it as a necessity to the group. But just as quickly, the burden of leadership fell on Shen Feng once more when the others, uncertain, turned to him for guidance.

"I'll do it!" he announced resolutely. "I'll lure them away if someone helps me."

Chang Jianyi shot him a warning glance, sensing the dangers of bravado. "Wait—"

Before she could finish, Zhou Changkun piped up, "I'm not going out there! I can't run; I was nearly a snack yesterday!"

Using a bit of bravado himself, Shen Feng countered, "Listen, if I go, I'll need a distraction. You both, get ready to make some noise!"

Zhu Wushi was noticeably quiet, still nursing his pride from the last round of intimidation. "No way am I doing that again," he grumbled.

"Guys, this is life or death!" Shen Feng grabbed their attention, shouting for unity. "Either we work together or none of us makes it. I won't let my senior down!"

As Chang Jianyi watched the scene unfold, she marveled at the bond forming within the group. Shen Feng wasn't just nothing; he was becoming a leader. Perhaps a reluctant one, but still a leader.

"Well," she said, approaching them, "it seems you might need a little more force behind your strategy. We'll definitely need to vote on this!"

"Vote? Really?" Zhou Changkun scoffed. "You think we'd trust any of this?"

"If we're doing this, let's do it right!" Chang Jianyi insisted. The group seemed to nod in understanding; they were in this together, whether they liked it or not.

"Alright, who's with Shen Feng?" she asked, raising her hand in support.

Slowly, reluctantly, hands began to rise; and as if the flicker of hope sparked among them, they shivered into action, resolved to break free from their nightmare.