(1) The Domineering CEO Hugs... Are You Okay? (1)
Ha Minh Hien dug a pit.
There were many pits here, the number buried not considered few.
Human lives like grass, not worth mentioning.
He looked at Mieu Yen lying on the ground, extremely weak, blood at the corner of her mouth, clearly having suffered inhuman abuse.
For him, truly very heartbreaking. These people were truly perverted, not human. Thinking he, Ha Minh Hien, cursed when he cursed, flowery language when flowery, but never thought of his in-laws meeting and beating a woman like this.
Honestly, he knew Mieu Yen was a good person, one of the few good people in the apocalypse. If it were a bad woman, he conversely wouldn't say much, at most one sentence:
Serves you right.
Ha Minh Hien held a cigarette in his mouth, digging earth on one side, while saying, "You hold on yourself. Your younger brother still needs to be taken care of by you. When I bury you later, I will leave an air hole for you. I'm not some hero, nor any good person, just thank you for saving me back into the prison, giving me my first food to stop."
Weak Mieu Yen looked at Ha Minh Hien, as if saying thank you.
Far away, second floor, Bro Long leaned against the railing, smoking, watching the busy Ha Minh Hien, couldn't help but laugh. Indeed, this kind of hard labor was still best left to the damn fatty. Thinking he lived well in prison, following Boss Dung, no worries about food and drink, extremely comfortable.
He knew Ha Minh Hien and Ton Kha had a little secret.
Otherwise, this damn fatty, at most cannon fodder, absolutely no possibility of becoming a so-called team leader.
Dug a deep pit.
Ha Minh Hien pulled Mieu Yen into the pit, held a shovel, buried earth, movements like flowing water and moving clouds, without any pause.
Supervisor Bro Long watched, extremely satisfied, stomped out the cigarette butt, turned and left.
Working Ha Minh Hien pretended to wipe sweat, not seeing supervisor Bro Long, increased speed burying, leaving an air hole for Mieu Yen.
Said no more, shouldered the shovel and left.
...
"Bro Minh Hien! Where's my sister?! They said my sister is dead..." Mieu Dich ran before Ha Minh Hien, raised his head, eye sockets flushed red, holding back tears.
Surrounding survivors watched. Ha Minh Hien said with an unchanged expression, "Dead. I buried her."
"Ah..."
Mieu Dich's mouth opened wide. For him, so young, to personally hear his favorite Bro Minh Hien say he buried his sister, extremely cruel, extremely terrifying.
"No! Sister..."
He ran outside as if crazed, wanting to dig his sister out.
Ha Minh Hien grabbed him simultaneously, lifted him up before him, glared angrily, said fiercely, "Your sister is dead! She was buried by me! What else are you looking for?"
"Let me go! I want to find my sister!" Mieu Dich struggled.
Ha Minh Hien directly slapped Mieu Dich twice, making Mieu Dich's mouth corner bleed, "Find your mother! Your sister is dead! Buried by Lao Tzu! You still dare to make trouble? I must beat you to death!"
Fierce appearance, made surrounding survivors tremble like leaves. They were no longer the ignorant people at the beginning of the apocalypse, thinking everyone is human, you dare touch me, try and see.
Now they understood, the apocalypse is truly dark, human lives worthless. To live, must be as humble as an insect.
"Don't want! I want my sister!" Mieu Dich and Mieu Yen depended on each other. Even if threatened by Ha Minh Hien, he still ignored, "Bad guy! You this bad guy!"
"F***! See how Lao Tzu deals with you!" Ha Minh Hien suddenly one palm, fiercely slapped Mieu Dich's face, then dragged him towards the abandoned warehouse behind, "See how Lao Tzu sorts you out!"
Watching Ha Minh Hien's departing back.
This group of humble survivors discussed animatedly.
"Truly a savage fellow, simply inhuman."
"Yeah! That kid usually calls him Bro Minh Hien piece by piece. Didn't expect he actually buried his sister."
"Cannot provoke. This guy, don't know what dog-sh*t luck he had, actually got valued, became our team leader. Following him out to find supplies, really afraid he'll stomp the accelerator and directly dump us."
Abandoned warehouse.
Piled with various kinds of garbage.
No one would come here.
Mieu Dich struggled, despairingly and furiously staring at Ha Minh Hien. He called out "Bro Minh Hien" sound after sound. In the end, he actually buried his own sister.
Ha Minh Hien assessed the surrounding situation, pulled Mieu Dich to a corner, both hands on his shoulders, "Listen! Listen to me! Your sister isn't dead! You don't want anything to happen to your sister, then act as if you don't know! Later you just cry for me here! Absolutely don't show an 'it's okay' appearance! From now on, I am not your Bro Minh Hien! You must be full of hatred towards me! That kind of suppressed hatred! Understand?"
Mieu Dich stared blankly at Ha Minh Hien, sobbed, nose sniffling.
Ha Minh Hien shook his shoulders, said gravely, "Did you hear clearly?! You don't want your sister to really die, then for Lao Tzu, act as if you no longer have this sister! Clear?"
"Mm, heard clearly. Bro Minh Hien, then when can I see my sister?"
"Don't think! Don't ask! Not until then! If you reveal any flaw, then your sister will surely die! I will also die!"
Ha Minh Hien truly didn't want to embroil himself in danger.
He just wanted to live.
But his heart wavered. This damn wavering truly made him very uncomfortable. Clearly not so many damn things, yet because of wavering, thereby enveloped by danger.
He knew Tran Chi Dung was ruthless. Since the apocalypse until now, so-called ethics and morality had already vanished. Looking at those buried pits, one could know how many survivors were killed.
Nighttime.
Dark and quiet.
Inside the prison, a figure stealthily walked to the place where the pit was dug during the day. Observed the surrounding situation, confirmed no one, dug out the person from the pit, then reburied the earth properly, carried that figure, and quickly left.
Abandoned warehouse, hidden corner.
Ha Minh Hien fed Mieu Yen water. Seeing her eyelids twitch slightly, he suddenly sighed in relief. Awake is good. All he could do was this much. After all, his status in prison was equally humble. Don't just look like he was a survivor team leader for collecting supplies; actually, just an errand boy.
"Why did you save me?" Mieu Yen asked weakly.
Ha Minh Hien was silent, then said, "Just consider it repaying the favor of you saving me before."
"My younger brother, he..."
"Rest assured, I already told him. During this period, you just stay here. Don't go anywhere. I will bring you food at night later."
"Thank you. You are a good person."
Hearing this, Ha Minh Hien's hand, tearing open the bread packaging, trembled slightly, revealing a self-mocking smile.
Good person?
If being a good person means living like a dog, being humiliated, he would rather become a true villain.
Having experienced these things, his thoughts had quietly changed.
He wanted to become fierce.
Seize any opportunity that could be seized.
But just then.
Sound of footsteps.
"Didn't expect I discovered a secret I shouldn't have seen. Ha Minh Hien, you actually saved the woman Boss Dung said to bury. If I tell Boss Dung about this, don't know if you can still live."
"I think perhaps I can replace you, become the supply collection team leader."
Ha Minh Hien, just preparing to turn around, heard the voice from behind, his expression suddenly changed drastically, heart pounding extremely fast.
Ha Minh Hien lowered his head, pondered for a few seconds, took a deep breath, fiercely turned around, lunged towards the opponent. His fat body pressed the opponent to the ground. Without hesitation, both hands tightened around the opponent's neck. The opponent's hands grabbed his arms, fingernails scratching his arms open. But even so, he still didn't think of letting go.
The opponent let out low sounds, hard to breathe.
Ha Minh Hien's eyes were terrifying, pupils seemed about to pop out. Gritted his teeth, fiercely squeezed, allowing the opponent's legs to continuously kick the ground, he just wouldn't let go.
Physique occupied a huge advantage.
By the moonlight, he clearly saw who the opponent was: usually silent Skinny Monkey, a very thin and weak fellow, but his gaze towards everyone always seemed strange.(Sấu hầu tử -> Skinny Monkey)
Skinny Monkey's face flushed red, as if wanting to beg for mercy. But Ha Minh Hien fundamentally didn't think of stopping, just wanted to strangle the opponent to death.
After a moment.
Skinny Monkey's eyes rolled back; lay there motionless. But Ha Minh Hien still squeezed, even if dead, still squeeze for a few more minutes. He didn't want any situation to arise.
...
...
Early morning.
Lam Pham stretched his waist, looked at Manh Manh lying on the bed cooing, smelled Manh Manh's stinky bottom. Aiya! Pooped again!
Already prepared, took a diaper, poured water from the constant temperature water bottle, took a wet wipe, began to clean up properly.
Taking care of a child is just like that.
Resolved properly.
Prepared breakfast, then held Manh Manh standing at the balcony, breathing in the fresh air. The desolate city appeared exceptionally quiet. Thought of Professor Ha and his group; didn't know if they had a smooth journey, whether encountered danger on the road.
No other meaning, just hoped they could safely reach Long Cung Base. The future of the apocalypse still relied on professional professors.
He was just an ordinary citizen. Besides some brute strength, understood nothing else. Seemed to understand, in chaotic eras, why scientists are most important. Even if sacrificing life, must protect scientists' safety.
Lam Pham thought, if he lived in such an era, similarly just a person with brute strength, probably would also dedicate his life for scientists. Just hoped they could live on, because a scientist possesses the ability to change heaven and earth. This is the power of knowledge, often not something brute strength can contend with.
Clothing store.
Working wasn't just Lam Pham and Vuong Khai; also added a new member, Chu Dinh.
"Big Brother, can we really earn money doing this kind of work?" Chu Dinh hung the clothes that fell on the ground onto hangers, asked curiously.
Lam Pham smiled, "Can. Just now I negotiated with the boss. Collection fee total three hundred yuan. Shop area not large, also not too messy. This price is very reasonable."
Vuong Khai looked up, looked at Chu Dinh, "You really should thank our Bro Lam properly. This is the method Bro Lam found. Clearly just two people are enough, yet still wanted to bring you along, just wanted to bring you along to get rich, relying on our diligent hands to earn meager income."
"Bro Kai is right. Big Brother is really good," Chu Dinh nodded.
Recalled the scene of Lam Pham leading them into the shop, murmuring to the empty shop.
"Boss, shop a bit dirty. Let us tidy up for you. Price cheap, just three hundred."
"Alright then. Thanks, boss."
Watching him dumbfounded. Perhaps this is the way of doing business in chaotic times.
He understood collecting for people in the apocalypse was very strange behavior; taking money even more so a bizarre act. Money already become waste paper, useless. Initially, he and his girlfriend found it very hard to understand. But that amiable Grandpa Vuong told them, in Duong Quang Apartments, work and money are linked. Even more so told them, in the apocalypse, everyone isn't crazy, not stupid. Since so, why still so approve of this?
Because he and his girlfriend were like children just starting school, listening to Grandpa Vuong's teachings.
Until he understood the true meaning.
The way he looked at Lam Pham had undergone an earth-shattering change. If before "Big Brother" was a respectful address subdued by the opponent's strength, then now "Big Brother" came from deep respect from the bottom of his heart.
Adhering to the bottom line of peacetime behavior, not affected by the apocalypse.
Grandpa Vuong's that sentence, even more so like a thunderbolt exploding in their hearts.
"People have beastly hearts within; few can truly perceive."
Yeah.
Spoken no mistake.
Chu Dinh thought of those things that happened. The apocalypse was like an invisible pair of black hands. Black hands appeared behind every survivor, helping. Some walked fast, some slow.
Originally thought it was the apocalyptic factor that made once friendly people turn into villains.
Now thinking about it, never was it not that deep inside everyone has a beastly heart. That pair of apocalyptic black hands was just a bait to make the beastly heart erupt.
Shop quickly tidied up.
Lam Pham took out three hundred yuan from the drawer, one bill for each person.
Vuong Khai smelled the fragrance of banknotes, revealed a joyful smile, contentedly put the money in his pocket, then looked towards Chu Dinh, "Be happy! Earning money is just like that! As long as work hard, can have harvest!"
"Mm, yeah." Chu Dinh put away the money. He liked life in Duong Quang Apartments. Although for outsiders, this was extremely strange behavior, but for him, such life very secure, very satisfying. The seed of hope rooted and sprouted in his heart. Felt one day in the future, definitely could be better.
Lam Pham smiled.
He liked seeing hope burning in everyone's hearts.
He just wanted to lead them, follow past rules, develop Duong Quang Apartments, let them see Hoang city has a future.
Just as they prepared to leave.
A strange voice came.
"Is... there... any... body... here..."
Hearing the voice.
Vuong Khai and Chu Dinh knew this voice was somewhat strange; listening felt completely unlike what a human could emit.
Suddenly turned their heads, clearly saw that figure at the doorway.
Scared them into retreating repeatedly, sitting on their butts on the ground, staring wide-eyed without blinking.
Doorway, stood a zombie. This zombie's appearance different from other zombies. Short body, looked somewhat old, yet had a child-like head. Neck seemed to have elasticity, bobbing up and down.
"Someone's here," Lam Pham said with a smile.
He found zombies getting stranger and stranger, many strange ones appearing. What evolutionary direction are zombies developing towards?
The strange zombie moved its pale eyes. Compared to other zombies, this type of zombie added several degrees of eerie feeling. And what made Lam Pham even more surprised was... zombies could actually talk!
Just then.
As if Lam Pham answered it.
The strange zombie let out "Ugh ugh" roars, then turned and walked to the center of the street. Only saw its head gradually expand, like a balloon, gradually swelling up. This made him think of the Self-destructing type zombie encountered before.
As if understanding the harm of Self-destructing type zombies.
Lam Pham absolutely couldn't let this kind of thing continue to happen. Footsteps stomped the ground, afterimage sped away. Frostmourne in his hand appeared with concentrated silvery-white light.
Pfft!
Pfft!
The strange zombie instantly split apart, turning into chunks of flesh and blood scattering onto the ground.
[Kill Attraction-type Zombie] [Points +3]
Lam Pham was extremely surprised. Attraction-type zombie? Very strange species, never seen before. Looks like new zombies have appeared again.
"It's okay, don't be afraid."
Turned his head towards Vuong Khai and his group, said with a smile.
Found tools, collected the minced meat from the ground, threw it into the trash can. This was all done by him. Besides, this street's cleanliness level had a great relationship with him; couldn't sit idly by.
Led them back to the residential area.
Saw Nhan Ny Ny and her group playing with a group of children. He revealed a gratified smile. Moving around in the community area. The once lifeless residential area, since their arrival, already flourished with vitality.
These weren't just due to his efforts, but even more so due to everyone's persistence and hard work.
The fields were already a stretch of green; vegetables grew very well. This was the crystallization of Sis Li and Grandpa Tu's labor. Being able to eat fresh vegetables was a joyful thing worth celebrating.
So what if it's the apocalypse? As long as full of hope, can have harvest.
Looked at the fence. Co Hang, Vuong Khai and their group had already repaired the fence extremely sturdily, height increased a lot. Under normal circumstances, extremely safe.
Started repairing several days ago; until now already saw results.
"Little Pham, what are you looking at?" Co Hang walked over, saw Lam Pham standing there alone looking, curiously walked over to ask.
Lam Pham smiled, "Looking at the changes in the residential area. Feel the changes are really big."
Co Hang said, "Yeah! This is all everyone working together to renovate! Relying on individuals definitely wouldn't work! Next, I plan to build an iron room over by the fitness equipment side. The purpose is precisely to prevent, if one day zombies rush into the community area, anyone in the group who can't run upstairs first, then can hide in the iron room, avoid zombie pursuit."
Co Hang had many thoughts. He thought of every possible scenario. As long as could think of it, he wanted to put it into action. Just like an electric Little Pony, completely unstoppable.(Tiểu Mã đạt = Little Pony/Pony, possibly a brand or type of small electric vehicle, implying constant motion/energy)
Lam Pham said, "Bro Hang, your idea is very good."
Co Hang smiled, "Idea is idea. Only by putting into action, expressing the idea, that's best. Little Pham, I still have another idea. The residential area next door is Hoa Vien Residential Area, right?" (Hoa Viên cư xá -> Hoa Vien Residential Area)
"Yes, it's Hoa Vien Residential Area," Lam Pham said.
Hoa Vien Residential Area next door, housing newer than Duong Quang Apartments, environment a bit better, price aspect naturally a bit more expensive.
Co Hang freely imagined the future, "What I think is, our residential area downstairs are shops. On the second-floor roof of the shops, build an iron passage, connecting with Hoa Vien Residential Area. Of course, this temporarily not needed. After all, our residential area survivor numbers still not many, still many vacant houses. I just thought, one day in the future, when survivor numbers reach a certain quantity, then can do."
Lam Pham smiled looking at Co Hang. Bro Hang is quite an idea person, very good.
"Mm, Bro Hang, work hard."
Co Hang said, "Humans can survive in various disasters, rebuild civilization, often relying on unity, also brains. Really hope the disaster can end sooner."
"There will be an end one day."
Lam Pham was extremely firm.
In the community area.
Each doing their own thing they wanted to do.
Some reading.
Some playing with children.
Some just spacing out.
Rooftop. Te Thinh sat cross-legged on the ground, looking into the distance, watching intently. Desolate Hoang city had no small impact on his heart. The apocalypse arrived, made him lose his wife, made his children lose their mother.
Sometimes, he liked to quietly wait on the rooftop looking into the distance, not wanting to be disturbed, just wanting to reminisce alone. If not for the children still being young, felt he might not necessarily be able to persist in such an apocalypse.
Sound of footsteps.
Te Thinh looked at Lam Pham, smiled, "Little Pham, why come here?"
Lam Pham said, "Bro Te, just seeing what you're doing." (Tề ca -> Bro Te, addressing Te Thinh)
"Nothing, just spacing out," Te Thinh was very satisfied with the current environment. Just that sometimes would think of some past matters, slightly sentimental, spacing out alone. Didn't want to bring this kind of mood to people around.
During this period, Lam Pham knew Te Thinh was an extremely modest person, didn't talk much. Often when things happened, always waited aside watching, listening.
Knew Te Thinh's encounter: a family of four, witnessed wife turn into zombie before his eyes, without any warning, such a thing happened. For anyone, hard to bear.
Lam Pham sat beside Te Thinh, "Bro Te, some things have passed, hard to turn back. Can only cherish the people and matters before you well."
Te Thinh nodded, understood such a principle.
"Little Pham."
"Mm?"
"You say, if time could be reversed, how good would that be."
"Reverse time, huh?"
Lam Pham looked up at the sky. If time could be reversed, Hoang city could return to the once bustling Hoang city. Such an image should be beautiful, really good. All lost loved ones would no longer be upset, no longer sorrowful, could smile with family, enjoying a good life.
Te Thinh sighed with emotion, "Not right. Even if time reversed, also useless. Apocalypse that should happen still will happen. Just have to re-experience the pain of losing loved ones once more."
Lam Pham said, "But if can find the root cause of the apocalypse arriving, eliminate the root cause, wouldn't it be okay then?"
Hearing these words.
Te Thinh's expression stunned, then patted Lam Pham's shoulder, laughed loudly, "Little Pham, I feel our chat topics are getting more and more vague. How can time flow backwards? That's impossible."
Finished speaking, finished speaking. Te Thinh's tone somewhat downcast, yet as if with a kind of anticipation, "If time could flow backwards, even if it costs my life, I would be willing."
Lam Pham looked into the distance, murmured to himself, "I would also be willing."
No one wishes to see the apocalypse arrive.
For any survivor, all a kind of unimaginable disaster.
People turned into zombies, no ability to choose whatsoever. Because suddenly turned like this. If could choose, no one would be willing to turn into a zombie.
Nighttime.
Lam Pham, preparing to fall asleep, saw the satellite phone had an incoming call.
Connected.
"Hey, hello," Lam Pham said softly.
"Bro Lam, hello. I'm Duong Giai Vu."
"Ah! Miss Duong, did something happen?"
Duong Island survivor numbers aren't few. The environment there, scenery beautiful. Moreover, surrounded by water on all four sides. Just need to pay attention to zombies floating on the lake surface, basically all very safe.
Duong Giai Vu: "Nothing. Just wanted to ask if asleep yet?"
"Sleeping."
Duong Giai Vu: ...
Both sides silent.
Duong Giai Vu said nothing; Lam Pham also said nothing.
He had already answered. Next was Miss Duong's reply. One question, one answer, only then can the topic continue.
Duong Giai Vu: "I also just lay down on the bed."
Lam Pham: "Then good night."
"Good night."
Hung up the phone.
Lam Pham looked at the satellite phone, couldn't help but reveal a smile. People nowadays still very good. At least still someone will politely say good night.