(2) The Domineering CEO Hugs... Are You Okay? (2)

Tidying the blanket, tucked Manh Manh in. He also lay on the bed, looked at the ceiling, counting sheep, one, two... Gentle breathing sounds undulated with frequency in the quiet room.

And at the manor.

Duong Giai Vu, her long slender thighs exposed, lay on the bed, a face mask on. Regarding the conversation process just now, she felt she had failed.

As for why proactively chatted.

According to Duong Giai Vu's thoughts, a total of two points.

First, the apocalypse arrived, world population numbers plummeted. As the only child of the Duong family, naturally wanted to preserve the bloodline. And in peaceful times, very few caught her eye, let alone in the apocalypse. Being able to meet one, proactively securing him wasn't wrong.

Second point was Lam Pham's strength. Not to say she, Duong Giai Vu, was realistic; everyone is very realistic. For example, men all say want to find a virtuous woman, but often, the three views follow the five senses. As long as a woman's personal life isn't chaotic, social relations not chaotic, all very liked by males, all think of taking her home. As for whether virtuous, temporarily not important.

So in Duong Giai Vu's eyes, this was the best target.

As for love and such.

Men are always want first, then love; want is love's accelerator.

Women love first, then want; love is want's lubricant.

Sweet love adds a joyful feeling to want.

One is physiological need, one is psychological need.

Want can release mental pressure; love's energy comforts a lonely soul.

Duong Giai Vu's perception of Lam Pham was passable, but no love. But in her heart, she understood a principle: love grows from prolonged contact. Even unfamiliar people often can, within multiple 'wants', slowly condense into seeds of love.

Thinking of this, Duong Giai Vu couldn't help but smile and shake her head.

Thinking a bit too much. Let everything follow its natural course; cannot force.

Early morning.

Lam Pham opened the map, took a pen, circled and drew on it. The places currently passed through were merely the tip of Hoang city's iceberg. Still many more places needed him to go. Wanting to thoroughly clean Hoang city would take time.

Left the residential area, walked on the street. Duong Quang Apartments was no longer short of grain. He also didn't need to go to the supermarket every few days to buy supplies, but used this time to clean up zombies in Hoang city.

He was like a street gutter cleaner in the apocalypse, carrying a sword, searching for zombies, searching for survivors.

What to do in the future?

Currently for Lam Pham, just doing his best to sweep clean the zombies in Hoang city.

Walking, walking. He stopped. A zombie limped in the small alley beside him, letting out a low "Ugh ugh" roar.

"Hey!" Lam Pham called out.

Pfft!

Sound of falling to the ground.

Patrolling is just like that, extremely ordinary life, not as rapidly changing as imagined. Places already swept through, zombie numbers very sparse. If they appear, also just leisurely wandered here.

"Ah."

At this time, he saw on the outer wall of a residential building to his front left, two young survivors carrying schoolbags, like spiders, continuously climbing up people's balcony anti-theft windows.

He walked towards that side, stood downstairs quietly watching. Thought about speaking up to remind them to be slow, such action very dangerous. But worried speaking up would startle them, so just watched like that.

Soon, saw them climb to the fourth floor, flipped into a balcony. That unit on the fourth floor didn't have anti-theft windows installed.

Two young people, looked somewhat thin and weak.

After these two young people climbed into the balcony, similarly saw Lam Pham standing downstairs. For them, a survivor carrying a sword suddenly appearing, this made them feel very strange. After all, given the current situation, outside is very dangerous.

And they were just looking for supplies, but absolutely didn't take the usual path. Possessing extremely strong climbing ability, they could easily climb to the floor they wanted to go to.

The two sides looked at each other.

Lam Pham waved towards them.

And they turned and walked into the room, without any greeting to Lam Pham.

Inside the room.

"Grandpa, we're back," the young man said with a smile. This old grandpa lying on the bed had mobility issues, could walk, but couldn't walk too fast.

"Good that you're back. Outside is dangerous, must pay attention to safety," the old grandpa lying on the bed said.

"Mm, we know."

These two young survivors were biological brothers, Dai Vu and Tieu Vu. Parents divorced since young, lived with grandpa. Later when they were sixteen, grandpa passed away. They then did petty thievery in Hoang city. (Đại Vũ -> Dai Vu, Tiểu Vũ -> Tieu Vu)

That is, being small thieves.

Of course, being a small thief isn't something one can do just by wanting. These two brothers knew doing a profession required professional talent. They deliberately apprenticed to learn lock-picking skills, also participated in mountaineering classes, and parkour classes.

Learning these skills was precisely to enhance professional ability.

This old grandpa before them, why let them risk going out to find supplies to take care of him? This needs to be spoken of from not many days after the apocalypse first erupted. Their supplies were already exhausted. Just thought of relying on their abilities to find some things in other people's homes, treat that place as a main base.

Currently, low-level building homeowners are very astute, all installed anti-theft windows.

But soon, found a unit actually didn't have anti-theft windows installed.

If in peaceful times, they certainly wouldn't steal from this unit. After all, them not installing anti-theft windows meant they trusted them, no precautions. If stealing, also steal from those homeowners who installed anti-theft windows.

Upon entering this room.

They saw the old man lying over there.

Didn't think much.

After all, already the apocalypse. Surviving oneself is already very difficult, let alone taking care of others.

Just quickly searched for supplies in the room.

They indeed found supplies in the room, but similarly found some things that shocked their hearts: those were sheets of money transfer slips, also many letters placed in biscuit tins.

They glanced through. Money transfer slips had amounts of several hundred, also several thousand, most even one or two tens of thousands. Very many, very many, all sent to schools.

Those letters were written by students to that old grandpa.

They watched, engrossed. Recalled when living with grandpa, family conditions not good. Many nameless kind-hearted people donated money, improving their living conditions.

Previously young and ignorant, they secretly vowed in their hearts, Thank you kind-hearted people for your help. When we earn money in the future, will definitely repay you.

But just turned around and resorted to such tactics. Truly shameful.

Now seeing these letters, suddenly brought out their past memories.

Finally decided to stay.

Take care of this grandpa.

Kitchen.

Dai Vu cooked eggs. Tieu Vu watched from the side.

"Bro, what's the situation with that survivor just now?"

"Don't know. None of our business. We just need to take good care of Grandpa."

Tieu Vu nodded, agreeing with this statement, "Bro, when will this apocalypse end? Too hard to accept."

Dai Vu said nothing.

Silent.

He also didn't know when the apocalypse would end.

Knock knock!

A light knocking sound came from the door.

Hearing someone knock, they looked at each other, walked to the door, looked outside through the peephole, found standing outside was the sword-carrying survivor seen just now.

"Excuse me, is anyone here?" Lam Pham asked softly.

He knew there were people inside, but seemed very vigilant, not making any movement from beginning to end. But even if not making movement, he could still hear light breathing sounds, also the sound of water boiling in the kitchen.

Dai Vu and Tieu Vu said nothing.

Now is the apocalypse; they wouldn't open the door for people of unknown origin.

Lam Pham stood outside the security door.

Thought.

Perhaps really too vigilant.

"Hello. My name is Lam Pham, Duong Quang Apartments' security guard. Patrolling the street, saw you climbing the outer wall to get in. Wanted to ask, do you need help?"

Lam Pham spoke.

Dai Vu and Tieu Vu looked at each other.

These words he said made them feel very strange. Roaming society since very young, knew well the evil of human hearts. If just a few casual sentences wanted to deceive them, that was fundamentally impossible.

Still said nothing.

Always watching the peephole, staring intently at the situation outside.

Dai Vu winked at his younger brother.

Tieu Vu tiptoed into the kitchen, grabbed a chopper. Opponent better not cause trouble, everyone safe. But if dare to cause trouble, they don't mind giving him a few slashes.

At this time, although Lam Pham was separated by the security door, seemed to sense all the opponent's actions and manners.

Could feel the opponent holding a knife.

Lam Pham understood his appearance and words caused the opponent's vigilance. Thinking about it, also true. Apocalypse! All caused by the damn apocalypse! If not for the apocalypse, people seeing a stranger knock on the door absolutely wouldn't grab a knife. Although similarly vigilant, but would ask through the door, What matter? Then add a No need, even possibly say Thank you.

"If you need anything, can come to Duong Quang Apartments to find me," Lam Pham finished speaking, turned and left.

Hearing footsteps going downstairs outside, gradually walking away.

"Gone."

"Mm, gone."

The two brothers sighed in relief. Survivors in the apocalypse are all f***ing lunatics. They witnessed firsthand, more ruthless, more venomous than them, these small thieves. Looked harmless to humans and animals, but actually terrifying to the extreme.

"Cough cough."

Coughing sounds came from inside the room.

The two brothers hurried into the room, "Grandpa, what's wrong?"

The old man said kindly, "Cover with some quilt, a bit cold."

The two brothers exchanged glances, an uneasy feeling.

...

...

A steel beast drove on the street.

This was Han Suong and her group's daily itinerary: drive around the city, observe the surroundings.

If after the apocalypse happened, zombies didn't change at all, she also wouldn't worry in the slightest, because she knew Lam Pham was always eliminating zombies. Based on such daily elimination, one day could wipe out all zombies.

But later, she saw various evolved zombies.

This kind of signal was very dangerous.

"Big Sis Leader, did you notice? When we came out, the streets near our residential area had particularly few zombies, could even say none. Bro Lam cleaned too thoroughly," Tu Trach Duong sighed with emotion.

He had never admired anyone before, but honestly, he truly admired Lam Pham.

Sis Van said, "Yeah! Don't know how long it will take Bro Lam to clean up the entire Hoang city."

Han Suong, that figure, that face appeared in her mind, "Persevere with persistence. One day definitely can clear all zombies in Hoang city."

Old Mao, driving, said, "Do you know about steel sieges?"

Tu Trach Duong asked, "Is it the kind that surrounds an entire city?"

Old Mao said, "Yes, just that kind of steel perimeter wall. Clear out a safe area, build a city of steel, block zombies outside, provide living space for all survivors, slowly expand outwards, finally clean up all zombies. Wanting to rebuild civilization, must resolve all zombies worldwide."

Sis Van said in surprise, "Worldwide?"

"Definitely! Our country has quite a few neighboring countries. If only clean up ourselves, danger still exists. Moreover, there are various strange evolved zombies; their terror unimaginable. If any loophole appears, disaster will erupt again, all efforts will turn into bubbles. Also, zombies can float on lake surfaces, sea surfaces, drifting from distant seas. If not clearing all zombies, can we possibly establish huge defensive walls along the coast? That's unrealistic."

Old Mao voiced his thoughts.

Sis Van's mouth opened wide.

Tu Trach Duong, thinking about it, also felt a burst of fear, "Too terrifying! Worldwide! How many zombies would that be? Afraid have to kill until the end of time."

Han Suong listened to them talk about the situation, leaned over, looked at the street outside. Although seen many times, but for some reason, every time seeing dilapidated buildings, always a kind of indescribable desolate feeling in her heart.

Suddenly.

Old Mao suddenly stopped the car, exclaimed in shock, pointed to that bridge spanning the river far away, "Look! What's that situation?"

Hearing Old Mao's voice.

Han Suong and her group were very puzzled. Looking in the direction Old Mao pointed, all were shocked.

That bridge was pitch black, countless zombies gathered together, limping along. That bridge was for leaving the city. The current situation could only indicate, these zombies came from other places.

How could it be?

Han Suong said, "Go back!"

Old Mao, without hesitation, stomped the accelerator, crushed the zombies blocking his path, turned the steering wheel, headed towards the residential area. At such a moment, definitely no traffic rules. But if Lam Pham was in the car, perhaps would kindly remind Old Mao, You're going the wrong way. If photographed, might get points deducted.

...

At this time.

Lam Pham looked at the zombie corpses littered before him, gently flicked the sticky substance off his sword.

"Places not been to before, zombie numbers really plentiful."

He sighed with emotion.

Cleaning process very long. Although now only cleaned one passage, but based on this speed, even if survivors appear here, encountering zombies would only be a few stragglers.

Absolutely wouldn't encounter zombies in droves.

He couldn't guarantee places cleaned by him were all clean, but could guarantee, absolutely wouldn't appear with a full-scale quantity of zombies.

"Anyone here?"

"My name is Lam Pham, Duong Quang Apartments' security guard. If need help, just tell me."

He shouted towards the street.

Looked at those windows, some open, some tightly closed. How he wished a friendly survivor would appear, stick their head out the window, and shout.

"I'm still alive!"

Stood at the end of the intersection, waiting quietly, hoping what he thought would happen.

Silent without a sound, frighteningly quiet. Empty street, truly only his figure existed.

Lonely, solitary.

Gaze from expectant to regretful. Shouldered his sword, turned and left.

Suddenly.

Rumble!

A violent explosion transmitted from afar.

Shockwave extremely terrifying. Clearly so far away, yet could still feel the vibration.

"Over there... what happened?"

Lam Pham leaped to a high place.

Saw even more clearly.

Could see flames rising, thick smog soaring into the sky.

Frowned, expression serious. Thought of the explosion some time ago, but that kind of explosive impact clearly much smaller than this.

"I remember over there seems to be factories."

Thinking, images of factory hazards appeared in his mind.

...

The explosion site wasn't considered a remote place; there was a Fire Bureau nearby.

The reason for placing the Fire Bureau here back then was also a decision by a Hoang city leader. Thought Hoang city is an important city; fire stations in various parts of the city, if a fire occurs, can all rush over immediately.

But many factories here. Once a fire situation occurs, distance far. If encounter rush hour, blocked midway, delaying time, impact caused absolutely even greater.

When established, also joked about by Hoang city citizens, saying this was for wiping factory asses.

Talking, talking, laughing, laughing.

City dwellers relatively approved of this; after all, safety most important.

Inside the Fire Bureau.

Extremely deserted, messy everywhere.

A dozen or so zombies limped and swayed in the courtyard. Irrational behavior, just lowered heads swaying, as if this was their home to return to; outside had nothing to do with them.

Rumble!

Violent explosion erupted, accompanied by terrifying vibrations.

Zombies in the courtyard heard the commotion.

As if hearing some kind of command, simultaneously looked towards the distance, as if stunned.

At this time, a zombie looking like a middle-aged man, wearing a tank top, barefoot, as if by instinct, walked towards the fire alarm.

Instantly, the fire alarm sounded.

This kind of sound made the zombies in the courtyard suddenly recover their senses, as if some familiar command hidden deep in their consciousness appeared. This kind of command already deeply rooted.

They ran towards the explosion site.

And in a room on the second floor.

A mentally fatigued man stood before the window, looking at the situation downstairs, disbelief in his expression.

The sound of the fire alarm came from his ear.

"Why did the fire alarm sound?"

"Was it Captain who sounded the alarm? He knows a fire broke out over there..."

His name was Ha Vinh, a member of the Fire Brigade. Seeing his former comrades turned into zombies, he was scared, always hiding here. But what always puzzled him was, his comrades always swayed downstairs, didn't go anywhere. Even when there was movement outside, they just looked, then continued lowering heads swaying.

He pushed open the door, didn't see his zombified comrades.

Instead, smelled a pungent odor.

Instantly, face changed drastically.

Doing this profession, how could he not know what that smell was?

He hesitated briefly.

Then suddenly enlightened.

Thought of the oath when becoming a firefighter before.

I voluntarily join the national fire rescue team, loyal to the Party, disciplined, brave through smoke and fire, dedicated to serving the light, resolutely obey orders, follow command, fulfill duties, train hard, fear no hardship, fear no sacrifice, to protect people's lives and property safety, maintain social stability, contribute everything I have.

Anyone wanting to become a firefighter is fearless of death. If afraid of death, wouldn't do this line of work.

Once entering a sea of fire, life and death decided by heaven.

"Damn! Captain, comrades, even turned into zombies, still rush over there! Yet I dither, hesitate! If Captain knew I hesitated, absolutely would kick me to the ground! Comrades would definitely also mock me!"

He didn't hesitate.

Quickly ran downstairs.

Put on protective clothing, got into the truck, drove the fire truck towards the scene.

He drove out quite far, then saw Captain and comrades running, speed very fast. He never thought Captain and comrades could run so fast.

"Were you all hiding your strength before?" Ha Vinh muttered.

Soon, arriving at this place.

He was stunned by the scene before him.

Raging flames, thick smoke billowing.

"Relying on me alone... can it really be done?"

This must be extinguished. Otherwise, toxic substances disperse, float into the city, then will cause great impact on survivors.

Meanwhile.

He saw Captain and team members.

"No... not just me alone! I still have them!"

But soon.

He found the situation not right. His comrades actually walked towards the inside, fundamentally not thinking of using any tools.

Anxious, he quickly drove the fire truck forward.

"Don't go over like that! Will be burned to death!"

He didn't think that much, actually directly jumped out of the truck. And what made him unexpected was, they actually didn't bite him, still walked forward.

At this time, he saw a zombie at the very front. He knew who it was. Even if turned savage-faced, still knew.

"Dai Bao! Don't be like that!" (Dai Bao - a name)

He shouted.

Dai Bao didn't listen, instead "Ugh ugh" growled lowly. Facing the raging flames, not scared in the slightest. Facing burning goods, Dai Bao spread his arms, patted the flames on the goods, bare-handed slapping. Even turned into a zombie, hands still would be burned charred. Those goods seemed to be flammable objects.

Swish!

Goods ignited, raging flames like a fire dragon soaring into the sky, instantly engulfing Dai Bao. And Dai Bao, engulfed by flames, still put out the fire, as it continuously burned.

Dai Bao rumbled and fell to the ground, flames burning his body.

Ha Vinh's eyes reddened.

Captain and comrades still advanced.

"Everyone! You..."

He directly grabbed the water gun and started spraying. He knew relying on his own ability impossible to extinguish. Even if all comrades present, still unlikely.

But he now...

"Also good. Being able to fight the last fire together with everyone, actually very happy."

"Brothers! Let us coordinate one last time!"

Ha Vinh shouted.

Damn apocalypse, made him feel eking out an existence was a kind of mediocrity. Since so, then have a good glorious time.

"Ugh ugh..."

He looked to one side. Zombies attracted by the sound rushed towards him from afar.

Under the protective gear, revealed a smile.

Ignored that group of charging zombies.

Extremely focused looking forward.

He now wanted to fight one last time with his comrades.

He heard "Ugh ugh" sounds, closer and closer. He knew that group of zombies already approached him.

He smiled.

Hope it doesn't hurt so much.

Rumble!

The factory ahead exploded again. Hot heatwave assaulted his face. Powerful impact rushed towards him. Body flew backwards. Approaching zombies also blown away.

Flying in mid-air.

He looked up at the sky. That was a beautiful blue sky. Imagined summer several years ago, young and tender him, swaggering into the Fire Brigade. Perhaps such a clear blue sky.

Meanwhile.

He felt himself hugged by someone.

Sky gone.

Appearing was a face, a male face.

This made him recall a domineering CEO TV drama he once watched. Cinderella female lead almost hit by a speeding car. In critical moment, just like this, hugged by the domineering CEO. The two first met, looked at each other affectionately.

"Are you okay?"