Chapter 027 Hello, everyone!


    “I bought an electric hot pot recently. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday…”


    Zheng Xinyu spoke pitifully. She had made plenty of preparations for this challenge.


    “An electric hot pot… Right!” Zhong Xiaoshan’s eyes lit up. She pointed upstairs and said, “902 has a microwave and an induction cooker!”


    Zhang Su made a quick decision. “I’ll go check it out!”


    Water, gas, and communication were already down, leaving electricity as the only resource still clinging on. Who knew how long it would last? It was best to make the most of it while it was still available.


    Zheng Xinyu was about to suggest going with him but stopped herself. Things weren’t like before anymore. There was no way they could let the newcomer, Zhong Xiaoshan, see how many supplies they had at home. She nodded and turned to help Zhang Su gather equipment.


    “Be careful on the way to 902. The floor’s a mess, and it’s easy to trip. And whatever you do, keep an eye out for that zombie uncle. He’s barefoot, so you can’t hear him walking…” Zhong Xiaoshan stood nearby, reminding Zhang Su as he strapped on arm guards.


    “Got it!”


    With that, Zhang Su didn’t linger. He checked outside for any abnormalities, opened the door, and left. Someone else had already done the hard work of clearing the path, which put him slightly at ease, though he stayed alert.


    “Xinyu-jie, you’re so lucky to be with someone as reliable as Brother Su.”


    At the door, Zhong Xiaoshan made the comment to Zheng Xinyu, who was peering outside through the peephole.


    Zheng Xinyu stiffened slightly.


    Together?


    If it weren’t for this sudden disaster, would they have ended up together? Probably not. They’d likely still be stuck being exploited by that unscrupulous landlord!


    “Nurse Zhong, are you interested in Brother Su?” Zheng Xinyu turned her head and asked bluntly, her gaze direct and unwavering.


    Her straightforward question caught Zhong Xiaoshan off guard, making her a bit flustered. She avoided eye contact and chuckled awkwardly. “What are you saying, Xinyu-jie? I’ve barely known Brother Su for a day. How could I have any thoughts like that?”


    “It wouldn’t be surprising if you did. In times like these…” Zheng Xinyu’s face carried an unexplainable expression. “We can’t afford to have conflicts that upset Brother Su. As long as you can make him happy, we’ll all benefit.”


    After saying this, she continued watching through the peephole.


    Zhong Xiaoshan was momentarily stunned, unable to believe what she had just heard. But after a moment, she understood. In this precarious world, many things had changed—becoming drastically different from before.


    When survival is at stake, internal conflicts must be avoided, and external threats must be eliminated.


    At the same time, two men in Unit 502 were whispering to each other.


    “Bro… Bro… There’s no way we can get out. We can’t break through. There are so many zombies downstairs!”


    The scrawny man shook his head repeatedly, his face filled with fear. His messy hair and bloodshot eyes gave him a look that, at night, might easily be mistaken for a zombie.


    “No, we have to leave!”


    Duan Wuhu was resolute. “The water and gas are gone. Who knows how long the electricity will last? The supplies we have left—eating only two meals a day—will last us three, maybe four days at most!”


    “When we run out of food, we’ll be even weaker. By then, we won’t even have the strength to try escaping!” Sёar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Compared to his younger brother Duan Sihai, Duan Wuhu was broad and muscular—not just overweight, but sturdy. As he spoke, his gaze turned mournfully toward the bedroom.


    “Bro, even if we leave, what about Mom and Sister-in-law?”


    Duan Sihai also glanced at the master bedroom, his expression filled with despair. From the bedroom came faint teeth-grinding sounds—quiet, but enough to chill anyone to the bone, as if a flesh-eating demon lurked behind the door.


    When his brother mentioned their mother and his wife, Duan Wuhu’s mind was flooded with the nightmare from the day before.


    Just like any other morning, the middle school gym teacher had woken up before 6 a.m. for his usual jog around the residential area. Returning home, he saw his wife preparing breakfast, while his mom watered plants by the window. His lazy brother was, as usual, still in bed.


    Everything had been so warm, so perfect.


    But disaster doesn’t care about perfection.


    Duan Wuhu didn’t remember the exact time it happened. All he remembered was coming out of the bathroom to find the pot on the gas stove overflowing. His wife stood there, jerking her neck mechanically, oblivious to the mess.


    Rushing over to check on her, he was horrified to see her pale gray face, blood vessels visible beneath her skin, and crimson eyes. Without a word, she lunged at him, mouth wide open.


    Reacting quickly, Duan Wuhu grabbed a rolling pin from the counter, blocking her attack and barely avoiding her teeth. Wrapping her up in cling film, he managed to contain her, only to turn around and find his mom stumbling toward him with the same mechanical gait.


    It felt like lightning had struck him. With no time to think, he restrained his mother the same way.


    Now, the two women who meant the most to him in the world lay bound on the floor, writhing and growling like beasts. His heart was in chaos.


    “If what we’ve seen in movies is right, there’s no saving them…” Duan Wuhu choked up, took a deep breath, and said, “We have to survive!”


    He was a sentimental man, but also a practical one. He understood that the dead were gone and that they needed to live on.


    “But… but what if… what if there’s hope for a cure? If we leave them behind now, it’s like we’re just abandoning them to die!”


    “We haven’t seen any sign of order being restored. There’s no water, no gas. We won’t last a week! I want Mom and Xiaolan to be treated too, but… do you think that’s realistic?”


    Duan Wuhu knew his brother too well. These weren’t arguments born of logic but of fear—excuses for his cowardice and reluctance to take a risk.


    Anyone rational could see the truth. Forget about a cure. Right now, finding a safe place to stay was already a monumental challenge.


    “Fine, Bro. But even if you’re right, where can we go? After all that gunfire last night went silent, do you think we’re tougher than the military?”


    Duan Sihai’s voice was filled with hysteria.


    Because of their lower-floor apartment, the two brothers had no clear view of what was happening. They mistook the special police clearing zombies for military action.


    “We’re not trying to fight those things head-on! If we can’t beat them, we’ll avoid them. I’m taking you with me to survive. Do you understand?”


    Duan Wuhu’s urgency was palpable as he tried to persuade his despondent brother.