Not to mention vacuum-packed food and canned goods, even chewing gum, snacks, and condiments had been completely scavenged, leaving not even a bread crumb. Si Nan picked up a chair, knocking down a zombie that was sneaking up behind him, and stood up dizzy. Hunger and thirst had consumed all his senses; except for the intense, gut-wrenching hunger, he could barely feel anything. If only there was something to eat…
Suddenly, his ears twitched, hearing the sound of wheels rolling on the road not far away—someone! How could there be someone? Survivors or a rescue team? Or… had the 118 Squad come back for him?! As if instantly injected with a strong stimulant, Si Nan came fully awake, sprinting out of the alley like an arrow, rushing onto the main street, catching just a glimpse of a blue and white vehicle driving away.
“Hey! Hey—!” Si Nan shouted without restraint: “Zhou Rong!!” But the car didn’t stop, turning at the end of the road and driving into the next block. Si Nan didn’t hesitate, immediately giving chase. He probably had never run this fast in his life, not even when being chased by a zombie gorilla in the B Military Area Base. The zombie hordes didn’t even touch his clothes before being swept past like a hurricane, left far behind.
“Zhou Rong!!” he screamed hoarsely. “Zhou Rong—!” After turning through several blocks, Si Nan stopped at the intersection, catching his breath and looking around.
Hospital, school, traffic booth, street garden… Zombies wandered in small groups, dragging their feet, limping, emitting dull, unclear roars.
Si Nan’s gaze gradually sank into despair, then suddenly froze like spotting a lifeline— Not far ahead, behind a machine at the gas station, a large SUV was partially visible, its blue and white paint showing. Si Nan involuntarily took two steps forward, then stopped again. Through the gaps in the gas pump, he saw the car door open, and a tall driver in a hood got out, retrieved some compressed biscuits and water from the trunk, then returned to the driver’s seat. Si Nan’s fever-addled brain was like being doused with ice—that wasn’t Zhou Rong.
