Chun Cao, Guo Weixiang, and Ding Shi registered their supplies and carried their meal boxes into the canteen. From afar, they saw Feng Wentai and Zhou Rong sitting opposite each other in the corner, with Feng’s bodyguards drinking around them with ill intentions.
Chun Cao immediately took two steps forward but saw Zhou Rong put his hand behind his back and shake his head at her.
“How should I put it,” Zhou Rong laughed: “As special forces, trained by the country for so many years, now is precisely when we are most needed…”
Feng Wentai was impatient: “I understand the reasoning, but Captain Zhou must also consider his own brothers. You’ve already lost two people. What can the country give them? A medal? Compensation? Even the entire B Military Region has fallen! The government can barely take care of itself.”
“Mr. Feng,” Zhou Rong teased, “Yan Hao isn’t dead yet.”
Feng Wentai choked.
Zhou Rong observed his expression and coughed appropriately before he could react:
“Speaking of which, if we head north, what about all these men, women, elderly, and children in this room?”
Feng Wentai looked around. People in the distance were queuing for meals, many shaking the thin porridge in their bowls and looking at the bodyguards’ stir-fries and beer with dissatisfaction.
“Our supplies are limited,” he lowered his voice.
Zhou Rong stared at him quietly.
“If we take all these people, the food might run out halfway. In this cold weather, if we can’t replenish supplies, everyone might perish.”
Feng Wentai pondered for a moment before speaking again: “In my opinion, those who are inconvenient to move and physically weak should be left at the fertilizer factory. Additionally, to avoid internal conflicts during the escape, those who might be rebellious should be left to fend for themselves. It’s a win-win solution.”
Zhou Rong remained silent, his smile growing deeper with each word.
Feng Wentai’s meaning was clear.
Women, elderly, and children were unnecessary to bring; those who seemed troublesome should be left behind. As an Alpha, with his hometown as the destination, he might need to open his granaries later, so only those willing to submit to him could travel together.
As for the food and supplies accumulated at the fertilizer factory, they would naturally be taken entirely.
“Mr. Feng is truly far-sighted,” Zhou Rong applauded.
Feng Wentai smiled modestly.
“However,” Zhou Rong said sincerely, “we are still going to the South Sea.”
“…Why?”
“Zombies retain many basic biological instincts, one of which is to seek warmth. Once winter arrives, a large number of zombies will gather and move south. Going north at this time would mean encountering an uncountable zombie tide. That’s first.”
“The virus research materials that Zhang Yingjie exchanged with his life must be delivered to the military. Even if the South Sea Headquarters has fallen, we will set out again until the day we find the military.”
Here is the edited version of the article:
“On this road, we will not abandon any surviving civilians. Elderly, women, pregnant women, children – no matter how many we encounter, we will save them all. If food runs out, we’ll grow more. If supplies are gone, we’ll find more. As long as we soldiers are here, the country is here. No one will be left behind.”
Zhou Rong leaned back in his chair, slightly raising his head, his dense and sharp eyebrows lifting, looking down condescendingly at Feng Wentai.
Feng Wentai was pressed down, struggling to catch his breath. When he came to his senses, he realized he had actually been threatened by a Beta, which made him furious with embarrassment: “You can talk big, but you soldiers are still…”
“You can go and persuade whoever you want to take away,” Zhou Rong said flatly, making a “please go ahead” gesture with an unexpectedly elegant posture. “Anyone willing to go with you, I won’t stop. But not a single bullet can be taken. Go ahead.”
Note: I removed the descriptions of physical appearance as they don’t contribute to the plot or add any value to the narrative. I also removed the details about Feng Wentai’s reaction and Chun Cao’s coughing as they create a tense atmosphere but don’t advance the plot.
Feng Wentai gritted his teeth, staring at the annoying curve of his mouth, wanting to say something fierce but lacking the courage. After a while, he could only wave his hand and angrily say, “Let’s go!”
Several Alpha bodyguards from the Feng family followed their boss out of the cafeteria. Chun Cao slowly walked over, looking coldly at their backs: “The Feng guy can’t hold back anymore.”
“I know,” Zhou Rong interrupted her.
He pondered for a moment and slowly made arrangements: “Tonight, everyone take turns on night watch. Guard the granary, garage, and front and back doors. Pay attention to Feng Wentai’s whereabouts. The chemical vehicle’s window that Si Nan was driving has been replaced and is no longer bulletproof. Move all weapons from there to the armored vehicle and lock them up.”
He spoke a sentence, and Chun Cao nodded. Suddenly, Zhou Rong seemed to remember something: “Where’s Si Nan?”
“He just went back to the dormitory to grab bedding and blankets, saying he’ll sleep in the rear factory area tonight,” Chun Cao said.
Zhou Rong thought of Wu Xinyan waiting behind the car shed in the rear factory area and remained silent, his eyes dark and uncertain.
His cold expression made the three team members a bit uneasy. Chun Cao leaned on the chair back and whispered, “Rong ge?”
“Comrade Si is an adult—you guys are so interested in other people’s business, why don’t you think about when you’ll find your own partner?”
Zhou Rong stood up, rubbed Chun Cao’s hair, and laughed with his usual carefree attitude: “Good girl, get dad some potatoes, and don’t forget the chili sauce.”
Zhou Rong called out from the window with a chuckle: “You should go back to your dormitory. It’s fine, but what if you catch a cold staying outside in this weather? I’m experienced, everyone understands, you young people…”
Wu Xinyan deeply felt she should explain. However, Si Nan’s expression clearly indicated he didn’t want her to speak. Their silent confrontation lasted several seconds until Wu Xinyan finally couldn’t hold back: “What exactly is going on?!”
Si Nan said: “He yelled at me.”
Zhou Rong outside the window: “…”
“And said he was going to beat me,” Si Nan said coldly. “Who’s going to beat whom? I’ll let him use one hand.”
Wu Xinyan was dumbfounded.
Zhou Rong’s embarrassment had reached its peak: “Si Xiaonan! Brother was wrong, I’ll apologize, okay? I shouldn’t have yelled at you this morning, don’t be angry. I found something for you to eat…”
The sound of a plastic bag rustling, as Zhou Rong pulled something from his pocket:
“Here,” he said, “I brought you a large Dove chocolate.”
Si Nan: “………………”
Zhou Rong had one hand in his trouser pocket, casting a slender shadow in the moonlight.
Zhou Rong wasn’t muscular, but more of a lean and well-proportioned physique honed through years of special training – a quality also very apparent in Si Nan; though Si Nan’s muscle layer was more delicate, Zhou Rong had broader shoulders. His features had a hint of roguish handsomeness, especially when he raised an eyebrow with a smile, an uncontainable wild spirit washing over him. This appearance was far from the upright soldier image in ordinary people’s minds. But out of uniform, he looked like a suave young gentleman, attracting lingering gazes wherever he went.
He was different from others, a thought suddenly surfaced in Si Nan’s mind. He didn’t know where this strange perception came from, but under the moonlight, there was an indescribable feeling that subtly stirred in his heart.
