002 In the Apocalypse, No Room for the Idle

Bang bang bang, bang bang!

Under An Xiaowei’s anxious yet expectant gaze, she watched as the man knocked on the door.

Excitement, tension!

Fear, longing!

In that instant, a tangled web of emotions twisted inside An Xiaowei’s heart.

Should she open the door or not?

“Is anyone in there?”

Xue Feng’s voice drifted in from outside. “If no one’s home, I’ll be leaving!”

“I’m here, I’m here!”

Before Xue Feng could turn to leave, An Xiaowei finally opened the door.

“Brother, did you need something from me?”

Looking at the unfamiliar man before her, An Xiaowei’s delicate body trembled violently.

She knew all too well that her fate now rested entirely in this man’s hands.

“Sister, you don’t look so well.”

Xue Feng glanced over her, frowning slightly.

Her features were lovely, but the effects of long-term hunger had left her in a miserable state.

“Brother, could you spare me some food? I’m so hungry…”

Her bright eyes stared at Xue Feng, unblinking.

He chuckled. “Sister, I risked my life for this food. Isn’t it a bit much to ask me to just loan you some?”

In truth, Xue Feng’s expectations weren’t high. If the girl understood gratitude and reason, he would give her food. But if she turned out to be a thankless ingrate, the sort who thought his help was only natural, he would rather forgo the system’s reward than save someone like that.

“Brother, I won’t just take your food for nothing!”

An Xiaowei’s knees buckled and she knelt before him. “I can cook, do laundry—anything you want. I can meet all your needs. I am yours entirely.”

“Very well,” Xue Feng replied with satisfaction, unscrewing a can and handing it to her.

Grabbing the can, An Xiaowei devoured its contents with the hunger of a starving soul.

At that moment, the system’s chime echoed in Xue Feng’s mind:

[Information successfully verified. You have received one Apocalypse Touring Armored Vehicle!]

The world outside was overrun with zombies, most of them moving in packs.

With his strength, Xue Feng could easily handle three or five zombies at a time. But if surrounded by a horde, not even he could hold his ground.

But with the armored vehicle, that problem disappeared.

The vehicle resembled a mid-sized cargo truck, its chassis high, its frame and shell made of military-grade armor. Inside, there was cargo space for about ten tons, and the cab was equipped with a folding bunk for resting on the go.

While Xue Feng was inspecting the armored vehicle with his mind’s eye, An Xiaowei had already finished the can.

She still seemed unsatisfied. “Brother, is there more…?”

“Don’t be in such a hurry,” Xue Feng said sternly. “After starving for so long, the worst thing you can do is gorge yourself. Let your stomach digest what you’ve eaten first.”

“All right, brother. Would you like to rest at my place for a while?”

Xue Feng entered and glanced around. An Xiaowei’s room was clean and tidy, far more comfortable than the one he had woken up in earlier.

“I’ll be staying here with you for now,” he decided after a quick assessment.

“All right, brother, then we’ll stay together,” An Xiaowei said, a little shyly.

But she was a clever girl. She understood her situation and the nature of the world outside. With zombies everywhere, she needed this man to survive.

She no longer wanted to spend nights cowering under her blanket, trembling at the howls outside.

Besides, Xue Feng had made himself clear: his food was won at the risk of his life, and he wouldn’t waste it on idlers.

An Xiaowei was truly willing to give everything for the chance to survive.

Earlier, Xue Feng had scavenged a large stockpile of food from Room 502, but unfortunately, there was no water.

An Xiaowei’s own supplies had run out two days ago—she hadn’t a drop of drinkable water left.

After the apocalypse, several strange rains had fallen, each a shade of blood-red, reeking and foul. The rain had polluted all surface water, making it undrinkable.

There were only two ways to solve the water crisis: find an advanced purification system to process the tainted water through distillation, filtration, and disinfection, or search for uncontaminated bottled water in city convenience stores.

Now, desperate for water, Xue Feng could only choose the second option.

“What? You’re going out?”

When Xue Feng explained his intentions, An Xiaowei frowned. “You don’t have any food left?”

“I still have some,” Xue Feng replied calmly.

“Then don’t go. It’s too dangerous with all the zombies outside!”

She clung to his arm, pleading, “Brother, can’t we just close the door and enjoy our time together?”

He shot her a look. “For someone so clever, you’re acting awfully foolish.”

“Even if I have some food left, we can’t just sit here and watch our supplies dwindle. And if you want food from me, you’ll have to help me with some tasks. If all you want is to wait for death, don’t waste the resources.”

No freeloaders in the apocalypse. No saints, either. These were the most basic rules of survival. If An Xiaowei thought she could just leech off his supplies, she was dreaming.

“All right, I’ll listen to you. I’ll do anything you ask.”

An Xiaowei was beautiful and elegant, surpassing any so-called fairy in the romance novels. She’d had suitors enough to form a battalion, including more than a few desperate, fawning types.

But she knew that even in peaceful times, this man was different. He would never grovel for her favor. On the contrary, she would have to work hard just to get close to him.

…

Five minutes later, Xue Feng led An Xiaowei out of the apartment building.

He was still armed with his machete, while An Xiaowei, under his instructions, wielded a wooden stick—a mop handle he’d taken from her own room. It was no match for a blade, but better than empty hands.

Zombies were not afraid of sunlight. Still, compared to the brightness of day, they much preferred the darkness.