Chapter 053: Setting the Rules—Hang Them Up and Beat Them!

Gentle? Xue Feng was nothing short of a wild beast! Just the thought of it made Nie Xiaoyue feel moist again. She adored Xue Feng’s ferocity. Yet, she still agreed to Nie Xiaoxing’s request and pulled her out of the room.

No sooner had they entered the living room than a scream rang out.

“Ah!” It sounded like a woman’s voice.

“That might be one of my classmates.” Nie Xiaoxing instinctively covered her mouth, unsure of what had happened.

“Don’t worry, let’s go take a look.” Nie Xiaoyue patted her shoulder, and together they entered the living room.

What they saw was shocking: a woman hung high beneath the crystal chandelier with a rope, clad only in her underwear.

Slap! Slap!

Gu Xiaoqian held a leather whip, striking harshly across the woman’s back. The sound was sharp, and instantly two red welts appeared.

The other girls who had just arrived knelt trembling on the floor.

“What’s going on?” Nie Xiaoyue quietly asked You Haoyun, who was standing by, watching.

“Sticky fingers—she was caught hiding food,” You Haoyun replied, her gaze devoid of sympathy. Food was the most precious resource. Stashing food secretly was tantamount to stealing from everyone.

Only then did Nie Xiaoyue notice the thick sausage, as big as a thumb, lying on the coffee table.

“I... I was wrong! Please, forgive me!” The woman was already crying bitterly, her tears streaming down.

Nie Xiaoxing, witnessing this, felt her legs go weak in fear.

They had been warned by Gu Xiaoqian during their bath: the villa operated under a rationing system, where everyone worked for their food. No hoarding allowed. Anyone not working properly would be punished.

She hadn’t expected her classmate to break the rules so soon.

Though Nie Xiaoxing could understand—after all, they had endured hunger for so long. It was said that those who had nearly starved would obsessively hoard food after surviving. But to dare such a thing after seeing Xue Feng’s methods was truly reckless.

Nie Xiaoxing’s eyes furtively glanced at Xue Feng, seated at the head of the living room. His expression was unreadable.

“Sir, I suggest we expel her from the villa shelter as a warning to others!” Gu Xiaoqian’s eyes shone with excitement. In fact, that sausage had been deliberately placed in a corner by her, precisely to teach the newcomers a lesson. As expected, someone took the bait.

Little did they know, the entire villa was covered with surveillance, leaving no blind spots. Every move of the five new girls was under the control of Xue Feng and Gu Xiaoqian. Gu Xiaoqian was well-versed in the art of management. Back at the waterworks, whenever a batch of new employees arrived, the leaders always made an example out of someone in front of everyone—catching a typical offender to warn the rest.

“For a single sausage, you want to kick her out?” Nie Xiaoxing couldn’t help but cry out in shock. It seemed excessively cruel.

Her words naturally displeased Gu Xiaoqian.

“No rules, no order. All the food in the villa was found by our leader at great risk. Moreover, food and water are strictly rationed. Breaking the rules demands punishment,” Gu Xiaoqian replied coolly.

If not for Nie Xiaoxing being Nie Xiaoyue’s sister, she too would have had to do menial chores, instead of assisting Nie Xiaoyue as Xue Feng intended.

Nie Xiaoxing was momentarily speechless. Gu Xiaoqian’s reasoning was hard to refute. She merely wanted the thief expelled.

“No, please, sir! Give me another chance. I swear I’ll never steal again. Chop off one of my hands if I do!” The woman hanging there sobbed, pleading. She’d rather lose a hand than face the zombies outside.

Xue Feng saw her kneeling and begging, knowing the warning had been delivered, and decided not to push further.

“As long as you finish your daily tasks, even snacks will be provided. But you chose to hide supplies. I won’t expel you, but since you broke the rules, you must be punished. For the next week, you’ll be in charge of night watch!” Xue Feng addressed Gu Xiaoqian.

“Let her down,” he ordered.

Gu Xiaoqian released the woman.

“This is your last chance. Everyone else, take note—this is the consequence of breaking the rules. But as long as you follow them, you’ll have safety and your needs met.”

The other girls nodded. His words conveyed a clear message: follow the rules, and you’ll have food and hot water.

“It’s late, everyone go rest.” Xue Feng signaled for them to leave, adding that tonight, unless summoned, no one was to enter his room. There were simply too many people now.

Xue Feng was planning to establish a management system—rules for resource distribution and every aspect, solidifying his position as leader in the base. Everyone would obey him. Breaking the rules would bring punishment. Today was only the beginning. Things could no longer be as casual as before. With so many people, scientific management was necessary.

He had already entrusted this to Gu Xiaoqian, given her talent for housekeeping.

After everyone left, Xue Feng turned his gaze to Nie Xiaoyue and Nie Xiaoxing.

“Your sister can assist you with experiments. You need someone trustworthy,” he said, knowing Nie Xiaoyue had something to say.

“Thank you! My sister and I both want to repay your kindness,” Nie Xiaoyue declared, expressing her gratitude for the first time. She truly hadn’t expected to see her sister again.

“It’s nothing, just a coincidence,” Xue Feng smiled, offering no further explanation.

“My sister is also very grateful, so tonight we’d like to…” Nie Xiaoyue said, her cheeks flushed. Only yesterday had she been satisfied, but just thinking of it stirred her body anew.

“Is that so? Your sister...” Xue Feng didn’t want to force anyone.

“I’m willing!” Nie Xiaoxing replied instantly, her expression resolute. She had already decided to devote herself entirely to Xue Feng.

“Very well, come to my room,” Xue Feng said, a smile curling on his lips. Such beautiful sisters—how many could only dream of this?

Under ordinary circumstances, Nie Xiaoxing’s defenses would not have fallen so quickly. Perhaps it was because she saw how relaxed Nie Xiaoyue was here and felt grateful to Xue Feng. Everything was because of the apocalypse—it changed everyone.

Whatever the reason, tonight Xue Feng would not hold back.

Soon, two more joined him in his bed. Xue Feng gripped one in each arm, laughing. After yesterday’s experiment, Nie Xiaoyue had become utterly uninhibited, her face filled with pleasure. Nie Xiaoxing, though happy, was experiencing her first time, and spent the night blushing with her eyes tightly shut.