Ning Gu couldn't wrap his mind around it. He'd followed every instruction Tang Ze had given him to the letter—so why was Tang Ze still determined to end his life?
Tang Ze, on the other hand, was resolute: he wouldn't let threats fester; he preferred to snuff them out before they could take root.
The deafening gunshot once again plunged the community's power players into chaos. The sound this time was unmistakably different. Even those with rudimentary knowledge of firearms could tell—it came from two distinct calibers.
This revelation sparked a flurry of questions: were there two guns in the compound? Did they belong to one person or two separate individuals? Panic gripped the group chat as the leaders convened online. If there were indeed two gunmen working together, their side stood no chance.
Inside the apartment, Sun Ting managed to keep her composure, while An Bai collapsed in terror. Tang Ze promptly revived her without ceremony.
Once awake, An Bai bolted to the bathroom, where she retched violently. After what felt like an eternity, she emerged pale and trembling. Spotting Ning Gu sprawled in a pool of blood, she realized something unsettling—she felt nothing. Shouldn't she feel grief? Or at least pity?
"Lend a hand," Sun Ting called out tersely.
"Okay."
The two women dragged the corpse toward the window, summoning every ounce of strength to heave it over the edge.
Panting heavily, Sun Ting glanced at An Bai. "You holding up alright?"
An Bai nodded weakly, though her face remained ghostly white. Death had stared her directly in the eye today.
"I just killed your boyfriend. You're not angry, are you?" Tang Ze handed her a glass of water, his tone light and almost friendly.
An Bai studied his expression. His smile appeared benign, yet it sent an icy shiver coursing through her veins. There was something profoundly unsettling about him. She shook her head wordlessly.
"That's good. Focus on recuperating—that's your priority now," Tang Ze said thoughtfully. In his mind, having these two women alternating tasks had effectively doubled their efficiency. Still, progress felt sluggish. But those shallow, vapid women… he couldn't bring himself to deal with them.
"Any other noteworthy women in the neighborhood?" Tang Ze inquired idly, his curiosity piqued. Given his erratic schedule, it was possible he'd overlooked someone.
Sun Ting shook her head. She spent most of her days livestreaming from home—how would she know? As for An Bai, she traveled constantly and rarely stayed long enough to explore the area. Thus, Tang Ze's question hung unanswered in the air.
"Come massage my legs," Tang Ze commanded, reclining comfortably.
Obediently, the two women settled on either side of him, kneading away as Tang Ze scrolled through the neighborhood group chat.
Building 5: "Damn it! A shooter showed up and abducted my wife!"
Building 2: "Same here. My wife is gone too!"
Building 1: "How many shooters are we dealing with?!"
Building 3: "The shooter's in our building. You've all been duped. Stay vigilant."
Building 5: "What?! So my wife was taken for nothing?!"
Tang Ze chuckled darkly. Someone was impersonating him to reap the benefits. How amusing.
Both women read the messages but wisely refrained from commenting. Smart women knew better than to voice strong opinions—especially around Tang Ze. Opinionated women didn't last long.
"Go wash some fruit," Tang Ze instructed absently, still engrossed in his phone.
An Bai sprang to her feet immediately. Sun Ting blinked in surprise. Had An Bai finally figured things out?
Moments later, An Bai returned with a meticulously arranged platter. Her presentation skills were undeniable—a reminder that amateurs shouldn't attempt tasks best left to professionals.
"My turn to step into the spotlight," Tang Ze mused aloud.
The two women exchanged uneasy glances.
"They outnumber us. Rushing out might not be wise," Sun Ting cautioned nervously. If anything happened to Tang Ze, she doubted she'd fare any better.
An Bai remained silent, perhaps too overwhelmed to fully grasp the implications.
By the next day, the rain intensified, and bodies began piling up in the central green space. Some had jumped, others had been thrown, but nearly half were naked women. The macabre display gnawed at people's sanity, breeding despair and unraveling civility.
Yet within Tang Ze's home, life carried on as if untouched by the carnage outside.
Seated at the dining table, Tang Ze savored a spread of Hunan cuisine while Sun Ting and An Bai knelt on the floor, waiting for him to finish. They ate only what he left behind.
After burping contentedly, Tang Ze remarked, "Five dishes might have been excessive."
He then scraped the leftovers onto two plates—not much remained, as he'd barely touched the food—and placed them before the women. Patting their heads, he added, "Eat."
Checking his phone, Tang Ze saw a message from Dong Fei: "Everyone gather in the underground parking garage tonight."
"Tonight, I'll take you two out for some entertainment," Tang Ze announced nonchalantly.
Sun Ting's eyes widened in alarm. Tang Ze alone against multiple adversaries? And with two women in tow? Their chances of survival seemed grim. Yet, she dared not protest, merely uttering a soft "Meow." An Bai, seeing this, mimicked her response.
Had their brief reprieve already ended? Why drag them along? Was it sheer arrogance or a calculated move?
Tang Ze reasoned internally: flaunting his captives served a dual purpose. Stirring trouble in this apocalyptic world meant inviting death—carrying two beautiful women openly was practically suicidal. Besides, he prided himself on being a gentleman. Unless provoked, how could he justify killing anyone?
Night fell swiftly, and residents trickled into Building 3's parking garage. The atmosphere was tense, everyone wary of their surroundings, especially Dong Fei and his entourage.
Meanwhile, neighboring buildings appeared to be holding meetings of their own. The underground garage buzzed with activity, though silence reigned. People clustered in tight-knit groups, stealing cautious glances at strangers.
"That bastard Ning Gu vanished on me! And he even swindled a loaf of bread as collateral!" a balding middle-aged man seethed, realizing he'd been played. He'd hoped for pleasure, only to find himself scammed.
"That punk also took a braised egg from me—I'll carve him up!" another chimed in furiously.
Those who'd paid deposits vented their frustrations loudly. Dong Fei lounged atop a car hood, cracking sunflower seeds. His henchmen stood nearby, armed with kitchen knives and machetes—the latter being the deadliest weapon among them.
Dong Fei's gaze lingered on the elevator. Was Ning Gu the shooter? Or the delivery guy? Or was there someone else lurking in the shadows? One of these two had to be hiding something sinister!