"In case I get infected... I'd give myself a quick end!"
Zhang Su looked at the zombie, which was neither human nor ghost, and silently decided in his heart that he would surely prepare a bullet of glory for himself if he got the chance. When the time came, he would at least leave with dignity!
Contemplating while observing closely, four or five minutes passed, and Zheng Xinyu's voice sounded in his ear.
"Let, let me have a look too..."
Zhang Su glanced at Zheng Xinyu, who had a complex expression on her face. In spite of resistance, there was curiosity; clearly very repulsed, yet still deciding to try. Conflicting emotions entangled between her brows.
He nodded without saying anything and slowly gave way.
Zheng Xinyu slowly approached the peephole, brushed aside the long hair obstructing her view, and when she finally saw the appearance of the zombie clearly, it was like being struck by lightning. At the same time, a hand covered her mouth as she almost screamed.
"Mmm... hoo, hoo..."
Zheng Xinyu just let out an extremely faint grunt, followed by rapid breathing, leaning against the wall in the foyer, slapping her heaving chest, unable to suppress the horror on her face.
Zhang Su didn't have the time to comfort Zheng Xinyu; he quickly leaned towards the peephole, finding that the zombie didn't react at all, still turning in circles like an old donkey blinded pulling a millstone.
"The sound just now was indeed not loud, but in such a quiet environment, even I should be able to hear it, yet it couldn't. Seems like the zombie's hearing is not as keen as I imagined!"
Zhang Su stared at the zombie's ears; apart from the unnatural color, the shape hadn't changed.
"Feeling better?"
Zhang Su observed for a while seriously and turned to Zheng Xinyu, who had calmed down significantly.
"Let me see again..."
Zheng Xinyu pressed her palm against her chest, face showing fear and stubbornness, and without waiting for Zhang Su's consent, leaned forward again.
Zhang Su was already prepared to cover her mouth, yet found that Zheng Xinyu was doing much better than before; her heaving chest and slightly trembling fists were her only reactions. He stood quietly thinking of ways to deal with the zombie.
Both stood there quietly, one observing, the other contemplating, as time slipped away second by second.
While Zheng Xinyu was watching the zombie, overcoming her inner fear, she didn't know that mere inches away behind the peephole of apartment 802, there was also a pair of eyes watching!
Zhang Su's unit had one level per two households; 802 was slightly larger than 801, featuring a layout of three bedrooms and two living rooms, with north and south exposure totaling more than one hundred and twenty square meters.
A young woman wearing a silk nightgown had a charming face even paler than her snow-white calves exposed beneath the skirt, resembling a large gecko stuck to the door, moving awkwardly.
Gazing at the zombie wandering in the hallway outside the door, her eyes almost brimmed with horror.
Ten minutes later, Zheng Xinyu drew back her gaze, pursed her lips, and rubbed her shoulders and neck, which became stiff from maintaining one position.
Both returned to a place far away from the door to sit. Zhang Su looked at Zheng Xinyu appreciatively, "Not scared anymore?"
Zheng Xinyu nodded uncertainly, "Still a bit, but I can accept it now. At least I won't be paralyzed by fear."
"To manage this in a short time is quite good. Since you aren't scared, how about we take down that guy together?"
Zhang Su threw out the question.
"Take, take him down? Is it suitable?" Zheng Xinyu frowned, looking very conflicted.
Zhang Su asked puzzledly, "What's inappropriate about it? You can't possibly think he's still human, still Brother Li?"
Zheng Xinyu blinked and countered, "Isn't he?"
"Of course not!" Zhang Su snapped with a flick to Zheng Xinyu's shiny, fair forehead, instantly leaving a small red dot, and continued, "From the moment the zombie virus controlled him, he stopped being human!"
Zheng Xinyu nodded confusedly, "Even if you're right, why take him down? Are you planning to go downstairs for supplies? No need, our food and drink can last half a month, don't take unnecessary risks!"
Taking down a fish, Zheng Xinyu felt she could try; taking down a zombie was simply too much! Being able to look at zombies behind a door without fear was already challenging enough, she couldn't guarantee staying calm when directly facing a zombie.
As she spoke, the sound of helicopters again echoed through the sky, even more densely this time.
Zheng Xinyu rushed to the window, opened a crack to look at the sky, then joyfully said to Zhang Su behind her, "Ten or so helicopters, they must be the special police reinforcement units, right?"
Zhang Su was noncommittal, his eyes mainly restored to calm, staring at the helicopters sweeping across the distance, lost in thoughts.
"Brother Su, let's just stay home quietly and wait; reinforcement units have arrived, and they should soon control the situation. Maybe the rescue will be quicker than we expect, really no need to do dangerous things!"
No one told Zheng Xinyu those were reinforcement units in the sky, she just deceived herself into believing it.
"Do you think you have too little to eat? It's fine, I'll eat less and leave it for you, please don't take risks!"
Zheng Xinyu pleaded almost desperately.
Things that provided her a sense of security now had two parts: one was Zhang Su, the second was the tightly closed front door.
In her view, once that door was opened, endless fear would sweep in, eventually engulfing her in a sea of blood.
Zhang Su's mind stirred slightly upon hearing Zheng Xinyu's words. His serious expression subdued, replaced by a light smile: "Willing to eat less and leave it for me, being so nice to me, do you have a crush on me?"
Zheng Xinyu didn't expect Zhang Su to joke at such a tense moment, rolling her eyes at him, her gaze dodging briefly, but as she reconsidered the situation, she instead solidified her stance.
"Yes, damn right I fancy your muscular frame, so what? Dead eunuch!"
The first part Zhang Su found rather pleasing, but what's up with the last three words?
"Dead, dead eunuch? I change girlfriends every three months, you can't imagine Brother's joy!"
Zhang Su scornfully curled his lips.
"You..." Zheng Xinyu was speechless, annoyed, "Just brag, the more you lack, the more you brag. If you truly change girlfriends every three months, haven't I hinted at you more than once? I'm no ugly duckling, you're like an old monk!"
If it was really as Zhang Su claimed, changing girlfriends every three months, Zheng Xinyu believed that for such a philanderer scumbag, there was no reason not to eat the delicious meal delivered to one's mouth!
She wasn't repulsed by scumbags, just afraid he was gay!
"Well..."
Many male behaviors are mainly based on whether there's a benefit involved. When faced with two advantages, one would choose the bigger one...
Zhang Su naturally sensed Zheng Xinyu's favor towards him, but in his view, turning a tenant into a girlfriend meant not only losing rent but also having to cover many other costs. This business was a losing proposition no matter how it's measured...