Thinking about Zhang Chao’s situation, Zheng Weili was furious. “Beat them up and kick them out!”

Although Zhang Chao was foolish, the medicine Jiang Ning needed was stocked up by him—complete varieties that saved money and hassle.

As a friend, Jiang Ning couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Besides, Zhang Chao had even taken a beating for her when they fought as kids.

In agreement, Zheng Weili kicked the door and shouted, “People inside, listen up! You’ve got one minute to come out, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

But the only answer was silence.

Jiang Ning took a crowbar from her bag and handed it over.

Zheng Weili was strong; the crowbar hit the door with loud banging sounds.

“Who’s there?” a voice suddenly came from behind.

A couple in their fifties or sixties came up the stairs holding hands with an eight or nine-year-old girl, carrying a heavy inflatable boat bag.

Seeing that bag, Jiang Ning immediately recognized it as the one she had anonymously bought for Zhang Chao.

This brand was professional-grade; ordinary people would have chosen a regular one.

In other words, this family was not only leeching off Zhang Chao but also hoarding supplies she bought.

Jiang Ning walked over, grabbed the girl by the collar, and dragged her to the door. “If you don’t open the door, don’t blame me for beating your parents and your daughter to death.”

She even took out a knife, which scared the girl into loud crying. “Mom, mom…”

The couple rushed over, stomping and shouting, “Murder! Murder!”

“Shout all you want! Shout your lungs out so the whole building knows you’re squatting, driving people to death!”

One woman alone couldn’t have forced Zhang Chao out. This family was conspiring!

Don’t be fooled by the girl’s age—she was only eight or nine but already fully aware.

In the apocalypse, children can smile at you while stabbing a knife into your heart.

The purer the smile, the dirtier the heart.

Maybe they didn’t want to do this, but they were starving. Hunger forces choices.

Don’t ask Jiang Ning how she knows—she’d been stabbed!

Finally, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman’s sallow face. She yelled fiercely at the three, “What are you doing? I said we don’t know Zhang Chao. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll call the police!”

Zheng Weili punched her hard. “Screw you.”

The woman collapsed to the ground, bloodied and missing several teeth. The boy in the house screamed and grabbed a glass from the table to throw.

The furniture and clothes in the cabinet were all Zhang Chao’s.

The boy lunged viciously, but Jiang Ning slapped him and slammed him heavily against the wall.

No matter what the adults were like, these two kids were raised well.

But their survival depended entirely on eating and drinking Zhang Chao’s supplies, yet instead of gratitude, they drove the homeowner out to save themselves.

His face was fierce and showed no remorse when he approached.

What did that mean? He knew, even took part in it, but felt no shame.

The woman screamed hoarsely, the couple jumped and put on a show, but it didn’t work. Everyone was starving half to death; no one had time to care about others.

Zheng Weili, an experienced fighter, knew exactly where to hit for maximum pain without life-threatening injury. After a few punches, the woman couldn’t even scream and was thrown out like a dead dog.

She coldly stared at the couple. “I don’t hit the elderly, but if anything happens to Zhang Chao, I’ll make your whole family pay!”

The house was a mess. The supply package Jiang Ning brought was down to a few pounds of rice and two bags of salt; the oil wasn’t much used.

Lu Yu packed everything into a bag and gathered some of Zhang Chao’s clothes and urgent items.

The old woman, feeling fearless because she was a woman, lunged at Lu Yu to snatch the supplies, but Jiang Ning kicked her down. “He doesn’t hit the elderly, but I do.”

After finding their keys, Lu Yu locked the door and grabbed the inflatable boat.

No inflatable boat meant no survival. The old man refused to let go until Jiang Ning showed him a bloodied butcher’s knife.

Only then did the family feel fear, turning pale and trembling in the corner.

Jiang Ning stared at the middle-aged woman. “You’re quite the venomous black widow.”

After saying this, she grabbed the woman by the collar, dragged her up, and threw her out the window.

“Ah!!!”

Lu Yu: “…”

Zheng Weili: “…”

The elderly couple clung to the child, wailing and crying. Jiang Ning didn’t even blink and went downstairs.

They left in the inflatable boat, with the black widow struggling and swimming not far behind.

Too bad she could actually swim.

How to deal with her? That decision was up to Zhang Chao.

If he kept being stupid, even friends wouldn’t be worth saving.

After all, this was the apocalypse. No one’s life mattered more than their own.

Lu Yu and Zheng Weili discussed going to Fengcheng Hotel to look.

Jiang Ning was conflicted but thought about how Zhang Chao took a beating for her and agreed silently.

They rowed to Fengcheng Hotel, which was overcrowded. Staff were surrounded by trapped citizens seeking shelter.

The municipal system had collapsed; the water surface was covered with trash, and the starving victims were packed together. There was no hot water, even less food, and the air was filled with a pungent stench.

Lu Yu pushed hard to get out and gasped after more than half an hour. “Accommodation is arranged by zones. Zhang Chao should be on the 14th floor.”

No more details could be obtained since the hotel housed thousands, and networks and power systems were down.

Jiang Ning’s ears buzzed from the noise. “Let’s find a way to look.”

The hotel was huge. Each floor had dozens of rooms. Without lighting, the corridors were especially dark.

Despite the darkness, many people were in the hallways. One wrong step could cause a collision or someone to be stepped on.

Reaching the 14th floor, Jiang Ning pulled out a flashlight.

She thought five or six people in a room was already overcrowded, but to her surprise, more than a dozen were crammed inside. The sheets and blankets were dirtier than rags, and the air was thick with a filthy, pungent smell.

It was so filthy that Zheng Weili nearly vomited. “This environment is terrible.”

There was no choice. There were many low-rise buildings and factories housing thousands. The relevant departments had already done their best.

They thought they’d have to knock on every door, but rooms were so crowded and airless that all doors were left open. Many people even came into the corridors for fresh air.

As the three entered, countless eyes stared at them.

Though it was dark, Jiang Ning could feel much hostility.

If the army hadn’t been deployed, with armed guards maintaining order downstairs and a few waves of troublemakers already dealt with harshly, the three wouldn’t dare come in.

Even so, they couldn’t afford to relax for a moment.

They searched room by room, seeing many lifeless, numb faces.

Zheng Weili felt heavy-hearted but could only sigh inwardly.

After more than twenty rooms, they finally found Zhang Chao.

He stood by the window, staring blankly at the rain outside.

Already thin before, he looked even skinnier now, his clothes so dirty their color was indistinguishable.

Having grown up together and even shared the same underwear, Lu Yu recognized him immediately. “Zhang Chao.”

He was called several times before he turned around slowly, staring blankly at the people at the door.

Zhang Chao looked at the three, and after a long while forced a stiff smile—more painful than crying.

He looked terrible—covered in dirt and grease from head to toe.