Chapter 7: Gu Yi

Early the next morning, the so-called Dr. Gu arrived at Hengshui Bay carrying a toolbox.

The security guard dutifully escorted him to the outer edge of Chu Xiao’s villa.

He also brought Chu Xiao a piece of news:

From now on, there would no longer be security patrols in the villa district because it was simply too cold.

The temperature had already dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Even with heavy snow boots on his feet and nearly twenty heat packs stuck to his body, his hands and feet were completely numb.

“Mr. Chu, the cold wave is simply too intense. Security inside the neighborhood has been suspended. If you need anything, please call this number. This is the emergency rescue line.”

Chu Xiao, wrapped in mink fur and holding a hand warmer, replied:

“Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”

He then turned and led Dr. Gu inside.

“Looks like you’ll need to stay here with us for the time being. You’re okay with that, right?” Chu Xiao hadn’t expected the cold wave to be this fierce.

Gu Yi glanced out the window and nodded.

Even now, he still didn’t understand why Chu Xiao had chosen him—a mere veterinary intern—to perform castration surgery on his cats.

“Don’t be formal, sit. Want something to drink?” Jiang Ning stood and headed for the kitchen.

“Anything is fine, I’m not picky.” Gu Yi took a look around and felt some of his unease fade away.

Didn’t look like they were human traffickers.

He really didn’t want to have his kidney stolen.

Chu Xiao, watching the uneasy Gu Yi glance about, recalled the past life.

In his previous life, Gu Yi’s mental power was top-tier. Later, when it came to controlling zombies, he was terrifyingly powerful.

By the time Gu Yi reached fifth rank, he could use his mental strength to make third-rank and lower zombies fight each other—controlling about a hundred at once.

Such a talent—how could Chu Xiao possibly let him slip away?

It was just that the cold wave had come too suddenly, disrupting his plans. Four names on his list were still missing.

He didn’t know if they could withstand this sudden disaster.

Jiang Ning returned with two steaming cups of cocoa and placed them before Chu Xiao and Gu Yi.

“Let me introduce you. This is my secretary, Jiang Ning. This is the veterinarian, Gu Yi.”

Jiang Ning and Gu Yi nodded politely in greeting.

“Mr. Chu, when exactly do you want your kitty to…?” Gu Yi mimed the snipping motion.

Nuomi’s fur bristled in protest, while Banban knocked over the cocoa on the table in challenge.

The atmosphere between the three was a little awkward, since they weren’t familiar with one another.

Ironically, it was the cats’ antics that eased the tension somewhat.

“The reason I brought you here isn’t to castrate the cats,” Chu Xiao hesitated, debating whether or not to reveal news about the coming apocalypse.

After all, he couldn’t read minds. If he recruited recklessly and someone mutated, it would be his own death.

Gu Yi, puzzled, glanced at Chu Xiao and then at Jiang Ning.

“Ah… could it be some weird fetish?”

“He’s still an innocent boy! How shameless~”

“Mr. Gu, the reason we asked you here is to check on the cats. Lately they’ve been a bit restless, even displaying some strangely… intelligent behavior.” Jiang Ning lied without blinking.

Chu Xiao raised a brow and smiled.

As expected, Jiang Ning was clever.

“Huh?” Gu Yi was dumbfounded.

Jiang Ning said no more, heading instead to the kitchen.

They hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

“Xiao-ge, how about steamed dumplings with century-egg and lean-pork congee, plus marinated eggs?” Jiang Ning rummaged through the fridge, pulling out some half-prepared buns to steam.

“We’ll eat whatever you make.” Chu Xiao fell silent, instead pondering Gu Yi’s younger sister, Gu Wan, from his previous life.

It was thanks to his past destitution that he even discovered this lead.

Gu Wan was Gu Yi’s lifeblood, his dearest sister. She was the same age as Jiang Ning. Before the apocalypse hit, she had been bringing a lunchbox to Gu Yi when some thugs accosted her. At that time, Chu Xiao himself was huddled under a cardboard shelter and personally witnessed it.

When Gu Yi came out to meet her, he fought the thugs, but Gu Wan was already lying disheveled in the snow.

Finding the noise bothersome, Chu Xiao had left for the underground parking garage—thus escaping the first wave of mutating snowflakes.

In this life, since he had brought Gu Yi to the villa early, it was likely Gu Yi hadn’t yet told Gu Wan.

“Xiao-ge, my sister… she’s still at home. I’m worried.”

Gu Yi looked out the window, anxious. Their home was in an old neighborhood. If Gu Wan was left there, she probably wouldn’t make it through.

And with no men at home and security poor, small-time gangsters often loitered around.

“Ningning, we’re going out. Make an extra portion for breakfast.” This was exactly what Chu Xiao had been waiting for.

Even if the timing differed from his past life, the trajectory of events suggested Gu Wan would still come to harm.

Chu Xiao drove out with Gu Yi, fitting snow chains on the Humvee.

He hit the gas and they were off.

Even with chains, Chu Xiao drove cautiously.

“Give me directions.”

Looking at the crossroads ahead, he was reminded of his previous life’s downfall.

In that life, it was a right turn here, then the underground garage below had been his refuge.

“Turn right, then go straight about one traffic light—it’s there.”

Just then, the sun peeked through the clouds.

“The sun’s out?” The temperature rose a few degrees.

After parking, they followed Gu Yi to the building.

A shrill female scream confirmed the scene had already begun.

Chu Xiao tossed Gu Yi an electric baton.

“Security’s really ‘great’ in this neighborhood, huh.”

After exchanging a glance, Gu Yi charged upstairs.

The apartment door burst open, signs of a fierce struggle inside.

“Get lost! Can’t you see Brother Long is busy?” one thug sneered, flashing his tattoos.

“Motherf—! Move!” Gu Yi kicked him hard in the groin, drawing a howl.

Another gangster rushed from inside, only to meet Gu Yi’s baton. Unable to dodge, his left arm went numb.

“Hit him in the chest!” Chu Xiao muttered—clearly Gu Yi had never been through this before.

Chu Xiao swung his collapsible baton; the dazed thug collapsed unconscious.

“Ah!” The door opened wider.

A tear-stained face appeared before Chu Xiao.

“Please, save me…” Trembling yet hopeful, Gu Wan flung herself into his arms.

“Who the hell dares ruin my fun?” A man in sagging pants, cigarette dangling from his lips, swaggered out.

That face—Chu Xiao would never forget it.

Throwing the beauty into Gu Yi’s arms, Chu Xiao glared murderously at him.

“I’ve been looking for you!”

Brother Long had earned his title for a reason.

Seeing Chu Xiao lunge at him, he dodged nimbly to the right.

This man had been the direct cause of Chu Xiao’s grandmother’s death.

How could Chu Xiao not hate him?

The baton in his hand vanished, replaced with a semi-automatic pistol.

“No… no, killing you so easily would be too merciful.”

A gunshot rang out. Brother Long collapsed to his knees, face twisted in agony.

Even the toughest gangster wouldn’t expect someone in a lawful society to be carrying a gun.

“Which precinct are you from? How dare you fire a gun here?” Brother Long clutched his legs, cold sweat streaming down his face.

He had no memory of ever offending such a man.

Outside, the temperature suddenly rose, making everyone inside sweat profusely.

Chu Xiao gasped heavily. He couldn’t just kill him with a single shot.

He wanted him to suffer—every possible torment.