Chapter 51

“Do you want me to be your experimental subject?” Wen Jiuze tapped on the tablet.

Xue Ling silently nodded, agreeing with his assumption.

But no matter what, as long as Wen Jiuze was still here, it was better than nothing. Zombies didn’t feel pain, so whether it was a needle prick or a cut to the skin, this jerk wouldn’t care at all.

If that didn’t work… we still have her. She can cooperate with them.

Surprisingly, Wen Yi denied it.

She said, “I need you to go to a laboratory in Donghai City to retrieve some important equipment and information.”

Donghai City was one of the most populous cities before the apocalypse. Every inch of land there was valuable. It also housed well-known research institutes, biological companies, and the best universities in the country.

Wen Yi’s teacher, Rong Langjia, had taught there before.

But after the end of the world, Donghai City fell at the fastest speed, and less than one twentieth of the population that escaped from Donghai City survived.

The survivors destroyed the cross-sea bridge while fleeing, turning Donghai City into an isolated island. There were no living people left, only countless zombies.

“I’m currently working with my teacher at the Beizheng Base Medical Research Institute, focusing on zombie virus vaccine research,” Wen Yi explained briefly.

“We lack a lot of essential equipment, which has significantly slowed down our progress. The base has set up special operations teams to venture into high-risk cities and gather the items we need for experiments. However, Donghai City is extremely dangerous, and both previous attempts failed.”

“Your first task is to go to a biological research institute in Donghai City and retrieve the designated item.”

Xue Ling, who had braced herself to become a test subject, felt a wave of relief when she heard this.

Zero-dollar shopping was something she was quite familiar with. If it involved retrieving items from a zombie-infested city, she and Wen Jiuze were well-suited for the job.

Wen Jiuze was momentarily surprised but quickly understood and responded with a straightforward, “Alright.”

Xue Ling also nodded in agreement.

But in the next moment, Wen Yi looked directly at her and stated, “For this first mission, you’ll stay behind while he goes to Donghai City alone.”

Xue Ling froze in surprise, while Wen Jiuze straightened up and tapped the tablet in front of him. “No!”

Wen Yi anticipated his reaction and replied, “This is a precaution. If you take her along, who’s to say you won’t ignore the mission?”

Xue Ling glanced at Wen Jiuze, sensing that he might indeed do such a thing.

Wen Jiuze retorted, “You don’t believe I will be honest and trustworthy?”

Wen Yi responded without hesitation, “Of course I don’t trust you.”

Still, Wen Jiuze was adamant. “No, she’s coming with me.”

Wen Yi calmly replied,” You mean, there’s nothing to talk about?”

Seeing the growing tension, Xue Ling quickly grabbed the tablet from Wen Jiuze, ending the conversation decisively. “Okay, I’ll stay and he can go alone.”

Wen Yi nodded approvingly. “Good, you’re sensible. By the way, your name is Xue Ling, right? I’m glad you’re cooperating. Then it’s settled.”

Wen Jiuze hit the table and tried to retrieve the tablet from Xue Ling, but she held onto it.

With an expression of displeasure written across his face, Wen Jiuze crossed his arms and faced Xue Ling, clearly saying, “Why did you agree to this?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful, and nothing will happen,” Xue Ling reassured him.

Wen Jiuze picked up the tablet and wrote, “Do you really believe that once I’m gone, Wen Yi won’t lure you into her lab and use you as an experiment?”

Xue Ling’s eyes widened as she looked between the two of them. She was still sitting right here, so why was Wen Jiuze speaking ill of her so openly?

“She wouldn’t do that… would she?” Xue Ling asked Wen Yi.

“Of course not,” Wen Yi replied.

Xue Ling turned back to Wen Jiuze with a look that clearly conveyed, “See, she said she wouldn’t.”

Wen Jiuze: “…”

Wen Jiuze remained unconvinced and typed, “Wen Yi is the best liar. She’s even more ruthless than me, with no sense of boundaries…”

Xue Ling quickly disabled the tablet’s auto-read function, responding awkwardly while covering the screen, “Don’t say bad things about people to their faces!”

Wen Yi rose, unbothered. “You can badmouth me if you like. I have other things to attend to, so I’ll leave first.”

She continued, “Take the next few days to rest. When we return to Beizheng Base, we’ll organize the mission in Donghai City. Both of you will be assigned to the special operations team, so be prepared.”

After Wen Yi left, Xue Ling typed on the tablet, “There are soldiers and weapons all around us. Even if we refused, it wouldn’t matter. Besides, Wen Yi needs our help and won’t harm me.”

More importantly, she wasn’t sure if the medicine Wen Jiuze had taken would have side effects. He seemed fine now, but if any issues arose, Wen Yi might need to address them. Arguing with a doctor would be unwise.

Wen Jiuze’s expression somehow looked even more sarcastic without him saying a word, his face seemingly throwing silent insults.

He pointed at the tablet with Xue Ling’s pen, saying, “You don’t understand Wen Yi. She won’t force you, but she’s persuasive. You could easily be coaxed into cooperating with her research.”

Having spent many years in the Wen family, Wen Jiuze despised them all, yet the ones who truly unsettled him as a child were Wen Yi and Old Man Wen.

This half-sister, a few years older than him, had never bullied him like Wen Xuan and Wen Xiang had; she mostly ignored him.

Years ago, when Old Master Wen was gravely ill, while Wen Xuan and Wen Xiang worried about his health and inheritance, only Wen Yi, like him, hoped for the old man’s death to acquire the Tai Sui he possessed.

They had collaborated once back then, which made Wen Jiuze even more wary of her.

Accustomed to Wen Jiuze’s strong protective nature since their reunion, Xue Ling reassured him, “If that’s your concern, I promise not to cooperate with any of her research.”

She understood their current situation. If she requested it, Wen Jiuze might agree to the experiment, but if she was the subject, he would undoubtedly refuse.

With both sides harboring concerns, compromise was essential. Given their disadvantaged position, there was no point in forcing matters.

During this initial collaboration, establishing a foundation of trust was more crucial than anything else.

Xue Ling actually found Wen Yi and Wen Jiuze somewhat similar; both had unyielding personalities.

Wen Jiuze worried she’d suffer, but Xue Ling thought she could get along with such personalities quite well.

Wen Jiuze was still visibly displeased, so Xue Ling didn’t push the subject further. Instead, she shifted the conversation. “Is Wen Yi a government official?”

Seeing the soldiers outside, Xue Ling’s excitement grew. “Does this mean we’re joining the special operations team? Do we count as public servants?”

Wen Jiuze: “…”

Now he understand why Xue Ling has such confidence in Wen Yi. After all, she had once considered taking the civil service exam.

Seeing Xue Ling’s happiness, Wen Jiuze said nothing more.

Although Wen Jiuze believed that zombies should stay away from humans for safety, he knew well that Xue Ling yearned to live among people.

In the past, whenever the possibility of all zombies disappearing was discussed, her first reaction was always, “That would be wonderful, it would mean the end of the apocalypse.”

She always saw things from a human perspective because, deep down, she still considered herself human.

As a zombie, Xue Ling felt profoundly lonely and feared being an outcast. Whenever she heard about others like herself, she felt happy, even if that “kindred spirit” was Wen Xuan, whom she disliked.

Now, however, she and Wen Xuan were truly alike.

At this moment, Wen Jiuze finally abandoned the idea of taking Xue Ling away from others.

Wen Yi’s suspicions were correct; he had no intention of following his mission honestly.

Xue Ling wondered if she was now considered a public servant, then remembered something important.

Instead of using the tablet, she carefully took out her own writing board and wrote, “Wen Yi mentioned that the Wen family was in trouble. Is it related to you?”

Wen Jiuze was amused by her guilty expression. He was the one who had done something wrong, yet she felt guilty for him.

“Of course it has nothing to do with me,” he replied on his tablet, completely unbothered.

No matter who suffered in the Wen family, he wasn’t the one responsible, so why would it involve him?

“You feel guilty too easily. Haven’t you ever done anything bad?” Wen Jiuze asked.

Xue Ling felt a bit insulted by this question. “Of course I’ve done bad things. Is there anyone in this world who hasn’t?”

“Oh? Tell me what you’ve done.” Wen Jiuze leaned back, waiting.

Xue Ling hesitated for a moment before saying, “Every year on my birthday, I used to wish my dad would get cancer sooner.”

Wen Jiuze continued to wait, only to realize that was all she had to share. He asked, “That’s it?”

Seeing his unimpressed reaction, Xue Ling added, “Once, someone asked me to help with their homework, so I scribbled all over it, and he got scolded.”

Wen Jiuze stopped her from trying to remember more: “…Okay, no need to go on. I feel sorry for you.”

His pitying look and open arms made Xue Ling feel mocked.

Xue Ling: “…” Why should I be despised by him just because I obey the law and don’t do bad things?

She pushed away his body, which, though no longer warm, was still tall and solid, and untied the handcuffs from her wrists.

Wen Jiuze shifted his own handcuffs and sighed on the tablet, “People only know how to cherish things once they lose them. Now that you won’t lose me, your attitude has changed completely.”

Xue Ling replied, “…Why don’t you reflect on yourself?”

She had genuinely felt sad when Wen Jiuze was on the brink of death. Although she wanted to be with him forever, the moment he was back to his energetic self, he quickly became a bit annoying!

Wen Yi lived and worked in a spacious white RV. Normally, her team left her in peace, not intruding unless absolutely necessary.

But there were always those who disregarded manners. Some barged in uninvited, slamming the door open without hesitation.

When Wen Yi looked back, she saw it was Wen Jiuze, and he had come alone.

“What’s the matter?” Wen Yi asked casually, turning back to her work.

Without using his tablet, Wen Jiuze spoke in a raspy voice, “After I leave, don’t touch her. If you want to study her, wait until I come back so I can allow you to.”

Wen Yi looked back at him, her eyes filled with confusion. “You’ve really changed a lot. Now you’re so obedient, willing to sacrifice… I almost don’t recognize you as the Wen Jiuze I once knew.”

In her memory, Wen Jiuze had been like a wolf.

The first day he arrived at the Wen family home, Wen Xiang, egged on by Wen Xuan, had pushed him down the stairs.

With blood pouring from his head, he had immediately stood back up, a fierce expression on his face. He wiped the blood from his face and, climbing back up, pressed his bloody hands to Wen Xiang’s face, making her scream.

If a servant hadn’t intervened quickly, he would have nearly thrown Wen Xiang down the stairs himself.

For years afterward, he had remained alert and indifferent, refusing to change his ways, no matter how often he was scolded.

“Now, you’re more like a dog,” Wen Yi remarked.

Wen Jiuze forced a “smile” across his stiff face, baring the menacing teeth of a zombie. “Dogs can bite too.”

The two were silent for a moment before Wen Yi finally replied, “I understand.”

After Wen Jiuze left, Wen Yi resumed her work, but a short while later, there was another knock on the door.

“Come in,” she said, her voice cold with impatience. As she turned, she was surprised to see who it was.

Xue Ling peeked in from the door, far more polite than Wen Jiuze. She held a tablet and asked, “I need to ask you something. Do you have time to talk?”

Wen Yi put down her work, turned her swivel chair to face Xue Ling, and said, “Come in.”