Chapter 10: Are You Secretly in Love With Me?

"What if I get infected... I’ll give myself a quick end!"

Zhang Su stared at the zombie, half-human and half-monster, and silently decided: if he got the chance, he’d prepare a suicide grenade for himself—when the time came, at least he could die with dignity.

As he pondered and carefully observed, five minutes passed, and Zheng Xinyu’s voice reached his ears.

"Let... let me take a look too..."

Zhang Su looked at Zheng Xinyu, her expression complex—resistance mixed with curiosity, clearly repulsed yet still determined to try, inner conflict etched on her brow.

He nodded, said nothing, and slowly stepped aside.

Zheng Xinyu slowly approached the peephole, brushed aside her long hair blocking her view, and when she finally saw the zombie’s face, she was jolted as if struck by lightning—her hand flew to her mouth just before a scream could escape.

"Mmm... huff, huff..."

Zheng Xinyu emitted only a faint, muffled groan, then rapid, shallow breaths, leaning against the Xuanguan wall as she patted her heaving chest, her face pale with unrestrained horror.

Zhang Su had no time to comfort Zheng Xinyu—he hurried to the peephole and saw the zombie showed no reaction, still circling aimlessly, like a blind ox turning a millstone.

"The sound earlier was definitely quiet, but in this silence, even I should’ve heard it—yet it didn’t react. So zombies’ hearing isn’t as sharp as I thought!"

Zhang Su stared at the zombie’s ears—its color was unnatural, but the shape hadn’t changed.

"Feeling better?"

After observing carefully for a while, Zhang Su turned to Zheng Xinyu, who had calmed considerably.

"Let me look again..."

Zheng Xinyu pressed her hand to her chest, her face filled with fear and stubbornness; before Zhang Su could agree, she pressed herself to the peephole once more.

Zhang Su had already prepared to cover her mouth, but found her reaction far calmer than before—only her heaving chest and trembling fists betrayed her; no other outbursts. He stood aside, silently pondering how to deal with the zombie.

The two stood in silence, one observing, one thinking, seconds slipping away.

While Zheng Xinyu was overcoming her fear by watching the zombie, she didn’t know that on the other side of the 802 door’s peephole, another pair of eyes watched her!

Zhang Su’s unit was one of two per floor; 802 was slightly larger than 801, a three-bedroom, two-living-room layout with north-south ventilation, over 120 square meters.

A woman in a silk nightgown had a face whiter than the bare calves peeking from beneath her hem, clinging to the door like a giant gecko, her posture absurd.

Watching the zombie wander the hallway outside, her eyes overflowed with terror.

After about ten minutes, Zheng Xinyu pulled her gaze away, lips pressed tight, rubbing her stiff neck and shoulders from holding the same pose.

The two returned to sit far from the door; Zhang Su looked at Zheng Xinyu with approval: "Not afraid anymore?"

Zheng Xinyu nodded uncertainly: "Still a little, but I can accept it now—at least I won’t freeze up from fear."

"Not bad for a short time. Since you’re not afraid, how about we take out that thing together?"

Zhang Su posed the question.

"T-t-take it out? Is that appropriate?" Zheng Xinyu frowned, clearly conflicted.

Zhang Su frowned: "What’s inappropriate? You don’t think it’s still a person, still Brother Li, do you?"

Zheng Xinyu blinked, countering: "Isn’t it?"

"Of course the hell it isn’t!" Zhang Su snapped his finger against Zheng Xinyu’s smooth, glossy forehead, leaving a small red mark. "The moment the zombie virus took control of him, he stopped being human!"

Zheng Xinyu nodded, confused: "Even if you’re right, why kill him? Are you planning to go downstairs for supplies? Unnecessary—we’ve got enough food and water for half a month. Don’t take risks!"

Killing a fish, she thought, might be acceptable. Killing a zombie was too extreme. Just watching it through the door without panicking was already a feat—she couldn’t even guarantee she’d stay calm facing it directly.

As they spoke, the sound of helicopters returned—this time, more frequent.

Zheng Xinyu hurried to the window, cracked it open, and peered up at the sky; then she turned to Zhang Su, delighted: "Over ten helicopters—must be police reinforcements!"

Zhang Su said nothing; his eyes, now mostly calm, stared blankly at the helicopters sweeping past in the distance.

"Brother Su, let’s just wait here quietly. Reinforcements have arrived—they’ll control the situation soon. Rescue might even come faster than we think. Don’t do anything dangerous!"

No one had told Zheng Xinyu those were reinforcements—yet she deceived herself, and truly believed it.

"You think you’re not getting enough to eat? Don’t worry—I’ll eat less, save some for you. Don’t take risks!"

Zheng Xinyu pleaded almost desperately.

Two things gave her security now: Zhang Su, and the sealed front door.

In her mind, opening that door would unleash endless terror, drowning her in a sea of blood.

Hearing Zheng Xinyu’s words, Zhang Su felt a slight stir inside; his serious expression softened into a faint smile: "You’re willing to eat less to save food for me? You’re this nice to me... are you secretly in love with me?"

Zheng Xinyu never expected Zhang Su to joke at such a tense moment; she rolled her eyes, glancing away briefly—but then, thinking of their situation, she hardened her resolve.

"Yes, I’m into your muscles, so what? You eunuch!"

Zhang Su thought the first part sounded nice—but what the hell were those last three words?

"Eunuch? I change girlfriends every three months—my fun is beyond your imagination!"

Zhang Su sneered.

"You..." Zheng Xinyu was speechless, annoyed: "Keep bragging! The less you have, the more you boast. If you really changed girlfriends every three months, I’ve hinted and outright told you more than once—I’m not ugly, yet you act like a monk!"

If Zhang Su truly changed girlfriends every three months, Zheng Xinyu believed a man like that wouldn’t pass up a meal right in front of him.

She didn’t mind a player—she just feared he was gay.

"This..."

Many male behaviors stem from perceived benefits; when two benefits arise but only one can be chosen, they lean toward the greater one...

Zhang Su clearly sensed Zheng Xinyu’s interest in him—but in his view, turning a tenant into a girlfriend meant losing rent, plus extra expenses—he’d be losing money either way...

(End of Chapter)