Chapter 22: Survive, Like a Devil

What do you think of Zhong Xiaoshanyi?

Back in 801, Zhang Su tossed the retrieved supplies into the corner and asked Zheng Xinyu.

“She flaunts herself shamelessly, but… she’s smart. If I were a man, I’d probably prefer a woman like her.”

Zheng Xinyu voiced her true thoughts.

Zhang Su sneered: “Of course a mistress has to know when to shut up—otherwise how does she stick around rich men? Hey, what kind of food do you like? Braised chicken cubes, braised pork belly, or mushroom-sliced beef?”

Zheng Xinyu was stunned by the sudden shift in topic; after mumbling a bit, she hesitated: “Anything except mushroom-sliced beef.”

“Fine! Then we’ll give this dish we hate to Zhong Xiaoshanyi, hehe…”

Saying that, Zhang Su picked up the mushroom-sliced beef and walked toward the door.

The sunset blazed like blood, painting the sky with a thin crimson veil—bloody, mournful!

In October, daylight in Qincheng grew shorter; Zhang Su and Zheng Xinyu sat together, gazing at the fiery sunset through a crack in the palm-width curtain.

As time passed, the cold front’s power became evident; Zheng Xinyu had already put on her home clothes, and Zhang Su had changed into a long-sleeved T-shirt.

“I haven’t seriously watched a sunset in so long—it’s beautiful.”

Zheng Xinyu leaned half her body against Zhang Su, savoring the rare peace.

In the past, her evenings were always spent in front of her computer—she never noticed nature’s beauty.

“Back then, this time of day meant traffic jams, honking nonstop, streets choked like dogs. Now, not even a ghost in sight… heh.”

Zhang Su let out a bitter laugh, his brow heavy with unyielding sorrow; the scene outside was despairing, requiring immense mental strength to endure.

Many never turned into corpses or were bitten by zombies—but still couldn’t survive this apocalypse, because they broke down, truly and inwardly.

“Everything will get better, right? It’ll improve, won’t it?”

Zheng Xinyu fully leaned against Zhang Su, softly asking.

Zhang Su felt her warmth and softened his tone: “We hold onto the belief that things will improve, but we must prepare as if they never will—and fight like hell. Do you understand?”

Zheng Xinyu fell silent for a long time, then murmured “Mm,” accepting his cruel suggestion.

The sun sank beyond the mountains, leaving only a crimson glow at the horizon; slowly, the sky darkened, yet the two remained pressed together, motionless—as if holding this pose could last forever.

“You said you’re heavy—you crushed my arm. So now you’ll kill zombies to protect me?”

Zhang Su said gently.

“Ugh!”

Zheng Xinyu sat up sharply and punched Zhang Su, annoyed that the beautiful moment had been shattered.

For dinner, Zhang Su decided they’d cook instant snail rice noodles together, plus two braised eggs and one sausage; the self-heating pot was saved for last—in case the gas ran out, they wouldn’t starve immediately, and it’d be easier to carry if they had to relocate.

Zhang Su, who usually hated the smell of snail rice noodles, no longer cared—he greedily drained the last drop of broth, sighed contentedly, and let out a full, satisfied burp—waterlogged.

Zheng Xinyu ate only half-full.

Finally, Zhang Su decided to open one more bag of sea-salt puff balls as dessert.

“Brother Su, if we never turn on the lights, won’t rescue teams pass by and miss us?”

After dark, the room was lit only by a small nightlight, making Zheng Xinyu deeply uneasy.

“Zhong Xiaoshanyi went a single day hungry and nearly stripped naked to dance for me just to get a meal—haven’t you seen how terrifying hunger is? It’s a poisonous catalyst. From now on, we must fear not just zombies, but people—more terrifying, and honestly, people were always terrifying!”

Zhang Su spoke with serious intent.

In the darkness, Zheng Xinyu’s face hardened; memories of history’s horrors flashed through her mind, leaving her suddenly lost about the future. She walked to the window and pulled back a corner.

By day, she hadn’t noticed—but now, at night, she saw: countless places across the city blazed with roaring fires, clusters of flames staining the night sky red, like a war-ravaged ruin.

The streets were eerily empty; unbroken streetlights and abandoned cars with hazard lights flashing stubbornly illuminated patches of ground—no living soul in sight, only stiff, shadowy figures drifting aimlessly, choking the heart.

Buildings No. 4 and No. 8 glowed brightly—but look closer: no movement inside. The zombie outbreak happened at dawn; many homes had simply left their lights on.

Real homes at night show people moving, shadows flickering on curtains—but now, only deathly silence remained, and blood splattered on shattered windows, painting grotesque death patterns.

Despair—gazing at this silent dead city, the human heart easily succumbs to despair.

“Zhang Su, do you think our survival like this has any meaning?” Zheng Xinyu asked in a low voice.

“Giving up already?” In the dark, Zhang Su grinned, teeth white: “Surviving, even just barely clinging to life, means you’re still alive—that’s meaning enough. Why overthink it? I ask you: when you used to livestream, grinding your ass for your fans, what meaning was there?”

“Fuck you! Who twisted her ass? I’m a gaming streamer, damn it! You idiot!”

Zheng Xinyu flew into a rage—Zhang Su was so annoying, always shattering the mood, whether sad, poetic, or tender.

“Gaming streamer? What games? Something like Yang Guo’s porn?”

Zhang Su raised an eyebrow.

“Can you even livestream that kind of game? I play PUBG, battle royale, got it, old man!”

Zheng Xinyu gave Zhang Su a massive side-eye.

“Battle royale? Heh—I play CS:GO—I’ll blow your head off in seconds, noob!”

Seeing Zheng Xinyu’s chest puff up as she inhaled for a verbal counterattack, Zhang Su quickly said: “Whatever your stream was, from now on you’re becoming a fitness streamer!”

“What does that mean?” Zheng Xinyu stared, confused, at Zhang Su as he slipped on gloves.

Zhang Su walked toward the bedroom, saying: “Your fitness level was barely enough before, but now? I think you won’t make it out of the compound—no, not even out of our building before you’re dead. So while we still can, I’m putting you through devil training.”

He wasn’t just training Zheng Xinyu—he had to strengthen himself too.

He’d worked out daily before, but the past two years had lowered his intensity to just maintain his figure. Now, a good physique wasn’t enough—strength, speed, endurance, and flexibility were the keys to survival!

“Devil… how devilish?”

Hearing “training,” Zheng Xinyu’s eyelids twitched.

“Devil training! To survive among zombies, become a devil yourself! Here—follow me!”

Zhang Su didn’t elaborate further; he handed Zheng Xinyu a pair of light dumbbells, then picked up a pair of twenty-kilogram dumbbells and began warming up.

Zheng Xinyu didn’t resist—she quickly followed Zhang Su’s rhythm.

To survive in a world overrun by zombies, you must become a devil—not just in body, but in mind…

Dear readers, keep reading and upvote—I’m deeply grateful! If I rank up, I’ll add an extra chapter!!

(End of Chapter)