Chapter 406: Why Are You Competing With Her?

"Little Liu, you just said those long-range remote bombs are hard to make—what about ones that are closer? Any problem with those?"

Zhang Su asked Liu Tianji.

Liu Tianji nodded. "Within a hundred meters, it's easy—any remote-controlled toy module can handle it."

"Alright, make some of those within a hundred meters too. That's it for today—everyone's worked hard, go rest. I'm going out."

Zhang Su tucked the remote device into his coat and made as if to leave.

"Big brother, it's this late—where are you going?"

Zhao Dezhu, who had been staying by Yu Qing's side, hurried to ask.

"Making the bombs is just the first step—I need to find a good spot to bury them."

Zhang Su pointed south and said.

Zhao Dezhu stepped forward quickly. "It's too dangerous out there in the dark—I'll go with you."

"What danger? Your limbs are weak—go figure out how to hand in your assignment… That's it, go rest. It's cold out."

Zhang Su waved him off and walked away; his words made Yu Qing blush and turn her head aside.

"Tsk…" Wu Lue clicked his tongue, looking troubled. "Is Su-ge pushing himself too hard?"

The leader not resting late at night, personally going out to bury bombs—it left the others feeling uneasy.

"Damn, with Big Brother doing this, we're under serious pressure…"

Zhao Dezhu sighed, yanked off his cap, and scratched his head.

Liu Tianji grinned mischievously. "Brother Zhu, is it the pressure of handing in your assignment?"

"Go to hell…"

Zhao Dezhu didn't dare joke with Zhang Su, so he kicked out at Liu Tianji in response.

"Su-ge really is incredibly dedicated…"

Yu Qing sniffed her red nose, staring into the darkness, deeply moved—top leadership didn't overlook any detail, inspiring every member through action.

"Come on, let's go—Su-ge doesn't need our help over there. Let's just do what we can!" Liu Tianji called everyone to start their manual work.

Leading by example was only part of it—this was secondary. Zhang Su mainly felt the urgency: if Zhang Xin hadn't lied, then he'd taken enormous risk to send word—no arrogance, no oversight could be allowed, or danger would strike. "I'm going out for a bit—something urgent."

Zhang Su returned to his room to fetch cold-weather gear and greeted Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanjian. One sat on the bed reading, the other wrote at her desk—the atmosphere was serene. Were it not for the zombie apocalypse, this would be every man's dream night.

But as soon as Zhang Su spoke, Zheng Xinyu threw down her book and leapt to the floor.

"I'm coming with you!"

As she spoke, she quickly began dressing.

"Hey hey hey, don't mess around—you don't even ask where I'm going and you follow? I'm just checking terrain in the south—why tag along?"

Zhang Su stopped her repeatedly—he moved far easier alone; darkness was his best cover, no lights needed.

"No problem, no problem—I go wherever you go. Don't wait till you need someone to help and find no one, then feel lonely and sad, right?"

Zheng Xinyu chattered cheerfully as she pulled on thick clothes.

"Sad? What a load…" Zhang Su pinched his temple. Zhong Xiaoshanjian, seated at the desk, smiled awkwardly. "Uh… maybe I should come too—but I have to report to the monitoring room at eleven."

"Are you two both crazy tonight?"

Zhang Su stared at the two women, baffled by their behavior.

Pah-pah, Zheng Xinyu snapped on her gloves and smirked proudly. "I have to prove I'm useful—otherwise, if some guy outshines me, won't he kick me out?"

???

Zhang Su and Zhong Xiaoshanjian exchanged glances—both eyes full of question marks. What the hell is this even about?

Zhong Xiaoshanjian had only chimed in because Zheng Xinyu was so eager. But where did Zheng Xinyu get this strange idea? Zhang Su stopped moving, took off his cap, sat on the chair, crossed his legs, and stared intently at Zheng Xinyu, bundled like a ball. "Alright, tell me—what's really going on? Who outshines you? Let me see who dares challenge our camp's big sister for a man."

"That Japanese girl!" Zheng Xinyu stuck out her hip and rolled her eyes.

"Japanese…" Zhang Su nearly choked, took a deep breath, and couldn't help laughing. "Why are you competing with a lesbian? Our relationship is purely master-apprentice—she teaches me Kiri martial arts, I teach her Crazy Dog Fist. Are you going through menopause? So sensitive…"

"Pfft, she knows you inside out! Last night, when we wiped out the zombie horde, she stood right beside me—every move you made, she saw clearly. Anyone watching would think you two were quantum-entangled!"

Zheng Xinyu's lips twisted into a bizarre expression.

"Fine fine, you even know what quantum entanglement is? That's Kiri Sakura's ability—she doesn't just know what I'll do next, she knows what anyone standing before her will do next. Except you, you lunatic!"

This "knowing" only applies to physical movements—predicting actions, not thoughts.

Zheng Xinyu rolled her eyes wearily, stomped over to Zhang Su, grabbed his arm, and smiled. "Come on, you've never taken me for a night ride yet. Let's go—take Xiaoshan too. All three of us, okay?"

"No no, you two go—I've still got work to finish."

After understanding the situation, Zhong Xiaoshanjian decided not to interfere and quickly lowered her head to reorganize the inventory list.

Zhang Su looked down at Zheng Xinyu's hopeful eyes, thought about his recent life, and nodded. "Alright, let's go. Dress warmly—we're taking the electric scooter."

"Uh… I'm not so sure I want to go anymore."

Still, Zheng Xinyu kept wrapping her scarf, her face lit with a happy smile.

In the apocalypse, everyone carried their own sense of crisis. As leader of a hundred-person faction, Zhang Su had to consider the camp's safety and future development—he was under heavy pressure.

As the leader's woman, Zheng Xinyu knew her privileges came from where—and where power came from, responsibility followed. She understood this well, often fearing she'd be neglected if she didn't do enough.

But her worries were unnecessary—if Zhang Su truly found a woman worth keeping, it would only mean changing from three people sharing a room to four.

The two of them, on one electric scooter, rode into the dark, leaving the camp. The gatekeeper, Qi Xiaoshuai, stared blankly, utterly confused by their romance.

Meanwhile, on the Hahe Bridge beside the West Camp Village, several thin wires were snapped by passing vehicles. Hidden in darkness, they fluttered in the air currents stirred by the cars—no one noticed. Four vehicles crossed the Hahe River, maintaining a steady, moderate speed as they continued north.

"Do you really think the Survivors' Alliance will attack?"

Zheng Xinyu sat behind, hugging Zhang Su tightly, her face pressed against his back. Now that they'd left the camp, she no longer held back. She asked the most pressing topic.

Zhang Su's world glowed as bright as day. Riding forward, he replied to Zheng Xinyu's question: "Based on the information Xiao Xuejian brought earlier, it's possible—but this situation feels strange to me."

"How so? Hey, why aren't you turning on the lights? This this this—"

Zheng Xinyu suddenly realized Zhang Su hadn't turned on the scooter's headlights. Around them, utter darkness. Only distant, sparse lights glimmered from the Satellite Village. She clung even tighter to his waist.

(End of Chapter)