009 Meeting Second Brother

The location Shen Shiwei had mentioned was a high-end villa complex with top-tier security.

When the car arrived, there were no signs of corpses or wrecked vehicles; the roadsides were quiet, with no visible bloodstains. However, as they reached the entrance to the villa complex, the barrier arm would not rise.

"Just crash through it," Shen Shiwei said.

Song Yingjun, worried that the sound of the impact would attract zombies, hesitated.

Wei Qing surveyed the surroundings. "Should I go down and check the guard station?"

Song Yingjun stopped her. "Don't get out of the car."

With that, he backed the car up, then accelerated and rammed straight through, finally entering the complex. The noise drew the security guard, who had been collapsed inside the booth, to his feet.

The guard, dressed in a black uniform and cap, twisted his stiff neck. Upon hearing the disturbance outside, his sluggish movements instantly became agile as he rushed out of the guard station.

The car sped along the tree-lined path, rounded two corners, and pulled to a slow stop in front of a luxurious three-story villa. The front iron gate was not locked; it stood slightly ajar.

Shen Shiwei frowned. "Someone has already been here."

Since they had already arrived, they had no choice but to try and go inside. Song Yingjun was the first to open his door. He jumped out, circled the vehicle to check the perimeter, and then opened the back door. He helped Shen Shiwei out, saying, "Stay right behind me."

Before Shen Shiwei could speak, she looked up and saw a security guard running toward them from the path. His gait was disjointed and lurching—clearly not that of a normal person.

"There's a zombie!"

Upon hearing this, Song Yingjun’s gaze turned sharp. He whirled around, raised his gun, and aimed at the zombie’s head. He didn't fire immediately; after waiting three or four seconds to confirm it was indeed a zombie, he pulled the trigger. A single shot blew the guard's head apart, sending blood splattering everywhere.

With a thud, the zombie collapsed. Thanks to the silencer, the gunshot wasn't very loud.

However, in these turbulent times, the slightest disturbance outside played on the nerves of those hiding within.

Shen Heng stood sideways, peeking through a gap in the curtains. With just one glance, he saw his most cherished younger sister, Shen Shiwei!

She was standing safely downstairs, talking to the man beside her.

Unable to contain his excitement, Shen Heng ran down from the second floor, threw open the door, and cried out, "Weiwei!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Shiwei froze for two seconds. As she turned around, she was pulled into a warm embrace. The familiar scent surrounded her, and she hugged Shen Heng tightly. Her eyes reddened instantly, her voice thick with sobs. "Second Brother, I finally found you..."

Shen Heng gently patted her back, his voice incredibly tender. "Our Weiwei is truly amazing, returning safely before I could even come to find you."

Thinking of the tragic endings her two brothers met in the novel, Shen Shiwei couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow. She vowed that she would ensure her family survived safely in this apocalypse. She would absolutely change the fate of the cannon fodder!

Shen Heng released her and said to the other two, "Let's go inside first. It’s safe here for now."

He had locked all the doors and windows of the villa and drawn the curtains. The living room coffee table was cluttered with life-saving equipment and a large hiking backpack.

"I only arrived here last night," Shen Heng told Shen Shiwei. "The five bodyguards I brought were all killed by zombies. I was just about to pack my gear and come looking for you."

"I know," Shen Shiwei replied. "I knew you would come for me."

"Are those two your companions?"

"Yes," Shen Shiwei said, glancing at Wei Qing. "This is my classmate, Wei Qing." She then looked toward the man standing by the window, holding a walkie-talkie. Her voice dropped slightly. "And that is the soldier who came specifically to rescue us, Song Yingjun."

Shen Heng looked at Song Yingjun, his eyes flickering. "I didn't expect the government to act so quickly."

"Captain? Captain!"

Song Yingjun waited anxiously for a response from the walkie-talkie. Silence. He pressed the button again and called out.

The walkie-talkie crackled, and then Lu Sui’s voice came through, very calm, though he deliberately kept his voice low, as if wary of something.

"I'm here."

"Captain," Song Yingjun said, "I'm at the Yugui Garden villa complex, building five. The students are safe. I'll come to you."

"No need," Lu Sui replied. "I will come to—"

Lu Sui’s voice was suddenly cut off. A few crashing sounds came through the walkie-talkie, and then there was nothing but silence.

Song Yingjun panicked instantly. "Captain? Captain!"

There was no response.

Song Yingjun shoved the walkie-talkie into his pocket and turned to head outside.

"Where are you going?" Shen Shiwei stood up and stopped him.

Song Yingjun paused and looked at her, his expression somber. "To the school."

Shen Shiwei narrowed her eyes, her tone earnest. "Captain Lu will be fine. If you go out now, you'll inevitably run into danger. It would be counterproductive."

"I have to save my Captain!"

"If he can't make it here tonight, we can go to the school tomorrow."

Song Yingjun lowered his gaze, his hands clenched tight as he wrestled with his thoughts.

Shen Shiwei continued, "Didn't Lu Sui say that your mission is to protect us? We need to get to the survivor base."

Song Yingjun pressed his lips into a thin line. He didn't know what to do—on one side was his missing captain, on the other were the students he was tasked to protect.

After a long, agonizing struggle, Song Yingjun finally relaxed his grip, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I... I will keep you safe."

Shen Shiwei breathed a sigh of relief.

While the villa was safe for the moment, they couldn't stay long, as there were few supplies here. She needed to keep a strong fighter by her side to help gather resources.

The villa's running water had been cut off, so Shen Shiwei went to a room to wipe her arms and legs with wet wipes before changing into a clean pink dress.

A while later, Shen Heng came in with a medical kit to dress her wounds.

"How could you be so careless?" He looked at the scrapes on her forehead and hands and her swollen ankle, his heart aching.

Shen Shiwei gritted her teeth, her eyes darkening. Her voice was soft, but her tone held a hint of ruthlessness. "It wasn't carelessness. Someone pushed me directly out of the car."

Upon hearing this, the gentle Shen Heng’s expression immediately turned grim. "Who did it?"

"Brother, do you remember Gao Li?"

Shen Heng frowned slightly. Gao Li... he searched his memory, but couldn't recall anyone by that name.

"No, I don't."