Outside the window, the continuous wailing of pleas echoed, the women knocking their heads until blood flowed, a scene of unparalleled misery.
Zhang Yi sighed, walked to the window, and spoke, "Please, everyone, don't be like this. It pains me to watch!"
With that, he raised a steaming bowl of noodles.
"When my heart aches, I crave food."
*Slurp*
Zhang Yi savored the noodles, making the neighbors swallow hard, their mouths watering.
Hearing this, the cries grew louder, and the head-knocking intensified.
"Zhang Yi, we were wrong. We just want to survive!"
"If you could spare some food, let us live like dogs."
"In the future, we'll do whatever you ask. Just spare us."
Zhang Yi continued to eat his noodles.
Eating heartily in times of hunger is a great joy!
After half a bowl, he casually placed the remaining noodles in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. In the neighbors' eyes, just a pane of glass away, they could see but couldn't taste.
Each person, like a dog, pressed their face against the glass, hoping to catch a bite.
"Don't blame me for not giving you a chance. Whoever goes and brings me Chen Zhenghao's head, I'll provide noodles for a week. Eat to your heart's content!"
Zhang Yi couldn't pity these people. They annoyed him by constantly banging on his walls and breaking windows. Why not let them fight each other and self-destruct? That would be the most interesting outcome.
As Zhang Yi uttered these words, he simultaneously broadcasted them to the entire building through the group chat, informing everyone inside.
Hearing this, the neighbors in front of the glass showed hesitant expressions.
Chen Zhenghao had a gun. Trying to get his head might cost them their own.
But could they deal with Zhang Yi any better?
Around forty bodies were already laid around Zhang Yi's apartment. It turned out dealing with Zhang Yi was much more challenging than Chen Zhenghao.
At this moment, Chen Zhenghao, on the adjacent balcony, observed the changes here. He hadn't heard what Zhang Yi said but frowned, contemplating his next move.
Two of his men died this time. To maintain control of the entire building, he needed to recruit more.
While pondering, Chen Zhenghao suddenly felt a chilling sensation on his back, making his hair stand on end.
He turned abruptly, raising his gun, only to find everyone looking at him strangely.
"What do you want?"
People stared at him with peculiar eyes, not like looking at a person, but like looking at food.
Chen Zhenghao felt a shiver and quickly left the scene with a few of his men.
"Wait, what about Zhang Yi's place?" Sun Zhichao asked.
Chen Zhenghao cursed, "Damn, can't break in; what else can we do? We'll figure something out later!"
He left grumbling.
The people begging and attempting to break into Zhang Yi's apartment, both suffering from the bone-chilling wind and snow, gradually left.
Zhang Yi lay in his warm house, waiting for the drama to unfold. After this clash, the building lost around forty people, most of whom had participated in the invasion of his home, causing significant physical exhaustion.
This made resources even scarcer, and interpersonal conflicts turned more terrifying.
...
Soon, Zhang Yi received many private messages. After this battle, the neighbors had completely surrendered. Exhausted, they couldn't launch a massive attack on Zhang Yi's home anymore. Facing his well-defended apartment, they gave up.
As night fell, around 5 PM, darkness blanketed the surroundings, and temperatures dropped further by about ten degrees.
On TV, the few remaining channels continued to broadcast programs.
"With official efforts, our country's snow disaster situation is improving. Please don't worry; the problem will be solved soon."
"The weather is freezing. Don't go out casually to avoid frostbite. Please provide help to those in need."
"Let's unite and overcome the current challenges. Tomorrow will be a better day!"
Zhang Yi found the news more interesting than comedy sketches. He was curious about where these TV stations were located and how they maintained operation.
Listening to the interesting news, Zhang Yi scrolled through the chat records. Reading the messages where neighbors cursed, begged, and pleaded, he found it amusing.
Those who cursed him usually had family members who died.
In a good mood, Zhang Yi would even congratulate them.
"Congratulations to those of you with deceased family members. You can now have a barbecue funeral, mix ashes with rice!"
He playfully teased them, making those people curse even more vigorously.
But suddenly, he noticed movement on the balcony.
Curious, Zhang Yi walked to the window. The snow outside provided ample lighting.
And then he saw people sneaking over to move the burnt bodies.
More precisely, the bodies that had been charred.
Wrapped up tightly, these people jumped when they noticed Zhang Yi watching them.
"Zhang Yi, we're not here to harm you. Please don't misunderstand!"
"We're just here to move the bodies."
Speaking nervously, they avoided eye contact with Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi smirked.
"Oh? Moving bodies? Are you their family members?"
"And if you want to bury them, just throw them down. Do you plan to build a grave inside your house?"
These people couldn't answer Zhang Yi's questions.
"Well... We don't need these bodies, so you can ignore us."
They nervously, with heads held low, swiftly left with the bodies.
Zhang Yi waved his hand at the window.
"You guys are quite ruthless. Finally reached this point, huh?"