On the rooftop of the school building, a girl in a blue and white uniform leaned against the railing, with a gentle breeze brushing through her hair as her lackluster eyes watched everything below.
Tan Xinger looked down at the grim scene below, akin to a hellish scenario, with numerous zombies gathering together.
They roamed aimlessly, swarming at the slightest hint of human presence, tearing them apart and devouring them completely.
The iron gate behind her rattled with each impact, and she knew it wouldn't hold the zombies back for much longer.
The railing, reinforced just last month, still gleamed brightly, reflecting her exhausted face.
In the past day, she had experienced the most perilous time of her life.
Now, she was truly tired. Rather than meeting a gruesome end in the jaws of the undead, she'd rather end it herself. Whether she'd remain intact under the zombies' teeth depended solely on fate.
With that thought, Tan Xinger leaned on the railing, tiptoed, and flipped over it.
The view outside the railing was expansive, and Tan Xinger slowly closed her eyes, spreading her arms wide.
Just before she fell, Tan Xinger suddenly opened her eyes in disbelief, witnessing a surprising scene below.
Rubbing her eyes, she even wondered if her hunger had caused her vision to blur from not eating for nearly two days.
Thinking so, she reached into her backpack, searching for the last bit of food.
She saw a figure darting through the zombie horde, clearing a path wherever they went.
Seemingly aware of the person's prowess, the zombies gathered and lunged towards the man in unison.
Seeing the man about to be consumed by the zombies, Tan Xinger acted faster than her mind, tearing off her backpack and throwing it down.
From the sixth floor, the backpack rapidly descended, finally landing with a thud on the ground.
But...
Tan Xinger watched as the backpack landed a few meters away from the man, after he had cleared the zombies.
Faintly, Tan Xinger felt like the man had glanced at her.
Then, he leaped onto a zombie's shoulder and jumped several meters away in an instant.
After picking up Tan Xinger's backpack, he quickly disappeared beneath the school building.
Leaving behind the raging zombies emitting low growls, as if angry at their prey's escape.
Tan Xinger stared at the zombies, then glanced at the distant high-rise buildings. After a few seconds, she made a decision — she wouldn't die!
The person who had just been ready to die a moment ago suddenly felt a bit dizzy when she lowered her head.
"Damn it! Why is it so high!"
The same situation looked entirely different depending on one's state of mind. What seemed daring a moment ago now felt precarious.
Tan Xinger clutched onto the railing tightly, carefully adjusting her angle. Even half of her foot dangling off made her feel like she might fall into the zombie horde if she wasn't careful.
After a long time, Tan Xinger awkwardly climbed back onto the rooftop, leaving two mottled handprints on the stainless steel railing.
"Bang, bang, bang."
Tan Xinger knocked on the chipped red iron door, and from the other side came even more vigorous banging, startling her.
"Ah—"
Tan Xinger sighed deeply. There were many zombies in the corridor, and she couldn't get out at all.
Imagination was beautiful, reality was harsh. Although she had the idea of clinging onto someone powerful for survival, she couldn't even get out the door.
"Clang—"
A huge bang made the daydreaming Tan Xinger shudder all over, looking at the still trembling iron door, feeling a chill down her spine.
The zombies were about to break in soon, and she couldn't escape the fate of jumping off the building.
If only she hadn't thrown the backpack just now, and instead finished the last bit of food, avoiding becoming a starving ghost.
Another loud noise, as if something was smashing against the door. Tan Xinger felt something was off; the rhythmic noises outside didn't seem like something the zombies would make.
Curiosity compelled her to slowly approach, and at that moment, the noises outside ceased, everything becoming eerily quiet.
Tan Xinger held her breath as a voice came from the other side.
"Open the door."
"!!!"
Tan Xinger's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the red iron door. Was it a hallucination earlier and now an auditory hallucination?
How could someone calmly ask her to open the door after dealing with the zombies outside?
"Open the door."
The person repeated, their clear voice calm without a hint of annoyance at the repetition.
Tan Xinger suddenly snapped out of it, hastily pulling the latch open.
The door crack widened gradually, and Tan Xinger watched as the man who had been downstairs not long ago appeared before her.
The man was tall, wearing a black tactical jacket and a black duckbill cap, standing there like a shadow.
A hint of fair skin peeked out, resembling porcelain wrapped in black.
He walked in briskly and closed the door swiftly, his movements fluid, heading straight to the center of the rooftop.
In the instant the iron door opened and closed, Tan Xinger saw the zombies lying on the ground, their blood soaking the floor.
Rubbing her hands, Tan Xinger stood aside, watching as the man lifted a bright blue Korean-style backpack, the one she had thrown down.
"Um—"
"Thank you."
"Huh?"
Tan Xinger was about to say something when the man sincerely thanked her.
Gu Jingyong looked at the girl in front of him, her ponytail loosely tied behind her head, her hair disheveled by the wind on the rooftop.
She seemed fluffy all over, gradually aligning with the image in his memory.
Even so, her delicate features were still visible, like a distressed princess doll.
"You're welcome! Actually, I didn't do much to help you."
Tan Xinger hesitated with her words, feeling that accepting this thank you might be beneficial for her leg-holding aspirations.
Thinking this through, she happily took the backpack and hugged it to her chest, staring at the man opposite, trying to figure him out.
The girl's intense gaze made it impossible for him to ignore. He clenched the hand hanging by his side, trying to suppress the emotions unknown to others.
Tan Xinger didn't notice his changing expression, thinking about how to speak without seeming abrupt.
After giving her a deep look, Gu Jingyong walked to a corner and began sorting through his backpack.
Tan Xinger followed him, asking softly, "I'm Tan Xinger, and you?"
"Gu Jingyong."
"Brother Shu, hello! Is there anything I can help you with?"
Tan Xinger noticed his hand on the zipper pause, and a flush appeared on his face.
He didn't seem much older than herself. She found it nerve-wracking to address him as "Brother Shu," but as long as she could cling to his leg, nothing else mattered!
"Although I'm not good at fighting, I know the school well! I can help you find the nearest way out no matter where you want to go."
Tan Xinger knew that if she wanted Brother Shu to notice her, she had to stand out.
She could tell from his attire that he wasn't a teacher or student at the school.
Because even from the side, his profile was breathtaking. There was no reason she wouldn't notice such a stunning figure in the school.
Moreover, their school was renowned for its "pure prison style."
With everyone wearing the same blue and white uniforms, Gu Jingyong's black tactical jacket stood out.
"Is that so."
Gu Jingyong stood up and looked at her, meeting her eyes, feeling a softness in his heart.
Her intentions were written all over her face, yet she still wanted to pretend.
A bit foolish but clever.
"What did you say?"
Tan Xinger didn't catch what he said and asked again.
"It's nothing. If you're willing, we can certainly be companions."
Gu Jingyong's voice sounded slightly more cheerful than before.
"That's great!"
With her goal achieved, Tan Xinger almost wrote it on her face but instead displayed the happiest smile she had in days.
Seeing Gu Jingyong organizing his backpack, she remembered the things in her own bag.
Taking out a plastic bag, she found an apple inside, broken into pieces, and two small bread rolls, slightly squashed.
Although not presentable, Tan Xinger broke off half of the apple and handed the larger piece to Gu Jingyong.
"Eat this."
"Thank you."
Without looking back, Gu Jingyong naturally took the half-apple she offered, as if he had done it many times before.
Tan Xinger sat down, appearing to focus on eating the apple, but in reality, she was discreetly observing the contents of Gu Jingyong's backpack.
She saw ropes, a knife, a flashlight, several boxes of medicine, and some sterile bandages.
Taking a bite of the apple, sweet and satisfying, she felt a surge of excitement in her heart.
Yes! She didn't mistake him. He was a solid gold thigh, and her life was temporarily saved!
Unaware of her rich inner world, Gu Jingyong contemplated his next move.
Looking back at her, he saw her happily biting into the apple, almost biting her own tongue.
Her frowning face, crying one moment and quickly forgetting about it the next, soon disappeared from his mind as he opened a bread roll and started eating.
"Um, do you want this?"
Tan Xinger noticed Gu Jingyong staring at her and blinked at him.
"You're a fool, Sister Tan Xinger. Big Brother hasn't eaten yet, but you're already eating."
Quickly rebuking herself in her heart, Tan Xinger took out the last bread roll and handed it to Gu Jingyong.
She swore she only felt 0.01% reluctance and definitely didn't mind giving up a mere bread roll.
Seeing Tan Xinger's reluctant expression, Gu Jingyong didn't finish his sentence before she spoke up.
"No..."
"You have it. It's delicious."
Gu Jingyong looked at the mango-filled bread in his hand and handed it back to her.
"I don't like mangoes, you have it."
"In that case, I'll have it."
Upon hearing this, Tan Xinger's eyes lit up, politely putting the bread back into her backpack, ready to eat it when she got hungry later.
"Oh right, where are we going next?"
Tan Xinger saw Gu Jingyong leaning against the wall in silence, and her talkative nature kicked in as she asked softly.
"Leaving the school tomorrow."
"Oh."
Tan Xinger shifted slightly, leaning against the wall next to Gu Jingyong, without asking why it was tomorrow.
Because listening to Big Brother's words would never be wrong.
As night fell, Tan Xinger, who had been tense all day, felt much calmer with someone beside her. She slowly drifted off to sleep leaning against the wall.
In her half-asleep state, she seemed to hear knocking on the door. Tan Xinger shuddered in her sleep, but the surroundings quickly returned to silence.
Heavy drowsiness dragged her into darkness, dissipating all consciousness.
In the pitch-black night, there was only a faint light on the rooftop, and the slowly opening iron door closed once again.
The strong smell of blood permeated the air, causing the sleeping person to frown and bury her head in her coat.
As dawn broke, Tan Xinger felt a chill from the wind and instinctively pulled her coat closer.
Suddenly, she fully awakened, looking at the black tactical jacket draped over her, feeling a warm current flow through her heart.
A big brother who cared so much wouldn't be easy to find a second time!
"Big Brother, are we leaving?"
Tan Xinger shook off her usual morning drowsiness, feeling unusually spirited.
Just the thought of leaving the school with Gu Jingyong made her feel like the past few days of roughing it were nothing.
"Call me by my name. We'll leave in ten minutes."
Hearing him correct her address even as he pulled on his clothes, still carrying her warmth, Tan Xinger felt a surge of gratitude.
Such a considerate big brother was a rare find indeed!
"Ten minutes?"
Tan Xinger checked her watch. It was eight eighteen. She didn't expect Big Brother to be so punctual. He truly paid attention to detail.