Zhou Zhou, who was Fang Nianjing and Mrs. Chen's friend, wasn't actually that close to either of them.
The Alpha's hands were skilled, and the two were very familiar with each other's bodies. Fang Nianjing easily picked up on An Yaoyao's needs and desires, and as An Yaoyao's breathing grew heavier and her eyes glazed over, the two fell together onto the old iron bed.
The iron bed wasn't comfortable at all. The sheets smelled heavily of lavender-scented laundry detergent—a brand Fang Nianjing immediately recognized as one she endorsed. This realization made her actions with An Yaoyao even more intense.
The Omega's gland, once bitten, made her like a sponge soaked in water, soft and pliable in the Alpha's hands. The moonlight filtered through the old lace curtains, scattering in fragmented patterns across the floor, while the old window shades swayed with the breeze.
The old apartment building was mostly abandoned, with only a few elderly couples and small families remaining. Those left were primarily early-rising, hard-working older couples. The small room on the third floor was outfitted with rare soundproofing padding, muffling the warmth and intimacy within.
Afterwards, Fang Nianjing got up to pour a glass of water for An Yaoyao, then gently kissed the corner of her lips.
An Yaoyao's throat was hoarse, and she drank two full glasses of water before sighing with relief. She pulled the small electric heater closer and leaned against Fang Nianjing's shoulder to continue their earlier conversation:
"I often volunteer at that combined welfare center. The other day, I saw Miss Pei go to the water plant; she might be suspicious of what's going on there. I just think there's something strange about that water plant, and that Chen woman is trying to sell it off. If something happens, those elderly and children won't be able to escape."
An Yaoyao usually made money through odd jobs and was a long-time volunteer at the welfare center. She had no real power, but she deeply cared about the elderly and children there.
She lost her father at a young age and grew up in this building, raised by her mother. When her mother passed away when she was ten, an elderly couple from the nearby welfare center took care of her. They shared their food with her and taught her to read and write.
An Yaoyao had deep ties to this area. Even when offered jobs that included housing, she couldn't bring herself to leave.
Mrs. Chen had reportedly visited the welfare center personally, even conducting deals there, acting with blatant disregard for the law. An Yaoyao was powerless to stop it but feared they had plans for the land. She even worried they might use the elderly and children for human experiments. The thought of illegal organ trafficking haunted her, leaving her unable to eat or sleep for a long time.
Fang Nianjing, seeing how distressed An Yaoyao was, agreed to help, using Chen Lulu to pass the information on to Pei Yujang.
The scent from the Omega's gland filled the room with a sweet fragrance, making it hard for the Alpha to resist. But Fang Nianjing noticed the approaching dawn and quietly buttoned up her shirt. She adjusted the loosened threads and helped An Yaoyao dress.
Resting her head against An Yaoyao's forehead, Fang Nianjing soaked in the familiar warmth and the Omega's comforting scent, cherishing this rare moment of peace.
An Yaoyao, now tired, felt her eyelids grow heavy. She mumbled as she stroked Fang Nianjing's arm:
"We grew up relying on the kindness of others. Grandpa Liu and Grandma Yang, and even Grandma Tao, they all took such good care of us. If they're planning to demolish the land, they'll need to find them a place in the city first. And if they're really up to no good, our country has laws to protect them…"
Fang Nianjing mumbled an agreement, cradling An Yaoyao closer to her chest.
The recent live broadcast had brought in significant profits, making Pei Jinhuai quite pleased. She even called Pei Yujang to commend her, treating her more like an employee than a daughter. She urged Pei Yujang to continue streaming to build her audience, even if she didn't sell beauty products. The key was to become more familiar with the viewers.
A few days later, Pei Yujang received a package—a drone bought by Jiang Wenxiu under a fake name and IP address. The girl was indeed skilled in such matters.
Satisfied with the purchase, Pei Yujang sent Jiang Wenxiu a generous red envelope, promising to treat her to hotpot when she had time to return to Yicheng.
Today, Yu Zhiwan had gone to the hospital again, and Pei Yujang took the opportunity to stream alone. As soon as she went live, she was bombarded with "complaints" from viewers, accusing her of abandoning the ghost story she had been telling last time.
Pei Yujang's live stream had two administrators—one promoted from her fan base and one from the Yu Rong company. The fan administrator joined the chorus of complaints:
[We'll forgive you if you were meeting a girlfriend!]
By now, Pei Yujang was used to such banter and didn't get embarrassed. She even played along, rubbing her chin as if in deep thought before jokingly responding:
"Does a female friend count?"
The chat filled with exasperated comments, making Pei Yujang laugh heartily. She then continued the story she had started before.
The previous ghost story wasn't about real ghosts; it was a tale of human behavior, fueled by paranoia and an overactive imagination.
Just as she had expected, the viewers felt let down. The most hated ghost stories often ended with "it was just a dream" or "the character was insane all along."
The audience urged Pei Yujang to tell more thrilling stories or to come up with a better conclusion. After a moment's thought, Pei Yujang began recounting a classic non-supernatural horror scenario involving human experimentation.
Her sharp features framed by the camera, Pei Yujang spoke with the seriousness of someone delivering a report rather than telling a story.
As she described the creation of zombies, the viewers, accustomed to today's advanced technology and entertainment, found themselves chilled by the vividness of her account. Those who paid attention felt a cold shiver down their spines.
[If something like this really existed, would our country step in?]
The chat, which had been unusually quiet due to the intensity of the story, finally saw someone dare to ask the question. Pei Yujang pretended not to see it, continuing her tale, while the discussion below quickly picked up.
[There's no way they wouldn't try to save people, right? We have to trust our country.]
[Hmm, hard to say. The rich and powerful would definitely be saved first, while regular folks like us would have to fend for ourselves. What if resources are scarce or the zombies are overwhelming? Would they just drop a bomb on us and call it a day?]
The imagination of the public was indeed vast. What this viewer described wasn't far from how things had actually played out in her previous life.
At the onset of the zombie outbreak, the government had made every effort to rescue as many people as possible, holding onto the hope that every life saved could make a difference.
But as resources dwindled and the situation worsened, the rescue efforts became increasingly strained. Eventually, local authorities started making decisions to bomb heavily infected areas, sacrificing the few survivors alongside the hordes of zombies.
Some cities followed this brutal method, leading to chaos as people fought to survive, often influenced by illegal groups.
Pei Yujang cleared her throat, realizing her water glass was empty. She paused to get a refill, planning to continue her story after a quick break. But as she stepped away to fetch water, her live stream was suddenly shut down.
Water splashed on the floor, but Pei Yujang paid it no mind, rushing back to her computer, cursing under her breath.
"Damn it!"
A message flashed on her screen:
[Due to reports from concerned viewers, the internet authorities remind you to use the internet responsibly. Please avoid spreading misinformation, using vulgar language, or inciting conflict. Your live stream has been reported for potential violations and is under investigation. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please be patient.]
Patience was not an option for Pei Yujang.
If she could show footage from the apocalypse, she could prove she wasn't lying; every word she said was based on her harrowing experience.
But unfortunately, in this era of peace, even with some early warning signs, she had to comply with the investigation process once her stream was reported.
Her streaming account had amassed a significant following, often ranking high in the popular "Beauty" category. This account had more followers than her public social media and was something she didn't want to lose.
Fuming, Pei Yujang thought about what to do next. Then she remembered Jiang Wenxiu, her resourceful younger sister. She quickly dialed her number, and Jiang Wenxiu answered after a few seconds, her voice lazy:
"What do you need to buy this time?"
"My live stream got shut down."
"Haha… What? Who reported you?"
Jiang Wenxiu cut herself off mid-sentence, realizing the situation was serious. Pei Yujang explained briefly, and Jiang Wenxiu, always ready to help, promised,
"Give me fifteen minutes."
While Pei Yujang mopped up the spilled water, Jiang Wenxiu video-called her back in just ten minutes.
"Look, here's the idiot who reported you. His IP address is in Yicheng. I also checked, and it overlaps with that Zhao woman's IP."
Pei Jinhuai had been in a dispute with the Zhao family. Busy with other matters, she had told Pei Yujang not to get involved, and over time, Pei Yujang had put it out of her mind.
But it seemed Zhao Tongshuang wasn't ready to let it go.
Jiang Wenxiu swapped out her gaming keyboard for another, her fingers flying across the keys. When Pei Yujang asked what she was doing, Jiang Wenxiu, her words muffled by a lollipop, replied,
"No one messes with me in my own territory. I'll teach this little rat a lesson."
Both Fan Zhaozhao and Pei Jinhuai had been wronged by their ex-husbands, which had brought them together. Jiang Wenxiu's father had been even worse than Pei Yujang's, abusive and foul-mouthed. Jiang Wenxiu had picked up on the language quickly, though she always added a twist by throwing in the word "dad" when she cursed.
Pei Yujang let the habit slide, raising an eyebrow,
"You're really this good?"
"Of course! Back in middle school, when my creepy teacher punished me, I filled his computer screen with turtles."
The thought of the scene made Pei Yujang chuckle. Then, remembering that Jiang Wenxiu was still a minor, she advised,
"You've got talent, but use it wisely. If someone bullies you, fight back, but don't…"
"I know, I know! You're worse than my mom with all this nagging!"
Despite her rebellious streak, Jiang Wenxiu was a natural with electronics. Even though she had never received formal training, she hacked Zhao Tongshuang's computer, planting a virus that, while harmless to her finances, would give her a tough time.
Watching Jiang Wenxiu's nimble fingers flying over the keyboard, Pei Yujang briefly considered asking her to help get a message to Mayor Xiang. But she quickly dismissed the idea.
This was already a dangerous path, and it was risky enough without dragging someone else into it.
After being subtly retaliated against, Zhao Tongshuang quieted down for a while, not causing any further trouble. With more pressing matters to deal with, Pei Yujang stopped paying attention to her.
After Christmas, the weather in Xiangcheng gradually warmed up. By mid-January, winter had effectively said its final goodbye to the city.
Pei Yujang spent about half a month working on a map, frequently visiting the welfare center, where she volunteered to familiarize herself with the layout. She waited until the welfare center was in its afternoon rest period before heading there again.
Pei Yujang hid in the shade of a tree and carefully maneuvered the drone towards the sewage treatment plant.
The late winter and early spring saw ice melting and life slowly returning. The thin layer of ice that had formed over the sewage during the coldest days had completely thawed, releasing not a gentle springtime flow but a stench that hung thick in the air.
The wall on the opposite side had been reinforced, but the foul odor still managed to seep through, assaulting her senses as if countless pieces of rotting garbage were piled up nearby. Even from a distance, the smell was nauseating.
These days, the people at the welfare center rarely came near the plant; no one wanted to subject themselves to that kind of olfactory punishment.
If it wasn't necessary, Pei Yujang wouldn't want to either. She bent down, picked a small, nameless flower from a corner, and held it under her nose to counter the stench.
Meanwhile, the drone skillfully navigated the sewage plant, capturing footage.
The drone was top-notch, offering a broad view and capturing clear images. Pei Yujang examined the footage carefully, deftly avoiding the security cameras while focusing on aerial shots without attempting to penetrate deeper into the plant.
Most of the plant's layout matched her earlier deductions, only requiring slight adjustments. After covering most of the facility, she noted two particularly odd areas.
Suddenly, a few people emerged from one of the buildings. Pei Yujang quickly maneuvered the drone to a hidden position, barely avoiding detection.
The leader of the group spat on the ground, then swung a long iron rod as if loosening his wrist.
To be safe, Pei Yujang considered leaving the area. If discovered, it would complicate her ability to gather further evidence and raise the guards' suspicions.
But when she noticed the glinting iron rod, she hesitated.
The drone was hidden from view, but it couldn't capture what the men were doing.
She remembered hearing about a fierce dog at the plant.
The iron rod was likely meant for the dog. In normal circumstances, rabies was already terrifying, and they were probably dealing with an aggressive, possibly insane dog that required such precautions.
Pei Yujang's breathing quickened.
If she sent the drone closer now, she might gather valuable information about the dog. Even if the animal was kept in a confined space, at least she could determine its general location. However, this move carried significant risks.
The plant was large, and if she hesitated, the opportunity could pass. Time was running out, and Pei Yujang, determined not to let indecision hold her back, guided the drone forward.
Fortunately, the men hadn't gone far, and with the help of the drone's infrared camera, she quickly located them.
The man with the iron rod cautiously unlocked a door using a fingerprint scanner. Even through the drone's receiver, Pei Yujang could hear faint barking.
Despite her distance from the men, the barking was loud enough to be picked up by the drone, demonstrating the dog's aggressive nature.
The dog's barking was hoarse and grating, lacking the rounded tone of a healthy animal. It was more like a wolf's howl, filled with menace—sharp and prolonged, enough to make anyone's blood run cold.
The man cursed under his breath.
He was clearly intimidated by the dog but had no choice but to approach it. Gritting his teeth, he signaled for the man behind him to bring the bucket of slop.
However, the man behind him, too scared to take another step, only handed over the bucket and retreated. The man with the iron rod shot him a fierce glare, took the bucket, and slowly advanced toward the ferocious barking.
He moved cautiously.
Pei Yujang zoomed in, and the next second, she was startled by the clear close-up.
The dog was massive, at least as big as an Alaskan Malamute, but far more vicious. Its eyes were bloodshot, its mouth wide open, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth. Its claws were curved like talons, more like those of an eagle than a dog, though worn down from walking on the ground.
Despite preparing herself, Pei Yujang's heart pounded uncontrollably.
The early spring sunlight filtered through the budding leaves, casting warm patches on her face. But she felt no warmth—only a coldness seeping into her bones, as if a chilling current had invaded her bloodstream, causing her to tremble. She quickly pressed her hand to her forehead.
After a moment, the world around her returned to normal.
Pei Yujang had faced countless zombie beasts, killing them as routinely as she would a pest. She had even fought off bandits without so much as a quiver.
But being thrust back two hundred years and confronting the prototype of those zombie beasts sent a cold fear rushing through her veins, reminding her of the ruin that would befall Xiangcheng and the horrors that awaited the nation.
Those who hadn't experienced it could never comprehend the deep, gnawing dread that finally broke through her defenses, flooding her with wave after wave of anguish.
The records of Xiangcheng's descent into hell were terrifying enough, making it hard to imagine the city's former glory. And now, having lived through its splendor, she might have to watch it all crumble again.
Pei Yujang didn't consider herself weak, but her emotions were nearly out of control. She watched as the mutated dog lunged at its food with mindless ferocity, even attempting to attack the handler. The man beat it back with his iron rod, but the dog showed no fear, its blood-red eyes filled with rage.
Having recorded this footage, Pei Yujang wanted to continue filming, but the men seemed to sense something was off. They began whispering to each other, then started searching the area. Pei Yujang quickly maneuvered the drone away, ending the session.
Regardless, this dog was a significant breakthrough, an essential piece of evidence.
Yet, inexplicably, Pei Yujang's hands wouldn't stop trembling.
She didn't leave right away, staying under the tree to review the photos and footage. Seeing it recorded wasn't the same as witnessing it firsthand. She was so absorbed in her task that she didn't even notice someone approaching.
When she finally snapped out of it, Pei Yujang was startled, belatedly realizing she wasn't herself today. But then her gaze met a familiar figure.
She thought she was seeing things. Blinking hard, she saw that Yu Zhiwan was indeed there, calmly sitting in her wheelchair, just as she always did.
Pei Yujang had told Yu Zhiwan that she volunteered at the welfare center when she had free time. Yu Zhiwan hadn't reacted much at the time, just giving a quiet "hmm."
But Pei Yujang hadn't expected her to come looking for her. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts.
But before she could even begin to process them, Yu Zhiwan was already in front of her. Without waiting for Pei Yujang to speak, Yu Zhiwan took her hand and gently shook it.
The Omega's soft fingers touched hers, and Pei Yujang couldn't hold back the tears that welled up. Sensing her emotions, Yu Zhiwan reached out with her other hand and, as Pei Yujang knelt down, patted her head soothingly.
Her voice, as gentle as ever, carried a calming weight as she softly said just a few words.
"I understand, it's okay."