Pei Yujang felt as if she had slept for a long time, deeper and more restful than any sleep she'd had recently. It seemed she had talked to Yu Zhiwan for hours. When she finally woke up, her stomach was already growling.
As she opened her eyes, her mind was foggy, and she found herself lying in an unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling. It took her a moment to realize that she wasn't in a familiar place.
Her survival instincts kicked in, and Pei Yujang quickly reached for her phone. Once she confirmed that all her belongings were still with her, she felt a bit relieved. She rubbed her eyes and saw that the time on the screen was 2:00 AM on January 23rd.
A whole day and night had passed since she last saw Yu Zhiwan.
The room was narrow but well-equipped. Behind a frosted door, Pei Yujang could see what seemed to be a bathroom, with a light lavender scent wafting out. At the moment, she was lying on a queen-sized bed, barefoot but fully dressed, with a blanket covering her midsection.
Just a few steps from the bed, there was a matching desk and chair, all in a minimalist white decor. Outside, it seemed to be raining, the sound of raindrops pounding against the window bringing back memories of the storm that had threatened to flood Yicheng. A chill draft snuck in through the window's crack, fully awakening Pei Yujang's memories from before she passed out.
She wasn't just asleep—Yu Zhiwan had drugged her while her guard was down!
Pei Yujang gradually pieced it all together.
She wasn't afraid. She knew Yu Zhiwan would never harm her. Still, she had sensed something was off, from Mayor Xiang's sudden urgency in sending her to the school, to the ease with which she uncovered evidence. The whole process had gone too smoothly.
Ever since Pei Yujang and Mayor Xiang started working together, they had all been doing their part. Mayor Xiang focused on internal affairs, reporting to higher-ups, while Pei Yujang worked to dismantle the organization's bases, and Yu Zhiwan contributed to the medical research.
They were doing what they could, but the rest depended on how the higher-ups would handle it. Yu Zhiwan had been seeking connections to report to the Federation, but who knew what would come of it? With all their actions, Pei Yujang doubted the A Organization would remain unprepared.
Their operations—relocating the water plant, exposing kidnapping cases—had been steadily dismantling the organization's network. If Pei Yujang managed to take down this school too, how much longer could the A Organization last? How many more places could they hide?
But where was she now?
As if to answer her question, footsteps echoed outside the room just as Pei Yujang sat up. When the doorbell rang, Pei Yujang was already fully alert.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A young woman entered, and Pei Yujang vaguely remembered seeing her before. After a moment, she recognized her as Liu Xijing, the Beta who had helped escort Minister Chen out during the rescue mission.
Liu Xijing silently placed a tray on the table, with a bowl of pumpkin porridge and a red sugar bun, then took a folded letter from her pocket and placed it beside the tray. Seeing Pei Yujang's eyes immediately drift toward the letter, she quickly reminded her:
"Zhiwan said to eat first before reading."
The porridge was likely made by Yu Zhiwan herself, and Pei Yujang trusted her enough not to suspect anything. However, she had already sensed that something was wrong.
Pei Yujang stood up, her expression calm—just like Yu Zhiwan's usually was—but with a sharpness that made others uneasy. She asked, "The porridge isn't drugged, is it?"
Liu Xijing hesitated before answering, "... There's an antidote."
Having followed Yu Zhiwan for a long time, Liu Xijing wasn't intimidated by Pei Yujang's intensity. She simply smiled politely and exited the room. Yu Zhiwan had entrusted her with the task of looking after Pei Yujang, and she wouldn't disappoint her.
Naturally, Liu Xijing was curious about what Yu Zhiwan had written in the letter. The room wasn't perfectly soundproofed, so she circled back, hoping to eavesdrop on what was happening inside.
Meanwhile, after a moment of hesitation, Pei Yujang decided to take a sip of the porridge.
After not eating for a day and a half, her stomach had been screaming for food. The warmth of the pumpkin porridge spread through her, and Pei Yujang immediately recognized Yu Zhiwan's cooking.
During the time they lived next door to each other, Yu Zhiwan would often bring her different breakfast dishes, with pumpkin porridge being a regular favorite. The rice was cooked until it bloomed, and the pumpkin added a fresh sweetness. A hint of milk powder rounded out the flavors, making the dish both comforting and appetizing.
Though the porridge wasn't sweetened, the lingering sweetness brought tears to Pei Yujang's eyes. She savored it slowly, finishing the bowl but leaving the red sugar bun untouched, even though it was far from enough to satisfy her appetite.
She let the spoon, still carrying bits of pumpkin, rest in her mouth as she opened the letter.
Her heart pounded, knowing this letter was important.
The white sulfuric paper envelope held a small, black electronic screen, about the size of half her palm. She turned it on, unsure of its purpose.
The thick envelope was filled with photos, which Pei Yujang spread out. The first was a screenshot from one of their live broadcasts.
Even before they had officially announced their relationship, they had many fans who shipped them together. Some of Pei Yujang's fans would send things to Yue Rong. As long as the items weren't too valuable, Pei Yujang would sign for them and send a return gift.
She remembered one fan had sent screenshots of their live broadcasts, printed to look like Polaroids, with colors enhanced by delicate brushstrokes. Pei Yujang had laughed at the time, and Yu Zhiwan, who hadn't yet regained her sight, had asked what it was.
Pei Yujang had given her the photos, not knowing that Yu Zhiwan had kept them.
There were other photos of their life together. Pei Yujang wasn't much for selfies, but after joining Yue Rong, she had gotten into the habit of taking more pictures, especially after they started dating. Even in a KTV room, Yu Zhiwan had snapped a photo of them together.
Looking through the photos, Pei Yujang felt her eyes grow wetter. Beneath the stack of photos, she found the letter. Taking a deep breath, she unfolded it.
The familiar handwriting brought a wave of emotion, as the scent of Yu Zhiwan's perfume lingered on the paper. Pei Yujang held it to her nose, trying to imprint her lover's scent into her memory.
[Yujang, how are you?
When I made the decision to send you to this safe, secret location, I struggled with whether or not to fight by your side. After all, it was my idea. When you left me alone to face danger before, I was angry for a long time. I understand how you must feel now.
Your worry for me outweighs your anger. Your longing surpasses any other emotion. I'm sorry for taking such drastic measures. I used a sedative, so you should feel better after eating the porridge.
I talked with Mayor Xiang, and she's already reported everything to the higher-ups. I mentioned this to you before.
It may take a long time for the powers above to sort things out, but that's beyond our control. I'm glad they've started to take action. It's not like in my dreams where I was alone, with only a few pieces of evidence, afraid they'd be destroyed before reaching anyone who could help.
There is a traitor within our organization. In my previous life, by the time I realized it, things were already beyond saving. I need to go to the A Organization's base because our virus antidote needs one final step. It's likely hidden there. This task isn't for anyone else, and you don't need to be involved.
But before I go, I'll take every precaution. Someone will be in place to infiltrate and retrieve the research formula. I won't go in alone. We all have our roles to play, and I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this sooner.
By now, you've probably guessed that the situation at the school has mostly been resolved. You just needed to help with the food issue. Once that was resolved, the children's safety was ensured, and we've gathered all the evidence we need. Now, you just need to make it public.
I'm doing the same thing as before, but this time, I'm not alone. I have you and other companions by my side, and that's enough for me.
Thank you for showing me a different life and walking a different path than before. Thinking of you always brightens my day. This is a feeling I've never experienced in the 25 years before.
I love you.]
The letter was signed with Yu Zhiwan's flowery signature, complete with a half-lip print.
If Pei Yujang had received this letter before, she would have been overjoyed. But now, faced with the romantic gesture tinged with the threat of death, she felt no joy.
No matter how lightly Yu Zhiwan tried to describe it, Pei Yujang knew that going to the A Organization's base was a journey of no return. Even if she believed Yu Zhiwan would avoid going in herself and rely on professionals, with the current escalation, who could guarantee safety?
Pei Yujang's heart pounded with anxiety. To calm herself, she decided to keep busy.
As Yu Zhiwan suggested, she logged into her social media accounts, finding that in just a day and a half offline, the internet had erupted. Many short video creators were discussing the current situation.
The A Organization had indeed begun retaliating. In some places, they had even set fires, like at the water plant on the outskirts of Xiangcheng. But since the residents had been evacuated, they didn't fall victim to a zombie outbreak like in the history books.
Chaos reigned in any area touched by the A Organization. There had even been two mysterious explosions in one day. Fortunately, the authorities had issued warnings beforehand, and the shark incident had made many people realize that the apocalypse might not just be a rumor.
Following the government's advice, people had stockpiled food, water, and weapons, preparing for the worst. Some were still on the fence, debating whether to take precautions, while a few dismissed it all as fearmongering and continued their normal routines.
Discovering that the network was accessible, Pei Yujang quickly posted everything she could to her public account. With her large following, the news would spread quickly, alerting people to the danger.
After successfully posting, Pei Yujang ignored the flood of messages and headed for the door.
She startled Liu Xijing, who had been eavesdropping behind it.
Liu Xijing had no idea what the letter contained, nor could she sneak a peek at something meant for Pei Yujang alone. But seeing Pei Yujang fully dressed and ready to leave, she knew what she was planning.
"Miss Yu said you can't go! You have to stay here and wait for further instructions. What if something else needs to be done? We can't risk everyone being wiped out!"
Liu Xijing knew she couldn't physically stop Pei Yujang. Most of the others were busy with their own tasks, and those left behind were primarily for rescue and communication. In this sense, they weren't keeping Pei Yujang in the dark.
Liu Xijing could only reason with her, not force her, feeling nervous under Pei Yujang's intense gaze. If Pei Yujang insisted on leaving, she might have to resort to drastic measures.
Pei Yujang's deep blue eyes were like the ocean, making Liu Xijing feel immense pressure. She forced herself to meet Pei Yujang's gaze, and after a tense moment, Pei Yujang finally relented.
"Fine, I'll listen to you this time."
Her tone was gentle but resigned, and Liu Xijing knew the words weren't really meant for her, but for Yu Zhiwan, who was far away.
Liu Xijing breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when Pei Yujang suddenly struck, landing a swift chop to her neck. Despite trying to dodge, Liu Xijing couldn't escape Pei Yujang's speed.
As Liu Xijing crumpled to the floor, Pei Yujang turned to leave but was stopped by a beeping sound from the room.