Jiang Xing shuddered, quickly brushing off the hand that grabbed her shoulder. She turned and saw it was Luo Jian.
Though she was startled, Luo Jian seemed unfazed. He let go and stood there quietly for a moment.
"Xiao Jiang..."
Hearing him call her name, Jiang Xing knew he had something serious to discuss.
Since he was her senior, and their department was mainly composed of younger people, the older employees often relied on Jiang Xing to mediate with Luo Jian. It was no surprise he sought her out now.
"Here's the thing," he began.
Jiang Xing glanced at the man's expression and followed his gaze to the end of the shelf. It was clear that the man who had been there earlier had disappeared.
"I want you to help convince them," Luo Jian said.
"Convince them to do what?"
"Tonight, or at the latest, tomorrow, we need to leave this place and head west."
Jiang Xing raised her eyebrows slightly. She remembered the middle-aged man who had been following them earlier, terrified but still stubbornly tagging along. So now they were planning to risk going west?
The west was at least thirty kilometers away. Under normal circumstances, it would take a car about an hour. But with everything that was happening now, who knew how much more dangerous it would be and how long it would take.
"Why do we need to leave? We're safe here, and there's enough food in the store to last us a month."
Hearing Jiang Xing's question, Luo Jian paused. He looked at her and asked, "Do you really think we're safe here? Can't you sense the urgency?"
Luo Jian was known for being strict at work, but his close relationships with the higher-ups were well known.
Jiang Xing replied calmly, "There's no need to rush. You must have seen the news, right? This outbreak is global, and, well, it's likely that there are countless zombies. By the time this blows over, there might not be anyone left to save. Even now, we can barely keep the zombies at bay."
Luo Jian was less patient, cutting straight to the point. "Aren't you a graduate of S University? You should know that across the river, there's an island with a military base. They'll prioritize rescuing S City."
When Luo Jian mentioned this, Jiang Xing remembered that back when she entered university, she'd heard about it from her classmates. S University was located in the southern part of the city, and the military training for freshmen was held at a base across the river. It was common knowledge that the military was stationed there, so what Luo Jian said wasn't a stretch.
Thinking this, Jiang Xing relaxed a bit. As long as they could survive this initial wave of chaos, they should be relatively safe with the military nearby.
"Then let's just stay put here and wait for rescue," she said.
Luo Jian sighed. "Xiao Jiang, whether it's a disaster, war, or the outbreak that just happened, the first rule is to flee and save yourself… rescue…"
He trailed off, not finishing his sentence, but Jiang Xing understood what he meant.
Although Jiang Xing wasn't sure if Luo Jian's information was reliable, she personally preferred the idea of heading to S University.
"I can help you, but I won't force anyone to go," she said.
Seeing Jiang Xing agree, Luo Jian relaxed. As long as she was on board, the rest would likely follow, and he wouldn't have to worry about convincing them individually.
But in truth, Luo Jian's plan had been made well in advance. For him, leaving this place was a given. Aside from Xiao Jin, who lived near S University, the others had lives and situations no different from Jiang Xing's. They had no reason to leave hastily.
Today was only Monday. The convenience store was well-stocked, and if rationed properly, they could hold out for half a month. The authorities had also announced that rescue was on the way, so the younger ones still had faith in the government and were unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
But by the second day, the government's first announcement was made, shattering everyone's expectations.
[As of 8:00 AM on June 7, 20XX, all 31 provinces have reported outbreak incidents. Infected individuals exhibit symptoms such as red eyes and aggressive behavior. Though the origin of the infection remains unclear, it is highly contagious. The unresponsive infected can still transmit the virus through contact. We recommend...]
[According to statistics, the first wave of infected individuals has a survival rate of approximately 70%. The data for the second wave is still being compiled...]
[Some military units are establishing safety zones. Residents who receive this information can proceed to the designated sites or stay at home and wait for rescue if they have sufficient supplies...]
The rest was a map showing the cities where safety zones had been established. However, G City was not on the list, and there was no information for their area on their phones.
In other words, G City's military was likely overwhelmed, unable to support them.
The more concerning news was the second point: a 70% infection rate. The outbreak had spread rapidly, coinciding with the morning rush hour when everyone was on their way to work. With people crowded together, there was no chance to escape, and the spread of the infection was uncontrollable.
Right now, the streets were eerily quiet. The few remaining survivors were all scattered, hiding in groups of three or four. Aside from those in the store, the other survivors had been unable to gather together in any meaningful way, and there was no organized rescue effort.
This meant that, out of the thousand or so people in this building, perhaps only a dozen had managed to survive. The realization weighed heavily, reigniting fears and prompting new thoughts of leaving.
"Are you sure the military will head to S University?" Yue Zhihao asked Jiang Xing, hoping she would give a definitive answer.
"I can't say for sure, but it's very likely," she replied. "The bridge leading to the island faces S University. On the other side, there's a hospital, but I have no information on whether they'll head there."
Jiang Xing leaned toward S University because a few foreign biology professors had told her about it. They had mentioned that the university had excellent facilities, and its proximity to the bridge and its educational focus made it a likely priority for military evacuation efforts. Plus, the military presence there was usually quite strong due to frequent training exercises. If any place was prepared for a scenario like this, it was S University.
And more importantly, judging from Luo Jian's anxious behavior, it seemed he had inside information suggesting the military would prioritize S University.
Unexpectedly, the man who had joined them earlier was the most enthusiastic about leaving.
"I don't care if we're heading to S University or somewhere else, but we need to leave here as soon as possible. If we wait until tomorrow, I doubt that little glass wall will be able to hold up," the man said firmly.
Based on their observations from the previous day, everyone realized that zombies still seemed to have some form of vision and hearing. So they had taped up newspapers on the glass walls and huddled in the convenience store, speaking in hushed tones, hoping not to attract any zombies.
But the reality was that the zombies had been lured away by other noises, and by the next morning, they had regrouped outside the store. Even though there was a barrier, they could still see the faint shadows of the zombies outside, and the low groans and faint taps on the glass reminded everyone of the looming threat.
The glass walls had already started to crack under the pressure from the previous day, and if more zombies gathered, they might eventually break through.
If they didn't leave soon, they might lose the chance to escape altogether.
The best plan was to leave before the shadows at the door noticed any movement and drew the attention of the zombies.
There wasn't much available inside the store, but to prepare for a "stealthy exit," they found some small cloth shopping bags. They cut them to make simple ponchos, which could be worn on their backs or wrapped around their bodies, serving as makeshift shields.
They also began crafting makeshift "weapons." Initially, everyone was nervous and hesitant, unsure if their strength would be enough to fight off the zombies, but after some practice, they found that stabbing at the zombies' heads with wooden sticks was quite effective. While their physical strength wasn't always sufficient, they discovered that the zombies' bodies were as fragile as rotting corpses.
The best way to handle the zombies was to kill them with a single, decisive blow. Since the store didn't have any tools like knives, they had to improvise. They tied small sticks to broom handles to make simple "spears," and even converted file folders into makeshift "shields." Though they were heavier, they allowed for more flexible movement and provided better protection.