After leaving the University of Manchester, Shao Ming and Li Long walked into a restaurant.
The restaurant wasn't very large, and there was only a chubby boss inside, but because the Thai food was very delicious, it was popular with many students.
Fortunately, the two didn't have many classes this morning, or there would probably be no seats available in the restaurant.
"How did you do on the financial risk exam yesterday?" As soon as they sat down, Li Long asked.
"No, no, no," Shao Ming threw his shoulder bag onto the table and said, "It's about how well I guessed."
Li Long chuckled, "Hearing that from you makes me feel better. I'll sit next to you for the exam next semester."
"Not at all. Even if we have to retake the exam, you're still going to copy off me?"
The boss came over to their table and handed them the menu.
"Hey, Johnny." Li Long greeted the boss.
"Hey, Chinese boys."
Shao Ming glanced at the menu and said, "One order of cod fish and chips, two orders of pork chops, one Thai-style stir-fried rice noodles, two fried eggs, and two glasses of orange juice."
"The usual, right?" The boss picked up the menu. "It'll be ready soon."
Li Long looked at Shao Ming and said, "Your British accent is getting better."
Shao Ming raised his eyebrows, "You should learn from me."
"Get lost."
Shao Ming tilted his head and looked around. Normally, the restaurant was run by the husband and wife, but today he didn't see the boss's wife. "Where's his wife today?"
"Haven't I told you?" Li Long said, "I heard that after his wife recovered, her condition worsened not long ago. It was last week, and she's been lying at home ever since."
"Why not go to the hospital?"
"The hospital? There have been so many people with serious aftereffects lately. If you don't line up, you won't even get in."
Shao Ming pouted. Fortunately, he didn't get infected during the pandemic.
Li Long continued, "It's really strange. The pandemic ended half a year ago, but now there are all these aftereffects."
"You'd better be careful." Shao Ming reminded him, recalling that Li Long had been infected six months ago.
"Don't worry about me." Li Long patted his chest. "I've got a strong body."
Shao Ming looked at Li Long's physique. The guy was always into weightlifting and fitness back home, so he was in good shape. "That's true. If you mutate, you'd definitely be a boss monster."
A customer eating nearby picked up the remote and turned up the volume on the TV.
"Three days ago, the first severe aftereffect of the virus infection was reported, and with more and more videos circulating on the internet, people began to wonder if the aftereffects of the virus could turn people into 'zombie-like' states. The authorities have yet to respond to the related videos, but rumors suggest that after the infection ends, the virus's activity hasn't been fully eliminated, and further mutations have occurred in infected individuals…"
"The virus itself is already crazy, now it's mutating into zombies?"
"Your food," the boss placed the stir-fried noodles and pork chops in front of the two. He turned and grabbed the remote, switching the TV to the sports channel. "I don't think there's anything to worry about after being infected."
The two looked at each other but said nothing.
After lunch, the two headed to their off-campus apartment.
Though the apartment was off-campus, it was just across the street from the university, and like the student dorms, it had two rooms and a living room.
It cost a bit more, but the social apartment was spacious, with a private bathroom and a washing machine, so it was quite comfortable to live in.
The building had six floors, with only one old elevator. Alongside the elevator was a staircase leading up, and next to the staircase were the doors to each apartment.
It was said that this apartment building was built before World War I and miraculously survived the German bombings during World War II, remaining intact until today.
As they walked up the stairs, Shao Ming asked Li Long, "Wilson said he's going to the shooting range this weekend. Do you want to go?"
"You guys are going again?" Li Long rummaged around in his bag for a while before pulling out a key. "I'd rather spend that money to visit my sister."
"Is there anything in your brain other than women?"
"Fitness."
When they reached the apartment door on the third floor, Li Long was about to insert the key into the lock, but they heard a loud, annoying sound coming from downstairs.
"Hurry up, open the door," Shao Ming urged.
Li Long quickly opened the door, and the two entered the apartment. Before the door could fully close, a man's scream echoed from the hallway.
"Asians, why don't you just leave?"
"Damn white pig!" Li Long shouted back through the door.
"Hey! Hey! Open the door!" The door was being violently knocked on. Shao Ming worried the door might come off its hinges—not because he was afraid of the person outside, but because he didn't want to add another bill to their expenses.
The person outside was their neighbor, Briedon, a single, hot-tempered middle-aged white man who lived across the hall. He drank heavily at home and had strong racist tendencies.
If this person were in the U.S., he'd probably be part of the redneck crowd in Texas, and he definitely wasn't the best neighbor to have.
"Bastard." Li Long grabbed a baseball bat from beside the door and was about to open it.
"Hey," Shao Ming quickly stopped him, "It's your first time dealing with him? Just ignore him, and he'll leave."
"I told you we should've moved to a different place."
Li Long threw the bat aside, and the two pretended not to hear the noise from the door.
Less than two minutes later, the noise outside did indeed stop.
Shao Ming lay on the couch, took out his phone, and opened YouTube.
The screen was flooded with videos about the virus aftereffects. Some vloggers were explaining the virus's mutation mechanisms, others uploaded videos showing the worsening symptoms of people around them, and some were teaching people how to prepare for a biochemical crisis.
"This virus really causes so much trouble," Shao Ming sighed.
Li Long, while taking a can of cola from the fridge, said, "It's the Americans' fault. I always said it was a man-made virus."
Shao Ming put down his phone, glanced at Li Long, and picked it up again, opening a video titled How to Survive a Biochemical Crisis.
"Today, we have doomsday preparation expert Jack, who will teach us how to stock up on supplies and survive a zombie crisis…"
"If there really is a biochemical crisis," Li Long tossed a can of cola to Shao Ming, "we won't even have to take exams."
Just as they were both lying on the couch, playing with their phones, there came a loud crash from downstairs.