The woman's name was Zhang Hua, an ordinary and beautiful person who had found herself trapped in the post-apocalyptic world. She must have realized that the person opening the iron door wasn't Guangtou. Desperate, she tried to make a sound, begging for help.
Huang Jin noticed that Zhang Hua had clearly lost weight. Her face was streaked with tear marks, and her eyes were swollen from crying. This showed just how much inhumane suffering she had endured over the past week. But Huang Jin had no intention of rescuing her. She was a variable, one that might end up ruining his plans.
"Should we save her?" Zhang Lei couldn't help but ask. The tragic state of Zhang Hua reminded him of his own girlfriend, and he felt uneasy.
But he still had his wits about him. He wasn't about to let his emotions dictate his actions. He sought Huang Jin's opinion, rather than impulsively saying, "Let's save her."
Huang Jin didn't dislike Zhang Lei's approach.
"Save her? Do you think we have the time for that?"
He rejected the idea firmly. But seeing Zhang Hua's pleading expression and Zhang Lei's hesitation, Huang Jin reluctantly added:
"Fine, we can save her, but only after we've gotten the truck out of here. Once we're done, you can do whatever you want. Just don't drag me into it."
It was a heartless remark, but Zhang Lei nodded with understanding. He looked at Zhang Hua and said softly, "It's okay, just wait a bit longer. We'll come back for you. Before that, though, pretend you don't know anything, alright?"
His tone was sincere, and even though the flashlight didn't provide enough light for Zhang Hua to see his face, she seemed to feel reassured, nodding repeatedly.
After that, the two men closed the door to the basement again and headed to Guangtou's bedroom. Though there was a bed in the basement and a beautiful woman on it, it was clear that Guangtou used that place for his… leisure, not for sleeping.
Zhang Lei hid under the large bed, while Huang Jin tucked himself into the wardrobe beside the bed. They waited from late evening until nearly dawn, barely staying awake, when they finally heard the sound of the door opening and someone yawning downstairs.
Guangtou had returned.
After pulling an all-nighter playing cards, Guangtou wasn't interested in going back to the basement for more "fun." He went straight upstairs to his bedroom. He turned on the light and began undressing.
Just as his back was to the wardrobe while taking off his sweater—
Creek…
The wardrobe door opened.
Guangtou froze and turned around.
Bang!!!
A steel pipe swung at him, striking him squarely on the head. It knocked him unconscious with a single blow. Before he even had time to react, he collapsed, blood pouring from the wound.
Seeing this, Huang Jin casually emerged from the wardrobe, took the knife from his waist, and muttered angrily while rubbing his cramped legs:
"Damn it, how long do I have to wait for this bastard?"
As he spoke, he crouched down to search for Guangtou's throat. Just as he was about to slit it, Zhang Lei stopped him.
"Wait."
Zhang Lei crawled out from under the bed. Huang Jin realized what was going on and handed the knife to him.
"Right, you do it."
Huang Jin thought Zhang Lei wanted to personally carry out the act of vengeance, but Zhang Lei just stared at Guangtou's unconscious body with gritted teeth and said, "Killing him like this is too easy… Can we take him outside first?"
"Bro, do you know what they say? Long nights make for many dreams?"
"I know, of course I do. That's why we can tie him up, all wrapped up tight. Please, I just need you to listen to me on this."
"You damn writers have too much free time."
Despite the grumbling, Huang Jin found some tape and rope, and together, they bound Guangtou tightly.
The rest was straightforward.
Huang Jin found the key to Guangtou's truck on his body. After loading all the food and supplies from the basement onto the truck, they finally carried the unconscious Guangtou and tossed him in the back.
Since it was already very late, and Huang Jin made sure to leave the lights off on the first floor and the yard, they worked quietly and carefully, so no one noticed anything out of the ordinary.
"Can you drive?" Huang Jin asked, sitting in the passenger seat of the truck.
"Uh... yeah!" Zhang Lei replied.
"Then you drive," Huang Jin said.
"Aren't you driving?"
"My skills are too good, I'm afraid the truck won't be able to handle it. So, I'm letting you have the opportunity."
"Just admit you can't drive, why make it sound so complicated…" Zhang Lei was a little speechless but took his seat behind the wheel. He then asked, "But how do I get out? What if someone notices?"
"Don't worry, just keep the lights on. I'll figure something out."
"Alright…"
The truck roared to life and drove straight toward the exit of the shelter. As they approached, the gates were still closed, and the night guard, who had been sleeping, was startled awake by the truck's noise.
He got up, curious, and moved closer to investigate. The guard, a man in his thirties, was known as Old Wang. He recognized the truck and knew it was Guangtou's. He greeted them with a smile.
But just as he approached, Huang Jin pushed open the door and got out, blocking Old Wang's path.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't ask questions, just open the gate!" Huang Jin said with a mysterious look.
Old Wang was surprised. "What... What's going on? Where are you and Guangtou going so late?"
"Hah, don't mention it. Someone's dead—Bai Ge. He got drunk and started a fight with Guangtou, and got killed by accident. Don't ask too many questions. You don't want to know too much. Just keep this to yourself."
Old Wang had a serious grudge against Bai Ge. When he first entered the shelter, he had brought his wife with him, only to have Bai Ge cheat with her. Now, Old Wang had ended up as Bai Ge's wife. If Bai Ge hadn't been one of the shelter's major stakeholders, Old Wang would have already fallen out with him.
Hearing that Bai Ge was dead, Old Wang was overjoyed. The rush of happiness clouded his judgment. With Huang Jin's good reputation in the shelter, he didn't question him and hurriedly said:
"Right, right, I don't know anything, I'll open the gate right now. I don't know anything."
With a loud rumble, the shelter's gate creaked open.
Huang Jin quickly got back in the truck and urged Zhang Lei to drive off.
But just then, an unexpected figure appeared.
It was Bai Ge. He had just gotten up to use the bathroom and noticed the truck. Curious, he approached.
"Old Wang, where's Guangtou going?" Bai Ge asked.
Old Wang froze, unable to say a word.
As the two men stood there in silence, Zhang Lei, who was in the truck, began to panic.
"What... what do we do now?"