"No, I still have my system! Yes, I still have the mysterious system! I will grow stronger and stronger, and I will make those who threaten my life submit beneath my feet!" Suddenly, Di Ping's expression shifted. He remembered that he had the system, his trump card. He couldn't believe that, with a golden finger, he wouldn't be able to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. That would mean he had become a fool, incapable and helpless.
With this thought, his resolve reignited, and his fighting spirit returned. Since heaven had given him this opportunity, he was determined to live a different life.
"How many people have survived, and where have they gone?" Di Ping pondered for a moment before slowly raising his head to look at the others.
"The radio said that people were scattered. Some managed to escape the city with the military and government, while others are being hunted and scattered everywhere. It's impossible to estimate how many are hiding now. The radio vehicle escaped into a shopping mall before it was safe, and a few hundred people followed. After they were safe, they sent out the information, urging everyone to avoid this direction!" Cheng Chao had calmed down by now and recounted everything to Di Ping in detail.
"Sigh! This is such a disaster-ridden era. Perhaps death is a blessing, at least they won't suffer through the catastrophe. Those who survive are the ones facing greater hardships!" Di Ping stood up, walked to the window, gently opened a gap in the curtain, and sighed while gazing into the distance.
"Yes! It's harder to live than to die!" Cheng Chao sighed deeply as well.
"By the way, do you all have any plans?" Di Ping suddenly turned around and asked the group.
"Plans?" The others looked at Di Ping, exchanging glances. Even Yu Shujie stopped crying and looked at Di Ping with tearful eyes.
"Wherever Brother Di goes, I'll follow!" The fat man suddenly stood up, looking at Di Ping with excitement, his tone resolute.
"Me too!" Li Sheng, who was sitting on the sofa, trimming his nails with a small knife, appeared relaxed but his voice was filled with firm determination.
"Brother Di, what are your plans?" Cheng Chao asked casually.
"I'm planning to stay. I want to turn this place into a safe base, a place where thousands of people can take refuge." Di Ping's eyes glowed with determination, and his voice was firm and powerful.
At that moment, it seemed as if a light of dawn surrounded him. The others looked at him with fiery passion in their eyes. Yu Shujie seemed to be awed by his aura, her eyes sparkling, and the little girl Nan Nan, who was standing beside her, looked at him with twinkling eyes, thinking that her uncle was really handsome at this moment.
"Good! Brother Di, from now on, I will no longer call you that. From now on, I'll call you Di Ge. I'm not going anywhere. I'm sticking with you!" Cheng Chao stood up, full of admiration. He was a former soldier, and he admired people like Di Ping who were full of passion and resolve.
Calling him "Di Ge" symbolized the recognition of Di Ping's leadership. Cheng Chao had been successful before the apocalypse, having run a hotel management company with dozens of hotels under him. His net worth was over a hundred million, making it rare for anyone to earn his acknowledgment. But now, after seeing Di Ping's power, he realized this was no ordinary man. In a world where animals mutated, it seemed possible that humans could too, and he believed that this era would be one where the strong ruled. Following the strong was the right path, and Di Ping was someone he could trust to follow.
"Di... Di Ge! I'm with you too!" Lao Luo also stood up to pledge his loyalty.
"Di... Di Ge! I... I'll stay too!" Yu Shujie also stood up, her face flushed, her eyes still filled with tears, but her voice was firm.
Her standing up made Nan Nan, who had been sitting on her lap, climb off. The little girl stood on the floor, pouting with her hands on her hips, sulking.
"Haha, good! Let's weather this storm together in this apocalypse!"
Di Ping had originally doubted whether these people would follow him, but their determination moved him, and he felt a surge of joy and pride. He laughed heartily, extending his hand.
"Come."
"Come."
The others all reached out, placing their hands in his, their faces filled with emotion and their eyes blazing with fervor. All the sorrow and despondency from before vanished in that moment.
"And what about me?"
At that moment, Nan Nan suddenly scrambled up onto the coffee table, extending her chubby little hand to join the others.
"Haha, good! Here's our Nan Nan too!"
Everyone laughed heartily, including Di Ping.
"Let's do this, together through thick and thin!"
"Through thick and thin!"
They all said in unison, their voices not loud but firm and resolute, the words grounding themselves like seeds in their hearts. Looking at each other, there was no longer any trace of despair, only an unshakable belief in the future.
After a long while, the excitement faded, and everyone sat down. Di Ping pulled out a cigarette, and they each took one. Yu Shujie asked Nan Nan to go play in the room.
"I'll tell you my plans." Di Ping lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and spoke slowly.
He had never smoked before. In college, he was the only one in his dorm who didn't smoke. But after Su Xiao left for America, the overwhelming pressure led him to take up smoking. He knew it wasn't good for him, but whenever the pressure became too much, he'd light a cigarette, feeling it helped him calm down.
Seeing everyone focus on him, he spoke again. "Step one, we need to gather food and water. Without sufficient supplies, survival is difficult. Step two, we need to clear the mutated animals in the neighborhood. Only then can we ensure this place is safe." He paused, took another drag from his cigarette, and the smoke enveloped his face. "Step three, we need to search for other survivors in the neighborhood. We should try to recruit like-minded people to join us. The more people we have, the stronger we are. The area is large, and for safety, we need to build a high wall. The current fence won't stop the mutated animals."
After finishing, Di Ping extinguished the cigarette and looked at the others. "This is my current plan. Do you have any suggestions?"
"I don't have anything to add! Brother Di, whatever you say, I'll do!" Fatty Chen Gang was the first to respond.
"Only thinking about eating and not using your brain, you food lover! Can't think of anything, huh?" Li Sheng suddenly interjected.
"You dead-faced guy, just call me a glutton! Stop being all fancy, why don't you speak up?" Fatty gritted his teeth, pointing at Li Sheng's face.
"I have no opinion!" Li Sheng shrugged and said nonchalantly.
"I... damn, dead-faced guy! Don't let me see you messing up!" Fatty was so angry he spat into his palm, rubbing his hands rapidly as if preparing to challenge Li Sheng, but his feet stayed firmly planted.
"Cut it out, fatty. Sit down, let's get back to the topic." Di Ping knew these two were just playing around and wouldn't actually fight, but it was time to get serious.
"Di Ge, I think the gas is running out. It could stop at any time. Shouldn't we gather some gas cylinders? There are three restaurants outside the neighborhood, and they must have some." Yu Shujie suggested after thinking for a moment.
"Mm, that's a problem. We'll check it out tomorrow." Di Ping agreed, knowing that gas wouldn't last long. Fuel should be prepared early; relying on bread and instant noodles wouldn't be enough for long.
"Maybe we can gather some frozen meat! I wonder if those restaurants have freezers?" Fatty's eyes lit up when he heard about the restaurants.
"Already turning into a pig, and you still want to eat meat?" Li Sheng retorted, always enjoying a good banter with Fatty.
"Jealous? You're just jealous!" Fatty grinned proudly.
"Haha, Fatty, now I know why you're so fat!" Di Ping laughed, teasing him.
"Di Ge, I just love it! Without meat, I don't have energy!" Fatty chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. Then suddenly, he slapped his thigh, full of regret. "Ah, I should've brought the dog meat up for everyone! You guys wouldn't let me, but dog meat cooked three times would be amazing. Such a waste."
"Ugh..." Yu Shujie suddenly gagged.
"Yu Jie, are you..." Fatty suddenly realized something and blurted out.
"No, you big-headed idiot! You ate those dogs that had even eaten people, and you still want to eat them? Ugh..." Yu Shujie glared at Fatty and ran to the bathroom.
"Ugh... How could you not think of the consequences?" Di Ping felt uncomfortable, too, thinking about whether those mutated dog meats were edible. Fatty's comments made it even worse, and he quickly intervened to stop him.
"Fatty, don't ever suggest eating that again, especially not my cooking!"
At that moment, Yu Shujie walked out of the bathroom, looking furious but pale, her face reflecting the disgust Fatty's words had caused her.
"Okay! Fine, it's such a shame. It would've smelled so good when cooked." Fatty helplessly murmured with regret.
"Dead fatty!"
This time, everyone was mad. Even Cheng Chao stood up with a pale face, his voice low and angry. Li Sheng kicked Fatty's butt, and Fatty fell onto the sofa. Yu Shujie ran back to the bathroom.