Yun Huacen had been lying in bed for three days and finally regained some strength, enough to get up and move around. During these three days, the six children took turns caring for him, but Yue Zirui never showed up. The children also tacitly avoided mentioning Yue Zirui in front of him. Yun Huacen understood why Yue Zirui was staying away, he was wary of Yun Huacen’s mental control abilities.
Yun Huacen had been keeping an eye on information from the outside world. Although the zombie virus was spreading rapidly, the government was not sitting idle. They responded swiftly, deploying the military to set up roadblocks and erect isolation walls to contain the virus, dividing responsibility zones and organizing rescue efforts. Firearms were indeed effective against ordinary zombies, but dealing with mutated zombies was not so easy. They still needed to develop the antidote as soon as possible. However, producing the antidote inevitably involved Yue Zirui. Given their current tense relationship, Yue Zirui was unlikely to allow Yun Huacen to draw blood. Would they have to resort to force?
Yun Huacen looked up at the cat and asked curiously, “It’s been half a month since the zombie virus outbreak. Don’t you want to contact your family?”
The cat remained silent for a moment before saying, “Then let’s make a call.”
The original host’s mother, Yu Qingqing, had passed away from illness three years ago. His father, Yun Zhiyi, remarried last year. The relationship between father and son had already been strained, and after the remarriage, they completely lost contact. If not for the original host’s exceptional talent, Yun Zhiyi might have disowned him long ago.
Yun Huacen picked up his phone and dialed Yun Zhiyi’s number, turning on the speakerphone. He tried three times in a row, but no one answered.
The cat typed, “No need to call.”
“I’ll check online to see if the villa area where they live has been overrun.”
“No need.” The cat jumped off the bed, returned to the chair, and curled up again.
Yun Huacen searched online for news about the Haitian Villa District but found nothing useful. He then searched for news about Aimin Hospital and discovered that the hospital had been requisitioned by the government. Yun Zhiyi had even issued a statement, temporarily handing over the hospital to the government for unified management.
“Your father is fine. He posted a statement online yesterday.”
Apart from closing its eyes, the cat gave no other response. Yun Huacen awkwardly fell silent. Although his own life was short, he had parents who loved him deeply and could always sense when something was wrong with him. Yet, despite the prolonged zombie virus outbreak, Yun Zhiyi had found time to issue a statement but hadn’t bothered to call the original host. This was proof enough that he truly didn’t care.
At noon, Yun Huacen had just drifted into a hazy sleep when he was awakened by the vibration of his phone. Picking it up, he saw that it was a call from Yun Zhiyi. His groggy mind instantly cleared, and he looked at the dozing cat. “Wake up, stop sleeping. It’s your dad.”
The cat twitched its ears, turned its head, and continued sleeping.
Seeing this, Yun Huacen couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. He lowered his gaze to the phone screen and pressed the answer button. A deep male voice came through the receiver, “Hello, where are you?”
“I’m at the villa.”
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
“No need. I’m fine here.”
“Tangwang Town is full of zombies. It’s now a quarantine control zone. Do you know how many people are desperate to get out but can’t? And you’re telling me ‘no need’?”
Yun Zhiyi’s condescending tone was grating. Yun Huacen glanced at the cat. “I’m safe in the villa. I’m researching the zombie virus and am unsure if I’ve been infected. Are you sure you want to bring me back?”
Yun Zhiyi fell silent for a long moment before finally saying, “Make a list of what you’re missing there, and I’ll have someone prepare it and send it over.”
“Alright.” Yun Huacen didn’t say anything more and hung up the phone directly. He looked up at the cat, feeling like he should say something, but the words died on his lips.
The cat stood up, jumped onto the bed, and typed, “Don’t send your location.”
“Why?” Yun Huacen looked over, puzzled.
“Even if he dislikes me, I’m still his biological son, the only heir of the Yun family.” The cat left it at that.
Yun Huacen was taken aback for a moment before understanding his meaning. “Are you afraid someone might try to harm you?”
This “someone” referred to the original host’s stepmother, Chang Lanyin, and his aunt, Yun Zhiwu. Yun Zhiyi only had the original host as his son. Even if he didn’t care for him, the original host was still the future heir of the Yun family, making him a thorn in many people’s sides. In the past, no matter how much they disliked him, legal constraints prevented them from doing anything. But now, with the zombie virus outbreak, social order had collapsed, and many people died every day. One more death would go completely unnoticed. It was indeed the perfect opportunity to get rid of him.
The cat continued typing, “Better safe than sorry.”
“But we’re still missing two medicinal ingredients. The pharmacies in town don’t have them.”
“Then look elsewhere.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” Yun Huacen put down his phone and lay back down. “We’ll rest for another day today and start working tomorrow.”
The cat turned off the tablet, glanced at the nearby chair, hesitated for a moment, and curled up on the spot.
In the evening, Yun Huacen was strolling in the yard, watering the roses, when he looked up at the sunset and noticed a black dot approaching. Upon closer inspection, it was a drone. He hurried back into the room and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor, watching the drone hovering overhead.
The cat sat beside him, its dark eyes also fixed on the drone. “Meow.”
Yun Huacen looked down. “Are you saying this drone is the one Yue Zirui mentioned earlier?”
The drone descended in altitude and flew directly into the villa.
Seeing this, the cat typed, “Activate interference and cut off the signal.”
Yun Huacen frowned slightly. “Won’t that expose us?”
“You just finished watering.”
Yun Huacen paused for a moment upon hearing this, then opened his phone, activated the interference, and blocked the drone’s signal. Immediately afterward, he saw the drone suddenly lose control and crash into the yard. Yun Huacen answered a video call and instructed Yu Lei to bring the fallen drone upstairs.
Five minutes later, Yu Lei knocked on the door with the drone in hand. “Uncle, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Yu Lei walked in, handing over the drone. “Uncle, there’s also a piece of paper next to this drone.”
Yun Huacen reached out and took it, unfolding the crumpled paper. A few lines were written on it: “I mean no harm. I’m just looking for a place to stay. If you’re willing to take me in, I’ll bring food with me. 187****8467, this is my phone number. If you’re willing, give me a call.”
“Well done. You may go.”
“Alright.” Yu Lei turned to leave but stopped at the door and walked back. “Uncle, Brother Rui is sick. Do you still have any medicine?”
“Sick? What’s wrong with him?”
“Stomachache.”
Yun Huacen lowered his head to exchange a glance with the cat, then looked at Yu Lei and said, “Let’s go, take me to see him.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Yun Huacen followed Yu Lei down to the second floor and arrived at the door of the guest room where Yue Zirui was staying. Yu Lei glanced back at Yun Huacen before raising his hand to knock on the door.
“Who is it?” Yue Zirui’s voice came from inside the room.
“Brother Rui, it’s me.” Yu Lei replied.
“The door isn’t locked, come in.”
Yu Lei opened the door and stepped aside, letting Yun Huacen enter first.
Yue Zirui was leaning against the bed, his face slightly pale. When he saw Yun Huacen enter, his expression instantly tensed. “Why are you here?”
“Brother Rui, I asked Uncle to come.”
“Xiao Lei said you were sick, so I came to check on you.”
Yue Zirui eyed Yun Huacen warily. “I’m not sick, and I don’t need your fake kindness.”
“Are you sure?”
“Brother Rui, Uncle came here out of goodwill. How can you talk like that?” Yu Lei’s voice was soft, but his dissatisfaction with Yue Zirui was evident.
Yue Zirui frowned. “He never had good intentions from the moment he let us in. You’ve all been fooled by him!”
“Yue Zirui, you’re ridiculous!” Yun Huacen looked at him coldly. “Eating my food, living in my house, and insulting me to my face. I’ve seen plenty of shameless people, but I’ve never met anyone as shameless as you.”
“You…”
“I don’t want to waste words on you. Get out of my house now!” Yun Huacen impatiently cut him off and turned to Yu Lei. “Go tell the others that anyone who wants to leave with him can go too. I won’t stop them.”
“Uncle, Brother Rui didn’t mean it…”
“See the finger marks on my neck?” Yu Lei tried to defend Yue Zirui, but Yun Huacen interrupted him. “I took him in out of kindness, and he tried to kill me. If it weren’t for the special circumstances, I would have reported him to the police by now. Attempted murder is enough to land him in prison for ten years!”
Yu Lei’s gaze swept over Yun Huacen’s neck. Although the finger marks had faded slightly, they were still clearly visible.
“Fine, I’ll leave!” Yue Zirui’s face flushed red as he threw off the blanket and got out of bed. “Xiao Lei, go tell the others we’re leaving now.”
“Brother Rui, Uncle is a good person. You’ve misunderstood him!” Yu Lei stepped forward and grabbed his clothes. “Apologize to Uncle now, and he’ll definitely forgive you.”
“He’s a complete fraud. I haven’t misunderstood anything. If you want to survive, come with me now.” Yue Zirui pulled Yu Lei toward the door.
Yu Lei shook off Yue Zirui’s hand, his eyes filled with confusion and disappointment. “Brother Rui, Uncle didn’t hold it against you even after what you did. When he heard you were sick, he came specifically to see you. It’s one thing if you don’t appreciate it, but you even call him a fraud. How did you become like this?”
“He is a fraud!”
Before, Yue Zirui had wavered because things differed from his dream experiences, but ever since Yun Huacen controlled him that day, the scales had tipped completely. He was now convinced that Yun Huacen was not a good person and that keeping them here must be part of some scheme.
Hearing the commotion, the others came out one after another. Seeing them, Yue Zirui spoke up, “You came just in time. Go pack your things. We’re leaving now.”
“Leaving? Where to?” Shao Lan asked in confusion.
“Anywhere, as long as we leave this place first.”
“Why do we have to leave here?” Shao Lan grew tense upon seeing Yun Huacen emerge from the guest room. “Is Uncle trying to drive us away?”
Yun Huacen remained silent, turning to head downstairs. Yu Lei recounted what had just happened.
“Brother Rui, Uncle is a good person, not a liar. You should go apologize to him.”
“He is a liar! If you stay, sooner or later, you’ll die by his hand.”