Lin Yitang looked utterly disheveled; her floral dress was ripped to the point of nearly exposing her.
Clearly, she had suffered while fleeing from the muscle squad at the café.
What puzzled Wen Yu was how she had ended up running into Pei Ye and the others again.
Could this be the power of plot correction?
Wen Yu was truly impressed.
She silently rolled her eyes, full of impatience.
Meanwhile, Lin Yitang, tear-streaked and pitiful, looked like a delicate flower battered by the wind—a stark contrast to Wen Yu’s unbothered expression.
Song Yu, already displeased with Wen Yu, now felt a surge of pity, wishing he could give his heart to Lin Yitang.
“Xiao Tang, it’s the boss’s fault for misjudging people and being heartless. We’ll leave now. Trust me, Brother Yu will protect you with his life!”
Who cares about your life!
Lin Yitang scorned him with every fiber of her being.
With the male lead’s protection, she would be crazy to endure hardships with Song Yu!
She squeezed out a few tears, making herself look even more pitiable, and shook her head. “I can’t hold you back. Since Miss Wen doesn’t like me, I’ll leave. Brother Song Yu, stay safe in the villa. Don’t worry about me. I awakened a healing-type ability; I’ll try to survive in the apocalypse.”
In just a few lines, she played the victim, pulled at the heartstrings, and highlighted her value—all calculated.
Then, decisively, she turned—only to collapse into Song Yu’s arms at the exact moment he reached for her.
Upon closer look, she had already fainted.
Wen Yu sneered.
Her sudden laughter made Song Yu’s worry flare into anger as he glared at Wen Yu.
Wen Yu returned the stare without fear, her beautiful eyes full of mockery.
Though she lacked an ability, she had the ion gun, the dimensional trading group, and the death-proof shield. She didn’t need anyone to survive in the apocalypse.
And she certainly wasn’t afraid of a brainless fool.
Her stance was clear: she wouldn’t tolerate a ticking time bomb—Lin Yitang—being around.
Before Song Yu could make a threat, Wen Yu coldly said, “I hope you, Mr. Song, will keep your word. Take your Lin Yitang and leave my villa immediately.”
“Wen Yu! Don’t you see Xiao Tang has already fainted? You’re kicking her while she’s down! Don’t you have any compassion?”
Cen Mo’s face showed sympathy; after all, he grew up in an orphanage.
Not close to Wen Yu, he turned to Pei Ye, hoping he might say something.
Gu Feng, however, remained rational, choosing a spot away from the conflict to sit quietly.
Last week’s events were already history to them; childhood bonds were trivial now. Besides, Lin Yitang wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.
“I don’t just lack compassion; I have no conscience,” Wen Yu said coldly. “But you, Song Yu, touch your conscience and tell your good friends—was the high-level zombie in the mall, which nearly killed Gu Feng, something you provoked on your own?”
Song Yu froze, quickly glancing at Cen Mo and Gu Feng, then averted his gaze.
Clearly, he felt guilty.
Seeing this, Wen Yu confirmed her suspicions.
If the plot demanded Lin Yitang to meet the main group no matter what, then her escape from the mall couldn’t be unrelated to Song Yu and the others.
Without hesitation, she spoke her deduction, exposing Lin Yitang’s act.
“Lin Yitang encountered the high-level zombie in the mall, couldn’t defeat it, couldn’t escape, and met you, Song Yu.
You stepped in to block the zombie. Your friends, fearing for your life, helped. But after Lin Yitang got away, she never thought of turning back to help you.
She even advised Pei Ye not to go to the mall.
Pei Ye guessed that the people fighting the high-level zombie were likely you, and rushed in recklessly. Only then were you able to make trouble for me in the villa!”
Wen Yu finished, glancing at the displeased Cen Mo and Gu Feng.
Especially Gu Feng—he usually showed no emotions, yet now his face was dark. After all, he had nearly died.
Lin Yitang, trembling in Song Yu’s arms, might regain consciousness soon. If she did, Cen Mo and Gu Feng would throw her out, so she had to continue playing dead.
Wen Yu looked at her trembling form, her voice colder.
“In a life-and-death moment, your own sister blocks your path, while the person who risks their life to save you is deemed heartless. Song Yu, who truly lacks a conscience?”
Song Yu felt indebted to Gu Feng but refused to agree with Wen Yu.
He barked, “Don’t slander someone when they can’t defend themselves. Xiao Tang isn’t that kind of person!”
Pei Ye, seeing enough had been said, spoke calmly.
“Everyone, if you trust me, hear me out.
Lin Yitang did advise me not to enter the mall. I guessed it was you inside because strangers wouldn’t block zombies for her, and the mall was too close to our agreed meeting point. So I went in without hesitation.
But rescuing you was sincere; I never meant to coerce your choices.
Judge Lin Yitang’s character for yourselves. But Wen Yu and I will never share a room with her. If you disagree, then we disband—each to their own path.”
The word disband hit hard.
Wen Yu looked at Pei Ye in surprise.
He met her gaze, nodding slightly, signaling that she could trust him—not to let chaos in.
Wen Yu averted her eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed.
These days, she felt Pei Ye seemed to let her charge ahead recklessly, stir up trouble, and then summarize it—like a parent letting a mischievous child run wild and backing her up.
Yet he was only five years older than her—where did such absurd ideas come from?
Wen Yu shook her head.
After hearing Pei Ye, the faces of Cen Mo, Gu Feng, and Song Yu changed dramatically—especially Song Yu, his face shifting between blue and purple like a painter’s palette.
They had known Pei Ye since childhood.
Once Pei Ye gained enough ability, he helped them greatly.
Gu Feng already had a small company before the apocalypse. Cen Mo had just earned his lawyer’s license. Even the least capable, Song Yu, worked as a technician at Gu Feng’s company, earning a five-digit salary.
Their bond naturally ran deeper than Lin Yitang, who lost contact after leaving the orphanage.
So without verification, Song Yu already believed eight out of ten of Pei Ye’s words.
Yet looking at the fainted girl in his arms, he couldn’t disregard her either.
What if she had a reason?
A zombie that terrifying could overwhelm even the three of them with abilities, let alone a fragile girl.
It wasn’t unusual for someone to act irrationally out of fear. Not everyone faces danger with fearless courage.
He decided Lin Yitang’s choice wasn’t wrong.
But he couldn’t demand Gu Feng forgive her, leaving his mind in turmoil.
Pei Ye made the decision for him.
“Cen Mo, Song Yu gets one gun today.
Gu Feng, divide the basement supplies into five portions; one goes to the house next door.
It’s empty there—Song Yu, you and Lin Yitang can stay there first.”