Chen Wan breathed a sigh of relief when she heard her relent. After all, it was better to ensure their safety first; as for that matter, she could think about it later.
“Alright, one thing is fine. We’ll stay here with you and see if there are any lighters or similar items in the offices on the second floor.” Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin dared not move anything else, fearing that Qin Ke might change her mind and decide to end it all again.
After finishing her words, Qin Ke turned her gaze back to the people in the room, while Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin remained still.
It seemed that Qin Ke sensed the unease of the two in front of her and sighed, “Don’t worry. You helped me, and I will definitely fulfill that promise I just made. For now, I won’t die.”
Hearing this, Chen Wan felt a bit more at ease. “Alright, then let’s look for a lighter or something similar. Remember to keep your word.”
“I know,” Qin Ke replied, but her expression remained pained as she looked at her girlfriend inside the room.
Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin exchanged glances, still feeling uneasy about Qin Ke, so they didn’t continue moving things. Chen Wan kicked open several doors in the corridor, not only finding a lighter but also three large bags of food. She and Jiang Yanxin brought all the food bags to the corridor, still feeling a bit uneasy about Qin Ke, so they didn’t move anything else.
Meanwhile, Wang Xing and the others had narrowly escaped death again and were regretting the reckless things they had done earlier. Therefore, they felt a bit better helping Chen Wan with some tasks. Even the Mediterranean had made several trips back and forth to the RV, moving bullets as if they didn’t know fatigue, believing that the more they did, the better they would feel inside.
They piled the weapons and boxes of ammunition next to the RV outside the door, and soon they had moved over a dozen boxes. When Wang Xing and the others passed the second floor, they also took down the supplies that Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin hadn’t had time to move. There weren’t many zombies outside, and no other survivors, so they didn’t have to worry about leaving those things outside.
Following Chen Wan’s instructions, Wang Xing and the others moved most of the weapons and twenty boxes of ammunition to the RV, while they left behind ten handguns, two submachine guns, and a shotgun, along with two boxes of ammunition as Chen Wan had said.
Once everything was done, Wang Xing went to the second-floor corridor and told Chen Wan, “The supplies in the warehouse upstairs have all been moved out. We brought twenty boxes of ammunition to your RV, and we left two boxes of ammunition over here, along with some guns as you requested. Let me know if there’s anything else we can do.”
Chen Wan nodded, “Alright, please distribute these three large bags of food to everyone. Have someone organize the Omegas on the first floor to get on the bus; we’ll be leaving soon. Also, ask if anyone knows the way to the Binhe New District Sports Center and get a rough route.”
“Okay, we’ll take care of it right away.” Wang Xing didn’t hesitate, grabbing the three bags of supplies and calling the other three to head downstairs.
While looking for a lighter, Chen Wan also grabbed a lot of paper from the room and dismantled a wooden chair to use as kindling. She glanced at Qin Ke and said, “Qin Ke, we need to go. Let her rest well.”
Qin Ke nodded but was trembling slightly.
Chen Wan lit a stack of scrap paper with the lighter and then threw the burning wood into the room where the zombies were locked up. The flames quickly ignited the fabric on the zombies and the mother and child inside, spreading rapidly. At this stage, the zombies had no intelligence and felt no pain; they just kept roaring at Chen Wan and the others near the sturdy steel door.
As the zombies pressed toward them, they quickly caught fire, and the room itself began to burn. The air was filled with a foul smell and the acrid scent of burning flesh.
Qin Ke watched the flaming zombie inside with tears streaming down her face, as if entranced, she murmured, “Yanyan, Yanyan.”
Seeing Qin Ke reaching out toward the door, seemingly ignoring the fire inside and trying to reach the people, Chen Wan quickly pulled her back and sighed, “I know you’re hurting, but this is the only way to set her free. We need to go; don’t forget you promised me something. You can’t just die like this.”
Qin Ke gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, but she truly felt grateful to Chen Wan. If it weren’t for her, she might have been imprisoned and humiliated by those scoundrels, unable to take revenge even in death. The conflicting feelings of wanting to repay Chen Wan and the urge to die twisted in Qin Ke’s heart, making it feel as if her heart was about to be torn in two.
Chen Wan understood that Qin Ke was suffering; anyone would find it hard to bear such a thing. The fact that Qin Ke had endured until now showed her willpower was beyond what most people could compare to.
“Let’s go; it’s burning fiercely now.” A large amount of smoke soon filled the corridor, causing Jiang Yanxin to cough.
Chen Wan pulled Qin Ke’s arm with one hand and held Jiang Yanxin’s wrist with the other, quickly heading downstairs. Fortunately, the fire in that room had just started. Chen Wan released Qin Ke and asked Wang Xing, who was waiting by the police car, “Is everyone in the car? Does anyone know the route?”
“Everyone’s in the car, and food has been distributed. There’s a male Omega with glasses whose family used to live nearby. He said to keep going north on this road, then take the second exit after getting on the outer ring, and head west for about ten minutes. It should take no more than half an hour. However, the outer ring is probably filled with fleeing vehicles right now, so I’m not sure if we can still get through,” Wang Xing reported everything he had just done to Chen Wan.
Chen Wan nodded to indicate she understood. “Don’t worry about the traffic on the outer ring; just follow me. Also, distribute the guns you have left to those who still have the strength. In case we encounter zombies later, we’ll have a way to defend ourselves.”
“Alright, I’ll arrange that right away.” Wang Xing hurriedly got busy with the other alphas.
Chen Wan glanced at Qin Ke, “You come with me.”
Qin Ke was still staring at the smoke billowing from the second-floor window but eventually nodded.
Worried that Qin Ke might still want to die, Chen Wan tugged at her clothes to pull her away. When they reached the front of the car, they saw twenty boxes of ammunition piled around the RV, along with the guns she had requested earlier.
Qin Ke was covered in blood, and Chen Wan was afraid she would scare Yang Yang, so she didn’t let her get in the car. “You wait here for us; I’ll help Yanxin move these boxes.”
Qin Ke nodded slowly like a marionette, her face covered in blood, her gaze unfocused, making her look no different from a corpse.
Chen Wan thought to take it slow; after all, the trauma Qin Ke had endured was something that would leave anyone feeling hopeless. With only the three of them present, Chen Wan didn’t need to hold back. She opened the trunk and began moving boxes, one by one. Jiang Yanxin helped her, but as an Omega, her strength was limited, and having only consumed the crystal core for two days, she still couldn’t lift a large box.
Chen Wan smiled at her and said, “You go grab the weapons; I can handle these boxes.”
Jiang Yanxin wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling a bit disheartened. There was a significant difference between an Omega and an Alpha, and that was an undeniable fact. However, Jiang Yanxin didn’t want to give up; she couldn’t let Chen Wan always protect her. She needed to become stronger, at least a little. With that thought, Jiang Yanxin struggled to drag a box toward the trunk.
Chen Wan sighed softly but didn’t stop her. What Jiang Yanxin was doing was entirely correct. In this apocalyptic world, everything changed in an instant, and being able to do more and learn more was undoubtedly a good thing.
After about seven or eight minutes, the two of them had loaded all the weapons into the trunk. Chen Wan thought for a moment and said to Qin Ke, “Once we get inside, go take a shower and change your clothes. My daughter is still in there, and I’m afraid she might get scared.”
Qin Ke nodded like a marionette, her mind seemingly elsewhere.
As soon as Chen Wan opened the car door and stepped inside, Yang Yang excitedly slid off the bed, her little legs bouncing as she ran to Chen Wan for a hug.
Chen Wan smiled and scooped up Yang Yang, playfully covering her eyes.
Yang Yang thought Mommy was playing with her and happily wiggled her little legs. “Is Mommy playing a game?” Chen Wan bounced Yang Yang a bit and coaxed, “Yes, Mommy is playing a game with you. Just keep your eyes covered for a little while, and I’ll let you see soon, okay?” Yang Yang nodded eagerly, her little mouth pouting as she began to negotiate, no longer afraid of Chen Wan. “Mommy, if I’m good, can I have some food later?”
Hearing Yang Yang’s words reminded Chen Wan that they hadn’t eaten lunch yet. She immediately replied gently, “Okay, Mommy will make you something delicious to eat soon. Our baby is hungry, right?”
“Hungry.” Yang Yang said, patting her little belly.
“Alright, then eat a lot later.” Chen Wan teased, bouncing Yang Yang playfully.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yanxin hurriedly grabbed clean clothes and a pair of slippers for Qin Ke from the cabinet and handed them to her.
Qin Ke looked at the items in front of her, her gaze finally sharpening a bit. She took the clothes Jiang Yanxin offered and went into the bathroom.
Qin Ke understood that Chen Wan and the others were good people, but she truly had lost all reason to continue living. Once she completed what she had promised Chen Wan, she would have no more attachments.
Jiang Yanxin glanced at the wounds on Qin Ke’s wrists and ankles and reminded her, “Be careful with your wounds while showering.”
Qin Ke slightly came to her senses and politely thanked her, but what was there to be careful about with her body? After all, she was already a dying person. With that thought, Qin Ke entered the bathroom.
Jiang Yanxin used a tissue to clean up the blood on the floor of the RV, glancing at Chen Wan as she spoke, “All done.”
Only then did Chen Wan release Yang Yang, who had missed her Mommy all morning. After being held enough, she reached out her little hands to find her Mom again.
Chen Wan handed Yang Yang to Jiang Yanxin to hold while she prepared some porridge with cereal for Yang Yang. They were in a hurry to hit the road, and Chen Wan planned to take them to the gym in the Binhe District before cooking a proper meal.
Yang Yang was already hungry, and she enjoyed the milk powder porridge, getting little crumbs around her mouth. Jiang Yanxin rested her chin on her hand, looking at Yang Yang’s adorable little face with gentle eyes. Yang Yang obediently ate, occasionally smiling at her Mommy.
