Considering Tang Xiaoquan’s ntal state, Xu Renjie abandoned the idea of imdiately discussing the journey to JZ county shelter.
Accompanied by Wei Yang, Tang Xiaoquan returned to his bedroom.
After a simple wash, the exhausted Tang Xiaoquan collapsed onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The late autumn night wind was still bitterly cold, and Tang Xiaoquan had just bathed. Yet, his heavy thoughts left him no room to feel the chilly wind, for his heart was already cold.
After lying still for a while, Tang Xiaoquan absentmindedly took out a candle from the bedside table. Lighting it, he retrieved the notebook he always carried in his pants pocket, and soon a slightly yellowed old photograph surfaced in his gaze.
The candlelight flickered like ghostly flas, casting a dim glow, resembling a dark rose—mysterious and alluring.
Tang Xiaoquan fixated on the figures in the photograph, his steady heartbeat giving him a semblance of life.
mories of the past rose unbidden in his mind; his parents aging slowly, their temples gray and faces lined, yet their gaze toward him remained eternally kind and gentle.
Tears uncontrollably wetted his cheeks, leaving spots where they landed on the old photograph.
After so ti passed, a gust of wind blew through, lifting the tightly drawn curtains high, causing the eerie fla to flicker violently and quickly extinguish, leaving darkness to reclaim the room.
"Looks like tonight is destined for a storm!"
He sighed and looked up at the distant horizon, already shrouded by thick clouds, making the night suddenly dark. He promptly instructed everyone to hasten the transportation of supplies from the vehicles, while allocating manpower to prepare for the rain.
anwhile, on the other side, Liu Fugui stood at the sliding window of the office with a red wine glass gently swirling in hand, while He Lei and Huang Yong stood behind him, hands clasped, waiting for instructions.
About five minutes later, He Lei, having waited too long for Liu Fugui to speak, stepped forward impatiently, asking, "Boss Liu, what do you want with us?"
A smile ford at Liu Fugui’s lips, as expected, he knew the first to speak would be He Lei.
"I have sothing to discuss with you, but..." Liu Fugui hesitated, then continued swirling his wine glass without explaining further.
This caused He Lei to grow even more anxious. He glanced at Huang Yong beside him, seeing his calm expression, which imdiately ignited a furious restlessness within him.
He always had a poor opinion of Huang Yong, their rivalry never ceased, yet they were evenly matched, with no conclusive victor.
Ever since the apocalypse began, He Lei could feel Liu Fugui’s rising favor towards Huang Yong, especially evident in the defense assignnts surrounding the chairman’s office, where Liu Fugui entrusted Huang Yong completely.
This undoubtedly deepened He Lei’s dislike for Huang Yong.
"Boss Liu, if there’s anything, just say it." He Lei urged.
Liu Fugui sighed softly, pretending to be troubled as he pinched his nose: "I plan to send soone out!"
"Out?" He Lei’s reaction remained intense, whereas Huang Yong stayed calm as ever.
Liu Fugui observed both n’s expressions, nodded firmly, and affird, "Yes," then added, "You all are aware of the external situation, the possible dangers are foreseeable. So I want one of you to lead the team, who’s willing?"
"Boss Liu, I’ll do it!" Huang Yong finally spoke up; he volunteered without much thought, stepping forward boldly.
This action infuriated He Lei; his competitive nature made him argue back hastily, "What do you an ’let you do it’? Are you saying only you, Huang Yong, can handle this place? Damn you, Boss Liu, enough said, I’ll take this job!"
Huang Yong didn’t respond. He simply stood rigidly, but inside, he was already mocking.
Knowing Liu Fugui, he realized their summoning was not about self-recomnding; Liu Fugui certainly had an appropriate candidate in mind.
Uncertain if it was himself, yet Huang Yong wasn’t foolish enough to risk going out, particularly after fighting zombies outside the factory earlier that afternoon, he understood these creatures’ capabilities.
His intentions were clear—to show eagerness first and then use reverse psychology to drive He Lei forward.
However, He Lei was oblivious of the trap Huang Yong had set.
After waiting a while for Liu Fugui to make a decision, He Lei impatiently urged, "Boss Liu, leave it to , if you don’t, it’s like you underestimate , He Lei."
As he spoke, He Lei instinctively stepped forward, aiming to stand ahead of Huang Yong.
Seeing He Lei’s unwavering stance, Liu Fugui feigned difficulty, then signaled Huang Yong, "What do you think, Xiao Huang?"
"It’s all for serving Boss Liu, it doesn’t matter who goes. But since Lei insists, I think Boss Liu should honor his sentint." Huang Yong’s words were exceptionally sincere; any listener might mistakenly believe he and He Lei had a deep bond.
Imdiately, He Lei chid in, "That’s right, Boss Liu, let Xiao Huang stay, it’s dangerous outside—I’ll go!"
After the two right-hand n’s sentints were expressed, Liu Fugui nodded aningfully and finally agreed, "Alright then, with that settled, He Lei, you undertake this mission."
As Liu Fugui concluded, he briefly outlined the mission requirents to He Lei, who curiously asked upon hearing, "Is Boss Liu planning to bring that person in?"
"Yes, bring him back, alive, understood?" Liu Fugui’s gaze was solemn, and He Lei imdiately pounded his chest, "Boss Liu, rest assured, I’ll deliver him for you!"
"Alright! Huang Yong, later pick two nimble lads from my side to accompany He Lei out."
"Yes, Boss Liu!"
"Ok, everyone out now!"
Upon exiting the chairman’s office, He Lei, feeling victorious, was in high spirits. Upon reaching the hallway’s corner, he addressed Huang Yong boastingly, "Speed up choosing people! Don’t slow my mission, and make sure you assemble capable ones; don’t gather a bunch of useless n!"
To which, Huang Yong simply smiled indifferently, then quickly distanced himself. After returning to his room, a cold smile spread across Huang Yong’s face: "Ha, a fool is a fool, sold out yet still thinking he struck a bargain!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to recomnd or vote monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian to read.)
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