MTLNOVEL Chapter 91: Act First, Report Later
The burly men hesitated for a moment until Chen Shicheng impatiently shoved them again. Gritting their teeth, they swiftly formed a human ladder and started scrambling into the pipe opening.
"Wait! Everyone, wait!" Yun Mengxi trotted over, her voice almost a sob as she watched them climb. She'd abandoned any pretense of composure. "Everyone, please wait!"
Chen Shicheng, who had planned to slip away with them, sighed and waved his hand. "You guys go ahead."
The last man in the pipe nodded and whispered, "Brother Chen, don't be too hard on Miss…"
"I know." Chen Shicheng glared at him. The man ducked his head and disappeared into the pipe.
Having already performed the "act first" part of his plan, Chen Shicheng took a deep breath, preparing to deliver the "report later" portion to Yun Mengxi.
"Brother Shicheng." Yun Mengxi finally reached him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but her expression a mixture of seriousness and indignation.
"Why did you run away without telling Brother?!" she demanded, panting.
Chen Shicheng frowned, glancing at Shu, who had followed Yun Mengxi. He was a bit surprised, but still corrected her sternly. "Mengxi, we're not running away."
"Not running away…" Yun Mengxi looked at the bag slung across Chen Shicheng's shoulder. It was practically flat, indicating he hadn't packed anything.
"Then what are you doing…?" Yun Mengxi didn't readily believe him, even though they had known each other for a long time.
Chen Shicheng turned and glanced into the distance. Shu followed his gaze and realized it was the direction they had come from.
"Mengxi, listen to me. We're going out to do something important, something that has to be done, sooner or later. We don't want to delay any longer! So we had to do this…" Chen Shicheng bent down, speaking softly yet seriously.
Shu grimaced. Why is this "Brother Shicheng" talking to her like she's a child? And even if he is, why is he being so cryptic?
Yun Mengxi also looked in that direction, but she couldn't see anything. Shaking her head, she said, "No, Brother Shicheng, you can't fool me with this! I… I'm… I'm going to tell Brother!"
"Your brother might not be able to find me." Chen Shicheng's face darkened, and he straightened up.
"You—!" Yun Mengxi was furious. Shu sighed.
"Um… Brother Shicheng, right?" Shu reluctantly stepped in to diffuse the escalating tension.
Chen Shicheng: "… My surname is Chen. Chen Shicheng."
"Oh, right." Shu nodded, giving Chen Shicheng a helpless look. "Um… I think I have a general idea of what you're talking about…" Shu raised a hand and subtly pointed to his mouth.
Chen Shicheng's eyes narrowed, his attention finally focusing on Shu. He knew Shu was one of the people who had arrived today, and that he hadn't left the room Yun Feng had assigned them.
So, the problems in this shelter are already common knowledge…? Thinking of this, Chen Shicheng suddenly remembered something Yun Feng had told him: He has a gun.
Chen Shicheng instinctively looked at Shu's waist. If I could get a gun, maybe… Yun Feng would support me leaving? So… how can I get that gun…?
"Don't even think about it, I'm not carrying." Shu raised his hands. Chen Shicheng's intentions were too obvious.
Chen Shicheng was startled, then sighed. Disappointed, but not surprised, he looked at Shu and said in a low voice, "So, you know what's going on. Are you going to stop me too?"
"No, no, I don't think I have the right to interfere in your affairs." Shu quickly waved his hands. "But… you do know what it's like outside, right?"
Of course I know! Otherwise, that bastard Yun Feng wouldn't be keeping us trapped in here! Chen Shicheng snorted but didn't say anything.
Okay, tough nut to crack. Shu opened his mouth, then decided against saying anything more. He'd already overstepped by asking. It wasn't his business. If he hadn't sensed a kind of suicidal resolve in Chen Shicheng's words, Shu would have walked away the moment he saw him.
It was time to leave.
"Chen Shicheng!!!" A furious, hushed roar echoed from the distance. Suddenly, the nearby lights flickered on, illuminating the area.
Shu squeezed his eyes shut. Having adapted to the darkness, the sudden brightness temporarily blinded him.
Chen Shicheng's face turned ugly, but he didn't run. Instead, he stood his ground, facing the approaching Yun Feng.
"Yun Feng," Chen Shicheng said quietly. Unlike Yun Feng's burning rage, his voice was eerily calm.
Yun Feng strode up to them, his face dark as thunder as he looked at the pipe opening.
"How many are gone?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"Six." Chen Shicheng met Yun Feng's gaze. "Seven, including me."
Yun Feng glared at Chen Shicheng. "Bring them back!"
"Can't do that. I told them to split up." Chen Shicheng shrugged, a what are you going to do about it? expression on his face.
Shu watched Yun Feng take a deep, shaky breath, silently edging away. This has nothing to do with me… Just don't let any blood splatter on me if a fight breaks out.
"Brother…" Yun Mengxi, also standing surprisingly far away, called out softly.
Yun Feng took a couple more deep breaths, composing himself slightly, then fixed Chen Shicheng with a hard stare.
"Yun Feng, I'll say it again. This kind of thing can't be put off! While I still have the strength, I have to do something!"
"You won't starve to death in a couple of days!" Yun Feng roared, his voice echoing through the shelter. "No one here will starve to death in two days!!"
"Yun Feng!" Chen Shicheng was startled, surprised that Yun Feng had been so blunt.
The shelter was out of food. Outwardly, they claimed it was rationing to ensure long-term survival, giving everyone only the bare minimum.
In reality, even with those minimal rations, they had only a week left at most.
Long-term survival? They'd be surviving in their graves long-term!
"And what about after those two days?!" Since Yun Feng had dropped the pretense, Chen Shicheng abandoned his cryptic act and shouted back. "I'm asking you! What about after two days?! Are you going to wait until one of us starves to death, and then divide them up amongst the others?!"
Yun Feng was speechless, but he gritted his teeth. "That monster outside… we don't know if it's left… And there are hordes of zombies gathered nearby…"
"Then let us draw them away! You're a coward, but we're not!!"
Chen Shicheng's words made Shu's heart sink. He turned to look at Chen Shicheng with a complicated expression.