Chapter 7: Food Crisis (Part 1)
"Um, I've got a question." Bai Guo couldn't bear the silence any longer as she raised her right hand as if to raise a question, initiating the conversation. "Hijacking that bus and attacking that hotel, even though no one was killed, would still count as a terrorist attack, wouldn't it? What are we going to do afterwards? Are we going to be punished?"
Her question left everyone stunned. Being kind-hearted and law-abiding citizens, they had never done anything like this and took a moment to respond.
"That's such needless worrying. The zombies have already emerged, and the American government must be frantically busy. For sure, they won't have time to look into our case. So, relax." The high school student puffed his chest out and took charge, sounding like an expert. "However, we need to be cautious of SWAT. They might have already raided this hotel. After all, we can't be sure if all Americans have turned into zombies."
"Even if they haven't, I'm guessing they won't have time for us?" Pang Meiqin was touching the pattern on the metal box. After stealing a glance at Tang Zheng on the sofa ten meters to her right side, she lowered her voice and said with displeasure, "But I feel uneasy with armed Americans around. It was a bad idea for Tang Zheng to invite them."
"Yeah, and look, he's even mingling with two criminals. That guy, Lin, seems decent, but the bald one is no good. His lecherous gaze is as if he wants to strip you naked. It's disgusting." Cheng Chen hesitated for a moment before disclosing what the bald man had done in the elevator. After that, she warned, "Everyone be careful and don't wander alone. You'll give the bald man a chance to act. From now on, whatever we do, we do it in a group of at least three."
"You have me. Rest assured, I will accompany you." The high school student volunteered after hearing this suggestion.
"Even when we go to the restroom?" Li Xinlan chuckled. The woman in her late twenties had no ill intentions and just wanted to tease him. "I don't mind, but I wonder if you would dare."
The high school student turned bright red immediately. He scratched his head, unsure of how to respond. The other flight attendants also chuckled, easing the tension in the room.
"Well, aren't you guys cheery? Got any good news to share with me?" The bald man hollered.
The scratching at the door immediately became urgent. The three zombies outside seemed to have exerted more strength after hearing the commotion inside the room. Everyone was reminded of the perilous predicament they were in, and the room fell silent again.
"Do you think the Los Angeles we're seeing now is the same Los Angeles from our original timeline? Can this zombie virus spread across the world?" A flight attendant sitting near Zhao Jingye suddenly asked a question, leaving everyone in a daze. To be honest, they were all more concerned about their personal safety than the spread of the zombies.
"We're currently in the year 2020. If you survive until then, you can always give the American government a heads-up." Tang Zheng opened his travel bag and took out a can of beef. He was preparing to replenish his energy. Although it was currently noon, it was starting to get dark in the world he originally came from. He hadn't had dinner yet, and after all that he had been through, he was beginning to feel hungry. Besides, he planned to head towards the kitchen of the Oasis Hotel. Without proper strength, he wouldn't be able to handle the imminent danger.
"How are you so sure?" Cheng Chen questioned. She glanced at the canned beef, though she wasn't the only one. Everyone was either intentionally or unintentionally eyeing the canned beef in Tang Zheng's hand. Some even swallowed their saliva audibly. They hadn't had lunch in a long time, and it was unavoidable.
"The screens on the street were playing a trailer for 'Pirates of the Caribbean 8,' set to hit theaters on Christmas 2020. You can turn on the TV; the power hasn't been cut yet." Tang Zheng opened the Vengeful Goddess Tactical Folding Knife and plunged it into the canned beef, cutting open a U-shaped gap. He enjoyed experiencing the sharpness of the blade in this manner.
The high school student who wasn't too convinced got up and went to the tea table to pick up the RC unit. He flicked the TV on and changed through more than ten channels. The shows airing on some of them proved that what Tang Zheng said was true.
He really was a monster—horrifyingly calm. Almost everyone came up with the same descriptor for Tang Zheng. They found it astonishing that he could keep an eye on the movie previews in such an unfamiliar environment. Was he thick-skinned, or was he just incredibly observant?
"Hey, how's the canned beef?" the bald man asked, his eyes locked on the can of beef as he swallowed hard.
"Not bad," Tang Zheng simply commented, ignoring the bald man's hopeful gaze. From the side, Lin Weiguo couldn't help but chuckle. He could tell that Tang Zheng was messing with Wu Xudong.
"Hey, I say you're being intentional, right? Playing dumb?" the bald man became irritated. If it weren't for a certain fear towards Tang Zheng, anyone else holding canned food, he would have snatched it from their hands long ago, not to mention he had a Type 95 Assault Rifle.
"You have no manners at all, only thinking about eating for yourself. Aren't you all companions?" A short-haired stewardess sitting next to Zhao Jingye couldn't help but mock Tang Zheng, her expression disdainful. At the same time she also tried to smear his image, deliberately confusing him with the prisoners.
"Zeng Xue, maybe you've misunderstood him. The can could be spoiled. He might just not want his companions to get food poisoning." This was the flight attendant Xu Lu, who had always admired Zhao Jingye. Her remark was obviously sarcastic, her disdain for Tang Zheng was evident.
The other stewardesses all frowned, influenced by this conversation. Any prior friendly views they had of Tang Zheng completely vanished. This man might be very capable, but he was too selfish.
Zhao Jingye and Kang Songde glanced at each other, both grinning, as if to say, 'let's see who's boastful now.'
Under the gaze of fifteen pairs of eyes, Tang Zheng remained unfazed. For a while, the entire room was quiet, only the sound of him eating canned food could be heard.
"Want some?" Tang Zheng suddenly looked up, his face expressionless, "I still have two cans."
This statement made five or six people perk up, but before they could say anything, Cheng Chen's exasperated scolding had erupted, "Who would eat your filthy stuff, save it for the dogs."
Tang Zheng frowned, puzzled by why this flight attendant reacted so strongly. He was unaware that Cheng Chen attributed half of her resentment towards the bald man who groped her to him because they had been sitting together.
"You're trying to take advantage of us, right? Let me guess, you want us to exchange our bodies for canned food, right? Well, we're not that cheap." Xu Lu looked at Tang Zheng with utter contempt, clinging to Zhao Jingye's arm, she proudly said, "Jingye will find us food."
"Trash, scum," Zeng Xue mumbled in what seemed like a low voice, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. It seemed that only by doing this could she vent her frustration.
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't." Wu Xudong also became somewhat dissatisfied, but having lived in prison for a long time, he saw these incidents as common affairs. However, the friendly gaze towards Tang Zheng was significantly reduced.
Even the high school students took advantage of the situation to mock Tang Zheng while simultaneously boasting that he would bring back food. As they got praised by the flight attendants, one of them even caught the flirtatious gaze of Li Xin Lan making him so excited he almost burst into song.
Qin Yan watched Tang Zheng carefully, she felt he was not that kind of person, there must be another purpose.
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PS: Presenting today's third update, a total of more than 7,300 words, asking for recommendations, favoring adding to the collection,
In addition, there will be three updates tomorrow as well,