Chapter 18: Brave and Righteous, Young Director Zhang
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Huang Zhigang ultimately still directed his gaze towards Zhang Ye. Upon seeing those two zombies climbing up from below, the latter's strength skyrocketed in his mind.
Since Zhang Ye had come up from below, it was impossible for him not to have encountered those two zombies.
Not only was he alive, but he also didn't have any wounds on his body.
Doesn't this tell you something?
"Director Zhang, Zhao Jun knows where the machine room is. Could you help—"
Zhang Ye didn't wait for him to finish, decisively declining, "No going!"
Nonsense.
The person was dispatched by him after all, naturally, he wouldn't step in and be a busybody.
But just at that moment, a new system prompt suddenly emerged in his mind, instantly changing his thoughts.
[Detection: Chairman has arrived at Sanjiang City's talent market. A new side quest has been initiated.]
[Find suitable survivors within the talent market to join the company.]
[Requirements: ...must be proficient in skills related to electricity, must not be over thirty-five years of age, must have regular features, upright character, etc.]
Talent market?
Where's that, where?
Zhang Ye inadvertently surveyed his surroundings, but only saw a few dozen survivors, either lying down or standing with numb expressions.
Could it be they mean here?
Are they the talents?
Zhang Ye deeply doubted this.
And these employee requirements, not exceeding thirty-five years old I can understand, after all, the rat race is fierce these days, by thirty-five one should already be retired.
But what on earth does etc mean!
That's too vague!
He complained inwardly, yet in his mind resonated the scene of Liu Qingqing joining the company.
If I'm not mistaken, there is another prerequisite.
Favorability.
Or to put it another way, trustworthiness.
In other words, if he wanted to recruit someone from the hotel into the fold, he would first have to build a wave of group favorability.
Thinking this, Zhang Ye decisively burst out from the crowd:
"We cannot stand by and watch someone die!"
"Comrades must help each other!"
"You stay here for support. I'll go take care of those two zombies!"
Saying that, he charged down the stairs and collided head-on with the two zombies, using the inertia from his sprint to knock the ferocious zombies to the ground.
The blood-covered Zhao Jun was so touched that he shed tears.
You can't judge a book by its cover.
Such a good man!
By now, Zhang Ye was already grappling with the two zombies, quickly disappearing beneath the staircase.
Witnessing this, Huang Zhigang and the others hurriedly dragged Zhao Jun up from below.
A few men couldn't help but look down the staircase again; the sound of the fight was continuously coming up, and one could faintly hear the furious roars of a man.
The perspective shifts to downstairs.
Zhang Ye was bending over, hammering the chest of the motionless 004 with all his might.
"Thump! Thump!"
The dull sounds echoed in the stairwell, causing the people above to tremble with fear.
This man is too fierce, his punches land with such force!
Zhang Ye, listening intently to the sounds from above, quickly smears the blood from 004's body onto himself after hearing the dragging of heavy objects.
"That should be enough."
He glanced back at the two staff members behind him, then turned and ran upward!
"Gargh! Gargh!"
The two staff members instantly transformed into zombies and fiercely chased after him.
The chaotic footsteps soon caught the attention of the people above, who quickly saw Zhang Ye climbing back up the staircase.
"He's not dead?"
"Quick, let him in and shut the door right away!"
Out of breath, Zhang Ye charged into the fourth floor, and the few people guarding the sides immediately shut the door tight.
The zombies behind were frantically pounding on the door panel, seemingly ready to break in at any moment.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Everyone's faces showed fear.
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"What do we do?"
"The zombies are going to get in!"
"This door seems to be shaking, I'm afraid it won't hold!"
Huang Zhigang's face also looked terrible, and he was somewhat at a loss about what to do, too. If it were only one zombie, he could have led the people to fight it.
But there were two of them, and considering the courage of those in the hotel, they would probably all run away at the first sign of trouble.
Were they really going to die here?
Resting to one side, Zhang Ye had already observed everyone's expressions, thinking to himself that his opportunity to improve his favorability had come again.
He immediately stood up from the ground and said in a deep voice:
"Don't panic!"
"First, find some sofas and tables to barricade the door!"
"As long as they can't get in for a while, they should go somewhere else!"
As soon as they heard this, everyone snapped out of it and quickly found wardrobes and sofas from nearby rooms to block the door.
Zhang Ye's mind raced, and the noise outside soon subsided.
"They're gone, they're gone!"
"The two zombies really left!"
"Keep it down! Why are you shouting so loudly! Are you afraid the zombies outside can't hear you!"
The excited man instantly covered his mouth, but the thrill in his eyes couldn't be hidden, and even when he looked at Zhang Ye, there was a touch of admiration.
For a while, everyone's gaze at Zhang Ye changed.
This is what a real socialist good youth looks like!
Brave in the face of danger, composed in an emergency!
Skilled in calming people's hearts and capable in fighting zombies, he's simply the perfect candidate to be a leader in this apocalyptic world!
Suddenly, all sorts of exaggerated flattery came at him.
"Bro, what's your name? From now on, I'm following you!"
"You're like a god descending to earth, a real hero!"
"Please take me with you!"
Zhang Ye kept a straight face, but inside, he was beaming with joy.
Did he actually have the talent to be a boss?
As he remembered, ever since he left kindergarten, he had never been admired like this again.
It's all that darn elementary school's fault!
Why would you have stalls in the boys' bathroom!
It made the usually tense atmosphere and the competitive spirit of the boys' restroom suddenly harmonious.
"Wait a minute!"
"What's with the blood on you!"
Just as Zhang Ye was about to take the chance to ask if any of them were electricians, Li Xiaomei suddenly pointed at the bloodstains on him and screamed.
"He must be wounded, everyone stay away from him!"
The faces of many people instantly changed.
They had just remembered that Zhang Ye had just engaged in close combat with the zombies, and in their joy, they had forgotten to check if he had been injured.
Zhang Ye, who had just now been at the center of adoration, was suddenly isolated.
"Director Zhang, maybe you should let everyone check?"
Huang Zhigang suddenly spoke up.
His tone sounded very gentle, but the hint of triumph that flashed through his eyes did not escape Zhang Ye's notice; it was clear that Li Xiaomei had been instructed by him.
"Check?"
"Check what?"
Zhang Ye looked at him expressionlessly.
This fatso probably feared that he would take over the leadership here, which is why he staged this scene.
Huang Zhigang sighed, seemingly somewhat unwilling.
"Director Zhang, don't blame me."
"I believe you, but I need to reassure everyone else, right?"
"So, let them check it out and clear up any misunderstandings sooner."
"Isn't that better?"
Zhang Ye shook his head, however, and spoke very seriously:
"No, it's not."
"You're all sullying my good name without cause."