Chapter 9: Ugly Truths First

The middle-aged man, Chen Tianhu, had been a soldier before venturing into business at the southwestern borders. His regular physical training over the years helped him survive, along with the distraction provided by the others attracting the zombies' attention. But it had been a close call; a little later, and he might have been zombie food. He thought about the young man across the way, who maneuvered through the community and buildings on a motorcycle, evading zombies. Clearly, he had some special tactics; otherwise, how could he handle zombies with his slender build? But now wasn't the timeto ponder this – first, he needed to find a way out and get food.

...

The scene across was brutal. Zombies don't kill their prey before eating; they ate the people, including the artist, alive. They tore their flesh, gutted them, consumed their organs, and drank their blood. It was a gruesome spectacle.

However, I made Tang Ying watch with me. She needed to get used to such scenes in this apocalyptic world. Kindness? No one considers kindness a crime, and it should be promoted, but only in peaceful times. In a zombie apocalypse, the priority is to survive.

I suddenly said, "I know you might despise me, thinking I'm selfish." Tang Ying leaned against the railing. "I didn't study much, had few friends in school, and have been living alone since high school. Idon't know much about the world."

"I've said I want to live, and I'm willing to help you live too. Butif a similar situation arises, and you want to help others, I won't stop you, but I won't take care of you anymore." I then went back to the living room, making it clear to Tang Ying that she could play the saint, but I wouldn't be involved anymore. I didn't love her; I just liked her body. If she thought I couldn't live without her, she was sorely mistaken.

Tang Ying then asked, "Would you abandon me like that man did if there's danger?" I thought for a moment and said, "If you listen to me, I'll make sure you have a good life and keep you safe." She understood that I would abandon her in a life-threatening situation. She had read psychology books and watched films in college and knew that people like me, who lived alone for long, often develop a 'distorted'psyche – selfish and indifferent to strangers, a psychological self-defense mechanism.

...

Night fell, and I observed that zombies were more active at night. This was good news for me. Suddenly, a loud thud came from outside, followed by the groans and hisses of zombies. I immediately opened myeyes, got out of bed, and picked up my underwear. Tang Ying also hurriedly dressed. I

went to the balcony and pulled back the curtains. That's when a beam of light from a flashlight shone from across the building, specifically from the 14th-floor balcony of building 12, where the artist had been. The light was from the man I had nicknamed 'Macho Man' – Chen Tianhu.