Revenge
"How have you been these past couple of days, Brother Shixian?"Gao Qiqiang greeted Zhou Shixian with a warm smile, his attitude unusually friendly.
"Not bad. Brother Biao and the others have been taking good care of me."
Since defecting, although Gao Qiqiang hadn't made things difficult for Zhou Shixian, he'd also remained cold and distant. This sudden warmth took Zhou Shixian by surprise.
"Well, there's something I need your help with."
"Just say the word, Boss Gao. If it's within my power, I won't refuse!"Thinking Gao Qiqiang was finally going to entrust him with something important, Zhou Shixian perked up and patted his chest in assurance.
"Good!"Gao Qiqiang nodded in satisfaction, then gave a subtle signal to Ah Biao nearby.
Without hesitation, Ah Biao and two of his men stepped forward and pinned Zhou Shixian to the ground.
Everything happened too quickly—Zhou Shixian didn't even have time to resist.
"Boss Gao, wh-what's going on?"
"Brother Shixian, didn't you just say you'd do anything without hesitation?"Gao Qiqiang said with a smile,"I just spoke with Su Chen. He said if we hand you over, he's willing to negotiate with us.""So for the sake of a better future for everyone... we'll have to sacrifice you."
Zhou Shixian was stunned.He never imagined that the "help" Gao Qiqiang mentioned would mean this!
"Boss Gao! I've been loyal to you! I even helped you get rid of Song Linfei! You… you can't do this to me!"
"I don't want to either, but we have no choice. Just bear with it."Gao Qiqiang shrugged, putting on a look of helplessness.
Ah Biao called over a few more men and had Zhou Shixian tightly bound.
"Gao Qiqiang! You bastard! You're not even human! After everything I did for you, you—"Furious and powerless, Zhou Shixian began hurling curses.
Ever since Lin Yingying escaped, he had put in a lot of effort searching for her, but found nothing.None of the surrounding survivor groups had seen her either.He was now certain Lin Yingying must've fled to the You'er Dun Hotel.
And now that Su Chen had named him specifically, Zhou Shixian knew Lin Yingying likely wanted revenge!
Before Gao Qiqiang could speak, Ah Biao stepped forward and punched Zhou Shixian hard in the gut.Zhou Shixian curled up in pain, silenced instantly.
"Take him to Su Chen!"Gao Qiqiang ordered with a wave.
Ah Biao gathered his men, and they dragged the bound Zhou Shixian out of the hotel, trudging through the thick snow toward the You'er Dun Hotel.
In the conference room.Lin Yingying sat quietly beside Su Chen, puzzled.She didn't know why Su Chen had called her here, but she understood not to ask unnecessary questions.
Just then, the door swung open with a gust of cold wind, and Zhou Shixian was brought in by several men.
The moment Zhou Shixian and Lin Yingying locked eyes, both were stunned.
"Yingying… it's been… a long time…"
"Zhou Shixian, you bastard!"Lin Yingying's beautiful eyes flared with fury.
This Gao Qiqiang was truly ruthless.Zhou Shixian had done so much for him, and yet he discarded him like trash.
Su Chen smirked coldly and said to Lin Yingying,"Didn't you want revenge? He's right in front of you now—do as you wish."As he spoke, he picked up a fruit knife and handed it to her.
Lin Yingying's pale hand gripped the knife tightly as she slowly walked toward Zhou Shixian.
Looking at her step by step approach, eyes resolute and aura like that of a goddess of vengeance, Zhou Shixian panicked.
"Yingying, I… I really loved you too much… that's why I lost my head!""Think of all the times I was good to you… spare me, please!""I'll change, I promise!"
Lin Yingying paused, seemingly recalling how Zhou Shixian had cared for her when she first joined Song Linfei's team.
But then Su Chen's calm voice came from behind her,"Yingying, don't forget about Song Linfei and those elderly people who died tragically."
At those words, Zhou Shixian's face turned ghostly pale.Lin Yingying's gaze also grew sharp and determined.
Shlick!The sharp knife sliced cleanly through clothing and straight into Zhou Shixian's heart!
His eyes widened in shock. He wanted to speak, but no words came.His head slumped to the side, and he died on the spot.
Su Chen stepped forward and gently loosened Lin Yingying's grip on the knife.He nodded at He Wang and the others, signaling them to take care of the body.
The men promptly carried Zhou Shixian's corpse out, leaving Su Chen and Lin Yingying alone in the room.
"Master, thank you for giving me the chance to take revenge."Lin Yingying looked up, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"No need to thank me. That was our agreement."Su Chen said with a faint smile, stroking her hair."Remember, from now on, you must listen to everything I say."
"Yes, Master."Lin Yingying nodded obediently and leaned into Su Chen's embrace.
"Alright, go on now. I've got things to handle."
"Yes, Master."
Watching her leave, Su Chen smiled in satisfaction.Letting Lin Yingying personally kill Zhou Shixian had been a test.He wanted to see if she would hesitate or show mercy.If she had, it would've meant she was too soft-hearted to stay with him.But now, he was convinced she could stay.
After she left, Su Chen leaned on the table, fingers tapping the surface thoughtfully.After a while, he picked up the walkie-talkie.
"Hey, Gao Qiqiang."
"I'm here, Brother Su, what can I do for you?"Gao Qiqiang responded with a hearty laugh, not the slightest hint of past grudges in his voice.
"Since you've shown your sincerity, we can start negotiating."Su Chen said coolly,"To be honest, I don't know much more about the apocalypse than you do."
On the other end of the line, Gao Qiqiang, Xia Bowen, Gao Xiangjun, Zhao Xiong, Ah Biao, and the others held their breath, listening intently.
"I had a college classmate who was a government official's son.""He discreetly told me the apocalypse was coming and advised me to stock up.""First came extreme heat, then heavy rain, and now we're in a deep freeze.""I only bought the Nomadism RV and stocked all that food because I listened to him."
Of course, Su Chen wasn't foolish enough to tell them the full truth.What he shared was half-true, half-fabricated—there was no way for them to verify it anyway.
"What? So that's how it is?"Gao Qiqiang and the others were stunned.