In the dim bedroom, an old laptop was buzzing, and the weak light emitted from the screen added a few touches of brightness to the dark night.
Tang Xiaoquan and Wang Qiang sat quietly around the computer desk, and the instant noodles just prepared on the desk were exuding a tempting fragrance, prompting the two young men, already famished, to devour the noodles in the bowl like hungry wolves.
"Damn, this is really awesome!" Wang Qiang excitedly wiped his lips in admiration, it was the first time he realized that instant noodles could be so delicious. Just a few days ago, he had been complaining, swearing that once he made enough money, he would never touch this damn stuff again.
But who would have thought, within just a few days, his bold words were shattered.
Perhaps this is the true nature of humans, when the apocalypse truly arrives, even an ordinary bowl of instant noodles can bring you supreme enjoyment.
Tang Xiaoquan nodded with a smile, equally resonating with Wang Qiang's praise.
Reflecting on the characters he used to control in apocalyptic games, compared to his current reality, a self-mocking smile appeared on Tang Xiaoquan's young face.
You know, once he had longed for a day when the apocalypse would truly descend upon the world so he could experience the thrill of survival and the stimulation of killing, yet now that this "dream has come true," he is...
"To hell with this damn apocalypse!!"
"Slurp~ ah~" Downing the last bit of soup from the ceramic bowl, Wang Qiang smacked his lips, somewhat unfulfilled.
No wonder he felt such reluctance; for a young man like him, barely in his twenties and still growing, a small pack of instant noodles was clearly insufficient to satisfy his normal physiological needs, especially after having just endured a nightmare-like catastrophe.
But Wang Qiang didn't complain much about it because, as Tang Xiaoquan had previously mentioned, their supplies were critically low, and in 4 days, they might have to face the danger of going out for food.
And compared to going out and risking life against those inhuman zombies, Wang Qiang was more inclined to stay indoors, rationing food, because perhaps it was his little bit of saved food that could last until the rescue team arrived.
"Quan, you stayed up all night last night, hurry and get some sleep, I'll keep watch here." Putting down the now pristine bowl, Wang Qiang patted the exhausted Tang Xiaoquan.
Indeed, Tang Xiaoquan was currently sleep-deprived, and every inch of his neck felt as if it had been heavily pounded, aching and sore, so he didn't act coy and immediately accepted Wang Qiang's kind offer, yet...
Reaching out to move the mouse, glancing at the clock display at the bottom of the laptop, Tang Xiaoquan solemnly arranged, "It's 7:15 now, wake me up at 12, I'll come..."
"Oh come on, forget about splitting time, just get some rest, Quan, I'll keep watch tonight!" Interrupting Tang Xiaoquan mid-sentence, Wang Qiang knew very well the state of his friend, who not only stayed awake all night for him but also exerted much physical and mental effort in the morning, so this night he cannot let him be exhausted again.
Tang Xiaoquan understood Wang Qiang's thoughts very well. If it were any other time, he absolutely wouldn't be polite about it. But right now...
Law of Survival rule number five: When you're in danger, make proper arrangements for midnight shifts; never guard alone.
Because the solitary midnight can easily lure someone into sleeping, and in this apocalypse, a night guard taking even a brief nap could cost everyone their life.
Though usually Tang and Wang used to stay up late watching movies and gaming, those times were during peace, incomparable to the current situation.
Moreover, more importantly, you never know when an apocalypse truly ends, so to live longer, one must prepare for endurance. And good sleep is undoubtedly a crucial part of your survival.
"Qiang, listen, I appreciate your goodwill, but the current situation isn't something you and I can endure for just a day or two. We need to arrange reasonably. Trust me, you take the first half of the night, I'll take the second half, ensuring each gets 5 hours of sleep. This won't affect tomorrow's energy and will also prevent falling asleep on watch."
Earnestly making eye contact with Wang Qiang, Tang Xiaoquan waited quietly. He knew very well that unless his longtime friend accepted the suggestion from his own heart, it would be hard to persuade him with external force due to his stubborn nature.
After pondering for about half a minute, Wang Qiang picked up a cigarette from the pack on the desk, silently lit it and took a drag, before slowly sighing, "Alright then, since that's the case, let's do as you say."
Seeing the other nod, Tang Xiaoquan's anxious heart was finally at ease. Without hesitation, he simply said, "Thank you for your hard work," then turned and lay on the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
The silent midnight was desolate and terrifying, and to avoid disturbing Tang Xiaoquan's rest, Wang Qiang even shut down the laptop screen that was emitting a faint light, making the dark bedroom even more eerie.
Undoubtedly, keeping watch in such an environment is an ordeal, not just suppressing the fatigue the night brings you, but also the unbearable torture of July's scorching heat.
No air conditioning, no fans, even the tightly closed windows couldn't let a breeze in. Wang Qiang felt like he was in a sauna, sweat pouring out from every pore.
Vigorously waving his paper fan, even though its frequency had reached near madness, it failed to bring Wang Qiang a moment of coolness amid the heat.
However, compared to the physical torment the stifling heat and temperature brought to Tang Qiang, the occasional screams from the street outside were undoubtedly more unbearable.
Despite having endured a whole day's ordeal, despite having heard similar cries countless times in the past 24 hours, they still made Wang Qiang's heart tremble.
Time slowly ticked away amid such torment, and as time passed, the dark night grew increasingly deep.
Wang Qiang struggled to stay awake, his heavy eyelids signaling he was at his limit. He instinctively picked up the phone from the table, where the small screen clearly displayed the numbers 24:00.
And just as he prepared to wake the sleeping Tang Xiaoquan for the shift change, a piercing female scream suddenly tore through the night sky!