"So to avoid unnecessary trouble, we can't take Huang Yaru with us when we leave!"
"What?" Wang Qiang suddenly turned his head, an incredulous look on his dark, angular face.
He repeated uncertainly, "You mean, in a few days we'll leave by ourselves and leave Huang Yaru behind?"
"Yes!" Without a hint of hesitation, Tang Xiaoquan gave a definite answer.
"Hehe," Wang Qiang chuckled lightly, shaking his head and smiling inexplicably.
After the laughter subsided, he suddenly leaned down, moved close to Tang Xiaoquan's face, and whispered angrily, "Xiaoquan, you're not joking with me, right? Leaving Huang Yaru here is as good as leaving her to die!"
Tang Xiaoquan's eyes flickered for a moment as he pondered briefly and said, "We can leave her some food when we go, but as for the future... it'll be up to her own luck. In short, there's not much we can do to help her."
Tang Xiaoquan seemed extraordinarily calm, speaking with the same composure his face displayed, unruffled and serene.
"Bullshit!" Wang Qiang erupted angrily, shouting, "What do you mean not much we can do to help her? I think you just don't want to help her!"
Faced with Wang Qiang's outburst, Tang Xiaoquan instinctively frowned but quickly relaxed and said, "Alright, if thinking like that helps you accept my proposal, then I won't deny it! Yes, I don't want to help her!"
Unable to believe his ears, Wang Qiang's eyes widened, glaring at Tang Xiaoquan like he was a monster, then questioning him word by word, "Why? Why don't you want to help her?"
"It's simple. We don't have the resources or obligation to help someone completely unrelated to us!"
"Fine! So that's what you think, damn it!" With a chilling smile, Wang Qiang slowly stood up. "If that's how you feel, then there's nothing more to say between us. In short, I'm not accepting your stupid proposal! And I will definitely take Huang Yaru with me when we leave!"
With that said, Wang Qiang turned to leave.
Seeing his brother's firm attitude, Tang Xiaoquan sighed helplessly.
There is nothing more painful in this world than not being understood by others.
Since the outbreak of the apocalypse, every decision Tang Xiaoquan made was cautious and meticulous.
What was he doing it for? Just to ensure he and his good buddy, who had shared a dorm room for nearly four years, could survive a little longer.
But Wang Qiang's straightforward nature made it difficult for him to understand Tang Xiaoquan's good intentions, so...
Licking his lips, Tang Xiaoquan extended his arm, "Brother, wait a minute, can you listen to everything I have to say?"
"What's there to say! I've already said everything I needed to! I'm going to sleep now!" Unceremoniously waving away Tang Xiaoquan's hand, Wang Qiang shouted impatiently.
Without a doubt, everyone has a temper, and Tang Xiaoquan is no exception, especially as a hot-blooded young graduate.
The continuous forbearance had left him simmering with anger, and Wang Qiang's slap was like adding fuel to the fire.
"Qiang! I know you're unhappy with my suggestion! But I beg you to be a bit more mature, consider things comprehensively, and don't just act on subjective will, OK?" Tang Xiaoquan also stood up, raising three fingers.
"First, we're taking Huang Yaru with us. If we encounter a zombie attack and she loses control like yesterday, what do we do?"
"Second, regarding Huang Yaru, I don't need to emphasize her background, so let me ask you, how much do you know about her? Has she ever had a history of drug use? And if she has, what if it flares up during our escape, then what?"
"Finally, we only have limited supplies on hand, an extra person means another mouth to feed, and we don't know what the future holds. So I ask you again, in light of such a predicament, do we abandon the chance for two people to survive and take someone unrelated with us to our deaths?"
Pausing instinctively, Tang Xiaoquan glanced at Wang Qiang.
Once he noticed the other seemed a bit relaxed, he continued calmly, "I know you think that as men, we should protect women, and I understand your boundless compassion. But everything should prioritize the big picture, right? Look at us now, in the apocalypse, struggling to survive, with no power to help others. Plus, this trip is to gather supplies, to escape, not to play hero and save the damsel. Even a slight mistake could mean never seeing another sunrise."
"So, Qiang, I hope you'll seriously consider my suggestion. United we fall, divided we stand. Leaving Huang Yaru behind is truly for her good!"
"Are you done talking?" To Tang Xiaoquan's surprise, Wang Qiang didn't even bother considering and simply said this.
To this, he could only shake his head silently, lightly sighing as he gave a confirming answer.
The summer sun always comes quickly, the scorching rays dutifully spreading its heat, as if trying to turn this ravaged city into a purgatory.
Tang Xiaoquan sat silently, the cigarette stub in his hand occasionally glowed a dim red.
He was still troubled by the situation with Huang Yali, seeing her as an unstable element, especially her voice, as loud as a dolphin's call. As soon as she yelled, zombies from eight hundred miles away could hear it, so...
Sigh~ Qiang, why are you so stubborn!
Regarding Wang Qiang's stubbornness, Tang Xiaoquan felt utterly helpless.
This guy is great in everything except being extremely stubborn. Once at school, over a trivial issue, he disagreed with someone and got into a fight, ultimately getting a six-month probation punishment.
So, with his personality, something he firmly believes in will not change unless he personally accepts it; no one else can sway his thoughts.
Blowing out smoke rings one after another, frustrated, Tang Xiaoquan smoked quickly, soon enveloping the small living room in a thin layer of smoke.
Within the smoke, Tang Xiaoquan furrowed his brows, his angular face serious and indifferent.
Suddenly, his fingers halted slightly, then shifted his gaze toward the corpse still stretched out at the doorway...