Chapter 14 (1/2)
-Unedited-
Chapter 14
“Si Nan!” Yan Hao knocked on the window and asked, “Are you free? Do you want to go out and take a walk?”
Si Nan had somehow found a whisk inside the empty factory building. He was grinding a basib of dark ointment-like substance, filling the place with a strong smell of kerosene. Once he heard Yan Hao's voice, he stopped his work and waved the man in.
This was the first time an outsider was allowed to enter his studio. Yan Hao couldn't help but feel flattered: “You are…”
Si Nan handed him the whisk and the iron basin, then gave him a short command: ”Work hard.”
Confused, Yan Hao stood still holding the basin for quite a long time until both of his arms were too sour to be lifted. Seeing this, Si Nan was finally satisfied: “Alright, go out now, don't talk nonsense.”
“What is this?”
“Gunpowder.”
Yan Hao: “…”
Yan Hao had wanted to discuss with Si Nan whether he would go to the B military District with the special forces squad. However, Si Nan was obviously indifferent to his own whereabouts. Yan Hao had to leave and talked with Zhou Rong on his own.
Under the autumn's fast blue sky, Si Nan was mixing the gunpowder. The powder was laid inside the factory shade. He was waiting for the kerosene to dry naturally when, suddenly, he heard the sound of light and rapid footsteps, prompting him to look out the back window.
Behind the factory building was a secluded path. The east side led to an anhydrous ammonia storage ten minutes away from the factory, while the west side led to the canteen. A young girl in an ap.r.o.n was scrambling around the corner of the path, looking a little pale and frightened. Her frantic footsteps slowed when her sight fell on Si Nan.
“?” Si Nan stared at her, recognizing her as Wu Xinyan.
Wu Xinyan ran towards him.
Probably Si Nan's words when they first arrived at the factory: “Six months, too late to abort“, had left a deep impression on Wu Xinyan. This girl had always disliked him, often taking a detour when they crossed path. Si Nan didn't know what happened, but she didn't seem to have been bitten by the zombies. He opened the window from the inside and held his hand out, offering it to the girl.
Wu Xinyan climbed inside, then squatted down with her back against the window, pulling Si Nan down with her.
“Oh…” she said softly.
Si Nan frowned and was about to speak when he heard another sound of footsteps from outside the window. This time the footsteps were much heavier, followed by a man's gruff voice saying, “Hey!” The voice cried out, “She was just here, where did she go?”
Another male voice with an accent answered, “Where is she?” Then he stepped closer and glanced at the back window of the factory. He didn't see Si Nan and Wu Xinyan hiding in the shadow of the window sill and said, “There is n.o.body here.”
“d.a.m.n, that girl is too fast.”
“You also don't make trouble, Feng said not to make a move on those people, did you forget?”
These two were part of Feng Wentai's bodyguards. Si Nan's eyes darkened upon realizing this.
They rustled about for a while, probably to smoke. The first person then voiced out his dissatisfaction, “If Laozi found her beautiful, why shouldn't Laozi chase her? It's true we are not allowed to do so, but Feng had always been lenient with us.”
The man with an accent said, ”Right”.
“Say,” the man then lowered his voice and asked in disbelief: “do you think those people are really members of the special force?”
“Why, you don't think so?”
“They are all betas, it seems wrong. Nowadays, don't they only choose alphas to be special forces? I suspect they're Guo's local men, they took an opportunity in this time of chaos to spread lies, fooling even Feng.”
“It doesn't matter, as long as they can get us into the refuge.”
The two complained for a bit. Hiding in the small s.p.a.ce under the window sill, Si Nan's eyes narrowed a little.
“Right,” the man with the gruff voice seemed to have remembered something, “Boss Feng asked Lu Hui to apologize before, and as a result, Lu Hui was kicked by the angry girly boy. He seemed to really avoid looking for trouble during these two days.”
“Is that true?”
“Yeah. If you ask me, he must be feeling shameful, he couldn't even handle such a weak chicken! Someone needs to teach that kid a lesson…With such fine skin and tender appearance, he looks like an omega, he shouldn't pretend to be a fighter…”
“Why, you still want to enter his back door?” [1]
The two laughed obscenely. After exchanging a few more words, their footsteps finally drifted away.
Wu Xinyan paled. With a trembling gaze, she glanced to her side. Si Nan's eyebrows were drawn extremely tight, his eyes narrowed, slanting into such a fierce look.
“We…”
Before she could finish her words, Si Nan had lifted his index finger in a 'stop' gesture, then pulled her out of the door.
“This is the car key. If there is something wrong, please evacuate everyone. The spare materials have been placed in the minibus in advance. I also have to trouble you with the pregnant woman. We will come back from the military district in one week at the latest…”
Zhou Rong carefully gave out instructions to Dr. Zheng. However, at this time Si Nan suddenly walked in through the door, his hand still pulling the trotting Wu Xinyan behind him. The young man did not say anything and directly pulled out the type-64 handgun from Zhou Rong's waist pack.
“Hey!” Zhou Wei was furious, “What are you doing? Come back here!”
Si Nan really did turn back, but only to put his hand into Zhou Rong's trouser pocket and took out a large string of warehouse keys. Then, he walked away once again.
Fortunately, Zhou Rong grabbed his wrist in time, “What's the matter? Where are you going? Are you planning a robbery?”
Si Nan said coldly, “Don't worry about it, it's none of your business.”
He broke away from Zhou Rong's grip and turned around in the direction of the garage, still pulling Wu Xinyan behind him.
Zhou Rong chased after him. He was about to shout but seemed to realize something as his eyes fell on Wu Xinyan's stumbling figure, and fell silent.
“…Ugh, this kid.” Zhou Hao murmured, “He still likes that girl.”
He stood there for a while, feeling as if his throat was blocked by something, making him unable to swallow or talk. After a while, he pinched hard between his eyebrows, as if trying to cover what he was feeling with the sting, and smiled: “You may laugh.”
Dr. Zheng was hesitant and merely nodded to show his understanding.
“Get on the bus,” said Si Nan.
Wu Xinyan climbed onto the armored car and asked with a frightened voice, ”Where are we going?”
Si Nan slammed the door shut and started the car, saying, ”Nowhere.”
The armored car rushed out of the garage then turned around in the open s.p.a.ce, bypa.s.sing the factory's canteen and continue driving towards the inaccessible anhydrous ammonia storage. After a few minutes on the gravel road, Wu Xinyan was so car-sick she almost fainted, but luckily they stopped just in time in front of a run-down brick building.
“I found this place when cleaning up the zombies last week.” Si Nan got off the car and asked, “How long has he been disturbing you?”
Wu Xinyan gathered her courage and answered in a shaky voice: “Since those men arrived, only a few days…”