Cooking Gourmet Meals in the Apocalypse

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Building Incident

Just a moment ago, when Hao Wenli said they could stay, Mr. Hu had even bowed gratefully to the surveillance camera.

But in the blink of an eye, Du Yina was dead and Chen Xing was swaggering away. He instantly understood—Boss Song had never agreed to let them stay at all.

At this point, Mr. Hu was on the brink of a complete breakdown.

He had been diligent and hardworking his entire life, never doing anything truly wrong. Why couldn’t he even stay in his own home?

’It must be this shameless woman! She must have bad-mouthed us to Boss Song, and that’s why we’re being forced to leave!’

’I won’t accept this!’

’I’ll kill her!’

Mr. Hu snatched a protective stick from someone beside him and charged.

But just as he got behind Chen Xing, arm raised to strike, she—without even turning around—not only dodged his attack but plunged a knife into his temple with a backhanded motion.

Hu Dawei and Mrs. Hu were stunned. They cried out at the same time, ”Dad...”

”Old Hu...”

But not a single person dared to step forward and see what had happened.

Two lives taken in quick succession. The previously reproachful gazes in the crowd had all turned timid. Terrified of displeasing Chen Xing and losing their own lives, they were all torn between wanting to look and being too afraid to.

Hao Wenli’s mind had completely short-circuited.

’I thought I’d finally gotten close to Chen Xing, but I never expected her to be completely different from how she was in the lab. She’s not controllable at all. This just doubled the level of my mission.’

Pulling her knife free just before Mr. Hu collapsed, Chen Xing stepped into the elevator.

It wasn’t until the elevator was more than ten floors up that Hu Dawei and Mrs. Hu finally ran over, wailing.

But it was too late. Mr. Hu had already stopped breathing.

”Son, what are we going to do? How am I supposed to live without your father?” Mrs. Hu was completely falling apart.

’Who can I rely on now?’

Hu Dawei was just as dazed. He had relied on his father his whole life; how was he supposed to know what to do?

”Lili, what should we do?” Calling the police was pointless, and he didn’t have the courage to face that Killing Demon.

Hao Wenli had no time to worry about their problems.

’All I can think about is what *I’m* going to do.’

’The mission to get close to the target isn’t finished. I have to find another way.’

The crowd was now trembling with fear.

Some people wanted to leave, but Mrs. Hu’s earlier screams had already attracted a horde of zombies. They were blocking the entrance, making escape impossible.

But staying here felt just as dangerous.

’She kills people more easily than chickens. It’s terrifying!’

When the elevator doors opened on the top floor, the four men were all in the living area.

It was clear from their expressions that they had watched the entire scene unfold.

”You’re a real piece of work,” Yan Junxi said. He finally understood why she was so calm when facing enemies and zombies. ’So she’s a warrior—the ruthless, silent type.’

”That’s the simplest and most direct solution,” Song Yiguo said, clearly admiring Chen Xing’s methods.

”If you don’t make an example out of people like that, they’ll walk all over you.”

’Take the Hu Family, for example. They blocked the door and wouldn’t let us in. How is that any different from murder? I was already being merciful by just telling them to leave instead of wiping them out. And they still tried a sneak attack? They deserved to die!’

As a soldier, Captain Lu had a different perspective. After all, two lives had just been lost.

However, he also knew that if Chen Xing hadn’t acted this way, she never would have been able to control those people.

’It’s not my place to judge whether she was right or wrong,’ he thought, so he remained silent.

Chen Xing didn’t care if people disapproved of her.

In her previous life, she had spent every day walking on eggshells around others. In this life, she would live exactly as she pleased.

”The Hu Family probably won’t leave,” Chen Xing reminded Song Yiguo.

’I don’t think that mother-son duo will be easy to handle. Especially Mrs. Hu. She’s the type to make a huge, unreasonable scene, probably throwing a massive tantrum and refusing to leave.’

’And with Hao Wenli there to give them ideas...’

’Still, it’s rather amusing.’

’It’s not every day you get to see Hao Wenli scared out of her wits.’

Song Yiguo, who had been watching the monitors the whole time, knew this perfectly well. ”They won’t want to stay here by nightfall, even if we beg them to.” He had no intention of making things easy for them.

’That’s a relief to hear.’

Satisfied, Chen Xing headed for the kitchen.

’I don’t know what method Song Yiguo will use, but based on what I know of him, that mother and son are in for a miserable time.’

”What do you think you’re doing?” Yan Junxi demanded, following Chen Xing as soon as she entered the kitchen.

”Making something to eat.”

”This kitchen is my exclusive territory. Don’t just mess with things. If you want to eat something, tell me!” Yan Junxi shot her a look that clearly meant ’get out’.

”You’re not planning to use this as an excuse to charge me, are you?” Chen Xing asked warily, the words ’money-grubber’ practically written on her face.

Yan Junxi was speechless. ’What kind of person does she think I am?’

”It’s free!” he huffed, putting his hands on his hips. ”I’m Yan Junxi, the superstar! Do you really think I’d stoop to that after offering to cook for you personally?”

’As long as it’s free!’

Without hesitation, Chen Xing reeled off a few dishes. ”I have a big appetite, so make extra!”

Less than an hour later, a table full of food was ready.

Chen Xing wouldn’t go so far as to praise Yan Junxi’s cooking, but it was at least edible.

Song Yiguo, however, seemed to be enjoying it immensely.

After the meal, Song Yiguo asked Chen Xing, ”A helicopter is coming to pick us up at five tomorrow morning. Are you coming with us, or are you staying?”

”I’m staying.”

Song Yiguo had expected as much, so he didn’t press the issue. ”I’ll have the things I owe you delivered here as soon as possible.”

Chen Xing nodded. ”I’ll be staying here for a while.” Her unspoken meaning was clear: she’d be waiting for her payment.

’So greedy!’

Yan Junxi rolled his eyes again.

Song Yiguo then turned to Captain Lu. ”Do you and your men want to come with us to the Capital City, or...?”

”We have to report back, so we won’t trouble you any further. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.” Captain Lu already had a plan. He had mostly recovered, and leaving while the zombies were inactive would be safer and save them a lot of trouble.

It wasn’t even noon, but everyone went to their respective rooms to rest.

Chen Xing leaned back on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the now-quiet monitor screen.

’Hao Wenli must be at a complete loss right now.’

’Her best friend, Du Yina, is dead. I doubt she’s heartbroken over it, but without someone to play the bad cop, how is she going to find opportunities to play the good guy?’

’It won’t be long before the Hu mother and son are gone, and then she’ll have no one to fall back on.’

’So, what will Hao Wenli do next? Either she’ll shamelessly latch onto me, or she’ll crawl back and admit she can’t complete her mission.’

’But, knowing her, she’ll choose to stay and continue the mission for that fat reward.’

’Whether she stays or goes, it’s all good for me. All I have to do is watch.’

Down in the lobby, everyone except for the Hu mother and son and Hao Wenli was gathered together, their expressions grim.

Although they had seen many people die over the past few days, seeing one person kill another was still a rare and shocking event.

They wanted to leave but were terrified of the dangers outside.

Those with children were especially anxious. They wanted to hide in their rooms but were afraid of being left out of whatever the group decided. All they could do was huddle together uneasily, keeping a wide berth from the exclusive elevator Chen Xing’s group used.

Just as the anxiety was peaking, Mrs. Hu and Hu Dawei burst out of an elevator, laden with bags, and made a mad dash for the security room.

Someone stepped forward to ask what was wrong.

The mother and son didn’t say a word, their faces etched with pure panic.

The onlookers had no idea what was going on, which only heightened their anxiety.

A moment later, the pair emerged from the security room clutching the remote for the garage door. They sprinted back to the elevator as if a monster was hot on their heels.