Night of the Apocalypse

Shen Qiu originally wanted to say something more. However, Huang Gan spoke up first: “Since Dean Anyuan has spoken, let’s just stay for the night. This way, we can avoid any trouble on the way back, and we can catch up with each other.”

“What Huang Gan said makes sense. We’re not in a hurry; let’s stay for the night,” Cao Kun also encouraged Shen Qiu.

“Alright,” Shen Qiu said, seeing that everyone was in agreement. Besides, it was getting dark, and he felt a bit uneasy inside.

“That’s more like it!” Huang Gan patted Shen Qiu on the shoulder.

“Since we’re staying, let’s help Dean Anyuan prepare dinner,” Zhao Lian suggested with a smile.

“Sounds good!” Cao Kun and the others replied cheerfully.

Zhao Anyuan looked at the smiling faces around her and smiled with satisfaction.

As night gradually enveloped the earth, the vast Sky City lit up, with decorative lights and street lamps illuminating every building.

The entire city was bright, but there were very few people on the streets, and even the flow of traffic had dramatically decreased.

Only patrolling guards and soldiers remained.

At that moment, a faint gray mist began to rise in the air.

On Tianke Street in the Seventh Ring.

Lin Xiaoyu and Liao Kai leaned against a streetlamp, staring blankly at the desolate street.

At this time, Liao Kai slowly pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff.

“Hoo~, when will these chaotic days finally come to an end?”

“Stop complaining! We have to continue patrolling after a short break. We’ll have to stay up all night tonight.”

Lin Xiaoyu spoke up.

“Let’s hope nothing weird happens. I want to make it to retirement,” Liao Kai replied, taking a deep puff of his cigarette.

Lin Xiaoyu waited in place, gazing around at her surroundings and the sky with boredom.

Suddenly, her expression froze.

“Am I seeing things? How can there be two moons in the sky?”

“Two moons? Don’t joke around!”

Liao Kai casually looked up, and immediately startled, causing his cigarette to fall to the ground.

“My goodness!”

Sacred Sound Welfare Institute, Nighttime.

Shen Qiu, Huang Gan, and Cao Kun walked along the circular corridor toward the accommodation area on the west side.

They quickly reached the first floor of the west area and went straight to the door of Room 104.

Shen Qiu pushed open the door, and the three entered a small, dilapidated room.

In the corner of the room was a large bed separated by red bricks, topped with wooden planks and covered with a layer of bedding.

Next to it was an old desk.

Huang Gan’s eyes lit up upon seeing the bed; he walked over, took off his shoes, and lay down on it.

“Ah, this bed is still so comfortable to sleep on; this is the feeling!”

Cao Kun looked at him and laughed.

“Don’t you have a bed at home?”

“How could I not have a bed? I bought the highest-quality silk cotton bed! But no matter how I sleep, it’s never as comfortable as this one. Maybe it really is just my bad luck!”

Huang Gan’s face showed a self-deprecating expression.

Hearing this, Shen Qiu shook his head and replied.

“Don’t say that; no one is born inferior to others.”

“Haha, well said! Come lay down!”

Huang Gan patted the empty spots on either side and called out to Shen Qiu and Cao Kun.

The two didn’t hesitate and climbed onto the bed, lying down on either side of Huang Gan.

To be honest, they cherished this hard-won opportunity.

After tonight, they would all go their separate ways, no matter how much they tried to keep in touch, it would be less frequent.

The three of them stared at the moldy ceiling, as if they had traveled back more than a decade. Back then, they had also laid on the same bed, sharing the same blanket.

“Honestly, life is better now. But sometimes I find myself reminiscing about childhood. Even though we didn’t have enough to eat, at least we were carefree.”

Huang Gan said with deep emotion.

“You didn’t have enough to eat? Shen Qiu and I often shared our food with you,” Cao Kun teased with a smile.

“Isn’t that just because I have a big appetite?”

Huang Gan replied with a dry laugh.

Shen Qiu also felt moved and said, “Even though it was tough back then, we were quite happy and didn’t think too much about things.”

“Now that we’re grown up, we have more worries. I’ll tell you guys, about ninety percent of our group of brothers and sisters are outside the city, and I’ve heard that several have already passed away, including that little buck-toothed guy.”

Cao Kun replied thoughtfully.

“How did he die?”

Huang Gan was taken aback.

“How do you think? He died of illness. I heard that when he was found, his body had already started to smell. If it weren’t for the landlord demanding rent, no one would have known for a few more months. In the end, it was Director Anyuan who personally went to handle the funeral arrangements.”

Cao Kun said with some sadness.

“Maybe it will be our turn someday.”

Huang Gan sighed.

“You’re in a good situation now; why don’t you date someone and start a family?”

Shen Qiu turned to Huang Gan and asked in confusion.

“It’s not that easy! The ones you like don’t like you back. The ones who like you, you don’t like.”

Huang Gan replied with a bitter smile.

“Just take your time; what’s meant to be will come eventually.”

Cao Kun comforted Huang Gan.

“Enough with the comforting. Back then, among the three of us, you were the most likely to find someone, yet you’re doing worse than I am. You lost a great girl like Qiu Li.”

Huang Gan lamented.

“That’s a long story; it’s all in the past. Let it be.”

Cao Kun’s expression was filled with loneliness. It was clear to anyone that it wasn’t so easy to let go; he was just suppressing it with reason.

“True, what’s past is past. Shen Qiu, what about you?”

Huang Gan changed the topic.

“Me? What about me?”

“What’s your situation? Are you still single? That girl Zhao Lian seems to be quite interested in you.”

“Forget it; I don’t feel anything for her.”

“No feelings? Wait a minute, you’re not still a virgin, are you?”

Huang Gan got excited at this point.

“Not a virgin, but…”

Shen Qiu hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“You have a girlfriend? That’s great! Who is she?”

Cao Kun also joined in on the gossip.

“No, I don’t.”

Shen Qiu awkwardly denied it.

“Who is it? Come on, tell us.”

Huang Gan pressed on, determined to find out.

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed down the corridor, as if something had been knocked over.

“Who’s out there at this hour?”

Huang Gan looked puzzled as well.

“I don’t know. It could be some kid running out.”

Shen Qiu immediately sat up.

At that moment, a sharp sound of a door opening echoed in the corridor, followed by a shout.

“Who’s there? Who’s outside?”

Just as the words fell,

“Ahh~”

A piercing scream suddenly rang out, shattering the silence of the welfare home.

Shen Qiu’s expression instantly changed.

“Not good, something’s happened! I’m going out to check.”

Huang Gan and Cao Kun were also startled and quickly got up.

“We’re coming with you.”

The three hurriedly got out of bed, put on their shoes, and rushed out the door. They immediately saw a frail figure in the hallway biting the neck of a middle-aged woman in a white nightgown.