Chapter 39: The Old Bastard

Jiang Qiyu gently pushed Lu Yao aside and tidied her slightly disheveled collar. “Alright, stop clinging to me like a koala. It’s time to get to work.”

Lu Yao reluctantly let go and obediently stood to the side, gazing at Jiang Qiyu with deep, profound eyes shimmering with an indescribable sense of dependence and longing. Like a lost child who has finally found the way home, his gaze was filled with warmth, security, and belonging.

Jiang Qiyu found his look somewhat amusing and reached out to ruffle his soft hair. “Enough with the pity act.”

She turned and pulled several guns from her spatial pouch, carefully inspecting each one before handing a firearm to Lu Yao. “Take this for self-defense.”

Lu Yao took the gun, skillfully checked the magazine, and carefully secured it at his waist. “Thank you, sister.”

He looked up and flashed a radiant smile at Jiang Qiyu—pure, innocent, and warm like sunlight.

Jiang Qiyu said no more and turned to organize the upcoming tasks.

She divided the team into two groups: one would head to the unfinished stadium to transport the necessary timber and stones for construction; the other, fully armed, would provide guard along the way, ensuring the safety of the transport team.

Meanwhile, the production crew’s self-proclaimed “big brother”—the man who had previously insisted that Shi Chao was a zombie—was leisurely sprawled in his room with his legs crossed. One hand idly picked at his toes while the other scrolled through short videos on his phone, punctuated by bursts of laughter, showing no intention of going out.

He even hummed a tune, completely detached and indifferent.

Over the past few days, he had been abusing his seniority, swaggering arrogantly around the base, barking orders at the others as if they were his personal servants. Not only did they have to carry out various tasks for him, but they also had to be on call at all times, while he hid away in the comfort of his room, lazily slacking off.

Shi Chao had endured this for some time but finally decided it could no longer continue. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was around, he stealthily approached Jiang Qiyu.

“Boss, I have something to tell you,” he said in a low voice, his expression serious. “About the big brother in production…”

He leaned close to Jiang Qiyu’s ear and recounted every misdeed of the so-called big brother.

Hearing this, Jiang Qiyu’s brow furrowed slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing her eyes. She had the utmost disdain for people who neither worked nor helped but only caused trouble.

“I understand,” she replied calmly, her tone betraying no emotion. Yet Shi Chao keenly sensed an undercurrent of danger.

Instinctively, he took a step back, inwardly relieved he had reported in time.

With a sudden bang, Jiang Qiyu kicked open the big brother’s door, holding a dark gun pointed straight at his greasy forehead.

“Refusing to work? Do you want me to send you off?” she said coldly.

Startled, the big brother trembled all over, his fat jiggling uncontrollably, and he was about to curse loudly.

But seeing Jiang Qiyu, his arrogant demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by sheer panic and fear.

His bulky frame shook involuntarily, toes digging fiercely into the floor as if trying to gouge a hole.

“W-what are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?” he shouted blusteringly, though his eyes were filled with terror.

Jiang Qiyu sneered, a mocking curve forming at the corner of her lips. Without hesitation, she pressed the cold metal of the gun against his oily forehead, making him feel the threat of death keenly.

“If you don’t want to work, then get out of my base. Don’t think I’m afraid to deal with you, old man.”

The big brother’s face turned deathly pale, sweat pouring down like rain. He nervously glanced at the gun pressed against his head, stammering apologies. Then, like a frightened fat cat, he clumsily scrambled from the bed, bowing repeatedly with stiff, ingratiating smiles plastered on his face.

“All right, all right, I’m going, I’m going.”

On the way to the stadium, the big brother was assigned to the stone quarry team and did not have to carry a gun.

He recalled the image of Jiang Qiyu’s cold gun barrel pressed against his forehead, a wave of humiliation swelling in his chest. Her domineering posture and disdainful gaze were like thorns piercing his heart, making him increasingly resentful.

“Tch.”

He snatched a gun from a young teammate nearby, startling the boy, who looked at him timidly but dared not protest. The big brother curled his lips contemptuously, secretly cursing, “What a coward.”

“I want to play with guns too.”

Clumsily handling the weapon, he adjusted his grip and fiddled with the safety catch, trying to look like an experienced shooter. To flaunt his swagger, he occasionally fired wild shots into the sky, the deafening blasts echoing across the empty quarry.

Suddenly, a putrid stench mixed with a nauseating bloody wind swept over them. A rotting, mutilated zombie staggered out from one of the abandoned buildings, dragging its broken limbs as it lunged abruptly toward the group.

The teammates panicked immediately, scattering like startled sparrows, their screams rising in a chaotic chorus. Amid the turmoil, a young girl, flustered and reckless, collided with the big brother’s shoulder. The unruly gun in his hand fired a deafening shot.

Instead of helping her, the big brother let out a shrill cry, a malicious grin spreading across his face. He shoved the girl toward the decayed zombie and even kicked her, hastening her fall.

Muttering, “Little girl, zombies like you. Go play with it.”

The girl screamed in terror, nearly toppled by the zombie, when the big brother suddenly raised his gun and fired at the zombie’s head with a “bang!” The creature collapsed, spraying filthy blood all over the girl’s face.

She crumpled to the ground, trembling violently, utterly terrified.

Her legs gave way like a puddle of mud as she sank to the earth, teeth chattering uncontrollably, eyes wide with fear.

The big brother burst into loud laughter, as if everything that had just happened were a comical performance. “Well? Little girl, thrilling, isn’t it?”

Those around him looked on with eyes full of fear and disgust, but no one dared to speak up. Everyone was afraid—afraid of becoming the next “sacrifice” pushed out by the big brother.

Jiang Qiyu and Lu Yao walked at the rear of the group, observing everything clearly.

“Sis…” he called softly, his voice gentle.

Jiang Qiyu placed a hand on his shoulder, signaling him to stay calm.