Every night, Zhang Hao lay awake, seething with resentment as he dwelled on these thoughts, unable to find peace.
Especially when it came to Chen Du.
In the past, he had dismissed that pitiful wretch without a second glance.
After all, they had never belonged to the same social class.
Sharing a dorm room had been the sole overlap in their otherwise separate existences.
Yet now, in this desolate post-apocalyptic world, that same Chen Du could somehow afford the outrageously expensive Fortress Wall—a luxury most could only dream of!
Not only that, but he lived in comfort, with electricity, a villa, and an abundance of food and water.
As for Zhang Hao, he was reduced to scraping by on supplies traded between Tian Xiaoyu and Chen Du.
What had he become?
Some kind of beggar?!
Zhang Hao couldn't stomach this reality.
One day, Tian Xiaoyu would be nothing more than a puppet under his control.
And Chen Du? He would carve him up and leave his remains for the zombies to feast upon.
These dark fantasies churned within Zhang Hao's mind.
But so far, he had no means to act on them.
Until one day, he stumbled upon a survivor boasting in the chat channel. The story sounded eerily familiar.
The more he read, the clearer it became: this was exactly what he himself had done back then.
Curious, he sent a private message to the survivor.
To his astonishment, it turned out to be Junior, his former lackey.
Junior responded with palpable excitement: "Boss! Is that really you? I can't believe we're both stuck in this hellish world! Where are you? I'll come find you right away!"
Zhang Hao was taken aback.
Even in this apocalyptic wasteland, Junior remained loyal to him.
This revelation inflated his ego, filling him with a twisted sense of pride.
"Junior," he replied smugly, "I've got plenty of food and supplies here. Get over here quickly, and I'll bring you into my group. We'll share locations and build our strength together. You won't regret joining me—I promise you a share of everything we accumulate."
Junior eagerly accepted Zhang Hao's invitation.
After checking their coordinates, Zhang Hao realized the distance wasn't excessive, though it would still take some time for Junior to arrive.
Junior messaged again: "It's a bit of a journey, Boss, but don't worry—I'm setting off immediately. Give me two days, and I'll be there!"
Zhang Hao closed the chat window, his mind already painting vivid pictures of the future.
Once Junior arrived, he would recruit more followers, expand his influence, and grow stronger.
Soon, he'd rise to rival even Sheriff.
By then, not even Sheriff—and certainly not Chen Du—would dare look down on him!
And Tian Xiaoyu? She would inevitably fall into his grasp.
Zhang Hao glanced at Tian Xiaoyu, who was resting nearby, and felt a surge of lust course through him.
Quietly, he approached her, gazing at her serene, captivating face as she slept.
Even concealed beneath her tactical combat uniform, her figure radiated undeniable allure.
Unable to resist, he reached out to caress her cheek.
But just as his fingers brushed against her skin, Tian Xiaoyu jolted awake.
Her eyes snapped open, and in one swift motion, she grabbed his wrist.
Zhang Hao froze.
Forcing a sheepish smile, he stammered, "Xiaoyu, you're awake? Why not rest a little longer?"
Tian Xiaoyu sat up, her expression calm but guarded. With deliberate care, she removed his hand from her personal space.
"I couldn't sleep," she said evenly. "There's too much danger lurking around every corner."
Zhang Hao brushed off her words, pressing on, "Don't worry, Xiaoyu. If anything happens, I'll protect you."
Tian Xiaoyu gave him a measured look before replying softly, "Thank you, Zhang Hao."
Her gratitude thrilled him.
Finally, he thought, this bitch realizes I'm the only one she can depend on!
Then she added, "Our supplies are running low. I need to buy more food and water from Chen Du."
At the mention of Chen Du, Zhang Hao's mood plummeted. His breathing grew heavy, and his head swam with dizziness.
Finally, he erupted.
"Chen Du, Chen Du—it's always Chen Du! What the hell is he? Just a worthless nobody! A pathetic excuse for a human being!"
"Remember those birthday gifts he gave you? Homemade trinkets and cheap junk from roadside stalls! How do they compare to what I gave you? Now he's living large in this apocalypse, but mark my words: once I build my team, I'll crush him beneath my feet!"
Startled by his outburst, Tian Xiaoyu took several steps back, putting a safe distance between them.
"Zhang Hao," she said firmly, "you're being irrational. Chen Du is our college classmate and your former roommate. He's helping us survive, and we should be grateful—not harbor resentment."
Zhang Hao laughed derisively.
"Roommate? I never considered him worthy of sharing a room with me. Living alongside him for two years made me feel filthy!"
"He's nothing but a lowly insect. How could I ever see him as a friend?"
"Thankfully, he moved out during our sophomore year. If he hadn't, I'd have found a way to kick him out myself."
Tian Xiaoyu's eyes widened in shock.
She had never known the depth of animosity Zhang Hao harbored toward Chen Du.
No wonder Chen Du had warned her to tread carefully around him.
She had assumed it was simply because of Zhang Hao's arrogance, but now she saw the truth.
Chen Du must have endured isolation in the dormitory.
A wave of anger surged through her. "Chen Du is my friend," she declared coldly. "I won't let you speak about him like that!"
"A person's origins may be fixed, but Chen Du has worked tirelessly to carve out a place for himself in the city. He even bought a house with a down payment after just two years. To me, he's extraordinary!"
Seeing Tian Xiaoyu defend Chen Du only fueled Zhang Hao's fury.
He seized her shoulders and snarled, "Friend? Don't make me laugh! Are you in love with him? Is that why you rejected everyone else during college? Huh?!"
"No wonder you showed up to every gathering he attended—but otherwise, you were untouchable!"
Zhang Hao's voice rose to a shout, veins throbbing on his forehead.
"Mark my words, Tian Xiaoyu—you wait. One day, I'll kill Chen Du! I swear it—I'll end him!!!"
Pain shot through Tian Xiaoyu's shoulders as his grip tightened. Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out a military-grade dagger and held it firmly between them.
"Zhang Hao," she warned, her voice icy, "don't push me."
The glint of the blade snapped Zhang Hao out of his rage.
He released her shoulders and stammered, "Xiaoyu, I didn't mean it. I lost control. Forgive me, okay?"
Her expression remained frosty. "I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. But I hope you can learn to control yourself in the future."
"Now, I'm going out to gather supplies."
Zhang Hao hurriedly offered, "Xiaoyu, I'll come with you. It's not safe to go alone."
But Tian Xiaoyu didn't even turn her head.
"No need. You should rest. I'm just gathering supplies nearby—it's not dangerous."
With that, she walked straight out of the dilapidated shack they called home.