What is ecstatic joy? Hope, which had been thought to have vanished with the falling zombie, was rekindled deep within the locker. (Source: www.yuewen.com)
What is a bolt from the blue? It's when you're holding the plug, ready to find the socket, that you belatedly realize, "Damn, no power."
"Um, will a power bank work?"
What do you think?
Song Fei pouted and glared at Qi Yan with resentment. He just wanted to lighten the awkward atmosphere, did he have to be so serious?
Qi Yan's lips were pressed into a straight line, which appeared even more heavy in the dim light of the flashlight.
After a moment's thought, He Zhiwen gently laid the tape recorder down, turning it face up, and ran his hand along the bottom edge, finally stopping at the last third: "Sure enough."
Before Song Fei could ask what it was, a click was heard, and a delicate semi-circular clasp was opened by He Zhiwen's hand.
Song Fei had never used a tape recorder like this before, but the principles of electrical products are all the same, so he recognized at a glance that it was a place for dry cell batteries. However, unlike common remote controls and wireless mice that use AA or AAA batteries, the empty battery compartment was much larger, quite similar to the battery compartment of an old-fashioned flashlight he had seen at home as a child: "A size 1 battery?"
He Zhiwen nodded, confirming his guess, and precisely stated the required quantity: "Four sections."
Song Fei was troubled. Let alone four batteries, even one was enough to give them a headache: "Who still uses size 1 batteries these days?"
He Zhiwen: "Uh...we."
Song Fei looked at He Zhiwen, who had silently raised his hand, with a mixture of amusement and exasperation: "Why didn't you say so sooner!"
"But the experimental materials are in the storage room on the sixth floor. Can we go back downstairs to get them?"
"Why not?" Qi Yan slowly raised her eyes. If they didn't know where to find batteries, it might have been a problem, but now that the coordinates were confirmed, nothing could stop their yearning for the outside world. "We've found the hardest radio to find, so four batteries won't do?"
His comrade's gaze was so confident and firm, and the slight upturn of his lips was so calm and composed. For a moment, He Zhiwen had the illusion that he had traveled into a movie: "Brother Qi, when you smile like that, I feel like I am fighting alongside Tom Cruise."
"Mission: Impossible doesn't involve fighting monsters, Tomb Raider is more like it." Qi Yan said with a slight smile, and affectionately called to her boyfriend, "Angelina Jolie, pack your things, let's go."
Song Fei returned the glance with a charming and alluring look: "My hair is still a bit short, so just bear with it for now. When it grows longer, I'll braid it into pigtails and make sure you're satisfied."
Qi Yan: "You underestimate yourself. Even if you have Zhao He's hairstyle, I can still ascend."
Song Fei: "Does Zhao He have a hairstyle?"
Qi Yan: "You can't slander him like this just because he's not here."
Song Fei: "It seems like you started it first."
Qi Yan: "...It seems so."
Song Fei: "Hehehe."
Qi Yan: "But then again, someone with Zhao He's looks doesn't need a hairstyle."
Song Fei: "Yeah, it's a pity he's straight."
Qi Yan: "Yeah, that's a real pity."
Why did these two break up because of incompatible values? He Zhiwen recalled Song Fei's explanation of past relationships and couldn't understand it. In his opinion, there was no third person in the world who could match either of these two people in front of him, who were exchanging flirtatious glances and playfully pushing each other's heads. These two people, who were so viciously hostile whether their relationship was breaking down or in the throes of passion, should have belonged to each other, and could only belong to each other.
Why?
For no other reason than for world peace.
Showing affection didn't delay their pre-battle preparations. While He Zhiwen was still immersed in the endless exclamation of "the matchmaker really knows how to pair people up," his two comrades had already packed up and were ready to set off.
He Zhiwen jumped in surprise, clumsily pulled out his short knife, and scrambled to his feet, shouting, "Wait for me!"
The two comrades, who were about to open the door, turned around in confusion: "What are you doing?"
He Zhiwen replied matter-of-factly, "Let's go together."
Song Fei sighed and pinched his chubby cheek: "Be a good boy and wait here."
He Zhiwen felt that ever since Song Fei pinched his cheek, his status was in danger of sliding from comrade-in-arms to cute pet. He angrily pushed Song Fei's hand away: "You two go out on an adventure, and I hide here and do nothing. Am I even human?!"
Song Fei took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
Qi Yan turned her head slightly, gazing out the window, knowing that the trick was about to begin.
"When the two of us go out, it's a battle. Do you think it's not a battle just because you're here? On the contrary, you have to stay here and defend the tape recorder to the death! In other words, this is the most important and dangerous front line." Song Fei's words were clear and logical, yet also showed solidarity and camaraderie. They were gentle yet stern, with a touch of tenderness hidden within their sternness. At first glance, they seemed like a knife hidden in a can, but upon closer inspection, they were full of earnest meaning. "Imagine, you come with us, we find the battery, but when we come back, the tape recorder is gone. What's the point of us fighting all that way?"
He Zhiwen: "I..."
Song Fei: "Let's think about it again. What if there are other people in the building, and they don't want to share information with us? If we all come out, wouldn't they be the ones to benefit?"
He Zhiwen: "Is it possible..."
Song Fei: "Let's think about it again. There's such a persistent teacher outside the window. If he knew we took his treasures, wouldn't he have a chance to climb in through the window again?"
He Zhiwen: "I'll stay!"
Song Fei: Really?
He Zhiwen: "Hmm. But to be honest, I don't particularly like the last scenario you imagined..."
However, who knows what other insane ideas Song Fei might devise if he didn't follow this path further!
What do you do if you end up with a boyfriend who's all about tricks and schemes?
Qi Yan's way of expressing love is to give the other person the greatest freedom, letting them go and try to manipulate others to their heart's content.
Watching his two comrades disappear into the moonlit, chilly corridor, all the chaotic thoughts that had been swirling within him vanished. As he closed and locked the door, only two thoughts remained in He Zhiwen's mind—his comrades would surely return, determined to defend the tape recorder to the death.
The former gave him a sense of security through trust.
The latter gave him courage through his steadfastness.
The empty window, devoid of glass, let the wind howl into the room. He Zhiwen got up and walked to the window, peering out and looking around. It took him a long time to confirm that it was safe. Let alone climbing from the ground floor to the twelfth floor, even climbing over from next door, the smooth building offered no footholds to grab onto.
When he pulled his head back, his face was already red from the wind, but He Zhiwen's heart wasn't cold; in fact, it felt like it was burning, as if a surge of hot blood was surging within him. It's no exaggeration to say that if any friends needed him right now, he'd be shirtless and ready to go, ready to get things done in a flash.
This was unimaginable before.
He Zhiwen had always been a model student in the eyes of his teachers and a bookworm in the eyes of his classmates. After kindergarten, he not only stopped holding hands with female classmates, but he also stopped fighting with classmates of any gender. In fact, that time in kindergarten, someone else hit him, and he just cried.
In college, although he got along well with his classmates and roommates, there was always a subtle distance between them. Once, they were drinking in the dorm, and one of his roommates got drunk and blurted out, "He Zhiwen, you're a person I can't understand." He Zhiwen didn't know what "understanding" or "not understanding" meant; he only knew that these people wouldn't go to great lengths for him, and he wouldn't risk his life for them.
Besides, these days, who doesn't put morality aside and prioritize profit? If you told those three roommates who drink and eat together every day that there's a graduate school recommendation spot for one of them, who would they choose? Wouldn't they fight it out? Absolutely not.
So, was the virus outbreak a turning point?
He Zhiwen thought about it carefully, and it didn't seem to be the case.
A week ago, unable to bear the hunger any longer, he rushed out of the dormitory with the rest of the group, not even caring who his companions were. It wasn't until they reached the second floor of the cafeteria and found only a few scattered companions around that the six of them nodded and formed a temporary refuge team.
Six people lived under one roof, seemingly relying on each other, but in reality, their relationship was not deep. They were only forced together and happened to be isolated and helpless. Even those who were originally from the same courtyard, such as Zhao He, Fu Xiyuan, and Wu Zhou, had a relationship that was only familiar, not intimate.
Then, not two days later, a group of strange classmates barged in downstairs.
Then everything started to go astray.
When he proposed joining forces with Class 1 to find the radio, his idea was straightforward—to leverage Class 1's combat strength to increase the safety index and improve the success rate.
Because the motive was so obvious, they didn't try to hide it; they just used a more palatable way of saying it.
But Class 1 made their decision without hesitation, and it couldn't have been faster. In short, it can be summed up in four words: Let's do it!
Then they did it.
An eight-person team, hastily assembled, embarked on their journey in a daze, charging into danger and stabbing zombies with knives. It wasn't a reality where death was always a possibility, but rather a single-player game where you had a hundred lives and could revive at will.
How can one achieve true understanding? He Zhiwen now understands. It means that in a relationship, there must first be a fool who gives selflessly, and then another person who thinks they are clever will hesitantly take the first step, the second step, until finally they themselves become fools.
He encountered four such idiots in one go. No, according to the theory that birds of a feather flock together, there might be eight. And judging by appearances, most of Class 2 has already been converted. Not to mention the two in Yixin Building and Zhao He, who may or may not have run back to the cafeteria, they are clearly on a one-way trip down the road of who is the dumbest.
If the school were to announce that there was one postgraduate recommendation spot available from either of your two martial arts classes, and you were asked to choose, He Zhiwen thought the most likely outcome would be that everyone would draw lots. And Song would certainly argue that luck is also a part of overall ability.
The moon was suddenly obscured by a cloud, and the office instantly darkened, becoming completely dark, deep, and oppressive.
He Zhiwen remained unmoved. He hugged the tape recorder, leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and felt a sense of peace within him. He didn't know when Song Fei and Qi Yan would return, but he knew they would.
The moonlight dimmed and brightened again, the wind stopped and rose again, and heavy, stiff footsteps echoed down the corridor. On nights like this, every minute and every second felt like an eternity, yet He Zhiwen held the radio and waited quietly for four hours.
Until a ping-pong ball bounced across the hallway in front of the door.