C14 They Set up a Plan to Conserve Their Energy and Prepare for the Night. the Two of Them Chatted f

The two individuals in the hospital had been bustling about until around 8 PM when they finally completed their search of every floor in the hospital building!

Tang Bing had amassed a significant haul of medicines and a variety of materials. He also managed to scrounge up some food and water, which he used to deceive Sun Meng.

Throughout this endeavor, they were fortunate not to encounter any further zombie attacks, which was undoubtedly the best news! It suggested that, for the moment, the building was safe, with all the zombies confined to the lower level.

"Who would've thought we'd find so much food and water," Sun Meng mused, locking the cafeteria door behind them and gazing at the makeshift mountain of supplies. "How are we going to move all this tomorrow?"

Tang Bing knew he could easily transport the items if he wanted to, but to keep his mysterious system under wraps, he played it cool. "It's simple," he assured her. "Tomorrow morning, we'll load the food and water onto this modified cart and take it to the elevator. I'll figure out a way to draw the zombies from the first floor elsewhere. Then, in a few trips, we'll move everything downstairs and onto the car before the zombies catch on. If we're quick, we can get out safely before they even notice."

"Is it really that simple? I'm a bit concerned..." Sun Meng wasn't entirely convinced by the plan. "How will you distract the zombies? You're not planning to use yourself as bait, are you? That's far too risky!"

"Do you really think I'd be that foolish?" Tang Bing gave her a look of exasperation.

Sun Meng shook her head, admitting she didn't have the answer.

Seeing her uncertainty, Tang Bing sighed and explained, "Zombies have terrible eyesight, but their sense of smell becomes incredibly keen if they detect blood. Luckily, we're not injured, so there's no need to worry. Their hearing is actually the most crucial sense for them. I've noticed that zombies react strongly to noise—they flock to it immediately. Remember all those cars in the lot behind the hospital? Just toss something to set off a car alarm, and the zombies will be drawn to it like moths to a flame."

"You're brilliant!" Sun Meng's eyes sparkled with realization. "How did I not think of that? If we can redirect the zombies on the first floor with the car alarm, we can carefully move the supplies and drive off before they catch on!"

"Exactly," Tang Bing said, pleased that she caught on. "That's why we need to rest up tonight and be at our best tomorrow. Once we start, if you lag behind, I won't be able to come back for you—it could be the death of us both. You'll need to keep up and carry the supplies with me. Got it?"

Sun Meng nodded vigorously. "Got it."

"Good. Now let's get some rest," Tang Bing said, settling onto a black leather sofa in the cafeteria corner. "I'll sleep here. You take the kitchen. The curtains on the windows will make decent blankets and quilts. Lock the kitchen door from the inside; it'll help you sleep more soundly."

Sun Meng nodded silently, fetched a chair to reach the curtains, and struggled to take down two massive drapes before hauling them into the kitchen to make her bed.

Tang Bing watched her get to work, then reclined on the sofa and closed his eyes.

Once Sun Meng had her bed made and the kitchen door locked, she turned off the lights and snuggled into her curtain-blanket.

About ten minutes later, Tang Bing sat up. Despite trying to sleep, his mind was racing with thoughts. Not entirely at ease, he got up, took his fire axe, and patrolled the cafeteria, checking each window.

Convinced they were secure enough to withstand a mutant zombie's attempt to break in, he lay back down. But the persistent sounds of zombies and car alarms outside left him restless. He got up once more, barricaded the cafeteria door with tables and chairs, and finally felt secure enough to sleep.

Exhausted from the day's efforts and with his mind at ease, Tang Bing quickly fell into a deep slumber.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep when a faint tapping sound jolted him awake. He sprang up, fire axe in hand, ready for a fight.

"Bing, it's me!" Sun Meng's voice pierced the darkness.

Tang Bing frowned but didn't lower his axe, eyeing her shadowy figure with caution. "What's going on?"

"I'm scared..." Sun Meng's voice trembled with fear. "The sounds of zombies are all around, and I can't sleep alone in the kitchen. Can I sleep on the floor next to you? You stay on the sofa, and I'll be on the floor."

"It's just you and me here. You'll only be safe if you sleep in the kitchen!" Tang Bing declared with an icy edge to his voice. What he left unsaid was his own unease about Sun Meng. Having her sleep in the kitchen was a slight reassurance for him; if she were too close, who knew what she might do while he slept?

"I trust you," Sun Meng whispered, her voice tinged with fear. "Bing, I'm really scared. Please, can I just sleep on the floor here?"

Tang Bing was reluctant to have Sun Meng so close, knowing it would rob him of any peace of mind. He'd be on constant alert for any midnight attack, even though she depended on him to escape the hospital and reach the military sanctuary. The likelihood was low, but his distrust lingered. They had only met that day, and with the incident involving Yang Fei still fresh, caution was his only ally.

Yet, faced with Sun Meng's earnest plea, he couldn't bring himself to refuse with hostility. After a moment's hesitation, he set aside his fire axe. "If you're not scared of me, then fine, do as you wish."

"Thank you, Bing!" Sun Meng quickly spread the curtains on the floor, burrowing into her makeshift bed as if to prevent any second thoughts. "Good night, Bing!"

"Good night," Tang Bing muttered, placing the fire axe within reach. Any sign of trouble from Sun Meng, and he'd be ready to act first.

That night, as Sun Meng settled under the sofa, Tang Bing couldn't bring himself to close his eyes. Instead, he kept them half-open, vigilant and alert.

The cafeteria was silent, save for their breathing and the distant, meaningless moans of zombies. Tang Bing's wariness kept him from sleep, wondering what Sun Meng might be thinking.

After about thirty minutes, just as drowsiness crept up on him, Sun Meng's voice cut through the quiet. "Bing, are you awake? Bing?"

"Hmm?" Sleep was elusive for Tang Bing, who responded with a soft grunt.

"I can't sleep..." Sun Meng said, turning to face him in the darkness. They could only make out each other's silhouettes.

"We need to break out tomorrow. You need to try to sleep," Tang Bing replied, irritation in his voice.

"I know, but I just can't..." Sun Meng's voice was soft. "Maybe we could talk? The zombies' cries are unsettling. Talking might help me relax."

Tang Bing, too, was restless with the need to watch Sun Meng. He sighed. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Did you ever serve as a soldier, Bing?" Sun Meng's curiosity was evident.

"No," Tang Bing shook his head. "I passed the physical, but for some reason, I never got enlisted. Besides, being a soldier isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"It would be great, wouldn't it?" Sun Meng mused. "If you were a soldier, you might be safe in the military district by now, not here on edge."

"You have some odd ideas," Tang Bing's mouth twitched with a hint of amusement.

"But if you were a soldier, you wouldn't have been at the hospital, right? Without you, I might have died of hunger or thirst in my room, or been bitten by zombies looking for food..." Sun Meng's voice was laced with retrospective fear. "I'm glad you weren't a soldier back then."

Tang Bing was at a loss for words.

"Bing, are you scared?" Sun Meng's voice was barely audible after a few seconds of silence.

"Of course, I'm scared," Tang Bing admitted.

"You're so brave, killing zombies without a second thought, and yet you're scared?" Sun Meng sounded genuinely surprised.

"I'm just a regular guy," Tang Bing confided, "fighting to survive. I fear zombies because I don't want to be bitten, to become one of them. And I fear people because in this lawless world, you can't predict anyone's next move. Take Yang Fei, for example—if I hadn't been cautious, he might have killed me."

Sun Meng fell silent at the mention of Yang Fei, then spoke up, "Do you watch me the same way? Are you afraid I might turn on you like he did?"

Caught off guard by her directness, Tang Bing hesitated before nodding. "Yes, I am."

Silence enveloped them once more, neither finding the words to continue.

When it seemed the conversation had reached its end, Sun Meng spoke again. "Bing, I would've been dead without you. Even with these supplies, I wouldn't last long on my own. I only stand a chance with you. Trust me, together we can leave this place and make it to the military sanctuary."

"Hmm…" Tang Bing responded noncommittally, far from ready to let his guard down.