C81 Their Thoughts Were Filled with Killing Intent, and They Quietly Observed Each Other in front of

In the cafeteria, Sun Meng and Lin Leyan chatted and laughed as they prepared dinner together, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Outside the window, Qin Mengli stood, silently observing their backs, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

Initially, Sun Meng and the rest were too engrossed in their kitchen tasks to notice the window. But Qin Mengli had been staring out for so long that Teacher Lin eventually turned and caught sight of her.

"Mengli, is something wrong?" Lin Leyan asked, her concern for her student evident.

"Mengli?" echoed Sun Meng, looking over with a puzzled expression.

Snapped out of her reverie, Qin Mengli quickly shook her head and turned to leave without uttering a word.

"What's gotten into her? Is she feeling unwell?" Teacher Lin Leyan, still holding some vegetable leaves, wondered aloud. "She seemed fine earlier today."

Sun Meng watched Qin Mengli's retreating figure in silence.

Qin Mengli left the cafeteria in a hurry and dashed upstairs. Reaching her room, she intended to shut herself away, but then she noticed Tang Bing's unlocked door and impulsively pushed it open.

Tang Bing must have been exhausted; he lay on the bed, still dressed, snoring loudly with his back to the door.

Qin Mengli glanced at his shoes tossed carelessly under the bed, walked over, and bent down to arrange them neatly. That's when she spotted a fire axe lying quietly underneath. Her heart raced as she reached out, grasped it, and pulled it out.

Standing up, she took a moment to look at Tang Bing, who was deeply asleep and unaware, and then at the fire axe in her hands. Qin Mengli was flooded with emotions.

The image of Zhang Tao flashed in her mind. Despite the deep disappointment he had caused her—failing to protect her when it mattered most, even struggling to find food—she had genuinely liked him. Whether it was his looks or his wealth that had drawn her in, the fondness she felt was real and it was the first time she'd truly been stirred.

Yet, just as she had agreed to be his girlfriend and they were on the cusp of starting a relationship, Tang Bing had unexpectedly shown up, leaving her feeling utterly embarrassed.

For over four years, she silently endured Tang Bing's harassment, but when she finally met someone who stirred her heart, she gathered the courage to face him and sever their toxic bond. She thought her nightmare was over and that a new chapter in her life was about to begin.

But fate had a cruel twist in store.

The apocalypse arrived, and a meteor shower turned the world into a land overrun by zombies.

And there, before her eyes, Tang Bing brutally murdered the man she had truly liked for the first time in her life.

Despite her disappointment in Zhang Tao, despite convincing herself she didn't have feelings for anyone, Tang Bing had callously extinguished her first flicker of affection.

He became a killer, taking lives without a shred of principle. Not only did he take Zhang Tao's life, but he also slaughtered those close to him, and another member of a group of survivors.

The Tang Bing she once knew was now a stranger, his actions growing more monstrous and unfathomable with each passing moment.

In this lawless new world, she feared he might evolve into an even more ruthless and selfish murderer.

Qin Mengli couldn't shake the thought that she had to stop him from spiraling further. Ending it now might preserve the good image of him in her memory. She didn't have to like him, but she didn't want to hate or fear him either.

With one decisive swing of the fire axe, his life would be over. Everything would end here, and yet, a new beginning would emerge from this very spot.

Taking this action might ease her conscience. No more nightmares, no more visions of Zhang Tao and the others desperately struggling for survival amidst the flames.

But as she lifted the fire axe, her hands quivered.

She knew that one chop would bring it all to a close. No more nightmares, no more tormented thoughts. Yet, in that moment, Qin Mengli found herself unable to strike.

Standing by the bed, fire axe in hand, her body shook with an internal battle.

Time passed in a blur until her strength gave way, and she collapsed to her knees, tears betraying her resolve.

She just couldn't bring herself to do it!

She had been convinced that for the one she loved, she could exact revenge. But when the moment came, when she was poised to act, she realized how feeble she was, how utterly ridiculous.

It dawned on her that she didn't harbor the deep affection for Zhang Tao she had imagined, much less the all-consuming love she thought she was capable of giving. They say love can compel a person to forsake everything, even their own life. Yet, Qin Mengli discovered she was incapable of such sacrifice.

She knelt beside the bed for what seemed like an eternity, relentlessly wiping away tears that refused to cease.

She remained there, numb and motionless, until exhaustion from crying overtook her and her knees tingled with pins and needles.

Without a word, she slid the fire axe back under the bed, rose to her feet, and prepared to leave. In her haste, she stumbled over a stool, the sharp pain making her squat and clutch at her foot.

"Who's there?" Tang Bing's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright.

He had "seen" the entire episode unfold, though against his wishes.

The Heart of the Sea's sensory abilities allowed him to "see" Qin Mengli's every action without needing to open his eyes.

He remained still, silently watching, curious to see what she would do next.

As she lifted the axe and drew near, Tang Bing's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. He was at a loss for what to do.

Should he feign ignorance and let her strike him down?

He had loved her deeply once, willing to lay down everything for her, life included. But the thought of dying by her hand was a sorrow too great to bear.

Or should he confront her? How could he face someone who had intended to kill him, someone he had once loved so deeply?

Thankfully, Qin Mengli never followed through.

While Tang Bing breathed a sigh of relief, his heart constricted with pain.

It was clear she had truly fallen for this Zhang Tao, and her decision to follow him had been nothing more than a means to an end—revenge. This realization stung; his four-year pursuit of her had culminated in this heart-wrenching truth.

Four years of devotion, of supporting and caring for her, all overshadowed by a brief interlude with another.

Indeed, Zhang Tao was the epitome of tall, wealthy, and handsome. With his striking looks, towering height, impeccable sense of style, and an air of sophistication, not to mention his family's substantial wealth, he was a catch by any standard.

As for me, I was just average in looks, nowhere near as tall or as handsome, and certainly lacking in his refined demeanor. To top it off, I was broke. It was a no-brainer that Qin Mengli—or any woman faced with choosing between Zhang Tao and me—wouldn't pick me, right?

Knowing this truth didn't make it any less painful, any less heartbreaking, any less bitter.

Still, I had to maintain a facade of ignorance, looking on with feigned indifference at Qin Mengli, who was squatting in the room with her back to me. "Why are you here? Is something the matter?"

Unaware that I had caught every detail of her behavior, Qin Mengli shivered at the sound of my voice. She quickly stood up, shaking her head, yet she couldn't bring herself to turn around. "No, nothing! I'll just go back to my room..."

"Wait!" I called out, stopping her in her tracks. "You came here for a reason. Out with it."

"I..." Qin Mengli's voice wavered, her delicate fingers intertwining in a nervous dance.

I slipped on my shoes and descended from the bed, rising to my feet and approaching her slowly. "Turn around."

"I... I should get back to my room!" She resisted, unable to face me, her mind racing with thoughts of whether she should have gone through with her plan to kill me.

But I reached out, my hand firmly clasping her wrist. "I said, turn around."

Caught off guard by my assertiveness, Qin Mengli's mind went blank with shock.

She turned around helplessly, and upon realizing what she had done, she quickly raised her left hand to shield her swollen eyes.

I acted as if I hadn't noticed and asked calmly, "What brings you to my room? Speak up!"

"I... I..." Qin Mengli stammered, her words failing her. Tang Bing's piercing gaze seemed to exert an overwhelming pressure, leaving her feeling as if she couldn't catch her breath.

"Out with it! What's your business in my room?" Tang Bing pressed on with his questioning.

Qin Mengli felt a rush of heat to her head and nearly blurted out, "I want to kill you!"

But just then, the sound of light footsteps approached from outside, and the door was softly nudged open.