The Zombie I Flirted With After Losing My Memory, Who Was Pretending to be an Alpha, Is Actually My Ex - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Safe Room

Teng Xi rubbed her throbbing temples, pulling Xie Jinbing along for a few quick steps to escape that increasingly ridiculous discussion circle.

Seconds later, Xie Jinbing felt something wiggling in her pocket. It was very slight, but she detected it nonetheless.

She glanced at Teng Xi, who was pretending to be serious while pressing close to her side. The two were standing very near, and that “sinful hand” in her pocket clearly belonged to the person beside her.

“What’s wrong?” Detecting the gaze fixed on her, Teng Xi quickly retracted her hand to a natural hang and asked calmly.

Xie Jinbing looked at her with an expression Teng Xi couldn’t quite decipher. It made Teng Xi feel extremely guilty; if her “thieving” behavior was caught again, she’d be a repeat offender. Teng Xi cleared her throat, wondering if it was too late to confess.

Just as she was about to admit it, Xie Jinbing suddenly smiled.

Teng Xi had to admit that Xie Jinbing looked beautiful when she smiled—definitely several times better than any celebrity on TV. Her peach-blossom eyes had their softness tempered by the broken eyebrow, adding a touch of dashing, passionate energy. Those eyes seemed as if they could speak.

“You look really good when you smile.” The confession replaced the apology at the last second. Teng Xi hooked an arm around her shoulder, leaning in with curved brows. “Smile more. You could clearly eat based on your looks alone, yet you insist on relying on talent.”

The smile on Xie Jinbing’s face stiffened. She finally realized that she had actually smiled.

The team happened to arrive at the third floor at that moment.

Teng Xi withdrew her gaze and turned serious, looking past the crowd toward the third-floor stairwell entrance.

Xie Jinbing pursed her lips and slid her hand into her pocket, squeezing the item Teng Xi had just failed to “steal.”

The lead doctor gave a hand signal to those behind. She pressed herself against the door to peek inside, and only after confirming it was safe did she take the key from Sesame to unlock the door.

The crowd moved forward cautiously and slowly. It wasn’t until those in front had passed through safely that Teng Xi could see the situation outside—

The stairwell exit was located inside a large reading room that took up a third of this floor. The entire large reading room was enclosed by glass walls, but the quality of that glass was clearly more decorative than practical. If zombies attacked, it wouldn’t hold for ten minutes. The “Safe Room” the doctor mentioned was a smaller reading room—fully enclosed, with only one passcode-protected door, situated in a corner of the larger room.

There were very few zombies outside the large reading room, with only a few stragglers wandering about. As the doctor said, as long as they remained quiet, they were safe; even if the large reading room was breached, there was still the small reading room inside.

When the passcode door shut behind them, everyone finally relaxed completely, collapsing onto the floor.

Teng Xi leaned against the door, hugging her Miaodao, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the lead doctor. The doctor was currently communicating with a woman in her forties. The woman had bits of white hair among her locks, and her gaze scanned between Teng Xi’s group and the men in suits with intentional frequency.

Yao Zhi whispered a few words of comfort to the pregnant woman as the woman approached. Teng Xi heard the people around call her “Director.”

“Hello, I am Cheng Shi, the Director in charge of Section A.” The woman took the initiative to extend her hand to Teng Xi. Her voice was gentle, and her face held a kindness that couldn’t be hidden. Teng Xi instinctively felt a sense of goodwill toward her, shaking her hand and briefly introducing her group.

Cheng Shi didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly: “Does Dr. Xie have antibodies?”

Teng Xi nodded. “We won’t stay long. Once we’ve regrouped, we’ll head to Section C.”

Seeing that Teng Xi was unwilling to elaborate, Cheng Shi didn’t press further. She pointed to an office at the very back of the reading room. “You can see the situation as it is. There were originally about a dozen people in the Safe Room. Due to the lack of food, we sent people out to risk their lives for supplies. Now there are over fifty people here. Your situation is unique, and everyone is currently panicking. If you don’t mind, please move to that room.”

“You…” Feng Sisi frowned, wanting to argue, but Teng Xi pulled her back.

“Fine. But if she hasn’t turned after twenty-four hours, will you consider her immune to the virus and accept her?” Teng Xi pointed to the bitten pregnant woman.

The woman’s expression didn’t change much; she remained smiling, neither agreeing nor refusing, skillfully avoiding the question. “We look forward to the existence of people with natural resistance to the virus.”

Teng Xi smiled. This was a very slick woman who wouldn’t easily make promises but wouldn’t make others feel awkward either.

The group walked toward the office. He Qi gave a look to one of his men, signaling him to follow. Only after confirming that the pregnant woman had been securely chained to a desk leg did the man in the suit leave satisfied.

“Dr. Xie doesn’t need that, surely.” Teng Xi raised her Miaodao, pressing it down on the chain that was intended for Xie Jinbing.

The doctor looked at Teng Xi and then at Cheng Shi with some difficulty. “Director…”

Cheng Shi smiled and didn’t insist. “Dr. Xie naturally doesn’t need it. However, I must ask Dr. Xie to endure staying in here. Most of the people outside are patients, and their emotions are unstable. It’s not appropriate for them to see you like this.”

Having said her piece, Cheng Shi nodded and led her people away, giving the group space for private conversation.

“Yao Zhi, I still don’t trust He Qi and his group. You, Feng Sisi, and Si Qinghan should rest outside and keep an eye on them. I’ll stay here with Sister Xie,” Teng Xi said to Yao Zhi. Of the three, she felt Yao Zhi was the most reliable.

Xie Jinbing frowned, wanting to say she didn’t need anyone to stay with her, but Comrade Feng Sisi volunteered: “Then I’ll stay to keep Master company!”

“Comrade Feng Sisi, I have a much more important mission for you.” Teng Xi looked at her seriously, making her feel oddly excited.

“What is it?”

“As the rising star of the Miaodao, you must protect the people outside while I’m away. Can you complete the mission?”

The question set Feng Sisi’s blood boiling. Her gaze became determined. “Mission will be completed!”

The others nearby were speechless: this young lady would probably happily count the money for Teng Xi even if Teng Xi sold her off.