An old acquaintance

Gu Cheng caught the little bunny's mischievous hand. Ye Ruan spread his fingers and interlaced them with Gu Cheng's, hidden from everyone else.

Hu Fu poured some vegetable sauce over his potato, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and smiled. "Captain Gu, try one. These roasted potatoes keep you full, and they taste pretty good."

Beside him, Zhao Quan looked disgusted. He had no intention of touching the noodles or potatoes on his plate, and his eyes kept straying toward the stewed chicken Yu Jingjing was eating.

Gu Cheng sneered inwardly, picked up a potato, and peeled it for Ye Ruan.

"Ruanruan, have some of this."

Ye Ruan ate from his hand, biting off half the potato.

The soft potato turned to mash with the slightest pressure of his tongue.

"Good, right?"

Yu Jingjing smiled. "This is what we've been eating these past two days. The lady who cooks in the kitchen said they roast them with spices. The flavor really soaks in."

Once Ye Ruan finished the roasted potato, Gu Cheng wiped his hand clean and took his hand again.

An inseparable, lovey-dovey little couple.

Hu Fu volunteered, "Captain Gu, there are sixty-eight of us here, including me. Whatever you need, just say the word. We'll cooperate fully with the organization and won't hold anyone back."

Gu Cheng nodded. "Do you have vehicles?"

Hu Fu said, "Yes. One medium-sized truck, two vans, and an off-road vehicle. There are also employees' motorcycles and electric scooters parked out back."

"Good. We're still over two hundred kilometers from S City. The more people we have, the more monsters we'll attract. If we're leaving, there's a lot to prepare."

Gu Cheng laid out the arrangements methodically.

"We need food and water. We also need to run the survivors through a few drills beforehand so they know what to do in an emergency."

"Zombies aren't the frightening part. A bunch of people dragging everyone else down is. Screaming won't help. If you can fight, grab something and get in there. If you can't, cover your mouth and hide."

As Gu Cheng spoke, he kept idly squeezing and playing with Ye Ruan's fingers.

Hu Fu paused mid-sip, then hurriedly put down his bowl. "Funny you should mention that. The Printing Factory rescued two people a week ago. They said they were special forces."

"He's been teaching us how to deal with zombies and gather supplies. Everyone here definitely won't hold you back."

Gu Cheng asked casually, "What's his name?"

Hu Fu wiped his mouth. "His surname's Lou. Lou Yu."

At that name, several of them froze, Ye Ruan included.

An old acquaintance.

A very familiar old acquaintance.

To Ye Ruan, that name was practically a nightmare.

"Speak of the devil."

Hu Fu suddenly stood. "Captain Lou!"

Ye Ruan turned toward the cafeteria entrance.

That flashy fox was waving to Hu Fu with a smile.

Before Ye Ruan could look away, Lou Yu had already spotted him.

The next second, Lou Yu shouted in delight, "Dumpling!"

Ye Ruan tried to hold himself back. He failed. Pulling free of Gu Cheng's hand, he vaulted over the table and charged at Lou Yu.

Lou Yu beamed. "Aw, you want a hug as soon as you see me? I came to find you this time. Don't get too moved..."

Clang!

Ye Ruan snatched up a tray and swung it into Lou Yu's head, leaving his skull ringing.

"Ye Ruan, have you fucking lost it?!" A woman in a short camouflage skirt drew a dagger and charged over.

Ye Ruan raised his arm to block, then caught the woman's wrist and twisted it behind her.

The woman turned with the motion and kicked at Ye Ruan. He dodged, then drove a foot into her back, sending her flying!

By the time she scrambled up and charged again, Yu Jingjing had rushed over and punched her in the stomach.

Ye Ruan bent down, grabbed Lou Yu by the collar, and hauled the still-dazed fox up.

The bunny's white hair was slightly disheveled, his red eyes bloodshot. He still looked just the way Lou Yu had liked him from the very first glance.

A sweet little dumpling, cute and fierce, a little bunny baring his teeth and claws.

"Where's the flash drive?" Ye Ruan asked coldly.

Lou Yu didn't care about the dirty floor. He propped himself up on one arm, an irreverent smile in his flirtatious eyes.

Ye Ruan finally understood why Gu Cheng's smile didn't disgust him.

They were both flashy flirts, but Gu Cheng's smile was bright and sunny. He looked wicked, yet he knew where to draw the line.

Lou Yu had no limits.

"Flash drive? What flash drive?" Lou Yu asked.

Ye Ruan's fingers trembled slightly. "What's on it is very important to me. If you want to earn merit, there are plenty of ways. Can you give this back to me?"

The flash drive contained secret military intelligence the Second Team and Third Team had gathered together overseas.

Lou Yu remained unmoved.

Ye Ruan softened his voice. "You know this could win my mother her freedom... If you want to earn merit, we can work together."

"No." Lou Yu's expression turned cold.

"I want my freedom too. They made me stay with that man. Unless I earn a major commendation, I'll never be able to get away from him."

Ye Ruan suddenly raised his voice. "But I got the flash drive first!"

Blood clung to Lou Yu's eyelashes. "I'm sorry. I have to use it to apply for a divorce."

Ye Ruan went rigid.

A divorce?

He seemed to remember hearing that Lou Yu had slept with a hostage rescued from abroad.

That hostage was apparently a highly accomplished researcher specializing in Special Persons.

Wanting to retain that talent, their superiors had persuaded Lou Yu to marry the researcher.

Whether it had really been persuasion or a mix of threats and incentives, Ye Ruan didn't know.

"Ruanruan, come here."

Gu Cheng strode over, separated them, and picked Ye Ruan up, setting him on a nearby chair.

"Did he upset you? How about I beat him up for you?"

Lou Yu staggered to his feet and wiped away the blood dripping from his forehead. His gaze drifted toward them despite himself.

The bunny he remembered had always been a loner. Yet now he wore an expression like that, as though he had found someone to stand behind him.

Lou Yu suddenly felt that Ye Ruan really was lucky, while he could only swallow his endless bitterness alone.

Lou Yu said hoarsely, "Ting, stop fighting."

Song Ting dodged an attack, shot Yu Jingjing a vicious glare, and reluctantly walked over.

Ye Ruan had swung that tray hard. Blood dripped down past the corner of Lou Yu's eye.

Song Ting cursed. "That little bunny bastard really went too far!"

The little bunny bastard in question was currently being held and soothed by Gu Cheng.

Taking a closer look, Song Ting laughed. "Well, look who it is. Gu Cheng, captain of the First Team!"

Gu Cheng ignored Song Ting's snide tone. He cupped Ye Ruan's cheek and gently rubbed it.

"Did he steal something from you?"

Ye Ruan nodded, his eyes red with anger and his face full of hurt.

"A really important flash drive. I stayed up for three days and nights to get it, and he snatched it out from under me..."

The little bunny lowered his long lashes and sniffled miserably.

It was the first time Gu Cheng had seen Ye Ruan this angry and upset.

Gu Cheng's expression chilled, his dark eyes sweeping coolly over Lou Yu.

"Li Rang, Sixth Brother, tie Captain Hu up. Let's have a nice little 'catch-up.'"

Li Rang said, "You got it!"

Lu Jiayi pulled handcuffs from behind his waist, kicked Lou Yu in the back of the leg, and knocked him down. He straddled him, twisted his hands behind his back, and cuffed him.

Song Ting cried urgently, "Gu Cheng! Do you want disciplinary action?"

Gu Cheng drawled, "What kind of dish is disciplinary action? Does it taste good?"

"You!" Song Ting's face twisted slightly with anger.

Gu Cheng looked as though he had only just remembered something.

"Sixth Brother, don't forget Song Ting. Tie her up too."

Song Ting: "..."

Hu Fu stood anxiously to one side, wiping away sweat over and over. "Everyone, is there some misunderstanding?"

Yu Jingjing grinned. "It's fine. We know each other. Old friends reunited, tears in their eyes and all that."

Gu Cheng rubbed the back of his sweetheart's head, took Ye Ruan's hand, and asked, "Factory manager, do you have an empty room?"

Hu Fu trembled, feeling as though he had run into a gang of thugs.

This didn't look like catching up. It looked more like they were about to take someone away and kill him...