Chapter 43— Exposé

by Bocchan13

Song Yu led Lan Zhou to the kitchen where the leftover lunch was. He immediately heated it up and prepared a bowl for Lan Zhou, whilst Lan Zhou surveyed his surroundings. The kitchen was lit up with bright white lights, the white on white creating a pure air. There was a large island in the center that hosted a few electric stoves and a sink.

To the side were a refrigerator and a cabinet for non-perishables. It looked like an everyday kitchen. Not like a zombie apocalypse filled shit show. He had so many questions.

How do you produce so much electricity? Why are there still so many foods and items in your home? Why do you have a reinforced wall outside? Why is the water and lands pure and fertile?

It was a buzzing in his ear. He was happy that Song Yu didn’t suffer now, but he also had to ask what sufferings Song Yu did go through, enough to amass all of this. He watched Song Yu carefully, seeing his little mole on the clavicle of his neck.

Song Yu had many secrets. He had them too. But were they the same secrets?

Was he…also reborn?

Lan Zhou pondered this. He knew he never met Song Yu in his previous life. From the moment at the club, the future had changed. Lan Zhou rubbed his tired eyes and smiled at Song Yu.

The only thing he should do is play his cards. All of them. Song Yu would never doubt him if he said the truth. And he wanted to.

If they could negotiate and Lan Zhou played his cards right…Lan Zhou could stay forever.

…

Song Yu prepared some side dishes and placed them on the island. Sitting next to Lan Zhou, he gave him a spoon.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks,” Song Yu watched as Lan Zhou ate the porridge with relish, realizing that he probably hadn’t eaten anything since waking up. Seeing the poor man scarfing it down, he vowed to plump him up some more. He ate a few mouthfuls, thinking of the menu.

Uhhh…you do remember that you’re kicking him out right?

Shut up.

“Song Yu?” Song Yu blinked and looked at Lan Zhou’s handsome face. Lan Zhou smiled and pressed his thumb against the corner of his lips.

“You have some food on your lips.” Song Yu tucked his head back, and blushed.

“Thanks.” He heard a low laugh and couldn’t help but smile. Lan Zhou was treating him so wonderfully.

You are completely stupid. He’s seducing you so he can stay here.

You think I don’t know that?

You admit its working?

Ye-yeah.

Idiot. Complete moron.

“Song Yu?”

 “Hmm?”

“Let’s talk some business.”

Song Yu looked at Lan Zhou. His cold and business-like persona had come back in full force. It took him a second to realize what he was asking. He nodded.

“After we finish eating, we can talk with your group.”

“Okay.”

Song Yu was dreading this. He didn’t like confrontation. In fact, any sort of serious meeting made him nervous. If he wasn’t in control, or if there were too many variables, he felt that the situation would go out of hand.

As the leader of Paradise Base, everything had to go through him, but decisions were made through a majority vote by his ‘council’ which comprised of his ex-friends. They usually didn’t listen to him and talked over him. Sometimes he wished he wasn’t a part of these meetings, but Ye Xin always convinced him to come.

The group on the outside followed Song Yu, but internally it was Ye Xin who had the most power. Song Yu ignored it because he was too busy taking care of the base, but he shouldn’t have let Ye Xin take over the military aspect of their base.

He was too much of a coward and pushover in his last life. It carried a little into this life, and his aversion to meetings was still relevant.

But this wasn’t Paradise Base anymore. He was his own council. It was up to him whether to let Lan Zhou and his group stay.

He timidly finished the rest of his porridge and wiped his mouth. Lan Zhou watched in rapt attention to Song Yu’s mood. He definitely wasn’t happy. Sighing a bit, he took the napkin and dabbed the spot he missed.

“It’s not an execution. We just want to know your thoughts. I’m not a mind reader, so I want to understand where we stand right now.”

Song Yu nodded, but stayed glum. Avoidance was not going to change their situation.

They went back to the living room where the other four had pulled out Yu Ci’s playing cards and started a game of gold fish. Song Yu had to appreciate that they didn’t touch any of the games from his shelf.

“Hey guys. We’re gonna have a meeting right now. Let’s figure out what to do next.” The gang all got up and followed Song Yu to the formal dining room. It was an eight seated table, and unconsciously, it should have been Lan Zhou at the head, but he led Song Yu there and plopped him down unceremoniously. Stunned, Song Yu felt five pairs of eyes on him.

Anxiety filled his mind. This seat was usually for Ye Xin. He was always on the last seat on the left. But Lan Zhou had respected his status as the owner of the house.

He didn’t have to, but he did.

Lan Zhou took his right hand position, followed by Yu Ci. Lu Jingxiu took the left with Xiao Zi and Wang Cheng. They settled down so expertly, it was like they had done this millions of times.

Song Yu stuttered,

“L-let’s start.”

Lan Zhou smiled encouragingly. Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief at that. Lan Zhou’s presence did calm him down somewhat.

“I already know your names, but I don’t know your abilities. I don’t expect transparency, but I do expect respect. Until Lan Zhou and Xiao Zi get better, you guys can stay here. You can use some of the facilities and items either I or Squinty provide. During their recuperation, we will continue to harvest the rest of the summer vegetables and make perishable foods.”

Everyone nodded. They had been doing this for the past three days and were satisfied. Lan Zhou, hearing it for the first time understood Song Yu’s caution and simply nodded along. Song Yu continued,

“Once you leave, I can provide you with food for at least a week, and enough ammo for your guns. Anything else such as leisure or condiments will have to be bought through labor within this time period. Don’t worry,” Song Yu winked.

“I don’t charge much.”

Lan Zhou sighed heavily. Song Yu…was way too nice.

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

Wang Cheng raised his hand.

“How much for the chocolate?”

“We can talk about trades later.” Song Yu smiled, his hand raising up two fingers. Wang Cheng’s eyes gleamed. 20 minutes of labor!! Yess!

Lan Zhou raised his hand.

“Before we do any more negotiations, we should let Song Yu know what it is we were doing. Does anyone disagree?”

The room went silent. Yu Ci tapped Lan Zhou’s shoulder.

“You mean…everything everything?”

Lan Zhou nodded.

“Even…?”

“Yes,”

Lu Jingxiu and Xiao Zi looked at each other, before nodding their heads.

“We would also like to. Xiao Zi already told me that this place has the right tools.”

Song Yu looked around them, that feeling again. He was out of control. Out of the loop.

Lan Zhou stood up from his seat and gave a salute. The rest all sat up and did the same.

“Song Yu, we have not formally introduced ourselves. My name is General Lan Zhou, from Country B Military Base, level 10 fire variant ability. This is my team,”

Yu Ci saluted. “Captain Yu Ci, level 7 strength variant ability.”

“Captain Lu Jingxiu, level 8 ice ability.”

“Captain Wang Cheng, level 6 space ability user.”

“Xiao Zi, Army doctorate and head of Viral Contamination Bureau. Healing ability level 8”

Lan Zhou looked at Song Yu’s frightened expression. His own looks softened as he gently held his hand.

“This is what we ranked as in our past life.”

Song Yu’s eyes widened even further. Breathing hitched, his trembling hands curved, the hand holding his was scalding.

“P-past life?”

Lan Zhou nodded. “Year 23, day 12. Mission 3013: Tasked to bring Xiao Zi to find the cure for the zombie apocalypse. Mission: Failed.” Song Yu shuddered when he said failed.

“We all died in our past life trying to find someone to help purify materials for the cure. Xiao Zi was at a breakthrough when we died. We were going to give up this task since the main person we were looking for had disappeared. But now, looking at this place we would like to conduct experiments here.”

Lan Zhou’s eyes looked solemn and serious. Song Yu was still registering everything that he was hearing. Lan Zhou had been reborn. In fact, everyone here was reborn.

Lu Jingxiu added, “This place is probably the only pure place left on the planet. What I want to do is let Xiao Zi stay here. He can make the cure.”

Lan Zhou shook his head.

“We are not going to covet your home. This is not a demand, only a request. As a reborn person, I hold neither malice nor desire for the cure. We have seen many things, have done many things. All we want to do is live in peace.”

Song Yu was brought back into that cave, overhearing their conversation.

“Xiao Zi, do you think you can still make it without him?”

Xiao Zi could only shake his head.

“Even if I had started before the zombie apocalypse, the materials I need require a base form that exceed the standard of scientific discovery we have on hand. I can make a vaccine, but not a cure.”

“I propose we stop this, Old Lan. It’s been two years. We still hadn’t found him and Xiao Zi won’t be able to make a cure without the right equipment not to mention the other factors. B Base is breathing down out backs and the Military Base can’t support us forever. This time around, we don’t have any accolades, fame or glory.”

“Who wants to stop the expedition and make our own base?”

“By morning light, let’s go find our home.”

Song Yu sighed. They were all just like him. Tired. Wanting to find a place they didn’t have to move from, be scared of, one eyes always opened.

“I…need time to think. This is just too much.”

Lan Zhou and the rest agreed.

“We will leave the day after tomorrow. If you allow us to stay, we will. If we go, we will go with no hard feelings. I’m sorry to put so much pressure on you. We can end the meeting here.”

Song Yu slowly nodded and left the dining table. Xiao Zi looked at Lan Zhou’s downcast expression.

“All for the cure, eh? Says the guy who wouldn’t give two shits about it.”

Lan Zhou’s eyes twitched.

Lu Jingxiu rubbed his lover’s shoulders.

“If he didn’t have an excuse to stay, he wouldn’t be able to chase him. Right now, Song Yu wouldn’t believe him even if he tore out his own heart and presented it on a golden platter.”

That hit Lan Zhou right in the heart. It was true. Song Yu would only think he was trying to seduce him to stay. With a reason like the cure, it might tempt Song Yu to let them live here. The feeling that Song Yu was also reborn kept pestering him.

If he was reborn, he would know how much the cure meant for humanity. The nobler the cause, the more likely Song Yu would relent.

He played his cards. Now two days later, they will see if Lan Zhou’s gamble was correct or not.