Chapter 14:Reduced to a Hostage

A thousand thoughts raced through Su Xiaomu's mind, but his face remained placid. "So that's why you brought me here?" His voice, hovering between youthful and mature, had a quiet resonance.

"Exactly," Lan Yun continued. "What are Young Master Su's thoughts?"

Su Xiaomu didn't answer directly. Instead, he countered, "It's not about my thoughts, but about what you plan to do, isn't it?" He was utterly calm, devoid of any spoiled heir aura.

"Smart!" Lan Yun slapped his thigh with a loud smack, unbothered by the informality. His eyes held appreciation. "A wise man submits to circumstances. I trust Young Master Su understands the meaning."

Do I have a choice? Are you giving me a choice? the youth silently retorted. If he refused, he absolutely believed they'd either throw him out right then or ship his corpse to B City.

Su Xiaomu nodded slightly. "Then your meaning is...?"

"B City is one of the nation's best-defended locations. Though G City is holding up well now, just..." Lan Yun paused before continuing slowly, "The zombies won't stay as they are. We're just preparing for the worst."

Su Xiaomu listened as if this concerned someone else, his expression blank. Internally, he processed: According to this man, he was meat on a chopping block, to be kneaded at will. Perhaps the former Su Xiaomu would accept that, but the current one...

"So, I'm to be a hostage?" Su Xiaomu raised an eyebrow coolly after Lan Yun finished speaking.

Li Yansheng immediately jumped in. "Young Master Su, do you have the awareness of being a bargaining chip? We are merely offering you protection. However..." He deliberately drew out the word. "Young Master Su will need to find his own food within the base. Supplies are scarce, after all, aren't they?"

"What if I demand to go to B City?" Su Xiaomu ignored Li Yansheng's question, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yi.

Except for Zhang Yi's initial sentence, the other two had done all the talking—persuading and threatening. Before the apocalypse, he was an "obedient" student who died mysteriously. After the apocalypse, having witnessed the horror of zombies, he could no longer afford to be merciful.

Lan Yun adopted a nonchalant air. "If Young Master Su wishes to go to B City, we won't stop you. But I advise you, the road to B City is perilous. Few would risk their lives frivolously." This wasn't scare tactics; zombies were everywhere, and their future evolution was unknown.

"Then do you plan to stay here forever? Or..." Su Xiaomu smiled somewhat maliciously, "Wait until the G-Base falls before making a move?!"

The others frowned slightly at his words. Li Yansheng's tone turned sour. "What do you mean by that?" Did he know some inside information?!

Su Xiaomu blinked, the profound aura vanishing as if it never existed. He was just an ordinary college student again. "You don't think the zombies will stay like this forever, do you?"

"Of course..." Lan Yun started confidently, but his expression abruptly turned serious.

Zhang Yi nodded from the side. "As the apocalypse drags on, the zombies are evolving." This was precisely why he'd brought Su Xiaomu back. B City possessed the most advanced weaponry and scientific knowledge.

Silence descended upon the room. Only faint breathing could be heard.

Su Xiaomu followed Zhang Yi out. The man walked at a steady pace. At a corner, Zhang Yi suddenly spun around, grabbing Su Xiaomu's arms and pinning him against the concrete wall.

"What are you doing?" Su Xiaomu frowned slightly. Was this man crazy?! Launching a sudden ambush? His grip was astonishingly strong; Su Xiaomu could feel a dull ache in his arms.

Zhang Yi stepped closer until their noses almost touched, breath mingling on each other's faces. "Who are you?" he demanded, scrutinizing Su Xiaomu. Even with his sallow complexion, his skin seemed poreless.

Zhang Yi raised a hand, using his fingers to wipe dust from Su Xiaomu's cheek. The unexpectedly smooth texture made his eyes darken. He suddenly noticed the unusual paleness of the youth's neck.

Su Xiaomu looked at Zhang Yi's long eyelashes and handsome face, blinking innocently. "Captain, while you're quite good-looking, I'm sorry, I'm not interested in men."