This sentence was enough for Si Nan's mind to conjure up a hundred thousand words of a dramatic backstory, but on the surface, he remained very calm, expressing a measured curiosity with a single syllable: "Oh?"

Zhou Rong was very satisfied with his listening posture.

"Three groups of people were involved in the hostage rescue part: kidnappers, opponents, and hostages. The kidnappers wore uniforms, the competitors wore bulletproof vests and had tracking chips, and the hostages had nothing. By the time the International Special Forces Jungle Competition was halfway through, I had already rescued two hostages. All I had to do was get them through the jungle, and the mission would be a success. But then, I ran into this Omega who practically threw himself at me."

Si Nan nodded in understanding.

"It's not what you think. Back then, with all the mud and sweat, you couldn't even tell if he was good-looking or not. But he was definitely pitiful, and especially clingy. He followed me wherever I went, got scared as soon as it got dark, and even insisted on holding my arm to sleep..."

Si Nan glanced at the lean, strong arm under Zhou Rong's short-sleeved T-shirt and nodded again in understanding.

"..." Zhou Rong said tentatively, "For some reason, I feel like your thoughts are a little dirty."

"No. And then what?"

Zhou Rong couldn't find any evidence of his dirty thoughts, so he had to drop it.

"Then? I led these three hostages, trekking through mountains and rivers, across the jungle. Whatever food we had, I let the kid eat first. Whenever there was danger, he was the first I protected. I never let him do a lick of work, be it starting a fire, cooking, or setting up the tent. It was truly like I was holding a treasure I was afraid to drop, or melting candy in my mouth I was afraid to swallow. He also acted especially clingy towards me... you know how it is, a delicate and frail Omega, and so young."

Zhou Rong took a drag from his cigarette, then casually stubbed it out on the ground. His expression turned a little strange. "Until the last day, the night we reached the edge of the jungle, just before reaching the camp..."

Si Nan: "He confessed his feelings to you?"

A moment of silence. Zhou Rong said gloomily, "No."

"He knocked me out, tied me up, then thanked me, took my guns and gear, and left with my hostages. It wasn't until the organizing committee sent people to rescue me the next day that I found out he wasn't a hostage at all, but a competitor representing Country A..."

"I, who had been in the lead by a wide margin, was thus defeated. To this day, I still can't figure out how an Omega could be so cunning and treacherous, so quick to burn his bridges!"

Zhou Rong slammed a fist into his palm and buried his head deep in his arms. Si Nan had to use all his self-control to keep his tone steady. "Mm, you're so tragic, Rong-ge... How did you not realize he was an opponent?"

"Because the first thing he did after entering the jungle was to abandon all his equipment. He drank his canteen dry, threw away his rations, and buried his gun on the spot. There was only one thing he absolutely couldn't part with—the tracker, which is usually the mark for identifying an opponent. Guess where he put it?"

Si Nan shook his head.

"He swallowed it." Zhou Rong said through gritted teeth, "They had to perform surgery to get it out in the end!"

'You guys are really going all out in that damned competition,' Si Nan thought sincerely.

"What's even more terrifying is that the kid already had a partner. After the competition, someone from Country A came to pick him up. I saw with my own eyes that a foreign Alpha bit the gland on the back of his neck." Zhou Rong said angrily, "Tell me, what is this if not toying with someone's feelings?"

Piercing the gland on the back of the neck is a typical temporary mark, which usually lasts for three to four weeks until it is naturally metabolized through blood circulation. It's typically used on an Omega who has not been completely marked. A temporary mark can block the emission of Omega Pheromones, but more importantly, it signifies ownership and serves as a provocation to surrounding Alphas.

Another unproven but widely accepted theory is that a temporary mark is enough to form a temporary contractual relationship—in other words, submission.

—An Alpha uses this method of direct pheromone infusion to intensify an Omega's natural fear of them, thereby gaining temporary psychological submission.

Si Nan imagined the scene. For some reason, he felt a faint discomfort, as if his subconscious felt that the truth wasn't what Zhou Rong had described. But you don't bite the hand that feeds you, so he said sincerely, "Yes, Rong-ge, you're right."

"Now you know why you can't date an Omega, right? Don't think that just because they show weakness occasionally that they're interested in you. A Beta like you will most likely be cheated until not even your bones are left." Zhou Rong took out his cigarette case, but after a thought, he put it back and took out a box of fever reducers instead, popping out two pills and gesturing for Si Nan to take them.

"I'm done talking to you. Go to sleep. If your fever breaks by tomorrow, it means you're not infected. Otherwise, your big bro will have no choice but to put a bullet in you."

Si Nan leaned in the corner, his head resting on a pillow Zhou Rong had made from thick clothes. In the faint light seeping through the crack of the door, he saw that more than half of the medicine box was soaked with black blood.

"...Thank you." He paused for a moment, then smiled. "I'll take your advice... I won't look for an Omega."

Zhou Rong casually patted the side of his head.

Just then, there were two knocks on the door. Zhou Rong got up and opened it a crack. Chuncao was outside. She said in a low voice, "Let's discuss the retreat route, Rong-ge. The helicopter can't land directly on the rooftop tomorrow..."

Zhou Rong made a gesture, cutting her off:

"Tell Yingjie to come guard this place with a gun. Those few who were causing the most trouble during the day, don't let them near here."

The door closed softly. Si Nan closed his eyes, listening to Zhou Rong's footsteps fade away.

·

The next day, the doctor put down the thermometer and said, stunned, "Thirty-seven point three degrees."

Zhou Rong nodded politely in thanks, although from his expression, everyone knew what he really wanted to say was: "You idiot."

The doctor left resentfully under Zhou Rong's triumphant gaze. The latter nudged Si Nan with the tip of his foot, signaling him to stop pretending to be dead now that his fever had broken and get up to work. He then turned, clapped his hands, and shouted, "Alright—everyone up! Pack your gear, move the supplies, and clear the mall corridors! Get ready for the helicopter landing, and fucking hurry up!"

The listless bodies scattered on the floor got up sluggishly. Si Nan walked out of the small partition with a slice of seaweed and pork floss bread in his mouth. In the narrow corridor outside, Yan Hao was sitting on the floor, his long legs uncomfortably bent. He was holding the carbine that had been returned to him. Hearing Si Nan come out, he looked up with a gentle smile.

Si Nan's steps faltered slightly.

Yan Hao stood up, stretched his stiff wrists and ankles, then turned and walked away.

Zhou Rong was a monster who didn't seem to need rest, brimming with energy at all times. Before lunch, he personally drew a retreat route, divided the survivors into fourteen groups, and prepared to have them climb to the rooftop one by one through the mall's safety stairwell. He also went and cleaned out all the wandering Zombies in the stairwell, barricaded the doors and windows on every floor, and had the special forces patrol back and forth, reporting any anomalies via walkie-talkie.

At three-thirty in the afternoon, as he had Yan Hao lead a team to clear the mall building's rooftop for the hundred and first time, the roar of four large helicopters tearing through the air sounded from above.

"They're here!" Yan Hao waved his arms vigorously while yelling into the radio, "Helicopters are preparing to land! Get the first group upstairs!"

The survivors were overcome with a mix of sorrow and joy, sobbing loudly as they staggered onto the rooftop under the escort of the special forces. The pilot opened the cabin door and yelled over the hurricane-force winds, "Board from the front, stay away from the tail—Hurry, hurry, hurry! Don't push, one at a time!"

"Not enough planes!" the pilot shouted to Zhou Rong. "We'll take one batch first, then we'll come back for the rest!"

Zhou Rong, busy and drenched in sweat, waved to show he understood. He found an opportunity to rush to the back of the line, pull Si Nan out, and shove a still-warm military dagger and an apple from who-knows-where into his hands.

"Get on!" Zhou Rong pointed at the helicopter and roared in his ear, "Go, go now!"

Someone nearby protested, "Hey, you just said women and children go first, men in the next batch!"

Zhou Rong ignored him, forcefully pushing Si Nan forward. A white-collar worker whose suit was askew from the crowd said angrily, "This is outrageous! What's your name? I'm going to file a complaint with the military region!"

"Zhou Rong—!" Zhou Rong cursed. "Go on, go file your complaint!" Then, without another word, he dragged Si Nan forward.

"It's full, it's full! No more!" Amidst the chaos, the pilot's shout came from the front of the crowd. He closed the cabin door, blocking a few young men who were desperately pushing forward. Immediately, the four helicopters lifted off simultaneously, turned, and flew north.

A huge wave of curses and sighs erupted. Zhou Rong silently swore, utterly exhausted, and plopped down on the ground.

Si Nan took out the apple, took a crunchy bite, and leisurely offered it over. "Want half?"

Zhou Rong took it grumpily and bit off most of it.

The two sat by the rooftop railing, sharing the precious apple bite for bite. Zhou Rong then got up to maintain order and reorganize the groups.

The survivors' emotions were extremely frayed. This group that was left behind had experienced the hope of imminent rescue followed by the disappointment of being abandoned again, making them especially tense and uneasy. An atmosphere of despair spread through the crowd. The few special forces soldiers couldn't fully control the situation, and even the medical team had to help maintain order.

"What's wrong with them?" Zhou Rong asked with a frown.

Two or three nurses were huddled in a corner of the rooftop, squatting with their heads together. They all seemed unwell, their faces pale and haggard, with heavy dark circles under their eyes.

"They're exhausted from working overtime," the doctor explained. "Daily quarantine cycles, spraying disinfectant, they can't even get a full night's sleep. The day your men killed the Zombies and moved them for incineration, no one was willing to lend a hand. They were the ones who used stretchers to help carry the bodies..."

The doctor's expression was also grim. Zhou Rong observed the nurses for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are their temperatures normal?"

"We already checked. They don't have any wounds on them!" the doctor said, displeased.

"I'm sorry," Zhou Rong apologized immediately. "When the helicopters come back, your people will be the first to board."

Only then did the doctor relent.

Si Nan finished the apple, with nothing else to do. The high fever had subsided, and his whole body felt a lazy, slight soreness. Although it wasn't uncomfortable, it made him not want to move. He leaned against the rooftop railing, gazing at the devastated city below. After a while, he pulled out the pendant from under his collar, opened it, and stared, lost in thought, at the smiling man and woman in the old photograph.

"Your parents?" someone asked from behind.

Si Nan glanced up; it was Yan Hao.

"Your parents are both very..." Yan Hao wanted to say 'good-looking', but the moment the word was about to leave his mouth, he felt it wasn't dignified enough and changed it to: "they have outstanding temperaments."

Si Nan laughed and said nonchalantly, "A pity I didn't inherit it."

"That's something cultivated over time." Yan Hao asked with a smile, "Are you mixed-race? I always thought you were a local SWAT officer from T City."

Si Nan didn't make a sound.

Yan Hao silently sized him up from the corner of his eye. Si Nan's disposition indeed had nothing to do with elegance or refinement. On the contrary, it was very similar to the special forces soldiers around him: capable, agile, and decisive.

However, after a few encounters, one would discover some indescribable difference hidden in his every move, one that was very different from him, from Chuncao, and even from Zhou Rong.

Yan Hao thought for a moment and changed the subject, "What did the captain talk to you about last night?"

Si Nan said teasingly, "The Sorrows of Young Werther."

"The tragedy of being eliminated by an Omega in the International Special Forces Jungle Competition?"

'This strange man, Zhou Rong... he must have shared his embarrassing past with the entire team.'

"He definitely only told you the part where the young Omega knocked him out, tied him to a tree, apologized, and then stole his gun and hostages, right?" Yan Hao said knowingly. "As for the flowers and confession later..."

Si Nan asked in surprise, "Flowers? A confession?"

Yan Hao peeked over. Zhou Rong was in the middle of the crowd, chattering on as he explained why he was putting the medical team in the first group to board the helicopter.

"The reason Captain Zhou has remembered it for so many years is because after that boy tied him up, he kissed him to show his apology."

Si Nan: "..."

"That was the only time in Captain Zhou's life that he had close contact with an Omega," Yan Hao said with a small smile. "So if he told you he went to settle scores with that boy after the competition, he was lying... He actually bought flowers to confess, but then he found out the other party had an Alpha, which is why he flew into a rage and came back after throwing the flowers away."

Si Nan slowly shook his head. After a long moment, he sighed, "...So tragic."

Yan Hao said sympathetically, "Tell me about it."

The whistling of the wind carried from the distance. Two helicopters were returning.

"Line up! Line up! Get on, quick, quick, quick!" Roars rose and fell within the crowd. The exhausted pilot held a megaphone and bellowed, "Medical team! Where is the medical team—!"

Those few nurses were swept to the front of the crowd, their faces ashen. They were practically pushed forward by the flow of people, their feet barely touching the ground as they went through the cabin door.

Zhou Rong saw this scene from afar. For some reason, his eyelid kept twitching, and a faint sense of unease crept into his heart. But the situation had already reached a fever pitch. Everyone was roaring and surging forward. Some smaller people were almost pushed towards the tail of the helicopter, nearly getting their heads hit by the high-speed rotor blades, which immediately triggered waves of screams.

"No more room, no more room!" The megaphone's sound was deafening. The pilot yelled, "Go to the next one!!"

The pilot gave Zhou Rong a thumbs-up. With a bang, the cabin door closed, and the helicopter slowly ascended.

Zhou Rong couldn't help but look up to see it off. Suddenly, a wave of baseless terror seized his heart.

The sound of the wind suddenly stilled. The world froze in that instant.

Zhou Rong subconsciously turned his head. His gaze crossed the crowd and met Si Nan's rapidly contracting pupils.

The next moment, as if a death knell had finally sounded in the void, Zhou Rong suddenly broke into a frantic run. "Fall back—!"

"Everyone, fall back—!!"

The helicopter spun and fell, its dark shadow growing larger and larger. Amidst horrifying screams, it crashed into the second helicopter, causing a world-shaking explosion!

BOOM—

The blast wave instantly threw countless people off the rooftop and down onto the street below. Yan Hao, caught off guard, was thrown over the railing. At the last possible second, his wrist was caught in a death grip by Si Nan!

"Climb up!" Si Nan yelled.

Yan Hao caught his breath, gritted his teeth, and grabbed onto the windowsill of the top floor. Just as he was about to use it as leverage to climb up, his gaze suddenly shot past Si Nan and saw something. His face changed dramatically in an instant. "No! Forget about me, run!"

Si Nan's chest was pressed against the iron railing, the pressure from Yan Hao's weight making it hard for him to breathe. With all his might, he managed to turn his head to look.

The twisted, deformed door of the helicopter had been blown open. Countless people ran out, engulfed in flames, covered in black smoke, screaming and rolling on the ground. Behind them, more people staggered out, grabbing the nearest survivors and biting viciously into their necks.

—There were infected people on the helicopter.

A new round of the Zombie virus had broken out before their very eyes.