The sound of water "swooshed" in the bathroom, and when the woman finished washing up, a strand of morning glow slowly rose from the horizon.
Another night had passed...
The woman dragged her lifeless fingers as she headed towards the sofa in the living room and plopped onto it. Her vacant expression made it clear that she hadn't yet recovered from last night's terror.
Wang Qiang glanced at the woman on the sofa discreetly.
The woman ignored the peculiar gaze from Wang Qiang and simply asked, "Do you have a cigarette?"
Exchanging glances, Wang and Tang had heard about the woman smoking, but it was their first time witnessing it firsthand.
"Yes." Wang Qiang responded immediately and handed over the half-pack of cigarettes left in his pocket.
Taking the cigarette, the woman drew one, expertly lit it, then leaned back on the sofa and exhaled with unusual enjoyment.
Tang Xiaoquan quietly observed the woman smoking, his forehead gradually knitting into a slight frown.
The woman didn't seem very old, but the maturity exuded by her every move amounted to much more than her peers—at least in Tang Xiaoquan's perspective, her life experiences would have been more enriching than his or Wang Qiang's.
Golden hair, multicolored nails, a fiery figure, and a smoking style rivaling that of a man's, the more Tang Xiaoquan observed, the more intrigued he became.
Who exactly is this woman? What has she been through?
Questions emerged one by one in his mind.
Ninth rule of survival: During an apocalyptic crisis, getting to know the past and experiences of those around you may become crucial for your survival.
"Could you tell us what happened to you last night?" Tang Xiaoquan broke the silence in the room.
The woman involuntarily shivered, the cigarette between her fingers almost falling to the ground out of nervousness.
Seeing this, Tang Xiaoquan didn't press her further; instead, he also drew a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and sat quietly.
He knew the woman needed time, so he waited, waited for her to adjust, waited for her to reveal the details.
The living room fell into silence once again...
Time ticked away, and soon the small home was shrouded in swirling smoke.
The woman remained silent, but her pace of smoking quickened, clearly indicating an internal struggle.
After another five minutes of waiting, the woman finally raised her head slowly, took a deep drag, then her gaze turned distant...
"That day, I was having a wild time at the bar with a client, we drank a lot, and it was nearly midnight when I got home. After finishing our business, we slept, and I didn't wake up until yesterday evening."
The woman took a drag of the cigarette, then continued.
"When I woke up, I was bored and planned to go online to watch some dramas to pass the time, but unexpectedly, the internet was down, and there was no signal when I called customer service."
Wang Qiang glanced at Tang Xiaoquan, who hung his head, deep in thought.
The woman paid no mind to their reaction as she continued, "Around midnight, I suddenly felt someone scratching my foot, and when I opened my eyes..."
The woman involuntarily shivered, fear creeping across her delicate face.
She took two deep drags of the cigarette, calming down just a little as the nicotine entered her lungs.
"He changed, didn't he?" Tang Xiaoquan slowly raised his head, his dark eyes fixed on her.
"Yes!" She nodded instinctively, wrapping her arms tightly around her chest, "I don't know why he turned out that way? He, he seemed like he was going to eat me? You have no idea, it was absolutely terrifying at the time!"
As the woman was about to become hysterical, Wang Qiang timely poured a glass of warm water and placed it in front of her, "Don't be afraid, have some water, it's all over now. You're safe here!"
Unlike Wang Qiang's considerate care, Tang Xiaoquan's eyes flickered as he curiously asked, "You didn't know what was happening the entire time? Didn't you watch TV or listen to the radio? Also, you didn't think anything of those loud explosions and commotion outside?"
Facing Tang Xiaoquan's doubts, the woman numbly shook her head, "No, I usually work at the bar at night and sleep at home during the day, so my rental place doesn't have a TV or radio. The internet is my only form of entertainment, but yesterday it was out too. As for that explosion, I just thought it was an ordinary accident, never imagined..."
With a slight nod, Tang Xiaoquan gestured towards the glass of warm water on the table, saying lightly, "Alright, that's enough for now, you must be tired. Have some water, and let Wang Qiang take you to his room to rest."
"Oh, by the way, let me introduce ourselves. I'm Tang Xiaoquan, and this is Wang Qiang. May I know your name..."
"Huang Yaru." The woman promptly gave her name, then gently sipped some warm water and followed Wang Qiang to the inner bedroom.
With the woman's departure, the small living room fell into silence again, and Tang Xiaoquan sank into thought until Wang Qiang's return broke the quietness.
"All set?"
"Yes, all set. She's already asleep; she really had a tough time last night."
Tenth rule of survival: In the post-apocalyptic world, women are indispensable in a team, yet they are also incredibly dangerous.
Noticing Wang Qiang's excited expression, Tang Xiaoquan sighed softly.
Undoubtedly, he was now a full believer in this rule.
Without further thoughts, he signaled for Wang Qiang to come over.
"Hey, brother, what's the urgency?"
"Sit down first." Indicating Wang Qiang to take a seat, Tang Xiaoquan took a moment to gather his thoughts, "In a few days, we might need to leave here to gather supplies, you understand that, right?"
"Of course, didn't you tell me that earlier?" Wang Qiang showed a hint of bewilderment, not understanding what Tang Xiaoquan was getting at.
"Yes, what I'm trying to emphasize is that the outing will be dangerous, and we might not have the chance to return, so..."
Wang Qiang's eyes widened, realizing the importance, and he held his breath, listening intently for what Tang Xiaoquan would say next.