In Building 25, Chen Zhenghao and his gang have gone house to house — five people dead, directly or indirectly. The unit's residents finally stop scattering and band together. They push furniture against doors, jam the corridors, and fetch water through windows. Some apartments with balconies collect snow for drinking.
On Fang Yuqing's side, everyone has moved into Wang Min's apartment on the 18th floor. Wang Min is Zhou Peng's cousin and runs a cosmetics business in Tianhai City — an independent, capable woman with means. Her place is a three-bedroom, two-living-room unit, the same layout as Zhang Yi's. The others are coworkers and close friends; in the apocalypse people only trust familiar faces. Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining were allowed in because Zhou Peng vouched for them. Their "entry fee"? Information about Zhang Yi's apartment.
Now a group occupies Wang Min's living room, bundled like burritos in down jackets and scarves, every inch covered. Tension hangs in the air — Zhang Yi refused their request to move in, and nobody's happy.
Wang Min speaks calmly: "I let you in because of my cousin. You promised to convince Zhang Yi to let us move in. He flat-out refused. Now what do you suggest?"
Sun Zhichao, glasses glinting, adjusts his frames and drops an idea like it's nothing: "He's selfish. He only cares about himself. Since he's alone, why don't we use… special methods?"
The room goes quiet. Everyone knows what "special methods" means: break into Zhang Yi's place and force him out.
Lu Tao pipes up with a grin: "I used to work at a lock company. I can pick common locks no problem."
Faces light up. Fang Yuqing, who's been humiliated and rebuffed by Zhang Yi, snarls: "Good. Once we're inside, I want to rub his face in the toilet. Make him eat his own pride."
Zhou Peng volunteers obsequiously: "I'll handle the… flushing."
Their crude humor repulses Fang Yuqing, but she needs the plan to work. They gather umbrellas, tools for breaking doors, and wrap themselves up tight. The umbrellas are a deliberate countermeasure — whether Zhang Yi sprays water or throws stink bombs, the umbrellas will buy them time.
What they don't know: Zhang Yi installed an alarm system that alerts him to movement on the floor. Through his surveillance feed he sees the wrapped-up group approach. Mistaking them at first for Chen Zhenghao's crew, he smirks.
"Perfect. I didn't finish you last time — good, I'll teach you a lesson," he mutters.
But Zhang Yi isn't out to kill anyone yet; he wants to keep things interesting. If Chen Zhenghao dies now, who'll make life hell for the rest of the neighbors? He wants the entertainment.
The team reaches Zhang Yi's door, umbrellas open. They don't realize the alarm already pinged him. Their plan looks airtight — on paper. In practice, Zhang Yi has been preparing for exactly this kind of night.