Chapter 10: A Drop of Milk
"In the next two days, our city will experience severe smog. Citizens are advised to take precautions and avoid going out unless necessary."
"In recent days, there has been a resurgence of the flu. Citizens are urged to take preventive measures in line with national health safety guidelines. Try to stay indoors and avoid crowded places. Those with the means are encouraged to stock up on daily necessities..."
Jianyi lay in the big bed, her eyes half-closed in sleepiness. She rubbed her disheveled short hair and woke up, feeling a bit irritated by the sound of the TV news.
She mumbled a complaint, and the volume of the TV suddenly lowered. Chen Junsheng's voice came from nearby, "Sis, are you awake?"
"Yeah," Jianyi lazily responded, patting her face to wake herself up. She put on a sports jacket and got out of bed to go to the living room.
Chen Junsheng was sitting on the sofa, watching the TV news. The time displayed in the upper right corner of the TV was exactly 7:30 in the morning.
"Sis, I ordered breakfast. Would you like to eat something first?" Chen Junsheng looked at her with the remnants of her sleepy cuteness still on her face. After a pause, he reluctantly averted his gaze and got up to heat some cold bread and milk for her.
Ever since she had pushed Chen Junsheng into a zombie horde, Jianyi had never experienced such considerate care. She felt a moment of nostalgia when she accepted the warm milk offered by the teenager.
In fact, after pushing Chen Junsheng away in her previous life, she had felt uncomfortable for a while and had even regretted it a little...
Jianyi drank the milk and ate the bread quickly, a habit she had developed over the years in the post-apocalyptic world. She had become used to eating quickly, and she couldn't change it now.
The TV continued to play the news, and at the bottom of the news screen, a blue banner constantly reminded citizens to reduce their outdoor activities and stock up on daily necessities.
At first, when Jianyi heard the same message in her dream, she thought she had misheard. But now, seeing the scrolling message on the blue banner, she tried hard to search her distant memories. Did the local TV news have such a message before the apocalypse arrived?
Lost in thought, Jianyi's eyes, as big as they were, remained fixed on the TV screen for a full minute.
Chen Junsheng, who saw her deep in thought, thought she was staring at the TV screen because she had finished breakfast and didn't know what to do next. He hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Sis, what would you like to do today?"
Without taking her eyes off the TV, Jianyi replied, "I think it's better if we don't go out today."
Chen Junsheng nodded in agreement, "Okay, staying indoors is safer."
After a moment of silence, Jianyi suddenly asked, "Do you have any special abilities, Chen Junsheng?"
Chen Junsheng, who had been calmly watching TV, was taken aback by the question. He turned to look at Jianyi, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of fear.
"Special abilities? What do you mean, sis?" he asked cautiously.
Jianyi finally tore her gaze away from the TV and looked directly at Chen Junsheng. Her eyes were sharp and piercing as if she could see through him. She asked again, "Chen Junsheng, do you have any superpowers?"
Chen Junsheng's heart raced, and he felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn't understand how Jianyi, who had no knowledge of his abilities, could ask such a question. Did she suspect something?
He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Sis, I don't know what you mean by superpowers. I'm just an ordinary person."
Jianyi continued to fix her gaze on him, her eyes unyielding. She seemed to be trying to see through his soul.
After a long silence, she finally said, "Chen Junsheng, I had a dream..."
Intrigued, Chen Junsheng listened intently as Jianyi described her dream of an apocalyptic world filled with monsters that resembled humans. She talked about the greed and darkness of human nature being exposed, and how everyone was fighting for survival in a world plunged into darkness.
As Jianyi described the various aspects of her dream, she was actually laying the groundwork for her future actions. She wanted Chen Junsheng to believe that the end of the world was imminent, and that her dream was a warning.
Chen Junsheng, initially surprised by her description, gradually began to believe her words. He felt a sense of unease and uncertainty about the future.
"I believe you, sis," he said earnestly. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."
Jianyi was pleased with his response. She had successfully convinced him that her dream was a premonition of the apocalypse.
However, what she didn't know was that Chen Junsheng, hidden beneath his long hair, was concealing a complex mix of emotions. His eyes didn't reveal any exhaustion or fear, but instead, they held a darkness that Jianyi couldn't detect.
As the new day began to dawn, Jianyi and Chen Junsheng embarked on a journey filled with uncertainties, both aware that they were heading into a world that might soon resemble the apocalyptic dream Jianyi had described.
The sound of knocking on the door echoed through the room. Jianyi thought it might be the hotel cleaning staff and was about to open the door when Chen Junsheng rushed over and signaled her to be quiet.
The TV had already been turned off, and the room fell silent.
Chen Junsheng pulled Jianyi behind him and cautiously approached the door. He peered through the peephole, but what he saw was unexpected.
A pair of eyes, magnified by the peephole, stared back at him. Chen Junsheng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stepped back, closing the peephole cover.
"Dong... Dong... Dong!" The knocking on the door continued, rhythmic and persistent, without any inquiry.
This didn't seem like the hotel cleaning staff. Jianyi's face darkened, and she held her breath as she pressed her ear against the door to listen.
There were two people outside, a man and a woman. The woman spoke softly, "It seems like no one's here. Should I use the card to open the door?"
Jianyi recognized the voice of the woman; it was the cleaning lady who came at the same time every morning.
The man, whose voice was unfamiliar to Jianyi, replied, "Let's not bother. They might be out. I'll come back when they return. You can go on with your work."
Soon, the sound of footsteps moving away from the door and the jingling of keys faded into the distance.
Jianyi let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like a simple misunderstanding. The cleaning lady had assumed no one was in the room and had considered using her card to enter.
Chen Junsheng, who had been on high alert, also relaxed. He turned to Jianyi and whispered, "It's safe now. They're gone."
Jianyi nodded and realized that this world was not like the post-apocalyptic one she was used to. She briefly considered how to deal with the cleaning lady when she returned.
But as she pondered her options, the TV in the room suddenly turned on by itself, and the volume was set to maximum.
The cleaning lady, who had already left the door, immediately exclaimed, "Ah!" and dropped her key card on the floor, making a clattering sound.
Jianyi's eyes widened in surprise. The situation had taken an unexpected turn.
Chen Junsheng also looked puzzled as he watched the TV screen. It seemed like something strange was happening in the room.
To be continued...