This night was destined to be long.
Zhou Ke'er finally got the warmth she had been longing for. For the first time since the apocalypse began, she slept deeply and without fear.
Zhang Yi locked her door from the outside, keeping the only key for himself. Business is business—rules come first. Letting her live here was already generous. Kindness didn't mean trust, and he had no intention of lowering his guard anytime soon.
He returned to his bedroom, took a shower, and went to sleep.
When he woke up half a day later, he felt unusually refreshed. Having another person in the house lifted his mood. Humans were social creatures—living alone for too long could break even the strongest mind. Still, that companionship depended on one thing: Zhou Ke'er had to remain obedient and harmless.
He checked the surveillance feed. She was still asleep, curled up under thick blankets. After days without proper rest, her body was clearly catching up.
Zhang Yi got dressed, tidied himself up, and pulled food from his spatial storage, placing it on the coffee table. Then he unlocked her door and knocked—polite enough for someone who intended to coexist long-term.
A soft, hoarse voice came from inside."I'll be right there."
Zhang Yi stood by the window, eating a beef-and-cheese burger. Outside, on the neighboring balcony, the massive ice block that encased ten frozen corpses had grown even larger, buried under fresh snow.
Zhou Ke'er soon stepped out. Her face was slightly flushed.
As a proud, accomplished surgeon, she had lived cleanly and independently before the apocalypse. Now, for survival, she had given herself to a man she barely knew. The reality weighed on her—but when she looked at Zhang Yi's tall, composed figure, she felt an unexpected sense of safety.
Zhang Yi noticed her glance but felt no affection—only mild satisfaction. He liked her looks, of course. Any man would. But trust was another matter. That would take time.
Her eyes locked onto the food on the table.
Steaming burgers, fried chicken, fries—fast food from before the disaster, preserved perfectly in his spatial storage.
She ate without restraint.
Ten minutes later, she finished everything, letting out a small, embarrassed burp.
"I'm not completely full," she said honestly, "but overeating could cause enteritis."
Zhang Yi nodded. "Good. You're done? Then come work."
He handed her a full set of professional cold-resistant gear. Watching him pull it out of thin air only deepened her awe—and her resolve to stay by his side.
Then he pointed toward the window.
"Smash that."
Zhou Ke'er followed his gaze and froze.
The massive ice block next door.
The bodies inside.
Her fingers trembled. "They're already dead. Why…?"
Zhang Yi shrugged calmly. "I hate them. Everyone in this building wanted me dead for my house and supplies. They need to be reminded of the price." His eyes darkened slightly. "Besides, Chen Zhenghao tried to kill me. Freezing was mercy."
She swallowed. "You want… me to do it?"
He handed her a baseball bat, standing in a relaxed but ready posture.
She took it.
Climbed over the railing.
Zhang Yi raised his phone—and started recording.