Chapter 16:A Show of Force

Beep beep beep... Before Zhang Yi could respond, his communicator buzzed. He glanced at it and dashed out.

Su Xiaomu sat on a stool, chin propped, deep in thought. He found it strange; he'd thought Zhang Yi wouldn't give up so easily, yet he'd rushed out after just one message.

Su Xiaomu blinked. His surroundings shifted instantly as he entered his space. He wasn't about to mistreat himself. Approaching the chicken coop, "Huh?" He'd intended to grab a chicken but spotted eggs instead.

This was odd; he hadn't seen any eggs before. Two now lay in the hay. He picked them up, planning a good meal.

His mental awareness extended just outside the door. If anyone returned, he'd know immediately.

He picked some vegetables and a few scallions. Scallions and eggs stir-fried, greens simply sautéed. A pity there was no rice... Su Xiaomu swallowed hard at the sight of the fragrant dishes. Since his rebirth, he hadn't had a home-cooked meal. Though only a few days had passed, it felt like half a lifetime to him.

Full and satisfied, Su Xiaomu squinted contentedly, rubbed his rounded belly, and sighed comfortably.

He gazed at the azure sky, then at the meandering stream. He didn't know where it ended; he could only perceive a short stretch. The stream seemed to merge with the horizon.

After digesting for a while, Su Xiaomu returned to the sparse room.

Strange, still no sign of him? Looking at his watch—8 PM. Time had flown.

Su Xiaomu decided to investigate. Not out of concern, but to adapt to G-Base life, he needed to understand the situation.

"Young Master Su!" He'd barely taken two steps when a man blocked his path. The man exuded a tough aura, his sharp eyes fixed intently on the youth.

Su Xiaomu shoved his hands into his pockets, asking softly, "I'm hungry. Can't I even go out to find food?" His voice held no force, yet the man dared not underestimate him.

The man looked awkward. "Captain Lan ordered that you cannot leave."

"On what grounds?!" Su Xiaomu erupted in fury. If he hadn't already eaten in his space, wouldn't they be starving him to death?! They wanted to use him, offered no food, and now restricted his movement?!

"Speak! On what grounds?!" Su Xiaomu widened his eyes, stepping right up to the man, staring him down.

Despite their height difference, Su Xiaomu showed no weakness, causing the burly man to retreat a few steps. In his past life, Su Xiaomu was a "bastard child," living at society's bottom. He'd seen it all. Only his gentle, kind mother had kept him from a darker path, but that didn't mean he'd endure bullying.

His first encounter with a beauty in that life, hoping to lose his virginity, turned out she was an assassin. He died bewildered. The most humiliating part? He was stark naked, little Xiaomu standing at attention. His mother would have died of shame seeing that. He'd hoped rebirth meant luxury; instead, he faced the apocalypse, zombie terror, and a bleak future, forcing him to swallow his anger.

Now, in the G-Base, used as a tool, treated like a hostage, denied food, and bullied?! All Su Xiaomu's grievances, all his pent-up rage, exploded at this moment.

The man puffed out his chest, using his large frame to block Su Xiaomu. "Young Master Su," he warned in a low voice, "If you persist, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Su Xiaomu sneered coldly, "I'd like to see how 'impolite' you can be!" The moment he spoke, he ducked low and flashed to the man's left.

Thud...! The man, caught completely off guard, crashed heavily to the floor. The residents here were capable people focused on survival. They wouldn't interfere; post-apocalypse, hearts were colder and crueler than ever before.

Su Xiaomu looked down at the fallen man, one foot planted firmly on his chest, his gaze arrogant and fierce. "Tell your boss! This Young Master is not their lapdog! I won't be kneaded at will!"

Having said that, Su Xiaomu lifted his foot, raised his head, and walked away with haughty pride...