Chen Du walked to the entrance of the supermarket and peered through the gap.
Outside stood a woman, simply stunning!
He wasn't one for flowery phrases like "her beauty shamed the moon" or "she was heartbreakingly lovely," but giving her a perfect score said it all.
Chen Du had seen plenty of women, but this one caught his eye instantly.
Just her looks alone ranked her first among every woman he'd ever met.
"Who are you?" Chen Du didn't open the door right away but called out loudly from inside.
The woman, Xie Li, looked both anxious and desperate. "Sir, I've been stranded outside all day with no supplies. Please, let me in! I'll do anything—serve you however you wish!"
Chen Du frowned. After a brief moment of thought, he pulled a wooden plank from his backpack and opened the supermarket door.
"Thank you, sir..." The woman stepped inside and quickly thanked him.
In this apocalyptic world, she had been relentlessly chased by zombies, narrowly escaping death multiple times.
Now, seeing another human being gave her a fleeting sense of safety.
But just then, Chen Du acted swiftly. Before the woman could react, he delivered a sharp chop to the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.
He immediately shut the supermarket door, tied her up with rope, and carried her upstairs.
In this post-apocalyptic world, caution was paramount. Trusting the wrong person could mean losing your life.
...
The woman woke up groggily, her neck throbbing painfully.
She tried to reach up and rub it but found herself tightly bound with rope.
"You're awake?" Chen Du was munching on a piece of bread as he approached her.
The woman's face filled with fear, and she began struggling against her restraints.
"What do you think you're doing? Don't you know this is illegal?"
Chen Du couldn't help but snicker.
"Illegal? In this godforsaken world where death can strike at any moment, who gives a damn about legality? That's laughable."
He crouched down, placing his hand on her shoulder with a smirk.
"I had no choice. I can't be sure if you're trustworthy, so tying you up was necessary. Now, let's see what kind of conscience you have."
Startled by his sudden touch, the woman's eyes twitched slightly.
Angrily, she spat, "You bastard! If you've got the guts, untie me, and we'll see how 'good' your conscience is!"
Chen Du's expression hardened.
Standing up, he said coldly, "You're my prisoner now. What makes you think you're in a position to make demands? Let's not kid ourselves—you're completely at my mercy. Any move I make, you're powerless to stop."
The woman bit her lip, silent. Deep down, she knew he was right.
Chen Du sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and exhaled slowly.
"Tell me your name and where you're from. Depending on your answer, maybe I'll let you live."
After several minutes of silence, the woman finally spoke.
"My name is Xie Li. I'm a doctor. I was chased by zombies and ended up here by chance."
A doctor?
Chen Du's interest piqued.
In this apocalyptic world, having a doctor around was invaluable.
Moreover, if both parties agreed, they could sign a contract to ensure loyalty without worry.
Chen Du smiled faintly.
"Stay with me, and I'll make sure you never go hungry. From now on, you belong to me. And for my peace of mind, we'll sign a master-servant contract."
Xie Li clearly understood the bargaining chip her profession gave her, but she shook her head firmly in refusal.
Chen Du shrugged, not in a rush.
There was no conflict or hatred between them, so he wasn't about to harm her unnecessarily.
Still, he couldn't release her just yet. Better safe than sorry.
He then pulled a sausage from his backpack and began eating it in front of Xie Li.
Watching her throat subtly move as she swallowed, Chen Du said between bites, "By the way, I forgot to mention earlier—your conscience seems pretty decent."
Xie Li's face flushed red with embarrassment and anger, her teeth clenched as she silently cursed the young man before her.
When had she ever been treated so shamefully by a man?
In her heart, she cursed him: May your old age be wretched, your body covered in red hair.
Chen Du was determined to recruit Xie Li, but he didn't want to resort to outright force.
Instead, he planned to use a mix of pressure and persuasion, taking his time to win her over.
After finishing the sausage, Chen Du wiped his mouth with a tissue and let out a satisfied burp.
"Hungry?"
Xie Li glared at him, her voice trembling with fury. "You don't need to mock me like this."
Chen Du pulled a bottle of water from his backpack, unscrewed the cap, and held it to her lips.
"Dr. Xie, I truly want you to join me. You won't lack for food, I guarantee it. And with me, you'll be safe."
Thirsty beyond words, Xie Li didn't respond. She gulped the water down desperately, the cool liquid reviving her spirit.
Once she finished drinking, she let out a bitter laugh. "Is this your idea of sincerity, young man?"
Chen Du feigned confusion, smiling. "What? Offering you water isn't the height of sincerity?"
Xie Li's voice trembled. "So giving me lemon water was your way of making me hungrier?"
Chen Du replied earnestly, "Dr. Xie, lemon water is my favorite drink, and I don't have much left. Giving it to you should prove how serious I am. Your words are truly disheartening."
"But," he added with a sly grin, "if you're feeling hungry, all you have to do is nod and agree to my terms. I'll make sure you have a feast right away!"
Xie Li glared at Chen Du, her body trembling with rage. She knew exactly what he was doing—mocking her into submission.
"Give up on that idea! I'd rather starve to death or jump out the window and let the zombies eat me than take a single bite of your food!"
Chen Du chuckled lightly, unfazed. "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
Xie Li let out a furious roar.
"Get out!"