Apocalypse: I'm the Landlady of the Refuge

Finally, the infuriated Wang Youde punished himself by choosing to remain silent, becoming a mute teapot.

When Xu Siming, who had just finished dissecting the first zombie, emerged, he saw Zhou Kai and Ji Wanwan, struggling to hold back their laughter, and the steaming Wang Youde.

In the following days, everyone was busy investigating.

As expected, they still came up empty-handed.

Some unusual voices had started to emerge within the base.

Such as rumors that the lord was too young and ultimately lacking in experience, that the lord favored looks over ability, that Xia Li seemed abnormal and was rumored to be a Half-infected, and so on...

Accompanying these rumors, it was visibly noticeable that Lord Ji Wanwan had become irritable, often seen publicly reprimanding her subordinates.

Due to the lord’s pressure, these working subordinates inevitably acted in extremes, causing widespread dissatisfaction within the base.

Under the severe cold weather, people were already restless. Coupled with the pressure from core personnel, the atmosphere inside the base was particularly tense, and the hostility among the people was extraordinarily heavy. Fights often broke out at the smallest provocation.

Just as one problem ebbed, another arose. In the already grievance-filled base, new zombies appeared.

This time, it was in the villa area.

House number 09 in the villa housed a family of seven, all of whom had mutated without exception.

Their discovery was made by the survivors in the neighboring House 08.

They were shoveling snow in the yard in the morning when they heard violent banging noises from next door at House 09. Turning around and looking through the villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows, they immediately spotted the menacing zombies inside.

Fortunately, the villa’s glass was soundproof and thermally insulated double-layered tempered glass, which was not so easily shattered.

Although there were fewer people in the villa area, the news of the new zombies still spread rapidly, instantly causing huge turmoil in the already precarious base.

After so long, whether it was the previous personnel disappearances or the current sudden mutations, the base had never provided an explanation. How could anyone feel secure living in such a base?

Many survivors began to strike to express their dissatisfaction with the base.

Upon arriving at the scene, Lord Ji Wanwan, vented her severe anger toward Wu Xun and Xia Li, accusing them of incompetence in their duties, which had allowed zombies to infiltrate the base again.

To appease the people, she also ordered the gathering of the base personnel at the Central Square, preparing to give a brainwashing speech.

However, when the time came, less than half of the people showed up.

Their reasons were unanimous: the weather was too cold, the snow was too deep, and their bodies could not handle it, so they did not come.

Ji Wanwan was furiously upset. She stormed off, leaving a packed Central Square and other core members exchanging looks in bewilderment.

That day, the base plunged into unprecedented turmoil, and the strike action further expanded, leaving the entire base in a semi-paralyzed state.

Late at night, the lights were brightly lit on the top floor of the central building.

Ji Wanwan leaned half-backed in her chair, eyes closed to rest. Suddenly, she heard a gentle sound at the office door and immediately opened her eyes to look in that direction.

Seeing the familiar figures of her brother, father, and mother, Ji Wanwan’s sharp gaze softened.

Mrs. Ji, ever so emotional, couldn’t hide the ceaseless heartache in her eyes: "Wanwan, it’s so late and you haven’t returned to the manor; your father and I were worried, so we came to check on you."

Ji Wanwan rubbed her temples, hiding the fatigue in her eyes, and laughed carelessly: "Dad, Mom, I’m fine. I’m just thinking about how to resolve the issues at the base. You know, as lord, naturally, I have to think more, really, don’t worry," she said.

Mrs. Ji sighed.

She had seen a lot happen in the base recently, how could she not know the difficulties involved?

Thinking about all these matters her daughter had to shoulder alone, Mrs. Ji felt a deep ache in her heart.

She rubbed her hands together and tentatively asked, "Wanwan, is there anything I can help with? Just say the word, and I’ll do everything I can!"

Ji Wanwan chuckled, "Mom, the best help you and dad could give is to take good care of yourselves!"

She glanced sideways at Ji Xing, frowning reproachfully, "And you, bringing mom and dad here in such cold weather, and so late at night. What are you thinking?"

Ji Xing, unable to voice his struggles, chose to remain silent.

Mrs. Ji quickly waved her hands, "It was us who insisted, don’t blame him. Seeing you well reassures your father and me."

She nudged Ji Xing towards Ji Wanwan, "Since you’re alright, Wanwan, your dad and I will head back. We haven’t walked together in a long while. We will take our leave now, and Xingxing will stay here to help you."

Ji Wanwan frowned in disapproval, "It’s blustery and snowy outside..."

Before she could finish, Father Ji, who had been silent, looked at her, "Wanwan, your mom and I are Awakeners, a bit of snow won’t hinder us. Xingxing will stay to help you; we’re heading back right now."

Father Ji’s decision allowed no room for objections, Ji Wanwan sighed helplessly, "Then be careful, and once you arrive at the manor, let me know with the walkie-talkie."

After her parents had left.

Only then did Ji Xing shed his obedient young man façade, adopting a playful irreverence as he sat down on Ji Wanwan’s desk, "You haven’t told mom and dad about our plan?"

Ji Wanwan noncommittally twitched the corner of her mouth, "The fewer people know about this, the better."

Ji Xing raised an eyebrow, lightly jumped off the desk, and lazily walked over to the sofa to lie down and rest, "Okay, just make sure it doesn’t backfire."

Not long after Ji Xing lay down, Ji Wanwan’s office door rang again.

The faces of Qi Hao, Zhou Kai, Xu Siming, Ming Jing, and Xia Li densely packed the doorway, effectively blocking it.

Ji Wanwan seemed unsurprised: "Why stand around? Since you’re here, come in and sit for a while."

Ji Xing on the sofa, scratching his head, looked slightly confused as he watched them.

They entered the room, finding their own places to sit, but no one started talking first. Instead, they looked at each other, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Qi Hao couldn’t hold back any longer, "Wanwan, wasn’t it..."

Before he could finish, the door rang again.

This time, it was Wen Yuheng, Wu Xun, and Wang Youde who entered.

The three of them paused, taken aback by the already crowded room.

The first to arrive, Ji Xing, looked even more bewildered, his bright, puppy-dog eyes filled with unadulterated confusion.

Everyone wore strange expressions, except for Ji Wanwan, who was nestled into her chair.

With a calm and knowing look, she slowly scanned the faces of everyone present: "Tell me, why did you come to see me so late? What is it all for?"

All?

Interesting...

Ji Xing’s eyes flashed, and he straightened up a bit in his seat.

As soon as she asked, Qi Hao, whose speech had been cut off earlier, immediately spoke, "Wanwan, wasn’t it agreed that we would report a personnel disappearance? How did it turn into a mutation? And the timing was moved up by several days; now the mood among the survivors is somewhat uncontrollable!"