Chapter 155: Maybe It's Yours
Chapter 155: Maybe It's Yours
After a while, Zhan Lian and Lao Mao reach the gate. Lao Mao’s ability is peculiar—he seems to be able to turn into shadow, circling around Zhan Lian while shouting: "Where's the key to your house? Open the door."
"My ex-wife’s."
Zhan Lian waves his hand dismissively, then extends his steel-like fist and grabs Lao Mao, who is buzzing around him like a mosquito. Lao Mao freezes, clicking his tongue in a sound that seems to carry some kind of joke.
In sync, Lao Mao crouches down, clenches his hands, and Zhan Lian steps on his hands before rushing to the gate. He jumps over and enters the compound.
The weather is a bit hot. Zhan Lian wears a camouflage vest, a shirt tied around his waist, and military boots. The pant legs of his army green jungle combat pants are stuffed into his boots, the black, heavy-duty military boots standing in an open space littered with scattered corpses.
Zhan Lian raises his hand, adjusting the colorful scarf on his head. A shadow flashes behind him, and Lao Mao appears, pushing against Zhan Lian’s muscular back.
"What are you looking at? Where do you live?" Lao Mao asks.
"Here!" Zhan Lian points to Building No. 1 in the distance. He hesitates for a moment, then grits his teeth and leads Lao Mao toward the building.
As they pass by a baby carriage in the corridor, Zhan Lian glances at it, shaking his head with a smile. He turns to Lao Mao.
"Whose unlucky child is that? I’m afraid it’s already been eaten."
"Maybe it’s yours," Lao Mao teases with a laugh, kicking Zhan Lian’s rear.
Zhan Lian straightens up, quickly runs forward, and presses the elevator button. Lao Mao, still behind him, remarks: "Your community is good. Even in this situation, the elevator still works."
"Solar backup power system. No power outages!" Zhan Lian replies proudly as he turns to face the elevator doors opening.
The two enter, and Zhan Lian, not noticing anything amiss, gets out at his floor.
Standing at the door of his apartment, Zhan Lian glances at the garbage by the door and mutters to himself in confusion, "The naughty kid across the street is still wearing diapers."
The garbage is thrown right at his door!
Zhan Lian can’t help but feel a sense of relief. Seeing those small signs of life at his doorstep gives him hope that perhaps his delicate ex-wife is still alive.
He opens the password lock and stands at the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the living room. A sense of reassurance washes over him. The place is slightly messier than the last time he was here, but not overly so.
Without dwelling on the details, Zhan Lian can feel from his years of military experience that people have been living here. The furniture and appliances are in good condition, and there are no signs of a struggle, meaning his ex-wife hasn’t been mistreated.
"Don’t block the road."
Lao Mao, who has been trailing behind, rushes into the house, stepping inside with his shoes on. Zhan Lian picks something up from the shoe cabinet and throws it at Lao Mao’s head.
"Get back here! My wife doesn’t allow shoes inside."
"You’re so particular!" Lao Mao grumbles but catches the object thrown at him.
It’s a milk bottle. He sets it aside and continues walking around the house, his shoes scuffing the floor as he inspects the place.
"I say, Ah Lian, your house is nice, with a lake view. Did you really give it to your ex-wife like this? How much did it cost you?"