Wang Zhi, who was observing the scene outside in the main hall, suddenly heard movement near the staircase.
Turning around, he saw Jie Xi descending slowly from the second floor, already wearing her platinum mask, with Wei Changzheng accompanying her.
Everyone in the hall turned and paused, stopping their conversations upon seeing Jie Xi.
"City Lord!"
The guards on the first floor shouted in unison upon seeing Jie Xi.
"Mm, thank you all for your hard work. Once the rainwater recedes, gather everyone and go disinfect all the houses," Jie Xi said to Wei Changzheng beside her.
"Yes!"
After speaking, Jie Xi walked around in front of the survivors, finally stopping before one person. "Are you the captain of the Nine Fox team?"
"Yes..."
"I heard you have objections to the rules here?"
"N-no... no objections! That was all just a joke, haha...' the captain said, sounding quite uncomfortable.
"We gave you shelter, and in return, we earned a complaint. Perhaps... how about you leave here right now?"
"I... I apologize, City Lord! I absolutely will not complain, please don't drive me away..." Hearing Jie Xi intended to expel him, he immediately panicked.
"The water level has almost receded; you all may return now." Jie Xi glanced outside, choosing not to press the issue with the captain any further.
Upon hearing they could go back, everyone rushed toward the City Lord's Palace. They didn't want to linger in the City Lord's presence; if they were singled out like that captain just now, they'd be in serious trouble.
"A Zheng, take some people to the medical room for disinfectant first. An Qing, you take twenty people to the residential area to maintain order. Communications are restored now; contact headquarters immediately if anything comes up." after giving her orders, Jie Xi returned to the second floor.
--
Wang Zhi and his men tiptoed back to their residence. A pungent stench permeated the rooms; rainwater had soaked the interior by about thirty centimeters.
After queuing for showers, everyone hurried back to their second-floor rooms. They hadn't slept for a full day and night, so they took advantage of the sky not being fully light to catch up on some rest.
Wang Zhi lay down comfortably on the carpet. The room was filled with the fragrances of various shampoos, body washes, and perfumes.
The various scents overpowered the pungent stench in the air. Even though the temperature had dropped and the four of them didn't have to cram into an air-conditioned room, he still didn't want to leave this fragrant room.
Wang Zhi slept for an unknown amount of time before opening his eyes. It wasn't the bright sunshine he had imagined; outside the window, a thick fog had rolled in at some point, reducing visibility to only about 20 meters, just enough to make out the neighboring Villa No. 2.
"Hmph~ Fog is better than rain," Wang Zhi sighed in relief, muttering to himself.
At this time, Ying and the other two were still sound asleep. Jia Liuli was wearing her pajama top, which had somehow come undone. Wang Zhi looked at the glimpse of her chest revealed by the open top, yet he felt absolutely no stirring in his heart?
Feeling no stirring might not be a good thing. He tried shifting his gaze to Su Muying and found her staring blankly at him with wide-open eyes. Wang Zhi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He suddenly understood why he felt no stirring-it wasn't a lack of interest, but a lack of courage to be interested.
"Heh heh, good morning, Sister Ying!" Wang Zhi managed to ask with forced composure.
"What are you sneaking around doing?" Su Muying asked coldly.
'Nothing, I just woke up," Wang Zhi said, rubbing his eyes.
Wang Zhi checked the time; it was already nine-thirty.
Their conversation woke the other two. When Liuli got up and saw the thick fog outside the window, she immediately curled up fearfully in the corner of the bed.
Seeing Liuli so frightened, Wang Zhi paused. "What's wrong, Liuli?"
"The fog..." Liuli pointed out the window and said.
"Fog? What about the fog?" Wang Zhi was puzzled.
However, Wang Zhi suddenly remembered that Liuli and the others had mentioned that the initial global Cataclysm was accompanied by several days of dense fog. It was normal for Liuli to be scared seeing the fog now.
"It's alright, Liuli. That's just ordinary fog. Even if it were poisonous, haven't we already had the Crystal Core Gene injections?" Wang Zhi comforted her.
Hearing Wang Zhi's words, Liuli felt much better than before. She slowly got off the bed and walked to the window to look at the fog outside.
After watching for a short while, Wang Zhi saw the Guard Team downstairs arriving below the residence with various disinfection equipment.
"The Guard Team is here to disinfect. You all hurry up and get ready," Wang Zhi said, turning to walk downstairs.
Wang Zhi went downstairs and opened the door for the Guard Team.
"Hello. We need to disinfect this residence now, so please evacuate all personnel."
"Wait five minutes. I'll wake the others up," Wang Zhi said, glancing at the sprayers in their hands.
Everyone put on their clothes and came out onto the street. The water on the ground had completely receded.
"Why is there thick fog again? Is there an end to this?" Fatty complained while looking around.
"It will probably take a while for them to finish, let's go grab some food first," Wang Zhi said, heading toward the restaurant.
Arriving at the restaurant, the food prices were still double what they were before. After having a quick breakfast, when everyone returned to the residence, the Guard Team had already finished disinfecting.
The pungent stench inside the house was gone now, but it had been replaced by the sharp smell of disinfectant.
"Do you think there might be something wrong with the fog outside?" Old He asked slowly after thinking for a long time.
"We've already inhaled what we needed to inhale. Whatever happens, happens. I'm tired," Wang Zhi slumped onto the sofa and said weakly.
"It's over, Captain Wang has started giving up on himself," Fatty observed Wang Zhi's state.
"This isn't giving up on yourself. Are you suggesting you can stop breathing?" Wang Zhi replied irritably.
"Ah! Being alive is so tiring!"
"Brother Pang, you just accused Captain Wang of giving up, how come you're doing the same thing now?" Qin Sheng laughed.
"Maybe it's because there's no motivation! Captain Wang, why don't you find us all a girlfriend?" Fatty suddenly looked up and said.
"Heh, you'll have to ask Sister Ying about that. I don't have the final say," Wang Zhi said, spreading his hands.
"Fine, if I rely on her, my Li family line is going to end with me," Fatty muttered speechlessly.
"I think You Luo is quite nice, you could consider her," Wang Zhi glanced at You Luo beside him.
"Go away, Wang Zhi, can you have a little kindness in your heart?" You Luo looked at Wang Zhi questioningly.
"What's wrong with you? She doesn't look unattractive now... Saying that will hurt Fatty's feelings?"
"ahem, actually, Captain Wang, I prefer the type like Jia Liuli." Fatty said, looking rather shy.
"Jia Liuli's type? Jia Liuli, quickly ask him what kind of toad he is," Wang Zhi said to Jia Liuli.
"What kind of toad are you?" Jia Liuli asked Fatty, mimicking Wang Zhi's words.
"..." Fatty, after being questioned by Jia Liuli, remained silent, got up, and started walking upstairs.
"Hey, Fatty, where are you going?"
"I'm going to the Rooftop...."
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