CH 16

Chapter 16: Chen Xiang

Chi Xin thought about it for a while. Every member of the team should still be recovering and Yu Xiang should have nothing to do. But if he stayed in his room, how would he see the distress signal?

Chi Xin put her paper away and went out to find Yu Xiang. As soon as she left her room, she noticed Xiao Li who was living next to her, leaning against the wall in a clean uniform. When he heard the sound of the door, he looked up and a huge grin appeared on his face when he saw her.

“… Chi Xin” He wasn’t sure how to call her, “Are you going to the canteen?”

“Hello.” She stretched out her hand and waved, “I am going to find Yu Xiang.”

Xiao Li’s smile stiffened and the corner of his mouth fell down.

“I need to find him too. Let’s go together.” He looked at her nervously, “Can we?”

“I can’t keep you away.”

Xiao Li’s smile was tense and it seemed he could hear the sound of his heart breaking. But seeing as she was already walking away, he felt helpless. He clenched his fists, moved his legs, and rushed to Chi Xin’s side.

They reached the level where the protagonist group lived and Chi Xin stood in front of one door for a while, before turning to look at Xiao Li with embarrassment: “Do you know where Yu Xiang lives?”

As soon as she asked, she realized he would most likely not know but when he heard her, Xiao Li blinked and showed a smile bright enough it made the sun pale: “Room 301.”

Chi Xin raised her eyebrows in surprise and he took the initiative to explain: “We sometimes eat together. When you came back after killing the high-level zombie, he didn’t accuse you like the others.”

The reason he judged people for being nice was really strange. Chi Xin scratched her cheek and was about to head to Yu Xiang’s room when the loudspeakers in the base sounded.

“Calling Chi Xin, calling Chi Xin! Please come to the council room immediately. I repeat, please come to the council room immediately.”

Chi Xin stopped in her tracks. Xiao Li’s eyes widened as he heard the alert for the first time: “Are they not afraid to attract zombies with such a loudspeaker?”

Chi Xin: “It is only used for emergencies, like the zombie siege from last time. I didn’t know I was as important.”

Xiao Li looked at her expression and didn’t see any anxiety: “Then… are we going?”

Chi Xin didn’t notice how naturally he had said the word “we” but she frowned and hesitated for a while: “But I want to find Yu Xiang.”

Slight gloom appeared in Xiao Li’s eyes and when he was about to speak, her door was pushed open and Jing Xiubai walked out of the room. He saw the two of them standing here and his eyebrows raised in surprise.

He walked to Chi Xin and asked in a soft voice: “I heard they were looking for you on the loudspeaker. Why aren’t you going there?”

She looked over his shoulder but didn’t see the person she was looking for. She showed a disappointed expression: “Is Yu Xiang away?”

Jing Xiubai raised his eyebrows again and pushed his glasses on his nose: “He isn’t here.”

“Chi Xin, please come to the council room. I repeat, Chi Xin, please come to the council room immediately.”

The loudspeaker sounded again and Chi Xin sighed helplessly: “Then I guess I will go there. When you see Yu Xiang, tell him to find me.”

She was worried they would keep using the speaker again and that the noise would attract another wave of zombies. 

Jing Xiubai nodded but didn’t turn around to go look for Yu Xiang, just like Xiao Li, and followed Chi Xin to the council room. As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw people standing inside. When they noticed Chi Xin’s arrival, the crowd broke out and instinctively separated to create a path, revealing the people who were standing in the middle.

The person who had made the announcement was Cao Yan and next to him was standing a gloating Cao Qing. When he saw Chi Xin come in, resentment and excitement were in his eyes, and he grabbed the color of a thin woman before throwing her in front of Chi Xin.

“Chen Xiang?” Jing Xiubai’s voice sounded and Chi Xin came to a realization. In the movie, Chen Xiang was just a short-lived character and she had never reappeared after the zombie siege. She really didn’t think she would see her there.

“It’s Chen Xiang.” Chi Xin thought about their relationship and was slightly embarrassed, “It’s good you’re okay.”

She was calm and Cao Qing suddenly fell into a rage. He pointed at her and stared at Chen Xiang: “Chen Xiang, why the hell did she go out that night?”

Before Chi Xin could react, Xiao Li stepped forward and grabbed Cao Qing’s finger. Cao Qing struggled but Xiao Li dodged his head and raised his hand to block the upcoming punch. Those few movements were neat and concise, showing his military training.

“Get to the point and show some respect.” He stood in front of Chi Xin with a cold face and the ice cone Jing Xiubai had condensed in his palm quietly dissipated. He pushed his glasses back and asked in a cold voice: “Cao Qing, what is going on?”

Although he was asking him, his eyes were on Cao Yan.

Cao Yan smiled bitterly: “Chen Xiang said Chi Xin lied and did not go to kill a high-level zombie that night but went to look for cosmetics. If this is the case, even if she saved the base, she is guilty.”

“Yes! Chi Xin is a liar, who really thinks she is a hero? This is ridiculous!” Cao Qing’s face was grim, savoring the sweet taste of revenge, “Am I not right?”

Most of the crowd remained silent but a few people responded with indignant cries. Listening to their voices, Cao Qing showed a victorious expression. He looked at Chi Xin and said in an obscene and despicable voice: “Chi Xin, can you defend yourself? Do you want to beg me? Beg me and I can persuade everyone to let you stay in the base.” 

He couldn’t wait to tear the composure from her beautiful face and find the same, seductive, pleasing, little white rabbit-like pitiful and scheming expression as before.

Although Chi Xin was expressionless, the disgusting meaning in this sentence could be heard. She glanced at Cao Qing and kicked Chen Xiang on the ground with a stretched leg.

“Tell me, what happened that night?”

With her indifferent face, it didn’t look like she was the one being accused at this moment. This unexpected reaction made Cao Qing even more furious and he yelled: “The witness is here, what else are you trying to do?!”

“You!” Xiao Li also showed anger and he wanted to step forward to teach him respect. Chi Xin lifted up an arm and he stopped. Her face was as calm as ever and her eyes had a cold sharp edge. She gave Cao Qing a sideways glance; she was timid but things that did not put her life in danger were not worthy of her fear. Cao Qing felt a chill all over his body and he looked at her directly for the first time.