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“Wake up, little miss, wake up,” a woman’s voice echoed into Lin Feng’s consciousness, sounding as if it was both near and far, fluctuating unpredictably.

“Who’s there?” Lin Feng mumbled, his head feeling incredibly heavy as he tried to look around. The scene around him swayed and blurred, making it difficult to discern his surroundings, while a sharp, piercing noise flooded his dizzy brain.

“You’re finally awake.”

As Lin Feng’s vision gradually came into focus and the voice became clearer, his first instinct was to reach for the handgun at his waist.

But it wasn’t there.

His weapons, including the small dagger from his pant leg, were all conspicuously absent, neatly placed beside the woman on her right.

A fire crackled in the center, its red and yellow flames dancing lightly in the breeze.

Realizing his weapons had been removed, Lin Feng eyed the woman in front of him with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, sporting a neat ponytail and black glasses, and dressed in a sharply tailored suit that gave her an air of efficiency and competence.

“Who are you?”

“Nice to meet you, pretty girl. My name is Li Ying, I’m a journalist.”

“You’re that person from the TV!” Lin Feng exclaimed, recognizing the woman before him. If he wasn’t mistaken, this Li Ying was the same reporter he had seen delivering the news on television.

“Weren’t you the one who reported fake news?” Lin Feng asked with a hint of disdain, preparing to stand up.

—Change of Scene—

“How is it going, Old Sen? Once Lin Feng has scouted out the area, we should start working on the plane,” Old Liu said, holding a wrench and surveying a pile of disassembled parts in the spacious repair shop.

“Old Sen, have you thought about how we’re going to transport all these students out? The plane seats two, but even if we expand the seating, it can’t hold 13 people,” Old Liu pondered, examining a design blueprint. Both men seemed unsure of where to start.

“It’s a challenge, but let’s do our best. We just need to help the kids get across the river,” the principal said, looking somewhat resigned as he eyed the familiar yet unfamiliar tools in the repair shop, followed by a bout of coughing.

“That’s true. Old Sen, how’s your health?”

“It’s okay, I can manage for a bit longer. If there are too many people later… just leave this old skeleton behind. I’d like to go back to my school for one last look,” the principal said, his hair graying more noticeably and his body appearing particularly worn.

“I’ll stay with you, old friend.”

“No, you need to ensure the kids get out safely.”

“Principal, Mister Liu, what do you think of my idea?” Hao Jian excitedly approached, holding a crudely drawn yet intriguing design sketch.

His first car design had been a success, igniting a newfound passion within him. In addition to maintaining his archery skills, he had learned a great deal from the two elders.

“Not bad, but your design seems a bit risky, especially if we encounter dense groups of zombies,” the principal remarked, studying Hao Jian’s design.

The small car was covered in spikes, appearing agile with a long front spike for clearing a path.

“Is that so?” Hao Jian scratched his head, contemplating the feedback.

“Go ahead and bring it to life. In these times, you have countless opportunities for experimentation with modifications. I believe you could become a fine mechanical engineer,” the principal encouraged, handing Hao Jian the blueprint.

“Alright,” Hao Jian replied, taking the blueprint and heading towards a pile of assorted parts.