Chapter Fifty-Two: Zou Lin's Dignity

Dragging the recently calmed Zou Lin along, Zhao Qiang quickly returned to the private room where they’d been before. Having spent many years in society, Zou Lin had accompanied clients to places like bars more times than she could count. Seeing the private room, her heart began pounding wildly again. Could it be that Brother Qiang wants to... She dared not finish the thought, her emotions stirring once more.

At the door to the private room, Zhao Qiang knocked in a rhythmic pattern. Not long after, the door opened noiselessly, and Zou Lin realized she’d worried for nothing.

Inside, the people saw Zhao Qiang return with another person, and their expressions shifted—from initial indifference, to suspicion, and finally to excitement. Hope shone in everyone’s eyes. Even hiding here, they could hear the fierce gunfire outside. Some of the oppressed companions had feared their savior would never return, remembering Ma Tianxiong’s bloody methods of revenge. The fire of hope they’d kindled had nearly extinguished, but with Zhao Qiang appearing alive once more, holding the hand of a beautiful woman, it felt like a dream.

“Old Huang, is everyone alright?” Upon hearing the secret knock, Huang Jianguo rushed to open the door. Zhao Qiang’s first words were full of concern, warming Huang Jianguo’s heart.

“We’re all fine, everyone’s fine,” Huang Jianguo replied quickly. “Just as you instructed, everyone’s stayed here. Little Zhao, you should hurry and get out of here. If Ma Tianxiong comes back, you’ll be in danger.”

In the pitch-black chaos, Zhao Qiang couldn’t be sure if there were any stragglers. If some desperate thugs found their way here and started killing, things could turn ugly. Hearing that everyone was safe, Zhao Qiang finally breathed a sigh of relief and dropped onto the sofa.

“No need to worry, that man won’t be coming back,” Zhao Qiang said coolly.

Huang Jianguo’s brows twitched at this, his tension easing. He hadn’t witnessed Ma Tianxiong’s demise firsthand, but Zhao Qiang’s tone made it clear: the murderous king who treated human life as nothing had vanished from the world forever.

“Little Zhao, we should leave this place quickly. I snuck out for a look earlier—so many dead bodies. If we don’t go soon, once they turn into zombies, we won’t be able to escape,” Huang Jianguo urged.

“It’s alright. Brother Qiang took care of them all. Everyone’s safe,” Zou Lin chimed in. She’d seen with her own eyes those terrifying zombies fall cleanly under Zhao Qiang’s hands.

Zhao Qiang remained silent. His worries now turned to the future. He’d started alone, but in less than two days, his group had grown by five or six. On his own, Zhao Qiang feared no zombie in the world, but safeguarding others was another matter entirely.

While Zhao Qiang sat lost in thought, Zou Lin began chatting with the others in the private room. Upon learning about Zou Lin’s past work, the two girls in the room couldn’t help but frown. Hearing her story, they thought to themselves: with her innocent looks, who would have guessed she did that kind of work? She must have seduced Brother Qiang with her secret allure—Prince saving the princess! Why hadn’t such good fortune come their way? These days, all the good men were snatched by women like her.

The more the girls thought, the angrier they became. Exchanging glances, they formed an alliance, and their words grew sharper. Seeing Zhao Qiang sitting silently, they grew bolder. The two men, meanwhile, pretended indifference, but their eyes roamed hungrily over Zou Lin, swallowing frequently.

Even Huang Jianguo, older and wiser, could barely stand it. He knew the girls’ intentions and felt sympathetic toward Zou Lin’s plight. Shaking his head in resignation—at a time like this, they still wasted energy on jealousy and rivalry. In society, poverty is laughed at, not vice. There are all kinds of people, but who willingly becomes a fallen woman? Seeing Zou Lin silenced by the girls, tears brimming in her eyes, Huang Jianguo coughed loudly twice. The girls muttered softly, conceding defeat.

Those coughs snapped Zhao Qiang from his reverie. He caught bits and pieces of the conversation, but his mind had been elsewhere. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Zhao Qiang swept his gaze across the faces in the room: Zou Lin’s aggrieved expression, the two girls’ dissatisfied postures, the men’s lecherous faces, and Huang Jianguo’s helplessness—all the myriad emotions laid bare. He could guess the gist of what had transpired.

As Zhao Qiang’s gaze wandered, the two women unconsciously straightened their modest chests, hoping for his attention. If someone as capable as him favored them, even in an apocalypse, there would be hope for the future.

Zhao Qiang remained unmoved, speaking calmly: “What are your plans for the future? I know a place with many people, guaranteed safety, and plenty of food. Old Huang, what do you think?” He ignored the two women trying to catch his eye, instead naturally pulling Zou Lin close. Her face lit up with joy, tears vanishing immediately. The two women deflated like defeated hens, their eyes full of contempt and disdain. Men are all the same, they thought, muttering quietly.

Ah, youth, always so eager! Huang Jianguo secretly sighed in relief. Zhao Qiang’s actions made his position clear—why should an old man like him worry so much? After a brief thought, Huang Jianguo replied, “I’m getting old, can’t deny it anymore. If it were ten years ago, I’d follow you anywhere, but now I’m no use. Where is this place you mentioned, Little Zhao?”

“It’s at Changsha City Prison. My master is there, along with many others. When you get there, someone will look after your safety and daily needs. No one will bully you,” Zhao Qiang said with a faint smile. Zou Lin nestled quietly in his arms like a gentle rabbit, while the two women’s gazes grew even more hostile.

“And you?” Zhao Qiang turned to the two men and two women, his tone neutral.

“The prison? I don’t want to go to that awful place. Brother Qiang, can’t I just follow you?” one woman said, puffing out her unimpressive chest and speaking in a voice sweeter than any famous model’s, making everyone’s skin crawl.

“No. I have things to do and no time to look after you,” Zhao Qiang replied coolly, leaving no room for argument. Seeing Zou Lin’s growing smile, the woman looked as if she’d swallowed a fly, retreating silently to her seat.

After some discussion, both women agreed to go with Huang Jianguo to the prison. The two men, though attracted to Zou Lin, understood Zhao Qiang was not to be trifled with and decided to go as well. Only Zou Lin remained, nestled silently in Zhao Qiang’s arms.

“And you? What are your plans?” Zhao Qiang looked down at Zou Lin.

He wasn’t a lecher; his tenderness toward Zou Lin was born from disdain for the women’s behavior. Fallen women are still human—earning their bread honestly, better than those so-called privileged heirs. After all, who chooses to sell their body if they can find other work? Who has the right to look down on them?

Zou Lin blushed, glancing up at Zhao Qiang. “Brother Qiang, wherever you go, I’ll go,” she said softly, her tone unwavering.

“Nonsense!” Zhao Qiang scolded quietly. “Do you know what I’m about to do? Do you know how dangerous it is to stay with me? You should go with Old Huang and the others,” he said, like a brother admonishing a stubborn sister.

Zou Lin straightened, looking earnestly at him, ignoring the girls’ scornful glances. “Brother Qiang, I know you’re a good man. Ever since you saved me, I knew it. I know you already have a wife and I’ve done shameful things you can’t accept, but I’m not a cheap woman. I have dignity. You’re the only one who hasn’t looked down on me, who treats me as a human being. I don’t ask for status or kindness—only to serve you, even if it means being your slave. I have a younger brother, whose fate is unknown. If I leave with Uncle Huang, I may never hear from him again. Only with you do I have hope. So, I’ve decided—I’ll follow you for life!”

Zhao Qiang sighed, understanding that this girl was determined to stay. “Do you realize how dangerous the road ahead is? I may not be able to protect you.”

“I’ll take care of myself!” Zou Lin declared, waving her fist with conviction.