The next day, as usual, I slept until I woke up naturally. It was warm and cozy under the covers, and I stretched lazily.

Grandma had indeed prepared breakfast. When I came out of the kitchen, I saw her trimming the wildly growing rosebush in the yard.

"Grandma, you don't have to work so hard early in the morning. Come and have breakfast," I said.

Grandma put down her scissors and walked towards me.

Just like what was reported on TV, her skin had a bluish-gray hue, her eyes were bloodshot, and she walked with a stiff and awkward gait.

I pursed my lips, thinking that she was not as amiable as before.

While Grandma was eating, she started her usual nagging mode: "You spend all day holding your phone, what's there to see? It's not good for your eyes, and it's not normal to stay up late and not get up in the morning. Who has such a routine as a normal person?"

I've heard this countless times since I was young. I exploded with anger at first, but now I casually brush it off. I can say that I'm adept at dealing with it.

"Have you contacted your dad?" Grandma suddenly stopped eating.

I had almost forgotten about that. I replied, "I'll contact him after breakfast."

I did contact him, but I couldn't reach him. He didn't reply to my text messages or WeChat.

After hearing me out, Grandma sighed, and I sighed along.

She went out again and reminded me before leaving, "Bring the chamber pot inside the house, lock the door, and don't go to the yard. I'll lock the main gate. If you encounter any zombies climbing over, call me."

I nodded, "I got it. Bring me some spicy sticks when you come back. I want to eat them~"

Grandma's face instantly turned stern, "You don't eat a proper meal and only like to eat junk food. Is it delicious just because you spend money on it? Haven't you seen the little girl, Tao Chunjun, from the house behind the street? She finally recovered from leukemia, and it was all because of eating spicy sticks!"

I said, "...Fine, I won't eat them."

That was just scaring little kids, and it had a similar effect to "The big monkey eats crying children."

Grandma locked the door and left.

Before I could even close the internet, I received a phone call.

The caller was my best friend of twelve years, so close that in middle school, instead of breaking up couples known to everyone, the teachers wanted to break us up.

I hesitated for a moment but ultimately answered the call.

"Qiqi!"

"It's me."

I heard sobbing from the other end, gradually turning into loud crying, "I... I've been calling you since last night, and you didn't pick up. I thought something happened to you!"

I felt relieved knowing that Hu Xiaoxiao was okay, and my eyes became moist as well.

"I'm fine, nothing happened...," I changed the topic, "Where are you now? Are you safe?"

"I'm at the school supermarket. There are many survivors here, but even more infected people. I'll find a way to protect myself. How about you? How's it going on your side?"

I heard various chaotic noises from her end, indicating that she was constantly exposed to danger.

"I'm fine. You know our village is remote, right? Even the Japanese invaders couldn't find it!"

She laughed on the other end, "Then take care of yourself. We made a promise to have barbecue in the city when I come home during winter vacation!"

I was stunned and tears streamed down my face unconsciously, "Definitely, you too. You must survive, and we'll wait for you to treat us."

The call ended, and I collapsed on the kang bed, unable to control my tears.

I couldn't understand why I was crying. My heart felt empty, and it made me feel so uncomfortable.

Feeling tired from crying, my body was exhausted, and I wanted to take a nap.

As I turned around, I saw a zombie standing outside the window.

My heart pounded heavily. The old window frame and glass of our house couldn't withstand a zombie'simpact. I quickly jumped off the bed, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My mind raced as I tried to come up with a plan.

I remembered Grandma's instructions to bring the chamber pot inside the house. It was a strange request, but now I realized it was meant to be used as a weapon. I grabbed the chamber pot and held it tightly, ready to defend myself.

The zombie outside the window seemed to sense my presence and started banging on the glass, trying to break in. Its bloodshot eyes fixated on me, and I could see its decaying flesh and torn clothes. The sight sent shivers down my spine.

I quickly scanned the room for any other means of defense. My eyes landed on a broom leaning against the wall. I grabbed it and held it alongside the chamber pot, hoping it would provide some extra protection.

The banging on the window grew louder, and cracks started to appear on the glass. I knew I had to act fast. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and cautiously approached the window.

With one swift motion, I swung the chamber pot at the zombie's head. It connected with a sickening thud, and the zombie stumbled backward, momentarily disoriented. Seizing the opportunity, I jabbed the broomstick at its chest, pushing it further away from the window.

The zombie, now enraged, lunged at me with surprising speed. I managed to dodge its attack, narrowly avoiding its outstretched arms. I continued to fend off its advances, striking it with the chamber pot and using the broomstick to keep it at bay.

As I fought, my mind raced, trying to recall any information or tips I had read or seen about dealing with zombies. I remembered hearing that destroying the brain was the most effective way to neutralize them, but I didn't have any weapons capable of such a task.

Just as I was starting to feel overwhelmed, I heard a familiar voice outside. It was Grandma. She had returned earlier than expected and was shouting instructions to me.

"Hit its head, aim for the temple!" she yelled.

I adjusted my strategy, focusing my attacks on the zombie's head. With each strike, I aimed for the temple, hoping to incapacitate it long enough for Grandma to assist.

Together, we managed to overpower the zombie. Grandma swiftly delivered a final blow, using a gardening tool she had brought with her. The zombie collapsed to the ground, motionless.

We stood there, panting and covered in sweat, as the reality of the situation sank in. It was just one zombie, but it was a stark reminder of the dangers lurking outside.

Grandma looked at me with a mix of concern and pride in her eyes. "You did well, but we must remain vigilant. The world has changed, and we need to adapt to survive."

I nodded, grateful for Grandma's presence and guidance. We cleaned up the mess and reinforced the window, making sure no other zombies could enter.

As we sat down to catch our breath, I realized that this was only the beginning of our fight for survival. We would need to rely on each other and stay strong in the face of adversity.

The world outside may have turned into a chaotic and dangerous place, but together, Grandma and I were determined to protect our home and find a way to survive.