Lin Yan held me and comforted me continuously, helping me onto the sofa in the living room and pouring me a glass of water.

He started making another phone call.

"Hello, Director, this is Lin Yan. There have been confirmed cases in my residential area, and the situation is very serious. Hasn't there been any measures from higher-ups? If this situation continues in the neighborhood, the virus will spread uncontrollably!"

I didn't know what was said on the other end of the line, but I saw Lin Yan cursing "damn it" while holding his phone that was abruptly hung up.

The noise grew louder, and I turned my head to look outside the window. The neighborhood could be described as bustling with activity.

At that moment, the neighborhood's broadcast started.

"Emergency situation! Emergency situation! All residents, please do not leave your homes! I repeat, all residents, do not step out of your doors!"

Occasionally, faint cries could be heard from outside the window. Lin Yan took a pair of binoculars, stood on the terrace, and looked down.

After about fifteen minutes, Lin Yan put down the binoculars, closed the terrace door, and walked back into the room. He lit a cigarette and said, "Things are developing faster than I imagined."

"Is it...serious downstairs?"

He took a drag from his cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and nodded, "Very bad. The security guards who went to assess the situation were bitten, four of them. One of them, a woman who should be the one you mentioned falling down earlier, has already turned into a zombie. Fortunately, no residents dared to go outside."

I opened my phone, and all the WeChat groups were in an uproar. Moments, Weibo, Zhihu, and other major social platforms were also buzzing with notifications.

I clicked on the trending topics on Weibo, and all I saw were: Zombies appear in a certain residential area in City C, wandering zombies on Street B, zombies discovered in a high-end residential area in City A...

I handed my phone to Lin Yan and said, "They appeared simultaneously."

Lin Yan glanced at it, and just as he did, his WeChat started ringing. It was Xiao Li from the research institute.

Xiao Li had a slightly higher rank than Lin Yan, so after Lin Yan was sent home, Xiao Li stayed at the institute to research the virus. However, he didn't make it into the most confidential team. He was Lin Yan's second best friend after Chen Zichen.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Yan slumped into the sofa, looking lifeless.

I had already calmed down by now, so I asked him what was wrong, but he remained silent.

When he finally spoke, his voice carried a hint of obscurity, "The research institute...has been compromised."

"Xiao Li managed to escape. He has already driven back home and is temporarily safe."

"Did you mention it to your superiors just now?"

"No. He just told me to take care of myself, not to return to the institute, and to watch my mouth. Then he hung up. But I heard strong winds and a voice saying, 'Hurry up and get on the plane' from his end."

"He...ran away?"

Lin Yan closed his eyes and nodded, "I think so. He should have evacuated with the secret team."

I looked out the window in confusion. The night had quieted down once again, and the electronic clock on the TV cabinet dutifully displayed the current time.