June 16, 2018
Zhuang Jianyi grew up with Zhang Jilian. They would often hang out at each other's houses for fun.
February 24, 2022
The foreigner returned to Malaysia because he had been a traitor during the war in Russia and was sentenced to execution. Ever since, he had been on the run, hiding constantly until he arrived in Malaysia. That was when Jilian and the others found him.
May 30, 1980
Uncle Li, who should have been cheerful and outgoing, grew up under pressure from his parents. As a result, he became quiet and withdrawn, with no real friends, living a lonely life—until that day.
February 18, 2025 – Malaysia, Sarawak, Kuching
In the corner of the refugee zone, Zhang Jilian stared down at the water bottle in his hand, his fingers absentmindedly rubbing the cracks on the surface. Shouts and sporadic gunfire echoed from afar, the air thick with tension. Suddenly, the vibration of his phone broke the silence. He paused, the screen displaying an unknown number.
Jilian hesitated for a moment, then answered and held the phone to his ear:
"Hello, who's this?"
A burst of shrill laughter came from the other end: "Don't know who I am? Hahahaha!"
Jilian's pupils shrank sharply, his voice trembling: "Chen... Chen Qi?"
"Yes, that's right. It's me." Chen Qi's tone was mocking. "Now you have two choices: bribe a soldier and steal a helicopter to rescue me; or..." He paused, his voice turning chillingly cold, "I'll not only record a video of me killing Jianyi, I'll rape him too, then send the video to you."
Jilian clenched his fists, knuckles cracking: "You scumbag! You and Principal Chen are both scum—like father, like son!"
Chen Qi's voice suddenly rose: "He's not my father! Are you fucking coming or not?"
Jilian took a deep breath, his voice low but firm: "Even if my mom won't come, I will." He abruptly hung up the call.
Right after the call, a soldier came over and said,
"We've reviewed all the victim lists, but we didn't find your mother's name. I'm sorry."
Jilian's eyes welled up with tears. He replied faintly, "Got it."
He entered the tent and found Haoyu. After telling him what the phone call was about, Haoyu responded:
"It's good that Jianyi is still alive. That bastard's still breathing? And threatening to rape Jianyi too—fucking hell, that's beyond messed up."
That night, Chen Qi sent their location along with a message: "You have seven days. Or else..."
Meanwhile, Chen Qi looked at Jianyi with a strange expression. He moved closer and bit a hole in Jianyi's ear, making him scream in pain.
February 19, 2025
Jilian and Haoyu found a foreigner. He said he used to be a soldier, but for unknown reasons, he ended up in Malaysia. Jilian then told him about their plan:
"As long as you help us, we'll pay you."
The foreigner replied, "I don't need the money. As long as I can help, it's enough."
They planned to act tomorrow, so they went to bed early that night.
February 20, 2025
In the early hours of the morning, the night was ink-dark with only a few stars scattered in the sky. Haoyu checked his gun, the foreigner skillfully started the helicopter, and Jilian cautiously scanned their surroundings, whispering:
"Everything's ready. Now's the time. Take off."
The rotor blades roared, slicing through the night sky, immediately drawing the attention of nearby soldiers. Blinding searchlights swept across the area, and a voice boomed through a loudspeaker:
"Land immediately, or we will shoot you down!"
Jilian gritted his teeth and shouted to the foreigner, "Ignore them! Full speed ahead!"
The helicopter accelerated sharply, breaking through the darkness. In the distance, the first light of dawn pierced the clouds, casting golden rays into the cabin. Haoyu, gazing at the rising sun, spoke hoarsely:
"This might be the last sunrise we ever see... Not like we have anything left to stay for anyway."
Jilian said nothing, simply looking at Haoyu in silence. A flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes.
Standing in the helicopter, Jilian looked down upon the ruins below. What was once a thriving city was now reduced to rubble. The streets teemed with wandering zombies, and from afar came the occasional shriek of agony. His gaze swept toward West Malaysia and the neighboring countries, all shrouded in deathly silence, as if the world itself had been consumed by an invisible force. He let out a bitter laugh and muttered:
"Looks like the Almighty's pesticide this time was a bit too toxic, huh..."