章 37: Chapter 37: Yingli's Studio
Jin continued, "Well, you should. Just remember, life is precious. Even if you don't value your own, think about your loved ones, your friends, and their well-being."
As Jin spoke, he suddenly remembered Ike's involvement in a fatal incident, even though it had been in self-defense. A shiver ran down his spine as he looked at Ike's smiling face.
"So, what do you suggest we do?" Ike inquired, his smile not reaching his eyes, giving them a steely and determined look.
Jin felt a sudden chill. He wondered if he had been too hasty in approaching Ike alone.
Could it be possible that Ike might resort to violence if provoked? Given the current state of society, it was not beyond the realm of possibility. Panic welled up inside Jin.
"I think... Well, I suggest we consider finding more people to cooperate with," Jin replied cautiously, his tone more conservative.
"Alright, then who do you have in mind?" Ike asked, prompting Jin to share his thoughts.
Jin hesitated, thinking that he should involve at least one or two more individuals in this endeavor before committing himself fully. His workplace experience had given him a gut feeling that Ike was a formidable individual, even more so than the imposing Regus.
"We can discuss that later," Jin suggested, playing it safe.
"Sure, take your time to think about it. I'm going to grab something to eat," Ike said, breaking the tension.
"Ah, yes, you should eat," Jin replied with a forced smile, and Ike nodded before entering his residence.
As Jin walked away, his forehead damp with sweat, he couldn't help but feel that he had been rash.
Perhaps he should have brought along a couple of associates. What if Ike took offense and decided to eliminate him? In the current chaotic times, such scenarios were not entirely implausible.
Inside the residence, Ike found that the meal had been prepared and everyone was seated at the table, patiently waiting for him.
They hadn't touched their food, wanting to wait for Ike.
Today's breakfast consisted of simple porridge and canned vegetables. Ike urged them to start eating since the porridge was getting cold. Linda mentioned that the porridge was still too hot for her liking and should be allowed to cool a bit before consuming.
The composition of their small group was rather peculiar. The self-appointed "leader" was Ike, a twenty- year-old young man.
Among the three families, there were four adult men, including Regus, who was physically strong but not particularly clever; Negan, who had ideas but lacked courage and physical prowess; and the others, who had their own limitations.
Nami, despite being intelligent and capable, was not suitable for outdoor activities due to her gender. Similarly, Yingli possessed intelligence and experience but faced the same gender-related limitations. This situation left Ike as their de facto leader.
Jin appeared to be a middle-aged man in his fifties, but his actual age was considerably younger. He simply looked older than he was. His eyes, which usually appeared dull, only seemed to shine when he was sizing up others. In this moment, they appeared as though they had been freshly moistened, radiating energy and a hint of threat.
His weathered cheeks were adorned with age spots resembling leopard prints, and his calloused hands bore the marks of someone who had spent countless hours playing mahjong. Ike recalled that Jin had once worked in a factory as a director or supervisor, which had clearly honed his communication skills. Their conversation had taken an unexpected turn. Jin had initially attempted to lure Regus, then resorted to veiled threats, and ultimately confronted Ike, displaying a level of preparation that was concerning.
"Do you plan to cooperate with them?" Anna asked, referring to Jin and his associates.
"Cooperation is not an option," Ike replied calmly as he took a sip of porridge. Everyone began to eat, and Negan explained further, "We can only delay the matter without making any explicit promises."
Nami chimed in, "If Ike had outright refused, Jin and the others might have taken alternative actions, putting us in a more vulnerable position."
Tom added, "But we can't keep postponing indefinitely. In their eyes, we're seen as wealthy. Sooner or later, they might resort to more aggressive tactics."
Yingli concurred, saying, "That's a valid concern."
Linda, though she understood the gravity of their discussion, refrained from participating due to her indecisiveness.
Her thoughts were preoccupied with what to cook for lunch to reward the group for their efforts.
"Mom, if we move to your studio, can we live there?" Ike asked Yingli.
Yingli nodded, saying, "Yes, it's more than four hundred square meters. However, we don't have beds there, so the sleeping conditions would be rather basic."
Ike reassured her, "That's alright. We don't need to stay there permanently. It's just a backup plan.""Alright, after breakfast, let's start moving some things there to assess the situation," Ike suggested, reiterating their plan from the previous day but with greater certainty.
The group quickly finished their meal. Yingli and Linda began clearing the table while Anna and Nami swiftly prepared the items they planned to move. They had three backpacks, which were only half-filled with provisions like canned eight-treasure porridge and ready-to-eat bread. To protect the contents from the rain, they placed the backpacks inside raincoats.
Ike, Tom, and Regus took extra precautions by wrapping their feet in clean socks and securing them with three layers of rain-proof plastic bags before putting on their wet shoes meant for outdoor use.
Although the plastic bags helped keep their feet dry, they had to be careful to avoid slipping.
With their preparations complete, the three of them left the residence. On their way, they noticed that most
of the previously vacant units in the nearby commercial buildings were now occupied by vendors, laborers, and various shops that had relocated from the lower part of the city.
As they passed by two specific buildings, Tom raised concerns, "I hope that woman from yesterday won't cause trouble for us again."
Regus shared Tom's worries, adding, "She seems determined to exploit the chaos, and we don't want to be her targets."
Ike, however, had a different question in mind, "Does she have any family?"
Tom and Regus both turned to him, surprised by the unexpected question. Tom pondered the matter, "I don't think so."
Ike nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Let's hope it stays that way. If too many people come after us, it'll become complicated."
Continuing their journey, they reached the building containing Yingli's studio.
The fire escape doors were their path to the seventh floor. The doors on the first floor were unlocked, and Ike had even brought pliers in case they needed to force them open, but it wasn't necessary.
As they ascended, their demeanor became increasingly cautious. Regus led the way, clutching an axe,
while Tom, back against the wall, walked in the middle, and Ike followed, his hand hovering near the handle of a tool hanging from his belt.
This was their unspoken understanding whenever they entered unfamiliar territory, and they didn't need to discuss it in advance.
They had reached the sixth floor when they noticed that the stairs were free of water stains, indicating that no one had been here in the past couple of days.
Reaching the seventh floor, they found the fire door lock severely damaged, with dozens of marks indicating attempts to cut it open with a sharp instrument.
Although the lock hadn't been completely breached, the question remained: who would climb to this height to tamper with the lock?
This building primarily housed small companies and studios, with no restaurants or supermarkets.
"Ike, this lock has been tampered " Tom exclaimed as he carefully examined the damaged lock. The knife he held gleamed menacingly in the dimly lit corridor.
"I saw it," Ike responded.
"But who could it be?" Tom asked, puzzled. "I often come here to play with you, and I know this building. There's nothing valuable to steal here. Why would someone break this lock?"
Ike didn't immediately answer, instead, he scrutinized the lock closely. It was a standard anti-theft lock, coated with an old layer of orange rubber. Now, the rubber had been partially cut and peeled away, resembling rotting intestines clinging to the alloy beneath.
The silver alloy itself had been damaged, but the cuts were shallow, never exceeding 0.1 cm in depth. It seemed like the person attempting to tamper with the lock hadn't found a suitable tool. Moreover, the uneven nature of the cuts indicated that they hadn't been made all at once.
Suddenly, Ike felt a jolt of unease, as if an electric current had traveled up his spine, leaving him on edge. Could it be Aunt Li? Was she the one who had tampered with the lock?
Ike's previously calm expression faltered. He remembered the electrician's words on the day he escaped from the elevator, urging him to hurry home and stating that there was no need to stay on duty. Hadn't the elevator been fixed afterward?
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