Chapter 10：Keep in touch
739 Words
In the afternoon, Xu Xiaoli tended to the children's nap in the guest room on the second floor of Villa No. 4. Meanwhile, Song Yunian, Zhang Jian, Liang Jiajia, and Zhang Meng gathered in the grand hall on the ground floor of Villa No. 4 to discuss their next course of action.
"Brother, let's move the luggage from Villa No. 2 and stay with Mr. Song and Sister Jiajia!" Zhang Meng proposed.
"Perhaps that's not advisable?" Zhang Jian hesitated.
Liang Jiajia chimed in with a laugh, "What's the harm? In such a vast residence, any noise at night can be quite unsettling! It would feel safer if we all stayed together."
"The primary concern is that Villa No. 4 is too distant to oversee the mountain gate, whereas Villa No. 2 offers a clear view. It's best if everyone lodges in Villa No. 2!" Zhang Jian suggested.
Clapping her hands gleefully, Zhang Meng exclaimed, "Wonderful! Let's all stay at our place! I rather enjoy the company!"
"I'm not so sure about that," Song Yunian interjected.
Perplexed, Liang Jiajia furrowed her brow, "Why not? What's the preferred arrangement, then?"
"Villa No. 4 lacks visibility of the mountain gate but offers a clearer view of the surrounding mountain roads. It's best to have people in both villas! Detecting threats from both near and far is the safest approach," Song Yunian explained.
Observing Song Yunian's resolute gaze, Zhang Meng, though disappointed by the decision not to stay together, remained convinced of his wisdom. She smiled and remarked, "Indeed, Mr. Song's thinking is astute!"
Returning the smile, Song Yunian replied, "Our greatest threat now is the zombies. Although Villa No. 4 may feel deserted at night, there's little cause for alarm!"
Noticing Zhang Meng's youthful and vivacious appearance, Liang Jiajia, feeling a pang of jealousy, found her displeasure growing. At just sixteen, Zhang Meng possessed a lively and charming countenance, well-developed for her age, with a figure nearly surpassing her own. Addressing her putative fiancé with endearments like "big brother" only added to Liang Jiajia's vexation. She thought it best not to cohabit, lest this impish girl lure her fiancé away.
With resolve, Liang Jiajia proposed, "This arrangement is suitable. I'll be responsible for monitoring distant threats with him, while you all oversee the situation nearby. Let's divide and conquer!"
"When Tongtong and Lele wake up, we'll head back," Zhang Jian suggested.
"Doctor Zhang, why don't we switch? Jiajia and I can go to Villa No. 2," Song Yunian proposed.
"No need, it's all the same. If there's any trouble, we'll notify each other," Zhang Jian replied.
"Let's first check if the phones are still operational!" Song Yunian suggested, pulling out his cellphone and dialing Zhang Jian's number, only to be met with a busy signal.
"Even if it connects now, it's no guarantee it will later. We need to find another solution!" Zhang Jian remarked.
With agility, Song Yunian devised a plan. "Each hotel room has a landline. Since the public signal is down, it shouldn't affect the internal network. When you return, try calling my room from yours! The numbers are posted by each phone. Let's give it a try!"
Entering Song Yunian's room, they indeed found the numbers posted by the landline. Using the phone in Liang Jiajia's room, they dialed Song Yunian's landline and successfully connected.
Taking note of Song Yunian's landline number and several neighboring room numbers, Zhang Jian ensured redundancy in case of a malfunction. That afternoon, they returned to Villa No. 2 and promptly dialed Song Yunian's number, successfully connecting.
That evening, Liang Jiajia tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When Song Yunian inquired, she confessed, "Honey, I can't shake off the images of zombies devouring people from the movies. I'm terrified!"
Chuckling softly, Song Yunian reassured her, "The zombies in movies are slow-moving, incapable of scaling walls or opening doors. They're quite inept. There's no need to fear!"
"But what if they break down the door?" Liang Jiajia whimpered.
"Rest assured, darling! The massive iron gate below is thick and securely fastened. The zombies won't stand a chance! Moreover, with me by your side, a sturdy fellow like me can easily handle any puny zombies. Now, let yourself drift off to sleep," Song Yunian comforted, planting a kiss on Liang Jiajia's forehead.
Liang Jiajia couldn't help but sob, "I miss my mother!"
"We will survive and live up to your mother's expectations!" Song Yunian vowed.
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