Nightmare Assault

Chapter 327: Survive

The sky was brightening. The night was surprisingly quiet. Jiang Cheng didn’t sleep. When the sun came up, Jiang Cheng ordered Fatty to get breakfast. He also wanted him to get his portion.

“Fatty,” Sitting at the table, Jiang Cheng looked at his meat bun and then at the one Fatty had. He groused, “Why does yours have more meat?”

Fatty licked his lips and scratched his head, “Doctor, yours is the normal one. I combined the fillings of two buns in mine.” He explained, “You Qi didn’t come for breakfast, so I cut his open and took his meat.”

Jiang Cheng tutted. Then, he extended his hand and said officiously, “Fatty, eating too much meat is not good for you. Let’s exchange.”

Fatty instantly shielded his bun. With Jiang Cheng watching, the large bun was still leaking oil. It looked delicious. “Doctor,” Fatty admitted, “This bun is not for me. It is for the little beggar. I’ve seen the food she stole. It was all leftovers. They have no nutrients. She is still a growing child. She needs food.”

Jiang Cheng said excitedly, “I’m in my second puberty. I’m growing too!”

Fatty quickly hid the bun behind him. Thankfully, the Doctor was only complaining. In the end, he ate his own bun. “I’m full.” After a few bites, he tossed half the bun on the table. With an angry huff, he went back to bed. Staring at the leftovers, Fatty licked his lips. The meat inside the bun was exposed. It was so delicious.

“Doctor,” Fatty forced himself to look away from the food. He looked at the Doctor, who was lying in a strange pose. He asked with concern, “You didn’t sleep. How can you not eat?”

“I told you I’m full.” Jiang Cheng buried his face in the pillow. His voice sounded suppressed. Since the Doctor had said that, Fatty didn’t stand on ceremony. He licked his lips and picked up Jiang Cheng’s leftover bun. He took a big bite. He didn’t have a full breakfast. He only ate the outside bun of the meat bun. He saved all the meat for the little beggar.

Fatty discovered with surprise that the Doctor’s leftovers had a lot of meat. His lips were shiny from the oil. Before he swallowed, he had already taken the next bite. “Doctor,” He looked at Jiang Cheng, “Are you sure you don’t want another bite? It’s quite delicious…”

Fatty paused because he noticed the Doctor appeared to be looking at him through narrowed eyes. However, when he took a second look, the Doctor’s eyes were closed as if he were sleeping. Fatty couldn’t tell if he had seen the wrong thing. He probed, “Doctor?”

Jiang Cheng turned over and showed Fatty his back. Fatty sighed. It looked like the Doctor was soundly asleep.

Just as Fatty wondered when he would have the chance to see the little beggar again, someone knocked on their door. The knocking was soft. The person was polite. It didn’t appear to be the middle-aged woman or Xia Meng.

Jiang Cheng instantly sat up in bed.

“Is someone there?”

Fatty recognised it as Chen Qiang’s voice. His impression of the young man was not bad, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned to look at the Doctor. After all, he was the real decision-maker. After the Doctor nodded, Fatty jogged over to open the door.

When he saw Fatty and Jiang Cheng, Chen Qiang began politely, “Mr. Hao,” he nodded at Jiang Cheng first before addressing Fatty, “Brother Fatty, you’re both here. That’s great.”

“What is it?” Jiang Cheng asked directly.

“I… Can I move over here?” Chen Qiang lowered himself. He looked pitiable.

“Did something happen over at your place?” Jiang Cheng walked to the table and asked.

“Not really, but I’m the only one left,” Chen Jiang said, “This place is too dangerous, so I’m wondering if I can move over to stay with you.” He added, “Mr. Hao and Brother Fatty look like good people.”

“How come I don’t understand what you’re saying?” Jiang Cheng took a sip of the tea and smiled, “Do you mean there are bad people among us?”

Chen Qiang looked out the door before turning back to whisper, “After I returned to my room yesterday night, You Qi came to find me. He asked me some questions. Some of them…” He purposely paused to probe their reaction.

However…

“Fatty,” Jiang Cheng yawned audibly. He waved at Fatty, “Help me send Brother Xiao Chen away. I’m tired and need to sleep.”

Chen Qiang instantly added, “Some of the questions are related to Miss Xia Meng and Mr. Hao.” Knowing Jiang Cheng’s personality, Chen Qiang confessed everything, “Mr. You Qi leapt in through the window. He scared me tremendously. He looked so nervous. He asked me if I wanted to leave this place alive. If possible, he could help me.” He continued, “He could help me live and leave this nightmare.

“Of course, it comes with a condition. He wanted me to help him.” Chen Qiang shared his memory, “He asked me if I were familiar with your background. He said you, Miss Xia and Mr. An came from a mysterious group called Deep Red. You are brutal and cruel. If I don’t cooperate with him, you’ll come after me. Just like how you harmed Miss Zuo Qing and Miss Tang.” Chen Qiang said, “You Qi said they died in your hands. You used the ghost’s power to eliminate them.”

Jiang Cheng leaned back in his chair and asked in a strange tone, “How… did you know You Qi was lying?”

“I can feel that Mr. Hao and Brother Fatty.” Chen Qiang said, “Are good people. You Qi is the suspicious one. So…” Chen Qiang admitted, “I wish to stay with you. If you need something from me, just tell me.”

Jiang Cheng glanced at the young man. He looked younger than him. His face was very youthful. He probably hadn’t even left school. However, that didn’t take away from the fact that he was a clever man who had a great understanding of the situation.

“You can leave now.” Jiang Cheng said, “You can come back later.”

Chen Qiang nodded. “Thank you.” He left without saying something else. Before he left, Fatty wanted to ask something, but Chen Qiang showed no hesitation. Fatty thought he would beg to stay with them during the day or something.

After Chen Qiang left, Fatty told Jiang Cheng, “Doctor, I think he’s a good man.”

“I can’t say he’s a good man or not, but at least he’s not dumb,” Jiang Cheng commented.

“Doctor, do you suspect his motive?” Fatty looked at where Chen Qiang had disappeared. He frowned, “I don’t think so. His words were quite clear. He even told us he thought You Qi was suspicious. He definitely wouldn’t know about Deep Red if You Qi didn’t tell him.”

“That proves that he is not dumb.” Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, “In his mind, Xia Meng, An Xuan and I are one group. It’s clearly unrealistic to deal with three of us since they only have him and You Qi.” Jiang Cheng shook his head, “Therefore, his better choice is to join us. His goal is to survive. He doesn’t care about Deep Red.”

Fatty blinked, “In that case…”

Before he finished, rapid footsteps came from outside. Xia Meng’s face appeared at the door. “Come with me.” She didn’t look so good. “Butler Zhou wants us to move.”

“Where?”

“The Huang Residence is about to punish someone.” Xia Meng said, “He wants us to look.”

Along the way, everyone was anxious. Chen Qiang was with them. However, An Xuan and You Qi were missing. The middle-aged woman led the way from the front. Her gait was light and quick. Fatty had to run at times to keep up.

No one spoke. The punishment was not the goal, but the person being punished was. Two of them were missing… Would it be You Qi, or An Xuan?

Why were they captured and punished by the Huang Residence’s people?

With beating hearts, the travellers came to the secluded yard. The red gate door was closed. A young woman stood outside the gate. The woman’s eyes were listless. Her eyes started to focus when the group arrived before her.

“Wait outside,” The middle-aged woman told them coldly. “After the punishment is over, you’ll be summoned in.”

While Fatty hesitated, a dull thud came from inside the yard.

BANG!

It sounded like someone kicked a sandbag.

BANG!

BANG!

The sound echoed multiple times. It was strangely rhythmic, with two beats in one group.

Slowly, Fatty’s eyes changed. He felt… like he had heard this rhythm somewhere before.