Chapter Sixty-Four: The Search!

Zhao Jun shook his beer belly, clearly hearing the sarcasm in Jiang Miao-miao's words. His face stiffened for a moment before he forced a smile and walked up to her, saying, "What you should worry about now is what you'll do next. If I find out who left your dormitory, you'll all be expelled from the safe zone just like her."

Jiang Miao-miao curled her lips, unafraid of Zhao Jun's threat. Still, she felt anxious since Qin Sheng hadn't returned yet, but she knew she had to stand up for Sheng-sheng now.

"In that case, Commander Zhao, if you don't find the person who supposedly escaped, won't you be accused of making false claims? Isn't that disrespectful to us?" she retorted with a smile, exchanging a glance with Ah Zhi.

Ah Zhi immediately understood and strode up to Zhao Jun, gritting her teeth. "Even if you're a commander, you can't just barge into someone else's room. If this weren't the apocalypse, you'd need a search warrant, wouldn't you?"

Jiang Miao-miao nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Commander Zhao, where's your search warrant? Don't tell me you don't have one. Seems you haven't paid much attention to military regulations, barging into citizens' rooms at will?"

She feigned horror, covering her mouth and widening her eyes at the now embarrassed Zhao Jun.

Ah Zhi curled her lips pitifully, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like the safe zone isn't so safe after all. The commander doesn't respect anyone. Weren't we supposed to be protected here? Why are citizens so powerless and insignificant..."

Zhao Tian-tian chimed in, nodding vigorously. "Right, right, I always thought Commander Zhao was the most approachable and friendly in the army..."

One after another, they echoed her words, and Zhao Jun could barely keep his composure.

"It's the apocalypse now, so of course we don't have search warrants. But the military and civilians are one family; we're only doing this for your safety. If the person who left brings back a virus..." Zhao Jun justified himself, leaving Jiang Miao-miao and Ah Zhi momentarily at a loss for a counterargument.

Jiang Miao-miao glanced at Ah Zhi, who shook her head and sighed helplessly.

"So, is there any other issue?" Zhao Jun, seeing their resigned faces, grinned broadly.

"Go in! Search!" he ordered. The soldiers behind him, rifles in hand, marched into the dorm and headed straight for Qin Sheng's room.

Ah Zhi and Jiang Miao-miao held their breath, hearts pounding. This search was clearly orchestrated, someone had immediately informed Zhao Jun about Qin Sheng's departure.

Not only did someone want them to starve here, but now they were looking for an excuse to drive them out.

Jiang Miao-miao clenched her fists, trying to appear calm.

Zhao Jun winked and sidled up to Jiang Miao-miao, smugly certain he would soon see them expelled from the safe zone.

"What are you afraid of, miss? Surely no one has really left, right?"

Jiang Miao-miao pressed her lips together, meeting Zhao Jun's gaze without flinching. "Commander Zhao is quite adept at spreading rumors."

Zhao Jun chuckled, moving even closer, forcing her to take two steps back.

He kept smiling. He'd met plenty of girls like Jiang Miao-miao, playing hard to get, but in the end, even the most stubborn ones submitted to him.

He was only offering Jiang Miao-miao a chance to stay.

"If I recall, your name is Miao-miao, isn't it?"

Standing before her, his gaze turned lewd.

Jiang Miao-miao sensed his ill intentions and edged closer to Ah Zhi, replying with suspicion, "What does that have to do with you, Commander Zhao?"

Zhao Jun crossed his arms with a grin, ignoring her hostility. "I like your name."

Ah Zhi clenched her fists and shot back, "What does it matter if it's nice? Are you planning to buy it?"

Zhao Jun knew Ah Zhi was quick-tongued and disliked her, so he ignored her.

"If your friend is expelled from the safe zone, you'll leave too." He moved closer to Jiang Miao-miao, reiterating the threat.

She understood the consequences, but didn't care—wherever she went, as long as she was with Qin Sheng.

"Commander Zhao, are you so certain my friend left the safe zone?" she countered, not falling for his trap.

Zhao Jun, seeing his ruse fail, forced a smile.

"Commander! The search is complete—one missing," a soldier reported, confirming Qin Sheng wasn't in the room.

Zhao Jun looked Jiang Miao-miao up and down, his oily face grinning. "Now it's not just me making things up. You're missing someone—your good friend, Qin Sheng, right?"

Jiang Miao-miao clenched her fists, eyes wide. "Even if Qin Sheng isn't here, how can you be sure she left the safe zone?"

Zhao Jun, tired of banter, said impatiently, "I'm sure you know better than me where she went."

Jiang Miao-miao bit her lip, refusing to fall into his trap.

"Exactly! Qin Sheng just went out for a walk early in the morning. What makes you say she escaped? Shouldn't you need evidence?" Ah Zhi jumped in to shield Jiang Miao-miao.

Zhao Jun raised his eyebrows, rubbing his palms, and leaned in close to Jiang Miao-miao, whispering, "There are ways to keep your friends from being expelled..."

Jiang Miao-miao looked up, meeting his calculating gaze.

"As long as you stick with me, you can do whatever you like in the safe zone..."

He raised his hand and lightly placed it on Jiang Miao-miao's shoulder. Seeing no resistance, he gripped it more boldly, his hand creeping toward more intimate territory. Just as he was about to touch her, he felt a sharp pain. Looking down, he found a long needle embedded near his artery.

It was clear someone had aimed just a few centimeters from the main artery.

"Who?!"

Jiang Miao-miao clenched her fists—she'd almost fallen into Zhao Jun's trap!

"Commander Zhao, long time no see," came a cool female voice from the room, carrying the innate authority and intimidating presence of a leader.

The moment they heard that familiar voice, Jiang Miao-miao and the others felt their hearts drop from their throats—they knew Qin Sheng would return!

Zhao Jun, enduring the pain, looked at Qin Sheng as she stepped out from the room, visibly flustered. He hurriedly shouted to his team, "Seize her! She's the one who left the safe zone!"

The soldiers quickly surrounded Qin Sheng.

"Qin Sheng, you ran off—why come back now? Trying to get yourself caught?" Zhao Jun shouted, clutching his bleeding hand.

Qin Sheng crossed her arms, leaning lazily against the wall, replying with calm indifference, "Where did Commander Zhao get the idea that I left the safe zone?"

"It was that little girl..." Zhao Jun almost revealed his informant, but quickly changed his tune. "It's none of your business. There's evidence you left the safe zone alone."

Qin Sheng, seeing he wouldn't reveal his source, idly fiddled with her nails and replied with amusement, "Commander Zhao, you must be mistaken. I've been here sleeping all morning. If your men couldn't find me, maybe they're not competent enough."

Zhao Jun looked at the lead searcher, who shook his head, confirming Qin Sheng hadn't been in the room.

Feeling reassured, Zhao Jun grinned, "Stubborn girls always suffer for it."

He brazenly eyed Qin Sheng up and down, his gaze lingering on her figure.

Qin Sheng remained unruffled. "Commander Zhao, why not produce evidence that I left the safe zone, like surveillance records?"

Zhao Jun was momentarily speechless. He'd rushed over as soon as he got the tip—he hadn't bothered with any surveillance footage.

Qin Sheng noticed his panic, lowered her arms, and strode up to Zhao Jun, her disdainful smile and imposing aura making him shrink.

"Judging me without evidence—doesn't that mean I could accuse you of abusing your power for personal gain?"

Zhao Jun grew even more anxious. Few people knew about his misdeeds, most were willing participants, but Qin Sheng's words made it sound like she knew something.

That suspicion gnawed at him, but after a few seconds of thought, he forced another broad smile. "Seems Qin Sheng didn't really leave the safe zone. I must have been too anxious. The outside is dangerous, after all, I was only doing my duty."

Qin Sheng curled her lips, her gaze never once settling on Zhao Jun, but instead on Jiang Miao-miao across the room.

Her expression grew complicated; if she hadn't returned in time, Jiang Miao-miao would have had no choice but to submit to Zhao Jun for her sake—the consequences unthinkable.

"In that case, Commander Zhao, I forgive you. Now, kindly see yourself out," Qin Sheng said, shutting down any further probing.

Defeated, Zhao Jun slunk away with his team.