Director Sun, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was low but firm. "Where is Lu Zhou now?"
Mrs. Lu hesitated for a mont before answering. "In his room... We—" Her voice trembled. "We wanted to look at him one last ti before he gets cremated."
Cremated.
Qingran’s fingers curled slightly. They were in a rush to destroy the body. If she didn’t see him now, there would be no way to examine him later.
She kept her voice even. "Can we see him?"
Mrs. Lu blinked in surprise but nodded. "Of course... This way."
As they followed her down the hallway, Qingran’s mind raced. Heart failure was the official cause, but Lu Zhou had been perfectly healthy before this. His sudden death didn’t make sense.
The scent of incense filled the air as Mrs. Lu opened the door.
Lu Zhou’s body lay on the bed, dressed in a plain white shirt and black slacks. His hands were folded neatly over his stomach, and his face...
Qingran’s breath hitched.
His skin was unnaturally pale, with a faint blueish-purple tint spreading across his face and hands.
Her eyes widened.
No.
This wasn’t just heart failure.
He was turning.
Zombification had already begun.
Lingquan’s voice rang sharply in her mind. [Qingqing, we need to leave. Now.]
She forced her expression to remain calm, even as her pulse quickened. No one here knew about zombies yet. If they wasted any more ti, Lu Zhou might turn completely—right in front of his grieving family.
And if that happened... it would be dangerous.
Qingran took a slow breath, forcing her expression to remain neutral. Right now, no one knew the existence of zombies, and she had no way to explain this without sounding insane.
She couldn’t tell Director Sun. She couldn’t contact the governnt either. If she did, they’d likely brush her off—or worse, start looking at her too closely. Right now, she had no proof. If she said sothing reckless, she’d only make herself suspicious.
Which ant she had only one option.
Feng Yizhou.
She’d have to tell him later.
For now, she needed to act fast.
She turned to Mrs. Lu, her voice carefully asured. "I understand that you want to keep him here for a little longer, but... have you arranged for the cremation?"
Mrs. Lu nodded, wiping her eyes. "Yes, the crematorium is scheduled for tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow morning. That was too late.
At this rate, Lu Zhou wouldn’t last the night as a corpse.
Qingran only nodded, keeping her expression neutral. There was nothing she could say—not yet. The most she could do was ensure she stayed ahead of whatever was coming.
The rest of their visit was brief. After a few more words with the grieving family, they stepped out of the house. Director Sun didn’t say much as they left, but his brows were furrowed, clearly deep in thought. Zhou Min glanced at her now and then as if expecting her to say sothing, but she didn’t.
By the ti they reached the facility, Qingran didn’t bother staying any longer than necessary. She headed straight for her office, packed her things, and clocked out.
Lingquan snickered. [So eager to leave.]
"I’m on a schedule," she muttered, checking the ti as she walked to her car. 4:30 PM. She had dinner with Feng Yizhou at 7, which gave her just enough ti for a little detour.
Her fingers drumd against the steering wheel. There was sothing she couldn’t shake about the whole Tzang Yichen situation. If he really was her brother, then she needed to know exactly what that ant. And she wasn’t the type to sit around waiting for answers to fall into her lap.
"Ling, can you include on the visitor list to see Tzang Yichen today?"
[Already done.] Lingquan’s response was instant, smug. [A little tweak in the system, and congratulations—you have an official appointnt.]
Qingran smirked. "Good. Let’s see what this so-called brother of mine is really like."
Sliding into the driver’s seat, she started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. The drive to Tzang Entertainnt wasn’t long, but traffic at this hour was a ss.
She maneuvered through the streets with practiced ease, her mind already running through the possible outcos of this eting.
Tzang Yichen was powerful. If he had even the slightest inkling of who she was, there was no way he wouldn’t have looked into her background.
The real question was whether he’d acknowledge her or pretend she didn’t exist.
Lingquan humd lazily. [You sound tense. Worried about eting big brother?]
"Worried?" Qingran scoffed. "I just don’t like walking into situations blind. And this one is a ss."
[So dramatic.] Lingquan snickered. [Just charm him like you do everyone else. Flash a smile, bat your lashes—]
"Shut up."
[Ooh, soone’s nervous.]
She ignored him.
By the ti she reached Tzang Entertainnt, it was nearing 5 PM. The towering glass building lood above her as she stepped out of her car, adjusting her coat.
A receptionist greeted her the mont she entered the lobby.
"Hello. How may I help you?"
Qingran nodded and replied "I booked an appointnt here..."
The receptionist nodded as she checked the records, she saw Qingran’s na a little lower.
"Miss Gu, welco. I’ll call CEO Tzang so see if he’s ready to see you?"
Qingran nodded and waited as the receptionist made the call.
"President Tzang, a miss Gu is here to see you.."
"..."
"Mhm..I don’t rember any appointnts but it seems her na is here. Send her up.."
The receptionist nodded and ended the call.
"CEO Tzang will see you now. Please take the elevator and head to the 14th floor."
"Thank you."
Qingran thanked the receptionist as she headed to the elevator.
[That went easy enough]
Qingran leaned against the wall, Tzang Yichen, the Tzang family, what would be his reaction to know he had a younger sister sowhere?
Soon after a ding was heard.
"I guess we’ll have to find out.."
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