Chapter Thirty-Three: Schemes

Laura's expression darkened. The man's tone was so casual, and most crucially, her own daughter nodded with the same natural ease, as if agreeing to go buy a bottle of soy sauce. This guy had only known her daughter for a few days and had already taught her to behave like this? Laura bit her thumb, her opinion of Guo Lang sinking even lower.

Guo Lang paid no attention to Laura’s expression. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared. If it weren’t for Alice, he wouldn’t bother accommodating this woman. He’d have long since dragged her to the basement... whips and candles—heh heh heh!

He glanced around stealthily. There were nearly a hundred people here, with fifty or sixty women and children. Adding the police, prison guards, and about thirty able-bodied workers, he thought to himself, I was just worrying about where to find people—now I have everything I need. The only question now was, how to let that gorilla of a man know his woman had cheated on him?

Guo Lang observed the crowd. Most people wore warm, kind expressions. Only a handful looked otherwise; aside from the protagonist, Jerry, whose face was ashen, a few in police uniforms also looked peculiar. Finally, there was the female soldier, Kelly, whose expression was clearly unpleasant.

There’s a story here... Guo Lang eyed Kelly. Could it be that the gorilla and this woman had something going on? He hadn’t noticed anything a few days ago. That big guy always seemed so upright—could he really have such affairs? Or was he, just like me, all outward propriety and inner wildness? No, just a man being a man.

No matter what, Kelly seemed a good entry point. Having thought it through, Guo Lang sneaked over with a face full of concern. “What’s wrong? Not feeling well?”

Lost in her own thoughts, Kelly was startled by the sudden voice and the face that had appeared so close. Instinctively, she threw a punch. As a special forces soldier, her close combat skills were excellent, and she held a high position within the team. Although women generally lacked explosive strength, they made up for it with coordination and control, and their accuracy was higher. Even so, at such close range, Guo Lang casually caught her fist.

“I’m showing concern for you, and this is how you repay me?” Guo Lang rolled his eyes.

“Sorry, it wasn’t intentional.” Kelly withdrew her hand, embarrassed, and tried to change the subject. “You’re pretty skilled. Even our captain wouldn’t have reacted that quickly at this range. You’ve used that so-called genetic serum, haven’t you? Between you and that little girl of yours, who’s stronger?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Didn’t you see how respectful she is to me? My authority as her father isn’t for nothing!” Guo Lang replied shamelessly, but he wasn’t about to let her change the subject. He winked and said, “Your boss’s wife is really pretty. He’s a lucky man.”

Kelly’s face went pale, and she forced a smile. “Yes, she’s a beautiful woman. I suppose men all like that sort of type?”

“Who says so? I just like our Alice!”

“Uh!” Kelly stared at Guo Lang in shock and took two steps away from him, clearly distancing herself. Guo Lang’s face stiffened as he realized she’d misunderstood and hurried to change the subject. “Well, men’s preferences are mostly the same—fair skin, good looks, a curvy figure—just as women have their own standards.” He pointed to Jerry at the staircase. “For example, that officer is quite popular with you girls, isn’t he?”

Kelly glanced at the handsome officer and replied coolly, “Not everyone likes pretty boys. Sometimes, a man with real masculinity, like our boss, is very attractive too.”

Masculinity? In what sense? Guo Lang’s mind immediately conjured up a host of indecent scenarios.

“But I think if that officer were with Mary, things would look more natural. Pairing your boss with that beauty is just odd.”

Kelly shot him a look but didn’t reply. In truth, she agreed that the two were unsuitable. Guo Lang’s hints drew her attention to Jerry, and she quickly noticed his unusual expression and subtle movements. With her background in reconnaissance, she was quick to read the situation—almost instantly, she reached the same conclusion as Guo Lang. Glancing at Mary, she saw the flush on her face—not as obvious as Guo Lang might see, but still noticeable. It could be excitement or something else, but it was enough to raise her suspicion.

When their group had arrived, the commotion had drawn nearly everyone out—everyone except Jerry and Mary, who had been upstairs. What had they been doing?

Putting everything together, Kelly reached the same conclusion as Guo Lang. Lowering her head, she allowed a mysterious smile to curl her lips.

“You’re smiling like a villain,” Guo Lang reminded her.

“I am not!” Kelly replied, obviously flustered.

Guo Lang chuckled inwardly. Sure enough, no matter the type, even the most straightforward tomboy could turn scheming in certain situations.

“Dad!” A little girl in a dress ran down the stairs, her face lighting up as she threw herself at Thomas. He caught her joyfully, showered her with kisses, and then swung her high into the air, making her giggle with delight.

Mary, standing nearby, looked complicated, while Jerry at the stairs looked positively ill.

“What a heartwarming scene,” Kelly, now in full villain mode, sneered. Guo Lang could only roll his eyes and sigh inwardly, “What a fine woman she used to be—now look at her!”

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That afternoon, everyone gathered on the prison yard. The cafeteria was too small to fit so many, and with Thomas bringing another fifty or so people, the space was even tighter, so they all ate outside.

Dinner was a can of fruit and a can of meat per person—already a generous meal for survivors in such times. In fact, the prison’s supplies were running low; Jerry had already planned to organize a scavenging party soon.

At dinner, Jerry sat beside Thomas and, rather coincidentally, next to Mary. Mary kept her head down, shifting closer to Thomas. Guo Lang and Laura sat near Kelly, while Alice, Anna, and David’s sister sat between the two groups.

“So, Thomas, earlier you said this disaster is global. Has the army begun retaking the cities?”

Thomas and his soldiers’ faces fell. Thomas replied stiffly, “We’re still preparing.”

“Preparing?” Jerry frowned. “So, are you here on a mission?”

That was a sharp question. If the army was still preparing, what were they doing here? Was this an official military action or something private? If the latter, then they could be labeled deserters, which would mean the force before them was all there was—no reinforcements coming. In that case, there was still hope...

Guo Lang watched the police chief with interest, thinking to himself that this man was certainly not one to sit quietly.

Thomas glanced back, his expression darkening. He, too, had a reconnaissance background. How could he not notice his wife’s odd behavior? He barely knew this man, so why was his wife and daughter receiving special treatment? Clearly, the man was after his wife. Still, the idea that his wife had already betrayed him hadn’t occurred to him—it had only been a week, after all. That sort of thing would take time. If Guo Lang could hear his inner monologue, he’d have mocked him: “Sometimes things happen faster than you think, and you can’t always judge by common sense!”

From the look on Jerry’s face, the man wasn’t about to give up. To salvage his image as a soldier, Thomas wiped his mouth and declared, “Military orders. We’re to accompany this gentleman to Hainan Island to establish a research base.”

“A research base? For what?” Jerry was caught off guard.

“It’s classified, but it’ll be announced eventually. Since you ask, we’re working on genetic serums to immunize against the virus.”

“Immunity?” The people around them brightened—perhaps the government would soon restore order.

But Thomas’s special forces group, including Guo Lang, exchanged odd glances. Who would have thought this big, honest man could lie so smoothly?

Still, the statement was a gesture. Guo Lang was pleased. Thomas had found his wife and daughter; now, he wanted the gene serum. Even if his words were meant to fool Jerry, they revealed a willingness to cooperate.

But Guo Lang wasn’t content with just the fifty or so people Thomas brought—he was very interested in the nearly hundred prisoners as well.

“So, you’re taking Mary and Anna with you on this mission...?”

“Yes, I’ll bring them. It’ll be safe at the base, and we have plenty of supplies.”

“That doesn’t sound very safe...”

“I’ll protect them!” Thomas’s tone carried a trace of steel.

Jerry’s face went rigid, but he fell silent.

Come on, do it! Don’t lose your nerve now, or I’ll lose all respect for you! Guo Lang grew anxious as Jerry backed down. If you want the girl, you have to take action—no one is armed now, the timing is perfect! Guo Lang had already noticed the gun tucked at Jerry’s waist.

But things didn’t develop as Guo Lang hoped—no one started anything, and the tension fizzled.

While the adults’ side of things was fraught with intrigue, the children remained unaffected. Alice seemed very interested in Anna, tugging at her hair or pinching her cheeks as if she’d found a new toy. Anna, shy and reserved, did her best to avoid Alice’s mischief during dinner.

“Alice, don’t bully her!” Laura scolded, fulfilling her duty as a mother.

“Hmph...” Alice pouted, then turned to Guo Lang. “Daddy, is it true that if the father is black, the child will be black too?”

Guo Lang snorted. “You’re too innocent. The powerful genes of black people are beyond your imagination. Whether the father or the mother is black, the child will be black.”

“Oh!” Alice looked impressed.

“What are you teaching her all day?” Laura glared at Guo Lang.

“So Auntie’s baby will be black too?” Alice pointed at Mary curiously.

“Wha... what baby?” Thomas’s face went stiff, and everyone, led by Guo Lang, was stunned by Alice’s question.

“Huh? Didn’t you hear it?” Alice tilted her head with innocent confusion. “Auntie has something in her tummy!”

Both Thomas and Jerry stared at Mary, who instinctively placed her hand on her abdomen. Everyone’s faces twisted into strange expressions, and the entire atmosphere dropped to freezing in an instant.