Chapter 30: The Abacus Gambit

"Envious?" Mu Chen let out a scoff, putting away his phone with a tone full of disdain. "Envy is worth nothing. Instead of wasting time being bitter about others, you'd be better off going out there and fighting for yourself. If you want something, go out and take it!"

After the meal, Chen Si took the initiative to clear the table. "I'll wash them," she said.

Chen Jiahe started to protest, but the words died in her throat.

"It's fine, I'm happy to do it," Chen Si said, picking up the dishes and heading straight to the kitchen.

Watching her busy figure in the kitchen, a whirlwind of complex emotions surged within Chen Jiahe.

Once the dishes were cleaned, Chen Si returned to the living room, standing there with a hint of hesitation. "Um..." she faltered, "shouldn't I... go back to Building 11 now?"

Mu Chen glanced at the ink-black sky outside the window. "It's dark. It's not safe out there."

"Then I..." Chen Si looked even more uneasy.

"Just stay here for the night," Mu Chen decided. "You can head back tomorrow morning."

Chen Jiahe looked up abruptly, staring at Mu Chen.

Chen Si felt her cheeks grow warm. "Would that... be too much trouble for you?"

"It's no trouble. You can sleep on the sofa," Mu Chen replied casually.

"I'll go get some bedding," Chen Jiahe said, standing up and walking toward the bedroom with slightly stiff movements.

Chen Si watched her go, a barely perceptible smile touching the corners of her lips.

***

At the same time, in Room 1203 of Building 6.

Pan Guang lay sprawled on his bed, his shoulder wrapped in thick gauze, his face deathly pale.

Xiao Mu walked in softly, carrying a bowl of hot porridge. "Brother Guang, have some porridge to warm yourself up."

Pan Guang took the bowl, managed two sips, and pushed it aside. "No appetite."

"Brother Guang, does the wound still hurt?"

"I'm not dead yet!" Pan Guang gritted his teeth, each word squeezed out from between them. "I've logged this grudge. I will have my revenge!"

Xiao Mu's phone suddenly vibrated. He glanced at the screen. "Brother Guang, there's a new message in the residents' group."

"What message?" Pan Guang asked, his voice raspy.

Xiao Mu opened the group chat. The photo Mu Chen had posted came into view, and he froze on the spot.

"Let me see," Pan Guang commanded, reaching out.

Xiao Mu hurriedly handed him the phone. Seeing the photo, the muscles in Pan Guang's face twitched uncontrollably.

"Good... very good..." he hissed through his teeth, his voice heavy with suppressed rage. "I'm here suffering and nursing my wounds, while that bastard Mu Chen is over there feasting and living the good life!"

"Brother Guang, should we have the boys..." Xiao Mu made a throat-slitting gesture, his eyes cold and vicious.

"Obviously, yes!" Pan Guang slammed the phone onto the bed with a dull thud. "But there's no rush. Wait until I'm fully healed!"

"So for now... we just sit here and wait?" Xiao Mu asked, sounding unwilling.

Pan Guang narrowed his eyes, pondering for a moment. "Send a few people over to keep a close watch on him. Find out his routine and his patterns of movement."

"Understood!" Xiao Mu replied immediately.

"Remember," Pan Guang's voice carried a bone-chilling coldness, "this time, he must not get away!"

In Room 1203, Pan Guang leaned back against the headboard while Xiao Mu leaned over to change the gauze on his shoulder with gentle movements.

"Brother Guang, look at this wound. It's healing quite fast. I reckon it'll be fine in a few more days," Xiao Mu remarked as he worked, trying to sound casual.

Pan Guang let out a cold snort. "That piece of trash, Mu Chen—I'm going to skin him alive!"

Xiao Mu’s hands paused for a split second before he continued wrapping the gauze as if nothing had happened. "Brother Guang, I’ve had something on my mind. I don't know if I should ask."

"Spit it out."

"Your incredible ability... how exactly did you get it?" Xiao Mu lowered his voice intentionally. "The brothers are all incredibly envious, wondering if we might have a chance at such good fortune ourselves."

Pan Guang glanced at him sideways, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Want to learn?"

"Of course I do!" A flicker of well-hidden desire flashed in Xiao Mu's eyes. "If you’re willing to offer some guidance, we’d all follow your lead and go through fire and water for you!"

Flattered by the praise and feeling better as his wounds healed, Pan Guang was in high spirits. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you. The night the black fog first descended, I was wandering around downstairs and found a pitch-black fruit, about the size of a fist. It smelled strange and fragrant, so I swallowed it in one go. That’s when I awakened my telekinesis, damn it."

Xiao Mu listened intently, his grip tightening unconsciously.

"Hiss—" Pan Guang gasped in pain, cursing, "Fuck! Are you trying to cripple me?"

"Sorry, sorry, Brother Guang!" Xiao Mu hurriedly let go, his mind racing. A black fruit? If he could just get lucky and find one too...

Pan Guang didn't notice Xiao Mu's secret thoughts and continued rambling. "It's a pity, that stuff is extremely rare. I've only ever seen it that one time."

"Then... Brother Guang, will there be more of those fruits in the future?"

"Who the hell knows." Pan Guang waved his hand impatiently. "Enough, stop daydreaming about things that aren't there. Right, what about that woman we grabbed? How is she?"

Xiao Mu immediately refocused and replied respectfully, "You mean Chen Xiaoxiao? As you ordered, she’s locked in the next room. She's been crying and wailing; it’s quite annoying."

"Bring her over. I'll question her myself." Pan Guang licked his cracked lips. "She's quite a looker; it would be a shame to waste her."

Xiao Mu caught his meaning, said "Yes," and turned to leave the room.

In Room 1204 next door, Chen Xiaoxiao was tied to a chair with thick hemp rope, tear tracks streaking her face. When she heard the door open, she snapped her head up.

"Please, let me go! I didn't do anything wrong!" Her voice was choked with sobs and filled with despair.

Xiao Mu walked in slowly, a cold, sharp smile on his face. "Crying? Are you at a funeral? If you have the spare energy to shed tears, you’d be better off figuring out how to serve Brother Guang well."

"I... I don't know what you're talking about..." Chen Xiaoxiao shrank back.

"Playing dumb with me?" Xiao Mu stepped forward and grabbed her chin with a firm grip. "Brother Guang wants to see you now. Be sensible and do as you're told. Otherwise..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the chill of his threat permeated the air.

Chen Xiaoxiao trembled violently. "What... what do you want? Is it money? I can give you money! I have plenty of money!"

"Money?" Xiao Mu let out a loud, mocking laugh. "In this hellish world, what is money worth? It's you I want!"

"No! Please, no!" Chen Xiaoxiao screamed in terror, shaking her head frantically. "Please, I'm only twenty! I don't want to die! I really don't want to die!"

Xiao Mu leaned down, whispering into her ear, his voice low like a serpent flicking its tongue. "Want to live? It’s not entirely impossible. Just be a good girl and make Brother Guang happy, and who knows—he might be in a good enough mood to spare your little life."