Chapter 19: A Murder Has Occurred

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She had specifically changed this door before the extreme cold arrived. The attempt to break in had failed, but it left marks on the door. Meng Ran turned around, shining her flashlight down the hallway—who could have done this?

Everyone on this floor kept their doors tightly shut, and the surveillance cameras had no power, so it was unclear who had committed this foolish act.

A faint glimmer passed through Meng Ran’s eyes. She entered her room first, then immediately retreated into the space.

Thankfully, she had kept Nian Nian inside the space all along; otherwise, something would surely have happened to her out here.

“What’s wrong?”

Nian Nian had followed Meng Ran into the space and hadn’t heard the commotion outside.

“Someone tried to break into our home, but we don’t know who yet.”

They had failed this time, but they would surely come again.

Meng Ran couldn’t just wait idly; she needed to find out who had set their sights on her.

There was no activity in the property management group chat, nor was anyone mentioning her. It was most likely a few residents from this building.

Grandma Liu, the couple next door, or a few other households who had little contact with her—all were possible suspects.

Nian Nian was a bit scared. Meng Ran placed her hand gently on her head: “Don’t worry, they won’t discover the space.”

The space was their secret refuge, and Meng Ran could use it to deal with those coveting her supplies.

The speed at which things were developing surprised Meng Ran. In just a few days, people like Fang Weiwen had increased significantly.

On Fang Weiwen’s side, they had already managed to locate the property management bureau.

Zhao Weijie led the way cautiously, stretching his neck to peek around the corner.

“This is the place.”

Fang Weiwen switched off his flashlight. “There shouldn’t be many people in the bureau. We have numbers on our side; we’ll grab what we need and leave.”

Zhao Weijie agreed but they still hadn’t discussed how to divide the supplies.

“Fang Weiwen, how are we going to split the supplies?”

Before entering, Zhao Weijie needed clarity.

Fang Weiwen had been evasive earlier, but now, when pressed, he answered matter-of-factly: “I’ll distribute whatever we take. Got a problem with that?”

No one behind him would challenge his words; Zhao Weijie felt reluctant but said nothing—as long as he got some supplies, that was enough.

There had to be plenty in the property management office. Even a little would keep them going for days.

“Move.”

Fang Weiwen grabbed a fire axe and approached, with others following, wielding kitchen knives.

Zhao Weijie tightened his grip on a makeshift club made of several iron pipes bound together.

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That night, Shao Cheng was on watch, wrapped in a blanket with a heat pack stuck to him, sitting on the sofa. He yawned and placed a desk lamp in front of himself.

Outside came the creaking sound of snow piling up against the first-floor door. Shao Cheng turned his head and saw snow tumbling down, blocking the entrance. Several shadowy figures were approaching.

Shao Cheng snapped awake and lifted the desk lamp as he moved toward the door.

Fang Weiwen and his group made no attempt to hide; they smashed the locked glass door with the fire axe.

“What do you want?”

The lamp’s light illuminated their twisted faces, and Shao Cheng broke out in a cold sweat.

Fang Weiwen grabbed Shao Cheng by the collar. “Cut the crap! Hand over all your food and drink!”

Upstairs, Wang Ruixiang and Qu Zixuan were also awakened by the noise. They hurriedly dressed and came down, armed for self-defense.

Seeing the men in the lobby, Wang Ruixiang’s heart sank halfway.

Fang Weiwen was notorious, and under the lamp’s glow, he was unmistakably recognized.

Wang Ruixiang looked at Shao Cheng, who was held by Fang Weiwen. “If there’s something to discuss, don’t get violent.”

Fang Weiwen ignored him and tossed Shao Cheng to the men behind him.

“Hand over your food and drink, and maybe I’ll spare your lives.”

True to his rogue nature, Fang Weiwen had fewer men, so they had no choice but to swallow their losses silently.

“All right, Qu Zixuan, go upstairs and get it for them.”

Qu Zixuan fumed but with four men against his fists, he had no choice but to comply.

Fang Weiwen called after him, “Hey! We’ll find it ourselves.”

Qu Zixuan couldn’t help but say, “You’re not leaving us anything at all!”

“Go find out. When have I ever shared what I want?”

Fang Weiwen’s men surged forward, grabbing the three as they ascended.

All their supplies were here. Zhao Weijie saw plenty of food.

Fang Weiwen’s eyes gleamed.

“Bread, biscuits, instant noodles, sandwiches—you really hid quite a lot.”

Wang Ruixiang gritted his teeth, still hoping to negotiate.

“You have to leave us something, or how are we supposed to survive the days ahead?”

Fang Weiwen waved his hand, signaling to move the supplies downstairs.

They had gone through the trouble of digging through the snow and hauling carts all this way; at least it wasn’t for nothing.

Zhao Weijie was quick and slipped a few small items into his coat pocket without being noticed.

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Qu Zixuan tried to break free and rush forward but was kicked to the ground by Fang Weiwen. Two men pinned his shoulders.

Fang Weiwen pressed his muddy, snow-mixed boot onto Qu Zixuan’s face.

“If any of you resist again, I’ll kill you!”

A cruel gleam shone in Fang Weiwen’s eyes. These past few days had been the most comfortable he had experienced.

In the chaos, with no one to stop them, it was the perfect breeding ground for his malice.

The entire floor had to obey his every command. He had never felt so powerful.

Seeing resistance only fed his cruelty. He raised the fire axe, pressing it against Qu Zixuan’s neck.

Qu Zixuan’s face was pressed to the cold floor.

“Zhao Weijie! Are you the bastard who incited this?” Qu Zixuan spat bitterly. It was Zhao Weijie who had caused trouble in the group chat, and now Zhao Weijie was with Fang Weiwen, confirming everything.

Zhao Weijie’s expression remained calm. “Those supplies were meant for us all along. Didn’t you keep them for yourselves?”

In truth, that was correct. The three had selfishly hoarded the supplies.

Finding no good news outside, they had been preparing for the worst.

Watching box after box being taken away, Qu Zixuan’s heart bled. He dared not imagine how they’d survive without food.

“Brother Fang, there are heat packs too.”

The man spoke as he tore open a pack and tucked it into his clothes, patting it contentedly.

Fang Weiwen’s group had just run out of heat packs; Wang Ruixiang and the others had arrived just in time.

Qu Zixuan struggled, and Fang Weiwen’s anger flared.

“I told you, all these supplies belong to us.”

With a swift strike, he severed Qu Zixuan’s hand.

Qu Zixuan’s scream was piercing. Shao Cheng’s knees buckled, and he collapsed, trembling.

Wang Ruixiang covered his mouth, wanting to vomit. The pungent scent of blood filled the room.

Fang Weiwen stood, kicking the wailing Qu Zixuan aside and hoisting a box to carry downstairs.

Zhao Weijie glanced back once. With Qu Zixuan’s hand gone and no hospital to go to, he wouldn’t survive.

Fang Weiwen was a killer, and Zhao Weijie shuddered at the thought. Fortunately, he hadn’t made an enemy of Fang Weiwen beyond repair.