The next morning, Lin Yan was roused by people outside, though she hadn't slept a wink all night.
After all, this place wasn't very safe. And while these people seemed amiable enough for now, it was just a polite prelude to force.
Once they realized she wasn't cooperating, they would quickly reveal their true colors.
Breakfast consisted of bread and milk, brought in by a middle-aged woman. Lin Yan found her face familiar; she must be one of the nannies in this villa complex.
"Miss Lin, Brother Zhang and the others have rather short tempers. You should listen to them. The world outside is too dangerous. Inside this villa complex alone, many people have turned into monsters.
It was so dangerous then. If not for Brother Zhang and his crew, we wouldn't have survived," the middle-aged woman advised earnestly.
Lin Yan, such a young girl, although formidable before, having gotten into a renowned university in the country.
But now, it was the apocalypse. In such chaotic times, strength was more important than academic qualifications. For a pretty young girl like her, who knew what she might encounter if she truly went out.
Staying here was far safer than leaving. Hadn't many people in the villa complex resigned themselves to fate?
Brother Zhang was quite polite to Lin Yan at the moment. If she truly refused a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, Brother Zhang and his crew weren't known for their patience.
"I haven't seen my parents yet. I'll talk about it after I see them," Lin Yan didn't want to waste her breath on this person.
Everyone could choose their own way of life. Some were willing to depend on others, but she was not. She believed her parents wouldn't want that either.
Even if she had no special abilities or martial arts, she would not choose to rely on others. She would survive by her own means.
"Miss Lin, you should think carefully. Mr. Lin and his wife's health might not allow them to leave with you," her words were pointed.
"What do you mean! What happened to my parents?" Lin Yan immediately stood up and approached the middle-aged woman, grabbing her collar.
The woman tried to dodge, but failed. A shock ran through her; this Miss Lin was indeed not as simple as her appearance suggested.
To have reached this place safely in this era, this Miss Lin must have some backing.
"Miss Lin, let go. I'm just the cook, I don't know much,"
She struggled to pry Lin Yan's hands off her, trying to break free.
"Then tell me what you know!" Lin Yan didn't let go. Instead, she tightened her grip, causing the middle-aged woman to feel a distinct lack of air.
"I only know that Mr. Lin and the others were injured before they were locked up. Brother Zhang and his crew didn't give them any medicine, so..."
Lin Yan didn't wait for her to finish before releasing her grip. The middle-aged woman immediately collapsed onto the ground.
"You can go. Tell that Brother Zhang that I want to see him!"
"Yes, yes, I'm going right away!" The middle-aged woman left Lin Yan's bedroom immediately.
However, a sense of resentment towards Lin Yan began to brew in her heart. The reason she could be the cook in this small base was because her son was a member of Brother Zhang's team.
Ever since Brother Zhang took charge of this villa complex, no one had dared to treat her like this.
Still, she couldn't do anything to Lin Yan now, as she was favored by Brother Zhang. Once Brother Zhang's novelty wore off, they'd see how arrogant she could still be!
Knowing she wanted to see Brother Zhang, someone quickly came to guide her.
"Miss Lin, have you made up your mind?" Zhang Hu asked with a lewd smile.
"I want to see my parents!"
"I will let Miss Lin see them, but shouldn't Miss Lin give me an answer?" Zhang Hu still wanted an answer from Lin Yan. He didn't want to resort to force for now, as there was no fun in anything obtained through coercion.
It would be more satisfying to have a proud woman like this willingly submit.
"After I see my parents, I will naturally give Brother Zhang an answer." Although Lin Yan felt that with Sui Sui around, her parents should be safe, she couldn't rest easy until she saw them.
"Alright, I'll let Miss Lin see your parents. Bring Mr. Lin and the others over." Brother Zhang turned and instructed the person standing nearby.
"Yes." Upon hearing the order, the person left immediately.
"Miss Lin, please have a seat. Your parents' location is still some distance away. You can wait here with peace of mind." Brother Zhang's attitude was gentle, yet his words were not to be defied.
"Thank you, Brother Zhang." Lin Yan sat down on the sofa nearby. Even if she hadn't sat, the two men behind her wouldn't have allowed her to disobey Brother Zhang's wishes.
After sitting down, Lin Yan remained silent, but Brother Zhang observed her with great interest.
"I wonder how Miss Lin made her way here. It must not have been very safe along the way, has it?" Zhang Hu asked Lin Yan as if chatting about everyday matters.
Lin Yan knew what he wanted to know, but she didn't respond. She simply looked towards the doorway.
"Miss Lin, Brother Zhang is asking you a question!" one of Zhang Hu's sycophants said.
"Ah Wei, don't be like that. If Miss Lin doesn't want to say, then don't. However, I believe Miss Lin will eventually be willing to tell me, won't you?"
Zhang Hu casually reprimanded the person next to him, then smiled and said to Lin Yan.
"I believe you will know very soon." Lin Yan turned her head back to look at Zhang Hu.
She had already heard from the system that her parents and Sui Sui were close to arriving.
"Oh? What does Miss Lin mean?"
Before Lin Yan could answer, several figures appeared in the doorway.
Lin Father and Lin Mother looked somewhat gaunt, but their clothes were clean and tidy. It seemed they had just changed, but the clothes that originally fit them now hung loosely.
"Yan Yan!"
"Sister!"
They were anxious to come over upon seeing Lin Yan, but were restrained by the people behind them.
"Mom, Dad, Sui Sui!" Lin Yan immediately stood up, looking at them with great concern. "Let them go!"
Lin Yan turned to look at Zhang Hu. She knew these people were acting on his orders.
"Miss Lin, there's no need to be in such a hurry. As long as you agree to my conditions, your parents and this little girl will be very safe.
Not only that, they will enjoy the highest standard of living in this base. Miss Lin, the outside is so dangerous. If your family of four goes out, you won't be able to live such a carefree life as you do here in the base." Zhang Hu's gaze towards Lin Yan was full of possessiveness. He didn't believe a girl like Lin Yan could do anything significant, especially with her parents and family in his hands.
"Yan Yan, don't agree to him, don't agree to him!"
"Yan Yan, we're fine. Don't agree to him."
Seeing Lin Father and Lin Mother desperately trying to break free and come over, Lin Yan's face tightened considerably.
"Zhang Hu, let them go. Or you will regret it!"