9 PM, CDC office, 3rd floor.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his brow.
A list was spread out on the table—the roster of new personnel at the mining site.
He read it over and over, calculating in his mind how to assign their positions.
Rick Grimes, former deputy sheriff.
Shane Walsh, former police officer.
Merle Dixon, former thug and troublemaker.
And Daryl Dixon—unemployed, this guy hadn't arrived yet, out hunting and hadn't returned, but his brother would surely come too.
The people at the mining site were basically all here.
Wu Fan put down the list and looked out at the pitch-black night sky through the window.
In the direction of Atlanta in the distance, sporadic fires could occasionally be seen—he didn't know if they were caused by survivors or Walkers.
Rick, Shane, Merle, Daryl... these important characters from the original story were now gathered under his command.
But how to use them?
Promote them directly? Let them be squad leaders?
Wu Fan shook his head.
No.
They were the protagonists of the original story, sure, but this was the real world now.
In the apocalypse, the capable should lead; he couldn't give them special privileges just because they were "plot characters".
Those veteran employees who came early—Brock, Sandra, Marcus, and the others—had followed him through life and death, sweeping out Walkers, clearing the surroundings, to earn today's situation.
If the newcomers were placed directly above them, morale would collapse.
There had to be an assessment.
Schedule a competition next week and let everyone compete fairly.
Whoever had the ability would take the position, whoever had the guts would lead.
That was decided.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and a faint scent of perfume drifted in.
Amy stood at the doorway.
She was wearing a revealing V-neck dress, pure white, which made her skin look even fairer.
The dress wasn't long, just covering the middle of her thighs, and she wore silver high heels.
Her hair was let down, draped over her shoulders, looking a bit more tender and charming than the capable secretary during the day.
Wu Fan froze for a moment, then smiled.
"I don't think this is the place for a party, Miss Amy."
Amy walked in, her high heels tapping a crisp rhythm on the floor.
She walked to the desk, braced her hands on the surface, and leaned forward slightly, making the view inside the V-neck even clearer.
"No..."
She said, her voice low: "This is the place for a party, a private dance for the two of us."
Wu Fan looked at her, his gaze sliding from her face to that V-neck, then sliding back.
He reached out and pressed the player on the side.
Music started—"A Diabolic Waltz", a waltz with a mysterious and seductive tone.
Amy's eyes lit up: "OMG! How do you have this?"
"Secret."
Wu Fan stood up and reached out to her: "Would you like to dance, Miss Amy?"
Amy placed her hand in his palm.
The two spun slowly in the office.
There was no dance floor, no lights, only moonlight spilling through the window, and that eerie waltz.
Amy leaned on his shoulder and whispered: "You know, I never thought there could be such a night in the apocalypse."
Wu Fan didn't speak, just held her tighter.
The music continued.
Spinning, spinning, spinning.
Until the last note fell.
Wu Fan looked down at her.
Amy looked up, something flickering in her eyes.
"Your reward..."
She whispered: "Can it be cashed in now?"
Wu Fan smiled, scooped her up.
He walked toward the bedroom in the back.
The next morning.
Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a bright line on the floor.
Wu Fan opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling, stunned for a few seconds.
Then he moved his body, and a wave of soreness came from his waist.
He gave a wry smile.
Maybe the apocalypse had been too oppressive for too long. A month, struggling on the edge of life and death every day, his spirit pulled taut like a fully drawn bow.
Last night's crazy release was probably a natural instinct of the body.
He turned his head to look.
Amy was still fast asleep.
The quilt had slipped halfway down, revealing her bare shoulders and collarbone.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, but there was a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth; he didn't know what she was dreaming about.
Wu Fan got out of bed lightly and walked into the bathroom.
As the hot water poured down, he recalled the details of last night.
Those flirtatious, bold words, those daring movements, those...
He shook his head.
He hadn't expected that despite talking so much trash, it was still her first time.
After showering and coming out, Amy was still asleep.
Wu Fan put on his suit, tied his tie, walked to the bedside, and took one last look at her.
Then he gently opened the door and went out.
Back in the office, just after sitting down, there was a knock at the door.
"Please come in."
Rick pushed the door open, saw Wu Fan, and smiled apologetically: "Sorry, I didn't see Amy at the door today, so I knocked without her permission."
Wu Fan waved his hand: "It's fine, she's taking the day off."
Rick was stunned for a moment, then gave a "I understand" smile.
Wu Fan didn't explain, pointing to a chair: "Sit, how is your recovery?"
Rick sat down and flexed his shoulders: "Recovered as before. Dr. Gail said my physical fitness is good; I lay there for a month and didn't atrophy much."
"That's good."
Wu Fan nodded: "What brings you here?"
Rick's expression became serious: "I want to join the Umbrella Corporation."
He looked at Wu Fan with an honest gaze: "You know, it's a mess out there. My wife and son are here, and it's safe here. I want to stay and protect them, and the facilities here are complete. Carl still needs to go to school—I heard there is a school at the Hive."
Wu Fan looked at him, silent for a few seconds.
Then he stood up and smiled, extending his hand.
"Welcome aboard, Rick."
Rick also stood up, grasped his hand, and shook it vigorously.
Wu Fan took a contract from the drawer and handed it to him: "Take a look, if there's no problem, sign it."
Rick took the contract and quickly scanned it.
His brows furrowed slightly—those clauses about "lifelong service," "no betrayal," and "biochemical experiments for violators" were indeed a bit scary.
But he only paused for a moment before picking up the pen and signing his name.
Wu Fan collected the contract and said to him: "Next week, I plan to hold a competition."
"A competition?"
"Yes."
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair: "You've seen it; there are more and more people now. I need a few squad leaders to take three shifts to patrol the surroundings. Whoever has the ability gets the position; it's fair competition."
Rick nodded, indicating he understood.
"If anyone badmouths you behind your back for being a black-hearted boss..."
He said with a smile: "I'll be the first to stand up and beat them."
Wu Fan laughed too.
The two chatted for a few more minutes, and Rick got up to leave.
Just as he reached the door, he bumped into a thin black woman.
"Sorry!"
Jackie quickly stepped aside.
Rick nodded and walked out.
Jackie stood at the door, looking at Wu Fan with some hesitation: "BOSS, I heard you were looking for me? Shouldn't I be in quarantine right now?"
Wu Fan gestured for her to come in: "Sit down, don't put it so harshly. That's not quarantine; it's an observation period."
Jackie sat down, still a bit reserved.
Wu Fan poured her a glass of water: "You can move freely during the day as long as someone is watching you, and go back to sleep at night. I don't have any nightlife for you to go clubbing here, so you should all be sleeping early, right?"
Jackie laughed: "You are truly humorous."
Wu Fan also smiled, then got to the point: "I heard you used to work at the Atlanta City Planning Bureau?"
Jackie nodded, her expression somewhat dim: "I did urban planning for a few years, but in this world, what's the use of this profession? You can't plan how to make Walkers line up, right?"
"No, no, no."
Wu Fan waved his hand, his expression becoming serious: "Your profession is very useful right now."
Jackie looked up, a bit confused.
Wu Fan stood up, walked to the window, and pointed outside: "Look."
Jackie walked over and looked out the window in the direction he pointed.
Around the CDC, there was a patch of open ground, overgrown with weeds, with a few scattered trees.
Further out was a wire fence, and beyond that was the wilderness and the distant Atlanta skyline.
"These open spaces..."
Wu Fan said: "These weeds, these messy things—this isn't a nursing home, let alone a lady's back garden. What needs to be pulled out should be pulled out, and what needs to be renovated should be renovated."
He turned to look at Jackie: "I need you to help me plan to build this area into a real fortress. Walls—two-meter high concrete walls; guard posts—one every fifty meters; defensive fortifications—the kind that can stop Walkers and even people."
Jackie's breathing quickened.
"Do you know how far Atlanta is from here?"
Wu Fan pointed to the skyline in the distance: "Ten-plus kilometers. There are millions of Walkers there. Right now, they haven't moved out on a large scale because there are still sporadic living people in the city to attract them. But when those people are all dead, or when they are extremely hungry—"
He paused.
"They will come out looking for food."
"At that time, this will be the first line of defense, and also the last."
Jackie clenched her fists.
Wu Fan walked back to her, his tone softening: "Your workload will be heavy, Jackie, but I believe you can do it. Once the mission is completed, you will be a heroine known to the entire Umbrella Corporation."
Jackie stood up abruptly, fire burning in her eyes.
"BOSS!"
She said, her voice trembling with excitement: "I will complete it! I will go all out and design the best planning scheme! I guarantee it!"
Wu Fan patted her shoulder: "Go! If you need any resources, ask Sandra or come to me directly."
Jackie nodded vigorously, turned, and strode out of the office.
After the door closed, Wu Fan sat back in his chair and exhaled a long breath.
Another one handled.
He looked out the window, at the weed-choked open ground.
It wouldn't be long before this place became a real fortress.
He leaned back, closed his eyes, and the system panel appeared in his mind automatically.
[Current Points: 5320]
[Conditions for unlocking the second floor of the Hive have been met]
[Unlock now?]
Wu Fan opened his eyes.
No rush.
Wait until there are more people, wait until the defenses are more stable.