"Let's put everything aside for now and take care of Mr. Wen firs
In the dim light of the room, Ruyi could hardly hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Finally, someone was speaking sensibly in this twisted scenario. Uncle Wen, may you rest in pe
The group huddled together, debating their options before reaching a hesitant consensus: Mr. Wen couldn't be taken to a hospital. The streets outside were a chaotic mess, and Lian Zichen and his mother had witnessed several gruesome attacks on their way over. They had even been accosted by monstrous creatures and barely managed to evade them. It was a stroke of luck that the Wen and Lian family estates were relatively close, or they too might have been among t
In the end, they agreed to restrain Mr. Wen and watch over him carefully. An Yang and Wen Xinyu were tasked with taking turns by his side, ready to take action if he showed signs of... turning. Meanwhile, Lian Zichen and his father scrambled to make phone calls, hoping to reach any influential contacts who might shed light on the situation. It was still the early days of the catastrophe; phones
As for the four remaining women, they busied themselves with quiet sorrow, each consumed by her own anxious thoughts. Ruyi, meanwhile, took stock of her situation. After a quick assessment, she shrugged and went straight to work. She gathered every available container she could find, filling each one with water as a precaution against future shortages. She scanned the pantry, identifying perishable items to use up first. Ruyi couldn't help but marvel at the volume of supplies Wen Xinyu had already stockpiled—an impressive display of foresight or, perhap
Ruyi's practicality took over, and she began sorting vegetables that could be preserved, slicing them for pickling, and seasoning them to store in jars. She decided to make batches of steamed buns, flatbreads, and rice balls, ensuring they would have enough food to last, or at least enough to avoid wasting anything that would spoil soon. Yet in her practicality, she made sure to tuck away a few hidden supplies for herself. She knew better than to trust her lot to the
In the midst of her work, she found herself absently observing Wen Xinyu. The girl drifted in and out of the kitchen, her dainty fingers hovering near Ruyi's jars and the flour bag. She raised a skeptical eyebrow, clearly unfamiliar with basic kitchen tasks. Ruyi smirked to herself. There was no way Wen Xinyu would guess that the seemingly lazy Ruyi had a hidden stash, let alone suspect her of possessing a space in which to store it all. Ruyi moved on to other preparations, ignoring the pointed glances of her adopted fam
Just as she had finished, Ruyi heard a muffled cry from outside. In the garden, Wen Liguo, to everyone's horror, had transformed, giving in to the grotesque, mindless instincts of the infected. Without hesitation, Wen Xinyu stepped forward, her face a mask of sorrow, and dealt him a fatal blow with a surge of lightning from her newly awakened power.
The sight sparked equal parts excitement and terror. Lian Zichen's eyes lit with an admiration that bordered on reverence, and even the usually composed An Yang looked impressed. Ruyi took it all in with a weary sigh—she had hoped she might have time before these
The group barely paused to let Wen Liguo rest in peace, opting to bury him quickly, taking care to separate his head and body. There was no room for hesitation or sentimentality; they buried him in the garden, in a grave deep enough to contain any
As Ruyi left the kitchen, she encountered the others filtering back into the house. She stopped mid-step as every eye turned toward her, their expressions an odd mixture of disbelief and surp
"I never would have expected to see you in the kitchen," Lian Zichen remarked, his tone both admiring and perplexed. Ruyi met his gaze with a steady calm, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. The sunlight caught on her face, giving her an ethereal glow, a striking beauty sof
For Zichen, this unexpected side of Ruyi felt… captivating. There was a strange pride in his heart, a quiet appreciation for the girl who once irritated him beyond measure. Though he had long scorned her for her ostentatious personality, her brash confidence, and her misguided devotion, seeing her in this new light brought a feeling he could not quite n
Lost in his reverie, Lian Zichen barely noticed Wen Xinyu stepping into the room behind him. With forced cheer, she gave Ruyi a saccharine smile, her to
"Who knew Ruyi could cook?" Wen Xinyu chimed in, feigning surprise. "You must have picked up a few tips from the household help, right? I mean, that's probably where you learned…" She trailed off w
Suppressing an eye roll, Ruyi unfastened her apron, tossing it into Wen Xinyu's surprised hands. "Since you care so much, I'll leave the rest to you," she said, handing over the half-kneaded dough. "Knead this for me, w
With that, Ruyi walked away, ignoring the startled looks around her. She'd had more than enough of the kitchen, and even more of their company
Moving to the living room, she couldn't help but notice the two newcomers seated on the sofa. The first girl, tall and striking with a bold gaze, was identified as Yaji, the daughter of a certain wealthy Mr. Xu. Her petite, delicate companion was Li Ziyu, a picture of helplessness. Sitting close to An Yang, Li Ziyu sniffled, dabbing her eyes while speaking in a tre
"It's all my fault… If only I'd been braver, maybe I could be home now, looking after my
An Yang, overcome with sympathy, reached for her hand, his face filled with concern. "Don't blame yourself, Li Ziyu. The situation outside is too dangerous for anyone to face alone. When the rescue team arrives, I'll make sure you reach your
"Oh, Brother An Yang, you're too kind…" Li Ziyu's tears stopped briefly, replaced by a sweet smile of gratitude. Ruyi sighed, rolling her eyes at the overly s
She couldn't hold back any longer. These "damsels in distress" acted as if the world existed only to cater to their fragility. She was done pretending to care about their theatrics. Clearing her
"Excuse me," she began in a voice coated with saccharine sweetness, "but if I recall correctly, Yaji here is the one who just lost her family. Unless your family is gone too, I'd suggest some decorum. In any case, my deepest condolences if that's indeed the case—though I think we'd have known if that were true." She delivered
The room fell silent, each occupant staring at her with various shades of shock and anger. Li Ziyu's carefully crafted facade cracked, her face frozen in disbelief. Ignoring An Yang's furious glare
Let them call her a villain. In a world turned upside down, perhaps embracing the role they assigned her was th