Gao Rui stood puzzled, staring at the spot where Ruyi had just vanished. His instincts told him someone had been there, but his quick reflexes had caught nothing. He lingered for a moment before catching sight of Wen Xinyu sneaking away with delicate steps. Smirking, he lit a cigarette, leaning casually against his vehicle as he took a slow drag.
A beauty throwing herself at him? He wouldn't say no. But playing games of feigned restraint and coy manipulation? That wasn't his style.
Finishing the cigarette, Gao Rui eyed the dwindling pack in his pocket and sighed. This would only get harder to come by in the apocalypse—best to save them.
Meanwhile, inside her space, Ruyi sat cross-legged on the crimson soil, her mind racing. Lian Zichen doesn't have any powers? That made no sense—by the fourth chapter of the novel, he had awakened his ice abilities. It was one thing for the plot to twist fate against her, but why was the male lead also being affected?
Her thoughts drifted, and she retrieved the relevant chapter, meticulously rereading it. This time, something jumped out at her—a detail she'd once dismissed. The novel had briefly mentioned, "Wen Xinyu discreetly replaced the family's drinking water with spring water from her space."
So everyone in the Wen household, including me, drank that water, Ruyi mused. But she couldn't recall consuming anything unusual herself. Even if Wen Xinyu withheld it from her, why had Wen Liguo mutated? Wasn't the spring water supposed to be miraculous?
And what about Gao Rui's sudden appearance? He wasn't mentioned in the novel at all.
The plot was veering further from what she knew, but Ruyi had learned not to underestimate the narrative's momentum. A dangerous suspicion crept into her mind. With a deep breath, she exited the space.
Gao Rui and Wen Xinyu were gone when she reemerged. Relieved, Ruyi brushed off the dirt on her clothes and walked back toward the rest area.
Dim candlelight flickered in the room—two thin sticks barely illuminating the 17-square-meter space. The two groups remained distinctly divided, each camping in their own corner. Wen Xinyu leaned against Qiao Huixin, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere.
Lian Zichen spotted Ruyi entering and waved her over eagerly.
Ruyi glanced at him but headed toward Gao Rui's group instead. Lian Zichen's growing friendliness was becoming increasingly baffling.
As soon as Ruyi sat down, Gao Rui slid closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"I thought you'd go over there—your family's all with them. Couldn't bear to leave me, huh?"
His proximity made Ruyi's skin crawl. She shoved him back with a glare. The mere thought of whatever he'd done with Wen Xinyu in the car earlier was enough to turn her stomach.
"Thanks for your help these past few days. Once we reach the base, I'll find a way to repay you for the food," she said curtly.
"And for saving your life? How do you plan to repay that?" Gao Rui leaned closer again, his tone teasing.
Ruyi stared at him, exasperated. Why is this guy so insistent? With his looks, he could easily have his pick of the other girls in the group. Even Wen Xinyu seemed interested. So why was he fixated on her?
Gao Rui, ever perceptive, caught her frustration and grinned. "It's because you're the one who doesn't like me. That's what makes you special."
His admission pushed Ruyi past her limit. Without hesitation, she kicked him, sending him sprawling onto his back. The murmur of conversation around them fell silent as heads turned.
Leaving the snickering behind, Ruyi stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Gao Rui's team broke into low, amused laughter. Their usually suave leader, undefeated in matters of charm, was utterly defeated by Ruyi yet again.
Wen Xinyu wasted no time seizing the opportunity. She hurried to Gao Rui's side, her expression a mix of concern and apology.
"Gao-ge, I'm so sorry. Ruyi's just... so thoughtless. She shouldn't have treated you like that after all you've done for her. As her sister, I sincerely apologize on her behalf." Her tone was soft and contrite, her hands gently helping him up.
Gao Rui let her pull him to his feet, and as he withdrew his arm, his hand "accidentally" brushed against her chest. The brief contact left Wen Xinyu blushing furiously.
Though her cheeks burned, Wen Xinyu seethed inwardly. She had signaled her interest clearly enough, yet Gao Rui remained fixated on Ruyi. But soon, she vowed, he would see her worth. The nameless cultivation technique from her space was already at the second level. Once she advanced to the third and could wield spiritual energy, Gao Rui would have no choice but to recognize her superiority.
Back on the roof, Ruyi was abruptly awakened by hunger. She pulled out a piece of bread and a yogurt from her space, wolfing them down quickly. Yet the gnawing emptiness in her stomach only grew stronger.
Next, she devoured a vacuum-packed chicken leg and an egg, but the unsettling sensation persisted.
Ruyi paced the deserted gas station, her unease mounting. This isn't just hunger. What's wrong with me?
A faint sound behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. Her body tensed instinctively.
"You're impressively alert," Gao Rui said, stepping closer with his characteristic smirk.
Ruyi relaxed slightly but resumed her pacing, ignoring him.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Gao Rui murmured, his voice unusually serious.
Ruyi nodded reluctantly. "I don't know why, but it's like I haven't eaten for days. My nerves are on edge."
Gao Rui's hand slipped around her waist, and his voice dropped. "Have you noticed how unnaturally clean this gas station is? Except for the two zombies we dealt with this morning, there's nothing else here. It feels... wrong. We should leave at first light."
Ruyi turned to agree, only to realize his hand had wandered. Irritated, she jabbed her elbow into his side, but he dodged nimbly, laughing.
"Alright, alright! My bad! I'll behave, I promise. Can't we just talk like normal people for once?" Gao Rui said, retreating a few steps as Ruyi glared daggers at him.
She huffed, turning away. Strangely, the oppressive hunger she'd felt earlier seemed to have lessened during their exchange.
Gao Rui followed, his tone unexpectedly serious. "I mean it—why do you dislike me so much?"
Ruyi threw him a withering look. "Because any normal woman would avoid a man like you—a walking billboard for bad decisions, oozing testosterone and trouble." She paused, then added dryly, "Although I'll give you this: your shamelessness is truly unparalleled."
Gao Rui laughed, unfazed. "I'll take that as a compliment. But—"
Before he could finish, Ruyi suddenly doubled over, clutching her head as pain rippled through her.
"Ruyi?" Gao Rui stepped closer, his amusement giving way to concern.