Ruyi sped toward Yun'an Base with reckless abandon, her urgency cutting a two-hour journey to just over an hour. It helped that the road was relatively clear, scavengers having already stripped the area of valuables and taken care of any zombies in the way.
She hit the road at five a.m. and arrived before seven. But even at this early hour, a long line of vehicles snaked toward the base's entrance.
The scene reminded Ruyi of pre-apocalypse traffic jams. Irritated, she rolled down her window to peek ahead, only to hear a sharp whistle from the SUV beside her.
"Hey, gorgeous! Alone?"
The voice belonged to a young man wearing a bright red hoodie, his ears lined with glinting studs. He had a boyishly handsome face but radiated a delinquent vibe.
Before Ruyi could retort, the SUV's rear window rolled down, revealing another man with a buzz cut. "Whoa, she really is a beauty! Hey, babe! I'm Zhao Hong, twenty-seven, single, and a fire-element ability user. Stick with me, and I'll make sure you live the good life…"
Without a word, Ruyi rolled up her window. This cursed supporting-villain aura. Can't I meet one decent person for once?
After enduring twenty minutes in line, she finally reached the base's gates. A soldier approached, taking her car keys and driving her vehicle toward the eastern sector.
Meanwhile, the SUV beside hers entered through a western side gate. Confused, Ruyi turned to the stern-faced woman seated at a nearby desk, who was briskly handling registrations.
"They're part of the base's ability-user task force. Now quit asking dumb questions and fill out your form. People are waiting behind you," the woman snapped.
Ruyi glared at her but said nothing, opting instead to quickly complete the form. The questions were basic: name, gender, age, special skills, and abilities. Any pre-apocalypse details like ID numbers or occupations were irrelevant now.
She filled in "speed and strength abilities" under the relevant section, hoping a dual-ability status would grant her better treatment. Though these abilities were as common as weeds, having two should still count for something.
The woman snatched the form, giving it a skeptical once-over. "Speed and strength? Really? You're not just making this up, are you? I warn you, the base conducts ability tests. Don't think you can fool us."
Ruyi scowled. What's this woman's problem? Did I run over her boyfriend in a past life?
Mimicking the woman's earlier tone, she shot back, "Less talk, more action. Can't you see the line behind me? Or are you only thinking about yourself?"
The woman's face twisted in anger as she tossed Ruyi a badge. "Fine, Miss Big Shot. Take your badge and move along. Let's see how far you get with your 'abilities.' You're clearly Third Zone material at best."
Ruyi clenched her jaw but restrained herself. Whatever "Third Zone" meant, it was clearly an insult, but she had bigger priorities than wasting time on petty quarrels.
A Familiar Face
Being marked as an ability user, Ruyi was directed to a fenced-off plaza for testing. After handing in her badge, a base official led her to a corner where a petite young woman in a pastel pink t-shirt and white jeans was conducting assessments.
The moment Ruyi saw the round-faced girl, a storm of emotions surged within her.
It's her. Tong Yinyin.
All the scenarios Ruyi had imagined about this encounter—ranging from cold indifference to full-blown confrontation—flooded her mind. And yet, here they were, face to face, without any preamble or warning.
Ruyi's fists clenched tightly at her sides as she fought to control the dark thoughts swirling within her.
I could punch her right now. No, I could do more than that. One punch, then a kick to send her sprawling. Then I'd grab her by the hair and slam her head into the ground until she begged for mercy—
She forced herself to take a deep breath, suppressing the violent urges.
Perhaps sensing the hostility in the air, Tong Yinyin looked up from her clipboard. Their eyes met, and Tong Yinyin's face turned pale before flushing with disbelief.
"J-J-Ji Ruyi?"
Ruyi crossed her arms, smirking coldly. "That's right. It's me, Ji Ruyi. Long time no see, Tong Yinyin."
Tong Yinyin froze, her mind racing. The last time she'd seen Ruyi was back in school, where they'd been far from friends. Though their history was littered with minor conflicts, the novel portrayed Ruyi as an exaggerated caricature: selfish, crass, and downright villainous.
But this wasn't the same Ji Ruyi she remembered. The woman standing before her now exuded a powerful, almost feral aura.
Still, Tong Yinyin couldn't shake her doubts. Surely, if Ruyi had also been transported into the novel, she'd show some sign of recognition, wouldn't she?
Before she could dwell on it further, Ruyi broke the silence, her voice dripping with derision.
"Well, aren't you alive and kicking, Tong Yinyin? This is your gig now? Hurry it up, will you? Can't you see I've been waiting forever? You're as slow as ever—just like in school. Always last to finish exams, and still just as useless."
Ruyi's sharp words made Tong Yinyin's blood boil. Anger flared in her chest, but so did a peculiar sense of relief. If this was really Ji Ruyi, her behavior matched the book's description perfectly—rude, abrasive, and insufferable.
Maybe I overthought things.
Tong Yinyin quickly schooled her features, forcing a polite smile. "Of course, Ruyi. Step forward for your test."
Ruyi, meanwhile, relished the role she was playing. Mimicking the novel's version of herself—an arrogant, self-centered antagonist—wasn't difficult. All it took was a little extra attitude and a willingness to be hated.
If Tong Yinyin thinks she's the heroine of this story, I'll make sure she has the antagonist she deserves.
With her mind set and her resolve steeled, Ruyi strode forward, ready to face whatever the test—and Tong Yinyin—had in store.