Daphne's words were spontaneous, catching Ruri off guard.
Ruri froze in place, her mind racing. She wasn't a naive girl anymore; she could read between the lines. Daphne's comment had revealed a lot of information. She had implied that Ruri's "personal conditions" were good—but what did that really mean?
Wealth? Family assets? None of that mattered to someone like Daphne.
Clearly, it wasn't about material things.
Ruri's talents? She had a respectable career, but after what had just happened, she knew her skills as a host wouldn't amount to much in Daphne's eyes.
There was only one possibility left: her looks.
Daphne, the aloof Queen Song, was known for her beauty and independence. Even after her husband's death, she hadn't pursued any other men. There were rumors that Daphne might have a different preference altogether. But if that were true, she wouldn't be making her intentions known now, would she?
Daphne had interacted with Ruri before but had never said anything like this.
And now, there was someone else in the car—Novak. A man who had just demonstrated terrifying power that Ruri couldn't even begin to comprehend.
Ruri glanced at Novak, who sat with his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to the conversation, as if he were just taking a nap.
Meeting Ruri's gaze, Daphne smiled—a small, knowing smile that confirmed Ruri's suspicions.
'This man...'
A storm of emotions swirled in Ruri's heart. Before the events of the past few days, if this had been a civilized world, she would've given Daphne a cold glare, left the car, and walked away without a second thought. She was a beautiful woman with plenty of admirers—why should she lower herself to be some vassal of another woman's man?
But now, things were different. The world had changed. Her life had been saved by these two. And after witnessing the horrors outside, Ruri realized that the future held nothing but uncertainty. The power dynamics of her old life were now meaningless.
As Daphne had pointed out, her "personal conditions" were good, but aside from her outward appearance, what else did Ruri really have to offer?
'Nothing.'
At least, not to these two powerful figures.
Her lips felt dry as she stared at the Ocean Blue Villa, now her home just up ahead. Still, she hesitated.
"Madam Song, let me think about it. I... I've never had a boyfriend before..." she said, her voice wavering.
Novak smiled, and Daphne gave a nod of understanding.
The door of the car slid open, and Ruri quickly retreated to her home, as if fleeing.
"Why are you back at this hour? And why didn't you answer your phone? Do you know how dangerous it is outside now?" her parents scolded her, their harsh words calming her frantic thoughts.
But Ruri's mind was elsewhere.
---
Meanwhile, the car slowed to a crawl.
Novak sat back, his expression relaxed, while Daphne knelt at his feet, her head resting on his lap. He ran his fingers through her loose hair, gently brushing it away from her face. His bloodied hand lightly pinched her earlobe, fiddling with the diamond earrings she wore.
With a soft chuckle, Novak asked, "What's the rush?"
Daphne let out a muffled sound, her red eyes watering as she struggled to catch her breath. Novak gripped her hair with one hand, lifting her chin with the other.
"Come on," he said teasingly. "Talk."
Her lips parted, a thin trail of saliva connecting them as Daphne gasped for air, her face flushed. She offered a playful smile.
"You mentioned earlier... you wanted to find a mistress, righ—guh!"
Novak nodded, his gaze fixed on the scene before him, clearly enjoying the view.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Novak responded with a nod. But Daphne couldn't simply stand by, could she?
After all, when he spoke, all that was required was for the other party to listen. So her mouth needs to work hard.
Still catching her breath, Daphne shot him a sharp sidelong glance, while Novak's grin widened in response.
"Alright, whatever you say. I thought you'd offer up your beautiful bodyguard," he said casually.
Daphne finally exhaled, casting Novak a sideways glance. Her expression shifted, and she responded, "If you want, Nicole wouldn't refuse. That girl is mentally tough."
Novak shook his head. "Maybe later. The apocalypse is just around the corner, and there'll be plenty of time. But keep an eye on Ruri, and make sure she doesn't turn into a zombie."
Daphne grinned mischievously. "Oh, I'll take care of her."
With a slow nod, Novak leaned back, brushing his hand over Daphne's perfectly styled bun. He gazed out at the dark landscape, relaxing after the intense events of the day.
At that moment, Nicole's voice crackled through the intercom.
"Madam, Mr. Novak, we've arrived."
The Ocean Blue Villa loomed in the distance. Novak glanced down at Daphne, who had quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie.
"Slow down," she said, her voice calm. "Take another few laps around the Ocean Blue Villa area."
As soon as the order was given, Novak felt Daphne's movements slow.
"Understood," Nicole replied.
Up front, Nicole's face flushed slightly, a hint of embarrassment creeping in. She had noticed certain... signs earlier, but still, she knew better than to dwell on it.
'No, no, they're definitely doing business. That's right,' she convinced herself, a look of determination crossing her face.
After all, this villa area would soon become their base of operations, a fortress against the impending zombie apocalypse. Nicole had personally overseen the relocation of Song Group's security personnel to the nearby family building in recent days. This was all part of the plan.
Though... the reasoning seemed a bit far-fetched, especially given the late hour.
And those strange noises over the intercom earlier...
Nicole shook her head, brushing off her doubts. She circled the Ocean Blue Villa area thirteen times before finally guiding the car back home, satisfied with the evening's work.