A low, terrifying growl rolled through the narrow corridor, reverberating against the walls like something alive. The air was thick with the sound of heavy, ragged breathing—wet, uneven—intertwined with the sickening noises of chewing and tearing flesh. Every so often, a scream would slice through it all, sharp and desperate, only to be swallowed whole by the darkness.
Lu Xi’s mind went blank. Then, in the next instant, it was flooded. A torrent of unfamiliar memories surged into her consciousness without warning, crashing against her thoughts like a tidal wave. The pain came immediately after—sharp, splitting—forcing her to clutch her head as if it might fall apart. As if that wasn’t enough, an emotionless electronic voice kept chattering inside her mind, its tone steady and indifferent, completely out of place amidst the chaos. Gritting her teeth, Lu Xi staggered forward, her steps unsteady, until her gaze fell upon the mirror hanging crookedly on the wall. She forced herself to look. The face staring back at her was… unfamiliar.
Round and soft, with a delicate, almost doll-like beauty. Her skin was pale and smooth, untouched by illness, and her eyes—clear and watery—held a fragile brightness.
It looked like her. And yet… it wasn’t. Or perhaps—it was a version of herself that had never suffered. If Lu Xi had never fallen ill… if she had never been worn down to skin and bone by years of sickness… perhaps this was what she would have looked like now. That realization lingered in her chest, quiet and heavy. Slowly, piece by piece, she began to connect everything—the foreign memories, the strange voice, the unfamiliar reflection. And then it hit her. She had transmigrated. (Transmigrated: a common web novel trope where a person’s soul moves into another world or body.) Not just anywhere—but into a book. A book she knew all too well. “Apocalyptic Pampered Darling.” The very same melodramatic, post-apocalyptic romance novel she had stayed up all night binge-reading, unable to put it down even as exhaustion dragged at her body.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips. Of all things… it had to be this one. And worse— She hadn’t even transmigrated into a named character.
From the scattered memories and the system’s explanation, she could tell that this body didn’t exist in the original plot at all. Most likely, she was nothing more than cannon fodder (cannon fodder: a disposable, insignificant character who dies early and easily)—the kind that wouldn’t even get a proper death scene before being wiped out. How… fitting.
“In the original storyline,” the mechanical voice continued in her head, “the villain, Gu Wang, possessed an excessively strong will to destroy the world, which caused severe damage to the world’s consciousness . Therefore, Host has been selected by the Transmigration Bureau to repair and stabilize it.” Lu Xi closed her eyes briefly, her head still throbbing. “In simpler terms,” the voice went on, unbothered by her silence, “your task is to prevent the villain from turning further evil, reduce his evil value, and increase the world’s stabilization progress.”
Ah. So that was it. A world-saving mission. How grand. In the original novel, Gu Wang was the very definition of a tragic character. Neglected by his parents since childhood, left to grow up in isolation, he had learned early on that the world offered him nothing worth holding onto. Then came the apocalypse. While others struggled to survive, Gu Wang awakened a lightning-type ability (a common power classification in Chinese apocalyptic novels) and rose to become the only ninth-tier superpowered individual . A being so powerful that he stood at the very peak of humanity. But— The most important point was this. He was the villain. A true, terrifying villain.
In the novel, his name alone was enough to frighten children into silence at night. He had nearly slaughtered both the male and female protagonists single-handedly, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. In the end, it took the combined forces of the entire human survivor base (a large organized settlement of survivors in apocalypse settings) to bring him down. Lu Xi fell silent. Then— She almost laughed. What exactly had the Transmigration Bureau seen in her? What shining, outstanding quality had convinced them that she—someone who had spent most of her life confined to a hospital bed—was capable of handling something like this?
“After assessment, the current world stabilization progress is 25%,” the system continued. “The host’s task is extremely difficult. Please begin immediately.” Lu Xi didn’t respond. Her silence stretched on. 003, noticing her lack of reaction, grew visibly anxious—well, as anxious as a mechanical voice could sound. “Host! You must complete the mission! You need to stop the villain from further corruption and ensure that the male and female leads unite to save the world!” Lu Xi let out a slow breath, her gaze drifting back to the mirror—to that unfamiliar yet eerily familiar face. “So,” she said softly, “you want me to approach the villain… win him over… and talk him out of destroying the world?”
“Correct.” She tilted her head slightly, as if considering it seriously. Then, quite suddenly she said “Why don’t you just kill him?”
003: “…”
“In the original plot, Gu Wang is still an ordinary person at this stage, right?” Lu Xi continued, her tone growing more matter-of-fact. “Then just take him out now. Strike first while you still can. Wouldn’t that solve everything at the root?” The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it sounded. Honestlyshe thought she might be a genius. 003 was silent for a full two seconds before finally replying, its voice stiff.
“…Host, that option has already been considered.”
“However, Gu Wang is the second core protagonist of this novel, ranking only after the male and female leads. Without his existence, the storyline collapses entirely and this world… would not be able to exist in a complete state.” In other words— He couldn’t be removed. Only guided. Only changed. “So…” Lu Xi murmured, her lips curving faintly, though there was no real amusement in her eyes. “I’m supposed to be his little sun, then?”
“To stay by his side… warm him… shine on him…”
“To make him believe that there’s still love in this world… and that maybe it isn’t something worth destroying.” Her voice softened toward the end, almost absent-minded. After all— Everything Gu Wang became stemmed from one simple thing. lack of love. The wounds of his childhood had twisted something deep inside him, leaving him with no attachment, no tenderness, no reason to care about anything—least of all the world itself.
“Yes, Host,” 003 replied. “Upon successful completion of the mission, you will be allowed to return to your original world. As compensation and protection, the system shop (a feature allowing exchange of items through points or materials) will be opened to you. You may obtain resources by killing zombies and collecting crystal cores (crystal cores: energy crystals found inside zombies, commonly used as currency or power sources in such settings).” Lu Xi let out a quiet sigh. “What if I fail?” she asked. “What if I get eaten by zombies halfway through?” 003 answered almost immediately, without even a fraction of hesitation.
“Based on your condition in the original world as a person suffering from sudden cardiac arrest—you will be returned to complete your original death outcome.”
Lu Xi: “…” She stared blankly ahead. Your words are so cold… it’s like I’ve never meant anything to you at all. “Host,” 003 continued, its tone unchanging, “you currently have only two choices.”
“One: return now and proceed toward your original death.”
“Two: remain here and complete the mission.” Lu Xi pressed her lips together . For a fleeting moment, she thought— If this system had a physical form, she would’ve strangled it already. “You’re basically forcing a purchase,” she muttered under her breath. “As long as you complete the mission,” 003 added, as if presenting its final bargaining chip, “the Transmigration Bureau will grant you a healthy body upon your return. You will no longer need to remain in the hospital again.”
Lu Xi froze. That single sentence struck deeper than anything else. A healthy body. Such a simple thing. Something most people took for granted… without even thinking. But for her— It was something she had dreamed about countless times. She had been weak since childhood. By the age of twelve, the hospital had already become her entire world with sterile white walls, the constant smell of disinfectant, the quiet hum of machines keeping her alive. Again and again, she had imagined— What would it feel like to run freely?
To breathe without pain? To live… like a normal person? And now— That dream was being placed right in front of her. Within reach. Lu Xi’s wavering expression slowly stilled. Then, little by little, it hardened into something resolute. She had never been someone who accepted fate so easily. If there was even the slightest chance to change her future— She would seize it. Even if it meant staking everything she had. Besides…
If she refused, she would die anyway. So why not gamble it all?
“Okay… I’ll accept.”
The words left Lu Xi’s lips quietly, yet once spoken, they seemed to settle something deep within her—like a stone finally dropping into still water. 003 reacted instantly, its mechanical voice brightening as if a switch had been flipped. “Gu Wang is currently in the computer lab and is facing imminent mortal danger. Please proceed immediately to rescue him.” There wasn’t even a moment to breathe. “As part of the newbie protection mechanism (a beginner safeguard feature common in system novels), 003 will grant the host the skill: Invisible to Me.” Lu Xi blinked.
Before her eyes, a translucent panel unfolded midair, faintly glowing in the dim light. Four bold words hovered at the center— Invisible to Me.
Beneath it, a line of smaller text appeared, explaining in neat, emotionless detail: [Invisible to Me: lasts for thirty minutes. Conceals the host’s presence by masking scent and rendering them invisible to zombies.]
Lu Xi stared at it for half a second. Then she moved. She pulled open her closet without hesitation, her movements swift but steady. A long-sleeved shirt, a pair of trousers—practical, covering as much skin as possible. Over that, she added a waterproof jacket, the material rustling softly as she tugged it into place. Not enough. Her gaze sharpened. She grabbed a roll of tape and began sealing every possible opening—wrists, ankles, collar—wrapping them tightly, carefully, leaving no inch exposed. This wasn’t overkill. This was survival. It was the weekend and the dormitory was eerily silent, emptied of its usual chatter and laughter. Everyone had gone home, leaving only her behind.
A strange kind of loneliness lingered in the air. One of her roommates was obsessed with motorcycles, and her gear lay neatly stacked in a corner. Without a trace of hesitation, Lu Xi picked up the helmet and gloves, slipping them on with surprising familiarity. The visor clicked shut.
Now, she was completely covered. In this ruined world, these things probably no longer belonged to anyone. So she took them. Without guilt.
When she was done, Lu Xi stood still for a moment, then slowly smiled to herself—small, but satisfied. Perfect.
003, who had watched the entire process unfold: “…”
“…Host,” it finally said, sounding oddly strained, “can we go now? The timer has begun.” Lu Xi didn’t answer. Instead, she reached for a baseball bat leaning against the wall and positioned herself behind the door, her grip tightening around the handle. Her breathing slowed, steadying.
For a brief second, everything fell silent. Then— “Start.” She pulled the door open. The hinges creaked. And that single sound was enough.
Several heads in the corridor jerked sharply toward her direction. There are Zombies every where.
Their movements were stiff, unnatural, yet disturbingly fast. One of them lunged forward almost immediately—its skin deathly pale, veins bulging beneath the surface, its bloodshot eyes wide and unfocused. The stench hit her next. Rotten. Sour. Thick enough to choke on.
Lu Xi’s stomach twisted violently. But she didn’t move. Not even an inch. The zombie stopped less than ten centimeters away from her.
So close— She could see the torn flesh around its mouth… the dark, dried blood clinging to its teeth. It sniffed. Once.
Twice. Its ragged breathing brushed against her face, hot and damp even through the helmet. Lu Xi held her breath completely, not daring to exhale.
Even though she knew it couldn’t see her. Even though she knew the skill was working. Still— Fear coiled tightly around her spine, refusing to loosen. One second. Two seconds. Time stretched unbearably long, each moment dragging into the next like an eternity.
Finally— Unable to detect any trace of human scent, the zombie let out a low, frustrated groan and staggered away, pacing restlessly down the corridor. Only then did Lu Xi’s body loosen slightly. “Host, don’t be afraid—”
“Ugh—ugh—!” She clamped a hand over her mouth, her whole body trembling. “It stinks! It’s so disgusting—!” The sour taste of rising bile burned her throat. Even through the helmet… she could still smell it. 003: “…” Inside the computer lab— Gu Wang leaned lazily against the window, his figure tall and unmoving, as though he were merely an observer to everything unfolding below. His long eyelashes—dark and fine, like raven feathers—cast faint shadows over his eyes, hiding whatever emotions lay beneath.
Or perhaps— There were none at all. Below him, chaos reigned. Zombies flooded the open space like a tide of death. Students ran desperately, their screams echoing through the campus—but none escaped. Not a single one. They were caught, dragged down, torn apart— Or worse.
After only a few minutes, those same bodies would twitch… then slowly rise again, their movements stiff and unnatural, joining the very monsters that had devoured them. Limbs lay scattered across the ground. Blood smeared the earth in grotesque patterns.
Everywhere he looked— Only creatures with bluish-gray skin and hollow, bloodshot eyes remained. The world had gone mad. A faint curve tugged at Gu Wang’s lips. Almost a smile. So… it had finally come to this. This filthy, wretched world— It was finally collapsing.
He had come to the computer lab early that morning, seeking nothing more than a moment of peace. Weekends were quiet. Empty. No people.
No noise. Just silence. But now— He couldn’t leave. And strangely enough… He didn’t want to.
Gu Wang had no desire to struggle. What was the point? The world had already rotted beyond saving. Everywhere he looked, there was only filth, only noise, only unbearable ugliness. Where could he possibly find peace? Whether he lived or died— It made no difference to him.
And yet… There was one thing he couldn’t understand. More than five hours had passed. And still— Not a single zombie had come for him.
That… was annoying. A faint crease formed between his brows. At last, Gu Wang pushed himself away from the window. If they wouldn’t come to him— Then he would go to them. Perhaps because it was the weekend, the entire computer building was nearly deserted. His descent was smooth, uninterrupted. Too smooth. It irritated him. The moment he stepped outside— He found one. About a dozen meters away, a large zombie in a tattered jacket turned toward him and as their eyes met. Gu Wang paused. For a fleeting moment, he considered resisting.
But the thought passed just as quickly. No. There was no need. Escaping would only mean wandering through a world filled with these disgusting things. Fighting would only waste time. He had no interest in either. With a small, almost absent-minded motion, he brushed the dust from his sleeves. Then, calmly— He closed his eyes. And waited. For the end. But— The expected pain never came. Instead— A pair of small hands grabbed him . Warm. Firm. Unexpected. Caught off guard, Gu Wang stumbled slightly as he was pulled forward.
His eyes snapped open. Reflected in his dark pupils was a figure— Completely covered with helmet. Gloves. Not a single inch of her skin visible.
She was small. Only reaching his shoulder but she was dragging him along with surprising strength, her movements hurried yet determined.
And in that suffocating, foul-smelling air— A faint trace of something drifted toward him. Sweet. Like honey carried on a breeze. Gu Wang’s gaze lingered on her. …A little sweet. The computer building stood on the far eastern edge of the campus, while the girls’ dormitory was all the way in the west—almost an entire school’s distance apart.
Lu Xi had run the whole way. By the time she arrived, her lungs burned, her legs trembling beneath her—but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t.
Just as she reached the building— A sharp alarm exploded in her mind. “Warning! Warning! Important character Gu Wang is in mortal danger!”
Her heart nearly stopped. And then she saw him. Standing there. Still. Completely motionless. As if he didn’t even notice the zombie charging straight at him. What the hell?! No—! Her mission target—no, her life—! In that instant, Lu Xi felt as though she could outrun anything.
If this were a fifty-meter sprint, she would have shattered every record without question. She didn’t think. She didn’t hesitate. She just ran. Straight toward him. Grabbing his arm, she pulled him away with all the strength she had. Behind them— A swarm of zombies surged forward. So close— It felt like their breath was brushing against her ears. Despair clawed at her chest. “Come quickly! Over here—!” A voice rang out. Ahead, the warehouse door of a small supermarket cracked open slightly. A girl peeked out, waving frantically. Lu Xi didn’t even slow down. She practically dragged Gu Wang inside.
The moment they crossed the threshold— Bang! The door slammed shut. A boy rushed forward immediately, pressing his weight against it, helping to hold it in place. Outside— The zombies crashed against the door, their impact violent and relentless. The entire structure trembled. Some of the girls inside had already begun to sob, their fear spilling over into quiet, broken cries. Lu Xi didn’t pause. Still gasping for breath, she rushed forward, pressing her shoulder against the door, adding her strength to theirs. For a few long, terrifying seconds—
The pounding continued. Then— Gradually… It faded. Having lost their target, the zombies began to disperse. Than silence returned. Heavy.
Exhausted beyond words, Lu Xi’s legs finally gave out. She dropped to her knees on the cold ground, her fingers trembling as she reached up and slowly removed her helmet. Cool air brushed against her damp skin. And in that moment— A fierce, aching longing surged through her chest. The peaceful world of the 21st century… The quiet, ordinary life she once had— She missed it. So, so much. She wanted to go home so badly!”