Lu Xi took a long while to steady her breathing. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, each breath still carrying the lingering tremor of fear. Only after her pulse gradually slowed did she finally lift her head—and look at the person beside her properly. Gu Wang. Just as the novel had described was tall and straight, his posture almost lazily upright, as though the chaos outside had nothing to do with him. His features were sharp and well-defined, the kind that carried a quiet, almost dangerous intensity with single eyelids (a beauty standard often appreciated in East Asian features) that made his gaze appear deeper, more unfathomable; a high, straight nose bridge; and a jawline clean and precise.
Even with that faintly indifferent expression resting on his face— He was undeniably handsome. The kind of handsome that didn’t try… and didn’t need to impress anybody . Lu Xi blinked. Then, silently, inside her mind— The “lackey”in her gave a very sincere thumbs up. Handsome. Absolutely approved. “Ding—male and female leads detected. Please proceed to establish contact.” 003’s cold, mechanical voice cut in abruptly , echoing inside her head. Lu Xi froze for a second.
…Wait. Now? A trace of confusion surfaced in her eyes. In the original storyline, the male and female leads had already left the school by the time they were first introduced. She hadn’t expected to encounter them here—let alone this early. Before she could think further she heard a voice “Are you alright?” The voice was remarkably steady. Lu Xi looked up. A girl was standing a few feet away, her posture composed and elegant despite the circumstances. She wore a simple white blouse that looked impossibly crisp. This was Xu Qiaoyun—the girl whose name was synonymous with “perfection” in the original novel. A first-year clinical medicine student. Even now, her expression held a gentle, professional calm that made the room feel a little less like the end of the world.
The Female Lead. Lu Xi felt a strange, buzzy sensation in her head. Seeing Xu Qiaoyun in person was like looking at a high-definition filter; she carried an aura of “main character energy” that was hard to ignore. Beside her was the boy who had helped bar the door. Lin Bai the male lead of the novel . He was a head taller than everyone else, with broad shoulders and the kind of sharp, upright features that belonged on a recruitment poster. There was a natural, grounded strength to him—the “Physics Graduate Student” who looked like he could solve a complex equation and a physical crisis at the exact same time. He gave Lu Xi a curt, respectful nod. Lu Xi’s brain stalled.
She was sitting in the dust, her hair a mess from the helmet, still gripping the arm of the most dangerous villain in history, while the “Golden Couple” of the book stared at her with genuine concern. It was a collision of two worlds she wasn’t prepared for.
“Classmate? Can you hear me?” Xu Qiaoyun stepped closer. Her movements were fluid and soft. When she reached out and lightly patted Lu Xi’s shoulder, the touch was warm and grounding. “I—I’m here!” Lu Xi blurted out, her voice echoing a bit too loudly in the quiet supermarket . She scrambled to her feet, her boots scuffing against the concrete. “Sorry. My head is just… spinning. I’m Lu Xi. First-year Art student.” She took a half-step back, realizing she was still hovering near Gu Wang. She looked at the two older students and felt a rush of genuine relief that she wasn’t alone with the zombies—or the villain—just yet.
“Thank you so much,” she said, her voice dropping into a more sincere, quiet tone. “For opening the door when you did. Truly. Thank you, Seniors.” Behind her, she felt a cold, heavy gaze on her back. Gu Wang hadn’t moved. He was leaning against a stack of crates, watching Lu Xi play the role of the “grateful junior” to the very people who, in another timeline, would be his greatest enemies. A faint trace of resentment crept into her eyes. Gu Wang: “…?” He paused, sensing the strange look directed at him from Lu Xi . His brows knit ever so slightly. What… was that look? Before he could think further— “Ah—!” A sudden, sharp scream tore through the air. Everyone’s attention snapped toward the source.
“He—he—he’s been scratched!” A girl pointed at Gu Wang, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
“Keep your voice down!” the girl beside her hissed urgently, immediately clapping a hand over her mouth. “Do you want to attract the zombies?!” Lu Xi’s heart skipped. She followed their gaze. And then— Her breath caught. On Gu Wang’s right hand—bare, unprotected—
A deep scratch ran across the skin. It was raw. Ugly. The flesh split open just enough to reveal a chilling glimpse of bone beneath and dark red blood seeped out slowly, dripping down along his fingers, one drop at a time. Gu Wang’s face was already pale to begin with—
But now, it had turned almost colorless and at this time his body swayed slightly, as though he might collapse at any moment.
The entire supermarket erupted into chaos. Voices overlapped, sharp and panicked. “Throw him out—throw him out now!”
“He’s going to turn into a zombie!”
“Lin Bai! Hurry—get him out of here!” The surviving students instinctively retreated, huddling together, their fear turning into cold rejection in an instant. Only Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun remained where they were. Their expressions turned grave. Heavy. Tense. As the pressure in the air thickened. Lu Xi stood frozen where she was. For a moment— It felt as though the sky had collapsed over her head. How…? How did this happen? When did he get injured?! Her thoughts spiraled uncontrollably. If the villain dies— What happens to her mission? What happens to her…? No—no. Calm down. The system hasn’t issued a fatal warning yet. That means— He’s not in immediate mortal danger. Lu Xi clenched her fists tightly.
She remembered. In the novel, on the very first night of the apocalypse— A blood moon had descended across the sky (a common apocalyptic trope symbolizing mutation and evolution).Under its eerie glow, countless people had fallen into sudden comas. And when they wokeup. They awakened powers. That night marked the first evolution of humanity. Since then, there had been rare cases— People who were injured, even infected… Yet didn’t turn. Instead— They endured it. And when they woke again— They became something else entirely.
Gu Wang was the antagonist of the story .
He wasn’t someone who would die so easily. If nothing deviated from the original plot, then this—this very moment—should be when he awakened his lightning-type ability .Once that thought settled in her mind, Lu Xi’s wildly racing heart began, little by little, to calm.
Her breathing steadied. Her thoughts cleared. But for Gu Wang— Everything felt absurd. His consciousness hovered on the edge of collapse, slipping, fragmenting. His entire body burned as if he had been thrown into molten lava, every inch of him seared by unbearable heat. His blood roared in his veins, boiling, surging violently. And yet— Even through the haze— The noise hadn’t stopped. Those voices.
Panicked. Fearful. Harsh. They were shouting. Telling the others to throw him out. A faint, almost mocking thought surfaced in his mind.
…What was the point of running here? In the end, wouldn’t he still die… torn apart in the mouths of zombies? How meaningless. And yet—
For some reason— His thoughts drifted… to that girl. The small one. The one who had dragged him away. A flicker of curiosity stirred in the depths of his fading consciousness. What would she choose? Most likely… she would abandon him too. After all, who wouldn’t?
If she didn’t— Then she would probably be forced to leave with him, thrown out together into that hell outside. She looked so timid. If they pushed her out… She’d probably cry. That thought lingered strangely in his mind. Then— Everything went dark. Just as the last thread of consciousness snapped— He felt it. A warmth. Soft. Faintly fragrant and sweet. It was her. Lin Bai stood still, his expression grave, his brows drawn tightly together. Behind him, chaos surged with terrified cries and trembling voices, like breaking edge of panic.
But in front of him— Was a classmate who had not yet turned. Not yet crossed that irreversible line. “Lu Xi…” Xu Qiaoyun’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. Lu Xi didn’t answer immediately. Her movements were calm—almost too calm. From beneath her windbreaker, she tore a strip from her long-sleeved shirt without hesitation. The fabric ripped with a soft sound as she crouched down and carefully wrapped it around Gu Wang’s wound, tightening it to stop the bleeding as the scent of blood… Would only attract more danger.
“I know,it’s absurd” she said quietly. Her voice was steady. She struggled slightly, lifting Gu Wang’s arm over her shoulder, supporting his weight.“But I can’t throw him out.” Her words were simple. Firm. “You all saw it—he’s just unconscious. He hasn’t turned into a zombie.”
She looked toward Xu Qiaoyun, her gaze unwavering. “Qiaoyun, you’re a medical student. You should understand this better than anyone—humans can fight off viruses with there own imunity.” Her voice softened, but did not waver. “The fact that he hasn’t turned… isn’t that proof enough ?”
“Maybe right now… he’s fighting it.” A pause. So— “As long as he hasn’t turned, he’s still our classmate.”
“He’s still human.” Her fingers tightened unconsciously. “If we throw him out now…”
“…that’s murder.” Silence fell. Heavy. Uncomfortable. “I know you’re scared,” Lu Xi continued, her voice lower now, but carrying a quiet strength that spread through the room. “So I’ll take him away from here.” “To the supermarket ahead.”
“You can lock the warehouse door behind me.” She took a breath. “I promise—if he turns…”
“…I won’t let him come back and hurt you.” Her voice wasn’t loud. But every word landed clearly. Firmly. After a long moment— Lin Bai spoke.
“…Alright.” His tone was low, decisive. “Thank you, Lu Xi.” Lu Xi gave a small nod in return. She had expected this. In the original story, Lin Bai had always been like this—upright, kind, someone who would not abandon another human being unless there was absolutely no other choice.
As long as Gu Wang wasn’t a zombie— He would not give up on him. “But—”
“Enough.” Lin Bai’s voice cut through the hesitation, sharper this time. “He’s not a zombie yet. Throwing him out now is murder.” His gaze swept across the room. Cold. Steady.
“Are we saving our strength to fight zombies…”
“…or are we turning our knives on our own people?” The words struck deep. Lin Bai knew— Blind kindness in the apocalypse could become a burden. But still— On the very first day of the end of the world— He didn’t want to see humanity collapse into cruelty so quickly. Even if that day would eventually come… He wanted to delay it as long as he can. Even if only for a little while longer. So that something human— Could still remain. Xu Qiaoyun looked at Lu Xi, worry flickering in her gentle eyes. After a moment, she turned and searched through the warehouse, eventually finding a thick rope used for binding goods. “Lu Xi,” she said softly, handing it over, “tie him up.”
A necessary precaution. Lu Xi accepted it with a quiet, grateful nod. “Thank you.” Soon, Lin Bai stepped forward as well, helping secure Gu Wang’s wrists. Together, they lifted him carefully and moved toward the front of the supermarket. The door between the warehouse and the store was shut tightly behind them. Locked. Sealed.
“The sun dipped below the horizon with an eerie finality, dragging the shadows of the campus into a long, suffocating stretch. As the last of the light bled out, the world plunged into a darkness that felt far too heavy. It was exactly as the novel had described—the kind of night where the silence didn’t mean safety; it meant the monsters were finally waking up.” The blood moon rose on time. Its eerie crimson glow seeped through the windows, staining everything in a faint, unsettling red.
From the warehouse behind them— Screams erupted. Someone had fainted. Someone else cried out in fear. Lu Xi didn’t turn back.
Her attention was fixed entirely on the person in front of her. Gu Wang lay there, his face deathly pale, beads of sweat sliding down his temples. His lips were pressed tightly together, his brows drawn into a deep frown, as though he were enduring unimaginable pain. He was suffering from a fever . After being scratched by a zombie, a fever meant the body was fighting the virus. But in reality—
Very few succeeded. Most people… Turned within ten minutes. Only a rare handful— Awakened abilities through that fever. Lu Xi grabbed a towel, soaked it with mineral water, and gently placed it on his forehead. She knew. It wouldn’t make much difference. But still— If it could ease even a fraction of his suffering… If it could stop him from burning out before awakening—
It was worth it. After all— Their fates were now tied together. If he died— She will be finished too . So the time passed. Slowly and steadily . In the latter half of the night, as exhaustion dragged at her consciousness and her eyes began to close— A sharp alarm suddenly exploded in her mind. “Warning! Warning! The villain is in mortal danger! Please respond immediately!” Lu Xi jolted upright. Her heart slammed violently against her chest as she rushed to look at him. And then— Her breath caught. Gu Wang’s face had turned ashen.
From the wound on his right hand, gray-black veins spread upward like creeping shadows, twisting beneath his skin. His nails— Were growing longer. Sharpening. And from his body— A faint, rotting stench began to seep out. It was the unmistakable smell of a dead peerson. “No—!”
Panic surged through her. Something had gone wrong. His awakening— It was failing. “Host, quickly exchange for the Evolution Fluid!” 003’s voice rang out urgently. A panel appeared instantly before her eyes. In the corner she saw a notification Lu Xi: 200 points (newbie bonus).
At the center floated a small, transparent vial. [Evolution Fluid: 100 points. Increases resistance to the zombie virus and raises the probability of ability awakening.]
Lu Xi didn’t hesitate. “Confirm exchange!” The vial materialized in her hand as quickly as she choose it . She quickly lifted Gu Wang’s head, her fingers trembling, trying to pour the liquid into his mouth— But his lips were tightly sealed and no matter how hard she tried— It wouldn’t go in.
“Gu Wang—Gu Wang—!” Her voice cracked, panic breaking through. “Listen to me—open your mouth—please—just drink it—!” Her vision blurred. “I’m begging you… please drink it…”
“Gu Wang…”
Inside the darkness— Gu Wang drifted. His body burned. His mind blurred. But a voice kept ringing in his ear Soft. Tempting. Persistent. Sleep… Sleep, and it will all end. Dark memories surfaced in his mind . Over and over again— A loop he could not escape. His father’s abandonment.
His mother’s madness. The endless years of pain. Of being beaten. Of being unwanted. Until finally he got Freedom. But even that freedom had come at a cost. These scenes replayed mercilessly. Again.
And again. Reminding him— How ridiculous his life had been. He saw it clearly— A crazed woman, eyes wild, striking a small boy curled on the ground with a stick. “Why aren’t you dead yet?! You bastard!” The scene shifted. In a dim room. The boy slumped weakly against the wall.
Outside. The woman screamed hysterically. Inside— A man’s voice came , cold and indifferent. She cursed him. The man who had betrayed her.
Abandoned them. That voice returned. Soft. Seductive. “Do you want revenge…?” “Let me help you…”
Gu Wang’s head throbbed. No. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to become one of those disgusting creatures. If he wanted revenge— He would take it himself. Piece by piece. He would tear that man apart. Reduce him to nothing. And that woman— He would scatter her ashes. Let her never find peace. At this thought his blood surged violently. Killing intent flooded his veins. And then— Another voice broke through. Faint.
Desperate. It belongs to a girl.
She is rying. Telling him to open his mouth. To drink something. A figure appeared in his fading consciousness— Small. Wrapped in a windbreaker. A helmet hiding her face. And that scent— Soft. Sweet. Like honey. His eyelids trembled. He forced them open just a fraction. Through the blur— He saw her. Clinging to him. Crying. Holding something to his lips. Trying to make him drink it.
He find it …annoying. So noisy. He wanted to crush her throat. Snap it— So she would stop crying. And yet— Before his thoughts could fully form— His body moved. He opened his mouth and the liquid slipped in. Cool. Soothing. It spread through him, easing the suffocating pressure, dissolving the darkness creeping through his veins.
The pain lessened. Little by little. As warmth returned. And then— He sank back into unconsciousness. Lu Xi’s strength also gave out. She collapsed back, her whole body trembling, as exhaustion finally catching up to her. For a long moment, she simply sat there, breathing unevenly.
Then, quietly— She spoke in her mind. “…003.”
“How did he survive… in the original story?” Her voice was hoarse. “When I found him today…”
“He was just standing there.” Blank. Still. “If I hadn’t gone to him…”
“He would’ve been surrounded.” Her fingers tightened slightly. “So how did he live through that?”
“How did he survive… all those zombies?”
“And more importantly—” Her gaze rested on his pale face. “…what exactly did he go through? 003 seemed a little troubled. “Host… Gu Wang had already reached fifth-tier (a mid–high level of power classification in ability systems) when he first appeared in the original story. There wasn’t much written about his early days during the zombie outbreak… even my databse doesn’t have detailed records.” In other words— No one knew. No one knew how he had survived.
But one thing was certain— It must have been… unimaginably painful. Countless mouths tearing at him. Rotting teeth sinking into flesh. Sharp, broken nails ripping through skin again and again— And in the suffocating stench of the zombie horde, he could only lie there… waiting for death to come. On the third day of Gu Wang’s coma. Lu Xi sat quietly beside him, her brows faintly knit together. She was… worried.
On the second night of the Blood Moon , Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun had knocked on the door. They told her— They had awakened their abilities.
Lin Bai got fire-type. Xu Qiaoyun got healing type abilty . They had asked how she was doing. At that time, Lu Xi had comforted herself— A villain was still a villain. With such overwhelming strength in the future, it was only natural that his awakening would take longer. But now— It was already the third day. And Gu Wang still hadn’t woken up. “Host, don’t worry,” 003 reassured her. “I have already scanned his condition. The zombie virus has been successfully suppressed. He’s stable and it’s only a matter of time before he regains consciousness.”
Lu Xi let out a slow breath. “…I hope so.” On the fifth day. The quiet supermarket had long become their temporary shelter. And Lu Xi— Had begun talking to 003 far more than necessary. “Look at this, look at this,” she muttered, half complaining, half sulking. “Lin Bai has fire abilities Xu Qiaoyun has healing abilities, Gu Wang has lightning…” Her tone grew increasingly aggrieved. “And me?” She pointed at herself. “What about your host?”
“How am I supposed to survive in an apocalypse without any abilities?!” 003: “Host…” Lu Xi immediately switched tones, her voice turning soft, almost coaxing. “System~ System~ give me a little special treatment, hmm~?”
003: “…” Lu Xi crossed her arms stubbornly. “I don’t care. If you don’t give me abilities, I’m not doing this mission.” Her tone turned dramatically resolute. “Anyway, I’ll get eaten by zombies sooner or later if I stay like this.”
“I’m going to die anyway!”
003: “……”
Under Lu Xi’s relentless persistence— Or rather, her shameless nagging— 003 finally… gave in. In a rather tragic, way. It “cut off its own leg” (a humorous metaphor meaning sacrificing its own accumulated resources), using the points it had saved over countless years to grant Lu Xi a special reward— A water-type ability. Lu Xi froze for a second. Then— Her eyes lit up instantly.
“Long live the System!”
“I love System the most!”
003: “……”
For some reason… It felt like it had just been emotionally manipulated. On the seventh day. Gu Wang was still unconscious. But Lu Xi— Had already begun to adapt. Standing a short distance away, she focused intently, her brows drawn together in concentration. The air around her seemed to tremble faintly. As water molecules—barely visible—gathered slowly in front of her fingertips. Condensing. Compressing. And gradually— Droplets formed. Tiny. Clear. Then— Under her control, they began to freeze. A faint chill spread outward. The droplets solidified into thin, delicate icicles—each no larger than her little finger.
They hovered in the air for a brief moment before trembling slightly. Then— Crack. They shattered. Lu Xi staggered slightly, her body already drenched in sweat, her breathing uneven. “It’s…So hard…” she muttered, wiping her forehead. Using abilities wasn’t as easy as it looked. It drained her. A lot. Out of habit, she glanced toward Gu Wang— Just a quick look. Then she looked away. But— Something felt off. Her movements froze. Slowly— Her eyes widened. And she turned back again, sharply this time.
Gu Wang— Was awake. His eyes were open. Dark. Deep. Locked onto her without blinking. It was impossible to tell how long he had been watching. “…You—you’re awake,” Lu Xi stammered slightly, suddenly feeling inexplicably awkward. She set the towel she was using to wipe her sweat aside and met his gaze.
“Mm.” A low, simple response. And then— Nothing. Silence fell. Thick. Uncomfortable.
Lu Xi: “…” Why wasn’t he saying anything?! She felt her brain slowly short-circuiting. He woke up and only said “mm”— And then just… stared at her?! What was she supposed to say now?! “Cl-classmate, you—” “My name is Gu Wang.” Their voices overlapped. Lu Xi paused. Ah. Right.
She hadn’t asked his name yet. Luckily… She hadn’t accidentally called him “villain” out loud these past few days. Otherwise— With his personality— He definitely would’ve become suspicious. “My name is Lu Xi,” she replied quickly. “I know.”
“…?”
Silence fell again. Lu Xi felt like she could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with her toes from sheer awkwardness (a Chinese internet phrase describing extreme secondhand embarrassment). Then his voice broke the stillness. “Why did you save me?” It was low. Calm. But carrying something heavier beneath it. Lu Xi blinked. Honestly— His voice was really nice. Deep, slightly hoarse, like it brushed against her ears in a way that made them feel faintly numb. “Aha… I’ve always been a kind person,” she laughed awkwardly. “Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda (a Buddhist saying meaning saving a life brings great merit).”
Gu Wang’s gaze didn’t shift. “But I was scratched,” he said quietly. “Why didn’t you abandon me?” Lu Xi paused. Then answered, simply— “You’re my classmate.”
“As long as you hadn’t turned…”
“…you were still human.” Her voice was soft. But firm.
“How could I just send you out to die?”
“Everyone has the right to live.” Gu Wang didn’t reply. The silence returned once more. Long. Unbroken. Then— “Ding! World stabilization progress: 30%. Please keep up the good work!” 003’s cheerful announcement shattered the tension. Lu Xi’s eyes lit up instantly. Wait— So saving him actually worked?! The villain was… moved? Her mood lifted immediately, her expression brightening without restraint. On the side Gu Wang watched her quietly. A trace of confusion flickered in his eyes. Why was she suddenly so happy?
At first, he had thought she was timid. Fragile. Easy to break. But now— He realized— She wasn’t timid at all. She was just… Stupid. Bravely stupid. The kind of person who would throw herself into danger without thinking. In this kind of world— People like her didn’t live long. Gu Wang lowered his gaze slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible scoff forming in his mind. He could already imagine— The kind of death she would meet. “Are you not afraid…” he asked slowly, “…that I might turn into a zombie and bite you to death?”
Lu Xi blinked. Then answered matter-of-factly— “No.” A pause. “I tied you up.” Gu Wang: “…” Only then did he notice— His arms were firmly bound. Tightly. Securely. Just as she said— He couldn’t hurt her even if he tried. “…Gu—uh, I mean—” Lu Xi immediately noticed his slightly darkened expression and panicked. “It was an emergency! Please understand!” Her tone shifted instantly, turning soft and overly accommodating. “I’ll untie you right away—right away—don’t be angry, okay?”
She hurried over, fumbling slightly as she loosened the ropes, her movements careful. Then— Almost instinctively— She crouched down and began rubbing his legs, which had gone numb from being bound for so long. Her hands were small. Warm. Pressing gently against him. Completely unaware— Of how dangerous it was to get this close.