Pull Hard!
Finally, Ning Yi successfully completed the test set by Old Master Gu.
The secretary, after reporting to the old man, conveyed his heartfelt praise and gratitude, and smoothly processed the property transfer paperwork for her.
“Madam, this villa is officially yours now,” the secretary said with a smile.
Gu Cheng, radiating coldness, sat in the back, watching the entire handover process.
Under the shadow of her husband’s dark and brooding gaze, Ning Yi clasped her hands over her mouth emotionally. “Thank you, Grandpa! I truly feel so undeserving of this, so unworthy!”
Gu Cheng: “…” Good to know.
But the secretary merely shook his head and smiled. “Madam, you more than deserve this!”
Gu Cheng: “…” Fine. Very good.
—
That evening.
The assistants had tactfully retreated to their own quarters, and the bodyguards stood watch outside the villa. Everyone was wise enough to leave the grand estate for Eldest young master Gu and his wife to enjoy their quality time together.
Gu Cheng stared at Ning Yi with a sinister expression.
“Was today fun, Ah Yi?”
Ning Yi sprang onto the bed like a bouncing ball. “It was amazing, hubby! I just knew you were the best to me! My happiness today is all because of you~!”
The spaciousness of a luxury villa hit differently. Every room and space was her own, no upstairs footsteps, no crying kids in the yard, and the soundproofing was top-notch.
Good sleep = happiness. Ugh, so satisfying!
Gu Cheng lowered his gaze, a cold, dark blue flickering in his black eyes. “Ah Yi, how do you plan to thank me?”
Ning Yi shyly replied, “You’re free to live here as much as you like. Ownership’s mine, but use is yours.”
Gu Cheng: “…”
Lifting his cold tea, he said sarcastically, “Ah Yi, you’re too kind to me.”
Sprawling across the bed, Ning Yi teasingly wiggled her feet. “Or, hubby, I could thank you with myself.”
“!” Gu Cheng nearly choked.
“…Ning Yi,” he said icily, his brows furrowed.
This woman—did she even have an ounce of shame?!
“We’re married,” Ning Yi replied innocently, lying comfortably on her side. “I don’t mind, hubby.”
Of course, she was just joking. Gu Cheng’s lower body wasn’t fully recovered, so nothing would happen anyway, hahaha.
However, Gu Cheng couldn’t handle sharing a bed with anyone, much less allowing someone to get close to him.
When he wheeled himself out of the bedroom, he encountered the old master’s secretary standing at the end of the hallway. “Eldest young master, the old master said this is a rare opportunity for you and the madam to have some quality time together. Please don’t ruin the mood.”
Gu Cheng: “…”
He glanced back. Ning Yi was still lounging on the bed, her snow-white feet wagging playfully. “Hubby~ come on~”
Gu Cheng: “…”
After a long pause, he resigned himself. Fine.
—
But, as it turned out, there were no issues sharing the bed.
Ning Yi really loved her sleep, and the luxurious mattress in the villa was top-notch. She rolled around twice, then pulled out a sleep mask from somewhere, and promptly fell into a deep slumber.
On the massive 2.5-meter-wide bed, they didn’t even come close to touching each other.
Gu Cheng grudgingly accepted it.
Until midnight.
Gu Cheng opened his eyes, staring down at the arm draped across his abdomen.
He himself slept as still as a statue, never shifting positions. Ning Yi, on the other hand, was a lively sleeper, sprawling every which way across the bed.
In his entire life, Gu Cheng had never been in close contact with anyone. Sharing a bed was already a massive concession—there was no way he could tolerate someone hugging him in her sleep.
“Ning Yi,” he warned coldly.
“So noisy,” Ning Yi mumbled, barely stirring.
Ever since escaping the apocalypse, Ning Yi’s quality of sleep had greatly improved. Although her hearing remained exceptionally sharp, she could quickly fall back asleep even if Gu Cheng disturbed her.
Getting proper sleep was pure bliss.
She withdrew her arm and obediently turned over.
Without the weight of her arm on his abdomen, Gu Cheng instinctively turned his head to glance at her side profile in the dim light—just a small, peaceful bundle rising and falling with each breath.
Quite well-behaved.
Ten minutes later.
Gu Cheng opened his eyes again.
Only to see an entire leg sprawled across his own.
He inhaled deeply, twice, then slowly exhaled.
…Forget it.
—
The next morning.
Ning Yi woke up feeling completely refreshed.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she stretched lazily, then turned to meet Gu Cheng’s frosty gaze.
“Good morning, hubby! I’m sure you slept wonderfully too!” she chirped, full of energy.
Gu Cheng: “What do you think?”
Ning Yi: “Don’t hold back here, treat it like your own home! Sleep soundly, okay?”
Gu Cheng: “…”
Ning Yi gave him an innocent look, followed by a playful wink.
The wink brought Gu Cheng back to the one she’d done yesterday—using his own face, no less.
“…” He quickly dismissed the memory. Better not to think about it.
Pulling at the corners of his mouth, Gu Cheng thought of today’s activity. He already had Ning Yi’s playbook figured out.
“For today’s game, does Ah Yi need hubby’s help?”
She’d signed up herself, but he could already see it coming: once they swapped bodies, she’d make him find supplies, evade zombies, and let her pocket the winnings.
Heh. He knew her too well.
But Ning Yi waved her hand dramatically. “No need, hubby! Today, I’ll rely on my own two hands to succeed!”
Gu Cheng didn’t believe a word. “Oh?”
Ning Yi stayed calm, confident as ever.
The activity would start at 10 a.m. and last two days and one night—an easy feat for her.
—
After getting ready and heading downstairs for breakfast, they found Gu Le already in the villa.
When Gu Le saw the two coming out of the same room, a blush crept across his fair cheeks.
Noticing his reaction, Ning Yi shyly lowered her head, perfectly playing along.
Gu Cheng: …What on earth are you two blushing about?
Because of their antics, the breakfast table suddenly felt awkwardly romantic despite nothing actually happening.
Gu Cheng cleared his throat. “Eat properly.”
Ning Yi had boldly claimed she wouldn’t need his help, but considering the next two days would depend on scavenging for supplies, it was better to eat her fill now.
Gu Le, eager and excited about the activity, turned to Ning Yi. “Sister-in-law, want me to join and protect you? I’ll keep you safe!”
Gu Cheng shot him a cold glance. “You? Protect who?”
Gu Le puffed up indignantly. “I’ve played tons of post-apocalyptic games! I’m great at fighting zombies! I’ve got to be braver than Sister-in-law at least!”
Ning Yi played along cheerfully. “Haha, sure, sure.”
While Gu Cheng mocked Gu Le’s offer, he didn’t actually stop him from participating.
After all, Gu Cheng wasn’t really there to rest. He had plenty of work and online meetings to handle and wouldn’t have time to monitor their live stream. Even if Gu Le was a bit of a spoiled rich kid, he could still keep an eye on Ning Yi, who, despite being a professional couch potato, might need some backup.
Ning Yi smiled. “Then join us! Let’s have fun together.”
Gu Le: “Yay!!!”
Although Ning Yi wasn’t worried about going hungry, she still had a hearty meal before leaving her spacious villa. After devouring twenty juicy soup dumplings, she patted her satisfied stomach and stepped out into the morning sun.
This life—wasn’t this exactly what she had dreamed of while surviving in the apocalypse?
Awoo.
Might as well enjoy a small nostalgic throwback.
Before heading out, Ning Yi checked in on work.
The collaboration with CMore was not only beneficial for the Gu Group but also an excellent promotional opportunity for CMore. She noticed that their registered users had already reached 5 million!
No longer just a niche platform, it now had a solid user base!
And with Jiang Linyi’s appearance today, alongside the inevitable romantic tension with the heroine, the heat was bound to explode!
Ning Yi could already see the money beckoning to her.
After all, in this era of monetized traffic, even a viral casual game could rake in 20 million a month. At this rate, financial freedom was no longer just a dream.
After coordinating with Zhao Weining and her programmer brothers, Ning Yi ensured that CMore’s live-streaming platform would run smoothly and stably. Her team was fully committed—no technical errors would ruin everyone’s opportunity to witness the brilliance of their “Big Boss 01” on display!
She glanced at the CMore platform, which was currently broadcasting scenic introductions of the Biyu Cloud Villa.
> [OMG, this house is amazing! Is it true it’s developed by the Gu Group?]
> [I wish I could live in such a huge house. So envious, sob sob.]
Ning Yi felt secretly delighted.
When there’s time, maybe I’ll (have my husband) clean up a few more villas. Mm-hmm.
The livestream was split into four feeds: one focused on the resource stations, one on the zombie NPC appearances, one for night-time camp coverage, and another tracking groups of participants.
—
At the Activity Site
The wealthy heirs and heiresses were well aware they’d be under the audience’s scrutiny today, so each of them showed up in their most refined outfits.
When Jiang Linyi arrived, the livestream comments section exploded.
> [Whoa! The actor is actually participating?!]
> [Fun fact: Jiang Linyi is a rich heir from Province C, so it’s not surprising he’s mingling with these A-City elites.]
> [Brace yourselves, his fans are arriving in 5…4…3…2…1!]
The live-stream viewership skyrocketed.
> [Ahhh, there’s my favorite influencer! Go, Ding Ziyue!]
> [Look, there’s Ning Yi too!]
Ding Ziyue, spotting the camera, glanced smugly at the casually positioned Ning Yi in the back. She silently vowed to make Jiang Linyi fall for her today and ensure the audience—and Gu Cheng—would witness her warmth and kindness!
Once everyone was gathered, the organizers explained the rules to the participants and the livestream viewers.
Ning Yi listened attentively. The rules were pretty simple.
Phones would be confiscated. Participants had to scavenge the wilderness for resources like food, water, tents, and sleeping bags—all while avoiding zombie attacks. Anyone bitten by a zombie would be eliminated. Unsurprisingly, most heiresses would only dare to scavenge resources and avoid confronting zombies directly.
Each zombie wore a ribbon on their wrist. Stealing a ribbon earned 1 point. At the end of the game, the participant with the highest score would win—and Gu Cheng himself would present the prize. This was a massive incentive.
For someone like Ding Ziyue, her “knights” would undoubtedly hand over all the ribbons they secured to her.
Victory was practically guaranteed for her.
Once the rules were explained, the game officially began.
To set the mood, the game simulated the very beginning of the apocalypse—when human society started collapsing, and zombies began infecting one another and emerging.
“Ahhh!!”
“Holy crap, look over there—”
The zombie NPCs were convincingly grotesque, their faces covered in blood and large areas of their skin decaying. Their deranged expressions and torn clothing added to the eerie atmosphere as they staggered towards the participants.
Although these heirs and heiresses had only ever seen zombies on-screen, facing them in person created an intense, immersive thrill.
The organizers helpfully reminded them: The longer the activity goes on, the faster the zombies will move. Right now, they’re slow, but by the end, they’ll be running.
“Holy crap, this is something else…”
“Why am I already scared?”
The air was charged with tension and excitement.
Only Ning Yi remained utterly unfazed.
“The zombies’ faces are still too rosy, not realistic enough.”
In reality, when the apocalypse first struck, everything happened so quietly. Most people didn’t even realize what was happening before they were infected—there was no “buffer” like this.
Beside her, Gu Le was visibly tense. “Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid!”
Ning Yi calmly replied, “Mm-hmm.”
Ding Ziyue feigned a delicate and fragile demeanour, exclaiming softly, “How terrifying!”
Gu Zeyu immediately asked, “Ziyue, do you need me to protect you?”
Jiang Linyi also stepped forward, his concerned gaze fixed on her.
Ding Ziyue, her face pale, shook her head lightly. “It’s fine.”
With two knights in shining armour by her side, the envy of the crowd was palpable.
As the zombies began to shuffle into action, someone suggested, “Why don’t we form teams? It’s safer if we stick together.”
The heirs and heiresses, familiar with one another, naturally grouped up based on their social circles. Others approached Gu Le, inviting him to join their group, but he resolutely stayed by Ning Yi’s side, refusing to budge.
This left Ning Yi entirely on her own.
The socialite heiresses, snug in their little cliques, took pleasure in ostracizing Ning Yi, whom they all despised.
At the centre of these cliques stood Ding Ziyue, basking in the attention of her admirers. She delighted in Ning Yi’s isolation, smugly watching from her pedestal. After all, while people were practically lining up to join her team, Ning Yi was left completely abandoned.
Her heart swelled with triumph. She had not only Gu Zeyu and Jiang Linyi by her side but also the admiration of the entire crowd. This was her charmed life. What did Ning Yi have to compete with her?
Feigning kindness, Ding Ziyue approached Ning Yi and gently offered, “Xiaoyi, why don’t you join us? This event can be quite challenging, and it’s your first time. It would be safer to stay with us.”
The livestream audience immediately warmed to Ding Ziyue.
> [Wow, this young lady is so beautiful and kind-hearted!]
> [I follow her on CMore! She’s a treasure—a stunning and sweet young woman from the Ding family. Totally love her!]
At this moment, even Jiang Linyi turned his attention to Ning Yi. Wasn’t she the girl he had noticed at the equestrian club last time—the one who seemed different?
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Ning Yi waved her hand nonchalantly. “No, thank you.”
What’s the point of sharing resources with such a large group?
Besides, anyone teaming up with Ding Ziyue was basically cannon fodder for the main couple’s love story. Ning Yi wouldn’t be caught dead joining them.
Wen Xiaoman sneered, “Don’t overestimate yourself. You’ve never participated in something like this before. Don’t think it’s going to be easy.”
Ning Yi remained unfazed, and the others stopped trying to convince her.
“Whatever. When she’s starving, she’ll come begging to join us.”
“Let’s go.”
Reluctantly, Ding Ziyue left, feigning worry but secretly rejoicing.
Gu Le, however, nervously scratched his head. Still, he felt a sense of duty as her protector. Shaking slightly, he offered, “Sister-in-law, why don’t you wait by that hill over there? I’ll scout the area for supplies.”
Ning Yi glanced at him sceptically. “Are you sure you can handle it?”
Gu Le, full of determination, puffed out his chest. “Of course! If my brother isn’t here, it’s my turn to step up!”
“Alright, go ahead.”
Meanwhile.
Gu Cheng had just wrapped up an online meeting.
Rumours that he had gone to Biyu Cloud Villa to recuperate were swiftly dispelled. Not only was Gu Cheng doing well, but he was making sure most people weren’t.
After the meeting, Gu Cheng casually glanced out the window. “Where are they?”
Assistant Zhou immediately caught his drift and responded swiftly. “The livestream shows that the madam and Young Master Gu Le have teamed up and are scavenging for supplies.”
Gu Cheng replied indifferently, “Alright.”
As he passed through the villa’s spacious living room, he noticed Song Yan and some of the security team watching the livestream on TV.
“Look, there’s the young master!”
“Switch to the feed with the madam!”
“Ah, Eldest Young Master!—”
Noticing Gu Cheng, they scrambled to their feet.
Gu Cheng waved them off dismissively, signalling for them to sit.
Although Gu Cheng didn’t have time to watch the livestream himself, he paused momentarily.
Might as well take a look.
Let’s see how capable Ning Yi was when she claimed she didn’t need his help today.
Gu Cheng’s gaze remained calm as he watched the television screen, his long fingers lightly tapping against his knee.
However, since this event wasn’t professionally produced like a variety show, there were only four split screens. Unless participants frequently visited resource points or interacted with zombie NPCs, their chances of appearing on the livestream were relatively low.
After less than a minute of watching and not spotting anyone, an announcement from the director suddenly came through—
[Gu Le, out.]
Gu Cheng: “…”
Embarrassing.
The livestream cut to Gu Le, who was wailing as if bidding a tearful farewell. “Sis! How will you survive without me?!”
Ning Yi, with a helpless expression, stretched out her hand and reassured him, “It’s okay, sweetie. I’ll manage just fine. Go in peace.”
The viewers, recognizing the duo as the overeager eaters from a high-society banquet, burst out laughing.
> [This pair of siblings is hilarious, hahaha!]
> [Correction, not siblings. She’s Eldest Master Gu’s wife and that’s his younger brother, hahaha!]
> [Ahhh, wherever Eldest Young Master Gu is, I’m there too.]
Gu Cheng’s eyes rested on the screen indifferently.
Ning Yi’s face appeared on the broadcast, as radiant as ever, exuding a calm and effortless charm.
Assistant Zhou chimed in, “The madam is working so hard. She must be doing it to support the Gu Group. Surely, she’s eager to receive the first prize directly from Eldest Young Master Gu’s hands!”
Gu Cheng: “Heh”.
—She’s probably just eager to take my money.
But as he thought that, the corners of his thin lips lifted imperceptibly.
Fine.
If she got tired or decided to slack off, she’d definitely come looking for him.
Gu Cheng averted his gaze and returned to the study to continue his work.
—
Meanwhile.
The news of Gu Le’s elimination quickly spread throughout the mountain.
The other participants were dying of laughter—
“So, Ning Yi is on her own now?”
“We invited her to join us, but she didn’t know her place. Now look—how long do you think she can last? Hahaha.”
The schadenfreude was thick in the air.
Ding Ziyue, imagining Eldest Young Master Gu surely watching the livestream and paying attention to her, let her face fall into a sorrowful expression.
“I wonder where Xiaoyi is right now. It’s so dangerous out here. How could she run around alone? If she gets hurt or goes hungry, I’ll feel so guilty…”
Gu Zeyu immediately chimed in, “Ziyue, you’re always so kind.”
Jiang Linyi handed her a resource backpack he’d found hanging from a tree, but Ding Ziyue, still preoccupied, shook her head. “If Xiaoyi has nothing to eat, I won’t feel at ease.”
> [Wow, Ding Ziyue is so thoughtful towards her sister!]
> [Could this really be sisterly love in a wealthy family? I’m touched.]
> [Wait, hold up—look! Ning Yi’s on-screen!]
At that moment, one of the four livestream feeds focused on Ning Yi.
She was at a resource point, calm and unhurried, without a hint of panic. Her movements were quick and precise as she bent down to flip open a small shipping container.
Inside, she found instant food packs, a bottle of water, a bottle of milk, some energy bars, and a sleeping bag.
Jackpot. Almost too easy.
It was the most abundant haul discovered that day, and the comment section exploded with cheers.
> [Hahaha, the girl’s not just pretty but lucky too!]
> [Damn, how did she even find that? Is it just luck?]
Meanwhile, among the zombie NPCs, a legend began to circulate—
Holy crap!
There’s a beauty in the game who’s not afraid of zombies! She even grabs you by the neck and interrogates you for info! AHHHH!
If you see her, don’t scare her!
Just RUN!!!
—
Back to Ding Ziyue and her entourage.
“Brother Linyi, are we safe hiding here?” she asked, her voice trembling sweetly.
A moment ago, the small group had been searching for tents they could use overnight, only to suddenly face a horde of zombies—twenty or thirty of them! Twisting and contorting, emitting guttural groans, the horde surged forward, scattering the group in an instant.
In the chaos, Jiang Linyi grabbed Ding Ziyue’s wrist and pulled her behind a nearby barricade.
Ding Ziyue’s heart pounded in her chest.
Jiang Linyi was definitely falling for her! He was starting to treasure her, sheltering her in his arms like a precious gem!
With no cameras around, only the perilous ambiance and the security he brought her in a moment of danger, which girl wouldn’t be moved to her core?
“I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Ding Ziyue responded in a soft, syrupy tone, “Mhm, Brother Linyi.”
“Everyone’s hiding now. Once the zombies can’t find anyone, they’ll move on.” Jiang Linyi reassured her as he cautiously stood up to peek over the barricade.
Ding Ziyue immediately followed, mimicking his careful movements.
That’s when they both spotted a shadow darting through the distance.
Was…someone chasing the zombies???
Jiang Linyi & Ding Ziyue: “???”
Surely they were mistaken.
But Jiang Linyi caught a clearer glimpse—it seemed to be that peculiar girl from before?
Could it be?
Everyone else was scrambling to avoid the zombies, so who in their right mind would actively chase them down?
—
Meanwhile, Ning Yi was having the time of her life.
No supplies? No problem.
Find a zombie, grab it, and simply *ask*.
One zombie NPC was still dutifully trying to bite her when she saw right through his act. Calmly, she interrogated him, extracting information with ease before casually snatching the string from his wrist.
+1 point.
The zombie collapsed onto the ground, clutching his wrist as if his dignity had been stolen.
Viewers watching this scene through one of the split screens erupted into laughter.
> [LOL HAHAHA WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?!?]
> [Everyone, switch to this feed NOW. If you miss this moment, I’ll be heartbroken, okay?]
> [OMG this girl is so cool! No wonder she doesn’t need a team—she’s a solo queen!]
With a surge of interest, viewers flocked to Ning Yi’s screen.
Outside the game, the developers monitoring the livestream marvelled at her efficiency. Despite their initial shock at her antics, they quickly rationalized it—after all, she was their ‘01 boss’.
The forever goddess of badassery.
—
On another screen, Wen Xiaoman and her group munched on the compressed biscuits Jiang Linyi had found, their faces full of smug satisfaction. Despite the biscuits’ unpleasant taste, the thought of Ning Yi possibly starving somewhere made them feel strangely superior.
“Do you think Ning Yi might already be too hungry to move?”
“Very likely. We haven’t heard her elimination notice yet, so she’s probably hiding from zombies somewhere~.”
Even Jiang Linyi’s fans, who were watching the scene unfold, began to express second-hand embarrassment.
> [After seeing Ning Yi, this group looks so pitiful.]
—
At the same time, Ning Yi was perched comfortably in a tree.
She tore open a matcha-filled chocolate pie, savouring the treat with satisfaction. After finishing half of it, she retrieved a small bottle of fortified milk from her pocket.
Her porcelain-white, delicate features were serene and composed as if she were enjoying a casual afternoon tea.
…If only there weren’t a horde of zombies gathered below her tree.
The NPC zombies, spotting someone isolated, had swarmed around her. With guttural growls, they clawed at the tree bark, their grotesque, bloodied faces turned upwards, trying to climb.
From the livestream, the scene looked truly intense—seven or eight bloodied, decaying zombie faces stared up at the lone girl in the tree, snarling and clawing.
Yet Ning Yi, still sipping her milk, casually leaned down and began teaching them how to growl.
“Didn’t I tell you? Your growls lack articulation.”
The zombies: “???”
“Don’t just hiss; you have to add some guttural tones. Like this—‘huh-huh.’ You need to project from the throat.”
The zombies: “???”
It was hard to describe.
Who was the zombie here???
Somehow, Ning Yi’s lecture left the zombies so flustered, their faces almost turned red.
Shaking her head, Ning Yi sighed, “Your complexions are way too rosy. Real zombies are pale, like they’ve been dead for three days.”
Her expression grew distant as she gazed into the horizon with a wistful air.
“But then again, this is a time of peace.”
Ning Yi had no idea her casual comments and actions had already turned her into an internet sensation.
> [Haha, what an absolute legend! I love her so much!]
> [Did you guys see her trilingual video from before? She’s a hidden gem!]
> [I have a feeling she has some secret identity—how else is she this cool?!]
—
The rest of the day, Ning Yi shockingly didn’t switch bodies with Gu Cheng.
For once, Gu Cheng remained in his own body the entire day, focusing on work as usual.
The silence was almost unsettling—it had been so long since he had this much uninterrupted peace.
He couldn’t help but wonder. Was Ning Yi really handling everything on her own without asking for his help?
By the time his evening meetings wrapped up, Gu Cheng found himself casually asking, “Where’s Ning Yi?”
Assistant Zhou, who had been by Gu Cheng’s side all day managing work, had no clue. “I’m not sure, sir. I haven’t checked the livestream.”
The bodyguards, though tempted, were too disciplined to peek at the livestream while on duty.
Gu Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose, “Turn on the TV.”
—
It was nearing night-time in the survival game, and those who hadn’t been eliminated were setting up camp for the evening.
Ding Ziyue’s group, having spent the entire day without seeing Ning Yi, assumed she was hiding somewhere, starving and scared of the zombies.
“I’m worried about Xiao Yi. Should we go look for her? She might not even have a sleeping bag,” Ding Ziyue said with feigned concern.
Jiang Linyi, who initially admired Ding Ziyue’s kindness, found himself hesitating as he recalled the fleeting figure from earlier.
Wen Xiaoman scoffed, “For all we know, she’s already quit. Tomorrow, when the zombies start running, Ning Yi will probably wet her pants.”
“Still, I can’t help but feel concerned…” Ding Ziyue murmured, her tone full of pity.
> [Y’all should worry about yourselves, haha!]
> [I can’t wait to see these spoiled brats face zombies tomorrow alongside Ning Yi, haha!]
> [Hype level: +100086!]
Little did they know, the viewers had witnessed Ning Yi single-handedly dominating zombies all day.
As night fell, Ning Yi had the largest tent, a sleeping bag, abundant supplies, and a hefty collection of points from the strings she’d snatched from zombies’ wrists.
—
Gu Cheng watched on TV as Ning Yi expertly pitched her tent.
He stared, utterly silent.
“Ah Yi,” he called out.
Ning Yi, who had been fully immersed in survival mode, suddenly remembered she could communicate with him.
“Oh! Hubby, you’re done with work?”
“Did you see the livestream? Did you see your amazing wife?”
“Did you fall in love with me all over again after seeing my epic moves?”
Hearing her chatter, Gu Cheng leaned back on the sofa, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile.
The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and for the first time all day, he seemed relaxed. He sipped his cooled tea leisurely.
“You… really surprised me, Ah Yi.”
She wasn’t afraid of zombies. She wasn’t afraid of being alone.
She seemed fearless, needing no help at all.
For some reason, that realization stirred something in him. His voice dropped, soft and deep. “Ah Yi, aren’t you afraid of sleeping alone at night?”
“Not at all, hubby! Just knowing you’re with me in spirit makes my heart feel warm and safe!”
As Ning Yi crawled into her tent, she muttered sweet nonsense while settling down comfortably.
She had nothing to fear—zombies didn’t even dare approach her tent.
But as soon as she was inside, she froze.
A pair of glowing, beady black eyes stared back at her.
“?”
Ning Yi respectfully paused.
Back in his villa, Gu Cheng sat by the window, quietly sipping tea as he reflected on Ning Yi’s curious nature.
Her lack of shame, her opportunism—she was a strange mix of contradictions.
But somehow…
Gu Cheng’s thoughts were interrupted as he was abruptly pulled into her tent.
And there, he locked eyes with a snake.
“?”
“.”
From the other side of their shared consciousness, Ning Yi coyly chimed, “Hubby, say hello to my new friend for me.”
Gu Cheng’s calm demeanour shattered entirely.
His voice dropped, cold and deliberate. “F*ck.”
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