The night was dim in the small villa.
Due to concerns about the mutated plant, Shen Yi had shut down the basement generator to reduce noise.
To cut down on energy consumption, the usual bright lighting would no longer be seen.
Now they only had a camping lantern hanging overhead.
Dinner was prepared by Cheng Jun - her first time cooking here.
When Shen Yi offered to help, she shooed him away.
Now as she brought the plates to the table, he quickly took them from her, teasing,
"I must try this secret recipe of yours that you've been hiding from me."
Cheng Jun blushed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear,
"Don't be silly. I can't cook Chinese food, I only made Western dishes at home. Just try it."
She hadn't let Shen Yi help because she was nervous - cooking was unfamiliar enough, and having him watch would only add to the pressure.
Dinner consisted of a steak and some pasta for each person, garnished with tomatoes and spinach.
Given their limited conditions and scarce ingredients, they had to make do with whatever could fill their stomachs.
The beef came from a cold storage facility Shen Yi had broken into earlier - they had stockpiled some meat.
Once the storage door was opened, the cold air kept escaping, and the meat would spoil if not eaten.
Under Cheng Jun's expectant gaze, Shen Yi cut off a small piece and chewed it.
It was a bit tough, and the piece Shen Yi cut had some burnt edges, probably due to the lack of proper pan and temperature control.
Shen Yi maintained a straight face as he swallowed and said:
"Not bad, there's room for improvement."
Cheng Jun didn't catch the underlying meaning and smiled, standing up,
"Really? This should be paired with red wine. I decanted some earlier - I'll go get it."
Shen Yi smiled watching her leave, quietly flipping the steak to hide the burnt side.
When he looked up, Cheng Jun was already returning with a large bowl.
"Couldn't find a decanter, so this will have to do."
"That's fine, it's all the same."
Cheng Jun busied herself getting wine glasses and pouring for both of them.
Shen Yi rarely drank and wasn't particular about such things - the wine didn't need decanting as far as he was concerned.
Though he didn't enjoy drinking, he had stockpiled some alcohol as it had other uses besides consumption.
"Cheers."
They clinked glasses.
Cheng Jun sniffed the wine before drinking.
Shen Yi was a simple man - honestly, he just found the taste smooth and drinkable.
As soon as she drank, Cheng Jun's face turned rosy.
She quickly cut a piece of meat to chase the wine.
The moment it entered her mouth, her face scrunched up like a dumpling,
"Ugh, it's bitter!"
After spitting out the meat, she suddenly realized and looked at Shen Yi, embarrassed:
"I'm sorry, I didn't control the heat well. Just throw it away - I'll make you some noodles instead."
Shen Yi waved his hand, showing no blame,
"It's fine, mine is good. Just cut away the burnt parts - throwing it all away would be too wasteful. No need for noodles, we have pasta here."
Cheng Jun hadn't expected to mess up her first time cooking, especially after planning it secretly for so long. At home, her cooking had always turned out well.
Shen Yi wasn't just being nice - he was used to eating whatever was edible, and as long as it was cooked through, it was fine by him.
After calming Cheng Jun down, they continued their earlier conversation over wine.
"Looking back, we're really lucky nothing happened during all that commotion we caused."
"Yes, though it's rooted in the city center, quite far from us."
The commotion referred to their previous search plan, driving around with loudspeakers - they'd been everywhere except near the city center.
"Shen Yi, do you think there are any other survivors besides us?"
With most of the wine gone, Cheng Jun twisted the stem of her wine glass, her voice low.
Previously they only had internal worries, but now external threats had appeared - she couldn't stay optimistic.
"There must be. Humanity isn't that easy to wipe out."
According to the system's introduction, it was nearly overrun but not completely - reinforcements could be hiding somewhere.
That was all Shen Yi could say.
Cheng Jun was noncommittal about this answer - what difference would finding others make?
She was an outsider, with no family or friends, waking up to only this ruined city.
She took another big drink as emotions welled up, slowly laying her head on the table, her eyes lost like a frightened deer, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Why?"
"Why me?"
"Why am I here?"
Cheng Jun had gritted her teeth through many hardships, but the doubts weighing on her heart remained unresolved.
In the third month after arriving in this apocalypse, she finally broke down crying.
Shen Yi put down his glass, walked to her side, and gently patted her shoulder, consoling her softly.
Cheng Jun suddenly raised her head and hugged his waist, tears in her eyes as she leaned against him,
"Shen Yi, I miss home..."
That confused, heartbroken look struck Shen Yi's heart hard, filling him with guilt, almost compelling him to tell her the truth.
This was essentially just a dream, a game, yet it had entangled an innocent soul like Cheng Jun.
Shen Yi knew it was a game, but Cheng Jun was an unwitting victim, not just a programmed NPC - the copied version of her was a living, breathing person.
With emotions, fears, joys, and sorrows - her embrace, body temperature, heartbeat, tears, everything was so real - how could he remain unmoved?
Stroking Cheng Jun's hair, Shen Yi spoke with unusual seriousness:
"Maybe this is just a dream?"
"Nightmares always end, and perhaps one day you'll open your eyes and be back home."
"Family, friends, warmth, peace - everything as it should be."
At this moment, he didn't care if this was a system projection - he was treating Cheng Jun as a person, not just a character to be conquered.
Perhaps Shen Yi's comfort worked, as Cheng Jun gradually stopped crying.
She looked up with red eyes, smoothing out the wrinkles in Shen Yi's clothes where her tears had left a large wet patch.
"Sorry, I'm better now."
Seeing her sit up straight, Shen Yi returned to his seat.
Cheng Jun refilled both their glasses and raised hers again.
Seeing her take another big drink, Shen Yi frowned and advised:
"You should drink less..."
He'd figured it out - Cheng Jun was the type who couldn't handle alcohol well but drank enthusiastically anyway.
Cheng Jun ignored him, taking another sip of wine before exhaling and comforting herself:
"You're right, maybe it is a dream."
"By the way, Shen Yi, I never asked where you're from."
Shen Yi put down his glass and casually replied,
"My hometown is a poor place called Linjiang County in Gusu Province, but I work in Jingyuan City."
Cheng Jun's eyes lit up unexpectedly,
"You're in Jingyuan City too? Me too! Which district?"
"Uh, Jianyuan District."
"What a coincidence! I live in Shangyang District, but I work in Jianyuan too, at Tiancheng Group - you know it?"
Cheng Jun hadn't expected they lived so close - it must be fate.
"Jianyuan... Tiancheng... Cheng Jun?"
Though spoken softly, the words thundered in Shen Yi's ears.
Wang Ru's words suddenly came back to him.
"The Administrative Department just got a new manager named Cheng Jun, a beauty with overseas education, daughter of a high-level executive."
It was her?!
Shen Yi finally understood why the name seemed familiar, as if he'd heard it before.
Then he mentally complained,
First Fu Nanzhi, now Cheng Jun.
Why does this damn system keep targeting the same people...
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?
ial death, also known as "shè sǐ" in Chinese, generally refers to... well, never mind, it's not important. My name is Ye Cheng, and I'm about to experience social death firsthand. ... 【Host, your mission is to confess your love to the young lady of the Dongfang family, the current student council president, in a way that will be unforgettable for everyone at the freshman ceremony!】 【Host, assist the girl with a sprained ankle in front of you to reach the infirmary, and fulfill the wicked thoughts in your heart!】 【Host, act on your desires and punish the arrogant young lady before you mercilessly!】 【Host, follow your instincts—abandon shameful surrender, begging, or groveling, and ruthlessly criticize the domineering, ill-mannered young lady in front of you!】 【Host...】 Ye Cheng: "Here, here, you take this host role—I quit!" Wait, why is the girl with a sprained ankle the daughter of a mafia boss? And what kind of punishment method is this for the arrogant young lady? Also, who the heck said anything about wicked thoughts in my heart? Come out here, let’s settle this one-on-one!!! ... The haughty student council president, the scheming mafia princess, the fragile yandere young lady, the airheaded maid-in-waiting, the mixed-blood loli/...
