Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 229: Chapter 219: Wake Up

Wenqing had actually done her homework before knocking on the Wen Family’s door, so she was well aware that Tang Mo was now Wen Jianshu’s stepdaughter.

But she was just a stepdaughter—a burden from a previous marriage, not his own flesh and blood. Wenqing had never really considered Tang Mo a threat.

But after seeing the way Wen Jianshu and Mr. Wen Sr. treated Tang Mo today, she immediately changed tactics, deciding to be more restrained.

Now that she’d finally found fault with Tang Mo, she certainly wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.

After so many years of being showered with flattery—sincere or not—by the younger generation, Mr. Wen Sr. was used to being coddled. Tang Mo’s current behavior wasn’t outrageous, but it was certainly a bit lacking in humility.

As far as Wenqing knew, the old man should have been displeased.

’If I just stir the pot a little,’ she thought, ’he’ll quickly grow to detest this outsider.’

Clearly, Wenqing hadn’t checked the leaderboards in a while and was unaware of Tang Mo’s current strength.

She still had a pre-apocalyptic mindset, thinking she could survive in this new world with petty schemes.

Tang Mo glanced up at Wenqing, her eyes devoid of any real emotion.

Yet that single glance made Wenqing flinch and shrink back behind Mr. Wen Sr.

Ever since Tang Mo had fused with the Spiritual Light Ball, her attributes had increased dramatically, and the color of her eyes had grown steadily deeper.

”Grandpa, Momo’s stare is so scary.”

Tang Mo had previously thought she was a good actress, but Wenqing’s performance right now was outstanding.

She was a natural when it came to playing the innocent, manipulative type—a flawless performance.

Tang Mo had to admit defeat.

Tang Mo completely ignored her, continuing to eat her meal without offering any explanation.

”Wenqing, you are dismissed.”

Mr. Wen Sr.’s expression did indeed turn sour, but not because of Tang Mo.

He was furious at Wenqing’s inability to read the situation.

This dinner was for Tang Mo. It wasn’t anyone else’s place to make such comments.

’If this girl ruins my plans,’ he thought, ’she won’t last another day in the Wen Family, let alone S Base.’

”Grandpa?”

Wenqing froze, not understanding why things hadn’t gone as she’d imagined.

But she understood she had miscalculated. Hiding the resentment on her face, she withdrew.

Everyone at the table was sharp as a tack. The emotions Wenqing thought she’d hidden so well were, in fact, plain for all to see.

It was just that it didn’t matter, so no one paid it any mind.

Seeing her rival get shut down put Zhou Ying in a great mood, and she even felt a little closer to Lin Yi.

’My sister-in-law is so much better,’ Zhou Ying decided. ’She doesn’t scheme or fight, we have no conflicts of interest, and her daughter is so powerful. I have to stay on her good side from now on.’

A moment ago, Tang Mo had thought Wenqing was a clever person she’d need to watch out for to avoid future trouble.

But after that whole display, she felt she might have been overthinking things. She had overestimated Wenqing.

Wenqing’s biggest mistake was trying to use her old, pre-apocalyptic tricks in this new world.

She failed to understand that now, there was no currency more valuable than strength. The strong had the right to have a temper, the right to have a personality.

As for the weak, even if they were the most perfect sycophant, washing someone’s feet every day, they wouldn’t earn a shred of respect and could be abandoned at any moment.

Tang Mo had arguably saved the entire base today. So what if she was being quiet while eating ravenously?

Even if she had flipped the table, Mr. Wen Sr. wouldn’t have openly done anything to her. In fact, he’d more likely have comforted her and ordered another feast to be brought out.

That was the confidence that came with strength.

”Momo, do you plan on heading out again after coming back this time?” Mr. Wen Sr. asked with concern.

”Yes, in a day or two.”

She still had the map she’d gotten from Sand Town, but she had yet to find the remaining diagrams needed for the Attribute Pearl. She had to speed up.

After all, the mutant beasts were evolving faster and faster, and there was no telling when the Attribute Pearl would suddenly appear in the world.

It was better to be early than late, and she still had much to do.

”A young woman out there on her own has to protect herself.” Mr. Wen Sr. placed another helping of food on Tang Mo’s plate, his voice full of concern.

The meal ended with Tang Mo having eaten the most by far. Before she left, Mr. Wen Sr. gave her a small Space Ring, saying the contents were for her to use on the road.

Tang Mo knew this was Mr. Wen Sr.’s way of trying to completely win her over to the Wen Family’s side. With Lin Yi being part of the family, her mother naturally felt the same way as the old man.

Tang Mo accepted the gift and expressed her thanks. Both she and Mr. Wen Sr. were very satisfied with how the evening had turned out.

Everyone had their own agenda, but fortunately, for now at least, their goals aligned.

”Momo, are you really leaving again? You haven’t even been home for more than a few days.”

Lin Yi had heard her daughter mention leaving back at the main residence, and as soon as they returned to their own home, she quickly asked.

”Sister.”

Yangyang was too young to understand, but he seemed to sense something was happening. He opened his little arms and dove into Tang Mo’s embrace.

Tang Mo scooped her little brother into her arms and squeezed his chubby cheeks.

”Mom, the situation in the world is growing grim. Humanity is running out of time. We can’t just sit around and wait to die. I have to go out there and get stronger, fast.”

Lin Yi, of course, knew about the recent mutant beast siege. The attack had made her truly realize that staying in the base didn’t guarantee lasting peace.

No one knew how long the current calm would last.

’Perhaps what Momo is doing is the right thing after all.’

The day’s events had significantly shifted Lin Yi’s perspective, and she no longer tried to dissuade her daughter.

Just as Tang Mo went upstairs and entered her room, a knock came at the door. It was Xiao Tao.

”You don’t want to come with me?”

Tang Mo was surprised to learn that Xiao Tao wanted to stay at the base. She had assumed Xiao Tao would absolutely insist on following her.

”Momo, it’s not that I’m a coward afraid of dying! I want to stay at the base and use its resources to get stronger, fast!”

Xiao Tao said with determination. The recent battle had made her truly understand her own weakness.

She’d heard about the battle from Xu the Third later. ’No wonder Momo didn’t call for me today.’

’My strength... I’m not even qualified to step onto the battlefield.’

Acknowledging this fact left Xiao Tao feeling incredibly frustrated.

”If I go with you now, I’ll only drag you down. I don’t want to be a burden. I want to get stronger, and then I can stand by your side as a true ally!”

The desire burning in Xiao Tao’s eyes was almost blinding.

”Alright. Three months. I’ll give you three months. When the time comes, I expect to see a different you.”

Tang Mo patted Xiao Tao’s shoulder.

She trusted her judgment of character. In the future, Xiao Tao would surely become her most loyal and capable teammate.