Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

’She’d seen plenty of women like that.’

’They put on a pure, innocent act all day long just to get men’s attention.’

’Unlike her—a powerful woman in her own right who didn’t need any man’s help.’

Huang Shi Yao sat back down on the high-legged stool. She stared at the antique-style door as it gently closed, took a deep breath, and softly called out to 00009425.

This time, 00009425 actually responded.

”Hello, Host. System restarting. Please wait ten seconds. Ten... nine...”

Huang Shi Yao’s heart relaxed, and a hint of joy appeared on her face.

’Thank goodness, the system’s finally back.’

’It hadn’t disappeared. It was still here.’

”Hello, Host. What are your orders?”

”00009425, what exactly happened yesterday? Why did you enter hibernation mode on your own?”

”00009425 was attacked by an unidentified electronic foreign object. The specifics of the event are unclear.”

”Attacked? Who would attack you? Did you find out what the electronic foreign object was?”

”Negative, Host. The source of the attack was not identified before 00009425 was forced into hibernation.”

Huang Shi Yao’s pupils contracted. ”Could it be related to that Xie Ning?”

”You were attacked while you were scanning her.”

”It is not impossible.” 00009425’s crackling electronic voice echoed in Huang Shi Yao’s mind.

”What in the world is going on?” Huang Shi Yao slammed her hands on the table, staring levelly at her reflection in the mirror.

The face in the mirror was a little pale, and a few strings of light green data flashed and flickered across the left side.

”Why is this happening? Didn’t you say I was the chosen one?”

”Why has another woman appeared now who seems stronger than me in every way? Didn’t you say I’m the heroine of this plane? Then who is she? What is her relationship to me?”

”She is this plane’s... former heroine!” 00009425’s mechanical voice transmitted into Huang Shi Yao’s mind. ”Host, do not panic.”

”What do you mean, ’former heroine’?” Huang Shi Yao stared at her own face in the mirror, completely shocked.

”Did I not inform you previously? You are the chosen one, the daughter of the plane selected by the Creator God. But because of this original heroine, you are currently relegated to the position of a supporting female character.”

”I can tell you everything now,” 00009425 continued cryptically. ”The collapse of this entire world has a great deal to do with that former heroine you saw.”

Huang Shi Yao was shocked beyond words. ”You mean... this apocalypse is Xie Ning’s doing?”

”Correct! It is her! Her strange existence caused the entire plane to begin collapsing. Host, my mission is to help you defeat her.”

”And you are the queen who will save this entire plane.”

Huang Shi Yao suppressed the pounding in her chest. ”I... I can defeat her?”

”Of course! You have my help, your father, and so many people around you who will help you. Why wouldn’t you be able to defeat a mere former heroine?”

”This former heroine’s luck has run out. You will soon replace her and become the true heroine of this new plane. Therefore, you must complete missions as quickly as possible, exchange for items from the Mall, and accumulate strength and resources.”

”Remember, a supporting character’s self-redemption is your only way out.”

”Okay,” Huang Shi Yao replied, her voice trembling. ”I’ll work hard.”

”00009425, open the item mall for me.”

A small screen of light descended from above.

If Xie Ning were here, she would definitely notice that this blue light screen was much smaller than the one she would open in the future.

It was only a quarter of the size of the future light screen.

”Points... only five?” Huang Shi Yao muttered to herself.

”Host, you have not turned in Crystal Cores in exchange for points for a long time.”

”Didn’t I exchange for over one hundred points last time?”

”Host, you have forgotten. You used your points in the Mall to exchange for a Beauty Potion.”

Huang Shi Yao scrolled through the light screen with her finger. ”When can I open the Second-level Mall?”

”Once you have consumed over five hundred points, you can open the Second-level Mall.”

Huang Shi Yao’s finger paused on a piece of Protective Clothing priced at eight hundred points. She sighed and painfully swiped to the next page.

”What’s this Soft Skin Potion for one hundred points?”

”As the name suggests, it is a potion that can make your skin extremely soft, fair, and radiant, enhancing your beauty.”

”Can you give me an advance to redeem it?”

”You cannot!”

Huang Shi Yao sighed. ”I’ll have Zhong bring some Crystal Cores over later.”

’Zhong and the others should have collected more than two hundred Crystal Cores by now. That should be enough to exchange for about two hundred points.’

At this thought, Huang Shi Yao’s mood brightened again.

’00009425 definitely wouldn’t lie to her. It said she was the supporting character who would save the plane and become the new queen of the plane in the future, so it must be true.’

’Hopefully, she could get rid of this plane’s former heroine, Xie Ning, as soon as possible.’

’If she could be the one to restore order to the entire world...’

Huang Shi Yao’s heart surged with an unparalleled excitement.

”KNOCK KNOCK.” The sound of knocking brought the lost-in-thought Huang Shi Yao back to her senses. She hurriedly swiped away the floating light screen and said coolly, ”Come in.”

Meng Lanfang approached with a fawning smile, holding a plate. ”Yaoyao, Ms. Cai made some snacks and asked me to bring them up for you to tide you over.”

”Just put it aside.” Huang Shi Yao didn’t even look up as she cleaned her nails.

Meng Lanfang nervously wrung her hands as she came forward. She carefully placed the plate on the small, carved coffee table, then turned back with an obsequious smile. ”Yaoyao, Auntie knows you’re still angry about what happened the other day.”

”Yes, it’s all that wretched girl’s fault for not knowing what’s good for her. Yaoyao, you were just being kind, wanting to invite them over.”

”Don’t you worry, Auntie will definitely give that wretched girl a good scolding for you later.”

”No need.” Huang Shi Yao looked up at Meng Lanfang with a disdainful gaze. ”Your daughter is acting so arrogantly now, relying on the backing of a Fourth-tier Superpower expert. I wouldn’t dare provoke her.”

”That wretched girl,” Meng Lanfang snorted. ”She’s just shameless.”

”Yaoyao, don’t worry. I’ll drag that rotten girl over here to apologize to you later.”

”Tch.” Huang Shi Yao let out a scornful laugh. ”She ignores you now. Does she even look you in the eye anymore? What makes you think you can make promises to me?”

”No matter what, I’m the mother who gave birth to her and raised her. I know that girl, Song Kexin, very well. She’s timid and doesn’t dare to cause trouble. She’s just been led astray by her cousin. Once I bring her back to our Jingxin Study Room, she’ll naturally learn to be obedient and sensible. Don’t you worry, Yaoyao.”

”Oh, is that so?” Huang Shi Yao lowered her slender, delicate hand from her nails and smiled at Meng Lanfang. She affectionately linked her arm with hers. ”Aunt Meng, I know you treat me the best.”

Meng Lanfang naturally returned the smile.

The two of them walked toward a nearby sofa, arm in arm like a real mother and daughter.

”Yaoyao, if I’m not good to you, who else would I be good to?” Meng Lanfang whispered with a smile, her face full of motherly affection.