Jiang Lai, who could barely fill her stomach all day, was also thinking about doing something to exchange for more food. So in the temporary human settlement, she took the initiative to go out and look for supplies. Before getting off, because she was annoyed by Gu Han Yan’s always cold attitude towards her, she spat a few words.
"What’s the point of being so high and mighty all day? If it weren’t for my brother, you’d be dead outside by now! What are you looking at? Ugly freak!"
Gu Han Yan was actually very beautiful, but in a chaotic world, being beautiful could bring disaster, so she kept applying a yellow potion to her face, making it dry, yellowish, and plain.
Always one to seek revenge, after being insulted, Gu Han Yan calmly slipped a bug into Jiang Lai’s clothes. This scared Jiang Lai into screaming and cursing as she hurriedly took off her jacket, revealing a light-colored camisole underneath.
This scene attracted the attention of many men. With no worldly experience, Jiang Lai was unaware and almost got sold to an old and ugly man for a pack of instant noodles. Luckily, Jiang Chao found her and redeemed her with three packs.
After being scared once, Jiang Lai became cautious of men and relied more on Jiang Chao. Many times during missions, Jiang Chao got hurt protecting her. During this time, Gu Han Yan had fallen for Jiang Chao and thus became increasingly annoyed with the burdensome Jiang Lai.
The team’s complaints about Jiang Lai were growing, especially from a little girl named Little Eight, whom Gu Han Yan had saved, and who had a special Healing Ability. Whenever Jiang Chao was injured, she was reluctant to heal him.
It was only when Gu Han Yan coaxed her that she begrudgingly treated Jiang Chao.
Everyone in the team respected her, and Little Eight would heal them, but Jiang Lai, no matter how severely injured, had to endure on her own because Little Eight disliked her for always clinging to the men close to Ms. Han and disliked that such a useless person could be so well taken care of in the apocalypse.
Everyone was struggling to survive, so why could she comfortably enjoy unearned privileges relying on others?
During a zombie outbreak, Jiang Chao was escorting Jiang Lai when they encountered a rare group of second-generation zombies. Jiang Chao stayed behind to fight them off, allowing Jiang Lai to escape for help.
Weak and without any superpower, Jiang Lai was exhausted by the time she reached the base and fainted after asking for help. Gu Han Yan took people to rescue Jiang Chao. When Jiang Chao asked about Jiang Lai’s condition, she simply said, "She fell asleep as soon as she got back and hasn’t woken up since. Luckily, Little Eight’s nose was sharp, or we’d never have found you."
This simple sentence completely chilled Jiang Chao’s heart. In fact, he had already been somewhat displeased with Jiang Lai because she was indeed incapable yet demanding. He had been tolerating it silently until today when he nearly died to save her, and his usually beloved sister showed indifference to his life.
Since then, Jiang Chao became increasingly indifferent to Jiang Lai. As he and Gu Han Yan grew closer, they built a larger base and gained more influence, leaving Jiang Lai behind, forgotten.
She still caused trouble, but only hoping that her brother would look at her again.
In the final second-generation zombie wave, the base fell with countless casualties. Jiang Chao and Gu Han Yan led the main troops to retreat, putting Jiang Lai on the last vehicle. That vehicle was soon besieged by zombies, leaving everyone severely injured. Little Eight injected serum to prevent mutation just in time.
When it was Jiang Lai’s turn, Little Eight injected the serum into a dog right in front of her, threw the needle away, and gave her a cold smile.
"Even a dog is worthier than you, you ungrateful wretch!"
Jiang Lai mutated, and Jiang Chao, holding onto the last shred of familial affection, personally blew her brains out.
"As cannon fodder, you’ve done pretty well, dying only in the mid-story!"
Little Buding cheerfully spat out, making it seem like Jiang Lai wasn’t sitting in a blood-stained, stinking modified metal van, but on a sightseeing bus headed to a park for a spring outing.
"What about the mission?"
"The mission has two parts: First, accumulate ten thousand Death Value points and amplify the original’s self-destructive talents!
Second, find and protect the apocalypse savior. In the original plot, the savior died too early, leaving the world in perpetual apocalypse. Now, the task of saving the world is handed to you, young man, good luck!"
Jiang Lai frowned and endured the discomfort, asking.
"Forget about the savior, what on earth is Death Value?"
"It’s all about challenging the limits of survival, repeatedly skirting between life and death and coming out unscathed. You can die, but don’t actually get yourself killed. Each increase in Death Value earns random rewards, with rich prizes to look forward to!"
Little Buding’s voice was like a TV shopping host, trying to cheer Jiang Lai’s spirit, but to no avail as Jiang Lai still looked half-dead, with droopy eyelids.
"Opening reward skill: the ’Blood Bar Full’ skill! Please claim it."
"Couldn’t you give me something offensive?"
"A thick blood bar to withstand damage, ensuring you act up without dying, isn’t that great? No need to thank me; hurry and start your task."
Little Buding finally quieted down. Jiang Lai wanted to open a window for some air, but the cabin was sealed.
The original’s body got car-sick easily, and the overwhelming urge to vomit turned Jiang Lai’s face pale. As soon as the vehicle stopped, she rushed outside to throw up.
Jiang Chao tossed her a bottle of water.
Nearby, Yang Jun mocked.
"Your sister sure is pampered. I wonder how long you’ll keep protecting her."
Jiang Chao took a sip of water and casually replied.
"Our parents’ only wish before they died was for me to take care of her. She’s my sister, whatever happens."
"This world won’t tolerate such delicate ladies, just wait and see."
Jiang Lai finished vomiting and approached Jiang Chao, weakly clinging to his arm.
"Brother, I just saw something moving in the bushes over there. I’m scared to go alone, can you come with me to check it out?"
Jiang Chao frowned. He was initially going to investigate Gu Han Yan’s background, but being dragged by Jiang Lai, he had no choice but to follow, barely concealing his impatience.
When they got there, they found a rabbit with its hind leg caught in a Beast Trap, its grey fur covering a plump body, seemingly thriving despite the apocalypse.
Jiang Chao’s eyes lit up, and he picked up the rabbit, pried open the trap, and weighed it, roughly six or seven pounds.
"In these days, finding something like this is a stroke of luck."
Fresh meat like this was far more precious than the canned meat they ate daily.
Jiang Lai weakly swallowed.
"Brother, why don’t you share it with everyone?"