Apocalypse: Resources consumed by women will be returned ten thousandfold.

--Translated by likesnovel--

Tang Xuerou opened the door.

The moment she saw Hu Lili, a trace of discomfort rose in her heart.

Hu Lili possessed a naturally voluptuous figure, with curves far more pronounced than those of most women.

Instinctively, Tang Xuerou felt a sense of caution.

However, she didn't let any of it show on her face.

Instead, she revealed a gentle smile and spoke softly.

"Brother Jiang, you're back."

"And who is this beautiful sister?"

Hu Lili blushed slightly.

Jiang Fan answered casually,

"Hu Lili."

Tang Xuerou knew there was no way she could stop this from happening.

The only thing she could do was maintain her composure.

With a warm smile, she walked over and linked arms with Hu Lili.

"Hello."

"From now on, we're sisters."

Hu Lili was completely caught off guard.

She felt both surprised and embarrassed.

She had never imagined that Tang Xuerou—the most admired woman in the neighborhood and the daughter of a wealthy family everyone envied—would be so obedient and accommodating toward Jiang Fan.

Seeing Tang Xuerou's reaction, Jiang Fan nodded in satisfaction.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Tang Xuerou then continued the introductions.

"Hu Lili, this is Xu Mengqian."

"She's one of our sisters too."

Unlike Tang Xuerou, however, Xu Mengqian showed little friendliness.

Her eyes swept over Hu Lili from head to toe.

The jealousy hidden in her heart was almost impossible to conceal.

At the same time, she wanted to test Jiang Fan's limits.

Pouting slightly, she spoke in a dissatisfied tone.

"Hmph."

"Men are all the same."

"Nothing but pigs."

Slap!

A sharp sound echoed through the room.

Before she could even finish speaking, Jiang Fan's palm struck her face.

The force left her dizzy.

The corner of her mouth split open, and blood trickled down.

"You think you can play games with me?"

Jiang Fan let out a cold laugh.

"Have I been too lenient with you these past few days?"

"Is that why you've started talking to me like this?"

Xu Mengqian's heart sank.

Only now did she fully realize something.

Jiang Fan was not the type of man a woman could manipulate or control.

This was bad.

Her face turned pale.

Immediately, she changed tactics.

Her eyes reddened.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Against her fair skin and reddened nose, she looked pitiful enough to stir sympathy in almost anyone.

"Brother Jiang... I... I..."

As she spoke, she noticed Tang Xuerou looking at her with obvious satisfaction.

The anger inside her grew even stronger.

Even so, Xu Mengqian forced herself to think quickly, desperately searching for a way out of this situation.

At the same time, Jiang Fan noticed something.

The glow surrounding Xu Mengqian had changed.

It had shifted from green back to yellow.

A cold light flashed across his eyes.

"You eat my food."

"You drink my water."

"And yet you're still trying to stay neutral?"

"Get out."

Xu Mengqian's face instantly lost all color.

Before she could say another word, Jiang Fan strode forward and grabbed her.

He opened the door and threw her outside.

Her body flew more than 3 meters before crashing onto the ground.

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

Xu Mengqian hit the floor so hard that she nearly blacked out.

But she had no time to worry about the pain.

Because something far more terrifying had just happened.

Jiang Fan was serious.

He hadn't been threatening her.

Not even a little.

Then a realization struck her.

Jiang Fan possessed an ability that allowed him to sense women's thoughts and attitudes toward him.

Even the slightest change in her feelings...

He could detect it immediately.

The thought sent a chill through her entire body.

Xu Mengqian hurriedly crawled back to the door and began pounding on it frantically.

"No!"

"Brother Jiang!"

"Please don't abandon me!"

"Please!"

"I was wrong!"

"I really know I was wrong!"

"I won't do it again!"

Watching this scene made Tang Xuerou feel uneasy.

In a collapsed world like this, being able to stay by Jiang Fan's side was a blessing beyond measure.

She no longer dared entertain unnecessary thoughts.

Jiang Fan activated the display connected to the smart peephole camera.

Looking at the crying woman outside, he spoke coldly.

"Stop banging on the door."

"Kneel outside and reflect on your mistakes."

"When I see you turn green again,"

"I'll allow you back in."

"But if you can't..."

"Then pray your luck holds out."

Hu Lili, who had only recently joined them, was completely bewildered.

She couldn't understand what they were talking about.

Green?

Neutral?

What did any of that even mean?

Before long, the knocking stopped.

Xu Mengqian no longer dared anger Jiang Fan.

All she could do was endure her fear and kneel silently outside the door.

Occasionally, quiet sobs escaped her lips.

Right now, she had only 1 problem left.

How could she change her attitude toward Jiang Fan and become friendly toward him once again?

Xu Mengqian could only sit there crying.

Again and again, she tried to convince herself.

Hoping that one day...

The green glow Jiang Fan wanted to see would return once more.

"Brother Jiang is my man... I have to listen to him..."

"Brother Jiang is my man... I have to listen to him..."

...

Jiang Fan switched off the smart peephole display.

His cold gaze swept across the 2 women in the room before a faint sneer appeared on his face.

"Do you think I'm cruel?"

Hu Lili's heart skipped a beat.

She hurriedly shook her head.

"N-No..."

Tang Xuerou also lowered her head immediately.

"Of course not, Brother Jiang."

"I would never be as foolish as her."

Jiang Fan chuckled.

"Remember this."

"Don't overestimate your own cleverness."

"And don't ever try to test me with cheap little tricks again."

After using the stick, it was time to offer a carrot.

Jiang Fan reached into his personal space and took out a fruit.

He tossed it to Hu Lili.

"Eat it."

Hu Lili caught the fruit and stared at it in confusion.

Then her eyes widened.

"Isn't this the black lychee I sold to you?"

"You can actually eat this?"

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Fan's face.

"It's not called a black lychee."

"Its real name is a Superpower Fruit."

"Once you eat it, you'll gain a supernatural ability."

He then briefly explained the effects of the Perception ability.

Jiang Fan intended to give Perception to every woman under his protection.

It was an extremely useful ability that could help avoid countless dangers.

However, when it came to powerful fruits such as Intangibility or Physical Enhancement, he had no intention of handing them out so easily.

Everything depended on a person's performance and attitude.

Hu Lili finally understood.

At that moment, all of Jiang Fan's previous actions suddenly made sense.

Shock filled her face.

So this was the source of supernatural powers?

Something this valuable...

Why would he willingly give it to her?

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

At first, she had sold him 1 fruit.

Now he was giving 1 back.

In other words, he hadn't profited from the transaction at all.

Not only that.

He had even given her several packs of instant noodles for free.

Was everything he had done...

Simply to save her?

Could it be that beneath his cold and ruthless exterior...

This man was actually kind-hearted?

Countless thoughts raced through Hu Lili's mind.

More importantly, she couldn't help feeling that Xu Mengqian had gone too far.

In a post-apocalyptic world like this...

If a man was willing to take a woman in...

Protect her...

Feed her...

Provide her with water...

And even grant her supernatural abilities...

What more could she possibly ask for?

Could someone really expect to be saved without giving anything in return?

Lost in her tangled thoughts, Hu Lili took a bite of the Superpower Fruit.

Ding!

[Hu Lili has consumed 1 Enlightenment Fruit - Perception.]

[400x Return Triggered.]

[All rewards have been stored in the host's personal space.]

...

Xu Mengqian remained kneeling outside the door for a full 20 hours.

Jiang Fan noticed that the glow surrounding her had already turned green.

Even so, he continued to ignore her.

Hungry.

Thirsty.

Terrified.

Eventually, Xu Mengqian collapsed unconscious outside the door.

Only then did Jiang Fan instruct Tang Xuerou and Hu Lili to drag her back inside.

After waking up, Xu Mengqian looked at Jiang Fan with fearful eyes.

There was also a trace of grievance hidden within them.

But Jiang Fan paid her no attention whatsoever.

Instead, he casually scrolled through his phone.

During this time, several more women had contacted him through private messages.

They offered themselves in exchange for food and shelter.

Unfortunately, none of them met the system's requirements.

Women like Tang Xuerou, Hu Lili, and Xu Mengqian were exceptionally rare.

At the very least, they were the kind of beauties you would only find 1 in every 1,000 people.

The fact that Fortune Center contained 3 women of this caliber at the same time was already an incredible coincidence.

Rumble—!

Suddenly, the roar of engines echoed across the sky.

Everyone immediately turned toward the window.

An armed helicopter was flying low above the buildings.

A loud announcement boomed from its speakers.

"Attention, citizens."

"According to the emergency response plan, herbicide spraying operations will begin in 30 minutes."

"All residents are instructed to remain indoors."

"Do not leave your residences for 4 hours after the spraying has been completed."

"This herbicide is the latest achievement developed by the Longke Research Institute."

"It has undergone repeated testing."

"It is highly effective against large numbers of mutated plants."

"Our nation possesses the capability to protect the safety of every citizen."

"We urge all citizens to persevere and continue fighting for survival."

"Do not lose hope."

"This world belongs to humanity."

"And in the end..."

"Humanity will reclaim its place as the ruler of this planet once again!"

...

Silence filled the room.

Everyone stared out the window.

Their eyes were filled with a hope they could hardly describe.

Perhaps...

The government really did still have the situation under control.

Perhaps...

There was still a chance for the world to return to the peace it once enjoyed.