Finally, Ning Yi successfully passed Old Master Gu's little test with flying colors. The exquisite villa nestled in the heart of Bishui Yunshu was officially transferred into her name. Holding the freshly issued property deed, Ning Yi felt tears welling up in her eyes. She covered her mouth and turned to look at Gu Cheng, who stood behind her radiating an icy aura. Her voice was filled with genuine sincerity: Thank you, Grandfather. I truly feel unworthy of this honor, unworthy indeed!"
Gu Cheng sat in his wheelchair, his deep black eyes fixed on her. The icy, deep blue arc of light in his gaze seemed almost tangible. His thin lips moved slightly, silently conveying a message: Good to know.
Yet, the elderly Mr. Gu's secretary shook her head with a smile, her tone brimming with conviction: "Madam, you deserve every bit of it!"
Gu Cheng: "..."
Fine. Very well. He had seen it clearly now. To the old man, Ning Yi's silver tongue and her "deep affection" displayed during his "vegetative state" were an all-access pass that never failed.
By evening, the assistants and bodyguards had tactfully withdrawn, leaving the entire villa's private space entirely to the "newlyweds." Gu Cheng watched Ning Yi sprawled ungracefully on the plush mattress, his voice dark and sharp: "Did you have a good day, Yi?"
Ning Yi bounced happily on the mattress, her voice trembling with excitement: "I'm so happy, husband! I knew you were the best person for me! All my happiness today is because of you~!" The villa boasted impeccable soundproofing and an open layout. No annoying footsteps echoed upstairs, no children's night cries disturbed the courtyard. For Ning Yi, who had struggled to survive in the apocalypse and demanded the utmost from her sleeping environment, this place was pure paradise. A good night's sleep was the greatest blessing.
Gu Cheng lowered his eyelashes, slowly lifting the cold tea beside him. He took a sip, his tone devoid of emotion: "Yi, how do you plan to thank me?"
Ning Yi turned her body, propping her head up with her hand. She blinked her large eyes, wearing an expression that screamed "I'm being generous": "You can live in this house anytime! Ownership is mine, usage is yours—pretty generous, huh?"
Gu Cheng: "..."
He nearly choked on his cold tea. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the tickle in his throat. "Ning Yi, I'm so good to you." The words were practically squeezed through clenched teeth.
Ning Yi seemed oblivious to the sarcasm, instead rolling halfway across the bed with graceful poise. She dangled a snow-white foot, wiggling it playfully with a hint of coy teasing in her voice: "Or, honey, I could thank you with myself instead."
"...Ning Yi!" Gu Cheng's expression instantly turned icy, yet his ears flushed involuntarily. This woman had absolutely no shame! Didn't she understand what such words implied?
"We're husband and wife," Ning Yi continued lying back, her tone light. "It's fine with me, honey." She knew exactly what she was doing. Gu Cheng hadn't regained sensation below the waist yet—it was all talk. He couldn't do anything to her, ha ha ha.
Gu Cheng was genuinely flustered by her brazen attitude. He wasn't accustomed to intimacy, much less sharing a bed with someone. His face hardened as he maneuvered his wheelchair toward the bedroom exit. But the moment he opened the door, he saw the secretary of Old Master Gu standing like a door god at the far end of the corridor. The man delivered the message with respectful yet unquestioning authority: "Young Master, the old gentleman specifically instructed that since you and your wife finally have some alone time, he hopes you won't spoil the mood."
Gu Cheng: "..."
He silently closed the door and turned back. Ning Yi was still there, dangling her feet and deliberately drawing out her words in a sweet, coquettish voice: "Husband~ Come on~ Hurry up~"
Gu Cheng: "..."
After a long standoff at the doorway, Gu Cheng finally relented. Fine, she was relentless.
But once he actually lay down on that enormous 8-foot-wide double bed, things were surprisingly peaceful. The reason was simple: Ning Yi genuinely loved sleeping. The mattress at Bishui Yunshu was supremely comfortable. She slipped on her eye mask and soon sank into a deep slumber, her breath steady and long. The bed was spacious enough for them to each claim one side, separated as if by an invisible river, leaving them entirely undisturbed.
Gu Cheng reluctantly accepted this arrangement.
Until midnight.
In the darkness, Gu Cheng's eyes snapped open.
A distinct pressure pressed against his abdomen—an arm stretched across him.
He slept with impeccable posture, barely shifting all night. Yet Ning Yi beside him slept with remarkable liveliness, sprawled out in every direction, utterly unrestrained.
In his twenty-plus years, Gu Cheng had never shared such intimate physical contact with another person. Sharing a bed was already pushing his limits. Sleeping in an embrace? Absolutely impossible.
"Ning Yi." He lowered his voice, his warning cold.
" Mmm... so noisy..." Ning Yi mumbled sleepily, clearly annoyed at being disturbed, but she graciously withdrew her arm, rolled over, and curled up on the other side.
The weight on his stomach vanished. Gu Cheng instinctively turned his head, catching a glimpse of her small, huddled silhouette in the dim light, her back facing him.
...Not too bad.
He exhaled softly and closed his eyes again.
Ten minutes later.
Gu Cheng opened his eyes once more, a vein throbbing faintly at his temple.
This time, it was a leg—entirely draped over his own.He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. He tried to shift, but the leg felt heavy as lead.
...Forget it.
Why bother with someone fast asleep?
With an indescribably complex mix of emotions, he closed his eyes once more.
The next morning, Ning Yi woke up feeling refreshed and energetic. She sat cross-legged on the bed, stretched lazily, every pore radiating contentment.
Then, she met Gu Cheng's eyes—eyes that clearly showed lack of sleep and a hint of gloom.
"Good morning, honey! You must have slept well too!" she greeted him energetically.
Gu Cheng, his eyes ringed with faint dark circles, replied hoarsely, "What do you think?"
Ning Yi seemed completely oblivious, grinning as she said, "Don't be shy here—treat it like your own home! Sleep soundly!" After that, she winked at him, trying to sweet-talk her way out of it.
That wink reminded Gu Cheng involuntarily of the one forced onto his own face yesterday.
"...Shut up." He didn't want to recall it.
Thinking of Ning Yi heading off today for that "apocalypse survival" game, Gu Cheng had already figured out her tactics. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, a hint of mocking insight in his tone: "Does today's activity also require hubby's assistance, Yi?" She was undoubtedly planning to swap bodies, sending him off to run errands, deal with those so-called "zombies," and scavenge supplies while she reaped the rewards and pocketed the prize money. Hmph, he knew her too well.
Yet, Ning Yi waved her hand dismissively, her face glowing with a "I'll stand on my own two feet" determination: No way, honey! Today I'll work hard with my own two hands! Just you wait and see!"
Gu Cheng didn't buy it for a second, raising an eyebrow: "Oh?" He'd be damned if he didn't see how long she could keep up the tough act.
When they finished washing up and headed downstairs for breakfast, young master Gu Le also came bounding over excitedly. Seeing his brother and sister-in-law emerge together from the bedroom, the young boy's fair cheeks instantly flushed. His eyes sparkled with a knowing, suggestive glint.
Ning Yi, catching his look, promptly lowered her head in feigned bashfulness.
Gu Cheng watched the two drama queens, speechless. "...Just eat your breakfast." He reminded Ning Yi, "We'll have to find our own food for the next two days and one night. Shouldn't we eat more now?"
Gu Le was eager for the adventure: "Sis-in-law, do you need me to join you? I can protect you!" He patted his chest, trying to project masculinity.
Gu Cheng shot him a cold glance. "You? Protect who?"
Gu Le protested, "I've played tons of survival games! I'm great at fighting zombies! I'm definitely braver than you, sis-in-law!"
Ning Yi graciously nodded, "Haha, yeah, Le Le is the best." Her tone sounded like she was soothing a child.
Though Gu Cheng mocked his younger brother, he didn't stop him from joining. He wasn't truly here to recuperate—piled-up work and online meetings left little time to constantly monitor the livestream. Though Gu Le was a spoiled young master, Ning Yi's lazy, "if I can lie down, I won't sit" attitude meant having someone nearby to keep an eye on him was reassuring.
Ning Yi shrugged indifferently. "Fine, let's join in. It's just for fun."
Gu Le immediately cheered, "Yay!!!"
Though Ning Yi was supremely confident in her survival skills, she adhered to the principle of "never denying yourself enjoyment when the chance arises." Before setting off, she indulged in a hearty feast, devouring twenty soup-filled xiaolongbao in one go. Only then, rubbing her satisfied belly, did she step out of her grand villa.
This life—wasn't it exactly what she'd yearned for during her desperate struggle to survive in the apocalypse?!
Woof!
Well, she'd treat it as reliving the "good" old days!
Before leaving, Ning Yi didn't forget to check in on work. The joint promotion with the CMore platform had yielded remarkable results—registered users surged, and traffic exploded. Thinking of the impending financial freedom, Ning Yi felt even more energized. She confirmed with the tech team that the livestream platform was running smoothly, ensuring nothing would disrupt her performance as the "01 Boss" (though they didn't know it was her).
Meanwhile, the CMore livestream had begun. Four split screens displayed the supply point, zombie NPC spawn zones, the planned campsite, and the gathering area. The picturesque scenery of Bishui Yunshu drew waves of admiration from viewers. Comments like [So jealous of such a huge house!] flooded the screen, bringing Ning Yi quiet satisfaction.
At the event venue, meticulously dressed young heirs and heiresses had gathered. When Academy Award-winning actor Jiang Linyi appeared, the chat exploded, sending the heat level soaring.
[Spotted my favorite blogger Ding Ziyue! Go goddess!]
[Miss Ning Yi is here too! Can't wait!]
Ding Ziyue stood amidst the crowd, feeling eyes on her from all sides. She glanced once more at Ning Yi, standing alone at the back, looking out of place. A quiet resolve formed within her. Today, she would not only make Jiang Linyi fall completely for her, but also show Gu Dashi—who was surely watching off-camera—her kind, warm, and radiant side!
The organizers explained the rules in detail: phones would be confiscated. Participants must scavenge for food, water, tents, and other supplies in the forest while evading "attacks" from zombie NPCs. Getting "bitten" meant elimination. Each zombie wore a wristband representing points; seizing one earned 1 point. The highest scorer would win, with Gu Cheng personally presenting the prize.
For many, this was an immense temptation. Take Ding Ziyue—her bodyguards would undoubtedly scramble to present any points wristbands they captured to her.
Ding Ziyue was determined to win.
As the event commenced, the apocalyptic atmosphere instantly intensified. The zombie NPCs, with their realistic makeup and frenzied behavior, shuffled toward the crowd with eerie steps, eliciting waves of gasps. Organizers warned that as time progressed, the zombies would accelerate until they eventually sprinted to catch participants.
A palpable tension spread among the participants.
Only Ning Yi remained utterly unfazed, inwardly remarking: These "zombies" looked far too rosy-cheeked—not pale enough—and their acting was slightly over-the-top. Compared to a real apocalypse, this fell short. True disasters struck silently and swiftly, never granting people time to adjust like this.
Beside her, Gu Le nervously swallowed, forcing himself to stay calm. "Don't be scared, sis-in-law! Stay close to me!"
Ning Yi replied, "Mm-hmm, okay." Her tone brimmed with trust.
Ding Ziyue, however, promptly adopted a fragile demeanor, her face pale and pitifully vulnerable. "It's... it's so scary..."
Gu Zeyu immediately stepped forward: "Yueyue, do you need me to protect you?"
Jiang Linyi also moved to her side.
Ding Ziyue felt triumphant inside, but her expression remained resolute as she shook her head: "It's fine." With two high-caliber knights guarding her, she instantly became the most enviable focal point of the entire gathering.
Someone suggested forming teams, and everyone quickly gathered into several groups based on their familiar cliques. No one invited Ning Yi, and the socialites were delighted to see her isolated. As the center of attention, Ding Ziyue sauntered over to Ning Yi, her tone gentle and polite: "Xiao Yi, why don't you join us? This activity is quite challenging. Since you're inexperienced, it'll be safer to stick together."
A wave of comments flooded the screen: [What a kind-hearted beauty!] .
Yet Ning Yi waved her off decisively: "It's fine, no thanks."
Joining the main group meant sharing supplies, restricted movement, and being forced to watch the main characters and their sidekicks play out their drama. She wasn't having it.
Wen Xiaoman sneered, "Don't be stubborn. Don't come begging us when you're starving."
Ning Yi remained unmoved.
Ding Ziyue could only lead the group away with a "deeply concerned" expression.
Gu Le looked at Ning Yi, his face radiating a sense of duty: "Sis-in-law, hide behind that small hill over there. I'll scout the area!"
Ning Yi observed his slightly trembling legs and confirmed, "Are you really up for this?"
"No problem!" Gu Le stiffened his neck and strode off with a swagger.
Meanwhile, at the Bishui Yunshu Villa.
Gu Cheng wrapped up an online meeting just as Assistant Zhou reported, "Young Master, the Madam and Young Master have teamed up and started searching for supplies."
Gu Cheng gave a faint "Mhm." Passing through the living room, he saw Song Yan and the others watching the livestream. They jumped to their feet at his approach.
Gu Cheng waved dismissively, his gaze fixed on the TV screen. He certainly didn't have time to watch the livestream constantly, but... he wanted to see what tricks that woman could pull.
However, the split-screen livestream had limited angles and didn't always capture Ning Yi. After less than a minute of watching without seeing what he wanted, he heard the director's announcement—
[Gu Le, out.]
Gu Cheng: "..."
How embarrassing.
The camera cut over to show Gu Le being carried by two "zombies," wailing toward Ning Yi as if facing a life-or-death parting: "Sis-in-law—! What will you do without me, sis-in-law?!"
Ning Yi stood nearby, waving with a solemn expression, her tone tinged with subtle relief: "It's okay, dear. Go in peace. I'll do my best!"
The chat exploded with laughter: [The wealthy siblings reunite only to disband?][Farewell, young master!]
Gu Cheng stared at Ning Yi's composed face on the screen. Assistant Zhou remarked beside him, "Madam works so hard—it must be to support our Gu Corporation, wanting to personally take the trophy from your hands!"
Gu Cheng snorted inwardly: More like she wants to personally take the prize money from his hands.
Yet for some reason, recalling her sparkling eyes—eyes that sparkled only for money—his lips curved in an almost imperceptible smile.
Fine. When she grows weary, she'll come to him.
He shifted his gaze and returned to work in his study.
Soon, news of Gu Le's elimination spread throughout the event area.
Ding Ziyue's supporters gloated with schadenfreude.
"Ning Yi is all alone now!"
"Let's see how long she lasts. Don't cry when she breaks down."
Ding Ziyue, remembering that Young Master Gu might be watching the livestream, immediately put on a concerned expression: "I wonder how Xiao Yi is doing now. She's so vulnerable alone. If she gets hurt or goes hungry, I'll feel so guilty..."
Gu Zeyu was touched: "Ziyue, you're always so kind."
Jiang Linyi silently handed over a supply pack he'd just found.
[Ding Ziyue really cares about her little sister!] someone praised in the comments.
[Wait! Look at that split screen! Ning Yi's back!]
On one split-screen at the supply point, Ning Yi worked alone. With sharp precision, she dragged a small container from cover. Opening it revealed abundant supplies: instant meals, drinking water, milk, energy bars—even a sleeping bag!
[Wow! A huge haul!][What incredible luck!] [Is this the legendary 'Euro Royalty'?]
However, what they didn't know was that a terrifying rumor was quietly spreading among the zombie NPCs at that very moment—
"Warning! Warning! There's a beautiful woman among the contestants! She's not afraid of us!"
"Not only is she not afraid, she'll rip your throat out! She'll demand to know where the supply points are!"
"She's incredibly strong! And she runs fast! If you see her, get out of her way! Protect the rope around your wrist!"
...
"Lin Yi, is it safe hiding here?" Ding Ziyue and Jiang Lin Yi had become separated from their group while dodging a wave of twenty or thirty "zombies," taking cover behind a barrier. The atmosphere was tense yet tinged with intimacy. Ding Ziyue's heart pounded wildly, sensing this was the perfect moment to deepen their connection.
Jiang Lin Yi nodded calmly. "Don't worry. Just wait for them to pass." He cautiously peered out. Suddenly, an agile figure darted past nearby. That direction... Could someone be chasing the zombies?
Both froze, doubting their eyes. Why would anyone actively pursue zombies?
They hadn't misseen. That person was Ning Yi.
Can't find supplies? Simple. Just find a "zombie" and "ask" it.
A dedicated young man lunged at him, claws extended, only to be easily parried by Ning Yi. Grabbing him by the wrist, Ning Yi spoke amiably: "Bro, where's the spot with the most supplies around here? Tell me, and I won't take your rope."
The "zombie" guy: "???" This wasn't in the script! Yet under Ning Yi's "friendly" gaze, he surrendered. Ning Yi got the info and casually swiped the points rope off his wrist.
Points +1.
The "zombie" guy slumped to the ground, watching Ning Yi's dashing retreat with tears welling up.
The split-screen captured this moment perfectly, and the chat exploded with [HAHAHAHA] and [Sis is so badass!].
The programmer buddies monitoring from off-screen stared in disbelief, then turned to each other with awe: "That's why she's the boss!"
Wen Xiaoman and the others were still sharing the dry, compressed biscuits Jiang Linyi had found, munching away while smugly speculating about Ning Yi's "pitiful" situation.
[After seeing Sister Ning Yi, they look so pitiful over there...] Even Jiang Linyi's fans couldn't resist sending comments.
At that moment, Ning Yi sat leisurely on a tree branch. She tore open a matcha-filled chocolate pie and ate it slowly, then pulled a bottle of AD Calcium Milk from her pocket and inserted a straw.
Below the tree, seven or eight "zombies" surrounded her, hissing menacingly as they tried to build a terrifying atmosphere.
Ning Yi took a sip of milk, looked down at them, and lectured earnestly: "Your pronunciation is off. It's not just 'ssshhh.' You need some chest resonance—'Hoh ho,' like this..." She even demonstrated.
The "zombies" froze collectively: "???"
Who the hell is the NPC here?! She's so good at teaching they don't even want to act anymore!
Ning Yi looked at their flushed (with anger) faces, shook her head, and sighed with an air of world-weariness: "Forget it. After all, it's a peaceful era." Her tone carried a sense of having weathered many storms.
The audience was completely won over. [She's a boss! Definitely a boss!] [She must have some hidden identity!]
For the rest of the day, Ning Yi didn't use her "swap" privilege once.
Relying on her rich (apocalyptic) experience and precise judgment of terrain and NPC behavior patterns, she not only secured ample supplies but also earned a substantial amount of points.
The 500,000 prize money—she was determined to win it!
By the time Gu Cheng finished his day's work, evening had fallen. Rubbing his temples, he asked, "How's Ning Yi doing?"
Chief Assistant Zhou and the others were busy with official duties and hadn't been watching the livestream continuously. Gu Cheng had someone turn on the TV.
On the live feed, survivors were scouting locations to set up camp for their first night in the game.
Ding Ziyue's team huddled together. She remained anxious: "We should still go look for Xiao Yi. What if she doesn't even have a place to sleep..."
Wen Xiaoman dismissed the idea: "She probably quit the game secretly already."
Ding Ziyue sighed, "But I'm genuinely worried..."
The chat flooded with comments: [Stop fretting—Ning Yi's living it up way better than you guys!][Can't wait to see your faces tomorrow when you see Ning Yi's points!][Hahaha, major face-slap moment coming up!]
Off-camera viewers saw clearly: Ning Yi had not only found the largest tent with abundant supplies, but the points rope in her hand was dazzling.
While skillfully pitching the tent, Ning Yi calculated gleefully in her mind: That stingy husband's 500,000 points are mine! ^3^
At home, Gu Cheng watched Ning Yi's efficient movements, his gaze darkening. For the first time, he realized his nominal wife wasn't just the money-grubbing, lazy slacker she pretended to be. She wasn't afraid of solitude or hardship—in fact, she seemed... uncomfortably skilled.
"Yi." He called to her through their mental link.
Ning Yi was focused on pitching the tent. Hearing his voice reminded her of this function, and she immediately responded: "Oh, honey, are you done? Did you see my heroic efforts? Do you love me even more now?"
Listening to her familiar, offbeat tone, Gu Cheng leaned back on the sofa, his shirt collar slightly open. The fatigue of the day seemed to dissipate a little. He curved his lips, his voice deepening. "Yi, you really are... beyond my expectations." He paused, a hint of unnoticed testing in his voice. "Sleeping alone tonight... aren't you afraid?"
"Not scared!" Ning Yi crawled into the tent she'd set up, her voice filled with laughter. "Just knowing you're right beside me (in spirit) makes my heart feel all warm!"
She'd barely finished speaking when she paused mid-motion to tidy her sleeping bag.
In the corner of the tent, a pair of black, beady eyes reflected the faint light, staring at her eerily.
It was a snake... that had slipped in at some point.
"?"
Ning Yi politely froze all movement.
Inside the villa, Gu Cheng gazed out at the night sky, pondering Ning Yi. She seemed truly fearless, with little sense of shame, purely profit-driven—yet somehow...
His thoughts trailed off as the world spun violently.
He found himself confined within a cramped tent-like space.
A cold, slimy sensation seemed within arm's reach.
In the darkness, he locked eyes with the coiled snake.
"?"
"."
Ning Yi's bashful voice echoed in his mind, brimming with "trust": "Husband, could you greet it for me? You have more authority."
All of Gu Cheng's thoughts about Ning Yi's "unexpectedness" vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of nameless anger mixed with a visceral disgust for this cold-blooded creature.
He stared at the snake, parting his thin lips to utter a single word with utmost friendliness:
"Fuck."