"A family's strength is not measured by blood, but by the battles they choose to fight together."
After breakfast, we gathered in Father's study. The carved shelves lined with books, the faint scent of sandalwood, the heavy mahogany desk—it all felt oppressive, as though the room itself was aware of the storm about to descend on us.
Father leaned forward, his voice deep but steady.
"Xinyue, according to what you said… there will be scarcity. And something about powers?"
I nodded, palms damp. "Yes, Dad. You, Mom, and Lan will awaken mutated abilities. And I—" I lifted my hand. A chair flickered out of sight into my space, then reappeared. Frost bloomed across my palm, forming a shard of ice that glittered in the morning light. "I awakened both space and ice."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Mother pressed her hand against her chest, her face pale. "Xinyue… how can this be?"
Father's brows drew together, his gaze piercing. "If this is true, then we are both advantaged and endangered."
Lan leaned forward, eyes wide and shining with wonder. "Jiejie, then what about us? What powers do we have?"
I softened my voice for her sake. "Dad, you'll awaken superhuman strength and force fields. Mom, you'll heal wounds and control plants. And Lan…" I reached for her trembling hand. "You'll have super speed and agility."
Her gasp of delight echoed through the heavy air. But I wasn't finished. My chest tightened. Now came the part that mattered most.
"Dad," I said firmly, "you must never tell anyone about my space. Not friends. Not relatives. Not even Uncle Feng Qiang."
Father blinked in shock. "Your uncle? He's always supported us—"
"No!" The word ripped out of me. My nails dug into my palms as old memories rose like bile. The cold of metal tables. Needles piercing skin. The humiliation of being reduced to nothing but an 'ability user.' "In my past life… he betrayed us. He tried to sell me to the military for experimentation. If you trust him again, we'll lose everything."
Mother gasped, hand covering her mouth.
I turned to Lan, who shrank back at my intensity. "And you… you must cut ties with our cousin. She isn't innocent, Lan. In my last life, she colluded with Zhou Han and Liu Yaqing. They set a trap. You died because of it."
Her small face crumpled. "Cousin… Yaqing… betrayed us?"
"Yes." My throat ached as I forced the words out. "They laughed while you cried. They smiled while I was torn apart. Never trust them again."
Father's fist slammed onto the desk, rattling the ink jar. "If that's true, they've forfeited the right to call themselves family. From this moment, we protect our own. No one else."
Mother moved to my side, clutching my hands tightly. Her eyes shimmered with fear and love. "Xinyue, using your powers—does it hurt you? Does it drain you?"
Her concern pierced me deeper than any blade. I shook my head gently. "Not pain. Just stamina. But this body feels stronger than before. Like I was reborn for it."
Lan hugged me tight, her voice muffled against my shoulder. "Then promise me, Jiejie. Don't push yourself until you collapse. Let us fight with you. Let us protect you too."
Father's voice softened, carrying a rare gentleness. "Promise us, Xinyue. Your safety comes before power, before supplies, before survival itself."
Tears welled in my eyes. "I promise."
But I knew promises alone couldn't protect us. I straightened, letting resolve harden my tone.
"We can't just stockpile food. We must train. A strong body is just as vital as resources. Let's turn the gym into a serious training ground."
That afternoon, the polished room once meant for casual workouts echoed with sweat and determination. Father tested his limits with heavy weights. Mother stretched gracefully, balancing her breaths. Lan stumbled through push-ups, collapsing dramatically after ten.
"Jiejie," she groaned, face pressed to the mat, "bury me here. Tell the zombies I surrendered early."
I smirked. "If you can whine, you can do ten more."
Father chuckled, deep and rumbling. "What will you do in the apocalypse, Lan'er? Negotiate with zombies? 'Excuse me, Mister Zombie, please wait while I catch my breath'?"
Lan puffed her cheeks. "Maybe they'll find me too cute to eat!"
Mother's smile was faint but teasing. "Sweet things are eaten first."
"Mom!" Lan wailed, scandalized. "Why are you roasting me instead of saving me?"
Laughter filled the gym, loosening the tension in our chests. For a moment, we were just a family again.
But when the laughter faded, reality returned. I wiped sweat from my brow, my voice cutting through the warmth.
"We have one month. Thirty days before it all begins. Every day counts."
The air shifted.
Mother nodded firmly. "Then we make every second matter."
Father's grip tightened on the dumbbell. "We'll be ready."
Lan pushed herself upright, her pout replaced by determination. "Fine… but I'm still demanding longer breaks."