Warmth in the Apocalypse
When Xiao Yi opened his eyes again, he was back in the apocalyptic world.
Gazing at the grayish dawn light filtering through the window, he checked his watch.
5:23 a.m.
It wasn't much different from last time, but there was still a slight discrepancy.
Having slept soundly in the second world, Xiao Yi felt refreshed, without a trace of drowsiness.
Stephanie Seymour lay curled up on the floor padded with cushions, covered by clothes, shivering slightly as if cold.
The apocalyptic morning carried a desolate chill.
Xiao Yi stepped to the kitchen doorway and leaned against it, listening for sounds outside.
"Ugh... ugh... ~~~ ugh... ugh... ~~~"
"Grr... ~~ grr... ~~"
Low zombie growls and shuffling footsteps echoed from beyond the door.
By the sound of it, there were quite a few zombies out there.
And at this hour, they seemed especially active.
He could even hear chewing noises from not far off.
"Too dark outside right now—not the right time yet," Xiao Yi muttered to himself. He retrieved an M16 rifle from the Space Magic Cube, then loaded the magazine with bullets.
This M16 was simple and straightforward to operate, feeling much like the Type 95 assault rifle he'd used in his past life as a soldier. Plus, it had a suppressor—unable to silence shots completely, but it muffled them considerably.
Xiao Yi quickly got the hang of the rifle's quirks.
After adjusting it by feel, he glanced at his watch again.
Now it was 6:10 a.m.
He pulled two walkie-talkies from the Space Magic Cube, synced their channels, and gently patted the sleeping Stephanie Seymour.
"Stephanie, wake up."
He called softly, his voice tender.
"Mm? Xiao... what's wrong?"
Stephanie blinked awake groggily, a faint scent of alcohol lingering on her.
"Stephanie, I'm heading out to clear the zombies from the villa. There'll be some gunshots soon—don't panic. Here's a walkie-talkie; you know how to use it, right? Call me if anything comes up."
Xiao Yi handed her the device, his instructions gentle.
"Mm~~~ Xiao... why go out again? We still have plenty of food; you don't need to risk it so soon..."
Stephanie clutched his hand, her eyes brimming with tears as she pleaded, "No matter what... please don't leave me behind... I beg you..."
Seeing this stunning beauty so worried for him stirred something deep in Xiao Yi's heart.
In all his life, no one—not even his birth mother in his previous world—had ever cared for him with such devotion.
He smiled faintly, pulled her into a gentle embrace, and without another word, pressed his lips to hers.
The moment their lips met, Stephanie felt herself drowning in love. She let out a soft hum and melted into his forceful kiss.
Her arms wrapped tightly around him as they kissed passionately.
Their lips fused, tongues entwining, breaths growing heavy.
Recalling last night's drunken passion with him made her heart race wildly.
She realized she was growing more and more dependent on this man.
For some reason, his scent always brought her an overwhelming sense of comfort and peace.
The thought of him venturing out again twisted her gut with worry.
Maybe... I should give him more, she thought to herself.
After a long moment, Xiao Yi reluctantly broke the kiss and hugged her tenderly once more.
As tempting as her charms were, now wasn't the time to indulge.
In this apocalypse, securing a safe haven was the top priority.
Once the villa's zombies were cleared, he could find a proper bed and savor these precious moments of warmth with her. The kitchen floor was just too crude, after all.
"Don't worry, Stephanie. This run's low-risk—I'll be back soon, and I'll stay within the villa grounds."
With that, he stood, slung the M16 over his shoulder, and checked the sky outside. Dawn was breaking; the sun hadn't fully risen, but light edged the horizon. The air beyond the door held a crisp chill.
It was time.
Xiao Yi opened the back door, waved "bye-bye" to Stephanie, and vanished swiftly into the morning gloom.