Apocalypse King: Recruiting S-Tier Beauties With My Ruler System
Chapter 67: A moment of Doubt and Conflict?

Chapter 67: A moment of Doubt and Conflict?

March 17th, 2025 — 1:41 PM

Not long after Qinglan came to find me, I went to the eighth floor, where the upgraded blast door awaited. Though it was obviously fine, I wanted to form the habit of checking the door to avoid any dangerous situations in the future.

A moment of carelessness could doom our entire base.

’System who can open this door?’

[Door controls restricted!]

[People with clearance: Jiang Roulan, Mu Qinglan and John Wang]

"Good."

The blue panel faded when my focus switched to the tapping sound of Qinglan’s boots coming down the steel steps behind me.

My evolution and increase in power improved my senses so much that I could hear her excitement while holding her breath as she crept up on me.

"Lan’er?"

"Ack!!" Her voice twisted as she stumbled at the bottom of the steps, falling forward as I turned to catch her with a smirk on my lips.

Qinglan adjusted the fresh black top I’d made for her through the system. Tight in the right places. A little too tight, maybe. But she hadn’t complained.

She was leaning against the doorframe, watching me tug a fresh shirt over my torso.

"That shirt’s ugly," she said.

I raised a brow. "You picked it."

"I know. You still made it look bad."

"No problem, Lan’er."

Her eyes widened, still not used to that nickname, but then she lifted her chin and glanced away, the edge of her thumb squishing her lips as if lost in thought.

"Stop calling me that," she puffed hot air at me using her nose.

"Why? It suits you."

"It’s weird." Her voice dropped. "It’s... too close."

I stepped forward and let the silence hang there for a beat.

Then I reached out and flicked the loose strand of black hair from her cheek.

"You said I could be close," I murmured.

She turned her face away a little, but didn’t back off. "Not like that."

"You’re blushing."

"I am not." She folded her arms, lips twitching. "You’re just annoying."

I smirked while leaning closer until our noses almost touched. "Then why haven’t you moved?"

"Because I’m debating if I should freeze your legs."

"Cold feet, Lan’er?"

Her expression cracked, just barely. A tiny snort escaped before she snapped her fingers and conjured a tiny frost wisp in her palm.

"I’ll kill you first," she said, monotone.

"Looking forward to it. I’ll make you regret it."

She rolled her eyes, stepped past me, and as she passed, her fingers brushed mine for a second too long to be an accident.

"Let’s go, John."

"After you," I murmured, hiding the grin on my face.

The elevator chimed low as the doors slid open. I stepped out first, Qinglan following close behind—too close, maybe, because I could feel her presence like a breeze brushing my back.

The apartment smelled faintly of steam and dry blood, layered over lemon-scented floor cleaner someone must’ve used to remove that lingering stench of purging immunities.

The air wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t comfortable either. Like a public toilet after a hard day had settled, but before anyone dared speak.

Jiang Roulan stood near the dining table, her hair tied back in a loose bun, a towel around her shoulders, still drying from her earlier bath. Her white blouse was too thin, either by accident or on purpose. I tried not to notice.

Qinglan noticed.

Her eyes narrowed like blades slipping into place.

"Morning," I said carefully.

Roulan turned, her gold-brown eyes sharp but warm. "Afternoon," she corrected, voice cool. "You’re late."

Qinglan stepped forward and folded her arms. "Didn’t realise you were keeping track."

Roulan offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I wasn’t. I just remember you said you’d be back earlier."

Before Qinglan could reply with something frozen and sharp, I cleared my throat. "Where’s Yifei?"

"Still resting," Roulan said. "She’s pretending to sleep. Keeps sighing like she wants someone to check on her."

A soft shuffle answered from the back room. Shen Yifei appeared in the hallway, wrapped in one of the thicker blankets I’d made. Her legs were bare, her hair damp, eyes sleepy—but unmistakably watching me.

"Good morning," I said, carefully.

She looked at Qinglan, then at me, then dropped her gaze to the floor.

"...Mm."

Roulan raised an eyebrow.

Qinglan blinked.

I scratched the back of my neck. "You all right?"

Yifei nodded once, "You..." she brushed her lips, squishing them with her fingertip while gazing up at me. Her face looked beautiful, glossy and glowing. The change between being a Tier B and Tier A was almost like going from a normal woman to a high-ranking model.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, knowing she probably remembered the kiss, at least from her reaction to seeing me. Not to mention her walking into the upstairs apartment half-naked, that might also be it.

"I dreamed of fire. And you."

"Ah," I said.

She blinked again. "I mean—not like that! Just your aura. It was... warm."

"You two kissed?" Qinglan’s voice was flat, cold.

"No," Yifei replied too quickly.

"Yes," Roulan said with a yawn. "But he did it to save us. Don’t be dramatic."

Qinglan didn’t respond.

But the room definitely got colder.

"John, could you step outside for a moment?"

Roulan’s voice was gentle, but there was weight behind it. "I wish to speak with Mu Qinglan and Yifei... alone."

I hesitated. But then I nodded and turned for the door, Qinglan’s gaze brushing mine for a half-second before I stepped out.

—

Mu Qinglan POV

—

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the silence thickened.

I didn’t move.

Neither did the others.

Roulan just stood there, calm, almost amused. Yifei curled tighter into her blanket, eyes flicking between us. Me? I crossed my arms because it felt like the only thing keeping me still.

"So..." I started, keeping my tone level. "What is it you needed to say?"

Roulan didn’t answer right away. She turned, picked up a half-dry teacup, and took a sip like she was stalling for time.

Then she spoke.

"You like him."

The words were blunt. Surgical. No teasing, no buildup—just fact.

I didn’t flinch. "I do."

"And I do too," she replied, just as easily. "Let’s not waste time pretending otherwise." Jiang Roulan’s words made my heart skip a beat, thumping faster as a feeling of pressure spread through my stomach.

I wanted to kill her... to grab her flabby body and toss it out the window.

My fingers twitched against my arm, pinching slightly, but her tone wasn’t hostile, and neither was her gaze. She looked at me with a faint smile, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere poured from her body.

She wasn’t claiming him or acting arrogant... at least that’s what I could feel.

Roulan didn’t look at me like a threat.

That made it harder.

She folded her arms, letting the silence settle a bit before speaking. "You’re his girlfriend. That’s not in question."

I said nothing.

She looked at me directly, calm. "But I kissed him. So did Yifei. It happened. You already know that."

Yifei peeked from the blanket and glanced at me like a little rabbit. "I didn’t mean to..."

Roulan raised her hand gently. "You don’t need to apologise. None of us planned it. And it wasn’t for fun."

Her gaze turned back to me. "But even if it started that way, we didn’t forget it."

A cold, tight weight twisted in my chest. "So? Are you saying you want me to just accept that you’re... what? His lovers now?"

"No," Roulan said plainly. "I’m saying I won’t lie to you or him. I want him. But I also know I’m not first."

That made my heart beat faster.

Yifei grumbled. "This is stupid..."

Roulan chuckled softly, then looked at me again. "You’re first, Qinglan. We all know that. Even John. That’s why he came back to you first. Why he told you everything. He gave you the truth."

I didn’t answer.

Because she was right.

And I hated that she was right.

"I’m not asking to take your place," Roulan continued. "I’m asking if you’ll allow others to stand beside him, under you, not above."

"...Under me?"

Roulan didn’t flinch.

She met my gaze, calm, composed—too serene.

"You’re his girlfriend. That gives you the head start. The title. The time," she said slowly. "But unless you marry him right now, that isn’t the finish line."

I narrowed my eyes.

"I’m not trying to steal him from you," Roulan added, tone still soft. "But let’s not pretend that dating is a crown."

The words hit harder than I expected. Quiet. Measured. But surgical.

"If he grows to love one of us more... and we become more than a girlfriend—"

Her lips curled just slightly, but there was no mockery in her tone.

"—don’t regret it."

Yifei sat up slightly, startled. "H-Hey, that’s a bit..."

But Roulan didn’t take her eyes off me.

She wasn’t smiling anymore.

And neither was I.

"You think I’ll just step aside?" I asked.

"No. I think you’ll fight for him." Her voice lowered. "That’s what I respect about you."

Slowly—bit by bit—the burning in my chest cool, compressing into something solid.

I didn’t hate her.

I hated how honest she was.

"...Fine," I said at last. "But I’m not going to play nice if someone tries to cut in line."

"Wouldn’t expect anything less." Roulan offered a small, honest smile. "But you won’t need to fight me. Not unless you start losing."

Yifei groaned from the blanket. "Ugh. Can’t you two be normal?"

We ignored her.

Because for the first time, I understood something.

They weren’t backing down.

And I wouldn’t either.

Although Roulan declared she would become my rival... I couldn’t bring myself to hate her, because she was just like John, an honest fool.

Maybe that’s why I stopped arguing further, that would only make John sick of me, and tire me out. The best method would be to learn from Jiang Roulan and steal all her skills, as for Yifei... well, there’s no chance.

"Let’s go, John wanted to meet the other residents."

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