Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess
Chapter 63: Tang Haoyu(2)

Chapter 63: Tang Haoyu(2)

Qingran glanced at the floating screen in her mind, her expression unreadable. The number of slots left wasn’t a problem—she had been careful with who she chose—but the fact that she was already halfway through her limit made her uneasy. The apocalypse hadn’t even started yet.

Still, Tang Haoyu was worth saving.

She turned her focus back to cooking. The kitchen was small, but it was stocked well enough. She found some leftover rice, eggs, and a few vegetables. It wasn’t much, but it would do.

Behind her, Tang Haoyu was silent, only the occasional sniffle breaking the quietness. He had pulled his legs up onto the couch, hugging his knees like a child trying to make himself smaller.

Qingran didn’t say anything. Some wounds weren’t meant to be poked at right away.

A few minutes later, she placed a steaming bowl of egg fried rice in front of him. "Eat."

Tang Haoyu hesitated before picking up the spoon. As soon as he took a bite, his eyes widened slightly, and he started eating faster.

Qingran raised a brow. "Slow down before you choke."

He didn’t listen and almost choked a few times.

She sighed and sat across from him, propping her chin on one hand. "So. Your system. What’s it called?"

Tang Haoyu swallowed his food before answering. "It calls itself ’Survival Guide System.’"

Qingran’s lips twitched. "How original."

Tang Haoyu gave a small, sheepish smile. "It... gives me tasks. Things that will supposedly make me stronger before the apocalypse happens."

Qingran narrowed her eyes. "And? What kind of tasks?"

He fidgeted. "Um... some are simple. Like training my stamina, improving my combat skills, gathering supplies. But then there are weird ones, like—" He paused, looking away.

Qingran’s stare sharpened. "Like?"

"...Like ’Find Qingran’ and ’Make her acknowledge you as a teammate again.’" He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "It said I wouldn’t survive without you."

Qingran let out a slow breath. "What a smart system." While scratching her chin.

Tang Haoyu blinked at her in surprise.

She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "You died too last time. If you want to live, sticking with together might be a safer option. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to carry you."

He nodded quickly. "I know. I don’t want to be a burden as well."

"Good." Qingran stood up, taking his empty bowl and dropping it into the sink. "Now go take a shower. You smell like a stray dog that rolled in a dumpster."

Tang Haoyu blinked, then his face turned red. "I—I was running nonstop! I didn’t have time to—"

"I don’t care." She cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Bathroom’s down the hall. There’s soap, shampoo, and a towel inside. Use them."

He hesitated but eventually nodded and shuffled toward the bathroom.

Once he disappeared inside, Qingran headed to her room, opening her closet. Finding something for him to wear was a challenge.

She didn’t exactly stock up on men’s clothing, and the oversized shirts she used for pajamas were still too small for him.

After digging around, she pulled out a black pajama set she had never worn before. It was loose on her, but for him, the pants would probably be too short. He’d have to deal with it.

By the time she knocked on the bathroom door, the sound of running water had stopped.

"I’m leaving clothes outside the door," she called out. "Put them on and come out when you’re done."

A muffled, "Okay," came from inside.

Qingran shook her head and walked back to the living room.

She leaned against the couch, rubbing her temples. Her mind replayed everything that had just happened.

Tang Haoyu had a system now. One that had led him to her. That meant whatever force was behind these things had plans for him too.

"Lingquan, thoughts?" she asked through their connection.

Lingquan’s voice echoed in her mind, unimpressed as always. [Another system user appearing in your orbit? What a coincidence.]

[You think it’s suspicious?]

[Everything is suspicious.] Lingquan yawned. [But at least he seems loyal. Could be useful if trained properly.]

Qingran hummed in agreement. She hadn’t planned on adding more people to her inner circle so soon, but Tang Haoyu was an exception. He had already gone through the apocalypse once. He knew the horrors waiting ahead.

And despite all of that, he had still come looking for her.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Tang Haoyu stepped out, awkwardly tugging at the hem of the too-short pajama shirt. The pants barely reached his ankles.

Qingran raised a brow. "Fits well enough."

Tang Haoyu scowled. "It looks ridiculous."

"Would you rather go back to wearing the rags you came in?"

"...No."

"Then stop complaining."

He huffed but didn’t argue further.

"Follow me, I have a spare room for you.."

Tang Haoyu’s eyes widened slightly. "You’re letting me stay?"

Qingran shot him a look. "What, you thought I’d throw you back onto the streets after all that crying? After a free dinner and clothes"

His face turned red. "I wasn’t crying that much."

She snorted, leading him down the hall. "Sure you weren’t." freёweɓnovel_com

The spare room wasn’t much—just a bed, a desk, and a closet that was mostly empty. Qingran pushed the door open and gestured inside. "It’s yours for now. Don’t make a mess."

Tang Haoyu hesitated at the doorway, glancing at her as if she might change her mind.

"...Thank you." His voice was quiet but sincere.

Qingran shrugged. "Get some sleep. You start training tomorrow."

His posture straightened slightly. "Training?"

"You have a system pushing you to get stronger, don’t you?" She crossed her arms. "No point wasting time. If you’re staying here, might as well pull your weight."

Tang Haoyu nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "I won’t disappoint you. Thank you for letting me stay."

She didn’t respond, just turned and walked away, leaving him to settle in.

Once back in her own room, Qingran sat on the bed, rubbing her temples.

"Lingquan."

[Hmm?]

"What do you think of his potential?"

Lingquan appeared beside her in his cat form, curling his tail around his paws. [He’s raw, inexperienced, and drowning in guilt. But he has the drive to improve. If he’s trained well, he could be a valuable asset.]

Qingran exhaled slowly.

She had never thought she’d reunite with someone from her past life this soon. Tang Haoyu had been a kid back then, one of the many she had tried to protect.