What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms

Chapter 271: The Only Sister-in-Law

Pei Xiqing had gathered all her things, save for a face mask. As she rummaged through the drawers, frantically trying to remember where she had tossed it a few days ago, she noticed the man behind her had already shrugged on his coat.

Abandoning the search for the mask, she hurriedly followed him downstairs.

Duan Xiaolin, already holding an umbrella, saw her rushing over and reached out to steady her. “There’s no rush,” he said softly.

“I was afraid you were going to leave me behind.” She was terrified that he would shoulder the burden all on his own again, disappearing before she even realized it.

The man smiled. “I said I’d wait for you.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Pei Xiqing casually twisted her freshly dried hair up in a clip, revealing her bare, unadorned face. She slipped into her shoes and nodded. “Let’s go.”

Duan Xiaolin gently pinched her arm through her sleeve. “You’re not wearing enough. Put on another layer.”

“I’m already wearing three layers,” she protested helplessly.

Ignoring her, Duan Xiaolin walked back into the room and retrieved a thick, beige knitted cardigan. He helped her slip it on, adjusting the collar. “It’s freezing out there.”

“Is it?” She couldn’t help but glance out the window. The temperature inside the villa was pleasantly warm and comfortable; she hadn’t actually felt the outside air since the storm began.

The man meticulously fastened her buttons, then took her hand. “Alright, we can go now.”

He pushed the front door open, holding the umbrella in one hand while wrapping his other arm securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his side.

The moment the door swung wide, the fierce wind and torrential rain battered them without mercy. The gale was so strong that Pei Xiqing could barely open her eyes. If the man hadn’t been holding her so tightly, she felt as though the wind would have blown her away in an instant.

Her neatly clipped hair was instantly whipped into a messy frenzy. Above the roar of the storm, she heard the man let out a low laugh. “Still want to go out? You can always turn back and crawl into bed.”

Life inside the villa was incredibly cozy and safe, and the thought of that soft, warm bed was undeniably tempting.

“Since we’re already out here…” she began.

Struggling slightly out of his embrace, Pei Xiqing grabbed his arm instead, using her free hand to shield her face from the biting wind. Despite the extreme weather, her voice rang out with stubborn determination. “Let’s go!”

“Hold on tight to me,” Duan Xiaolin instructed.

“Mhm.”

After fighting their way through the storm for a short distance, a sleek car finally emerged from the gloom, pulling up beside them.

Shadow quickly rolled down the driver’s side window. “The road conditions ahead are terrible. I apologize for being late.”

“It’s fine.” Duan Xiaolin climbed into the backseat with her and immediately began reviewing a stack of documents Franlun had forwarded to him. “Drive.”

Thanks to Duan Xiaolin shielding her, Pei Xiqing was perfectly dry. However, the man’s right shoulder had been completely soaked by the driving rain in just those few dozen steps to the car. She pulled out a handkerchief and gently patted his shoulder dry.

Turning toward the front seat, she asked, “Brother Shadow, what happened to all those refugees gathered in the capital?”

“Them…” Shadow stepped on the gas, pausing for a moment before answering. “They’ve all been evacuated into the subterranean shelters. The exact same tunnel network you were in last time.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Don’t worry about them,” Shadow assured her. “They’ve survived unimaginable hardships just to make it this far. They possess a strong survival instinct, even in the harshest environments. Even if the high command doesn’t provide them with further arrangements, the majority of them will find a way to pull through.”

The car tore through the howling wind and rain, pressing forward into the city.

In just a few short hours, the floodwaters on the streets had risen past knee height. Fortunately, the vehicle was heavily modified, preventing any water from seeping into the cabin. Peering through the window, she noticed that the streets were completely devoid of pedestrians and refugees. The only people braving the storm were elite superhuman soldiers, utilizing their abilities to conduct perimeter patrols.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up to a grand, classical building.

The architecture of the surrounding sector closely resembled the historic Shanghai Bund from the 1960s and 70s. It was a flawless blend of classicism and modernity, boasting a pristine, Baroque-style white color scheme. It maintained an awe-inspiring elegance and beauty, standing tall and unyielding in the post-apocalyptic world like a perfectly preserved reflection of a bygone era.

Seeing the building, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. It filled her with an intense, nostalgic longing.

Duan Xiaolin suddenly handed her a camera. “The Franlun headquarters building is currently open for a free photo op.”

Pei Xiqing took the camera, unable to hold back a laugh. “Was it a paid tourist attraction before?”

From a second-floor balcony above them, Qiu Chao’s lazy voice drifted down through the rain. “The last people who came here trying to take photos and sightsee had their eyes gouged out.”

Pei Xiqing looked up. “Brother Qiu Chao.”

“Except for you, of course.” He was still wearing his mask, but his tone was relaxed and distinctly amused. “Come on up. It’s pouring out there. Taking pictures from up here is a much better idea.”

Holding the umbrella steady, Duan Xiaolin escorted her up the steps and into the Franlun headquarters.

The interior of the building was several times larger than she had imagined from the outside. The halls were a sprawling, interconnected labyrinth. Inside each individual office, professional personnel were rapidly handling endless streams of data and logistics.

“This is the intelligence division,” Duan Xiaolin explained smoothly. “It gets quite noisy down here. Let’s head upstairs.”

Pei Xiqing only managed a quick, sweeping glance. She was instantly intimidated by the suffocatingly serious, high-stakes atmosphere of the room, and she didn’t dare pry any further out of idle curiosity.

She followed the man upstairs and into a large meeting room. Seven or eight people were already seated around the conference table.

San She and Qiu Chao were among them. The others wore various masks of their own, completely obscuring their identities. The only thing she could sense was their overwhelming, solemn, and composed aura.

“Brother Duan brought Miss Pei along. This is the perfect opportunity for all of you to finally meet her,” Qiu Chao announced. He pulled out a chair, plopping down into it, and stared at Pei Xiqing with a visible smile crinkling the corners of his eyes behind his mask.

Pei Xiqing didn’t recognize any of the other members at the table. She awkwardly raised a hand in a small wave. “Hello… my name is Pei Xiqing. I’m sorry to intrude uninvited today.”

The moment she finished speaking, the conference room plunged into a profound, eerie silence.

Every single one of them sat perfectly upright, grim and unsmiling. Their attire was completely impeccable; even the buttons on their collars seemed to adhere to a strict, rigid military standard. Just looking at them made her feel an immense, crushing pressure, as if she were standing trial.

These were the supreme, ruthless judges of the apocalypse, entities who stood at the absolute apex of the world, ready to pass judgment upon her.

Is this the true face of Franlun?

Pei Xiqing took a quiet, steadying breath.

Forcing a polite smile, she added, “I don’t know if my timing is appropriate, and I don’t want to be a bother. I promise I’ll stay quiet and try my absolute best not to disrupt your meeting.”

She was undeniably nervous, but she reminded herself that Duan Xiaolin’s gaze was far more terrifying than all of theirs combined, and she handled him just fine.

After offering her piece, she gave Duan Xiaolin a quick, reassuring wink and moved to find an empty seat.

Her presence here might be abrupt and poorly timed, but her goal was crucial: she needed to know exactly how much time they had left before the natural disasters struck, and she needed to understand the true state of the outside world. As for everything else, she couldn’t afford to care too much.

Besides, since Duan Xiaolin had agreed to let her tag along, it meant he fully intended for her to sit in on the proceedings.

Pei Xiqing took another deep breath and was just about to sit down when the harsh, screeching sound of a chair violently scraping against the floor echoed through the silent room.

Startled, she looked up to see one of the imposing, masked Franlun members suddenly leap to his feet.

His intense gaze locked directly onto her.

Pei Xiqing froze, completely baffled. The sheer weight of his stare left her bewildered and on edge.

Then, the imposing figure suddenly shouted, “Sister-in-law!”

Before Pei Xiqing could even process the word, the operative rushed across the room, closing the distance in a flash. He aggressively grabbed her hand in an enthusiastic two-handed shake. Still completely dazed, she opened her mouth to speak, but she was instantly interrupted by the chilling voice of the man standing right beside her.

“Take your hands off her.”

Leng Huayi jumped as if he’d been electrocuted, immediately dropping her hand.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!” he babbled, backing up awkwardly. “Brother Duan, please don’t hold it against me. I was just so excited I didn’t think! I promise I won’t do it again!”

After frantically apologizing to his boss, he turned his intense, burning gaze back to Pei Xiqing.

He shouted passionately once more, “Sister-in-law! You are my one and only sister-in-law!”

Chapter 272: Beauty is a Curse, A Moment’s Wrong Thought

Pei Xiqing’s eyelids twitched slightly. “…Huh?”

“We’ve been waiting for you for so long! We’ve been absolutely dying to meet you,” he babbled enthusiastically. “Qiu Chao told us about you months ago, but we were all deployed on field missions and couldn’t make it back. We finally returned a few days ago, only to be sent right back out to hunt for those crystal cores. We hadn’t heard a single update about you since!”

When he had first received the news while out in the wasteland, he had been incredibly anxious, terrified that Brother Duan was doing something rash by suddenly getting involved with a woman. He had worried himself sick over it. He had rushed back amidst all the recent chaos, and now, finally, he was actually seeing her!

Pei Xiqing couldn’t help but chuckle at his overwhelming enthusiasm. “Why… are you so surprised to see me?”

“He wasn’t just surprised—we were all completely terrified,” another voice chimed in.

With Leng Huayi having broken the ice, the other operatives finally dropped their rigid postures and joined the conversation. “When we got the intel while out on deployment, we honestly thought Brother Duan was going to abandon us and leave Franlun entirely.”

“What do you mean by that?” she asked curiously.

Aside from San She and Qiu Chao, the remaining four operatives consisted of two men and two women. Even just glancing at the terrifying masks they wore was enough to make one feel a suffocating, invisible pressure.

One of the women stood up. She was clad in a sleek, form-fitting combat suit that perfectly accentuated her alluring curves. Her fiery red hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose, voluminous waves, and the eyes visible behind her mask gleamed a dark, dangerous crimson.

She slowly sauntered over to Pei Xiqing, studying her intently for a few seconds before letting out a low chuckle. “Little beauty, we’ve known about your existence for a long time now. At first, we were terrified that you were going to drag our Chief Judge away to live out his days as some rugged country bumpkin. But looking at you now, I suddenly understand why he did it. Honestly, you’re so gorgeous, even I feel the urge to follow you into seclusion.”

Standing nearby, Qiu Chao coughed awkwardly. “Ji Yao, you might want to dial it back a bit.”

He didn’t even dare glance at Brother Duan’s expression. Ji Yao was incredibly bold to speak so recklessly in front of him. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to get them all killed.

Ji Yao playfully tossed her long red hair and smiled. “I’m just kidding.” She then extended a gloved hand toward Pei Xiqing. “Since you are Brother Duan’s lover, Franlun warmly welcomes you to our ranks.”

Physical appearance was usually just a superficial trait, and there was no shortage of beautiful women in the apocalypse. However, beauty was often a curse in this brutal world, and a single moment’s wrong thought could ruin a person completely. Some women used their looks to manipulate others for resources, while others traded their bodies for protection, but those transactional dynamics never lasted.

Over the years since the outbreak, Ji Yao had seen countless women. Almost every woman with even a fraction of beauty harbored a naked, calculating ambition in her eyes. Ji Yao could usually read their true intentions at a single glance. But seeing Pei Xiqing today had genuinely surprised her.

Pei Xiqing’s gaze was entirely devoid of that repulsive, calculating arrogance. It seemed Brother Duan was truly exceptional at protecting the people he cared about.

A flicker of genuine warmth flashed in Ji Yao’s eyes. There were far too many women in the wasteland who believed their beauty entitled them to everything. After dealing with so much ugliness, looking into Pei Xiqing’s clear, untainted eyes was deeply moving. It proved that not every relationship in the apocalypse was built on cold calculation and profit.

She smiled and glanced back at her teammate. “Leng Huayi, stop fussing like an old woman. You’re too long-winded.”

“I’m just excited!” Leng Huayi protested defensively. “You don’t understand!”

“Alright, alright,” Ji Yao waved him off dismissively, sashaying back to her seat. “Whatever you say.”

The other operatives quickly gathered around Pei Xiqing, bombarding her with eager questions.

“Sister-in-law! How exactly did you and Brother Duan meet? We’ve only heard the vague rumors. Do you have the full story? We really want to hear it!”

“Me too! We’ve been dying to know!”

“I was practically bursting with excitement earlier! I wanted to talk to you right away, but I was afraid of scaring you off. We’ve all been holding it in for ages!”

“Oh, and one more thing! Did you and Brother Duan really go farming? What does Brother Duan even look like doing manual labor in a field?!”

The main reason for their overwhelming enthusiasm was their sheer relief at Pei Xiqing’s approachable personality. They had half-expected this rumored “Sister-in-law” to be a sharp, arrogant woman who would look down on them. After all, they all worked incredibly dangerous, bloody jobs—they were essentially a group of rough, battle-hardened thugs. Aside from Qiu Chao and Brother Duan, who possessed a certain refined elegance, the rest of them spent their days out in the savage wilderness, slaughtering zombies and hunting down vicious criminals.

Pei Xiqing was completely taken aback by their lively chatter and overwhelming enthusiasm once the ice was broken. She had almost forgotten a crucial fact: they weren’t just the terrifying, masked executioners of Franlun; they were living, breathing human beings with their own quirks and curiosities.

Pei Xiqing offered a brief, polite answer to their barrage of questions. “The exact details of how we met… are a bit embarrassing to talk about right now. But I promise I’ll tell you the full story when we have more time.” She smiled warmly. “However, regarding Brother Duan’s farming… if we ever get the chance to return to the village together, I’m sure he’d let you see it for yourselves.”

She hoped they wouldn’t find her answers too evasive, even though she knew she had deliberately dodged the specifics.

The operatives gasped in collective surprise.

“Qiu Chao swore that Brother Duan went farming, but we thought he was pulling our legs! I can’t believe it’s actually true!”

“My God, Brother Duan actually worked the fields! Does that brat Ling Lang know about this? We have to drag him along next time and exploit our youngest member for some free labor!”

Ji Yao couldn’t hold back a small laugh. She pressed her fingertips against her forehead, casting a deeply amused glance in Duan Xiaolin’s direction. Tsk. This terrifying man actually went farming. I would pay good money to see what Franlun’s dignified Chief Judge looks like toiling away in the dirt.

As the boisterous commotion continued, the topic fully derailed into wild speculations about agriculture. Finally, the man pushed his silver-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. He gently pulled Pei Xiqing down into the seat beside him and gave a slight, authoritative nod. “Enough of this chatter. Let’s get down to business.”

Instantly, the group dropped their gossipy, smiling facades. Their expressions turned dead serious, and their postures snapped back into strict, formal military rigidity. In the blink of an eye, they returned to the terrifying, suffocating state they had projected when Pei Xiqing first walked into the room.

It was as if the playful banter from seconds ago had never even happened.

Pei Xiqing quickly composed herself, sitting quietly and attentively beside the man.

Leng Huayi spoke first, his tone strictly professional. “Brother Duan, according to our latest monitoring data, we have uncovered a massive amount of intel.”

He activated a console on the table, preparing to display his collected data to the room. With a swift, downward swipe of his finger, the visual projection in the room instantly shifted into a full-dive holographic simulation.

One second, Pei Xiqing was sitting safely in a sterile conference room; the next, she felt as though she had been teleported directly into the hellish apocalypse raging outside the headquarters’ walls.

The simulated raging wind and torrential rain were so realistic they felt physical. The holographic ground shook violently beneath her feet, and a colossal mutated parasite reared up, opening a gaping, nightmarish maw capable of swallowing a person whole in a single bite. The wasteland was utterly devastated, and she could almost smell the pungent, metallic tang of fresh blood saturating the air.

She was just bracing herself to process this despairing, suffocating aura of death when the immersive projection was abruptly cut off by Leng Huayi.

His expression was grave, and his tone was chillingly cold as the room’s normal lighting returned.

“We don’t have much time left.”

Chapter 273: Knowing How Good It Was Over There

Pei Xiqing followed the man out of the building. The rain hadn’t stopped; if anything, the downpour had grown even heavier than when they first arrived. The gale-force winds made it nearly impossible to keep her eyes open, and the piercing howl of the storm sent a deep chill down her spine.

She tilted her head up slightly, gazing at the sky completely smothered by dark clouds. The chill she felt didn’t just come from the biting weather; the horrifying revelations from the meeting had left her feeling as though she had been plunged into an ice cavern.

This world was already riddled with holes, overflowing with devastation. Everything inside the central headquarters was nothing more than a fragile, beautiful illusion meticulously constructed by human hands.

The man wrapped his arm around her shoulders, shielding her from the brunt of the wind and rain as he held the umbrella over them, guiding her toward the car. He gently grasped her slightly cold fingertips.

She turned her head slightly to look at him. “I don’t really want to go back just yet.”

After hearing the grim briefing in the conference room, her mind was in turmoil. She knew she wouldn’t be able to just sit still at home. Rather than staying cooped up indoors, drowning in anxiety and unease, she preferred to stay out a little longer.

“Aren’t you feeling unwell?” he asked softly.

Before leaving the villa, she had barely mustered the strength to stand. She had been pushing through the lingering exhaustion ever since the meeting began. Was she really okay to stay out?

Pei Xiqing bit her lower lip, hesitating for a moment before answering. “It’s fine. It gets better after walking around a bit. And if I really can’t walk anymore, you can just carry me on your back.”

As long as she didn’t walk too fast, she could manage the lingering soreness between her legs. At the very least, that initial, overwhelming wave of weakness had passed.

“Shall we go get something to eat?” she suggested. “Are any restaurants still open at this hour?”

“There are,” he confirmed.

“Good.”

Duan Xiaolin opened the passenger door for her. “I’ll take you for a drive around headquarters. I didn’t get the chance to join you the last time you took Xiaobai out, so I’ll make up for it today.”

“Okay.” Pei Xiqing let out a soft sigh.

Even if this peace was just a fleeting illusion, the headquarters still existed right now. The people living inside, the towering walls, and the man sitting beside her—they were all undeniably real. If their destined fate couldn’t be changed, then she would simply have to accept it and cherish the present.

The car pulled away from the Franlun building, smoothly merging onto the city streets.

Due to the storm, the streets were mostly deserted, yet many shops and restaurants remained open for business. The commercial district’s futuristic technological infrastructure was in no way inferior to any hyper-advanced metropolis she had ever seen. Even under the torrential downpour, the brilliant neon lights continued to flicker and glow amidst the lightning, completely unaffected by the weather.

As the vehicle cruised down the slick roads, the vibrant reflections of the neon signs blurred across the wet asphalt, forming a mesmerizing part of the capital’s unique scenery. It was so captivating that she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Suddenly, a brightly lit storefront caught her attention.

Noticing her gaze, Duan Xiaolin slowed the car. “I think this place looks nice. Or that restaurant a little further ahead… that one is good, too. We’re just here to eat, so pick whichever catches your eye.”

The restaurant she chose was massive, spanning the width of five or six standard storefronts. Peering through the large glass windows, she could see a sizable crowd queuing inside.

The harsh weather had struck fiercely, but the people who had survived this far into the apocalypse had weathered far worse storms. A heavy downpour wasn’t enough to diminish their desperate drive to seek out food and survive. Even if the world were going to end in the very next second, their only concern would be securing their next meal.

Pei Xiqing stepped out of the car, staying close to the man under the umbrella. Shadow pushed open the heavy glass doors of the restaurant, and a wave of warm, savory heat instantly rushed out to meet them.

It was the rich aroma of hot food. The restaurant featured a massive open kitchen where chefs were frantically tossing and stirring ingredients. The main dining hall was already packed, with nearly a hundred people lining up for a hot meal.

However, the refugees in line didn’t have the credentials or the means to actually sit at the tables. Almost all of them were huddled in various corners of the lobby, squatting on the floor with their plates as they ravenously scarfed down their food.

The moment Pei Xiqing and Duan Xiaolin walked in, they immediately caught the attention of the restaurant manager. The manager’s sharp eyes noted the high-end, custom-tailored cardigan draped over Pei Xiqing’s shoulders. And while the man beside her was dressed in casual attire, he exuded the unmistakable, imposing aura of the base’s absolute highest echelon.

The manager hurried over, greeting them with overwhelming enthusiasm. “Would you two esteemed guests prefer a private room upstairs? We still have a few exclusive suites available.”

Pei Xiqing shook her head. “We’re fine just sitting down here in the lobby, but thank you.”

“Of course, right this way.”

She and Duan Xiaolin took a seat in the main dining area. Despite the massive crowd of refugees squatting on the floor, there were at least a dozen empty tables and chairs available. The newly admitted migrants lacked proper residence permits and identification; in specific establishments like this, they weren’t even granted the right to sit at a table.

Nevertheless, there were still quite a few official residents of the headquarters dining inside. The seven or eight occupied tables nearby were filled entirely by high-ranking ability users in crisp military uniforms, or the families of officials dressed in exquisite, noble attire. Judging by the sheer number of waiters stationed near the stairs leading to the private rooms, the restaurant was currently hosting several important dignitaries.

They hadn’t intended to make a scene, but aside from the lowest-level staff, practically every person of status at headquarters knew exactly who Duan Xiaolin was. It was impossible for him to keep a low profile.

After they had been seated for only a few minutes, three or four different groups of elites nervously approached their table to offer their respects. Not wanting to draw any more attention, Duan Xiaolin merely offered them a slight, dismissive nod and ignored their attempts at conversation. Reading his cold demeanor, the officials quickly grasped that he was only there for a quiet meal. They respectfully retreated and didn’t dare disturb him again.

Pei Xiqing rarely ate out. Back at home, Duan Xiaolin was usually the one doing the cooking. On the rare occasions when he was too busy, she would cook for him, though her culinary skills were… well, just passingly mediocre.

“This is delicious,” Pei Xiqing said, picking up a tender piece of meat with her chopsticks and placing it in his bowl. “You should try it.”

Duan Xiaolin picked it up, taking a bite. “It is.”

The restaurant was bustling, with waiters and patrons constantly walking back and forth around them. Amidst the lively chaos, Pei Xiqing simply rested her chin on her hand, watching the man across from her with a soft smile.

Duan Xiaolin paused. “What are you looking at?”

“You rarely eat at places like this, do you?” she mused.

“I used to, whenever I had social engagements to attend.”

“That makes sense.” During the relatively stable periods of the apocalypse, official banquets and political dinners would have been a frequent, commonplace occurrence for someone in his position.

“Eating out every once in a while is pretty nice,” she remarked.

Duan Xiaolin raised an eyebrow. “You like eating out?”

“Occasionally! Just occasionally.” She quickly smiled and added, “Of course, I love Brother Duan’s cooking the most. These restaurant chefs are nowhere near your level.”

He chuckled softly at her flattery.

Her smile faded slightly as a wistful look entered her eyes. She leaned a little closer across the table. “If only things could stay like this forever. If only we could just live peacefully, without having to worry about parasite mutations or the end of the world.”

Duan Xiaolin reached across the table, gently brushing her cheek. “I will make sure they do.”

“Honestly, I prefer the time we spent together in the village much more than our time here at headquarters.”

He stirred a spoonful of warm soup, gently bringing it to her lips. “The village is doing very well lately. If you want to go back, I can take you there to see it.”

“But we couldn’t stay there for long.”

“I explicitly told you to stay there and rest,” he reminded her, his tone laced with fond amusement. “But you ran all the way back here on your own. Now you realize how good you had it over there?”

Pei Xiqing snorted softly. “Speaking of which, I actually have something to ask you.”

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