“Okay, okay, I really do have something serious to say. I know you don’t like me, but please don’t hang up, okay? I’m truly sorry, and I want to make it up to you.”
Xia Sisi almost gagged on the spot, forcing herself to hold it back.
She slipped her hand into Dahei’s soft, smooth fur, feeling his warmth and comfort, which barely suppressed the nausea rising in her chest.
“Um… do you remember He Peng from the International Studies College? The basketball player…”
Of course Xia Sisi remembered him.
In fact, after the apocalypse began, she even had interactions with He Peng.
“I heard he’s back in the country. I remember you… used to kind of like him, and he also had a good impression of you. Think of it as my way of making it up to you—I can help you set something up between you two, okay?”
As she spoke, Hao Rou’s voice grew increasingly sincere.
“I know you probably think this is a bit… unbelievable, but I really don’t have any bad intentions. I just want to make it up to you.”
Xia Sisi laughed.
Hao Rou’s way of thinking really was beyond normal people.
But then again, He Peng, Hao Rou, and Lin Yi were all cut from the same cloth.
In the apocalypse, Xia Sisi once encountered He Peng during a mission. At first, she was even a bit excited.
But very quickly, she was betrayed by him.
Only later did she find out that He Peng and Hao Rou had been childhood friends.
And not only that—Hao Rou had also had a past relationship with him.
That time, Xia Sisi had nearly been killed by He Peng.
But it didn’t matter.
Now she was actually curious—what exactly was Hao Rou planning by bringing He Peng into this?
“Sure. To be honest, I actually have a pretty deep impression of He Peng. I haven’t been in a good mood lately because of Lin Yi anyway, so I don’t mind catching up with an old acquaintance.”
Xia Sisi quickly agreed with Hao Rou on a time and place to meet.
Of course, Hao Rou wouldn’t be there.
Xia Sisi had already said she never wanted to see Hao Rou again in this lifetime.
In fact, Hao Rou could have used other methods to make Xia Sisi and He Peng meet.
But Xia Sisi understood her psychology very well.
Hao Rou had always looked down on her, thinking she was stupid and naive.
This was a deliberate move to provoke her.
First, to build a “good image” for herself, and to prevent Xia Sisi from holding a grudge and exposing her for being a mistress.
If she “repaired” her relationship with the foolish Xia Sisi, she could better control her and prevent her from talking nonsense.
Second, even if Xia Sisi didn’t agree this time, Hao Rou could always use other methods later.
Either way, Hao Rou wouldn’t lose.
Soon, Xia Sisi met He Peng.
Seeing this smiling man who hid a knife behind his grin again, Xia Sisi had to forcefully restrain her fists from swinging at him.
The entire meal went relatively smoothly.
He Peng was indeed very good at charming women.
If it were an ordinary girl, she would probably have already fallen for him after just one meal.
But Xia Sisi knew—how good-looking he was on the outside, how vicious he was inside.
In her previous life, this man had personally thrown her into a zombie horde, even mocking her scarred face and calling her ugly.
He even laughed and told her to strip so he could “check her body” before deciding whether to save her.
Later, Xia Sisi was barely rescued by others and managed to survive.
“Xia Sisi, when you were in school, everyone said you were a rich girl. Hao Rou also said you had stocks and funds, and quite a lot of money. Honestly… girls like that are a bit hard for me to pursue. I’m afraid I’m not good enough for you.”
On the way back after dinner, He Peng suddenly said this with a troubled expression.
Xia Sisi, however, finally relaxed—she had figured out Hao Rou’s real intention.
So this was it. Hao Rou had sent He Peng to trick her into handing over the remaining half of her fund shares—and probably also the 500,000 yuan from the Lin family. Lin Yi was probably going to feel heartache over that later too.
Now that she knew their plan, everything became much easier.
Xia Sisi silently thought to herself—and at the same time, a plan formed in her mind.
Since you came to provoke me, don’t blame me later.
After the first date, Xia Sisi always arranged future meetings in open, crowded places—and always brought Dahei along.
Because she noticed something—He Peng had very dirty hands.
On their very first meal, he already tried to wrap his arm around her waist.
Later, during phone calls, he even suggested going to a hotel.
Xia Sisi was so angry she wanted to slap him twice, but she forced herself to endure it for the sake of her plan.
So she had no choice but to use “my dog has separation anxiety and is very clingy” as an excuse to bring Dahei every time.
And Dahei was extremely perceptive.
Whenever He Peng got even a little too close, he would immediately bare his teeth.
This forced He Peng to keep at least a meter away from Xia Sisi at all times.
After meeting a few more times, when Xia Sisi could already tell that He Peng was running out of patience, she finally said rather helplessly:
“Actually… I really do have some fund shares in my hands. I’ve been thinking of selling them off at a low price recently, but I don’t know how to operate it.”
He Peng’s eyes immediately lit up.
“I studied abroad for two years before and learned a lot. Maybe I can help you.”
Xia Sisi suppressed the corners of her mouth from curling up and put on a grateful expression.
“That would be great. I just want to sell them quickly anyway—at half the market price. I mainly just want to find a reliable buyer.”
Just like that, the remaining half of Xia Sisi’s stocks were sold to the Lin family for five million yuan.
As for whether it was purely the Lin family or whether He Peng also had a share in it, Xia Sisi didn’t bother to investigate.
In any case, not long after, all that money would turn into worthless paper.
She would let them be happy for a few days first.
As for He Peng, he had also asked why she was in such a hurry to sell.
Xia Sisi replied that she wanted to buy a house, go abroad, and made up a whole mess of reasons—like a silly, sweet girl who had been shaken by events and had no real plan for the future.
After successfully selling the fund shares, Xia Sisi cut off contact with He Peng under the excuse of “I need to properly plan my future.”
He Peng didn’t continue to pester her either, since his goal had already been achieved.
As for Hao Rou, she even pretended to kindly persuade Xia Sisi a few times afterward.
But it was all just to enjoy the joke of watching Xia Sisi become disoriented and mess up her life.
Later, Xia Sisi simply blocked Hao Rou’s new number as well, cutting things off completely.
The remaining debts—she would settle them all when the apocalypse arrived.
And so, day after day passed with morning workouts, shopping, cooking, and stockpiling supplies. The entire summer vacation quietly came to an end.
Before she knew it, school was about to start.
Xia Sisi looked at her arms—her muscles had already begun to take shape.
Even her combat skills from her previous life had started to come back.
As for Dahei, he had grown even bigger under her care. His wounds had healed considerably, his fur was glossy and beautiful, and his chest muscles were firm and solid.
The whole dog was full of energy now, even a little mischievous at times.
Most of the things Xia Sisi ordered online had also arrived—clothes, generators, solar panels, daily necessities, food, snacks, dog food…