Lin Qingtang stared at the bedroom door, the cold sweat on her back not yet dry.
“Qingtang?”
Long Juanli’s voice came again from outside, carrying the same gentle smile she always had.
“Still not up? Your soy milk’s going to get cold.”
The same tone.
The same words.
Exactly the same as in her “dream.”
Lin Qingtang tightened her grip on the blanket.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She remembered this day from her previous life.
Long Juanli had shown up with breakfast to wake her, and on the way to class, she’d started persuading her to start dating.
She told her that her younger brother, Long Junlong, was a wonderful person. They knew everything about his family, his character was dependable, and she should seriously consider giving him a chance.
How had she answered back then?
“I’ll think about it.”
And she really had.
She’d trusted Long Juanli.
She’d genuinely believed Long Junlong was reliable.
She’d even thought that becoming family with her best friend sounded wonderful.
Then what happened?
Then Zhao Hongbin set his sights on her.
A man in his fifties who led a gang of thugs through the apocalypse, committing every evil imaginable.
She refused him.
She smashed his forehead open with a rock.
Then the zombies came.
Zhao Hongbin looked back from his motorcycle and shouted,
“Push her down!”
Long Juanli reached out.
Her closest friend…
The person she trusted more than anyone…
Personally shoved her into the zombie horde.
“I’m up.”
When Lin Qingtang finally spoke, her voice was much steadier than she’d expected.
“Give me a minute to get dressed.”
She climbed out of bed and stood before the mirror.
A twenty-one-year-old face looked back at her.
Smooth skin.
No fine lines carved by years of surviving the apocalypse.
No bloody bite wound across her neck.
She slowly raised a hand.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
The terror in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a coldness she’d never possessed in her previous life.
She opened the door.
Long Juanli stood outside carrying soy milk and fried dough sticks, a gentle smile on her face.
She wasn’t breathtakingly beautiful.
What made people trust her was her soft appearance.
Her brows curved warmly whenever she smiled, making her seem harmless.
She wore a light gray cardigan over a sweater, her hair loosely tied behind her head.
Everything about her radiated kindness.
“Why do you look so pale? Didn’t you sleep well?”
Long Juanli reached out to touch her forehead.
Almost instinctively, Lin Qingtang tilted her head away.
It wasn’t a dramatic movement.
But Long Juanli noticed.
Her hand paused briefly in midair.
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes before her smile became even gentler.
“Did you have a nightmare? It’s okay. Drink some soy milk and settle your nerves. I went all the way to that shop outside campus just for you. I know their red date soy milk is your favorite.”
“…Thank you.”
Lin Qingtang accepted the cup without taking a sip.
Either Long Juanli didn’t notice anything unusual…
Or she simply ignored it.
She sat casually on the edge of the bed, unwrapping the fried dough sticks while chatting away.
As expected, the conversation gradually drifted toward the topic she’d clearly planned from the beginning.
“By the way, Qingtang… have you thought about dating anyone lately?”
Here it comes.
Lin Qingtang’s fingertips stiffened.
Her expression remained calm.
“Why are you suddenly asking?”
“It isn’t sudden.”
Long Juanli laughed.
“You’re pretty, you’ve got a great personality, your family’s well-off, and you’re about to graduate without ever dating anyone. Isn’t that a waste?”
She tilted her head, looking every bit like a caring best friend.
“You’ll never know if dating is right for you unless you try it. Look at me. None of my past relationships worked out, but at least I experienced them. Youth only lasts a few years. Once we graduate, it won’t feel the same anymore.”
Every word…
Matched her previous life exactly.
Even the angle of her head.
Even the tiny frown she wore while saying, “What a waste.”
Everything was identical.
Something inside Lin Qingtang shattered.
And something else quietly took its place.
It wasn’t a dream.
Dreams didn’t recreate details with this level of precision.
The unbearable pain.
The sickening crunch of her bones breaking.
Zhao Hongbin shouting those words.
The expression on Long Juanli’s face as she pushed her.
Every single memory was real.
She had died once already.
Killed after the person she’d trusted most obeyed Zhao Hongbin’s command and pushed her toward death with her own hands.
“What kind of man do you think suits me?”
Lin Qingtang heard herself ask.
She wasn’t sure why.
Maybe she wanted to see just how far Long Juanli could keep pretending.
Or maybe…
She wanted to understand just how foolish she’d been in her previous life.
Long Juanli’s eyes lit up.
She thought she’d taken the bait.
“I think the best choice is someone you already know.”
“Someone you’ve known since childhood.”
“Someone with a trustworthy family and good character.”
“You never know what strangers are after. What if they’re only interested in your family’s money?”
She paused, pretending she’d just remembered something.
“Actually… you know my brother, Junlong.”
“He’s incredibly honest.”
“He’s only a year younger than you, but he’s mature and pretty handsome.”
“He’s always had a good impression of you. Every time he comes to campus to see me, he asks how you’re doing.”
“He’s just shy.”
“He never dares to talk to you.”
“He always watches you from a distance.”
“When I told him you’d never dated anyone before, he said he was too afraid to pursue you because he didn’t want to scare you.”
Long Juanli smiled as she gently patted Lin Qingtang’s hand.
“I’m not trying to force you two together.”
“I just think that if you ever decide to date, someone like Junlong, someone we already know, is far more dependable than a stranger.”
“At least I’d never hurt you.”
“Right?”
“We’re best friends.”
“If I introduce someone to you, you know I’ve already made sure he’s trustworthy.”
Right?
Right?
Looking at Long Juanli’s warm smile, Lin Qingtang remembered the words she’d spoken while pushing her into the zombie horde.
I’m sorry… I didn’t want this either…
A wave of nausea rose in her stomach.
“I’ll think about it.”
The reply was identical to the one she’d given in her previous life.
She couldn’t stay another second.
If she did…
She was afraid she’d throw the cup of soy milk straight into that gentle, smiling face.
She walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water across her face.
The woman staring back from the mirror was pale.
Her lips were pressed into a thin line.
The chill in her eyes deepened by the second.
Just then…
Her phone vibrated.
She glanced down.
A WeChat message from Long Junlong.
“Morning, Senior. It’s getting colder today. Remember to dress warmly.”
The exact same message.
Even the timestamp matched perfectly.
Her finger hovered over the screen for two seconds.
Then she deleted it.
Without replying.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, Long Junlong had already arrived downstairs.
He stood outside the dormitory wearing a light gray plaid shirt.
One hand rested casually in his pocket.
The other held two cups of milk tea.
The moment he saw Lin Qingtang walking out beside his sister, he revealed what was obviously a carefully practiced smile.
Not flashy.
Not greasy.
Just clean enough to make people think,
“What a nice guy.”
“Morning, Senior.”
He walked over and offered her one of the drinks.
“My sister said you like the mango pomelo sago from this shop. I happened to pass by, so I bought one for you.”
His voice was calm.
Only the tips of his ears had turned slightly red, making him look like a shy young man.
Lin Qingtang remembered exactly why she’d lowered her guard in her previous life.
Back then…
She’d believed that a boy who blushed so easily couldn’t possibly be a bad person.
But this same shy young man had watched his sister push her into a zombie horde.
He’d done nothing.
Simply stood there and watched.
The plaid shirt.
The hand tucked into his pocket.
The two cups of milk tea.
Even the slight twist of his wrist as he handed her the drink…
Everything matched the nightmare perfectly.
A chill crept down Lin Qingtang’s spine.
“Thank you, but I’m not thirsty.”
She didn’t accept it.
Instead, she took half a step backward.
“I have something to take care of today.”
“I’m going home first.”
“You two should go to class.”
Long Juanli blinked.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick? Do you want me to come with…”
“No.”
Her answer came too quickly.
Even she realized how cold it sounded.
She saw a flash of hurt cross Long Juanli’s face.
Her lips pursed slightly.
She looked like someone who’d been wrongfully accused.
That same expression had filled Lin Qingtang with guilt in her previous life.
It had made her think,
How could I ever doubt Juanli? She’s always been so good to me.
But she’d already died once.
“Qingtang…”
Long Juanli asked softly,
“Are you upset with me?”
“Did talking about Junlong make you uncomfortable?”
“I was only bringing it up casually.”
“If you don’t like the idea, just pretend I never said anything…”
“No.”
Lin Qingtang forced a smile.
“I really just have something to do at home.”
“You two should head to class.”
“I’ll be leaving.”
As she turned away, she could feel Long Juanli’s eyes fixed on her back.
She also heard Long Junlong lower his voice.
“What’s wrong with her? Is she in a bad mood?”
Long Juanli didn’t answer.
She simply let out a quiet sigh.
It was the sigh of someone who felt unfairly misunderstood.
Lin Qingtang never looked back.
…
Once she passed through the university gates, her pace quickened.
Eventually…
She broke into a run.
The March wind slipped beneath her collar.
Her back was drenched in sweat.
She looked at the date on her phone.
Then opened her contacts and tapped a familiar name.
“Dad.”
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Her father’s warm voice carried a smile.
“Calling me at this hour? Planning to skip class again?”
The instant she heard him…
Her eyes burned.
In her previous life, her father had sacrificed everything to protect her.
Eventually, all communication had been cut off.
She never found out how he’d survived afterward.
When she was pushed into the zombie horde…
The last face she remembered was his.
She’d wanted to say she was sorry.
She’d wanted to promise she’d be his daughter again in the next life.
But instead…
Only agonized screams had escaped her mouth as the zombies tore her apart.
“Dad…”
Her voice trembled.
“I need you to investigate a few people.”
The smile disappeared from the other end of the line.
A businessman who had built an empire was far more perceptive than most.
He could tell immediately that his daughter had been crying.
He didn’t ask why.
He simply said,
“Tell me.”
“Someone named Zhao Hongbin.”
“He’s probably a gang leader in his forties or fifties.”
“He should have a subordinate with a knife scar across his eyebrow.”
“I want everything.”
“Especially his connections.”
“As detailed as possible.”
“I need it today.”
“And then?”
“And then…”
She gripped her phone tightly.
“I want to tell you everything in person.”
“All right.”
“I’ll send the driver to pick you up.”
“I’ll arrange the investigation immediately.”
“You’ll have the results before tonight.”
After hanging up, Lin Qingtang stood by the roadside outside the university.
Students laughed.
Some hurried toward class.
Others discussed what to eat for dinner.
Everything looked perfectly ordinary.
There were still thirty days until the acid rain that would change the world forever.
None of them knew.
A message popped up from Long Juanli.
Qingtang, you really didn’t look well today. Let me know when you get home. I’ll bring you some soup this afternoon. Red date and longan soup, your favorite.
The message was warm.
Thoughtful.
Caring.
Lin Qingtang slowly typed her reply.
I’m fine. No need.
Then she opened Long Juanli’s profile.
Her finger hovered over the Block button for several long seconds.
No.
Not yet.
She still needed to confirm more things.
And besides…
These people deserved far worse than being blocked.
She put away her phone and climbed into the black sedan waiting by the curb.
As the university buildings slowly disappeared through the window, she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.
The driver, Old Zhang, glanced into the rearview mirror.
“Miss Lin, who was that young lady standing outside?”
“The one in the gray sweater.”
“She seemed to keep watching you.”
Long Juanli.
She was still watching.
Without opening her eyes, Lin Qingtang answered calmly,
“I don’t know her.”
…
An hour later.
Lin Shaoan’s office.
“I’ve looked into them.”
Lin Shaoan slid a tablet across the desk toward his daughter, his expression unusually serious.
“This Zhao Hongbin is the leader of a small gang in West City.”
“He’s committed plenty of crimes and has been operating in the gray market for years.”
“He really does have a subordinate with a scar across his eyebrow.”
“His name is Hou Biao.”
“He’s been following Zhao Hongbin for almost ten years.”
“He has an extensive criminal record.”
Lin Qingtang stared at Zhao Hongbin’s photo.
A man in his fifties.
Triangular eyes.
Thin lips.
When he smiled, the flesh on his face bunched together into a sinister grin.
Beside him was Hou Biao.
The scar across his brow stretched all the way to his eyelid, making him look terrifying.
They were real.
Every one of them.
The last shred of hope vanished.
“Qingtang.”
Lin Shaoan walked around the desk and crouched before his daughter.
His voice softened.
“Can you tell Dad why you’re investigating these people?”
“Did they bully you?”
“If they did…”
“Tell me.”
“I’ll make sure they’re gone by tomorrow.”
He said those words with the same calmness most people would use to discuss tomorrow’s lunch.
But Lin Qingtang knew he meant them.
Her father had always been endlessly gentle with her.
Yet no one who survived the business world was ever truly soft-hearted.
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
She remembered Zhao Hongbin giving the order.
Long Juanli’s outstretched hand.
Long Junlong avoiding her eyes.
Hou Biao’s scarred face, completely devoid of emotion.
Fear.
Grief.
Humiliation.
Rage.
Every emotion surged upward at once until only a broken sob escaped her throat.
“Qingtang?”
“Dad…”
The moment she called him…
The tears fell.
Once they started, they wouldn’t stop.
Silent crying quickly became violent sobbing.
She slid from the sofa onto the floor, covering her face as heartbreaking cries burst from her chest.
Lin Shaoan panicked.
His daughter had never cried like this.
Not even when her mother died.
She had only been five back then.
That had been the innocent crying of a child who’d lost her mother.
This…
This was an adult whose heart had completely shattered.
Her entire body curled inward as though she were crying out every piece of her soul.
“Qingtang!”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“Dad’s here.”
“I’m right here.”
He immediately pulled her into his arms.
One hand cradled her head against his shoulder.
The other gently rubbed her back.
Her body shook uncontrollably.
Her tears soaked through his dress shirt.
His heart felt as though someone were crushing it in their fist.
“Tell Dad.”
“Did those people hurt you?”
She couldn’t answer.
How could she explain?
She had already died once.
She had been devoured alive by zombies.
The people who had ordered her death…
The ones who had pushed her…
The ones who had stood by and watched…
Were all still living comfortably somewhere in this city.
Who would believe that?
Anyone else would dismiss it as nothing more than a nightmare.
But she knew.
It wasn’t a dream.
“It was the man named Zhao…”
Lin Shaoan’s voice dropped low.
“And the one with the scar?”
He looked toward his phone.
“Han Yu.”
His tone turned ice cold.
“The people we investigated today.”
“Find some reliable men.”
“Teach them a lesson.”
“Make it hurt.”
“Just don’t kill them.”
“Understood, President Lin.”
“And one more thing.”
“Investigate everyone my daughter has interacted with over the past few months.”
“Friends.”
“Classmates.”
“Roommates.”
“Everyone.”
“I want every detail.”
“Understood.”
After ending the call, he placed his phone on the coffee table.
Looking down at the trembling daughter in his arms, his expression softened once more.
“Dad understands now.”
“I’ll deal with them.”
“You don’t have to be afraid.”
Curled against his chest, Lin Qingtang’s sobs gradually subsided.
But her fingers continued clutching his shirt tightly.
Lin Shaoan never tried to loosen her grip.
He simply held her, gently patting her back, just as he had whenever she’d had nightmares as a child.
“No matter who they are.”
“No matter how many there are.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Anyone who dares hurt my daughter…”
“Will pay the price.”
Exhausted from crying, Lin Qingtang’s body slowly relaxed.
Her breathing became steady.
Without realizing it…
She fell asleep in her father’s arms.
Lin Shaoan looked down at her tear-stained face.
He gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek.
He suddenly remembered the final words his wife had spoken before she passed away.
“Take good care of Qingtang.”
“Don’t let anyone bully her.”