When Jiang Sui opened her eyes again, it was already the next day. She was lying in a hospital ward.
From downstairs came chaotic shouting and the blaring of car horns. In the corridor outside, nurses ran back and forth; some people were crying, some were speaking incoherently, and others were screaming in panic.
Jiang Sui tried to get up, but the moment she moved, the world spun violently and she felt nauseous.
She had a concussion from the car accident. She could feel the bandage on her forehead, and multiple wounds on her body were now sending waves of pain.
Unable to sit up, she could only turn her eyes to look around.
This was a three-bed room. She was in the middle bed. On the side near the door lay Shen Yanhan, still unconscious. Jiang Sui noticed both of his legs were in casts, and his right arm was also immobilized. His face was pale, completely bloodless.
During the crash, the truck had hit Shen Yanhan’s side, so he was the most seriously injured.
A strong wave of guilt and self-blame surged in Jiang Sui’s heart. If she hadn’t been distracted while driving, maybe she could have avoided the truck.
“Host.” The system, which had been silent for days as if dead, suddenly spoke and startled Jiang Sui.
During this time, the system had been completely quiet. Jiang Sui had thought it had already abandoned her and found another host.
“Now do you understand?” the system said coldly and mechanically. “Even if you don’t accept the mission, some plot events will still happen.”
“For example, the car accident and the villain’s leg injuries.”
In the original story, Shen Yanhan’s accident happened because Jiang Sui (Jiang Sui’s counterpart in the novel) resented him and pushed him into the road, causing the crash.
As a result, Shen Yanhan suffered a comminuted fracture in both legs. Later, during the apocalypse, due to improper treatment, his legs were permanently disabled. Only after his ability awakened and became powerful did his body eventually heal itself.
But before that, as a disabled person unable to resist, he was subjected to even more brutal abuse.
Now, Jiang Sui no longer mistreated Shen Yanhan—but the accident still happened.
His legs were still broken.
Jiang Sui felt her mood sink. Because she had to admit that the later plot would also still happen: she and Shen Yanhan surviving the apocalypse together and escaping South City.
Shen Yanhan had been in her car when the accident happened because she lost focus. As a matter of basic moral responsibility, she couldn’t abandon him now.
So next, she would have to take him with her, escape South City, and take care of him until his legs healed on their own.
But Jiang Sui truly did not want to spend all her time with Shen Yanhan.
He was handsome, yes—but also dangerous.
Like the beautiful male ghosts in old legends: breathtakingly attractive, but staying close to them long enough would eventually lead to death.
Jiang Sui closed her eyes in frustration.
Just to meet the female lead once… just to get closer to the strong female protagonist so she could cling to her thigh in the future… her sacrifice was truly too great.
At that moment, the system spoke again coldly:
“Host, don’t be discouraged. I have good news for you.”
Jiang Sui immediately opened her eyes. “What good news?”
The system announced mechanically:
“Congratulations, Host. You have successfully advanced an important plot point. You are now eligible for a system reward.”
“The pollution has already erupted. The apocalypse is imminent. In a world overrun by contaminated entities, Awakened individuals will begin to emerge one after another.”
“Now, you have one chance to draw an ability, or to obtain one ‘Absolute Immunity’ rescue chance.”
“The former grants you a random ability in advance. The latter will forcibly extract you from danger when you encounter life-threatening situations, ensuring your survival.”
“Host, please choose.”
Jiang Sui considered it.
“Absolute Immunity” could save her life at a critical moment—but an ability was something she could rely on long-term in the apocalypse.
And right now, Shen Yanhan had broken legs. As an ordinary woman who would need to survive the apocalypse with such a companion, an ability was far more valuable than a one-time safety escape.
Finally, she said, “I choose the ability draw.”
“Understood. Drawing ability…”
Jiang Sui held her breath and prayed silently: please, please give me something useful—something that will help me survive and carry one person through the apocalypse.
“Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the ability: Mental Soothing.”
“Mental Soothing: You can soothe the mental states of contaminated entities, mutated creatures, and Awakened individuals who are in a berserk state due to excessive ability usage or ability evolution. This can partially restore their mental stability. The effect increases with level. At low level, the effect is minimal.”
“Current ability level: E-class.”
“Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an ability and received a corresponding physical enhancement bonus.”
As the notification ended, a strange force flowed into Jiang Sui’s body. She clearly felt herself becoming stronger and more agile than before, and even the dizziness from the concussion slightly eased.
But… this mental-type ability was useless to her!
It would be better if she had just become a strength-type powerhouse. At least then she could carry Shen Yanhan in a wheelchair and run for her life.
Jiang Sui was unwilling. She tried bargaining with the system.
“Can I redraw once? Please? Good system?”
“No,” the system replied coldly.
Jiang Sui: “QAQ”
Because of the severe concussion, she couldn’t move much and could only lie in bed, slightly turning her head. Even a small movement made her feel like vomiting.
The outside world seemed extremely chaotic, and the hospital was unusually busy.
On the other side of her bed, near the window, lay a young girl whose IV drip had already finished. Her boyfriend pressed the call button, but no nurse came.
So he ran out to look for help.
A moment later, he rushed back in panic, searching for the remote control.
“What are you doing?” the girl asked.
“Something big happened,” the boyfriend said, trembling. “The whole city is under lockdown.”
“What?!”
The TV was turned on. Breaking news from the South City Control Center was being replayed.
The female anchor said seriously:
“Currently, a cluster outbreak of infectious disease has appeared in our city. To prevent further spread and ensure public safety, the city epidemic prevention command center has decided to immediately implement citywide home lockdown measures…”
“If any resident is infected with the ‘mushroom’ fungus, please report immediately to your community hospital for isolation. Do not panic or run around. The research center will provide professional treatment…”
“Finally, all residents are requested to cooperate with home lockdown measures. The city administration has organized community workers and volunteers to distribute daily necessities…”
The news made Jiang Sui’s vision darken.
Lockdown meant she could no longer go out.
She could no longer stockpile supplies for the apocalypse.
And right now, she had nothing at all—only a villain with broken legs.
Then she suddenly thought of her crashed car… and all the supplies inside it.
Food, daily necessities, emergency items, medicine… and the desserts and bread she had just bought, warm clothing and underwear… and most importantly, the expensive composite bow she had splurged on.
All of it was gone.