Before returning home, Lin Ran sat in the car and called her parents, asking them to come back early so they could all have dinner together at home.
Lin Ba answered the phone and hesitated, “Ranran, you and Xiao Ze should eat first. The supermarket is particularly busy right now, and your mother and I can’t get away at the moment.”
Hearing her father’s familiar voice, Lin Ran nearly burst into tears.
After calming her emotions, she coaxed, “But I have something very important to tell you today. Could you come home early just this once?”
“Alright, alright. If our Ranran has something to tell us, we’ll definitely come home early. Mom will leave work early today too and give everyone an early weekend to spend time with family.”
Before Lin Ba could respond, Lin Ma’s affectionate voice came through the receiver. She never could refuse her daughter’s requests.
Hearing her mother’s voice, Lin Ran finally let her tears fall. Afraid of worrying her parents, she forced a cheerful tone, “Then come back soon, Mom. Xiao Ze and I will be waiting for you at home.”
“Okay, we’re heading back now.”
As soon as the call ended, Lin Ran’s tears flowed freely.
Lin Ze, sitting in the passenger seat, watched his crying sister but didn’t know how to comfort her.
He ultimately decided against saying anything. His sister had suffered too much alone in the apocalypse – he couldn’t imagine what those six years had been like for her. Perhaps crying would help her feel better.
Fortunately, Lin Ran quickly composed herself.
Tears were always a symbol of weakness, and she wouldn’t cry anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Ran transferred 500 yuan to Lin Ze, “Xiao Ze, use your new phone to order some delicious takeout. We’ll eat at home.”
“Got it!”
Lin Ze replied brightly, understanding the concept of channeling sorrow into appetite.
While Lin Ran drove, Lin Ze browsed food delivery platforms.
“Sis, should we get some crayfish?”
“Yes, order a large portion.”
“Sis, what about spicy hot pot?”
“Sure, add extra tripe.”
“Alright! How about barbecue?”
“Of course, load up on lamb skewers, chicken wings, and oysters.”
“Roger that.”
With practiced efficiency, Lin Ze completed the order.
By 6 PM, during rush hour, the siblings arrived home just as their delivery arrived.
Back home, both Lin Ran and Lin Ze collapsed onto the sofa.
It had been an exhausting, busy day.
Lin Ze glanced at his sister. They were so tired – how he wished he could soak in her Spirit Spring Water.
“Sis, can I go in for a bath?”
Lin Ran lifted her eyelids. It wasn’t impossible…
But couldn’t they eat first?
The smell was just too overwhelming – she was afraid it would ruin her appetite.
“Let’s bathe after eating,” Lin Ran said. “We can have Mom and Dad join us too. But if you’re thirsty, I can get you some Spirit Spring Water. It helps relieve fatigue.”
Lin Ze nodded vigorously, “Sis, you read my mind! I’m so thirsty right now, super thirsty. I really want some water right away.”
Lin Ran picked up a water glass and, with a thought, stream water appeared in the cup.
“Sis! This is telekinesis, right? The novels didn’t lie – Spatial ability is amazing! I wish I had superpowers too!”
Lin Ran smiled faintly: “When the apocalypse comes, you might gain one too. But it’s fine if you don’t—your older sister will protect you.”
“Alright.”
Lin Ze, being open-hearted, didn’t dwell on future uncertainties and downed the water in his glass in one gulp.
“By the way, sis, do you have any other superpowers?”
“Of course.”
Lin Ran extended her right ring finger, and a burst of purple lightening erupted from her fingertip.
_Crackle-crackle—_
“Ahhh! Is this the legendary lightning ability?”
Witnessing this, Lin Ze was so excited he nearly lost his composure.
“This is electricity? Sis, can you generate power?”
Lin Ran nodded: “Of course!”
When Lin Ba and Lin Ma opened the door and entered, they immediately sensed something strangely off about the house.
Why was there a burnt smell? What trouble had occurred?
“Xiao Ze, what happened to your hair?”
Lin Ma’s eyes landed on Lin Ze’s bizarrely styled afro, and she exclaimed in shock.
Her well-maintained face now resembled a mask of horror.
Lin Ze forced a smile: “Mom, the—the socket broke earlier, and I tried to fix it. I accidentally got electrocuted, and my hair ended up like this.”
In truth, it was his curiosity that led him to recklessly touch the lightning on Lin Ran’s finger.
He never expected the electricity to be so powerful—it nearly electrocuted him to death.
“What? Electrocuted?”
Lin Ba was terrified and hurried over to Lin Ran, who stood behind Lin Ze, asking concernedly: “Were you scared just now, Ranran? From now on, let your brother handle such dangerous situations. Don’t get involved—be careful not to be dragged into trouble by this foolish brother of yours.”
Lin Ma wholeheartedly agreed: “Exactly, Ranran, you must never join in Xiao Ze’s antics. He’s a boy with thick skin and can handle danger—let him take care of risky things.”
Lin Ze: “…”
I’ve been wronged!
You have no idea—when there’s no danger, my sister is actually the real source of peril.
Knowing the truth, Lin Ran felt a pang of sympathy for Lin Ze’s misfortune, but she had little energy to spare for him now.
Seeing her parents alive and well again had an immense impact on her. She reached out and hugged Lin Ba in front of her, then turned and threw herself into Lin Ma’s embrace.
“Mom, Dad, I’ve missed you so much.”
Lin Ba and Lin Ma were puzzled by their daughter’s sudden emotional outburst. Recalling her mention of a major event, they grew alarmed.
Whatever could make their daughter like this must be something serious.
“Ranran, no matter what happens, always tell Mom and Dad. We will always be your strongest support,” Lin Ba said, stroking Lin Ran’s head.
“Yes, tell Mom. Even if the sky falls, Mom and Dad will hold it up for you.”
Lin Ran vigorously wiped her eyes: “I know, Mom and Dad. Actually, it’s not that big of a deal—it’s just that the apocalypse is coming.”
“Hmm, the apocalypse is coming,” Lin Ba repeated.
“If the apocalypse comes, it comes. What’s the big deal?” Lin Ma instinctively comforted.
Suddenly, the couple processed the words, jerked their heads up, and exchanged a wide-eyed look.
“Ranran, did you just say the apocalypse?”
“Yes, the apocalypse. In three months, extreme heat will claim the lives of many with weaker constitutions, especially the elderly. Look—it’s only May now, and the weather is already this hot. By the end of July, outdoor temperatures will reach as high as 70 degrees.”
“The plants will wither and die, reservoirs will run dry, people will have no electricity to power their air conditioners, and everyone will struggle to survive in indoor temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees.”
“Then came the torrential rains and floods. Massive floods submerged countless buildings and claimed innumerable lives. Even our building here was flooded up to the tenth floor.”
“After the floods receded, a terrible plague followed…”
Seeing Lin Ran speak with increasing seriousness, Lin Ba turned to Lin Ze and asked, “Did you know your sister was like this?”