After Turning Into a Girl, I Kept My Girlfriend in the Apocalypse - Chapter 13

“So salty, mwah~”

He Ning licked her fingers appreciatively, savoring the taste of the classic salted rice ball she had made that day.

In the Apocalypse, salt was an invaluable resource, not a single grain could be wasted.

“Xiao Lu, want more?”

“No, thank you.”

Though her affection level remained a pitiful 15 points and her tone was still cold, she actually said thank you.

“Good girl, Xiao Lu is such a sensible baby~”

“You’ve seemed down these past few days. How about we do something fun?”

Something fun?

A flicker of panic, a hint of anticipation, and an overwhelming wave of disgust flashed across Bai Lu’s face.

Such genuine emotions couldn’t be hidden; she still needed proper guidance.

“Ta-da~”

He Ning clenched her fist and pulled out a bag of Bad Deeds potato chips in yellow packaging.

“Here, eat these. They’ll cheer you up~”

Crunch, crunch~

The two stared at each other as they munched on the chips, but no noticeable change in mood occurred.

Host, snacks like potato chips only work their magic after experiencing the despair of the Apocalypse. She doesn’t even know what’s happening—they won’t work!

We recommend informing Bai Lu about the outside world to instill panic, dependence, and gratitude, which will make her easier to discipline.

“That’s a good idea, but I already kidnapped her. Taking advantage of her vulnerability would be too ungentlemanly.”

……

Host, you’re currently a petty woman. Even saints wouldn’t bother with you. Stop pretending to be virtuous.

“Wow, System, you sure love pointing out my flaws, don’t you?”

Only women and petty men are difficult to deal with. He Ning used to say this often in his past life, never imagining the boomerang would hit him so hard.

But the Apocalypse was his Apocalypse, not Bai Lu’s. No matter what happened, he would protect her.

I won’t tell her about the outside world easily. I’ll save that for a grand reveal, to completely shatter her spirit.

HENTAI

“Xiao Lu, even potato chips can’t cheer you up? Or do you want a different kind of cheer?”

He Ning rummaged through a cardboard box, looking for a suitable weapon.

“Mr. Jiao’s contempt, the Sword Saint’s fall, Zhendan Era fossils, or a shoulder and neck massager? Take your pick.”

“No, please don’t…”

“Such a firm refusal! That hurts my feelings! Oh! I get it now! I’m just not romantic enough!”

He Ning feigned sudden realization and pulled out a pink candle.

“You want a romantic candlelight atmosphere, don’t you, my sweet Xiao Lu? I’m so sorry for being so dense!”

“No…”

A flicker of longing crossed Bai Lu’s face, quickly swallowed by overwhelming despair.

Scratch!

A match was struck.

Behind the quietly dancing orange flame was no longer the warmth of home, but a powder keg that could ignite a world war.

Bai Lu’s body convulsed as if seized by a sudden illness. Psychological trauma truly was terrifying.

Host, you could try using the incense. You might be defeated in just twenty minutes.

I’m not some small fry!

“No, no! Waa… Ningning, where did you get these chips? They’re so good! Can I have some more?”

Bai Lu forced a pained smile.

But this clumsy performance was far more pleasing than the polished act of a seasoned artist.

“Hmph? Xiao Lu’s such a glutton! You’re this obsessed with five-yuan convenience store chips?”

“Mhm! Mhm! Mhm!”

Bai Lu nodded vigorously.

“Since Xiao Lu wants them, I won’t be stingy. If you beg me properly, I’ll give you some.”

Although He Ning had never kept her promise of “beg me and I’ll let you go,” Bai Lu had no choice.

“Ningning, please let me have some more chips. Aren’t I your favorite pet? Please~”

“Wuhu, you’re really bold!”

Even though she was just playing along, He Ning still felt a secret thrill. If a lie is repeated ten thousand times and no one calls it out, it becomes the truth.

“Yoshi! Hehe, 50% off Wei Junjie!”

She opened another bag of potato chips.

“But… I want to play a game with you.”

A game?

Bai Lu, who had relaxed after putting away her tools, felt worry creep back into her eyes.

“I’ll eat this end, you eat that end. Whoever gets the last bite wins. But if our lips touch, I’ll give you a ‘reward’~”

Crunch, crunch~

The potato chip slowly shortened as Bai Lu stubbornly bit down on her end.

Unable to meet He Ning’s burning gaze, she squeezed her eyes shut and took small, hesitant bites.

Snap!

The chip broke with a crisp sound. Bai Lu opened her eyes to see a tiny fragment remaining on her side.

I… I won?

“Xiao Lu is so impressive! You got the last bite. But~”

He Ning stepped back, clasped her hands behind her back like a schoolteacher, and stared at Bai Lu with a mischievous grin.

“I never said getting the last bite meant you won. You’re the loser, you know~ Time to accept your punishment!”

???

She hadn’t actually specified how to win. It was a trap from the start.

You shameless liar!

He Ning reached into her chest and pulled out several small spheres from her System space.

“Ding-dong! Perfectly sweet Sugar Mandarins! You need your vitamins too, you know~ This is your sweet punishment!”

Huh?

Is that even allowed?

Before she could react, a Sugar Mandarin was already stuffed into her mouth.

“Eat up, eat up! No spitting out the peel, okay? It’s a precious thing, you know.”

In the resource-scarce End Times, even orange peels were considered treasures, just like how pirates of old would hoard oranges even more than gold and silver.

Bai Lu clamped her mouth shut, mechanically chewing, terrified of letting even a drop escape.

The sweet juice and slightly bitter peel swirled in her mouth like a delicate dancer and a stealthy assassin, their harmonious yet eerie sword dance creating a bizarre harmony.

“It’s… actually quite good.”

After eating three, she realized the taste wasn’t as bad as she’d feared—in fact, it was almost addictive.

“Mmm, Xiao Lu is such a good girl, eating them all up so nicely~ Slurp~ That citrusy aroma is divine~”

He Ning wiped away the juice that had dribbled down Bai Lu’s chin, praising her with intoxicated admiration.

“Thank you, Ningning… thank you…”

Bai Lu’s favorability +5

Escape Value -10

Current Favorability: 20. She sees you as a strict older sister.

Oh, Haki Tong, you’re so good at coming up with titles.

“Rest well. I still have things to do.”

He Ning turned to leave, while Bai Lu let out a soft sigh.

“What’s wrong? Do you want me to stay with you?”

Bai Lu instinctively nodded, then shook her head vigorously.

She was clearly caught between her physical and mental states, between desire and reason, wavering and uncertain.

She probably didn’t even know what she wanted herself.

“Being honest would make you even cuter. Though I’d love to play with you, I have urgent matters to attend to. But I’ll find another way to keep you company.”

Another way?

Bai Lu couldn’t help but feel both anticipation… and dread.

“Ahem, what was the extreme cold wave during the Proterozoic, when all the oceans froze, called again?”

“The Sinian Glaciation? No… please, I beg you!”

“Oh, this is so satisfying~”

Whenever He Ning recalled Bai Lu’s panicked, helpless, and utterly defenseless state, her bl00d surged with exhilaration.

But these petty skirmishes were far from enough. Only extreme despair could breed absolute obedience.

Right now, Bai Lu was nothing more than a hissing little wildcat.

He Ning needed to become stronger herself to protect this fragile, storm-tossed little nest.

“System, what’s the situation outside?”

Seventy percent of humanity has already been infected. In uninfected areas, production of protective suits is being accelerated.

“Does that mean there’s still a good chance of rescue outside the quarantine zone?”

Protective suits will be prioritized for military use, but due to the effects of the pharmaceutical agents, their effectiveness is minimal.

Furthermore, the Toxic Fog will spread globally within two days, and the total number of survivors is projected to be no more than thirty percent.

The people being prioritized for protection are those born with the Holy Body, the Haki Mist. Was this part of your calculations too?