Pupa

There were plenty of rooms in the farmhouse, even if the guest rooms were all taken.

With a quick arrangement, Wu Sheng was allowed to pick a few people to rotate night watch duty. Song Ning and the others moved all their firearms into one of the cold storage rooms inside the farmhouse.

Song Ning kept the key on her person at all times.

The third floor was where the guest rooms were located.

Tonight, Ping Chengcheng would be staying in the master guest room with Song Ning.

Night fell.

Ping Chengcheng stepped out onto the balcony of the master guest room. The view here was excellent—she could see the main gate of the farmhouse clearly.

Wu Sheng was at his post, standing attentively by the entrance. He wasn’t slacking off. After all, this was a matter of life and death for them too.

Ping Chengcheng gave a slight nod. If he proved dependable, he might be worth cultivating as a trusted aide.

A cold wind blew past.

Song Ning was still busy managing the other survivors inside. For now, Ping Chengcheng had a rare moment of peace.

She stared off into the sky in a daze.

The thick gray clouds pressed heavily overhead, making it hard to breathe. After living in this apocalypse for so long, it was inevitable that people would start developing severe psychological issues.

Once temperatures rose, the zombies would become even more violent and uncontrollable. Ping Chengcheng remembered hearing in her past life that this was because the virus adapted to high heat, which triggered further replication and genetic shifts—accelerating evolution.

Right now, the zombies were still manageable.

Their strength and speed were about the same as a regular human, and because of their decaying bodies, a strong blow to the head could easily take them down.

But give it another month, and everything would change.

The zombies would grow stronger—so much so that ordinary people wouldn’t be able to fight off even one of them alone.

Their bodies would become tougher. Their bones, harder.

And in the summer heat, the virus would spread more rapidly—attracting wave after wave of zombie hordes.

Ping Chengcheng’s gaze turned icy.

She remembered clearly—in about a month and a half, the zombies would enter a collective frenzy.

Countless hordes and Special Infected would swarm and devour one survivor base after another.

That outburst would become a nightmare for all remaining survivors.

No one had expected the zombies to evolve a second time.

And the saddest part was—while the zombies evolved… humanity remained stagnant.

Ping Chengcheng slid the balcony door shut and drew the curtains.

She sat obediently on the bed, waiting for Song Ning.

All the while, her mind was racing.

One and a half months.

That massive zombie frenzy—she had no idea how she’d survive it.

Even with her ability to modify genes.

Even if she was a suspected Mutant Variant 009.

So what?

At best, she could ensure her own survival through the disaster. In the face of a full-scale zombie horde, even a mutant had to avoid direct confrontation.

It was already too late to reach another base.

She might as well dig in here.

Tomorrow, she’d go inspect that so-called granary.

If it truly existed, their chances of survival would increase significantly.

“Click.”

The door to the master guest room opened.

The young woman entered with weariness in her steps, then sat beside the girl.

“Chengcheng.”

She naturally extended an arm around the girl’s slender waist, pulling her into a soft embrace.

But then, as if remembering something, she slowly withdrew her hand.

Ping Chengcheng blinked in confusion, feeling an odd emptiness in her chest.

Why did she stop?

“Chengcheng, how are you feeling today?”

Song Ning spoke before the girl could respond, her voice filled with tender concern.

Her gaze was warm enough to drown in.

Ping Chengcheng felt a wave of warmth swell in her chest.

She smiled sweetly, but pouted with feigned grievance.

“Mmm… my heart feels a little heavy…”

She looked troubled, staring at her own pale, delicate hands—like she was haunted by the memory of having killed someone.

Song Ning noticed her expression and movements, but she didn’t question it.

She trusted the girl deeply.

Her heart ached watching her.

Why?

Why did this have to happen?

Everything had been fine—so why did the apocalypse suddenly descend upon them?

She wrapped her arms back around the girl’s waist, pulling her gently into her embrace.

Softly, she stroked her back, over and over, like she was soothing a kitten.

“There, there… Chengcheng… Killing… isn’t wrong.”

In fact, in this world, getting used to killing—and accepting it quickly—was practically a talent.

“Besides, those people weren’t good anyway.”

“Oh—and Chengcheng,”

Her voice suddenly turned stern.

“If anyone threatens your safety, whether they’re good or bad… you must kill them.”

The girl nodded obediently, her eyes welling up with tears.

“I understand, sister… It’s just… I’m still really scared. Can you hold me a little tighter…?”

Song Ning pulled her closer.

“Alright. Let’s sleep now.”

Lying under the covers, Song Ning fell asleep quickly.

But Ping Chengcheng had no intention of sleeping.

In the darkness, a strange smile spread across her face.

‘Mhm… sister…’

‘Sister… I can’t hold back anymore… ‘

She slipped quietly out of Song Ning’s arms.

The older woman frowned slightly and ground her teeth with a soft creak.

It seemed like the stress lately was really getting to her.

Ping Chengcheng waited a moment—Song Ning didn’t wake up.

Her petite frame rose soundlessly from the bed.

Carefully, she adjusted her posture.

Her soft, pink knees pressed lightly into the mattress.

She gazed at Song Ning’s sleeping face, her ruby-red eyes sparkling with desire.

She reached out a small hand.

Delicate fingers gently brushed across the young woman’s lips.

Thanks to the abundant water supply lately, those once-chapped lips were now soft and irresistibly inviting.

‘So… so delicious looking… ‘

Slowly, Ping Chengcheng lowered her head.

Their lips inched closer.

She could already feel the warmth of Song Ning’s breath against her cheek—it tickled, making her heart itch with anticipation.

Her mind emptied of all thoughts but one.

‘ Kiss… just kiss her already…! ‘

Her heartbeat quickened.

A blush bloomed across her cheeks, her fair skin flushed a soft pink.

Her tentacles began to manifest once more—cheering, writhing in excitement.

Ping Chengcheng sighed internally and stopped trying to control them.

She closed her eyes.

And lightly kissed the young woman’s lips.

The tentacles split into countless thin tendrils, weaving tightly around them like a cocoon.

From the outside, the bed now seemed to hold a massive, brown chrysalis.

Inside, the space was surprisingly roomy.

Ping Chengcheng curiously looked around.

The structure was bizarre.

There were crater-like pits resembling the moon’s surface, tube-like appendages, and even root-shaped white filaments—like human nerves.

They were incredibly sensitive.

When she brushed against one, an electric jolt shot through her body, leaving her weak and trembling as she clutched the bed for balance.

The cocoon looked impenetrable from the outside, but fresh air flowed freely inside.

She didn’t feel stuffy at all.

‘So strange…’

Inside here, her fatigued body slowly began to recover—like how humans naturally rested while sleeping.

Ping Chengcheng wanted to explore further, but just then, Song Ning twitched slightly.

She reconsidered.

The tentacles receded like a receding tide.

The girl slid back under the covers and pretended to sleep.

Song Ning rubbed her eyes and glanced out the window.

It was still dark.

No wonder she felt so sleepy.

But… why did her lips taste sweet and slightly damp?