As expected, the Thunder Strike Squad secured the machine tools and industrial materials from the warehouse they desired. Setting off in the afternoon, they returned safely to the ancient city of Nanling by nightfall.
The search team disembarked at the city gate square, turning in half of the materials they gathered, and quickly disappeared into the dim night. The convoy made its way back to the Thunder Strike Squad's base, with Han Yanyan following Ding Yao out of the vehicle. At the elevator in the lobby, she hesitated for a moment.
Ding Yao's residence was on the top floor, while her room was on the third floor.
Ding Yao lit a cigarette, and when he lifted his head, he caught sight of the hesitation in Han Yanyan's eyes reflected in the elevator's mirrored door. Holding the cigarette between his fingers, he turned to her and said, "Move into my room."
Han Yanyan nodded.
From then on, she officially held the status of "the boss's woman."
Ding Yao's suite was like a glimpse into the world before the apocalypse. The bed linens and towels were new and clean, the cabinets were stocked with food, and the shower had a full set of high-end bathing products.
Ding Yao returned the items Han Yanyan found during the search outside. His curiosity piqued, he wanted to know what she had discovered out there that filled two large bags—at the cost of a man's life.
Even though Ding Yao had grown accustomed to storms in this post-apocalyptic world, and had experienced countless brushes with life and death, when he saw the bags packed to the brim with sanitary pads, underwear, bras, and skincare products, he couldn't help but twitch his eye a little.
That man's death was truly unfortunate.
Han Yanyan returned the backpack to Qi Tongtong, who, upon hearing that she had moved to the top floor, couldn't hide her jealousy and envy.
"You have to save me from this miserable existence," she said, her hands on Han Yanyan's shoulders, her eyes full of hope. "I'm counting on you!"
"I'll do my best," Han Yanyan replied, feeling the immense pressure. "I can't make any promises."
Han Yanyan began to carefully employ her charms and skills as a woman on Ding Yao. To outsiders, it appeared as if Ding Yao was utterly infatuated with her, providing her with the best in life as if she lived in the world before the end.
After moving Han Yanyan into his suite, Ding Yao had not sought out another woman for two months. Zhang Youquan finally brought Qi Tongtong into his own room, escaping the third-floor desolation, bringing tears of gratitude to her eyes.
"He really is infatuated with you. Do you have any tricks? Care to share?" she whispered to Han Yanyan.
Han Yanyan smiled without answering.
Her secret was the youthful and attractive body the electronic voice had prepared for her. Ding Yao was likely captivated by just that.
In this post-apocalyptic world, while communication had not regressed to shouting across distances, entertainment had certainly regressed to relying on physical closeness. The Old City District often faced power or water rationing. For many, the greatest nighttime entertainment was sharing a bed, especially as the weather grew colder each day.
Ding Yao appeared to be in his early thirties, though Han Yanyan wasn't sure of his exact age. Perhaps due to being an ability user, his energy and stamina were truly formidable. For him, intimacy was as routine as eating and drinking.
Every time he returned from outside, his demands intensified.
Han Yanyan, nourished by these interactions, had rosy cheeks and bright eyes, and a certain laziness emanated from her bones.
She had been forced into this mission with her life dangling by a thread, so when she first arrived, she was eager to establish her role and make plans for herself. However, she eventually realized that the time in this strange world might not sync with her own. This simple and brutal world was aptly named "Quick Transmigration World," reminiscent of the quick-transmigration stories she had read, where many protagonists continued living in their task worlds even after completing their missions, until they peacefully aged and passed away, before returning to their original world.
Realizing the high possibility that this world followed similar rules, her initial sense of urgency dissipated.
Her current life of comfort was far easier than the time she spent writing stories to make a living. Yet she still hadn't found a breakthrough with Ding Yao. While he seemed to be infatuated with her beauty and body, he didn't show signs of falling in love.
Han Yanyan lazily pondered if she could just keep going like this. Perhaps over time, Ding Yao and she would grow to be like an old couple.
This lazy and unrealistic thinking was shattered during a snowy winter.
The already difficult winter brought several new women to the third floor. In a world where many survived by selling themselves, those able to get into the Thunder base were all beauties. One particularly striking woman arrived, her looks surpassing even Han Yanyan and Qi Tongtong.
On a snowy day when everyone stayed indoors to avoid the cold, Ding Yao slept with that woman.
It was like a cold splash of water, waking up the pampered and lazy Han Yanyan.
She realized that this new woman's presence was a threat to her status and even survival. Upon learning the situation, the new woman immediately set her sights on Ding Yao, aiming to become "the boss's woman," much like Qi Tongtong before her. Her methods were clearly more advanced than Qi Tongtong's, and after Ding Yao had been with her, none of the Thunder Squad's men dared to touch her, each watching and waiting. This competition among women became the team's winter entertainment, and as Qi Tongtong told her, the men even placed bets on who would ultimately win.
Some men secretly hinted to her that if she were "forced" to leave Ding Yao's suite, they would be willing to take her in, so she wouldn't have to end up on the third floor.
Han Yanyan's face burned with shame. After much thought, she realized that relying solely on a young, tender body wasn't enough to secure a man like Ding Yao. Hoping the other would discover the brilliance of her soul through physical intimacy was clearly too risky a strategy. Reluctantly, Han Yanyan had to swallow her pride and pick up the "strong girl" persona she had discarded.
When Ding Yao returned to his room that day, he found Han Yanyan silently packing her bags, as if preparing to leave.
"What are you doing?" he raised an eyebrow.
Han Yanyan responded "calmly," "Making way."
Ding Yao asked, "Making way for what?"
She looked down. "Aren't you tired of me and thinking of replacing me?"
Men have a certain weakness; seeing women, especially beautiful ones, fight for their attention is something that always pleases them. Even a man like Ding Yao was not exempt from this.
He smirked lazily, "What nonsense."
Han Yanyan opened her wardrobe, packing clothes for convenience, leaving untouched those pretty but impractical ones.
"I'm not arguing with you." She deliberately avoided Ding Yao's gaze, saying calmly, "It's going to happen sooner or later. Oh, and could you give me a gun too..."
Before Han Yanyan could finish her sentence, Ding Yao scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed, pinning her beneath him.
"What do you need a gun for?" he asked.
"For protection," Han Yanyan replied. "My ice cone attacks are too weak. Having a gun would increase my safety."
Ding Yao frowned, "Where do you plan to go?"
"Naturally, away from your domain..." Han Yanyan paused, her eyes widening. "You don't think I plan to go to the third floor, do you?"
Ding Yao raised an eyebrow, "Even if you went to the third floor, no one would touch you."
Han Yanyan tugged at her lips, "You're too confident. Over the past few days... about six people have told me that if you don't want me anymore, they would take over."
A cold gleam flashed in Ding Yao's eyes. No man likes knowing other men covet his woman.
"Who caught your eye?" he asked.
"No one," Han Yanyan stated. "I plan to leave."
Ding Yao raised an eyebrow, "Where do you plan to go?"
"Isn't there housing for new survivors over at the Management Committee?" Han Yanyan said calmly.
Ding Yao asked, "And what do you plan to live on?"
For months, Han Yanyan had lived a privileged life, supported by Ding Yao. This comfortable lifestyle made her lazy. Though she hadn't pushed herself to the point of collapsing through intense ability training to break through limits, she hadn't tried other means. While she did train, her progress was mediocre. Currently, she could form a few ice cones, but their attack power was nothing compared to Old Zhang's ice abilities.
When she first formed an ice ball, Zhang Youquan easily shattered it with a pen-sized ice cone, and the aftermath even injured her palm.
It was said that Zhang Youquan once pierced through twelve zombies' heads with a single ice arrow, making him quite formidable among ice ability users.
Ding Yao surrounded himself with many powerful companions, leaving Han Yanyan's fragile, small abilities overshadowed and unremarkable.
Han Yanyan grew angry, gritting her teeth, "I'll join the search team. I can fend for myself. Killing zombies—what's the big deal? Don't forget, I've killed someone before!"
Ding Yao's gaze shifted slightly.
"Where's the ruthlessness you showed when you killed someone? How did it vanish?" He held her chin, a cold light in his eyes. "How did you become just like everyone else?"
It was as if a light flashed through Han Yanyan's mind.
She tried to push Ding Yao away, but he pinned her wrists, tearing at her clothes. She fixed her gaze on him, forming four ice cones above her head, aiming them at Ding Yao. However, they moved slowly and lacked power, melting instantly in the purple electric light, disappearing in a white puff of smoke.
Han Yanyan bit her lip, refusing to cry or make a fuss. She kicked and bit him, but it was all in vain.
"You see..." Ding Yao kneaded her body, "You're this weak; wherever you go, it will be the same."
"I'll become stronger!" Han Yanyan gritted her teeth.
Ding Yao's eyes darkened, "Then become strong and show me."
He pinched her chin, biting her reddened lips...
Han Yanyan awoke in the middle of the night, her body slightly more comfortable after the soreness eased. She attempted to roll over, only to find the man's arm draped around her waist. The moment she moved, Ding Yao awoke.
This man's vigilance was always high.
In the damp cold of the city, Han Yanyan, being from the north, struggled to adapt to the kind of winter lived without heating. Ding Yao's body radiated warmth like a stove. Han Yanyan edged closer, snugging up to him. Ding Yao closed his eyes, pulling her tighter to continue sleeping.
But Han Yanyan remained wide awake.
She had a clear realization of her mistake. A man like Ding Yao wasn't attracted to canary-type women. He might have been infatuated with her body for a while, but he would quickly grow bored and seek freshness elsewhere. If not for the electronic voice's enhancement of her body, making it extremely alluring to men, she might have already been replaced by the new woman from the third floor.
Han Yanyan exhaled softly, aware that she had no other choice but to become stronger.
That was what Ding Yao truly admired.
A few days later, Ding Yao returned to the room and found Han Yanyan missing. His keen instincts immediately sensed something amiss.
Upon opening the bathroom door, he saw ice shards scattered everywhere, with the bathtub filled with unsolidified ice cones.
Han Yanyan lay on the floor, passed out from exhaustion after depleting her abilities.