1: Chapter 1 Buried in Ice and Snow, Betrayal in the Apocalypse

"Nanxing, I know you love me, so you definitely won't make things difficult for me, right?"

Zhou Yixuan's voice was gentle and low, carrying a hint of helplessness, as if this sentence was merely coaxing a tantrum-throwing Child.

Ye Nanxing's fingertips trembled slightly, her lips pressed tightly together, an uncontrollable rage surging within her chest.

However, the words that came out were like shattered ice in deep winter, each syllable seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth.

"What did you just say?"

Zhou Yixuan raised his head, as if he hadn't heard the coldness in Ye Nanxing's tone, his gaze still carrying that same sincerity.

It was this hypocritical sincerity that had made Ye Nanxing unable to bear it time and time again.

Even now, she was unwilling to wake up.

"Nanxing, you are so smart and can find so many supplies, but Yuanyuan... she can't."

He said it as a matter of course, as if stating the most reasonable fact.

Ye Nanxing stared blankly at the person before her, the light in her eyes flickering slightly.

"So what?"

Zhao Yuanyuan gently grabbed her hand, her voice carrying a weeping tone, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Nanxing, we are best friends. Yixuan and I have nothing going on, don't misunderstand..."

Her fingers were ice-cold, like a slippery, venomous snake coiling around Ye Nanxing's wrist.

Ye Nanxing shuddered instantly, violently shaking off her hand, the coldness in her eyes deepening.

"You and Yixuan?"

Zhao Yuanyuan's face paled, her fingers gently tugging at the corner of her clothes, her eyes full of grievance.

"Nanxing, you can definitely find more supplies, so please don't fight us for them, I beg you..."

Her voice was soft, like a kind and innocent little girl, simply hoping her friend could fulfill her small wish.

Ye Nanxing felt her whole body trembling, her nails digging fiercely into her palms, trying hard to keep calm.

"What do you mean 'don't fight you for them'?"

Her voice trembled uncontrollably, and she asked back with mockery.

"This is my home, these are the supplies I stockpiled; why would I need to fight you for them?"

Zhao Yuanyuan bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice choking with sobs.

"Nanxing, we are all friends, please don't be so heartless, okay?"

Zhou Yixuan's face darkened, his eyes filled with deep disappointment.

"Ye Nanxing, Yuanyuan has begged you like this, and you still won't agree? You really are a selfish, cold-blooded woman."

Her chest tightened abruptly, her heart feeling as if it had been fiercely torn by something.

"You are not worthy of being my, Zhou Yixuan's, girlfriend."

Zhou Yixuan's voice was cold and ruthless, his tone even carrying a hint of disgust.

Ye Nanxing stared blankly at the man before her; that familiar face now seemed so strange.

The man who once claimed to love her and promised to protect her was now standing beside another woman, accusing her of being heartless.

Ye Nanxing's throat was so dry it hurt; she couldn't say a word for a long time, and she reached out to point at that so-called best friend of hers.

Just as she was about to speak, her vision blurred.

"Slap—"

A slap landed unexpectedly!

A burning pain instantly spread across her cheek, her ears rang, and Ye Nanxing stumbled back a step. She touched her face with trembling fingers, staring in disbelief at the person who had slapped her.

"Ye Nanxing, Yuanyuan is so kind, yet you actually wanted to hit her. How can you be so vicious?"

Zhao Yuanyuan huddled in Zhou Yixuan's arms, her shoulders trembling slightly, her lips pale, as if she had suffered a great grievance.

"Yixuan... I'm fine... Nanxing didn't mean it..."

She weakly grabbed Zhou Yixuan's arm, tears streaming down her cheeks, looking pitiful.

The rage in Ye Nanxing's chest exploded, her fingers clenched until they were white, her breathing rapid as if she were suffocating.

To think someone could be so shamelessly brazen to this extent!

She took a sharp breath and turned to grab a weapon, but just as she took a step, the world suddenly spun around her. Her entire body felt drained of all strength, her steps unsteady, and then she collapsed heavily, not even having the strength to lift her hand.

Zhao Yuanyuan walked over slowly, crouched down, and gently stroked Ye Nanxing's cheek, her fingertips carrying a trace of coldness.

"Nanxing, don't blame me, you're too agitated right now."

Ye Nanxing's pupils constricted sharply, her voice trembling as she said in disbelief.

"You... you actually drugged me?!"

Zhou Yixuan stood to the side, his gaze cold, as if looking at an insignificant piece of trash.

Zhao Yuanyuan sighed gently, appearing as if she were reluctant, yet also helpless.

"Nanxing, I'm sorry... we really have no other choice..."

Zhou Yixuan grabbed Ye Nanxing's arm and dragged her toward the door like a dead dog.

"Zhou Yixuan..."

Ye Nanxing said hoarsely.

"Are you really going to do this?"

"It's so cold outside, do you want me to die?!"

However, Zhou Yixuan didn't even spare her a glance, turning to close the door and enter the room.

"Bang—"

The door was instantly shut.

The wind howled furiously, and the blizzard instantly swallowed all warmth.

Freezing cold air poured into her mouth and nose, her lungs feeling as if they were frozen, every breath feeling like a sharp blade cutting through her chest.

Ye Nanxing lay at the doorway, her palms pressed tightly against the frost-covered iron door. In just a quarter of an hour, cracks had frozen onto the back of her hands, blood seeping out and quickly congealing into ice.

"Zhou Yixuan, you bastard!"

Ye Nanxing roared, her eyes bloodshot.

"You ungrateful piece of trash! By what right do you treat me like this!"

From inside the room came Zhao Yuanyuan's soft sigh, her voice carrying a hint of guilt and helplessness.

"Nanxing, don't be like this... The supplies at home are running low. You should take the initiative to go look for supplies, instead of making things difficult for everyone here."

When a person is speechless to a certain extent, they really will laugh.

Supplies running low?!

Who stockpiled these supplies? Who bought them bit by bit before the Apocalypse broke out?

What right do they have to stand there and accuse her?

Rage burned through her reason; Ye Nanxing bit her teeth together tightly, a scarlet hatred appearing in her eyes.

"Stop pretending!"

"Zhao Yuanyuan, you bitch!"

"This is my home, all the supplies were stockpiled by me. What right do you have to say that to me?!"

"Nanxing..."

Zhao Yuanyuan's voice carried a hint of grievance, as if she truly couldn't bear it,

"I beg you, don't make things difficult for us."

Zhou Yixuan coldly interrupted: "She doesn't deserve your apology."

"You are just too soft-hearted; a person as vicious as her is simply not worth your distress."

Zhao Yuanyuan blushed, lowered her head, and her body trembled slightly, as if touched by this sentence.

Immediately after, a rustling sound came from inside the room, followed by Zhao Yuanyuan's suppressed gasps, carrying a hint of delicate moans.

"Yixuan... don't do this..."

Ye Nanxing's mind went blank in an instant.

Outside the door, she was frozen stiff, her blood flow becoming extremely slow.

Inside the room, the fireplace burned, the firelight reflecting on the two of them, the atmosphere ambiguous.

Zhao Yuanyuan struggled slightly, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.

"But... Nanxing... she's still outside... will she hear..."

Zhou Yixuan lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"Hear?"

"Isn't it better this way?"

Zhao Yuanyuan gasped slightly, as if stimulated by these words, her body softening even more. She leaned into Zhou Yixuan's arms, her hands wrapping around his neck, gasps and murmurs intertwining.

Outside the door, Ye Nanxing's roaring and anger became the background music for their flirting.

The sounds in her ears pierced her brain over and over again, like raging fire burning her consciousness, driving her nearly insane.

Her blood boiled in her body, only to rapidly cool in the cold.

Is this the man she loved for so many years?

Is this the best friend she once considered a sister?

Absurd! Ridiculous!

She bit her own lip until it broke, blood flowing into her throat with a bone-chilling metallic tang.

The wind and snow mercilessly lashed against her face, her clothes had long been frozen through, her hands and feet had completely lost sensation, and only her heart was still beating violently, as if trying to break free from her chest.

She was unwilling!

She hated!

But it was all too late!

In the haze of her consciousness, she seemed to hear a mechanical voice.

"Executing Extinction Protocol."