Chapter 211: The Phoenix Man Who Soared Before the Apocalypse – 16

“Alright then, I won’t pressure you. You don’t have to rush into saying anything either.”

Shen Xiuyan gently patted Su Mingyue’s head and smiled. “But we don’t have much time to take it slow. The Apocalypse is almost here. Once we pick up your parents, we’ll need to head over to my parents’ place. By then, everyone will naturally find out about you.”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Which might actually be a good thing. The gap in our social status won’t matter anymore, and everyone can get along more easily.”

“You’re right,” Su Mingyue said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Having calmed her emotions, she asked considerately, “Should I prepare some clothes that younger girls might like? From the way your sister talked, it sounds like she holds quite a grudge against you.”

Shen Xiuyan shook his head. “That’s probably not necessary. We’ve got everything in the space. I’ll just grab a couple of things as gifts for her when the time comes.”

Su Mingyue rolled her eyes at him. “Absolutely not. You really don’t understand girls at all. Typical clueless man!”

“How could something picked out with care be the same as something you just grab at random?”

“Besides, it’s my first time meeting her as her sister-in-law. I should at least bring something nice.”

“Nope, I’m going upstairs to the jewelry room to pick out a few good-looking pieces and wrap them up. Even if they won’t be worth anything in the future, at least they’re pretty. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Shen Xiuyan replied helplessly. Her mouth was like a machine gun.

Still, he tilted his head and thought about his sister’s personality. From what he remembered, she might be a bit prickly, but deep down, she had a soft heart.

“You two will get along just fine. Her personality fits that trendy phrase… what was it again…”

“Oh, right. ‘Sharp tongue, soft heart.’”

Su Mingyue gave him a playful slap and said coyly, “Who talks about their own sister like that?”

Shen Xiuyan quickly begged for mercy. “My bad, my bad. Weren’t you going to wrap up the jewelry? Go on, you might get busy later.”

“You’re right. I’m off then.” Su Mingyue shuffled away in her fluffy slippers, half running.

Left alone in the living room, Shen Xiuyan finally collapsed onto the sofa with a long sigh of relief.

Too hard. This is just way too hard.

He probably used every trick he’d ever learned to sweet-talk someone.

Lying really is tough. Who knew it was such a technical skill? He wasn’t cut out for it.

Shen Xiuyan sat back on the couch and gave a wry smile.

*

The next day, the sky was shrouded in a heavy mist. Thick, dark clouds loomed overhead, pressing down with an oppressive weight.

There was a palpable tension in the air, like the calm before a storm.

Birds chirped sporadically, and flocks of crows took to the sky. Even the family pets barked restlessly, as if sensing something ominous. But people didn’t pay it any mind.

No one realized this was Earth’s final warning.

The hardworking masses still got up early as usual, preparing for another day at work.

People bustled along the streets, rushing to catch the subway or bus during the morning rush hour, fighting for their daily survival.

Inside the subway cars, the crowd was packed tight, like sardines in a can, with barely room to stand.

At the next stop, no one got off. Instead, another wave of people surged in, clearly running late.

Breathing became noticeably harder in the overcrowded space.

“Ahhhhh—”

A piercing scream rang out from somewhere in one of the subway cars, drawing everyone’s attention.

Just one glance sent a chill down their spines. People immediately turned and tried to flee into the other cars.

But this was rush hour. With people packed in like cattle, where could they possibly run?

A nearby woman, too weak to resist the crush, was shoved forward and fell flat on her back—right in front of a man with a vacant stare and a gaping, bloodstained mouth.

Before she could react, the man lunged and bit down hard.

“Ahhh! Help! Help me!!!” the woman screamed, kicking wildly in panic. The scene was horrifying, blood splattering everywhere.

She didn’t have the strength to fight him off. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free. And the others, paralyzed by fear, didn’t dare go near.

The man bit her several more times before finally letting go.

Then he slowly lifted his dazed eyes and scanned the crowd, as if searching for his next target.

Seeing this, everyone panicked and pushed toward both ends of the car.

Cries of pain echoed as elderly people, children, and weaker women were shoved to the ground.

Chaos erupted in the subway car.

The dazed man had already picked his next victim. He moved forward mechanically and sank his teeth in again without hesitation.

Another scream tore through the air.

Everyone was scrambling for their lives. No one noticed that the woman who had just been bitten was now slowly standing up.

Her face now wore the same vacant, twisted expression.

She began staggering forward, her limbs bent at unnatural angles, joining the hunt.

By the time people realized that those bitten were turning into the same kind of monster, it was already too late to stop it.

The infection spread with terrifying speed.

The subway continued on its route. The remaining uninfected passengers pounded desperately on the windows and doors, but it was all in vain.

Despair was written on every face.

As the train slowly pulled into the station, those waiting on the platform immediately sensed something was off.

Wait a minute—what was that red smear on the window?

The sharpest among them turned and ran. Others, slower to react, still hesitated.

When the doors opened, the stench of blood flooded the platform…

One by one, blood-soaked, vacant-eyed figures stepped out. They moved with no coordination, no discipline—driven by a single instinct: to bite anyone they saw.

A scream pierced the air, snapping the stunned crowd back to their senses.

“Run—!”

“What are you staring at?! You wanna die?! Run! Run—!”

The crowded platform erupted into chaos. People surged in all directions, but there was nowhere to go. Like birds trapped in a cage.

And soon, they met the same fate.

——————————————————————

At that moment, every TV channel was broadcasting the same emergency news.

【Since this morning, an unknown virus has continued to spread. Infected individuals become mindless monsters with only one goal: to attack people. Citizens are urged to take precautions and stay indoors. Repeat—stay indoors!!!】

【If you are already outside, return home immediately. If returning home is not possible, seek shelter at the nearest safe location!!!】

【We will continue to provide updates on the situation.】

【Please remain calm. The government has dispatched personnel to patrol and clear affected areas. Once safety is confirmed, further instructions will be issued.】

At the same time, every major app was sending out nonstop emergency alerts.

The speed and intensity of the notifications ensured that no one could ignore them.

Shen Xiuyan and Su Mingyue sat on the sofa watching the news. The footage from the subway station had already been censored, but the horror was still unmistakable.

Although Su Mingyue had mentally prepared herself, she was only barely holding it together.

Now that it was really happening, it was impossible not to be afraid. She hugged herself tightly and leaned into Shen Xiuyan, seeking comfort.

Even though it was the height of summer, her body felt ice cold.

Shen Xiuyan grabbed a nearby blanket and wrapped it around her. Holding her close, he comforted her, “It’s alright. We’ll get through this. Let’s try to focus on the positives.”

“Right… we’ll get through this…” Su Mingyue echoed, repeating his words to calm herself.

— Translator’s Notes —

• Sharp tongue, soft heart: A direct translation of the Chinese idiom 刀子嘴，豆腐心 (dāozi zuǐ, dòufu xīn), describing someone who speaks harshly but is actually kind-hearted.

• like sardines in a can: A common metaphor in Chinese for extreme overcrowding, particularly in public transportation during rush hour.