Zhou Ziyu felt incredibly unlucky. Ever since this world inexplicably entered the apocalypse, she hadn't had a single day of safety.
First, she was kidnapped by a group of bodyguards and taken to the security room of a zoo. She survived by catering to the physiological needs of five or six bodyguards every day, receiving a meager amount of animal fat in return. These despicable bodyguards, fearing she might escape, gave her only a tiny bit of food each day, leaving her feeling drained by those who were nothing but a mass of desires.
However, the zoo wasn't just her group's territory. There were three or four other groups of equally vicious people fighting over the animals. One careless moment led to the release of a large group of hungry tigers, lions, and leopards.
The outcome was tragic. Four of the bodyguards were immediately killed, and Zhou Ziyu was targeted by a leopard. If it weren't for the two young men who bravely stepped in, she wouldn't have lasted a minute.
Speaking of which, the man who saved her was quite impressive. He was no more than twenty years old, with sharp eyes, agile movements, and a muscular build. His face, though not handsome, was refined, making him seem like a reliable man.
In the days since the apocalypse began, Zhou Ziyu had learned that all notions of dignity, aloofness, and goddess-like status were nonsense. Survival was the most important thing, and the best way to survive was to find a strong man to rely on. Especially someone like Gu Han, who was both handsome and skilled. If she was going to be taken advantage of anyway, why not by Lin Feng? At least he was better than Lin Zicong.
Unfortunately, no matter how she tried to hint that she wanted Gu Han to protect her, he paid no attention. Instead, he insisted on sending her back to the zoo... Wait, there are still lions and tigers there.
——
"Brother Gu Han, did you send Sister Zhou Ziyu back?" Liu Nianli waited for a moment and found that Gu Han had already returned. Checking his phone, he saw that less than a minute had passed.
"Yes, I sent her back." Gu Han nodded and continued walking quickly toward the museum. "Liu Nianli, we need to hurry back to the museum, or your mother will be very worried."
"But Brother Gu Han, isn't the zoo quite far from here? Why did you return so quickly?" Liu Nianli asked, puzzled.
"Oh, I turned a corner and ran into her agent, who took her back. Don't worry, Sister Zhou Ziyu will be safe."
"That's good... That's good..." Liu Nianli felt a bit disappointed. He had grown up watching Zhou Ziyu's films and had wanted to chat with her, spend more time with her, and see if she looked the same in person as she did on screen. It seemed the movies gave a more thorough understanding.
——
"Brother Gu Han, I'm really amazing, killing a leopard. Didn't that leopard hurt you at all?" Zhou Ziyu kept talking.
"Let me tell you the truth, there are three or four groups in the zoo, and one of them has a gun. We'd better not go back. How about we find a hotel to hide in? I'll take good care of you."
"Brother Gu Han, let's not go back. I really don't want to. How about we run away together? I was the third place winner in last year's AV awards, and I have thirty-two unique skills. I guarantee you'll have the time of your life..."
"Here should be fine. Liu Nianli shouldn't be able to see us anymore." Gu Han turned a corner, and they were out of Liu Nianli's sight.
"Can't see us?" Zhou Ziyu was initially surprised, then her face flushed. "You're so eager. The ground is full of rocks, it's uncomfortable. How about we go to that little shop ahead and make do..."
"No, I'm in a hurry..." Gu Han shook his head.
"Bad guy!!" Zhou Ziyu spat at Gu Han, then slowly pulled down her skirt, revealing a hint of purple lace. "I was scared half to death earlier. I'm a bit dry inside. Let me touch myself and get some moisture..."
Before she could finish, her pupils dilated to their maximum, and then her head, full of风情, fell off her neck. She couldn't understand why her foot was so close to her eyes when she died.
"This is just data..." Gu Han stood there for a few seconds. It was his first time killing someone, and he felt a bit uncomfortable. "You're just data... just data... I don't have time... I really don't have time..."
"System notification: Side mission one, completed."
——
Killing Zhou Ziyu to save time wasn't Gu Han's original idea. In the early years of the game, those who sought the fastest completion of tasks had already done this. However, few could do it as cleanly and decisively as Gu Han.
All the players entering this scenario were eighteen-year-old boys. Faced with the allure of a mature woman, none of them could resist. Moreover, the game did not prohibit any sexual activity. If you were willing, you could engage in it even in the scenario.
Most new players came with the intention of killing Zhou Ziyu but were seduced by her allure and spent one or two hours with her. It was also common for them to take her along to complete the mission at the museum, even if they had no hope of an S-rank. They might as well enjoy themselves.
In fact, the forums were full of guides like "I Battled Zhou Ziyu Thirty-Two Times."
This was the normal reaction of young men who liked women and sex, not the behavior of someone who would cut off someone's head with a single sword strike. That wasn't normal.
In a sense, Gu Han's personality was already half in the dark, and who knew what the other half would become.
Let's not dwell on the protagonist's personality issues and continue with the scenario. Because the leopard mission delayed him by two minutes, the originally set half-hour time limit was now tight. Gu Han walked quickly, trying to make up for the lost time, but Liu Nianli couldn't keep up.
"I can't walk anymore... Brother Gu Han... Liu Nianli can't walk anymore..." After about ten minutes, Liu Nianli finally couldn't continue and sat down, refusing to get up. Liu Nianli was a sedentary boy who didn't like exercise, and the road was filled with debris, requiring him to climb over various obstacles, which was very tiring.
"Can't walk anymore?" Gu Han quickly returned to Liu Nianli's side and saw his pouting face.
"Can't walk anymore... Can't walk anymore... Brother Gu Han, let's rest for a bit..."
"No... It's dangerous outside. We need to get back to the safe museum as soon as possible." Gu Han firmly refused.
"But Brother Gu Han, I really can't walk anymore. And on the way, we only saw one leopard, not the enemies you mentioned..." Liu Nianli countered.
"You'll see the enemies soon..." Gu Han sighed, squatted down, and turned his back to Liu Nianli. "Get on, I'll carry you."
"No..." Liu Nianli was tempted by the idea of not walking but still shook his head. "Brother Gu Han, you're tired too. How can Liu Nianli let you carry me?"
Gu Han: "I'm in a hurry, get on."
Liu Nianli: "......"
In the end, Liu Nianli obediently climbed onto Gu Han's back.
"Brother Gu Han, why did you come to save me?" Liu Nianli asked while being carried.
"Because your mother saved my life, so I came to bring you to her."
"Oh... Brother Gu Han, have you practiced sword techniques before? I saw you kill that leopard with one strike, it was so cool."
"Yes, I have..." Gu Han's voice was distant, as if lost in thought. "I've been practicing for ten years for this day."
"For this day?" Liu Nianli was curious. "Did you know the world would end?"
"Since my mother, father, and sister died, I knew..." Gu Han's tone changed. "How could I know the world would end? I practiced sword techniques to protect the people I want to protect, so I wouldn't have to watch my loved ones die helplessly again."
"I'm sorry... Brother Gu Han... I didn't mean to bring up these things..." Liu Nianli suddenly felt that the big brother carrying him must have carried a lot of heavy burdens, much heavier than his own weight.
——
"We're almost there, the museum is ahead." The system showed that twenty-nine minutes had passed. The provincial museum's entrance was now in front of Gu Han, the final destination of the beginner scenario.
"Brother Gu Han, will you protect Liu Nianli like this again in the future?" Seeing that they had reached their destination and he was about to leave Gu Han's strong arms, Liu Nianli felt a bit sad.