Chapter 37 Fate & The Fourth Crack "Fortunately..."
Upon hearing Sheng Yunshen's question, Ling Shu turned over and raised the corners of her mouth.
"Oh right, I was planning to tell you last time, but I was interrupted as soon as I got started."
Sheng Yun Shen tried hard to suppress his racing heart: "Yes. I remember you said you wanted to talk about this in front of me."
Ling Shu became interested, sat up, and looked at the handsome man sleeping beside her.
His pale, thin face added to his sickly beauty.
She reached out her finger and gently touched his lips.
"Oh right, I think he probably wants to know about that too."
If he could hear me.
“I told you last time that Bai Yue caused chaos in the Sheng family. A mutated zombie broke into Xiao Ming Lou and went straight into his hospital room.”
Ling Shu lowered her eyes, a faint regret shimmering within them.
"The Sheng family noticed in time and tried their best to drive the zombie away. But it was too late; Sheng Yun Shen's arm was bitten."
In the darkness, Sheng Yunshen's heart leaped into his throat.
At this point, he had come to a clear realization that what followed was definitely not a good story.
"After discovering that Sheng Yun Shen had been bitten, the Sheng family was extremely distressed, but they did not give up on him. They continued to take good care of him, hoping that the terrible zombie virus would be merciful to him... Unfortunately, their wishes were in vain."
"On a stormy night, Sheng Yun Shen opened his eyes."
"He is no longer in a vegetative state and has miraculously regained his mobility. It's just a pity that he is no longer human."
Ling Shu's usually indifferent tone was unusually serious.
Sheng Yunshen felt a loud "boom".
The world seemed to darken at that moment.
really……
Just as I expected.
There is no such thing as "good fortune," and a person in a vegetative state cannot miraculously awaken. In the impending apocalypse, what awaits him is such a cruel and terrifying fate.
An S-class mutated zombie...
"Dog? Dog System? Are you listening?"
Ling Shu found her mind completely silent, with no response, and called out twice in surprise.
A few seconds later, she heard his voice.
"...Host, I'm here."
The system's voice sounded somewhat hoarse.
"So this is Sheng Yun Shen's fate."
Ling Shu raised an eyebrow, seemingly sensing the dejection in his tone.
She asked, "Do you think he's pitiful?"
"...Isn't that so?"
"Of course not."
Ling Shu sat up straight. "Do you know what an S-class zombie means? According to our terminology, a zombie of this level can also be called the King of Zombies, one in ten thousand!"
Sheng Yun sighed deeply.
Is there a difference between being a zombie and being the king of zombies?
"Of course there's a difference!"
Ling Shu answered decisively.
She reached out and grabbed Sheng Yun Shen's hand, looking him up and down.
His hands had distinct knuckles, slender fingers, and a slightly cool feel to them.
"Sheng Yun Shen, my cheap husband, is the only S-class zombie in this post-apocalyptic world, and also the only zombie who still retains human rationality and memories after becoming a zombie."
"On the night he awoke, thousands of zombies rushed toward the Sheng family manor, paying homage to their king. But he understood the situation in a very short time, and without hesitation, he jumped off the cliff and disappeared into the zombie horde, saving the people in the Sheng family manor."
"It's a pity that the Sheng family eventually suffered a complete disaster, and the Sheng family manor was completely abandoned, becoming the refuge for the protagonist group in the early stages of the book. The protagonist group was able to develop smoothly not only because of the unique geographical advantages of the Sheng family manor, but also because Sheng Yun Shen, as the zombie king, intentionally kept all zombies away."
"In the book, Sheng Yun Shen, as the zombie king, also clashed with the protagonist group several times. He never saw himself as a zombie, and still tried his best to control his zombies, using all his strength to fight for a way to survive for humanity."
"It's a pity that this book was abandoned; I don't know what the ending was."
Ling Shu gently squeezed Sheng Yun Shen's hand, her tone soft.
"But I believe that the true hope of humanity is hidden in Sheng Yun Shen."
Sheng Yun Shen did not answer.
He was captivated by the story's impact.
Ling Shu smiled and said, "You asked me before if I liked Sheng Yun Shen. I remember answering you yes. I like Sheng Yun Shen, no, to be precise, I admire him and worship him."
Having experienced the apocalypse, she knows the horror and ruthlessness of zombies, and thus understands how rare it is to have a "zombie king who maintains his sanity".
This not only represents the original author's preference, but also shows that Sheng Yun Shen himself has an exceptionally strong will.
Powerful enough to transcend life and death.
So powerful that she could worship him.
A few seconds later, Sheng Yunshen's hoarse voice rang in Ling Shu's mind.
"But he... is no longer human."
Ling Shu tilted her head dismissively: "Does it matter if someone is human or not? Are humans superior to zombies? In the apocalypse, there are plenty of beasts in human skin."
Sheng Yun Shen sighed silently.
Perhaps for Ling Shu, whether someone is human or not is unimportant.
But for him... it's very important.
At this moment, he realized that in this so-called "book," everyone in the Sheng family could potentially be saved, except for him.
If he accepts his fate, he will awaken as a zombie, forever separated from Ling Shu by a species barrier, with no possibility of ever getting close again.
If he doesn't accept his fate, he will forever remain in a vegetative state, unable to respond to Ling Shu.
Absolutely impossible.
Despite being the closest couple in the world, they were separated by the most unreachable distance.
"Dog? Dog system? Why are you silent again?"
Ling Shu's call snapped Sheng Yun Shen back to his senses.
As his thoughts raced, Sheng Yun Shen suppressed his emotions and tried to respond calmly, "I'm here."
Ling Shu asked astutely, "You seem to really dislike this story."
Even she could sense his dazed and absent-minded state at that moment.
Sheng Yun Shen remained silent for a few seconds.
"...Host, I am just a system, I have no human emotions. I don't understand what 'dislike' means."
Ling Shu raised an eyebrow: "Really?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "Of course. Host, it's almost midnight, perhaps you should get some rest."
Ling Shu looked at her phone; it was indeed getting late.
She felt that the dog system's reaction this time was strange.
No, I should say the dog system has always been a bit strange, and this time it's especially noticeable.
"Doggy, what's wrong with you?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "Host, go to sleep, goodnight."
Ling Shu closed her eyes and didn't press the matter further.
She looked at Sheng Yun Shen beside her, leaned closer to him, and gently touched his hair.
"Honey, don't let becoming a vegetable discourage you. After you're bitten by a mutated zombie, you'll be able to stand up again, become the most powerful zombie king in Beijing, lead an army of 100,000 zombies, and return as a king, biting to death all those who mocked you! How about that? Surprised? Unexpected?"
"When you become the zombie king, you must protect me and the Sheng family!"
Ling Shu's tone was light and cheerful, full of longing and encouragement.
This made Sheng Yunshen, who was already feeling down, inexplicably want to laugh again.
He understood that Ling Shu truly didn't care.
They didn't care whether "Sheng Yun Shen" was a human or a zombie.
He believed that when he truly awakened as the Zombie King, Ling Shu would accept him without any reservations.
It's just a pity...
He couldn't accept it.
He could not accept this identity, this ending.
After murmuring a lot of words of comfort and encouragement, Ling Shu finally got sleepy, leaned against Sheng Yun Shen, held his hand, and fell into a deep sleep.
In the dark night, only Sheng Yun Shen, with a gloomy mood, remained.
He stared blankly at the boundless darkness, sometimes wanting to laugh out loud, sometimes wanting to cry out loud.
Of course, that's just wishful thinking.
He was just in a vegetative state; he couldn't speak, move, or do anything.
As the clock struck twelve, his vision blurred, and he was back in the midst of a blizzard.
The Doomsday Clock stood before him, its hands moving forward another notch, as if silently reminding him that he was one step closer to that terrible future.
He stared at the clock face, uttering a question that sounded like a mix of laughter and tears.
"Aren't you quite pleased with yourself for arranging this fate for me?"
The wind and snow howled, creating a scene both noisy and silent; no one answered his question.
Without waiting for an answer or hesitating for a moment, he used all his strength to smash the Doomsday Clock in front of him, just as he had done countless times before.
Snowflakes fell softly, blurring his vision.
He seemed to hear a strange, dull thud coming from the bell, as if something was slowly disintegrating.
But before he could look again, the Doomsday Clock image had disappeared.
He was enveloped in boundless darkness once again.
After a long while, his somewhat intermittent voice could be heard in the darkness.
"Luckily...luckily I haven't said it yet."
-
The next morning, Ling Shu woke up from her sweet dream, stretched comfortably in the bright sunlight streaming into the room.
The first thing that came to her mind was a greeting.
"Good morning, host."
"Huh?"
Ling Shu put her hand down. "Doggy, you're checking in so promptly, don't you ever get a break?"
In the darkness, Sheng Yun Shen's heart was like ashes after a fire had burned out, without even the slightest ripple.
His tone was as calm as a real machine.
"Host, the system does not need rest."
Ling Shu muttered, "It wasn't like this before..."
Although she found it a bit strange, she wasn't the type to take everything too seriously and didn't press the matter further.
She slowly got up, sat on the bed, looked at the sunlight outside, and squinted comfortably: "The weather is really nice today."
Ling Shu had originally planned to prepare the fishpond in the next few days, but Sheng Yunqi and his group beat her to it, leaving her unsure of what to do next.
Perhaps this will be another leisurely day.
Sheng Yun Shen seemed to be able to guess what she was thinking and spoke up in time: "Host, would you be interested in attending the investment cocktail party?"
Ling Shu was taken aback: "Huh?"
"Haven't you always wanted to stockpile weapons and defense systems? There's an investment reception being held in Beijing today, and many related companies will be attending. This could be a good opportunity to hoard them."
"Related companies..."
Ling Shu repeated with interest.
She had never really thought about it that way.
The methods for stockpiling weapons, defensive structures, and food differ. China has strict regulations in this regard, making it very difficult to accumulate weapons suitable for use in the apocalypse through conventional channels. Ling Shu was indeed somewhat worried about this, unsure how to begin.
The suggestion from the dog system is a good idea.
"But I've never been involved in the investment field before. Going there would just be like an outsider watching the show, which wouldn't be of any use."
Ling Shu considered whether she should bring Sheng Zhujun along. After all, she needed someone knowledgeable to help make a good impression.
Sheng Yun Shen calmly replied, "Host, you have me."
"Huh? You know about this?"
Ling Shu was a little surprised.
She had always thought that the dog system only had a chat function, and that its main purpose was to provide companionship.
"Don't worry, host, I'll take care of everything."
As for other things, Sheng Yunshen might not dare to make any guarantees. But when it comes to investment... whether it's vision or strategy, he believes that few people in the entire capital can surpass him.
"All right."
Since the dog system had volunteered, Ling Shu didn't hesitate any longer. She quickly got up, changing her clothes as she asked, "What do I need to prepare for the investment?"
"The host only needs to tell Butler Wang that he wants to attend the investment reception. He will arrange everything else for you. All you need to do is attend."
Ling Shu then asked, "Since it was arranged by Butler Wang, then the investment must be made in the name of the Sheng family, right?"
Sheng Yun Shen denied it: "No, host, this time the investment will be made in your own name."
Ling Shu asked curiously, "Why? Is there a difference?"
Sheng Yun Shen remained silent for a second.
Of course there are differences.
He persuaded Ling Shu to attend the investment party not only to help her stockpile goods, but also to help her build up her strength.
He hoped that, regardless of whether the apocalypse came or not, Ling Shu would have enough resources to live peacefully here, without worrying about any mundane troubles, and could do whatever she wanted.
This is something that he, as her "husband," should have considered for her.
Even if one day... she will leave the Sheng family and go on to live her own life.
Therefore, the investment must be made in Ling Shu's name, and the Sheng family's money cannot be used.
That way, when Ling Shu really wants to leave the Sheng family... there won't be much need to make any severance arrangements.
He calmly explained, "Every move the Sheng family makes is watched by countless people. Any investment behavior will be over-interpreted and cause market turmoil. The host currently has a large amount of cash and Sheng family shares, so investing in your name will be much more convenient."
This reason convinced Ling Shu, and without much thought, she went to find Butler Wang as required by the dog system.
Upon hearing that Ling Shu wanted to attend the investment party, Butler Wang was more excited than anyone else and immediately set about making arrangements with boundless enthusiasm.
In less than half an hour, Ling Shu had already boarded the car heading to the investment reception.
On the way, Sheng Zhujun even called to check on her: "Shushu, I heard that you, this homebody, have finally decided to go out on your own?"
Ling Shu reflected on it and realized that she was indeed quite a "homebody." Since she transmigrated here, she had only gone out twice.
If you don't go out and explore more now, you'll never have the chance again.
She smiled and replied, "Want to come with me?"
Niu Majun sighed regretfully, "No, I have to have a meeting with those old men, I can't get away. No problem, I'll lend you 1 billion, you can spend it without worry!"
Ling Shu: "Um, calm down."
Even if the Sheng family is rich, they don't squander their wealth like this.
She was just going to see if she could buy some handy weapons and armor; she didn't intend to spend a fortune, no, a billion.
While chatting with Sheng Zhujun, the car slowly came to a stop. We had arrived at our destination.
Ling Shu hung up the phone and got out of the car quickly.
Ling Shu and he looked at each other across the distance, and she smiled and nodded in greeting.
A fleeting smile crossed Li Yin's originally serious face, like sunlight filtering through a gap in the clouds, radiating a moment of gentle brilliance.
Ling Shu was startled and subconsciously looked away.
"Tsk, how come I never noticed before? Li Yin is actually quite good-looking."
She's just as good as her cheap husband.
I just wonder which lucky lady will be able to enjoy this beauty.
After sighing, Ling Shu was about to turn and leave. Unexpectedly, Li Yin greeted the people next to him, then walked over to her through the crowd.
He was tall and had an outstanding presence, drawing everyone's attention.
Ling Shu was immediately drawn into the spotlight.
Discussing arose from the crowd.
"Isn't that Mrs. Sheng?"
"Mrs. Sheng is also attending the investment cocktail party? Does she know anything about these things?"
"How could a wealthy woman understand these things? She's probably just here to have fun."
"It's good to be rich; you can do whatever you want."
Ling Shu had never appeared in such a setting before, no wonder everyone looked down on her so much. Some people with ulterior motives, who were there specifically to scam investors, revealed thoughtful expressions and decided to try their luck with Ling Shu later.
Unsophisticated heiresses are the easiest to fool.
Li Yin also heard the murmurs of the crowd.
He stopped, his expression solemn, and glanced around. His deep black eyes carried an invisible, intangible pressure that instantly silenced the whispering crowd.
The surroundings became quiet.
Li Yin then withdrew his gaze and walked back towards Ling Shu, his tone apologetic: "I'm sorry, I just wanted to come over and say hello."
Ling Shu smiled nonchalantly: "Good morning, Li Yin."
A faint smile appeared on Li Yin's lips as he took the initiative to invite, "Would you like to join me? I know of a few good projects that the Sheng family would probably be interested in."
Sheng Yunshen listened silently, sighing inwardly.
Perhaps it was his keen senses as a fellow human that allowed him to sense Li Yin's affection for Ling Shu.
Perhaps it hasn't reached the point of love yet, but Ling Shu must be special in Li Yin's heart.
That's why Li Yin, who is usually aloof and reserved, would walk through the crowd just to say hello to Ling Shu, and even take the initiative to invite her to the investment party.
It's important to know that Li Yin's recommendations are absolutely guaranteed to be high-quality and profitable.
And he could only listen, without even having the right to offer any advice.
Ling Shu smiled and shook her head: "No, I'm just browsing around today, it doesn't represent the Sheng family."
Li Yin seemed a little regretful, but didn't insist: "Alright. I'll go take care of things now. Ling Shu, call me anytime if you need anything."
Ling Shu nodded goodbye to him, watched Li Yin turn around, and then returned to the crowd, where she was quickly surrounded by all sorts of people.
She then turned her gaze away and walked in another direction.
But after taking only a few steps, he was stopped by another person.
Ling Xinyao appeared out of nowhere, adorned with jewels and dressed in an exquisitely luxurious manner. To put it simply, the left half of her face seemed to say, "I'm super rich," while the right half seemed to say, "I'm super easy to fleece." Completely oblivious to this, she adopted a haughty and aloof demeanor, arms crossed, looking at Ling Shu with a forced smile.
"What are you doing here? This isn't a place for a country bumpkin like you."
Ling Shu ignored her and moved to the side, trying to avoid her.
Unexpectedly, Ling Xinyao stepped forward again, blocking her way, and warned in a low voice, "Ling Shu, get this straight, you're already married. Stay away from Li Yin!"
"Still thinking about Li Yin?" Ling Shu glanced at her, puzzled. "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough from the last few times?"
Ling Xinyao recalled those unpleasant memories and turned pale with anger: "What's it to you!"
"What business is it of yours what I do?"
Ling Shu didn't bother to say anything more. She quickly flashed past Ling Xinyao and walked forward.
Seeing that her provocations had no effect, Ling Xinyao stomped her foot angrily, ignored Ling Shu, and turned to look in the direction Li Yin had left.
She had recently put in a lot of effort to appease Ling's parents and secure this excellent opportunity to visit the investment event. Her goal was to get close to Li Yin and try her best to restore her image in his eyes.
Ling Xinyao firmly believes that in Beijing today, only Li Yin is worthy of her.
She was preoccupied with Li Yin's matter and didn't continue chasing Ling Shu.
Ling Shu finally got some peace and quiet.
With her hands behind her back, she strolled leisurely through the party venue, silently observing all sorts of people.
Sheng Yun Shen also snapped out of his thoughts about Li Yin and focused on introducing things to Ling Shu.
As he explained, Ling Shu's gaze swept across the corner of the venue, her eyes gradually gathering interest.
The dog system actually worked this time; she made the right choice coming here.
She thought for a moment and then walked toward her first target.
He was a middle-aged man with a stubble beard, wearing a wrinkled and ill-fitting suit. He sat alone in a corner eating dessert, glancing around uncomfortably every now and then. He didn't look like someone looking for investment at all; he seemed more like someone who came in to freeload.
This reminded Ling Shu of what she looked like when she first transmigrated, and she felt a strange sense of familiarity.
She also prepared a plate of desserts, walked over gracefully, sat down next to the man, and greeted him generously: "Hello, Mr. Guan from Yuansheng Nano."
The man flinched and stammered, "You're too kind. Just call me Guan Zheng. I don't deserve to be called General Manager Guan."
Ling Shu took a bite of the fruit tart on her plate and nodded. "It tastes good. But Guan Zheng, you didn't come here just to try these desserts, did you?"
She tilted her head, a sly smile gleaming in her eyes. "I have funds that can help you overcome this difficult time and make a comeback. Are you willing?"
Ling Shu tapped her fingers on the table: "On the contrary, this is the most valuable time to invest in you. After all, it's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow, isn't that right?"
The man kept his head down and did not react to those words.
Ling Shu added, "In the field of materials science, you are the real expert. Your research direction is correct and worth sticking to."
The man's body trembled, and he slowly raised his head.
Tears welled up in his eyes, as if he had met a kindred spirit.
"Miss, do you really approve of my research direction? But everyone just says I'm a delusional madman!"
Ling Shu's smile remained unchanged as she nodded gracefully: "Of course."
Her expression was flawless, and there was no indication that these words were taught to her by the dog system.
The man's lips moved, and he nodded vigorously: "Okay, since someone approves, I will persevere!"
Her eyes were filled with a smile. "Guan Zheng, do you have any nanomaterials that you've already made that I can try out?"
The man took the business card, carefully put it in his pocket, and pondered for a moment: "I made some nanowires using the latest technology. The strength is barely acceptable, and they are about a few thousand meters long. Miss Ling, if you need them, I can give them all to you."
Having gotten what she wanted, Ling Shu nodded happily: "Okay, this is exactly what I need."
Defense facilities, acquired!
The man received unexpected recognition and investment, and was as happy as a 200-pound child. He said he had to go prepare the materials, and didn't even care about the snack he was eating. He turned around and was about to leave.
Ling Shu stopped him and asked him to pack the snacks and take them with him.
People living in the apocalypse cannot stand wasting food.
Ling Shu was very satisfied with her first victory.
Her gaze continued to sweep across the venue, searching for her next target.
An annoying voice suddenly rang out behind me.
"The Sheng family gave you money, and this is how you squander it? That Guan guy's reputation is already ruined; everyone knows he's a swindler. Ling Shu, you're truly shameful."
Ling Xinyao is truly a persistent ghost.
Ling Shu turned to look at her, a smile playing on her lips.
"I'm just rich and have nothing better to do. I'll invest in whoever I like. Do you have money to invest? If not, don't bother joining the fun. You don't understand the world of the rich."
"you!"
These words successfully hit Ling Xinyao's sore spot, and she glared at Ling Shu, unable to refute them for a moment.
Before leaving, Ling's parents repeatedly told her that she should just come and take a look, and not to make any impulsive investments in areas she didn't understand.
No, no, she can't lose!
It's just a small investment, nothing serious. As long as she goes back and acts cute, her parents will understand.
Ling Xinyao rolled her eyes and slowly smiled: "Of course I have money to invest, and I'm not as stupid as you. That guy surnamed Guan is a liar. If I were to invest, I would definitely invest in Yuansheng Nanotechnology. After all, they're currently riding high, and I've heard that several wealthy families are in contact with them, interested in investing."
She was determined to go against Ling Shu.
Ling Shu voted for the swindler surnamed Guan, so she voted for Yuansheng Nanotechnology. Let's see who has the last laugh!
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