Ever since the S87 pandemic erupted like a silent, invisible tide, the luxury of a peaceful night's sleep had become a relic of the Old Era. For those still clinging to their health and humanity, rest was a fitful, guarded thing. Que Tang had stood watch for only a few hours, but by five in the morning, the rest of the group had stirred into wakefulness. Aside from those preparing to flee, the survivors who had chosen to stay behind watched them with eyes sharp with suspicion and defensive hostility.
Ouyang Aotian offered a weary, bitter smile. "It’s time. Let’s move."
"Wait! Mr. Ouyang, please... let us come with you." It was the mother whose child had been held hostage the day before. She clutched her son’s hand, her eyes wide with a desperate, pleading hope as she looked at Ouyang.
Que Lan’s pupils dilated slightly. *It’s happening again,* she thought, a cold cynicism settling in her chest. Just like in her previous life, Ouyang Aotian—ever the "Saintly Father"—could not find it in himself to refuse. He nodded his assent, and the five of them slipped out of the supermarket warehouse to begin their journey.
The trek was unnervingly smooth. They encountered no zombies, and by some stroke of miraculous luck, they discovered a Hummer idling by the roadside, its keys still dangling in the ignition.
"With luck like this, I’m certain we’ll make it to City B in one piece," Ouyang Aotian remarked as he climbed into the driver's seat and brought the engine to a roar. He glanced toward the passenger seat, offering Que Lan a reassuring smile.
Que Lan merely nodded, her expression a mask of polite agreement. Behind them, the mother and son sat in the second row, their movements stiff with anxiety as they meticulously rationed their meager supply of bread and water. Que Tang, exhausted from her night watch, was relegated to the third row to catch up on sleep.
As the vehicle hummed along the desolate highway, Que Tang retreated into her mind. *“Little Mushroom, how did this story actually end after the female supporting character died?”* This question had been gnawing at her all night. Now that she had a moment of relative peace, she sought answers.
*“After the Heroine killed the Female Supporting Character, she turned the blade on herself and committed suicide, Meow~”* Little Mushroom replied, fastidiously licking the crumbs of a dried fish snack from its paws. *“The Heroine killed her sister out of a distorted sense of morality, believing her sister was too pitiful to live as an infected. However, she couldn't bear the agony of her own handiwork. She followed her sister into death almost immediately.”*
Que Tang felt a chill that had nothing to do with the car’s air conditioning. *“…Did the author categorize this as a ‘Serious Drama’ or a ‘Tragedy’?”*
*“It’s listed as a Serious Drama, Meow~”*
*“I despise these ‘fake drama, real tragedy’ novels!”* Que Tang fumed internally, her heart aching for the original sisters. *“It’s a trap for readers. It makes you want to go on a hunger strike for three days out of pure frustration! And now, describing the sister’s rebirth for revenge... isn’t that just a double tragedy?”*
*“Actually, Meow~ this is a ‘Double Rebirth’ novel. Aside from the sister, the Heroine’s younger sister—the role you are playing—was also reborn in the original plot.”*
Que Tang went still. *“...”*
*“The Female Supporting Character returned for revenge, but the Heroine realized at the moment of her previous death that the fault lay with the world, not her sister. In this life, she was determined to protect her sister at all costs. The sisters were meant to move from mutual harm to reconciliation, eventually living a sweet, secluded life in the apocalypse. You know, the kind of life where one says, ‘Sister, don't do that, you're so annoying,’ while blushing. Meow~”*
*“Could you maybe explain the background and plot trajectory at the very beginning next time?”* Que Tang grumbled. *“And what kind of author has such twisted tastes? This sounds like a ‘Love-Hate’ sisterhood story; it has nothing to do with a standard romance.”*
*“It’s a Rebirth Sisterly Affection novel, Meow~”*
*“Are you sure it’s just ‘affection’?”*
*“Probably, Meow~”*
*“Are you certain?”*
*“Not really, Meow~”*
*“...”*
They stopped at a gas station along the way. Being a university town, the area had fewer cars than a major metropolis, and since it was the primary route to City B, there were few refugees. They were fortunate enough to fill the tank and even scavenge several plastic canisters of fuel to stow in the back.
The drive to City B was, as Ouyang Aotian had predicted, terrifyingly peaceful. Aside from the occasional abandoned vehicle or a distant, fleeing car, the world seemed empty.
After a day and night of relentless driving, with Ouyang and Que Lan taking turns at the wheel, they reached the outskirts of City B at dawn. Signs for the Refugee Base lined the road. Following the markers, they soon arrived at a massive sanctuary enclosed by towering concrete walls. A long queue of people and vehicles snaked toward the entrance, flanked by soldiers armed with assault rifles.
A soldier rapped on the window, signaling Ouyang to roll it down. "Are you seeking entry to the Protected Zone?"
"Yes, we came from the university town."
"Line up along that path," the soldier directed, pointing to a designated lane. "We’ll register your identities. Once inside, you’ll be issued five tents. You’ll stay in the outermost Quarantine Zone for three days. If you’re clear after that, you’ll be moved to the Safety Zone."
"Understood," Ouyang Aotian replied with a polite nod.
After hours of waiting, they finally entered the sanctuary just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long, orange shadows across the concrete. They parked in the designated lot and registered with officials clad in head-to-toe hazmat suits. They were issued three tents. By regulation, it should have been one per person, but the mother insisted on staying with her son, and Que Lan firmly stated she would share with her sister.
They found a patch of dirt in the Quarantine Zone and pitched the three tents close together. Ouyang Aotian volunteered to keep watch, allowing the others to rest.
Que Tang looked down at her clothes, which were still stained with dried blood from two days ago. She had endured the filth for as long as she could. Now that she had a modicum of privacy, she desperately wanted to change. She nudged Que Lan, who was already lying down.
"Sister... could you... step out for a moment? I want to change." She pointed at her soiled garments with a look of profound disgust.
However, the usually doting Que Lan did not oblige. Instead, she arched an eyebrow, a playful yet piercing glint in her eyes. "There isn't an inch of you I haven't seen. I used to bathe you when we were little. Why the sudden shyness?"
Que Tang bit her lip. She remembered that these sisters had been inseparable since childhood. If not for the apocalypse, their intimacy would be perfectly normal. If she resisted too much now, it would look suspicious. Steeling her nerves, she pulled a set of clean clothes from her Storage Ring. With a sharp intake of breath, she turned her back to Que Lan and began to undress.
Que Lan had originally intended only to tease her, but as her sister’s snow-white back was revealed in the dim light of the tent, her breath hitched. Her heart, usually cold and focused on vengeance, gave a sudden, violent throb.
*“Meow~ The Female Supporting Character’s Favorability has increased by 20. Current total: 40. Host’s ‘Beauty Trap’ is effective; please use it more often. You could even take the initiative to ‘push her down.’ If you do, the Host will immediately get a promotion, a raise, become a General Manager, an acting CEO, marry a rich beauty, and reach the pinnacle of life!”*
*“...Please leave quietly. I don't want to hear any of your tips right now,”* Que Tang lamented, feeling like she was on the verge of tears.
*“Meow~ The Female Supporting Character’s Insanity Value has increased by 10. Current total: 20.”*
*“I’ve sacrificed so much, why is the Insanity Value going up?!”*
*“Because the Host is intentionally using a ‘Beauty Trap’ to seduce her, Meow~”*
Que Tang managed to pull on her top, her face burning with shame. Just as she was hesitating over whether to change her trousers, she heard the tent’s zipper slide twice. The weight of the gaze behind her vanished.
*“...At least Sister hasn't gone completely off the deep end yet.”*
*“Meow~ What a pity.”*
*“...”*
Once changed, Que Tang bundled her old clothes and stepped out of the tent, tossing them aside. She walked over to her sister, who was engaged in a pleasant conversation with Ouyang Aotian, and tapped her on the shoulder.
When Que Lan turned and saw her sister’s face—still wearing that expression of absolute, guileless trust—she felt a flash of acute shame for her earlier physiological reaction. She forced her voice to remain steady. "What is it?"
"I... I prepared a set of clean clothes for you too, Sister. You should change; you'll feel better. There’s a basin of water inside. You can use a towel to clean up first." Que Tang added hesitantly, "The towel is new, too."
Que Lan’s face suddenly flushed a brilliant crimson. Without a word, she turned on her heel and bolted back into the tent as if she were fleeing for her life.
***
**GLOSSARY OF NEW TERMS**
| Chinese | English | Notes |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 丧病值 | Insanity Value / Psychopathy Value | A metric tracking a character's mental instability or "sick" tendencies. |
| 美人计 | Beauty Trap / Honey Trap | Using one's physical attractiveness to manipulate or distract someone. |
| 升职加薪、当上总经理、出任CEO、迎娶白富美，最后走上人生巅峰 | Get a promotion, a raise, become a GM, an acting CEO, marry a rich beauty, and reach the pinnacle of life | A famous Chinese internet meme/copypasta about the "ideal" successful life. |
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 17 | The Double Rebirth and the Tent’s Shadow | Novela.app | Novela.app
