When Tang Mengting finished eating what was in the bowl, her face still wore an unsatisfied look.
Looking at Liu Yang with eyes full of craving, she pleaded, "Liu... Liu Yang... is there any more? I can keep lying on the ground to eat like before! Just... just give me a little more food, please..."
As for her dignity, she had long thrown it to the back of her mind.
After crossing that line the first time, she no longer felt that lingering pride that prevented her from lowering herself.
So what if she had to crawl on the ground to eat?
What did it matter?
As long as there was food to fill her stomach, who cared how she had to eat it?
Having starved for an entire night, Tang Mengting finally understood that the status and wealth she possessed before the apocalypse were nothing but fleeting clouds.
Dignity was the least valuable thing of all.
Only food mattered, because only food could keep her alive!
However, his response dashed her hopes.
Liu Yang shook his head and said, "There's no more food. That bottle of milk was the last of it, so I plan to head out and search for supplies next. You can stay in this room and starve to death."
"No! I want to come with you! You have to protect me-I already did what you asked! I crawled on the ground like a dog begging for food just now. Isn't that enough?" Tang Mengting panicked instantly.
In this apocalyptic wasteland, once she lost Liu Yang's protection, her only options were to stay in this villa and starve to death, or get driven outside by hunger and get torn apart by zombies.
There was no third outcome.
Clinging tightly to Liu Yang's thigh was her only salvation.
"You begged like a dog, and I gave you food. I've already been more than generous," Liu Yang said, stroking his chin as his eyes swept up and down her body. "If you want to follow me and have my protection, it's not entirely out of the question..."
As the class beauty, Tang Mengting had exquisite features and a stunning figure-a rare beauty among thousands.
It was precisely because of this that she had been pursued by countless rich heirs.
Aside from her official boyfriend, Zhao Ming, she kept dozens of simps on the hook as backup options.
To say he had no desires toward her would be a lie.
Who in their class hadn't lusted after the class beauty?
Who didn't want to pin her down?
Noticing Liu Yang's gaze, Tang Mengting immediately recognized what it meant.
She was far too familiar with that greedy look.
As a top-tier beauty, she used to turn heads wherever she walked, and lecherous men always looked at her with those exact same greedy eyes.
"N-No way! You're just a security guard! What are you thinking?" Tang Mengting scrambled back a few steps, covering her chest with both hands.
Her boyfriend, Zhao Ming, was an insanely rich heir with a family net worth in the hundreds of millions. He used to drive a BMW to school and lived in a luxury villa just like this one.
Even so, she had never let Zhao Ming have his way easily. After dating for half a year, the furthest they had gone was holding hands.
Now, Liu Yang-a pathetic security guard despised by everyone at school-actually dared to want that from her?
How could Tang Mengting ever agree?
"Heh, right, 'no way,'" Liu Yang sneered. "You look down on me because I'm a security guard? Think I'm not worthy of you? Fine. Stay here and starve. When the zombies break in and eat you alive, let's see if they care about you being some rich young lady."
Hearing Liu Yang's words, sheer terror gripped Tang Mengting.
She remembered the scene of Zhao Ming turning into a zombie and wildly gnawing on a toilet bowl.
It was horrifying beyond belief.
Having her flesh ripped away bite by bite by zombies... wouldn't that be even more painful than death by a thousand cuts?
At the thought, a violent shudder ran down her spine.
"I... fine! I agree to your condition! But... just... just once!" Tang Mengting gritted her teeth, as though making the hardest decision of her life.
Leveraging her extraordinary looks, Tang Mengting had dated plenty of guys.
Every boyfriend had been wrapped around her finger, showering her with lavish gifts.
She had navigated her way among wealthy heirs with ease, never allowing any of them to take her virtue.
Yet today...
She had run into a security guard who didn't give a damn about her games or charm.
She had fallen completely into his trap.
Waves of humiliation washed over Tang Mengting, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Seeing her sob, Liu Yang showed no sympathy whatsoever, saying coldly, "That's not for you to decide! I make the rules around here!"
...
An hour later, a system prompt chimed in Liu Yang's mind.
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully spreading your branches and leaves!]
[Since the Host succeeded on the first attempt, you have received a Novice Reward Pack!]
[Rewards: 1. Future Deduction. 2. Virus Immunity. 3. All basic attributes +20! 4. Genetic Enhancement.]
"Damn, four rewards in one go?"
Liu Yang was overjoyed and immediately checked the detailed descriptions of his new gains.
[1. Future Deduction (Level 1): Allows you to simulate and deduce the future up to 1 hour ahead. Limited to 3 uses per day.]
[2. Virus Immunity (Level 1): Grants immunity to standard zombie viruses. You will not be infected even if bitten.]
[3. Attribute Boost: Increases all your basic stats by 20 points.]
[4. Genetic Enhancement: Systemically enhances your genetic traits, ensuring a 100% success rate on the first attempt whenever you spread your branches and leaves. Targets include, but are not limited to, ordinary human females.]
[Note: Continuing to spread your branches and leaves will unlock new abilities or upgrade existing ones. Every 10 zombies killed awards 1 attribute point, which can be distributed to increase personal stats.]
Reading through the details, Liu Yang was thrilled beyond measure.
Aren't these two active abilities way too overpowered?
Future Deduction allowed him to foresee upcoming events in advance and avoid danger entirely! With this skill, he could stay low-key and steadily grow stronger without taking unnecessary risks.
As for Zombie Virus Immunity, it guaranteed he wouldn't turn into an undead monster. Anyone else would transform after a single scratch or bite, but as long as he wasn't directly mauled to death, he was safe! In an apocalypse overrun by zombies, this was the ultimate survival passive!
However, Genetic Enhancement caught Liu Yang's attention the most. Succeeding on the first try every time was simple enough-it basically meant hitting the bullseye on every single shot.
But what did "including, but not limited to, ordinary human females" mean?
Did that imply non-human intelligent beings or special variants existed in this world?
"Whatever, no point overthinking it now."
Once the surge of excitement settled down, Liu Yang opened his status panel:
[Name: Liu Yang]
[Age: 18]
[Height: 185 cm]
[Weight: 80 kg]
[Strength: 70]
[Speed: 70]
[Stamina: 70]
[Spirit: 70]
[Abilities: 1. Future Deduction, 2. Virus Immunity]
...
"With the system boosting my basic stats by 20 points, all my stats have reached 70. Since the average adult male sits around 50, I'm already 40% stronger than a normal person! Excellent. I should easily be able to handle a 1v3 now! Ordinary zombies won't stand a chance against me either, as long as I don't get swarmed!"