She Rejected Him in the Real World—Now He's the Key to Surviving the Apocalypse

Su Qianran bit her lip.

"Yiwan, can you bring me the soup?"

Mr. Ethan didn't even glance in her direction. His gaze stayed locked on Lin Yiwan.

"Sure." Lin Yiwan hesitated, a bit disappointed that Ethan had truly turned Su Qianran away. She'd been expecting some drama—maybe even a desperate plea.

She placed the steaming pot of soup on the table in front of him. "Careful. It's hot."

Mr. Ethan nodded and began sipping slowly, the warmth seeping through his chilled bones. After a few sips, he looked up. Su Qianran was still standing there like a lost child in the snowstorm.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, voice calm but distant.

Su Qianran hesitated, then murmured, "Ethan… you lied to me."

He raised an eyebrow. "Lied about what?"

"You said… You didn't have much food left." Her voice was low, laced with hurt. "But I saw it. You have plenty."

"No one knows how long this blizzard will last," he said evenly. His eyes held no emotion, no flicker of the man who once chased her for two whole years. "One more mouth means our food disappears faster. Simple math."

Two weeks ago, she'd made their relationship crystal clear—there wasn't one. And from that moment on, Mr. Ethan had let go.

This wasn't just a simulation. Whether inside Apocalypse Online or in the real world, he no longer saw her as someone who mattered.

But he wouldn't retaliate. Not even now, when the version of her standing before him looked almost identical to the Su Qianran from the real world.

Su Qianran seemed to be struggling internally. Then, she took a shaky breath.

"No… this blizzard, it won't last. You have to trust me!"

"And if it doesn't end?" he countered.

She looked desperate. "Just trust me. It's going to end soon… besides, I can be useful to you."

His spoon paused midair. "Useful how?"

"I… I know a little medicine," she said hesitantly.

Mr. Ethan straightened up, his eyes narrowing. "Medicine? Where did you learn that? We didn't major in anything close to medical science."

Her face turned red. "Well… you know those post-apocalyptic novels? The ones where people awaken abilities when the world falls apart?"

He exchanged a knowing glance with Lin Yiwan.

"Go on," Ethan said.

"Well… I think I might be one of them. A chosen one, I mean. I've awakened a healing ability. I'm… kind of a healer now." She looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

Ethan didn't respond immediately, so she rushed to prove her words. "If you don't believe me, I can show you! Just make a small cut on your hand—I'll heal it right now!"

As she spoke, a soft glow bloomed from her palm—a warm, milky white orb of energy.

Seeing it, Ethan and Lin Yiwan instantly understood.

She was a player.

But something was off. Ethan had already reviewed the complete list of Huaxia's known players from Murong Xiner… and Su Qianran wasn't on it.

Which meant—she was a new player.

What kind of ridiculous plot twist is this? Ethan groaned inwardly. Even my ex, the one who ghosted me after I confessed, ended up in this game?

He sighed and looked over at Lin Yiwan. "Register her. Let her stay in the living room during this disaster phase."

"Yes, sir." Lin Yiwan nodded, then turned to Su Qianran with a faint smile. "Miss Su, come with me."

Su Qianran blinked. That was it? Just like that?

She was holding a glowing light in her palm, and they were treating it like it was normal?

Confused, she followed Lin Yiwan into the living room, still trying to wrap her head around their calm reaction.

Once there, Lin Yiwan pulled out a slim notebook and opened it, businesslike.

"Miss Su, what's the name and level of your ability?"

"Uh… wait." Su Qianran froze. "You mean… You guys are…"

"All three of us are players," Lin Yiwan said, smiling faintly. "And just a heads-up—once we leave this instance, you'll have to sign a nondisclosure agreement."

"N-Non-disclosure?" Su Qianran stammered.

Lin Yiwan's tone turned serious. "Mr. Ethan's identity is… special. You're not allowed to share anything about him with other players."

Su Qianran's brain nearly short-circuited.

Mr. Ethan's identity was special? So special she had to sign a contract to shut up about it?

Wasn't this the same guy who used to chase her like a stray dog?

"Anyway, Miss Su," Lin Yiwan said, ignoring the stunned look on her face, "please tell me your skill and its grade."

"…It's an S-rank ability," she muttered, cheeks still flushed. "It's called Miracle Touch. It's a healing-type, so I guess I'm a support class?"

Lin Yiwan jotted that down, nodded, and put the notebook away. "Anything else you want to ask?"

"Yeah… a few things," Su Qianran said quickly.

She started asking about the rules of Apocalypse Online, how skills worked, and what to expect from the game. Lin Yiwan answered her patiently, filling in the gaps.

To be honest, Su Qianran was extremely lucky. This first scenario she'd landed in was barely classified as a disaster-class event. It was so low-level that if enough players survived, it might even be downgraded to Plague-class.

Veteran players rarely died in Plague-class events. Most of them were seasoned enough to cruise through it, especially since Grandmaster Chang Yeqing had even predicted this one.

No excuses for dying here.

As the two chatted, Su Qianran eventually circled back to the person she was most curious about.

"Miss Lin… what's your ability? And what about Ethan?"

Lin Yiwan didn't hesitate. "Mine's S-rank—Air Manipulation. As for Mr. Ethan… I'm afraid I can't tell you."

Su Qianran's face dropped. "Why not?"

"I signed a binding contract," Lin Yiwan said simply. "If you want to know that badly… well, you'll have to hear it from Mr. Ethan himself."

Su Qianran stared blankly at her.

Ethan's identity was so secretive… she needed clearance just to ask about it?

Wasn't he just her pitiful ex?

When did he suddenly become so... untouchable?

Su Qianran realized, too late, that in a world governed by survival, power, and secrets… she was the one now on the outside looking in.