Snowstorm Just Stopped
Just like that, Su Qianran had officially become part of the group's home.
Murong Xiner asked briefly about the skills Lin Yiwan and Su Qianran possessed, but after that, she didn't press further. It wasn't until that moment that Lin Yiwan realized why Murong Xiner hadn't seemed curious about Su Qianran at all—because the moment Su entered their home, Murong had already identified her as a player.
In Murong's eyes, she was one of their own. No wonder her attitude had been so indifferent.
And Su's arrival didn't change much. It just meant cooking a bit more food. Life inside their little apartment continued as it had before—quiet, orderly, and surprisingly peaceful.
But because of the awkward history between them, Ethan acted like Su Qianran didn't exist. Every day, with Murong Xiner's guidance, he trained relentlessly. It was as if nothing had changed.
Meanwhile, Su Qianran watched Ethan's daily training with a mix of confusion and awe. She couldn't understand how he kept pushing himself like that.
Outside, the world had spiraled into chaos.
It was now the twentieth day since Apocalypse Online began. The streets were lawless, overrun with fear and violence. But inside their little apartment? It still felt like spring. Warm. Safe. Almost... cozy.
Su Qianran found herself increasingly grateful for the decision she'd made. She'd picked the right side.
One morning, she watched Ethan train in silence for a long while before approaching Murong Xiner, hesitant but determined.
"Murong-jie," she said softly, "I want to train like Ethan. Could you… Teach me, too?"
Murong Xiner looked at her with a raised brow, her expression flat.
"Sorry," she replied coolly, "I don't have time to babysit someone else."
If they hadn't spent the last few days getting to know each other even slightly, her response might've been one word: "Leave."
The only reason she was personally training Ethan was that the next event was an Annihilation-class scenario.
The deadliest kind.
If Ethan could grow even a little stronger, their chances of clearing it would increase by a fraction. Every percentage mattered.
But Su Qianran? She didn't seem like the type to survive what was coming.
Murong had no interest in wasting her time.
Su Qianran shrank back but didn't protest. After a few days of coexisting with the group, she'd figured out that Lin Yiwan showed extreme respect toward Murong Xiner.
It was obvious now—this woman wasn't just powerful. She was someone important.
And yet, this person was investing all her attention in Ethan.
For the first time, Su Qianran felt something strange stir in her chest. Curiosity.
The man she'd rejected… was now being trained by someone this powerful?
She couldn't help but start paying more attention to him.
It was ironic.
For three years, Ethan had been nothing more than an annoyance to her. Now? All it took was a single apocalypse, and suddenly—he was worth noticing.
And Ethan truly had become stronger.
As the second month neared, the tension inside their apartment started to shift. The air felt heavier.
Everyone noticed it.
Well—everyone except Su Qianran, who was still somewhat in the dark.
She only noticed the others becoming quieter. Less talkative. More focused.
Outside, the world had officially become a nightmare. Crimes were rampant. Looting. Murder. Panic. Several people even tried to break into their apartment.
But every time, Lin Yiwan dealt with them with chilling efficiency.
She didn't hesitate. She'd simply walk out, clean up the bodies, and return with a broom to sweep away the mess.
Su Qianran was stunned the first time she saw it happen.
They killed people just like that?
When she voiced her shock, Lin Yiwan calmly explained the mechanics of Apocalypse Online—how NPCs could be killed freely without penalty.
"So… all of you thought I was an NPC too?" Su Qianran asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Lin Yiwan smiled and nodded. "Of course. We had no idea who you were. But now that we know you're a player—and an S-rank healer at that—we're more than happy to keep you with us."
She leaned in slightly. "Our agency is always looking for support-class players. When we exit the instance, you really should consider joining us officially."
Su Qianran nodded. At this point, she figured joining the government-backed faction was probably her safest bet.
Days continued to slip by. The chaos outside was now beyond words—anything more graphic would be censored outright.
And then, the thirtieth night arrived.
In ten hours, Ethan would be able to activate the Eyes of the Doomed.
They had all been preparing for this moment. Murong Xiner canceled his training for the day to ensure he could rest and conserve his energy.
"Divination-type skills require intense mental stamina," she explained. "The stronger the prophecy, the more it drains."
While the skill didn't sap Ethan's physical energy, it ripped through his mind like a hurricane.
When he entered the death replay, he experienced everything his future self did—including every brutal, painful death. Every. Single. Time.
He had to live through it all.
Every time he returned from that space, it took him a while to recover. The pain, the fear—it lingered.
There were times he wanted to give up. To shut his eyes and never open them again.
But when he thought about his parents, his friends… all the people who would be devastated if he died in real life…
He gritted his teeth. And he kept going.
That night, the heaviness in the room was palpable.
Even Su Qianran, clueless as she was, felt the atmosphere shift. No one spoke during dinner. Ethan's expression was grim.
"What time?" Murong Xiner asked quietly.
"8:10 a.m.," Ethan said after checking the countdown timer in his system.
"I'll be there," she said. "I'll make sure no one interrupts you."
He nodded. Finished his meal. Then went to bed early.
That night passed without incident.
Because he'd gone to bed too early, Ethan woke before dawn—around four in the morning. He felt restless, his energy itching beneath his skin.
He got up, threw on a coat, and stepped into the living room.
Su Qianran was asleep on the couch, curled under a blanket.
He moved quietly to the window, gazing out at the never-ending snowfall. Thick flakes blanketed the world in white.
But something felt… off.
A creeping unease settled in his chest.
Not the kind that came from sleeplessness.
It felt like a warning. Like something was coming.
"Ethan?"
The soft voice behind him startled him.
"Sorry," he said, turning to see Su Qianran standing there, rubbing her eyes. "Did I wake you?"
She shook her head. "It's fine."
She joined him at the window, tugging her coat tighter around herself.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
A beautiful woman by his side…
The snow falling outside…
It was a scene Ethan had once dreamed about countless times.
But now that it had come true?
He felt nothing.
"Ethan… are you still mad at me?" Su Qianran asked quietly.
He turned his head. "No. It's all in the past."
His mind was focused on the next Annihilation-class scenario. That was all that mattered now.
She tilted her head, looking at him from the side.
She didn't know why… but there was something different about him now. A depth in his gaze. A confidence he never had before.
He wasn't the same boy who'd once chased her relentlessly.
This Ethan… was magnetic.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, cheeks flushed.
Silence returned.
Until—
"The snow…" Su Qianran whispered. "It stopped."
Ethan blinked. He stared out the window again.
She was right.
For the first time in a month, not a single snowflake was falling.
The blizzard had ended.
"What the hell?" he muttered.
And then—
DING!
A system alert echoed in every player's mind:
[Congratulations to Holy Nation Player Qian Boyu for completing the Global Apocalypse Scenario: Frozen Earth. The event will now end early. Final Rating: Excellent.]
[Congratulations to Holy Nation Player Qian Boyu…]
[Congratulations…]
The announcements continued to ring out.
And Ethan's heart sank as the realization hit him.
The scenario had ended.
And someone else had cleared it first.