Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess-Chapter 52 - 20 days left

Qingran’s fingers hovered over the screen. Save list? The system hadn’t mentioned this function before.

She took a slow breath, eyes narrowing slightly. "This is new."

[Ding! It is. This function is only accessible to Host due to your unique circumstances. People added to the Save list will be marked for survival under your care.]

"So you’re saying if I add her, I have to ensure she survives?"

[Ding! Correct. However, there are no penalties for failing. This is simply a way for you to keep track of those you wish to protect.]

Qingran leaned back against the couch, her gaze fixed on the screen. Anya wasn’t just an old friend, she had been someone Qingran trusted in her past life. Back then, she never knew what happened to her during the apocalypse. If she had the chance to change that, should she?

Her thumb hovered over the confirmation button.

"Will she gain any benefits from being on the list?"

[Ding! She will receive subtle enhancements—slightly improved physical endurance, faster reaction speed, and a minor resistance to infection. But these effects are limited. Ultimately, survival still depends on her own efforts and Host’s guidance.]

Qingran exhaled through her nose. That was fair.

Without further hesitation, she pressed confirm.

[Ding! Kuroba Anya has been added to the Save list.]

A soft notification chime sounded, but Qingran had already returned to her chat with Anya.

[Then it’s settled. I’ll see you tomorrow.]

[Yep! Don’t disappear on me again, you hear me?] Anya replied came instantly.

Qingran’s lips quirked slightly.

[No promises.]

She locked her phone and tossed it onto the couch. It had been a long day, and tomorrow was going to be just as busy. First, she needed to meet with Anya. Then, she had to get her hands on the medicine supply. And after that...

She tilted her head, a faint smirk forming.

She had a game to win.

[Ding! A good foot doesn’t boost before kicking. It would be quite embarrassing to lose after all that talk]

Qingran chucked as she walked to the bedroom, when it came to basketball, she was real deal.

"If I win, I’m picking my reward myself.."

"...."

[Ding! Fair enough]

One more thing.

She tapped open her work chat and typed out a message to her boss.

[Boss, I won’t be coming in tomorrow. I’m still feeling the effects of the radiation exposure from the lab. Need some rest.]

She hit send before he could reply and tossed the phone onto the nightstand.

If he believed it, great. If not—well, it wasn’t like she was going to show up either way.

She climbed into bed, shifting onto her side as she pulled the blanket over her shoulders. The system had gone quiet now, but she could still feel its lingering presence.

A Save list, huh?

She had protected people before. Fought for them. Bled for them.

And in the end, they left her to die.

Now, she was being given a list—a way to mark those she wanted to protect. The idea unsettled her, twisting something deep in her chest. Did she really want to go through that again?

Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her blanket.

Anya was different.

At least, she had been.

She exhaled slowly, pushing the thoughts aside. There was no use in dwelling on them now.

Sleep came easily, but the dreams were less forgiving.

Familiar faces flickered through her mind, voices overlapping—some desperate, some cold. Hands reaching for her, pleading, only to turn away when it mattered most. She had fought for them, shielded them, and in the end, they let her fall.

Qingran’s eyes snapped open.

For a moment, she stared at the ceiling, her breathing steady but her chest tight. The past was gone. This was a new life, a different path. Whatever had happened before, she wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

She pushed back the blanket and sat up. The early morning light seeped through the curtains, casting faint shadows across the room.

Lingquan chose that moment to chime in.

[Ding! Host slept soundly. That’s good. You’ll need all your energy to win today.]

Qingran scoffed lightly as she stood, stretching out the stiffness in her limbs. "Not worried I’ll fail?"

[Ding! You talk too big to fail. I’m simply waiting for results.]

She shook her head and moved to the bathroom. After a quick wash, she threw on a fresh shirt and slacks, tying her hair back into a loose ponytail.

There was no need for anything fancy. It wasn’t like she was meeting her boss, who, judging by her phone, had indeed seen her message.

She glanced at the notification.

[6:12 AM] Boss: [Take two days off. And don’t die.]

She smiled, going to that lab might have been the best choice so far.

"Yosh! I’ll go Anya’s, then go over my medical supply plan with her. Then we’ll go to the court together. As to how to prepare her for the apocalypse, she doesn’t have a system, where would she store her hauls?"

Qingran thought for a moment, she still had 20 days left until the apocalypse, she would think of something.

A ding was heard and a black cat landed on the couch.

It’s blue eyes stared at Qingran for a quick second before turning around.

[20 days is not a lot of time left to prepare host. Don’t you think you’re slacking off too much.]

Qingran sighed "I’ll get it done, trust me"

[What ever you say...just don’t fuck yourself up..]

"...."

"Watch your tongue.." Qingran said lowly as Lingquan gave her a hiss.

[No cat food? Do you want me to starve to death host?]

"..."

"You’re an artificial entity, what do you need food for?"

".."

[Ive taken the body of a cat, I can breathe through it you know. Right now as long as I’m in this form, I’m alive and I demand to eat!]

Qingran sighed as she slinged her bag over her should, Lingquan following behind her.

"Alright, we’ll get you some food along the way.."