Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess-Chapter 64: Survival guide system—Lotus

And she had failed.

She shook off the thought. There was no point in dwelling on the past. This was a second chance—for both of them. She wasn’t the same person she had been in the last timeline, and neither was Tang Haoyu. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to be useful, then she would make sure he had the skills to back it up.

Lingquan yawned, flicking his tail lazily. [You should rest too. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.]

Qingran hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t lie down immediately. Instead, she opened her system interface, scrolling through her available missions and resources. She needed to reassess her priorities now that Tang Haoyu was here.

His system had told him to find her. Why?

Was it simply because she was strong? Or was there a deeper reason?

Her fingers tapped against the screen as she checked her remaining slots. She could still recruit a few more people before hitting her limit. She would have to choose wisely.

With a final glance at her screen, she dismissed the interface and lay back against the pillows.

The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across the room. Qingran stretched as she sat on the edge of her bed, rolling her shoulders. She had gotten a decent amount of sleep—not that she really needed much. The real problem was figuring out what to do with Tang Haoyu now that he was here.

She sighed, pushing herself up. No use thinking about it now.

A quick shower later, she threw on her work clothes—a fitted black turtleneck, a jacket, and comfortable pants. She secured her hair into a low ponytail, then grabbed a protein bar from the kitchen while setting out a proper breakfast on the table. Fried eggs, toast, and a pot of hot tea. It was simple but filling.

Just as she was slipping on her boots, Tang Haoyu appeared in the hallway, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

The too-small pajama shirt stretched across his shoulders, and the pants barely reached his ankles. He looked ridiculous.

"You’re up early," he mumbled, glancing at the food.

"Force of habit," she replied.

He blinked, then frowned. "Wait, aren’t we supposed to train today?"

Qingran smirked, adjusting her jacket. "I’m sure your system will draft something for you."

Tang Haoyu blinked again, clearly not expecting that answer. "...So you’re not going to train me?"

"I’m heading to work." She grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "I made breakfast. Eat while it’s hot. If you get hungry later, whip something up yourself."

Tang Haoyu hesitated. "What kind of work do you do?"

"Pharmaceuticals." She slipped on her shoes.

Tang Haoyu looked like he wanted to ask more but held back. "Will you be back early?"

"Probably not." She glanced at him. "Eat while it’s hot. If you get hungry later, figure it out yourself. And don’t burn my kitchen down."

"I can cook," he muttered.

"Mm." Qingran wasn’t convinced.

With that, she grabbed her keys and left, the door clicking shut behind her. Tang Haoyu stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty space where she’d been. Then he sighed and sat down, picking up a piece of toast.

So much for training.

Tang Haoyu chewed his toast, still groggy from sleep when a familiar chime echoed in his head. A translucent screen popped up in front of him.

[Survival Guide System—Lotus]

[Daily Tasks Generated]

Haoyu blinked blearily, scanning the list.

⸻

Task 1: Morning Workout (Strength + Stamina Training)

• 100 push-ups

• 100 sit-ups

• 3 km run

Rewards: +1 Strength, +1 Stamina, +200 Survival Points

⸻

Task 2: Weapon Familiarization (Self-Defense Basics)

• Practice knife handling for 30 minutes

• Basic combat drills

Rewards: +1 Dexterity, +100 Survival Points

⸻

Task 3: Meal Preparation (Self-Sufficiency Training)

• Cook a balanced meal using available ingredients

Rewards: +1 Survival Instinct, +50 Survival Points

⸻

Bonus Task: Expand Your Social Circle

• Have a meaningful conversation with Qingran (or attempt to)

Rewards: Increased favorability with Qingran (???)

⸻

Haoyu stared at the last task, his eye twitching slightly.

"...What the hell kind of reward is that?"

[Lotus: You’re hopeless at socializing. This is for your own good.]

Haoyu groaned, rubbing his face. "Lotus, do you have to be so blunt?"

[Lotus: I could lie to you instead, if that would make you feel better.]

He sighed. "No thanks."

His gaze drifted back to the workout task, and he winced. 100 push-ups? 100 sit-ups? 3 km? Was his system trying to kill him?

[Lotus: Your stamina is abysmal. I’m doing you a favor.]

Haoyu muttered something under his breath but pushed himself up from the chair. If he was going to survive this time, he couldn’t afford to slack off.

He’d start with the push-ups.

Tang Haoyu tugged at the pajama shirt, scowling. The fabric clung uncomfortably to his skin, just a little too snug across his shoulders. He already felt guilty wearing Qingran’s clothes—if he stretched them out or, worse, tore them, he’d never hear the end of it.

With a sigh, he stripped off the top and then the pants, leaving himself in only his boxers. He hesitated for a second, glancing down at himself. It wasn’t like he was out of shape, but compared to the peak condition he had been forced into during the last apocalypse, he was definitely weaker.

I have a long way to go...

Shaking the thought away, he stepped onto the balcony.

The morning air was crisp, a light breeze sweeping through the space.

Qingran’s apartment was on a higher floor, giving him a clear view of the city below. It was quiet at this hour, people just starting their day, completely unaware of the disaster looming over them.

Haoyu took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders before dropping down into position.

"Alright. Let’s do this."

He pressed his palms to the floor and began his push-ups.

At 10, he was already breathing loudly.

[You disappoint me, you can’t even make it to 50 but you start your heavy breathing]