TFRLTOP Chapter 75 Part 2

“The last base that broke discipline like this,” Guan Yi said flatly, “ended up disappearing.”

His tone carried a warning as he added, “The base takes in ability users—but only those who can follow the rules.”

So basically, you’re kicking me out, Mingming thought helplessly. She accepted her fate and said in a small voice, “I understand. I’m sorry… I’ll leave.”

Guan Yi clicked his tongue in frustration. This girl’s been spoiled rotten. Did she think this was some corporate office drama? It was the apocalypse, for crying out loud. People like her—soft-hearted, easy to intimidate—back down the moment someone raises their voice. I tell you to leave, and you just… go?

What you’re supposed to do now isn’t meekly accept it—it’s to beg me to let you stay!

I literally said this based shelter’s ability users. You’ve got powers—why aren’t you using that as your excuse?

If you’d just plead a little, I could gracefully give you a way out!

He sighed internally. Right… she’s young. Probably didn’t even make it to college before all this. Spent three years being treated like some pet rabbit by that bastard. No wonder she doesn’t understand how the world works.

Mingming had no idea what was going through his mind. She was honestly a little afraid of Guan Yi now. And since she’d already spent the past couple of weeks preparing herself mentally to leave, this outcome wasn’t a surprise. In her head, she was already chatting with her system about life in the “Safe Zone.” She’d heard it wasn’t great there either, but it still beat wandering the wasteland—though if she had managed to sneak away with all that stuff earlier, maybe she could’ve survived out there on her own. Now, it looked like she’d have no choice but to head to the Safe Zone…

She sighed inwardly. “Hey, System, if I went outside and let a zombie bite me, could you at least help me keep my consciousness? Maybe being a chill little zombie roaming the streets wouldn’t be so bad.”

The system sounded exasperated. “Have you completely given up on life?”

Mingming groaned. “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”

“Don’t get too comfortable with that thought,” it replied. “Mutants attack zombies, too. You wouldn’t have any peace even then.”

Mingming: Damn it!

She kept her head bowed, and Guan Yi didn’t even realize her mind had wandered miles away.

He tried again, this time with a tone that was stern but not cruel—patient, even. “You clearly have an ability. Why did you hide it?”

Mingming muttered, “Well, you guys didn’t detect it either, did you?”

That made him pause. She wasn’t wrong.

“I just have a space ability,” she went on, trying to justify herself. “Since your scanners didn’t pick it up, I thought it didn’t count as a real one.”

Guan Yi rubbed his forehead. This girl must’ve skipped half her life lessons. How can she be so clueless?

He’d nearly forgotten what he was even trying to do.

When he’d first discovered she had an ability, his reaction hadn’t been anger—it had been relief. If she were an able user, then he had a legitimate reason to let her stay.

But this girl… she just didn’t get it. Instead of catching on to his hints, she was dead set on leaving.

So he decided to make it more obvious. “The Safe Zone doesn’t take in ability users,” he said pointedly. “Only the base does.”

Mingming blinked. Wait, what? Did that mean she couldn’t even go to the Safe Zone? That she’d have to wander the wasteland with nothing?

Regret finally hit her. If she’d just admitted her ability from the start, she could’ve stayed here easily—without needing to cling to the male lead for protection. And if she hadn’t tried to steal things later, maybe she could’ve still qualified for the Safe Zone.

Regret, regret, regret!

Mingming finally lifted her head, hesitating. Guan Yi saw the look on her face and assumed she was about to beg him to let her stay. He was already prepared—ready to show mercy for her innocence and simplicity. He wouldn’t make her plead three times just to say yes. If she begged him once, he’d magnanimously “forgive” her and let her stay, giving both of them an easy out.

He’d made up his mind—just one word of pleading, and he’d relent.

But instead, Mingming looked at him pitifully and said, “You said those canned foods and biscuits aren’t even good enough for dogs, right? Could you maybe give me a few? Dogs might not eat them, but I will. I don’t even know how I’m going to find food out there…”

Guan Yi froze, mouth half open, unsure how to respond.

“And the cardboard boxes and newspapers—can I have those too?” she continued meekly. “I was thinking if I can’t find a place to stay, I could sleep under a bridge. They’d work as blankets.”

She paused, then added quietly, “Could I also… maybe have a few sanitary pads?”

Guan Yi: “…”

He was utterly speechless.

He drew in a long breath. “Have you really not thought about… staying in the base?”

Mingming answered honestly, “That’s what I wanted at first. But you said the base doesn’t take ordinary people. Then I made such a terrible mistake… I know I’ve lost the right to stay.”

“…It’s really not that terrible,” Guan Yi muttered, exasperated. He’d never met anyone this straightforward in his life. Now he couldn’t even find a natural way to take back his own words.

Mingming went on, her voice earnest: “Taking something without permission is stealing. Even in the apocalypse, people should still hold on to their morals and goodness—that’s what separates us from zombies and monsters. If we abandon our own integrity, what makes us any different from beasts? I know I did wrong, and I accept my punishment. Captain, please rest assured—I’ll spend the rest of my life repenting for my sins!”

The longer she spoke, the more impassioned she became, her whole body radiating a righteous glow.

It’s not that deep, Guan Yi thought helplessly. If I really send you out there, you won’t even survive the night.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.

What a mess. Who’s punishing whom here?

Finally, he snapped, frustrated beyond belief. “Can’t you just ask me to forgive you for this mistake? Tell me you won’t do it again? Then I’d have every reason to let you stay!”

Mingming just blinked in confusion. “Huh?”