The Villainous Female Side Character Pretends to Be an Omega in the Apocalypse and Raises a Cat - Chapter 42

After leaving the pharmaceutical factory, Chi Yingdong retrieved the potion from her spatial storage.

She shook the vial gently, observing the slight movement of the liquid inside, noting its somewhat viscous texture.

Since there were no labels on the bottle to confirm it was indeed the gene serum, Chi Yingdong hesitated to administer it to the kitten rashly.

At that moment, the little black snake slithered over, its vertical pupils fixed intently on the gene serum, brimming with eagerness.

Chi Yingdong asked, “You want to try it?”

The little black snake nodded.

After a moment of silence, Chi Yingdong carefully measured out a quarter of the potion into a clean container and handed it over.

The little black snake coiled its tail around the container, lifted its head, and drank the contents in one swift, decisive motion.

With the little black snake volunteering to test the serum, Chi Yingdong watched attentively.

Her gaze remained locked on the snake, carefully observing every subtle reaction.

After a long while with no visible changes, a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes.

It seemed this potion wasn’t the real deal.

Just as disappointment began to set in, a cluster of crimson flames suddenly burst from the tip of the little black snake’s tail, blazing brightly and sharply.

Free from any side effects, it had directly awakened a fire-based ability.

Chi Yingdong unconsciously tightened her grip on the vial.

If the gene serum could be replicated, zombies would no longer be as difficult to combat, and Meng Qinghe’s safety would be greatly enhanced.

The little black snake flicked its tail, and the flames instantly vanished.

In the next moment, it slightly parted its jaws and spoke in human language, “The potion is fine. From now on, we’re even.”

With those words, it slithered away into the distance and soon disappeared from sight.

Chi Yingdong withdrew her gaze and offered the remaining potion to the calico cat.

The calico gently shook its head, its claw lightly tracing the surface of the vial, leaving a faint scratch.

“Meow, meow, meow.”

This much is enough for me.

Worried that Meng Qinghe’s current physique might not withstand a full dose, Chi Yingdong complied with her request and slowly poured out a portion of the potion.

Meng Qinghe first licked a small amount, it tasted like plain water, then tilted her head back and drank the rest in one go.

One minute passed, then ten.

Meng Qinghe’s body showed no changes; she remained in her calico cat form and did not gain the ability to speak like the little black snake.

The human and the cat exchanged glances, both filled with confusion.

Chi Yingdong gently rubbed the kitten’s head and asked, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

The kitten shook its head and affectionately nuzzled her palm.

“Meow, meow.”

Why don’t you try it too?

Unable to understand the cat’s language, Chi Yingdong carefully stored the remaining potion.

Since Meng Qinghe’s current form made it inconvenient to return to the base, and they had just obtained information on Qiao Ying’s whereabouts, Chi Yingdong made a swift decision.

She first discreetly installed a tracking device on Qiao Ying’s vehicle, then completely altered her appearance.

Her originally fair skin was covered with a yellowish foundation, and her delicate features were concealed under makeup, rendering her plain and unremarkable.

In mere moments, the sharp and capable woman was gone, replaced by an ordinary female college student who would draw no attention even in a crowd.

Next, Chi Yingdong took a backpack from her spatial storage and casually stuffed some dry rations inside.

She quietly blended into the shadows, waiting patiently for Qiao Ying and his group to appear.

Before long, hurried and disorderly footsteps echoed from the factory entrance.

Qiao Ying emerged with his men, seething with anger.

The evidence was clear: the factory had been thoroughly ransacked, and the gene serum was nowhere to be found.

Overconfidence led to a stark slap in the face. Qiao Ying’s face turned ashen as he slammed a fist against the peeling wall, gritting his teeth to force out the words, “If I find out who took the serum, I’ll make sure they regret ever laying hands on something they shouldn’t have.”

Meng Qinghe, hidden inside a backpack with only two ears poking out, caught every word clearly.

The cat’s face was full of disdain.

Once it’s taken, how could you possibly find out?

Qiao Ying’s car sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Only when the taillights had completely vanished down the road did Chi Yingdong retrieve her own car from her spatial storage.

Starting the engine, she maintained a safe distance to avoid detection and steadily followed.

The sky gradually darkened.

In the dim light, the tablet screen glowed faintly, showing that the little red dot representing Qiao Ying had finally stopped moving.

Chi Yingdong tapped the screen to zoom in, the location was a villa district.

It seemed Qiao Ying didn’t plan to return overnight and had decided to stay elsewhere.

Chi Yingdong didn’t rush over immediately. Instead, she deliberately honked the horn twice where she was.

The piercing sound shattered the silence. In the distance, a wandering figure stiffened abruptly before dragging its unsteady steps toward the source of the noise.

As more and more zombies began converging in her direction, Chi Yingdong stepped on the gas again.

Leading the growing horde of zombies behind her, she drove unhurriedly toward the villa district.

By the time she neared the entrance, only a few straggling zombies remained. Chi Yingdong swiftly dispatched them with her Tang sword, then pretended to be a survivor scouting for an empty house.

To avoid arousing suspicion from Qiao Ying’s group, she deliberately chose a standalone villa four or five houses away from theirs.

The house had clearly been vacant for a long time; dust cascaded down the moment she pushed the door open.

There was a generator inside, and the electrical appliances were still functional.

Chi Yingdong turned on the lights, adjusting them to a warm tone, then set down her backpack.

The calico cat eagerly scrambled out.

Chi Yingdong had anticipated that the commotion would attract Qiao Ying’s people, but she hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly.

She had just cleared a small, dust-free spot to sit when a firm but not aggressive knock sounded at the door.

Chi Yingdong didn’t open it, calling out from behind the door, “Who is it?”

“Our captain saw a car arrive and thought that, given how unstable the world is now, we should look out for each other. We’ve cooked some instant noodles for dinner, and the captain specifically asked me to invite you over. Have a little, and we can get acquainted.”

Over a month into the apocalypse, instant noodles had transformed into a precious resource many could only dream of.

An ordinary survivor would likely be unable to resist at the mention of instant noodles.

But Chi Yingdong’s spatial storage was stocked full of supplies. Mere instant noodles couldn’t possibly tempt her.

She didn’t open the door right away, instead leaning close to the peephole.

Outside stood an unusually short woman, a dwarf, and one she recognized.

Her name was Xiao Qi.

In her past life, Xiao Qi had been thrown into a zombie horde by her own family to buy time.

The female protagonist had saved her, and ever since, Xiao Qi had remained fiercely loyal to the main characters.

The reason she survived the zombie horde was that her awakened ability wasn’t an ordinary metal-type power.

Her ability allowed her to instantly metalize her body, turning her into a living shield for defense.

Xiao Qi stood quietly on the steps below, her head slightly tilted up. Her face showed little expression, but her eyes were deep and inscrutable.

Pretending not to know, Chi Yingdong asked, “Who is your captain?”

“Qiao Ying.”

As Xiao Qi uttered the name, her chin lifted almost imperceptibly.

Along the way, Qiao Ying and Ye Rourou had saved quite a few people.

Their good deeds had even spread among the survivor circles, and Xiao Qi was certain that the person inside must have heard of their captain’s name.

Chi Yingdong replied calmly, “I don’t know your captain. Please thank her for her kindness, but I won’t be joining you.”

A performance must be thorough.

In the apocalypse, accepting a stranger’s goodwill too easily would only arouse suspicion.

Appropriate vigilance and aloofness were the most natural reactions for a lone survivor.

Outside the door, Xiao Qi showed no surprise or annoyance upon hearing this.

She simply nodded silently, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Qiao Ying did not send anyone else. Chi Yingdong took out a self-heating hot pot from her space.

Then, she began preparing a meal for the kitten.

It had been too long since she had seen Meng Qinghe in her human form, so making a proper meal for the kitten felt like a rare opportunity.

Chi Yingdong handled it with extra care, finely chopping the meat and mixing it evenly with egg yolk, finally garnishing it with a few strands of vibrant green cat grass.

Meng Qinghe watched quietly.

Bathed in the warm yellow glow of the light, the usual cold aura around Chi Yingdong softened significantly, revealing an almost warm tranquility.

Even with her current plain and unremarkable appearance, it still made Meng Qinghe’s heart flutter.

She found herself lost in the sight.

The old saying was true, a woman cooking is captivating, but a woman preparing a cat meal is even more so.

Chi Yingdong pushed the prepared cat food toward the calico kitten, gently rubbing its soft ears with her fingertips. “Come and eat.”

Chi Yingdong couldn’t understand cat language, but the calico kitten responded by lightly hooking its tail around her wrist.

Steam from the self-heating hot pot seeped through the lid’s crevices, carrying a rich aroma of beef tallow that filled the spacious living room.

As Chi Yingdong stirred the pot to let the heat dissipate faster, she listened carefully for any movement outside.

The soundproofing in the villa area was excellent, but after awakening her abilities, her body had undergone some changes, allowing her to hear a little.

Although Qiao Ying hadn’t sent anyone else to call for her, she had stationed people outside to keep watch.

After finishing its meal, the calico kitten silently leaped onto the windowsill.

Its ears perked up, alertly staring in the direction of the villa across the way.

The kitten was doing its best to fulfill its role, easing some of the pressure on Chi Yingdong.

Once the self-heating hot pot had cooled, Chi Yingdong quickly finished eating.

After storing the trash in her space, she took out a night vision device and a folding knife.

It was already past nine in the evening. She would wait a little longer, until it was completely dark outside, to make her move.

Chi Yingdong beckoned to the calico kitten.

The kitten gracefully jumped down from the windowsill, padded over to her side in a few steps, and nimbly leaped onto her lap, curling up in a comfortable position.

Then, it lifted its little head and meowed, “Meow?”

Human, why did you call me?

Chi Yingdong reached out and began stroking the soft, warm fur on its back.

Her fingers moved gently through the fluff, with a tender touch.

After a long while, she finally spoke softly, “When will you change back? I miss talking to you.”

This sudden tenderness caught Meng Qinghe off guard, freezing her in place.

In the next moment, she buried her furry head deep into Chi Yingdong’s chest, rubbing against her vigorously.

As if doing so could hide the surge of bittersweet emotions welling up inside her at that moment.

She silently resolved in her heart.

She had to change back, and quickly.

Perhaps this silent prayer was too fervent, for it actually worked.

Meng Qinghe watched in astonishment as the fine, soft fur on her paws gradually receded, revealing the hue of human skin.

Immediately after, a strange stretching sensation traveled through her limbs as her bones quietly reshaped and extended under a gentle force.

A soft glow emanated from her entire body, not blinding, but like a hazy veil enveloping her.

The light quickly faded.

When her vision cleared again, Meng Qinghe was no longer curled up.

Instead, she appeared as a young girl, seated on Chi Yingdong’s lap, her arms wrapped around the other’s neck, practically nestled in her embrace.

Their eyes met, and the air froze for a moment.

Though it wasn’t the first time they had been so exposed to each other, they couldn’t help but feel a little shy.

“Pfft.”

Chi Yingdong was the first to break into a soft laugh, shattering the awkward atmosphere.

Meng Qinghe looked at her blankly.

Chi Yingdong raised her hand, her fingertips gently pinching the pair of still-furry cat ears on Meng Qinghe’s head, which twitched unconsciously.

“What’s going on, little kitten?”

Her eyes sparkled with playful mischief. “Only half-transformed? Your ears and tail… are still out in the open.”

Meng Qinghe instinctively reached up to touch her head, her fingers meeting the familiar softness of fur.

Reaching back, she found her tail still there, swaying restlessly behind her.

Her face flushed abruptly, and she froze in Chi Yingdong’s embrace, her tail continuing to wag disobediently.

As everyone knows, a kitten’s tail doesn’t obey the kitten.

Chi Yingdong’s gaze fell on the restless, fluffy tail, lost in thought.

Then, she retrieved a school uniform from her spatial storage.

A white shirt, a peach-pink plaid skirt, and a matching necktie.

“Wear this.”

She handed the skirt over.

Meng Qinghe took the skirt and breathed a sigh of relief, but the moment she lifted the hem, the tips of her ears turned even redder.

The skirt didn’t come with built-in safety shorts.

Meng Qinghe looked at Chi Yingdong in confusion.

Chi Yingdong explained, “This way, it won’t trap your tail.”

Meng Qinghe clutched the skirt tightly. “But…”

Without that extra layer, her tail could swing freely beneath the skirt, but that meant…

When her tail wagged, the plaid skirt swayed, and the faintly visible scene was even more… tantalizing than if it were trapped.

The air grew subtly still for a second.

Chi Yingdong turned her face away and cleared her throat softly.

The heavy foundation concealed any possible blush on her cheeks.

Only the tips of her ears, peeking out from her hair, betrayed a faint tinge of crimson.