Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 419: Chapter 409: To Stop

Tang Mo glanced at the phone and shut it off. ’Work, my ass.’ First of all, who knew if these companies would even survive the next three months? And what kind of work could you even do without leaving the house for three months? Not to mention, the person known as Xu Yin was set to disappear from this world in three months anyway. She had no reason to bother with any of this right now.

’Come on, I came to this world for a vacation, not to work overtime.’

Mr. and Mrs. Xu had no appetite for breakfast. They sat on the sofa with the TV on, refusing to move and staring intently at the screen.

Tang Mo suspected the couple was trying to stare the fog into nonexistence, as if they would only stop once the news reported its disappearance.

She didn’t press them. They weren’t eating now, but when they got hungry enough, they would eat on their own.

Tang Mo sat at the dining table herself, enjoying the fresh cake and milk she’d ordered for delivery yesterday. ’So good.’

She was incredibly relieved that their nanny had taken leave and gone home before the apocalypse started. If she had stayed with the Xu Family, knowing Xu Jinsan’s nature, he would have never let someone else go hungry as long as he had a bite to eat himself.

"Dad, Mom, it’s dangerous and chaotic outside right now. Let’s not leave the house."

The Xu Family didn’t live in a detached house. Although they had a large, single-floor apartment, it was still in a multi-story building.

The apartment door was extremely sturdy, and Tang Mo had also protected the outside with a spiritual power barrier. As long as they didn’t go through that door, they would be safe from pretty much any danger.

It was also impossible for anyone else to get in.

"Of course. We can’t go out even if we wanted to until this fog disappears! Oh, no. I have to call your aunt. I wonder how she’s doing back home."

Xu Jinsan’s parents had passed away, but he still had an older sister, a younger sister, and a younger brother.

In Xu Yin’s memories, this aunt had been very good to her and had sacrificed a great deal for her brother, Xu Jinsan.

That was why, in the original timeline, they hadn’t been able to bring themselves to stop those people from entering their home—because her aunt had been among them.

But Xu Yin’s aunt had two younger brothers. In trying to be good to both of them, she eventually betrayed the special trust Xu Yin had placed in her.

As for Xu Yin’s younger uncle and aunt, they were nothing but leeches.

The moment she heard Xu Jinsan say he was going to call his sister, Tang Mo dropped her bread and sprang up to grab his arm.

"Dad, Auntie lives in the countryside. Every family out there has a habit of storing food. The fog is so dangerous right now, please don’t call her. What if she gets worried and tries to bring us food? What if something happens to her on the way?"

’Of course, I can’t just admit I’m afraid my new dad will run his mouth and spill the beans about all the supplies we’ve stockpiled.’

If the aunt knew, the younger aunt and uncle would inevitably find out too.

So Tang Mo had to find another excuse. It seemed, however, that her reasoning was very effective.

Xu Jinsan clearly knew his sister’s personality and realized she really might do something as reckless as braving the danger to bring them food.

The situation was still unclear, and it was so dangerous outside. Yinyin was right.

’After all, everyone in the countryside stores food. The fog shouldn’t be a problem as long as people stay indoors. I’d better not cause any extra trouble.’

Seeing Xu Jinsan’s agreeable expression as he put down his phone, Tang Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

’Every day I can put it off is another day gained. Another day I don’t have to deal with those awful relatives is another day of peace for me.’

After all, in Tang Mo’s eyes, petty family drama gave her a bigger headache than fighting mutant beasts.

It wasn’t just Tang Mo; even Mrs. Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief when Xu Jinsan backed down.

Tang Mo clearly noticed Mrs. Xu’s reaction. It made her recall from Xu Yin’s memories that most of the troubles that befell the family later on were indeed caused by Xu Jinsan. Even the problematic relatives were from his side of the family...

’Looks like Mrs. Xu isn’t a lost cause after all,’ Tang Mo thought. ’She’s just used to going along with whatever Xu Jinsan says.’

Tang Mo felt a little more at ease. It seemed it was time to subtly cultivate an ally within the family. That way, getting things done in the future would be much easier with a two-against-one advantage.

Since they couldn’t go out, there wasn’t much to do at home. Tang Mo simply persuaded Mr. and Mrs. Xu to go back to their room and get some more sleep.

This was purely to keep them from overthinking things. It would be bad if one of them suddenly had a muddle-headed moment and did something foolish. Sleeping was the safest option.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Tang Mo returned to her own room and took another nap. It had been a long time since she’d had the chance to rest so peacefully.

She had already sealed the front door shut with her spiritual power. No one could get in or out without her permission.

Tang Mo wasn’t worried about Mr. and Mrs. Xu trying to leave. First of all, while they were kind to a fault, they weren’t idiots. They had no reason to go out and get themselves killed.

And second, even if they did find the door wouldn’t open, she had a million excuses she could give them.

Tang Mo slept so soundly, it felt as if all the fatigue she’d built up recently had been washed away.

She had been completely exhausted in the last world. She had starved, shouldered heavy responsibilities, and used her spiritual power every day as if it were free.

After returning to her own world, she had to solve problems for them and comfort her family and friends, leaving very little time for her to truly rest, body and soul.

But in this world, with uninterrupted water, power, and internet, plus a big, warm bed... it was just too comfortable.

When Tang Mo woke up, it was already afternoon. She went out to the living room and, sure enough, Mr. and Mrs. Xu were sitting side-by-side on the sofa again, watching TV.

The news ticker was reporting on the dense fog, but there wasn’t the slightest indication that the toxic mist was about to dissipate.

Tang Mo watched the couple’s brows furrow ever more tightly. Judging by the look of the kitchen, they hadn’t eaten anything all day.

’Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ she thought. She had to hand it to them. ’Are they really not hungry?’

Ultimately, afraid her mission targets might starve to death, Tang Mo went to the kitchen and cooked a simple meal of two dishes and a soup for the worried couple.

Tang Mo’s cooking skills were actually quite good. Before this, Xu Yin had never cooked a day in her life.

Although the family had a good relationship, Xu Yin was hopelessly straightforward and bad at expressing her feelings. It seemed her mind was filled with nothing but work.

She never made any gestures of affection toward her parents. Even if her heart was filled with love, she could only ever show the tip of the iceberg.

Girls like that always end up at a disadvantage.

Seeing their precious daughter had actually cooked for them, Mr. and Mrs. Xu were both stunned and deeply flattered.

Who cared about the TV now! They quickly and obediently shuffled over from the sofa and sat down at the dining table.

It was only when they saw the fragrant, beautifully-prepared two dishes and a soup, along with the fluffy white rice, that the two of them remembered they hadn’t eaten all day. Their stomachs were already rumbling with hunger. They hurriedly picked up their bowls and began to savor the dinner their daughter had made with love.