Chapter 2 : “Underage, huh? Take her in!”

In the hallway, there came the skittering sound of insect-like limbs crawling on the ground—click-clack, click-clack—mixed with the sharp clack of high-heeled boots striking the floor.

Su Xinran’s hair stood on end.

She immediately jumped out of her chair, crept to the door, and pressed her ear tightly against the frame.

It wasn’t her imagination.

The air… felt heavy, as if it was hard to breathe.

It had already been a year since any monsters had wandered this area.

All the creatures nearby were supposed to be dead.

But the footsteps outside weren’t those of ordinary zombies.

They sounded more like… demon beasts.

Demon beasts were capable of breaking through doors!

Why were they here…?

“Knock knock knock!”

Su Xinran felt a chill crawl down her spine.

The demon beasts had knocked—on the door next door.

“Hello, is anyone inside?”

It was a pleasant-sounding woman’s voice.

Could it be… a human?

Several seconds passed, but the neighboring apartment gave no response.

“No one? Well, just in case, we should still break in to confirm… Awei, Afu, do it!”

“BANG!”

With a deafening crash and the sound of crumbling concrete, the neighboring door was smashed apart.

“Told you no one was home. Ugh, what a crappy job…”

The one called Awei grumbled.

They’re searching for people…

Why would demon beasts go door to door checking for survivors?!

Are they doing a census or something?!

Hearing the chaos outside, Su Xinran felt her legs go weak and barely managed to stagger upright.

No… she couldn’t just sit here and wait for death…

“Knock knock knock!”

This time, it was her apartment door.

“Hello, is anyone inside?”

The demon beast’s distorted voice came through its mangled throat, resonating inside Su Xinran’s apartment.

“No one? Well, just in case, we should still break in and confirm…”

“BOOM!”

With a thunderous crash, the protective door that had kept Su Xinran safe for four whole years was obliterated in a single blow from the demon beast!

As the dust settled, its true form appeared.

It was a mutated insectoid monster—some kind of void bug abomination with countless limbs.

Over three meters tall, it had to hunch just to fit into the corridor.

“Awooo…”

At that moment, Su Xinran was kneeling dumbly in the living room, her head smeared with ketchup, staring blankly.

Her face was powdered ghostly pale, and her eyes were empty and lifeless—she was clearly pretending to be a zombie.

What the hell is wrong with me?!

Su Xinran screamed internally.

In a panic, she had come up with a “brilliant plan”… but as the seconds ticked by, she was starting to realize just how stupid that plan really was.

Who would believe a zombie this pretty and physically intact!?

“A-reh?!”

A startled girl’s voice came from behind the demon beast.

“Captain, we’ve got a live one! Looks like… a zombie!”

A young girl slowly emerged from the shadows behind Awei, revealing herself.

She wore a leather police uniform on top, with a tight, body-hugging mini skirt below.

Long, beautiful legs in black stockings, her shiny black hair tucked neatly under her police hat, and in her hand — a soft rubber baton.

The only giveaway that she wasn’t human… was her eyes: the sclera were entirely black, and her brown irises stared intensely at Su Xinran.

“So rare… A zombie girl this pretty?”

The girl stared at Su Xinran’s delicate features and sighed in genuine admiration.

Su Xinran’s heart skipped a beat.

These guys can talk?!

“Aba aba… Abababaaa!”

Su Xinran launched into her best impression of a zombie, babbling nonsense and twitching around.

“Aww, what a shame. A zombie this beautiful… and no intelligence to match. Guess we’ll just have to dispose of her.”

With a sigh, the girl raised her baton and signaled the two insectoids to handle it.

The two insect beasts glanced at each other, shrugged, and got ready to act.

Looking at their rock-hard mandibles, Su Xinran had no doubt they could crush her skull like a watermelon.

“WAIT!!”

Still dripping in tomato sauce, Su Xinran threw up a hand to stop them.

“WHAT?!”

The two insectoids jumped back, startled.

“You can talk?!”

“Of course I can! It’s just that… it’s been so long since I saw anyone alive—alive demon beasts, I mean—that I got a little too excited and didn’t know what to say… hahaha…”

Honestly, even Su Xinran could barely believe this garbage excuse she’d just come up with.

She tried to mask her panic with an awkward laugh.

“Officer Wang Ya, this kid looks really pitiful…”

The two insectoids paused, then looked back at the uniformed girl.

To Su Xinran’s shock, they actually believed her!

But Officer Wang Ya clearly wasn’t so easy to fool.

Wang Ya narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp and probing as it locked onto Su Xinran.

“Oh? So, little miss… how old are you this year?”

She used her baton to lift Su Xinran’s chin, her razor-sharp gaze making Su Xinran incredibly uncomfortable.

She instinctively looked away.

“E-Eighteen…”

Su Xinran mumbled, clearly lacking confidence.

This woman… is definitely not easy to deceive…

“Tsk tsk tsk…”

Wang Ya’s lips curled into a playful smile.

Then—**before Su Xinran could react—**she stuck out her crimson tongue and gave Su Xinran’s cheek a lick!

“UGH?!”

Feeling the hot, wet sensation on her cheek, Su Xinran was instantly covered in goosebumps.

“Lying tastes…”

“LIKE UNDERAGE!!”

Wang Ya savored the sweetness on her tongue, then licked her lips with satisfaction.

“WHAT?!”

The two insectoids staggered back in disbelief, their faces full of shock.

“She’s really underage?! Damn, her sweet looks totally threw us off!”

“That’s why Officer Wang Ya is the best—she saw right through this brat’s trickery!”

Wang Ya, basking in her subordinates’ flattery, proudly raised her nose in the air.

“Hmph~ A minor hoarding video games… Arrest her!”

“Hold it right there!!”

Finally, Su Xinran couldn’t take it anymore and exploded in frustration as the situation spiraled into absurdity.

“The real issue here isn’t whether a minor is playing video games!Weren’t we supposed to be discussing my species?! What kind of genius cop are you?!”

“And you two—breaking into my home like that— You’d better have a damn good explanation or we’re not done here!”

Su Xinran stomped her foot, her cheeks puffed and red with frustration as she furiously berated the three lunatics who had just smashed her front door.

“Nope,” Wang Ya replied flatly.

“More important than what species you are is the fact that you, a minor, are illegally playing video games.”

With a wave of her baton, the two insectoids stepped forward and grabbed Su Xinran by the arms, one on each side.

“Under the Minor Anti-Addiction Gaming Law, I am placing you under arrest.

Please come with us.”

“HUH?!!”

The two bug creatures gave her no chance to resist.

“EWW!! Nooo!! Don’t touch me, you disgusting bug things!”