Dawn of Apocalypse: Accidentally Dragging My House to Another Doomsday

Chapter 1: Cruel Fate of Heroes

The soft hum of the restaurant's lights barely disturbed the silence. 

Set meticulously with fine china and polished silverware, the table stood between an unusually quiet young lady and the empty chair across. 

Her once-gentle smile had long faded and her dark eyes looked vacant and dim, carrying deep and hidden dangers.

Naturally, her face was etched with nothing but frustration. 

Bai Xiaotong drummed her fingers against the surface of an exquisite wooden table, each tap echoing faintly in the cavernous space. 

As if to distract herself, Bai Xiaotong's gaze shifted, looking past the sleek elegance of the marble floors and polished wood panels, through the enormous glass windows that framed the city's skyline in a breathtaking view. 

Yet, none of it seemed to matter. 

Not only did her mood not improve, the thought of going home, leaving this place and jumping down her soft bed once and for all made her butt cheeks tingle!

Shame. 

The grandeur, the twinkling lights of the city below, the luxurious surroundings—all felt distant now.

"Where is he? I can't believe I'm doing this just to meet one person. I didn't even meet the President when I was abruptly called," Bai Xiaotong said through gritted teeth. "If it wasn't for grandpa's request why would I even bother with a second gen spoiled brat."

A flicker of annoyance passed through her eyes as she checked the time again. But even then she did not get up and stormed out of the place like she would normally do if the person had just been late for a second.

She thought of her grandpa's pleading gaze and the conflicted look etched on his aging face while asking her to come out of the house at least for once and meet the grandson of his old friend in the military.

"Tong Tong, it's not healthy to stay on the outskirts all by yourself. Even if the government had mitigated the surge of mutated beasts and cleared the borders, it's not good for a single person to be living around this area," said Bai Xiong in a worried tone.

"Grandpa, if it was about my safety, I already set up formations around the area." She glanced at the distance and pointed at the sky. In an instant a mutated flying beetle turned to dust upon making contact with her array.

Old Bai looked at the barrier for a brief moment and sighed in his heart. 

Right. How could he forget about such a simple fact? 

Go to the Capital for her safety? 

It was this granddaughter who set up the barrier in the entire City. So, how can her own home's defenses be any weaker?

Still, how can he not worry when his only family member is living alone near the borders where so many ferocious beasts are lurking.

"Grandpa is aware, but Tong Tong---"

Bai Xiaotong sensed his troubled heart and clung to his anxious grandfather's side to coax him.

"If someone has to be worried, it should be me. Grandpa, you're not getting any younger but you're still serving the Military."

She knew how dedicated he was to the country and the people but no matter how badly he wants to save the lives of people, there has to be an end.

Heroes are revered when they're alive but once they're dead no one will remember their sacrifices. In place of the praise they deserve, they are called useless for dying prematurely and carelessly leaving their duties.

Bai Xiaotong thought of her dead parents and a glint of grim and malice quickly flashed her dark irises.

"Those shameless people only know how to whine and morally coerce other people to save their sorry asses!"

"Who do they think they are, huh? How dare they talk shit about the dead and ask for help after?"

"I don't care if they die tomorrow or today. To me, they're dead. They're better off dead! It's not my responsibility to save them. So, don't force my hand and tell me what I should do and not, Captain Xiang. Or else I'll kill you together with them myself."

"You dare—argh!"

That day, at the peak of summer, she left the frontline with her heart dead and frozen. Though more likely, she was dismissed after cutting her superior's finger for pointing crudely at her.

For Bai Xiaotong, she actually couldn't care less. Since she had lost the will to protect the people that her grandpa and parents deeply treasure but turned their backs on them when the least they could do is pray for her parents' departing soul.

She thought that if the same mockery ever happens to her kind grandfather, those people just cut the last string that holds her sanity.

"He would be very sad and devastated. So, it's only natural for the world to go down with him and accompany him wherever he goes." 

Bai Xiaotong smiled coldly without Old Bai noticing. Completely unaware of what was going through her mind.

In the next second, Bai Xiaotong blinked calmly like nothing happened before continuing to speak, "Compared to the Capital, this place is far safer. Why don't you just move in with me grandpa? We can grow food here. I've already collected a whole bunch of supplies but if Grandpa wants, we can also hunt evolved beasts. Tong Tong will always be behind you to support your back." 

Bai Xiaotong stared at him intently with a hopeful gaze. She had prepared supplies and resources that would feed them for a lifetime.

However, knowing how the dutiful character of the old man is, she wasn't sure if Old Bai would agree with her idea, considering the safety of the civilians once he withdrew from his duties.

Just as she thought, upon hearing her suggestion, Bai Xiong's gray beard shook and he became rather hesitant to respond.

Seeing him remain quiet and conflicted, the subtle cues of choice made Bai Xiaotong sigh but decided not to press on. Rather, she deftly changed the topic before she could hear him voice his obvious disapproval.

"Ah, I almost forgot to tell you, Grandpa. Tong Tong found a really good hobby," she grinned and fished out her phone before showing different videos to him like an excited toddler after catching a beetle.

Bai Xiaotong decided not to push her luck today. If she forced him to do her bidding, who knew what might happen?

"Just persuaded the old man slowly," she thought to herself and heaved deeply.

To her, pretending not to know anything was better than ending up with disappointment. The moment Grandpa Bai makes a decision, it's over. She will never be able to come up with a reason to persuade him.

Patience, Xiaotong. Not yet.