Apocalypse Star House Hoarding

Chapter 122

Yu Xi was well-prepared. She put away the stun baton and supported Yu Zhenzhen by her shoulders, making it appear as though the girl wasn’t feeling well and was leaning on her. She guided her to the parking lot, helped her into the front passenger seat, and fastened her seatbelt.

Once she was in the driver’s seat, Yu Xi called the principal.

On the phone, she explained that her illness was quite serious and that she needed to urgently return to her hometown. Due to special circumstances, she also needed to take Yu Zhenzhen with her.

She asked for an extended leave of absence and mentioned that if it wasn’t possible, she would resign. Additionally, she requested the principal to inform the school gatekeeper to allow her to leave with Yu Zhenzhen.

Boarding schools were strict about campus security—students weren’t allowed to leave outside designated times, and teachers couldn’t privately take students off campus. However, if the person taking the student was their parent, exceptions could be made.

After hanging up, Yu Xi was about to start the car when a head popped into view outside her window.

“Teacher Yu…” The boy’s voice was trembling, clearly nervous and afraid, yet he stubbornly lifted the breakfast bag in his hand. “Teacher Yu, are you taking Zhenzhen out for something this early? She’s asleep… um, yesterday she said she wanted jianbing guozi and soy milk, but since she’s boarding, she couldn’t go out to buy it. I’m not a boarder, so I said I’d bring it to her. I was planning to drop it off at the dorm, but I happened to run into you here. Could you give it to her for me?”

Yu Xi looked at him through the half-open car window. The boy was tall and handsome, but his overly cautious and deferential demeanor diluted his charm.

“Are you her boyfriend?” Yu Xi asked.

“Ah, oh, um, I—uh—I really like—” “Got it,” Yu Xi cut him off, lowering the window further to take the bag. “Thank you. I’ll give it to her when she wakes up and let her know you bought it.”

Youthful feelings were sweet and touching, but this was an apocalyptic world. There was no future for such a romance.

After placing the breakfast in the car, she called out to him before rolling the window back up. “What’s your name again?”

“Qu Yichen, Teacher Yu. I’m from Grade 12, Class 1—your class.”

“Ah, Qu Yichen. Do you read ‘XX novels’?”

“Huh?”

The two censored words were “apocalypse novels.”

Yu Xi felt a nerve twitch in her forehead. Maintaining a smile, she rephrased, “Do you read stockpiling novels?” This time, the phrase “stockpiling” wasn’t censored.

“I usually read detective novels more,” he replied.

“Well, Zhenzhen loves reading stockpiling novels. She especially admires male protagonists who remain calm and collected during emergencies and those who have a habit of stockpiling supplies. Stockpiling means being prepared—storing a lot of resources at home in advance. She says boys like that feel particularly safe to be around.”

“…”

Seeing his stunned expression, Yu Xi added one last remark. “In short, life is unpredictable. Opportunity only favors the prepared.”

Qu Yichen felt like he understood but also didn’t.

As he watched the car drive away, he suddenly smacked his forehead. How could I be so stupid? I just need to download a few stockpiling novels and read them!

Yu Xi had her reasons for subtly prompting Qu Yichen. First, she could see his genuine feelings for Yu Zhenzhen. Second, it was a chance to test the boundaries of this world’s rules.

The results of today’s test satisfied her.

Moments later, she arrived at the school gate, where the principal had already informed the guards. Yu Xi was allowed to leave without issue.

It was still early. Driving from Lancheng to the airport would take only an hour. While she could knock Yu Zhenzhen unconscious to take her along, she couldn’t do that to get her onto a plane. To board the flight, Yu Zhenzhen would need to agree to go with her willingly.

Yu Xi had set the stun baton to its lowest setting, so she estimated Yu Zhenzhen would wake up in at most an hour. Driving toward the airport, she slowed down and parked in an empty lot next to a quiet, secluded park on the outskirts of the city. It was still early, the park was in an isolated location, and there were no security cameras or parking attendants—perfect for having a conversation.

When Yu Zhenzhen woke up, she found herself in a car. Her limbs felt weak and numb, and she couldn’t muster any strength.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the car. She turned her head to see Yu Xi in the driver’s seat, casually sipping coffee while browsing news on her phone.

“You’re awake.”

Yu Xi hadn’t even moved her gaze, but it was as if she could sense the girl waking up. The moment Yu Zhenzhen looked over, she spoke. “Drink the soy milk in the cup holder and eat the jianbing guozi in front of you. After that, go to the backseat and change into the sportswear and sneakers there.”

Yu Zhenzhen’s mind filled with question marks. She had no idea what was happening.

She had been at school just moments ago, and now she was in a car? And Yu Xi’s tone—it was calm and unhurried, but carried an inexplicable weight. “What’s going on? Where are we? What happened to me just now?”

Yu Xi shifted her gaze from her phone to glance at her, her expression calm. “Do as I said first, and I’ll explain everything to you after.”

Yu Zhenzhen stared at her suspiciously for a moment, furrowing her brows. “Are you really my mom?”

At this point in the world’s timeline, cultivation novels were all the rage. Yu Zhenzhen had read a few stories about soul possession and modern cultivation.

Yu Xi fully turned to face her, meeting her gaze. “What are you trying to say?”

Yu Zhenzhen held her stare for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Where do I have a birthmark on my body?”

“You don’t have a birthmark.”

“When I was seven, where did I lose a tooth?”

“The bathroom.”

“Why did Grandma perm her hair?”

“She never did. She only dyed it because she had too many white hairs.” Yu Xi finally understood, rubbing her forehead in mild exasperation. “Are you done asking?”

“How many flower pots were there on the balcony back home?”

This time, Yu Xi didn’t answer. She simply looked at her seriously. “I’m not possessed. I’ve been reborn.”

Yu Zhenzhen was speechless.

Reluctantly, she moved to the backseat to change her clothes.

The outfit consisted of three pieces: a short-sleeved T-shirt, athletic pants, and a long-sleeved jacket.

Given the daytime temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius, Yu Zhenzhen expected the outfit to be unbearably hot. She grumbled and dragged her feet as she changed, but the material was surprisingly lightweight and breathable. Once on, it felt cool and comfortable against her skin, and the fit was perfect.

She put on the accompanying baseball cap, then returned to the front seat, snapping, “Start talking.”

“About what?” Yu Xi, resting her head on one hand, glanced at her.

“You said you’d explain everything after I changed.” She looked angry and tried to sound cold, but her innocent, youthful face robbed her tone of any real threat. Instead, her puffed-up demeanor made her look rather adorable.

Yu Xi resisted the urge to pinch her cheeks, tilting her chin toward the breakfast.

“I don’t want to eat.”

“Didn’t you tell Qu Yichen yesterday that you wanted jianbing guozi and soy milk? He went and bought it for you. Why won’t you eat it now?”

“Why do you care? I just don’t want to eat anymore!”

“Fine, then let’s head straight to the airport.”

“The airport? Why are we going to the airport? What exactly are you planning?”

Yu Xi gestured toward the breakfast again.

Yu Zhenzhen fell silent.

She seemed to realize that unless she did what Yu Xi said, no answers would be forthcoming.

The ideas of possession and rebirth swirled in her mind—far-fetched concepts when merely imagined, but hearing them outright was something else entirely. While she had been probing earlier, deep down, she hadn’t believed such fantastical things could be real.

But now…

After weighing her options, Yu Zhenzhen frowned, grabbed the jianbing guozi, and began eating rapidly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Xi observed the girl’s face. With so many questions swirling in her mind, she was now focused on devouring her breakfast at an almost comical speed. Her cheeks puffed up as she chewed, her soft, fair face resembling a chipmunk. It was an endearing sight, and Yu Xi couldn’t help but find her utterly adorable.

Yu Xi wasn’t sure if this was what they called an instinctual bond through blood, but her fingers were itching to ruffle Yu Zhenzhen’s hair.

Ten minutes later:

“Don’t doubt it—I’m your biological mom.”

“You’ve read rebirth novels, right? That’s it. I’ve been reborn, back from a month in the future.”

“I took you from school because we need to catch a 1 PM flight. I’ve already packed your luggage. We’re heading to the airport now.” Yu Xi paused, then added, “If you have any questions, ask them now. Once we’re in a crowded place, it’ll be inconvenient to answer you.”

The sheer amount of information left Yu Zhenzhen stunned for a long moment before she found her voice. “You… you’re lying to me! How can anyone actually be reborn? Is this about what happened yesterday? If you’re really mad, just yell at me or hit me! Why are you doing all this weird stuff? What do you really want?”

“I want to save you.”

Yu Xi pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. When Yu Zhenzhen didn’t take it, she simply placed it beside her. “That’s why I’m taking you away from here. We don’t have much time, and I can’t explain everything from the beginning. Staying in Lancheng will be dangerous.”

Seeing the girl still staring at her with a look that screamed, Did what I did yesterday break you so badly that you’ve lost your mind? Yu Xi picked up the coffee cup from the cup holder and gestured toward it.

“Watch closely.”

In an instant, the coffee cup vanished.

“Ah!” Yu Zhenzhen let out a startled cry but quickly covered her mouth, leaning back against the seat, muttering to herself, “It’s an illusion. It has to be an illusion. I must’ve studied English too late last night… This is a dream. I’m still dreaming.”

In the next moment, the coffee cup reappeared in Yu Xi’s hand.

Yu Zhenzhen was speechless.

…

Ten minutes later:

The car started again, heading toward the airport. Yu Zhenzhen leaned against the seat, looking dazed, still unable to process the shocking events.

This state of disbelief persisted even as they boarded the plane. It wasn’t Yu Zhenzhen’s first time flying, but the last time had been two years ago when Yu Xi had brought her from their hometown to Lancheng.

Back then, her grandparents had died in a plane crash, leaving her with an innate fear of flying. It was also her first time on a plane, and she’d been nervous the entire flight, from takeoff to landing.

This time was entirely different. Whether it was the comfort of the spacious business class, the ice cream the flight attendant brought her, or the surreal display she had just witnessed, Yu Zhenzhen didn’t even remember to feel anxious.

Rebirth.

As she ate her ice cream, she recalled the rebirth novels she’d read. If Yu Xi had returned from a month in the future, did that mean she had died a month later?

The thought of “death” stabbed her heart with a pang of discomfort.

She glanced at Yu Xi, who was on a call, seemingly discussing the car sale. Yu Xi was telling the person that she needed to delay the paperwork by a few days due to some matters.

Yu Zhenzhen pouted. She’s still the same liar as always. She always promises to come home and spend time with me but ends up saying she’s too busy.

So what if she’s been reborn? It’s only a month back, not to when I was a child.

If only she could’ve been reborn to my childhood… If she really wants to make up for everything, being reborn to my younger years would’ve let me grow up with a mom who doted on me, cared for me, and stayed by my side.

Yu Zhenzhen pressed her lips tightly together, pushing away the unrealistic fantasy.

What am I even thinking? I can’t go soft. For so many years, when I needed her, she was never there. I won’t forgive her so easily.

Meanwhile, Yu Xi was genuinely unconcerned about the car sale. The vehicle had been driven for seven or eight years, and she’d set the selling price well below market value. She didn’t care about the money—it wasn’t worth her time to return for the paperwork.

Yu Xi hung up the phone and closed her eyes briefly, feeling an inexplicable fatigue.

How strange. It was only afternoon, and she had slept five or six hours the previous night. With her physical condition, why would she feel tired?

Next to her, Yu Zhenzhen was eating ice cream. When she wasn’t talking, she looked so obedient and adorable that Yu Xi had the urge to ruffle her hair.

In the row ahead, a passenger stood up to retrieve something from the overhead compartment. The person accidentally dropped a thermos, which hit the seat back with a loud thunk.

The sudden noise startled Yu Zhenzhen, causing her hand to tremble. A scoop of ice cream fell onto her clothes.

The passenger quickly retrieved the thermos and apologized profusely.

Yu Xi assured them it was fine and handed a tissue to Yu Zhenzhen, who this time accepted it.

Across the aisle, a woman was trying to close her child’s laptop. The child protested, crying loudly, prompting a flight attendant to bring over an ice cream to calm them down.

Around her, ordinary little moments of life played out—scenes anyone might encounter in their daily routines. But as Yu Xi observed these events, she was suddenly struck by a creeping sense of unease.

Something wasn’t right.

It all felt eerily familiar. Not just similar—every detail seemed as if she had already witnessed it.

Yu Xi abruptly turned her head. Any moment now, a middle-aged man should emerge from economy class, claiming he had left something in the terminal.

A second later, the curtain to economy was pulled aside, and a middle-aged man hurried forward, explaining he had forgotten something important in the waiting area and wanted to retrieve it.

The flight attendant politely asked him to describe where he had left the item and what it looked like. She explained that ground staff would search for it and bring it to him but warned that if he disembarked, he might not be allowed back on the plane.

The scene played out exactly as Yu Xi had anticipated.

Her skin crawled with the realization. She felt a crisis like never before. She wasn’t just experiencing something strange—it was something that had already happened.

Perhaps these weren’t guesses about the future but memories of what she had seen before.

As this realization dawned, it felt as if a barrier in her mind began to crumble.

When the plane ascended into the sky, Yu Xi looked around once more. That eerie sense of déjà vu confirmed that everything happening had occurred before—not just once, but repeatedly.

…

Half an hour later, the previously smooth flight jolted violently. A dazzling light burst outside the airplane windows, and the passengers cried out in terror.

The blinding light intensified, and in an instant, everyone on board lost consciousness.

Without hesitation, Yu Xi slashed her arm with the knife she had been holding, the sharp pain and flowing blood jolting her back to awareness.

Through the airplane window, the blinding white light was gone. So was the sky.

Outside was an infinite expanse of stars—space.

As the thought of “space” crossed her mind, her body suddenly plummeted. The plane seemed to be pulled by an invisible force at an alarming speed. Fighting against her dimming consciousness, Yu Xi slashed her arm again.

In that fleeting moment of clarity, just before losing consciousness, she glimpsed the source of the force pulling the plane—a fragment.

A massive fragment covered in writing.

When Yu Xi opened her eyes again after closing them briefly, her gaze turned sharp.

This time, her memory didn’t reset.

The wound on her arm had vanished as if it had never been there, as if she had returned to the moment before she cut herself.

For reasons she didn’t understand, she had fallen into a time loop, an endless Möbius strip, starting from the plane’s preparation for takeoff and ending half an hour into the flight.

From her body’s fatigue, she could tell the loop had occurred many times already.

The passenger in front of her stood again, opening the overhead compartment to retrieve something. Once more, the thermos fell, hitting the seat with a thud.

Yu Zhenzhen’s hand trembled, and ice cream spilled onto her clothes.

The passenger apologized hastily.

The loop had started again. Yu Xi couldn’t stay here. She would be trapped forever.

She immediately stood, opened the overhead bin, retrieved their bags, and grabbed Yu Zhenzhen’s arm. “We’re getting off this plane.”

“Huh?” Yu Zhenzhen looked at her, still holding the ice cream and utterly baffled. A strange thought crossed her mind:

Who’s the impulsive, rebellious teenager here?

If her mom kept stealing the show like this, how was she supposed to keep up her rebellious streak in the future?

Author’s Note:

Yu Xi: The first rebirth is tough; the second is easier.

The fragment world isn’t as simple as it seems.

Right now, the protagonist is only safe within the fragment world.