Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess-Chapter 153: She needed a moment to breath

Qingran sat on the edge of the small utility room counter, hands trembling as she tore open a first-aid kit.

Feng Yuxi hovered nearby, arms crossed, offering quiet support but not interfering.

The disinfectant stung like fire when it hit her torn palms. Qingran didn’t flinch. She gritted her teeth and worked quickly rinsing, wrapping, binding her wounds with brutal efficiency.

There was no space for weakness here.

When she was done, she flexed her fingers once.

The bandages were rough, clumsy, she wasn’t a medic but she tried her best to make it as neat as possible.

At least they would hold for now.

Lingquan’s soft voice pinged in her mind.

[You should rest. Burnout will set in faster otherwise.]

"I’ll rest when we have a dam built and everyone behind solid walls." Qingran muttered under her breath.

Feng Yuxi didn’t argue. She just handed her a bottle of water. "They’re waiting."

Qingran stood, every movement stiff and aching, but her face remained impassive. She followed Feng Yuxi up to the 39th floor where the survivors had been gathered.

They had been giving the last 2 suites in the 39th floor but Qingran placed them in one so she could brief them all together.

When Qingran entered, the low murmur of conversation died instantly.

All eyes turned to her.

She felt the weight of their stares; fear, awe, hope, and desperation tangled all together.

Good. Fear was better than carelessness.

Qingran stood in front of them, arms loosely crossed, her bandaged hands visible as she stood firm.

"I’m Qingran." she said, voice calm and firm.

"This building is now your safe zone. If you follow orders and pull your weight, you’ll live. If you cause problems..."

Her eyes swept across them, pausing deliberately on a few of the older teenagers, "you’ll be dealt with."

A ripple of uneasy shifting went through the group.

"We’re facing a tidal wave in 30 days."

Qingran continued. "We’re building defenses. Food is rationed. Energy is rationed. Complaints are useless."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"First things first. Names. Stand up one by one. Loud enough for everyone to hear."

The students and teachers scrambled awkwardly to their feet in turn.

One by one, they gave their names — Mei Jiao, Chen Ran, Sun Wei, Xu Tianming...some so quietly Qingran had to glare before they repeated it louder.

It took almost ten minutes, but Qingran listened to every name, memorizing the faces attached to them.

These were not just burdens. They were assets; future builders, guards, scavengers.

When the last name was given, Qingran nodded once.

"You’re here because you survived. But survival isn’t enough. From now on, you’re responsible for each other. If one of you screws up, you all pay the price."

Silence stretched heavy and thick.

Then, slowly, a small figure at the back stood up.

It was the girl, the one who had screamed earlier, the one whose voice had almost gotten them all killed.

Her hands twisted nervously in the hem of her jacket. She bowed low, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I’m so sorry miss Qingran" she said. "For screaming. I... I was scared, but it won’t happen again."

The entire room seemed to hold its breath as they waited for Qingran’s reply.

Qingran looked at the girl for a long moment, expression unreadable.

Finally, she nodded.

"It’s alright kid." she said simply. "Fear’s normal. Letting it control you gets people killed. Learn to control it instead. I felt pretty scared for my life back there too, so it’s normal."

The girl nodded fiercely, tears glinting in her eyes but holding back her sobs.

Qingran turned back to the crowd.

"You’ll be divided into teams starting tomorrow. Some of you will help clear out debris, some will help reinforce defenses, and some will train to fight. Everyone works. No exceptions."

She let her gaze linger again over them.

"You don’t have to like me. You just have to listen, so you can stay alive until the end."

A quiet, grim agreement passed through the room, heads nodding, shoulders straightening.

The spark of survival catching on.

Qingran felt something loosen slightly in her chest.

Maybe... just maybe... They had a shot.

Turning to Feng Yuxi, she spoke quietly.

"Assign sleeping areas. Double-check everyone for wounds one more time. 6 to a suite, 2 to a bedroom. Get the names of those injured, I’ll come back for them."

Feng Yuxi nodded and moved off immediately, her voice crisp as she started barking out orders.

Qingran lingered for a moment longer, watching the survivors start to shuffle into rough lines, groups forming.

Some helping the weaker ones, others staying close to friends.

Not they were not perfect or strong. But together perhaps they were strong enough to get through this nightmare.

Lingquan’s voice stirred in her mind, soft and thoughtful.

[You did well.]

Qingran snorted under her breath, exhaustion creeping up her spine.

"Tell me that after we survive the month."

Qingran turned away from the group once Feng Yuxi took over, her boots thudding lightly against the carpeted floor.

She needed a few minutes to herself, a moment to think, to plan.

There was no luxury of rest yet, but even a breath of solitude was something.

She leaned against the cold wall of the hallway outside the suite, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded.

Survivors secured.

First briefing done.

Next steps: supplies, fortifications, medical checks, training.

She exhaled slowly, mind ticking through the endless list of tasks.

Behind her, she could hear Feng Yuxi moving briskly through the crowd, dividing them up into suites with quick, sharp commands.

No one dared argue. Not after that speech.

It was efficient. What Qingran needed right now was efficiency.

[Hydration low. Recommend water intake.] Lingquan’s voice chimed in her mind again.

Qingran resisted the urge to curse aloud. "I know." she muttered instead. She tilted her head back, swallowing another mouthful from the bottle water Feng Yuxi had given her earlier.

A few minutes later, Feng Yuxi emerged, brushing her hands on her pants.

"All sorted out." she reported. "12 survivors, divided into 2 groups. Injured ones are listed here." She handed over a small, hastily torn piece of paper with names scribbled down.