Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess-Chapter 168: Don’t twist it

Zhang Yi straightened his back, feigning calm dignity. "I’ll stay for now," he said smoothly, as though he had any right to make that decision. "I’m not here to cause trouble. Just looking for a chance to survive, like everyone else."

Qingran’s expression didn’t change, but her gaze sharpened. "I didn’t say you could stay."

He looked at her, voice filled with gentle conviction, as if he were the wronged party. "I’m not asking for favors. I only want a roof, some food, and a chance to contribute. If this place truly values human life, then I trust it will make room for one more."

The others shifted, visibly uncomfortable. His tone was soft, humble even, but something about it rang false.

"Don’t twist this into something righteous," Qingran said coldly. "You didn’t ask permission. You forced your way in behind someone’s goodwill. That’s not mercy. That’s manipulation."

He looked at her with practiced disappointment, like a saint being persecuted. "So it’s wrong to hope for kindness now? I walked through the same hell everyone else did. I’ve lost people too."

"You abandoned people," Qingran said flatly.

Zhang Yi’s eyes flickered, just briefly.

"I know who you are." Her voice was low, deadly. "Don’t pretend you’re harmless. You’re not here because you believe in hope or community."

Qingran said coldly. "You’re here because you saw something better than what you had, and you thought you could worm your way in and take it."

Zhang Yi’s eyes narrowed, but he kept his saintly smile. "Is it wrong to want a second chance?"

Qingran’s voice stayed quiet. "Wanting it isn’t wrong. The way you go about getting it is."

Zhang Yi let out a slow breath, the picture of patient suffering. "If you’re going to turn me away, then just say it," he said gently. "But know this every life you reject weighs the same as one you save. I only came here with hope."

Qingran’s mouth curved not in amusement, but in disgust. "Don’t confuse me with someone who cares about being righteous."

His eyes flicked to her, that same saintly calm faltering just for a second.

"I’m not a savior," she said plainly. "I’m not obligated to house you, feed you, or carry your sins because you think surviving makes you noble. I don’t owe you a roof just because you’re desperate."

"But isn’t that what this place is? A haven?" he asked, still playing the martyr.

"It’s not your haven," Qingran said. "It’s mine. Built with my supplies, protected by my people, run under my rules. If you wanted kindness, you should’ve earned it. Not slipped in through a back door."

She turned to Rina without looking away from him. "Second floor hallway. He gets no room, no water, no food unless I approve it. He sleeps with the cold tile under his back and knows it’s better than what he deserves."

Zhang Yi stiffened. "You’d let me die in the hallway?"

Qingran stepped closer, her tone dropping into ice. "You think I won’t?"

Silence fell like a blade between them. For a breath, Zhang Yi seemed to realize—truly realize—that this wasn’t a battle he could win and that she was no ordinary woman.

"You want to test how far my tolerance stretches?" she asked softly. "Be my guest. But I only have room for sixty. That number hasn’t changed."

He swallowed and said nothing.

"Go."

Rina moved quickly to comply. Zhang Yi picked up his bag without another word, his silence brittle. As he disappeared down the hallway, the tension in the room eased, just slightly.

Meng Nian spoke first. "You going to let him stay?"

"For now," Qingran said flatly. "I’m not keeping him alive. I’m keeping him in view."

Zhang Yi was a very cunning person, he knew how to use his mouth best deceiving and manipulating people as he pleased.

With him here, she would have to make new rules and follow her old ones strictly.

But she would have to do it in a way, Zhang Yi won’t be able to turn them against her.

It would be an hassle.

"Meng Nian let’s head to the second floor. Unlike the top floors, this is only floor only has rooms, no suite..so we’ll have to provide the people here food. We can give them 1 to a room. But we won’t be taking any more survivors for a while. We only need 1 more person."

Meng Nian nodded, he could only offer suggestions, he still fell under Qingran’s rules. She seemed to have a certain hatred for the new guy but he didn’t know why.

They took the stairs since it was only 2 floors.

"Is there anyway for him to contact Haoyu?

Qingran paused, thinking of an answer for Meng Nian, she could contact sinxe they both had systems and even then they had only contacted each other once.

"I have no idea. All I know is that he’s in zone 5 with Feng Yizhou. As for a way to contact him? Or for you to speak with him...I don’t know yet.."

Meng Nian nodded, he’d just have to wait until the day he could see him again. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Don’t worry I’ll keep you alive until you meet him and Feng Yizhou will keep him alive as well. You lovers will reunite one day.."

Meng Nian scratched his head, who knows Haoyu might have already fallen out of love, and it wasn’t like he even liked him before.

Qingran gave him a sideways glance but said nothing. She wasn’t one to comfort with false hope. She only offered promises she knew she could keep and staying alive, that much she could guarantee. For now.

They reached the second floor. The air was colder here, unused, the long hallway quiet and dim.

Qingran moved ahead, checking the layout.

Narrower than the floors above, smaller rooms spaced evenly on either side. No corner suites, no extra space. Just doors and walls and a silence waiting to be broken.

She opened the nearest room and stepped inside. It was quite plain. A single narrow bed frame and mattress.

"This’ll do," she murmured. "One per room. Minimal contact. No congregating."