Apocalypse: I Have A Multiplier System - Chapter 216

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Marrying

She hated the fact that her own family — her foster family, at least — wanted her to stay, to endure this system, to play along with the farce.

They had told her it was the only way to survive.

The idea of leaving, of finding another base or creating her own life outside of Crystal Cove, had crossed her mind many times, but she knew that wasn’t an option.

If she left, where would she go? What would she do?

The other bases were no better, and with her foster family’s insistence on staying, she felt trapped, unable to make a decision for herself.

The counterman only chuckled, shaking his head with an exaggerated sigh.

“You say that now, but I wonder how long you’ll keep pretending. You’ll be serving someone soon enough. Maybe you’ll find that 80-year-old man a bit more to your liking. Who knows, he might treat you better than most around here.”

Xi Ping’s mind froze for a moment. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

An 80-year-old man? What was he talking about? She could feel a chill run down her spine.

But before she could ask for clarification, the man was already looking away, clearly losing interest.

He mumbled something about her being a “white lotus,” whatever that meant, before shooing her off with a wave of his hand.

The term “white lotus” hung in the air, but Xi Ping didn’t give it much thought.

What she couldn’t ignore, however, was the unsettling mention of an 80-year-old man. She shook it off for the moment, telling herself it was just more of the counterworker’s nonsense.

Her mind, however, remained unsettled.

Her thoughts spiraled, and she didn’t even notice she had reached her foster parents’ apartment until she heard their voices floating out from inside.

The wooden door was thin, doing little to muffle the voices of her foster parents. Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as a wave of unease washed over her.

“Do you think he’ll agree to our terms?” her foster mother asked, her voice filled with trepidation.

The sound of her foster father’s sigh followed.

“Of course he will. The vice president isn’t one to let a good deal slip through his fingers, especially one like this. Xi Ping is young, strong, and—let’s face it—quite a catch compared to others around here.”

Xi Ping’s breath caught in her throat.

A deal? About me?

She pressed her ear closer to the door, praying she had misheard.

“But what if she resists?” her foster mother continued, her tone hesitant.

“She’s always been headstrong. You know how she gets when she feels cornered.”

“She won’t have a choice,” her foster father replied dismissively.

“Do you think she can survive out there on her own? Without the protection of the base, she’d be zombie food in days.

She’ll understand this is for the best—she’ll do what we tell her. Besides, once the vice president has her, he’ll take care of everything.

We won’t have to worry about daily missions or fees anymore. It’s the perfect solution. Not to mention she is the one who wants to leave us. By fixing her marriage to the vice president we are only helping her.”

Xi Ping staggered back, her head spinning.

They’re selling me off to that old man?

Her stomach churned with nausea at the realization. The counter clerk’s lecherous words now made horrifying sense.

These ba*tard has still not given up on making use of her!

She had already repaid them with food yet they are greedy and want a lifelong free food source!

Greedy!

Too much greed!

It wasn’t the first time her foster parents had put themselves before her.

They’d always found ways to shirk responsibilities, forcing Xi Ping to take on the brunt of the work.

But this—this was different.

They were sacrificing her freedom, and her dignity, for their selfish gains.

Xi Ping couldn’t listen anymore. Her body moved on its own, and she backed away from the apartment, her breaths coming in shallow gasps.

Xi Ping wandered aimlessly through the base, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

Every face she passed seemed to remind her of the oppressive system that had trapped her here.

She thought of the counter clerk’s smug face, the cruel barter system, and the foster parents who saw her as nothing more than a bargaining chip.

Her thoughts turned to the vice president.

She didn’t know much about him, except that he was a reclusive man who wielded significant power in Crystal Cove.

Rumors painted him as a cunning manipulator who had no qualms about exploiting others for his gain.

And now, he had set his sights on her.

A group of children played nearby, their laughter a stark contrast to her dark thoughts.

They kicked around a ragged ball, their faces smudged with dirt but alight with joy. For a moment, Xi Ping’s heart softened.

She wanted to protect that innocence, to fight for a world where they wouldn’t grow up facing the same grim realities she did.

But how could she protect anyone when she couldn’t even protect herself?

That night, Xi Ping returned to the apartment.

Her foster parents greeted her with forced smiles, their guilt poorly concealed. She played along, pretending not to notice, all the while formulating a plan.

Over a sparse dinner of stale bread and watery soup, her foster father cleared his throat. “Xi Ping, we’ve been thinking about your future.”

She raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “My future?”

“Yes,” her foster mother chimed in, her voice overly cheerful.

“We want to make sure you’re taken care of. You’ve worked so hard for this family, and we’ve found an opportunity that could… ease your burdens.”

Xi Ping set her spoon down, her expression was carefully neutral.

“What kind of opportunity?”

Her foster father hesitated, but then he smiled—a tight, calculating expression.

“The vice president has taken an interest in you. He’s willing to provide for you—and for us—if you agree to… marry him.”