A Maid Urgently Needed

Not long after the Apocalypse broke out, the signal cut out for some unknown reason.

The water supply had already been contaminated by then. If any careless survivors-or those driven desperate by thirst-drank it, they would suffer.

At best, they would have severe stomach pains. At worst, they would develop a high fever, fall into a coma, and die.

Later, as the survivors' bodies gradually grew stronger, they could drink contaminated water. But who knew how many corpses and mutated creatures had soaked in it? Just thinking about it was disgusting.

But what else could you do if you didn't drink it?

At the same time, this water inhibited the development of Esper Ability Users' powers.

On the evening of the Apocalypse's second day, some areas began losing power, and the outages steadily spread.

June was summertime, and the hot weather made fruit, vegetables, and meat spoil faster. Fruit and vegetables lasted a little longer, but meat became inedible after two or three days at most.

Within a month at most, survivors could only fill their stomachs with snacks and packaged instant foods. Getting another bite of a fragrant, freshly cooked meal had become the greatest luxury.

Having anything to eat was already a blessing. Those who were timid or weak had no food at all, or died on their way to find some.

None of that, however, had a damn thing to do with Chen Luo.

Dharma King was thinking, Should I have braised pork today, or ribs?

I've been eating them every day, at every meal. It's getting a little tiresome. I'll change things up today and have something light.

With the living room curtains drawn, Chen Luo and Su Dazhu were using the enormous LCD television as a screen to play PSP games.

What a dull, idle life this was. Eat, then play. Play, then eat. Eat, then sleep.

They spent all day eating and waiting to die, frittering their ambition away on games.

But it's the end of the world, and I have no intention of saving it.

Picking up the ice-cold Coke beside him, Chen Luo sighed. I don't want to live like this either.

But what can I do? I'm pretty desperate myself.

Glancing at Dharma King behind him, whose eyes were glued to the television, Chen Luo said, "Go find some zombies to practice on. Try to master some new skills."

Dharma King had advanced to level two yesterday. The ability power within him had increased considerably, allowing him to use other lightning skills.

But advancing didn't mean he automatically mastered those skills. He had to figure them out himself.

Chen Luo only knew space skills. He couldn't help with other types; that was something Dharma King had to manage on his own.

Honing his abilities in combat was the quickest way.

Dharma King reluctantly tore his eyes away from the LCD television in front of him. That game looked fun.

It was bad enough that they wouldn't let a dog play games. Now they wouldn't even let him watch.

Chen Luo chuckled inwardly. Dharma King reminded him so much of the crowd of classmates who used to gather around him and watch him play when he brought his GBA to school as a child.

But I'm doing this for your own good. A dog needs honing to amount to anything.

Su Dazhu had also advanced to level two yesterday. There was a slight gap between him and Dharma King, but advancement was fast in the early stages, so that difference wasn't particularly noticeable.

Su Dazhu was different. He was a strength-oriented physical Esper Ability User, with no skills to master. Advancing simply made his body stronger and increased his strength. All he needed was combat experience.

But the zombies outside were still at the lowest level. Playing around with them wouldn't do much to hone his skills.

Seeing Dharma King rise onto his hind legs, open the door himself, and prepare to leave, Chen Luo remembered something and hurriedly called out.

"Wait a second."

Dharma King turned to look at Chen Luo. Has he changed his mind about sending me out? Or is he worried about my safety and wants to remind me to be careful?

Instead, Chen Luo said, "I've tied up two bags of trash. Take them to the garbage pile on your way out."

Dharma King: !!!

You really don't treat a dog like a dog, do you?

Watching Dharma King leave, Chen Luo shook his head. "You're such a handful. Once you learn to clean up and take out the trash yourself, you'll be a mature dog."

"You won't take the initiative unless I tell you to. Sigh."

Su Dazhu gave an awkward chuckle beside him. Poor Dharma King.

Chen Luo said, "Forget about him. Let's keep playing."

At six thirty in the evening, it was time for dinner.

Yet Chen Luo was troubled. Eating rich meat dishes every day wasn't working out. Even his stomach was starting to feel uncomfortable.

When Chen Luo had first been reborn, he had gone without for so long that he wanted nothing but meat.

The first things he had thought of were greasy buckets of fried chicken and roast duck.

All the prepared meals he had ordered were hearty meat dishes, too.

There were vegetable dishes, but they were all dry-fried cauliflower, hand-torn cabbage, and oil-braised eggplant.

There wasn't a single serving of simple stir-fried greens or vegetable and egg soup.

Who could stomach that? Chen Luo deeply regretted his oversight.

Chen Luo had plenty of ingredients, more than he could eat in ten lifetimes. He also had learning materials, including heaps of cooking videos.

But if watching videos were enough to cook well, everyone would be a master chef.

Right now, Chen Luo didn't want anything except a bowl of vegetable soup.

But he didn't have any.

He relied on Dharma King even to take out the trash. There was no way Chen Luo would cook it himself.

Dharma King was too dumb and couldn't do all sorts of things. Chen Luo desperately needed a maid to look after his daily needs.

He wanted a life where someone dressed him and fed him. Someone had to wash the dishes, mop the floors, do the laundry, and keep the house tidy.

The first person Chen Luo thought of was Ma Yu. Her cooking was amazing.

With her around, he could eat whatever he wanted, and she could wash his dishes afterward.

Chen Luo thought she had a pretty nice personality, and she was easy on the eyes, too.

He had already had this idea before the Apocalypse.

Chen Luo didn't know whether she was still alive. Originally, even if she was, he had planned to let her go hungry for a few more days to make her easier to manage. Now, though, Chen Luo, with his terminal case of laziness, was the one desperately in need of a housekeeper.

Seeing Dharma King constantly run ragged didn't sit well with Chen Luo either. It was time to give him a break.

When Ma Yu had come to Chen Luo's home to teach him how to cook, he had made a point of taking her home once.

She currently lived in the staff dormitory of a five-star hotel not far from Chen Luo's home, where she worked as a chef.

Chen Luo had lured her over with generous pay to teach him cooking part-time.

If Ma Yu had lived too far away or in a busy downtown area, Chen Luo would have abandoned the idea outright. She wasn't the only person in the world.

Chen Luo thought it over. Better play it safe. I'll be able to advance to a level-three ability user tomorrow. I'll go check on Ma Yu the day after.

If that didn't work out, he would look for someone else.

Chen Luo sighed. He would make do tonight and have some winter melon and pork rib soup.