Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

Taking a deep breath, she puffed out her small chest.

One day, she would definitely make Paige Summers see her in a new light!

Sean Raines stopped his impatient master, explaining that Erin Quinn still needed time to adjust.

Serenus glanced at Erin Quinn and gave a reluctant nod. "Alright, then. We’ll let Evie get familiar with her surroundings first. But this one..." He pointed at Paige Summers. "Family can’t stay. It will affect Evie’s ability to cultivate her Daoist heart!"

Paige Summers smiled and spoke for the first time. "Don’t worry, sir. I just came to see her living situation and pay my respects to you. In fact, I already have a place to stay."

Her calm and straightforward manner left a good impression on Serenus, and he turned his gaze back to her. But the longer he looked, the more his brow furrowed, as if lost in a puzzle. He turned to Sean Raines. "This child, she looks just like..."

"Master!" Sean Raines cut him off abruptly. "Paige Summers just arrived in Central City and still has a lot to sort out. I think I should take them to see Evie’s new home first, so she can go back without worrying. What do you think?"

"Eh? Hmm... Fine. You can take them, then..."

Though Serenus agreed, his eyes remained fixed on Paige Summers until she left the main hall with Sean Raines.

Paige Summers naturally sensed something was off. As they walked, she asked probingly, "Sean Raines, your master seemed surprised by my appearance?"

Sean Raines was silent for a moment before turning with a smile. "It’s nothing, really. You just look a bit like a friend of my master’s, so he had that reaction. I was a little surprised myself when I first saw you. But then I thought about it—there are plenty of people in this world who look alike. It’s not like you’re some peerless beauty, so it’s perfectly normal, right?"

’Normal... my ass!’ Paige Summers cursed inwardly. ’If it was normal, why did you stop your master from talking? You’re obviously hiding something!’ A possibility suddenly occurred to her, and her heart tightened. ’Could the old Taoist’s friend be a relative of this body’s original owner?’ After thinking ’What a pain,’ she immediately decided Sean Raines had done the right thing. She clamped her mouth shut, no longer interested in prying. ’Even though I’m in this body, I’m not the original person. The chances of being found out are slim, but having to deal with strange, unexpected relatives would be a massive headache. It’s best to just pretend I don’t know anything!’

Her mood lightened, and she quickly turned her attention back to Erin Quinn.

Behind the Taoist Abbey’s main hall were several smaller courtyards. Sean Raines led them directly into one.

"This is the Mind’s Courtyard. Senior Sister Lee used to live here, but she passed away a year ago, so it’s empty now. Everything inside is newly arranged and untouched. It’ll be very convenient for Evie to live here." Sean Raines’s mood dipped slightly as he spoke of his deceased senior sister.

Paige Summers said nothing more and simply led Erin Quinn on a tour of the place.

It was very nice indeed.

Though the courtyard was small, it was very quiet and secluded. The main house was a suite, fully furnished with a living room, bedroom, and study. There was also a west wing set up as a guest room. The entire place was spotless, clearly cleaned daily.

In the apocalypse, you’d have to be backed by someone incredibly powerful to live in a house like this!

She poked Erin Quinn’s forehead. "You better learn your skills well! Or else you’ll have me to answer to!"

"I know!" Erin Quinn habitually snuggled up and nuzzled her hand. "I know this place is great, and I’ll study hard! So, you’ll wait for me, okay?"

Paige Summers gave a soft "mhm."

’It was touching, sure, but she also felt a strange sense of giving her daughter away... How ridiculous!’ She was a total rookie who’d never even been in a relationship; where was this sudden burst of maternal instinct coming from?!

She had met who she needed to meet and seen what she needed to see. After letting Erin Quinn cling to her for a while longer and stuffing some spare Crystal Cores into her hands, Paige Summers decided to head back. She still had a lot to do!

Sean Raines and Erin Quinn walked her all the way to the gate.

Even when the car was far down the road, she could still see Erin Quinn’s small, ramrod-straight figure.

Paige Summers smiled and let out a sigh.

Everyone has their own path. A fledgling must eventually spread its wings. As for partings, she had already been through the most heart-wrenching one; this was nothing in comparison. By doing this, she felt she hadn’t betrayed Erin Quinn’s initial trust, or the help she’d given along the way.

Now, it was time to worry about her own affairs.

When she had checked in yesterday, the administrator had told her she had to register at the Power Management Department by today at the latest. So, she had already arranged to meet Claire Chapman and the others at the department entrance.

Driving back to the Fourth District, she quickly found the Power Management Department.

It was too conspicuous!

Because the Fourth District was an expansion zone, all the buildings were low and densely packed. The Power Management Department, however, occupied its own small square. Its two-story height was enough to make it look grand and impressive!