Opening a Chain Store in a Calamity-Stricken World [Nonhuman]

[This story will go premium starting at Chapter 20. Kisses and thanks to all the lovely readers who've read it. Also, please check out my upcoming story at the bottom of this blurb, and add it to your list if you feel like it.]

In New Star Calendar year 4215, the Fourth Technological Boom led to widespread development of the human brain.

Humanity had barely begun to enjoy the benefits of its technological explosion when side effects emerged. Natural-born humans began dying on a massive scale. To preserve the human race, the Alliance leadership developed the best treatment for alleviating the side effects, but it was expensive and beyond the reach of ordinary people.

He Miao was one of millions of ordinary people. But after she happened upon a stack of apocalypse-themed game cartridges and accidentally entered the game, everything changed.

"You possess the most precious thing in the apocalypse."

World One: The Extreme Heat Apocalypse Hot Pot Restaurant with Air Conditioning (Snow Lion Beastman) [Completed]

"If I could just gulp down a can of ice-cold cola before I die..."

The powerful figure, who had been set up and was on the verge of death, saw everything blur before her eyes. Her happy life flashed before her like a lantern show. She closed her eyes in resignation, only to hear someone ask at her ear, "Would you like sugar-free or classic?"

A can of ice-cold cola dangled before her. A woman holding a flyer smiled as she invited customers in. "You get a free gift with your hot pot!"

Thinking she might as well die with a full stomach, the powerful figure ordered the whole menu. When she scratched the prize card after her meal and revealed a particle cannon, she fell silent for a long time.

Could ingredients gathered from local mutated beasts also grant abilities?

Fire-breathing monster tripe: Heat resistance +5

Grilled beef omasum: Removes negative effects

Wild celtuce: Negates one instance of heat damage

After seeing off the last customer, He Miao threw herself into Albert's arms and rubbed his pink paw pads with all her might. She took a big sniff of the soft fur on his chest. "Ah, Albert, you smell so good."

Albert's face flushed red. "Miss, that tickles."

But the snowy white ears atop his head twitched involuntarily.

World Two: The Ocean Apocalypse Seafood Buffet (Merman King) [Completed]

A thousand years after the gods vanished from the world, five years of continuous rain turned the world into a vast ocean, and religious authority ruled over everyone.

Mutated beasts not native to this planet quietly appeared in the ocean. To survive, humanity had no choice but to build island homes across the sea.

That seafood buffet had appeared out of nowhere, and the furious sea beasts never dared approach it.

The poor were regulars there, but people paid no attention at first. Only after a small church representing the will of God was overthrown did they take notice.

Steamed fish: Grows gills for one hour

Two-shelled crab: Immunity to physical damage

Spiny shrimp: Weapon sharpness +10

He Miao changed out of her manager's uniform and gently opened the small hatch in her bedroom floor. She jumped into the water and landed in a soft shell. Albert's fish tail gleamed in a dazzling array of colors, brighter than the stars. He Miao ran her hand over it, entranced, and murmured, "Albert, you're so beautiful."

Albert moved the tip of his tail restlessly and slipped the pearl bracelet he'd made that day onto He Miao's wrist.

World Three: The Infinite-Loop Apocalypse Convenience Store (Vampire Count)

Blurb published before January 2, 2024.

The male lead is one person, but he takes on a new form in every world. I'm here for some nonhuman romance, hehehe. The female lead saves the world.

Upcoming story: Snow on the Hairpin, Spring Wine in the Jar

I'm a shameless cliché lover: marriage first, love later + faked death + regretful pursuit + running away with a child. It won't be a long story. I'll scatter the angst for 180 days and serve up plenty of melodrama and thrills.

When Jiang Weimeng married Yu Sihang, she knew he hadn't wanted to marry her. Still, she believed that with enough sincerity, even the coldest stone would warm if you held it close.

Everyone said that a woman from the southern tribes like her was beneath him. If the Empress Dowager and the Emperor hadn't felt they owed the Jiang clan, they wouldn't have forced the kingdom's only prince to break things off with the Fang family girl and marry her.

Jiang Weimeng didn't believe what other people said. She only believed Yu Sihang. But then an accident left her pregnant. She hurried over to share the happy news, but before she could speak, she heard him telling someone at the door, "She's just a barbarian woman. How could she be fit to bear my child?"

She had tried to warm that piece of jade for three years, but it still left Jiang Weimeng cold.

At last, Jiang Weimeng gave up and faked her death to escape.

--

After Jiang Weimeng died, Yu Sihang suffered nightmares every night.

For three whole years, he couldn't forget the sight of her vomiting blood in his arms. Beneath his palm was her rounded belly, which even her winter clothes couldn't conceal.

He summoned her spirit again and again, but she was still too unwilling to visit his dreams.

It wasn't until his mother fell gravely ill and a vassal prince plotted rebellion that his elder brother dragged him out of the prince's residence, and he finally emerged from his daze into the light of day.

He set out for Jiangnan with a sword to investigate the vassal prince's case. Yu Sihang agreed without hesitation. As the wind and rain lashed his face, he thought in a daze that it might be better to die there. He didn't know whether she would still be willing to see him, or if she had already returned to the world of the living. Where could a man burdened with so many sins go to find her?

While taking shelter from the rain at an inn, he heard an angry woman's voice. "Zhou Qin, Zhangnu and Binu are still little. How can they wear such heavy things?!"

Yu Sihang felt his heart and guts tear apart. Slowly, he turned his head and saw her, by turns delighted and annoyed, throwing away two gold collars. Two children with similar faces followed close behind her.

The aloof male lead x the sunny female lead

1. This is a melodramatic story, a melodramatic story, a melodramatic story. Saying it three times because it's important!

2. There are scenes where both the heroine and hero suffer. The ending is happy, so please read according to your tolerance.

3. No insulting the author.

Theme: Love and good food are the only things in life that must not be let down.