Apocalypse: But Both of Us Are Love-Brained

Jiang Ting is a twenty-four-year-old woman who lives a comfortable, low-stress life in Yu City with her boyfriend, Cong Yixing. She works from home as a video editor for a mobile game guild, earning a modest income that covers her daily expenses while allowing her to sleep in and avoid the rigors of a traditional nine-to-five job. Cong Yixing, by contrast, works in wireless communications and serves as the diligent caretaker of their household, handling cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping with meticulous attention to detail. Their relationship is characterized by Jiang Ting’s lazy, playful demeanor and Cong Yixing’s patient, devoted care, creating a domestic equilibrium that Jiang Ting is deeply reluctant to disrupt.

Underlying this peaceful existence is Jiang Ting’s complicated family history. She was raised by her grandmother after her mother abandoned her and her father proved to be an irresponsible figure. Following her grandmother’s death, Jiang Ting inherited a mysterious dark green jade bead, which grants her access to an ancestral space. This dimension functions as a static, climate-controlled storage area that grows in size irregularly, allowing Jiang Ting to hoard vast quantities of food and supplies without spoilage. She keeps this ability secret from Cong Yixing, using it to stash leftovers and snacks, a habit that fuels her quiet guilt as she perceives herself as deceitful in their open relationship.

The narrative tension escalates when Cong Yixing proposes that Jiang Ting meet his parents during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. This suggestion triggers a spiral of anxiety in Jiang Ting, who fears the loss of her current lifestyle and dreads the prospect of navigating a large, traditional family. She imagines herself being bullied or forced into domestic servitude, leading to a dramatic emotional outburst in which she refuses to go. Cong Yixing responds with reassurance, promising that his family will respect her and that he will always stand by her side, effectively dismantling her fears through emotional support rather than force.

Concurrently, the story introduces a broader environmental crisis. Yu City and the surrounding regions are experiencing unprecedented heatwaves and severe droughts, with news reports indicating historical lows in water levels and widespread agricultural distress. Jiang Ting initially treats these events as background noise but gradually becomes aware of the severity of the situation. Her anxiety manifests in practical actions, such as ordering extra cases of mineral water, which she secretly stores in her ancestral space. This hoarding behavior marks a shift from casual convenience to strategic preparation for potential scarcity.

As the heat intensifies, the couple discusses their future, including the possibility of buying a house in their hometown and the logistical challenges of balancing career and family. Jiang Ting agrees to accompany Cong Yixing home, signaling a tentative acceptance of their shared future. However, the looming environmental instability and her secret hoarding suggest that the story is moving toward a crisis that will test their relationship and Jiang Ting’s ability to protect what she values. The narrative juxtaposes the intimacy of their daily life with the encroaching external threats, setting the stage for a story where personal devotion must navigate an increasingly hostile world.