As a Charming Mushroom, I Fell into the Apocalypse (MUSHROOM)
Like an elementary school student setting off on a spring outing, Hui Gu was quickly captivated by the enticing aromas along the street.
He crouched in front of a cooked food shop, pondering how to earn credits.
Everything in the base had to be exchanged with credits, but he had none.
He even owed credits for the cap and mask he was wearing.
Hui Gu rubbed his stomach. Maintaining human form naturally required more energy, and the food he had eaten at home at noon was almost entirely digested.
He rarely experienced this kind of hunger. Listening to the faint gurgling only he could hear from his stomach felt oddly amusing, while the fragrant scent in the air grew increasingly irresistible.
It was hard to ignore such a tall person crouching in front of the shop.
The shop owner glanced outside, his tone laced with disdain: "Another able-bodied slacker looking for a free meal."
After saying this, he set down the mutated meat he was handling and rolled up one sleeve: "Watch me chase him away."
In the post-apocalyptic world, he had seen plenty of such small-time scammers. His heart had long hardened, leaving no room for pity.
Those capable of running a shop within the base were generally no ordinary people—both he and his wife were strength-type variant new humans.
The shop owner, with his solid muscles, stood like a small mountain of brawn, intimidating enough to silence a crying child at night.
The shop owner’s wife also looked outside. Seeing the somewhat slender and frail figure, she inexplicably found herself unable to speak harshly. She shot her husband a glare: "Enough. He isn’t making any noise or causing trouble. No need to be so fierce. I’ll go ask him to leave."
She stood up, appearing just as tall as her husband. The muscular lines on her arms were unmistakable even under her loose clothing—similarly robust and powerful.
Her Ability Level was even higher than his, and she was known for her no-nonsense, decisive demeanor.
The shop owner rubbed the top of his head and muttered, "Am I really that fierce?"
Then he turned around and went back to busy himself in the kitchen.
Hui Gu crouched there until a woman's voice, sounding around forty years old, came from above his head: "Young man, you're blocking our business here."
Hui Gu slowly raised his head and blinked: "Oh."
He stood up, ready to move himself elsewhere.
Suddenly, she called out to stop him.
Hui Gu looked at her, puzzled.
Seeing those clear, jade-green eyes that seemed washed by rain, the shop owner felt an inexplicable tug at her heart and instinctively told him not to leave.
She tossed aside her initial intention and changed her words: "Since you're blocking the entrance, you can come inside and sit."
Hui Gu was utterly honest: "I don't have any credits. Not a single one."
What a pitiful, well-behaved child.
A child like this couldn't possibly be a scammer—he must have run into some kind of trouble.
The shop owner waved her hand, smiling generously: "No matter. Business has been slow these past few days anyway. Some of the meat won't keep much longer, so I'll treat you to a meal for free."
Just like that, Hui Gu found himself following her into the shop, becoming the only "customer" inside, sitting there looking somewhat bewildered.
The shop owner shouted loudly toward the back: "Make a large bowl of Black Feathered Snake noodles!"
The Black Feathered Snake was a mutated, ink-black serpent with degenerated scales, covered entirely in feathers. Its aggression lay entirely in the venom glands hidden beneath its fangs. Once the venom glands were properly removed, the snake meat had little fishy taste and, aside from a somewhat rubbery texture, no other unpleasant tastes. In this post-apocalyptic world, it was considered a sought-after ingredient.
The noodles were made from a special strain of wheat developed by the base just this year. The wheat ears were sharp as blades and would actively attack anyone who came near.
Harvesters must be certified new humans, but fortunately, these wheat grains only taste slightly more astringent compared to pre-apocalyptic wheat. Replicating nearly eighty percent of the original flavor was already the result of countless efforts by the research institute.
The shop owner emerged from the kitchen, a cleaver in hand and a dissatisfied look on his face: "Why should we? Does this kid even have any credits?"
Hui Gu removed his mask and looked at them: "I'll pay you back once I earn some."
His face was revealed in its entirety—unworldly and extraordinary. His eyebrows were finely arched like those of an elf, and his eyes, clear as spring water, carried a natural charm that made people instinctively want to draw closer. His overall aura reminded one of a tender willow sprouting in early spring, delicate yet resilient with newborn vitality.
For a moment, both owners felt as if a small pearl had fallen into their modest shop. This pearl, exquisitely beautiful, made their somewhat dim and dusty store appear brighter and more refined.
The owner quietly moved the large blood-stained cleaver, still adorned with black feathers, behind his back, cleared his throat, and said, "Forget it. One bowl won’t cost us much."
He turned and went back into the kitchen.
Soon after, a steaming bowl of snake meat noodles was placed on the table.
It was a rare delicacy in the post-apocalyptic world—unexpectedly savory.
Gulp after gulp, Hui Gu quickly finished the entire bowl, not even leaving a drop of soup.
He wiped his mouth, about to say thank you, when another bowl was set before him.
The owner’s tone was gruff, but his words were kind: "Eat up. With a frame like yours, even a Mutant Hamster could snatch you away in one bite."
Just like that, after being fed seven or eight bowls, Hui Gu finally felt full. He patted his stomach and said, "I can’t eat anymore."
His stomach had stopped growling, and the warmth of the noodle soup gave him a rare feeling of comfort.
Hui Gu spoke with utmost sincerity: "Thank you. Once I earn some credits, I will definitely come back."
The shop owner’s wife laughed heartily: "No need to be so polite. Do you have a job yet?"
Hui Gu shook his head honestly.
The owner asked, "Then how have you been surviving until now?"
Hui Gu tilted his head in thought: "Someone was taking care of me, giving me food, but he’s gone now."
Mushroom didn’t realize how easily such a statement could be misinterpreted in the post-apocalyptic world.
The owner’s wife paused while collecting the bowls: "I’m sorry."
Hui Gu didn’t understand why she was suddenly apologizing and could only blink in confusion.
The owner sighed: "Ah, my bad for prying."
The owner and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other’s eyes.
They would have liked to offer Hui Gu a job, but their own shop was on the verge of collapse. Business had been getting worse lately, and soon they might have to shut down and become Mercenaries.
Being a Mercenary was the choice of most new humans—a life lived on the edge, risking their necks every day. No one would choose such a path unless forced by survival.
Hui Gu’s aura was too pure, so they naturally assumed he was an ordinary person without any supernatural ability.
Even though the base’s fundamental rules strived to protect the rights of ordinary people, the post-apocalyptic environment was far too harsh for them. Finding stable work was exceedingly difficult.
"You should head north," the owner said as he began washing the dishes. "There are more ordinary people gathered there. You might find some short-term work to fill your stomach."
The proprietress said, "Don't go south—there are too many new humans there, with lots of entertainment venues unsuitable for you to visit, and it's full of trouble."
Hui Gu listened carefully, nodded to show he understood, then put on his hat and mask and walked out of the shop.
He took both owners' words to heart but overlooked one crucial detail: he couldn't tell north from south.
Which way was north, exactly...?
Hui Gu stared blankly at the intersection ahead.
In the end, he chose to follow a young man who seemed about his height.
Drifting with the crowd, he trailed farther and farther south.
Having been stared at earlier, he worked hard to suppress his pheromones and followed discreetly, minimizing his presence. Coincidentally, the young man was almost late for work and didn’t notice the little tail behind him.
It wasn’t until they stopped at the entrance of Nightclub and a security guard asked a question that the young man suddenly turned around: "Who are you? Why have you been following me?" Hui Gu shifted his gaze from the extravagantly decorated, brand new building to the speaker and replied innocently, 'I'm lost.'"
"Lost?" The young man looked him up and down, his expression softening slightly. "Are you mixed-race? I haven’t seen you at Nightclub before—you’re not here to compete for the new position, are you?"
New position meant job.
Hui Gu immediately forgot about his directional confusion: "There’s a job? Can I apply?"
Xiao Tang’s tone turned sharp: "This job requires looks, figure, and presence—not just youth. Your latter two are fine, but who knows what’s under that mask?"
Though the young man spoke aggressively, Hui Gu sensed no real malice, so he slowly removed his mask.
Xiao Tang fell silent. After the apocalypse, he’d grown accustomed to facing everyone with his most critical side, but confronted with this flawless face, he couldn’t muster any critical words.
He could only snort coldly: "You really are good-looking. I can do you a favor and take you to the interview."
As if suddenly remembering something, his expression shifted: "They say this job is very special, completely different from what we usually do. They’re only hiring one person."
Hui Gu didn’t understand why he seemed so excited but watched quietly.
Xiao Tang: "Ji Nianwen is also participating in this interview—he probably thinks he’s a shoo-in!"
But with this competitor in the picture, who would win was anyone’s guess.
The thought of Ji Nianwen’s hypocritical, white-lotus face made Xiao Tang’s cheeks flush with anger.
He turned to Hui Gu: "I’m Tang Qi. What’s your name?"
"Hui Gu."
"What a strange name." Xiao Tang didn’t dwell on others’ private affairs. "Follow me, don’t ask unnecessary questions, and only answer what they ask during the interview."
"Okay." Hui Gu glanced around and noticed most people coming and going were young.
Almost all were ordinary humans or very low-level new humans.
He knew too little about human society’s rules and didn’t care about the nature of the job.
In a daze, he followed along.
After the apocalypse, resources were limited, and elevators were prohibited in all buildings. They had to take the internal staff staircase up to the tenth floor. As they walked, they suddenly encountered a group of people.
This group was also heading to the tenth floor. When they saw Tang Qi, they immediately burst into mocking laughter: "Isn't this Tang Qi from the lobby? This area is reserved for entertaining VIPs. How could someone like you come here?"
The five or six people, both men and women, were dressed far more extravagantly than Tang Qi, wearing bright-colored outfits rarely seen in the post-apocalyptic world.
"Average looks, can't attract big clients, yet still so ambitious every day."
"Who allowed you to come here?"
"Still not making way for us? How annoying."
Tang Qi's expression darkened gradually. He instinctively wanted to retort with his usual sharp tongue, but his body involuntarily froze.
He knew that if he didn't step aside, this group wouldn't let him off easily.
He was merely sharp-tongued, not foolish.
These people were all on good terms with Ji Nianwen and had stable, well-connected clients at Nightclub. He couldn't afford to clash with them.
Tang Qi clenched his fists and silently stepped aside.
The group sneered and prepared to brush past them.
A clear, puzzled voice rang out, tinged with an innocent cruelty: "Can you be quiet? So noisy."
Hui Gu stepped out from behind Tang Qi, looking genuinely confused. "What do you mean by 'average looks'? You all look equally ugly to me."
Tang Qi, who hadn't even had time to feel touched: "…"
The others: "…"
Even worse, as Hui Gu moved, they finally got a clear view of the young man's appearance. Even in the dimly lit staircase, his beauty shone like a dust-revealed night pearl, glowing brilliantly in a way that somehow made the entire corridor seem more upscale.
The group's faces instantly turned as unpleasant as an overturned palette.
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