I have a persona specifically for acting.

Tong Zhao gained Anna’s trust with just a few words.

Firstly, women who are often seen as sexual resources in extreme environments tend to trust other women more.

Secondly, it was Tong Zhao’s body language.

She exuded a calm confidence, whether she was scavenging for weapons or interrogating Anna. The other Oriental man also seemed to follow her instructions readily. Anna had no hesitation in positioning herself as a subordinate, and after being patted on the head, her sense of security skyrocketed.

At the same time, Feng Sisi wasn’t as fortunate.

A zombie had stumbled over, seemingly noticing the commotion inside the vehicle. The wobbly zombie pressed its half-decayed face against the car window, rubbing it inquisitively. Feng Sisi was terrified, her hands trembling as she held her phone, unable to stabilize her attempt to call her sister for help. Her panicked noise only drew the zombie’s attention further, causing it to bang more aggressively on the window.

Just as Feng Sisi was on the verge of losing control, the zombie pressing against the window suddenly jerked backward.

Upon closer inspection—

It turned out that Tong Zhao had grabbed the zombie by the hair, slammed it to the ground, and then used a crowbar to smash its head.

[Victimized Zombie +1]

[Damn, the Empress’s fight scenes are so cool! I want to see her in physical palace battles!]

[So Tong Zhao also knows the wonders of physical combat! Overjoyed and dancing >////<]

Audience members who watch apocalyptic survival movies generally seek visual thrills and exploration of human nature and strategic thinking in extreme environments, and Tong Zhao delivers on this visual spectacle. She is like a beautiful and graceful berserker, with every move displaying an aesthetic of precision and efficiency. Her actions, though not choreographed, feel more genuine and thrilling!

Seeing Tong Zhao, Feng Sisi, with red eyes, cried out:

“Why did you only just arrive? I almost died!”

Before exposing the truth and tearing her face, Xu Zhu and Tong Zhao attended middle and high school together. If anyone bullied her, as long as she sought Tong Zhao’s help, she would always rescue her from dire straits. Even the ungrateful Tong Father once remarked that the bond between them, mother and daughter, was exceptionally loyal and caring toward friends.

In contrast, after experiencing multiple worlds in quick succession and going through several reincarnations, Tong Zhao’s perspective is different. From Xu Zhu’s point of view, they had only fallen out less than a year ago. Before that, whenever she sought Tong Zhao’s help, it was always with the expectation of being rescued.

Thus, the audience witnessed her authoritative demeanor in action.

“The zombies’ strength is only slightly greater than that of ordinary people, but a barehanded one can’t break a car window. You weren’t in immediate danger, and I didn’t receive your call for help; I was just handling some business. This staff member who escaped from the research institute can provide us with information on the routes inside.”

Tong Zhao’s expression was indifferent as if she were dealing with a younger sister’s unreasonable tantrum.

The person involved, Anna, cowered behind Tong Zhao and weakly raised her hand: “Sorry, it’s my fault for delaying things…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. No need to apologize.”

Tong Zhao cut off her apology, her tone still cold.

Feng Sisi, already on edge, was even more upset. She glanced at Anna and then stared in disbelief at Tong Zhao. Seeing that Tong Zhao had no intention of comforting her, she shouted, “Yes, she’s not at fault. It’s my fault for not getting killed by the zombies just now!” After yelling, she turned her head away and refused to engage.

After getting back in the car, Anna, unable to contain her curiosity, asked quietly, “Miss Feng, you were so cool when you took down the zombies earlier. Is that what Chinese martial arts look like? Are you a master at a martial arts school?”

……

[Indeed, the foreigner’s “true self” is very on point.]

[No, no, no, not every Chinese person is as skilled as the empress. She’s just a master of palace intrigue.]

[Which school of palace intrigue is this? You, Empress Liyang from Yanxi Palace; me, Ip Man of Wing Chun.]

Tong Zhao waved her hand: “No, I’m just an ordinary physical education teacher.”

Song Kaiyu recalled something: “But it seems like you’ve been teaching Tai Chi recently?”

[No, shut up, Kaiyu. The misunderstanding with the foreign friend is really hard to clear up!]

Tong Zhao gave him a cold look: “Yes, but my class time was taken up by too many other things. Since the school year started, I’ve only taught up to ‘White Crane Spreads Its Wings.’”

Hearing the familiar pronunciation of “Tai Chi” from kung fu movies, Anna’s eyes lit up, increasingly convinced that Tong Zhao was a hidden expert in Chinese martial arts. She leaned in secretly and asked softly if she was a student of Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee.

Tong Zhao thought for a moment: “If I had to say, my style is more like Chen Haonan’s.”

[……]

[Two traditional film actors suffer from reputation damage!]

[All I can say is, you’re both brave enough to ask and answer.]

The audience was laughing uncontrollably, not expecting an apocalypse movie to have such humor, and even more surprised that Tong Zhao’s subconscious could be such a deadpan comedian—

Her comedic effect in *The Emperor Ming’s Story* was not this good!

It was strange.

How had she become so witty and sharp-tongued in such a short time?

The segment titled “The Confusing Exchange Between Chinese and Foreign Friends’ True Selves” was cut out by the overjoyed publicity team and prepared for promotion by several paid marketing accounts. They didn’t expect that collaborating with Tong Zhao would be so enjoyable, with promotional material practically handed to them, leaving them with no worries.

Compared to the unreasonable and troublesome second female lead, Feng Sisi, the audience surprisingly liked the blonde, round-faced Anna more and looked forward to seeing her interactions with Tong Zhao.

Outside the show, the director sighed: “Xu Zhu didn’t grasp the cute aspects of her character, but Anna’s natural performance was very charming.”

“It was an accidental bonus. Anna was originally just a supporting role,” said the screenwriter.

To ensure the plot stayed on track and smoothly reached its conclusion, the screenwriter avoided creating impossible situations.

Anna, who escaped from the research institute, served as a tool to provide information on the institute’s layout, greatly reducing the difficulty of the high-risk strategy. Otherwise, with an average person’s capabilities, it would be extremely difficult to tackle the stringent and dangerous security systems of the research institute.

While chatting, a change occurred within the scene.

On the way to the research institute, they passed by a public restroom. Feng Sisi, who had been trying to maintain her aloof demeanor, couldn’t hold it anymore and repeatedly said she needed to use the restroom: “Sister, you have to come with me this time.”

Tong Zhao glanced at her.

Anna timidly raised her hand: “Sorry, I also need to go…”

“Let’s go together.”

Tong Zhao got out of the car, intending to check it out first. The two girls, who had been holding it in under high pressure, rushed in as if granted amnesty. They had been holding it in for so long that as soon as they saw the restroom, they couldn’t hold it any longer.

Typically, at such times, smart AI would only provide a distant shot of the public restroom and footage of hand-washing. However, this time the camera followed them in and experienced viewers immediately sensed an imminent crisis.

Sure enough, when Feng Sisi pushed open the door to the last stall, a zombie that had been roused by the noise turned around and lunged at her—

Feng Sisi screamed, but her first reaction wasn’t to step back or dodge.

Instinctively, she pulled Anna, who was about to enter the adjacent stall, in front of herself!

“Sister, help me, sister!”

“Ah—”

The blonde, round-faced Anna was thrown into the zombie’s mouth, screaming in pain as a large wound was gnawed into her delicate white neck.

……

[What is this?]

[Feng Sisi is crazy! How could she be so selfish? She’s lost her mind!]

[Is there still a chance? Without Anna, how will we get into the research institute to find the antidote?]

……

On the filming set.

Director: “Props team, who put that zombie there for the door-kill scene!?”

The props team, feeling aggrieved, explained: “I lowered the zombie’s movement speed data. She just needed to dodge it. Who would have thought she’d pull Anna in front of it? Should I air-drop a map of the research institute now?”

“I want to air-drop you right now!”

The director was furious.

The situation was serious.

With the key supporting character dead, how would the main characters get into the research institute?