Lu Ningfei crawled out of his bed with extremely sleepy eyes, his beautiful long hair looked like a chicken nest.
"What day is it today?"
Lu Ningfei opened his phone and shut up.
Last night he had prepared all the materials and put them in space.
So when he slept he didn't remember to turn on the alarm.
Now it was only 5 hours before the apocalypse...Damn!!
He has to go to that apartment building to survive the harsh weather in the next month.
The protagonist team will also be there, so he is relatively safer there.
The 15th floor was the top floor of the building, and it seemed fitting to Lu Ningfei to live at the peak, away from everyone else.
Only 20 families occupied the building, and the sparse occupancy added to the quietness of the new community. Lu Ningfei preferred it this way; the fewer people, the better.
Lu Ningfei decided to take a quick look around the corridor to get a sense of his surroundings.
He stepped out of his apartment, locking the door behind him, and noticed that the door to apartment 1502 was slightly ajar. A moment later, a young couple stepped out, chatting animatedly.
The woman was petite with short, chestnut hair that framed her face nicely. The man beside her was tall and lean, with a gentle expression and an easygoing demeanor.
Noticing Lu Ningfei, the woman smiled and waved.
"Hello! You must be the new neighbor in 1504. We're in 1502. I'm Lin Yuxi, and this is my husband, Zhang Wei."
Lu Ningfei gave them a polite nod, his usual cold demeanor softening just a bit.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lu Ningfei."
Zhang Wei smiled warmly, extending a hand.
"Welcome to the building, Ningfei. We're pretty much the only ones on this floor, aside from the guy in 1503. It's quiet, but we like it that way."
"Same here."
Lu Ningfei replied, shaking Zhang Wei's hand briefly.
Lin Yuxi tilted her head slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Are you new to the area? We've only been here for a few months ourselves, and it's a bit of a ghost town, to be honest."
"I've been around," Ningfei answered vaguely.
"But yes, this is my first time living here. It's a nice change of pace."
As they continued their small talk, the door to apartment 1503 opened, and a tall, athletic man stepped out. He had short-cropped hair, a strong jawline, and a confident air about him. Dressed in casual sportswear, he looked like he had just come back from a workout.
Seeing the group in the corridor, he grinned and approached.
"Hey there, neighbors! Looks like we've got a full house on this floor now. I'm Wang Lei, by the way. Sports teacher at the local high school."
Lu Ningfei turned to Wang Lei, giving him a nod of acknowledgment.
"Lu Ningfei. Just moved into 1504."
"Nice to meet you, Lu Ningfei," Wang Lei said with a friendly smile.
"If you're ever up for a run or need someone to spot you at the gym, just give me a shout. I'm always up for some company."
"I'll keep that in mind," Ningfei replied, his tone polite but noncommittal. While he wasn't much for casual socializing, he could appreciate the gesture.
After a few more pleasantries, Ningfei excused himself, eager to get back to his apartment and settle in. But as he turned to leave, he noticed the door to apartment 1501—directly opposite his own—was closed, with no sign of anyone coming or going.
Curious, he turned to the others.
"Does anyone live in 1501?"
The three exchanged glances, and Wang Lei was the first to speak.
"I'm not sure. I've never seen anyone go in or out of that apartment. It's a bit of a mystery, really."
Lin Yuxi nodded in agreement.
"We thought it might be vacant, but we've heard some noises coming from there at odd hours. It's strange, but we've never seen who lives there."
Lu Ningfei frowned slightly but decided to leave it at that.
He had more pressing matters to worry about than a mysterious neighbor.
With a final nod to the others, he headed back into his apartment, eager to change into something more comfortable.
After changing into more casual clothes, Lu Ningfei was about to unwind when his phone buzzed on the kitchen counter.
He glanced at the screen and immediately felt a wave of irritation wash over him. His bad luck of the day: Si Qian.
With a resigned sigh, Lu Ningfei picked up the phone and answered.
"What do you want?"
Si Qian's voice came through, sharp and demanding.
"Ningfei, today's the day. The company transfer—don't think you can weasel out of this. I expect you to hand over everything as we agreed."
Lu Ningfei couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Seriously just what kind of leech is this family?
"The company? You really think you're getting anything from me, Si Qian? Let me save you the trouble—I sold the company two months ago."
There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line before Si Qian's voice erupted in anger.
"You did what? Do you have any idea what you've done? That company was—"
"Was what?" Lu Ningfei interrupted, his voice cold and mocking.
"Your backup plan? Your safety net after you drained my mother's inheritance? You really think I'd let you get your hands on that, after everything you've done? The money's already been donated to charity. All over the world. You're not getting a single yuan."
"You… you ungrateful brat!" Si Qian's voice was nearly a roar now, but Ningfei remained unfazed.
"Do you have any idea what you've cost this family? You—"
"This family?" Ningfei cut him off again, his tone dripping with disdain.
"You mean the family you tore apart? The family you betrayed? Don't make me laugh, Si Qian. You're nothing but a greedy old man, trying to claw back whatever you can after burning every bridge you ever had. You should be grateful I didn't leave you with nothing."
There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end, followed by a string of curses that Ningfei barely paid attention to. He had heard it all before, and none of it mattered to him. He was not his father, he was just avenging the original owner.
Shaking off the lingering frustration from the call, Ningfei turned his attention to the kitchen. He hadn't eaten much all day, and his stomach was starting to protest. It was time to make himself a proper meal. He busied himself with cooking.
In his last life, he was miserable enough to get nothing to eat in his childhood so he learned cooking in young age and right now, he can call himself a master chef.
Not braging.
The apartment was quiet, save for the gentle sizzle of food on the stove and the occasional clatter of utensils.
Just as he was plating his food, he heard a sudden commotion outside his door. It started as a murmur, growing louder with each passing second until it was clear that something was happening in the corridor.
Lu Ningfei frowned, his instinct telling him to go out and see what was going on.
But when he glanced down at the meal he had just prepared, his hunger won out. Whatever was happening out there could wait until after he had eaten.
By the time he was finished, the noise in the corridor had died down.
After washing his dishes and tidying up the kitchen, Lu Ningfei finally decided to investigate.
He opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, but before he could take more than a few steps, he collided with something solid. Or rather, someone solid.
The impact sent him stumbling back slightly, but a strong hand shot out to steady him.
"Be careful."
Lu Ningfei looked up, his eyes meeting a broad, muscular chest clad in a fitted shirt that did little to hide the sculpted physique underneath.
Lu Ningfei's gaze traveled upward, taking in the strong, angular jawline, the sharp features, and the fierce, intense eyes that were now fixed on him.
The man standing before him was tall and imposing, with a presence that seemed to fill the entire corridor. His dark hair was slightly tousled, giving him an air of rugged handsomeness, and his biceps—God, those biceps—were nothing short of impressive.
For a moment, Lu Ningfei's mind went blank. It wasn't often that he found himself speechless, but the man in front of him was something else entirely. He was exactly Lu Ningfei's type.
Seriously that's the dream gi-ahem man.
But despite the sudden rush of attraction, Lu Ningfei's expression remained cool and composed. He had spent years perfecting the art of hiding his true thoughts behind a mask of indifference, and now was no exception.
"Are you alright?"
The man's voice was deep and smooth.
Damn it, is this man custom made for him by God?
Lu Ningfei nodded, forcing himself to snap out of his momentary daze.
"I'm fine. I wasn't expecting to run into anyone."
The man's intense gaze softened slightly, and he offered a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"My apologies. I wasn't watching where I was going."
Lu Ningfei's heart skipped a beat at the sight of that smile, but he quickly regained his composure.
"No harm done. Just… a bit of a surprise, that's all."