The acid rain had been falling for four days straight, a relentless downpour that showed no sign of letting up. The once vibrant city was now shrouded in a grayish mist, its streets eerily deserted except for the occasional person dashing for cover under whatever shelter they could find. Buildings were stained with dark streaks where the rain had corroded the paint and metal, and the normally bustling sounds of traffic and conversation had been replaced by the constant, menacing hiss of the rain as it hit the pavement.
Inside his flat, Lu Ningfei was comfortably ensconced on his couch, one hand holding a bag of chips, the other lazily maneuvering a game controller.
He had spent the last few days hunkered down, his well-stocked apartment providing all the essentials—and non-essentials—a man could want. Snacks, games, and plenty of entertainment were within arm's reach, making the apocalyptic weather outside feel like a distant concern.
As he munched on his chips, his eyes focused on the screen in front of him, Lu Ningfei felt a strange sense of detachment.
Suddenly, a knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
He wasn't expecting any visitors, and under normal circumstances, he might have ignored it.
But he was a bit bored and there was no drama in recent days too.
He paused his game, brushing off some snack crumbs from his shirt, and stood up, stretching lazily as he made his way to the door.
When he opened it, he was greeted by the sight of Shen Zhiling, who stood in the hallway, his usual calm and composed demeanor firmly in place.
"Good evening, Ningfei," Shen Zhiling greeted, his voice smooth and warm.
His gaze flicked down to Lu Ningfei's face, and his lips curled into an amused smile.
"You've got something on your face."
"Huh?"
Lu Ningfei blinked, momentarily confused. He reached up and brushed his fingers across his cheek, dislodging a few crumbs that had stuck there during his snack binge.
"Oh, uh, thanks."
Shen Zhiling's smile widened slightly, but he didn't comment further. Instead, he continued, "My family is hosting a dinner tonight, and we've invited the neighbors. Zhang Wei and Lin Yuxi are already there, and I was hoping you'd join us as well."
Lu Ningfei hesitated for a moment, glancing back into his flat where his half-finished game and snacks beckoned him to return.
Whatever, he will come back to continue.
"Sure," Lu Ningfei finally agreed, nodding. "I'll be there in a minute."
Shen Zhiling nodded, satisfied.
"Take your time."
As Shen Zhiling turned to leave, Ningfei closed the door behind him, taking a moment to compose himself.
He glanced at the window, where the rain continued to fall in thick, corrosive sheets, and felt a shiver of unease crawl down his spine. The world outside was changing, and he knew that it wouldn't be long before things took a turn for the worse.
With a sigh, he pushed those thoughts aside and quickly changed into something more appropriate for dinner.
After that he simply walked out and knocked on the door.
Shen Zhiling greeted Ningfei at the door with a polite nod, stepping aside to allow him entry. The flat was as elegantly furnished as one would expect from the Shen family, with tasteful decor and a warm, inviting atmosphere
The living room was already occupied by the other guests. Zhang Wei and Lin Yuxi were seated on one of the sofas, deep in conversation, while Shen Tianming, the patriarch of the Shen family, was seated in a large armchair, sipping tea with his usual air of calm authority. Shen Zhilan was quietly setting the table, his movements graceful and efficient.
As Lu Ningfei stepped into the room, Zhang Wei looked up and smiled.
"Ah, Xiao Lu! Come have a seat."
"Thanks for the invite," Lu Ningfei replied, offering a small smile in return as he took a seat.
Lin Yuxi quickly helped him pass the tea.
"It's good to see you. We were just discussing the weather. It's been… unsettling, to say the least."
Zhang Wei added, his tone grim.
"This rain… it's like nothing I've ever seen before. People are saying it's acid rain, but it's more than that. The hospitals are overflowing with people who've been caught in it."
Lin Yuxi nodded in agreement, her expression troubled.
"I've been working overtime at the hospital for the past few days. We've had an influx of patients—people who've been exposed to the rain and are experiencing severe reactions. Some have developed intense fevers, while others have fallen into comas. The doctors are baffled; they've never seen anything like this before."
Lu Ningfei listened quietly, his mind racing as he absorbed the information. This was exactly what he had expected, but hearing it confirmed in such stark terms was still unsettling.
He took a sip of his tea, letting the warmth soothe his nerves.
He was simple man in his last life and in this life, he only knows some plot and the general way of why everything is happening.
Shen Tianming, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke, his voice steady and composed.
"It's clear that this rain is not natural. But it's too early to jump to conclusions about what it means. The world has seen strange phenomena before, and we've always found a way to adapt."
Zhang Wei conceded, though his tone was doubtful.
"But this feels different. People are talking about the end of the world, and honestly, it's hard not to think that way."
Shen Zhilan, who had just finished setting the table, chimed in as he took a seat beside his father.
"We should remain calm and level-headed. Panic will only make things worse."
Everyone could sense that the world was on the brink of something catastrophic, even if they couldn't fully grasp the extent of it yet.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Shen Zhiling stood up to answer it. The door opened to reveal Wang Lei, the occupant of 1503, who had arrived a little later than the others. He stepped inside with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry I'm late," Wang Lei said as he entered. "This rain is just… unbelievable. I had to dodge puddles of it on my way here."
"No worries, Are you ok?"
Shen Zhiling replied, closing the door behind him.
Wang Lei took a seat and nodded.
"Yeah. Sigh, Today I just went to grab some food and stuff to store but I've been hearing some crazy stuff. People getting sick, hospitals being overwhelmed… It's like something out of a disaster movie."
"It's not just the hospitals," Lin Yuxi added, her expression serious.
"I've heard reports of animals behaving strangely, too. Birds falling out of the sky, pets suddenly becoming aggressive… It's as if the natural order is being thrown off balance."
Shen Tianming's brow furrowed slightly.
Zhang Wei leaned forward, his expression intense.
"Do you think… do you think this could be the beginning of the end? I mean, everyone's been talking about it, but… what if they're right?"
There was a heavy silence in the room as the question hung in the air.
Imagination can run wild.
Shen Tianmeng looked at Shen Zhiling and said.
"Whatever it is, The situation is not known. Xiao Ling, get as many resources as you can and as quickly as you can."
Shen Zhiling nodded.
Lin Yuxi suddenly interjected.
"I don't know what's going on and if it's really the end...then we need to make huge preparations. I will contact my father and gather all medical resources as quickly as possible."
Zhang Wei agreed.
"Agreed, Then I will call my family and let them come here too, it's safer to be together."
Wang Lei nodded but he had no family, His parents died in accident two years ago.
But he has a sister, He will go get her later.
Lu Ningfei was silent and suddenly thought, everyone here is gathering resources, he can also get in action too and get some more resources right?
So, He said.
"Let's make a group chat, I will send you the list of what needs to be gathered urgently."
Everyone looked at him, Shen Zhiwei curled his lips.
"Hey, Beauty-Ahem, Xiao Lu why do you have such a list?"
Lu Ningfei glanced at him and saw Shen Zhiling glaring at his brother.
"I just needed it to write my novel nothing much."
Lin Yuxi's eyes twinkled.
"You write novels, Xiao Lu?"
Since everyone was saying Xiao Lu, So she went with it too.