The acid rain had been falling for eight days straight, drenching the city in a corrosive downpour that had long since driven most people indoors.
The streets were deserted, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by an eerie silence broken only by the constant hissing of rain eating away at the pavement.
The city, once alive with energy, now seemed like a ghost town, its buildings scarred by the relentless storm.
From his flat on the 15th floor, Lu Ningfei stood by the large window, gazing out at the scene below. His expression was one of deep concern as he watched the sky, which had darkened considerably over the last few hours.
The clouds, which had been a constant ominous presence since the rain began, were now darker than before, almost black with a strange, burning red tint. It was as if the sky itself were on fire, an unsettling sight that set his nerves on edge.
This wasn't right. None of this was in the plot of the novel he had transmigrated into.
According to the book, the acid rain was supposed to last for ten days, plain and simple. But these dark red clouds were something new, something that didn't fit with the narrative he had come to expect. Lu Ningfei's frown deepened as he considered the implications.
Could it be that something—or someone—was manipulating the apocalypse? Was there a hidden hand behind these disasters, controlling them like pieces on a chessboard?
He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all part of a larger, more sinister plan. What if these disasters weren't natural at all, but manmade? What if the world was being plunged into chaos deliberately, for some unknown purpose? The thought sent a chill down his spine.
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. In a world where zombies and superpowers were becoming a reality, was it really so far-fetched to imagine that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes?
As these dark thoughts swirled in his mind, Lu Ningfei was pulled from his reverie by the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned to see Si Qin stepping out of his room, looking pale and a little unsteady on his feet. The younger man coughed lightly, his hand coming up to rub at his throat.
"Are you cold?" Lu Ningfei asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Si Qin's appearance. There was something off about him.
Si Qin shook his head, though he looked uncomfortable.
"Not really, but… my throat feels itchy. I might be coming down with a fever."
Lu Ningfei's frown deepened. A fever could be a sign of many things, and in the current situation, none of them were good. He glanced back at the dark red clouds outside.
The timing of Si Qin's symptoms was suspicious, to say the least. Could it be related to the strange weather? Was there something in the rain, something more than just acid, that was affecting people?
"Stay inside and rest," Lu Ningfei said finally, his tone firm. "If your symptoms get worse, let me know immediately."
Si Qin nodded, though there was a trace of worry in his eyes.
Did he get in some sort of trouble?
---
Across the hall in flat 1501, Shen Zhiling was also watching the sky with a deep frown. The dark red clouds were a sight he had seen before—back in his previous life, before he had been given a second chance. But even then, the clouds hadn't been this dark, this ominous. If his memories were correct, then the situation was worse than he had anticipated.
In his last life, these red clouds had heralded a new stage in the apocalypse. The acid rain would be replaced by something far more dangerous—rain that would fall like blood, staining the earth and heralding the arrival of creatures that defied explanation. Mysterious events would begin to unfold, things that couldn't be explained by science or logic.
Shen Zhiling's frown deepened as he considered the implications. If the clouds were darker this time around, did that mean the events that followed would be more severe as well?
His thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on the door. It was Shen Zhilan who entered the room with a concerned expression.
"Brother," Shen Zhilan said softly, his voice laced with worry, "Father says he has a headache. He's resting, but he asked if we had any medicine."
Shen Zhiling nodded, already moving to get the first aid box.
"It's in the living room. I'll get it."
But when he reached the living room, Shen Zhiling paused, a frown crossing his face. The first aid box, which he had placed on the table just the night before, was missing. He scanned the room, but there was no sign of it.
"Zhilan," Shen Zhiling called, his tone sharp. "The first aid box is gone. Did you move it?"
Shen Zhilan shook his head, clearly surprised. "No, I haven't touched it. Are you sure it was here?"
"Positive," Shen Zhiling replied. He had left it right here, so where could it have gone? His instincts, honed by years of surviving in a world gone mad, told him that this was no ordinary oversight. Something was wrong.
"Check the other rooms," Shen Zhiling ordered. "Make sure nothing else is missing."
Shen Zhilan nodded and hurried off to do as his brother instructed. Shen Zhiling, meanwhile, remained where he was, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications.
-----
Down on the 14th floor, in flat 1406, the atmosphere was far from calm. The group of boys who had sought shelter there was embroiled in a heated argument.
Jun Yan was the source of the tension. He was pacing back and forth in the living room, his expression one of petulant frustration.
"I want chicken wings," Jun Yan declared, his tone as if he were making the most reasonable request in the world. "And I want them now."
Xie Sheng, who was usually calm and composed, was trying to placate his lover.
"Jun Yan, it's still raining acid outside. No one is delivering food in this weather. Can't we just eat something from the pantry?"
"No," Jun Yan snapped, his eyes narrowing. "I'm tired of the stuff we have here. If the delivery guys won't bring it, then go out and get it yourself."
Gu Yu'an, another member of the group who had been silently watching the exchange, finally spoke up, his tone laced with concern.
"Xie Sheng, don't go out there. The weather is getting worse. It's too dangerous."
Jun Yan turned on Gu Yu'an with a sneer.
"And why do you care? Xie Sheng wants to go out for me, not you. Why are you barking orders like a jealous dog?"
Gu Yu'an flinched at the harsh words but didn't back down. He had known Xie Sheng for years, had grown up with him, and despite his feelings, he had always done his best to support him. But now, watching Jun Yan manipulate and belittle Xie Sheng, he couldn't stay silent.
"I'm just worried," Gu Yu'an said, his voice steady but strained. "Xie Sheng, you know it's dangerous out there. Don't do this just because—"
Xie Sheng cut him off, his voice soft but firm.
"It's okay, Yu'an. I'll be fine. I don't want to cause any trouble."
With a resigned nod, Gu Yu'an turned away, the sting of rejection settling deep in his chest.
"Do what you want," he muttered, his voice tight with emotion. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
Without another word, he left the living room and retreated to his own room, leaving Xie Sheng and Jun Yan alone. Jun Yan watched him go with a smirk, then turned back to Xie Sheng.
"Well?" Jun Yan said, his tone imperious. "Are you going or not?"
Without another word, he left the living room and retreated to his own room, leaving Xie Sheng and Jun Yan alone. Jun Yan watched him go with a smirk, then turned back to Xie Sheng.
"Well?" Jun Yan said, his tone imperious. "Are you going or not?"
Xie Sheng hesitated for a moment, the image of Gu Yu'an's disappointed face flashing in his mind. His heart tightened, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside. He couldn't afford to think about that now. Jun Yan was his priority, and if going out in the rain was what it took to make him happy, then that's what he would do.
"I'll go, Yanyan. Just wait for a while."
Jun Yan smiled proudly.