Ethan stepped out of his home, greeted by a scene of tranquility and joy, filled with the contentment of everyday life.
Many parents were playing with their children in the community square, their faces adorned with smiles of happiness.
But Ethan knew that in just a month, all of this would turn to dust.
He quickly left the community. Not far from it stood a Michelin three-star Western restaurant.
A meal there would cost at least five to six thousand yuan, and in the past, Ethan had always been reluctant to dine there.
But now, he couldn't care less.
Having come back from the dead, he needed to celebrate properly!
After entering the restaurant, Ethan chose a seat by the window, then ordered all the most expensive dishes on the menu, along with a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild wine.
This splurge cost him fifty thousand yuan.
Even the restaurant staff gave him ambiguous looks, thinking he must be some wealthy heir.
Otherwise, how could an ordinary person afford such an extravagant meal?
Ethan didn't care what others thought. When the table full of gourmet food was served, he began devouring it heartily.
Perhaps because he had endured six months of a frozen apocalypse, at this moment, tasting such delicious food almost brought tears to his eyes.
His eating manner became a bit aggressive, drawing murmurs from the other diners around him.
But Ethan didn't care.
In a post-apocalyptic world, people would kneel for a pack of instant noodles.
When that time comes, all of civilization and morality will vanish into thin air.
As Ethan was enjoying his meal in the restaurant, a woman passing by outside suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She was a long-haired woman with delicate makeup, wearing Gucci heels and carrying an LV handbag.
This woman was Raina, the very person who had caused Ethan's death in his previous life.
Beside her was her close friend Cathy.
Whenever the two of them passed by a Michelin three-star restaurant, they couldn't help but take a second glance.
Although they longed for such luxurious places, their financial situation didn't allow them to indulge in such extravagance.
But that didn't stop them from scanning the restaurant in hopes of spotting a rich young man they could take advantage of.
And to their surprise, Raina suddenly noticed Ethan inside, with a table full of top-tier food before him.
"Isn't that Ethan? How does he have the money to eat here?" Raina said in astonishment.
Cathy also gasped, covering her mouth."Is Ethan really that rich?"
As she spoke, her eyes glanced suggestively at Raina, then she laughed and said,"Raina, you're so lucky! The guy chasing you turns out to be a rich heir."
"Look at all that food on his table. That's easily fifty or sixty thousand yuan. What ordinary person could afford a meal that expensive?"
Cathy's tone was laced with envy.
She knew that Ethan had been pursuing Raina for over two and a half years.
However, Raina had kept Ethan at arm's length, never rejecting him outright but never agreeing either.
Raina was a materialistic woman, always dreaming of marrying a wealthy man and becoming a lady of leisure.
But at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to let go of Ethan, who owned a car and a house in Tianhai City.
So she had always kept him as a backup plan.
Her rule with backup guys was simple: don't initiate, don't reject, and don't commit.
Seeing Ethan enjoying a luxurious meal worth tens of thousands today, Raina couldn't help but feel suspicious.
"Could it be that Ethan is actually a hidden heir to a fortune?"
Raina rested her chin in her hand, deep in thought.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
"Isn't this just like those TV dramas?"
"Someone who's actually rich but pretends to be ordinary to find true love."
Raina convinced herself more and more, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
If that were true, it would save her a lot of effort.
After all, Ethan had been chasing her for a long time, and she believed that if she gave him the green light, he would propose to her on the spot.
Cathy, meanwhile, urged,"Raina, let's go in and talk to Ethan!"
But in truth, Cathy had her eyes on the feast before Ethan.
After all, this was a Michelin three-star restaurant, and most people would never get the chance to taste such a lavish spread in their lifetime.
Raina hesitated for a moment but then shook her head, saying,"That wouldn't be a good idea. He might think I'm just after his money."
"Here's what we'll do—we'll wait outside and pretend we just bumped into him by chance."
Raina wasn't stupid. She wasn't going to lower herself just for a meal.
Even if Ethan turned out to be wealthy, she still needed to maintain her goddess image.
Only then, if they ended up together, could she control Ethan and keep him chasing after her.
So the two of them hid nearby, waiting for Ethan to come out.
After eating for over an hour, Ethan patted his round, satisfied belly, full of happiness.
And next, he planned to go to a nearby supermarket to buy some supplies.
This was to test the storage capacity of the alternate space, to avoid any future issues. Although he was quite confident in his ability to transport goods from a Walmart warehouse, it's always better to be safe than sorry. After all, he had experienced hunger before and could not afford any accidents.
Ethan paid the bill cheerfully and left the restaurant with the warm smile of the waiter. Just then, a familiar voice sounded from beside him.
"Ethan, what a coincidence!"
Turning his head, Ethan saw none other than Raina and Cathy. Raina reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, deliberately exposing her fair neck and pink earlobes. Ethan sneered inwardly; this was a classic move by a scheming woman, designed to catch a man's attention inadvertently. As a top-tier schemer and hypocrite, Raina was well-versed in such tactics.
But Ethan was no longer the naive person he once was. Not long ago, this woman had caused his death, a miserable one at that. She even wanted to break Ethan's ribs to make soup! At this thought, Ethan's gaze turned cold, filled with naked killing intent. Since the apocalypse was near, there would be no issue with taking her life. But should he do it now?
Raina, sensing the chill, asked nervously,"Ethan... what's wrong?"
Ethan quickly composed himself, saying indifferently,"Nothing, I mistook you for someone else."
He suddenly changed his mind. Letting her die so easily would be too lenient. Besides, if he killed her now, he might not escape legal punishment. Ethan did not want to spend the apocalypse in a detention center. It would be better to let her experience the despair of the end times, and then use various means to torment her. With premeditation, Ethan had ample time to prepare, and with the memories of his past life, he had a hundred ways to make her suffer before she died. So, for now, there was no need to deal with her.
The most important thing right now was to build the safest shelter, ensuring his comfortable and secure survival during the apocalypse.