Zheng Zha let out a long sigh of relief as he gazed out the window. This was undoubtedly the office where he used to work as a manager. Sunlight streamed in through the glass, and a flock of pigeons flew past. The peaceful atmosphere, the faint hum of human activity—this was his real world, the reality where he was born and raised. No monsters, no Xenomorphs, no T-virus, and no constant dread of lurking horror. This calm, serene world felt like heaven.
For a moment, Zheng Zha found the real world unfamiliar, as though it was a past life he had left behind. After struggling in the cycles of terror, it was as if he had been reborn into this tranquil existence.
Lori patted her chest and said,"I was so scared just now, afraid I might be some illusion created by that glowing sphere. Hehe, but it turns out I can really return to the real world. That's such a relief... Hey, big pervert, what are you thinking about?"
Zheng Zha shook his head, and a stream of information appeared in his mind—rules left by the "Lord God." During his 30 days in the real world, he was forbidden to speak about anything related to the "Lord God's" space, by any means. If he did, he and everything he brought with him would be erased.
After 30 days, he had to return to this office, where the "Lord God" would bring him back to the space. Furthermore, he had to ensure physical contact with all the items he wanted to take back. If the items were unique to the "Lord God's" space and left behind, they would be erased. If he failed to return to the office within 30 days, he and all his possessions would also be erased.
"So, I can't speak about that world, and after 30 days, I have to come back here... and make sure to hold Lori's hand, right?"
Zheng Zha silently nodded, committing these restrictions to memory. Then he said,"Let's go, Lori. I'll take you to meet my parents."
Lori obediently held his hand, a bright smile lighting up her face. Together, they opened the door and stepped out of the office.
Outside was a busy workplace, with dozens of employees working at desks, typing away at keyboards or handling files. Some were chatting and laughing. When Zheng Zha and Lori stepped out, many people instinctively turned to look at them, and the entire office fell silent.
"Manager Zheng...?"
"Zheng Zha?"
After a few seconds of silence, the crowd erupted in chatter, swarming around him with a barrage of questions. Most were curious about where he had been all this time.
Zheng Zha responded with a few casual remarks, then grabbed the arm of a familiar young man and led him toward the staircase. Once they were out of the crowd, he turned to the man and asked,"Wang San, how long have I been gone? What's going on?"
The young man, Wang San, took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Zheng Zha before replying,"Boss Zheng, did something happen at home? Why did you disappear without a word? At least leave a message for us next time. Nobody knew where you went, and that damned Zhao Lei used your absence as an excuse to fire you for absenteeism. Now her lover, Li Liangdong, has taken over as manager. That scumbag's been making life hell for everyone. If you hadn't shown up, a bunch of us were about to quit."
Zheng Zha lit the cigarette and took a drag before saying,"Something did come up... Wang San, I'll give you some advice. Zhao Lei loves fooling around in her office, right? Get a spy camera and record some footage. Don't go overboard—just use it to scare that scumbag Li Liangdong. He'll behave better than your pet dog after that. I'm leaving for now. If my family needs help, look out for them, will you? My parents aren't in the best health, so take the guys to visit them from time to time."
Wang San was stunned and wanted to say more, but Zheng Zha had already stepped into the elevator, leaving him standing there in a daze.
When Zheng Zha and Lori exited the building, both felt a mix of emotions. Zheng Zha's stemmed from his near-death experiences. While he hadn't reached any grand epiphany, his outlook had undeniably changed—he had grown more world-weary. Lori, on the other hand, was amazed by the transformation around her. Her memories were stuck a decade in the past when this area was still underdeveloped, filled with low houses and bumpy roads. Now, towering skyscrapers and wide streets stretched as far as the eye could see. The bustling crowd surrounded them, and the two were quickly engulfed in the throng.
Lori was jostled a few times by the crowd, prompting Zheng Zha to scoop her up into his arms. Her face flushed red, but she smiled sweetly."This place has changed so much. If you left me here alone, I'd definitely get lost in a few minutes. Hehe, maybe even get kidnapped by traffickers…"
Zheng Zha hugged her tightly."I would never leave you behind... Never!"
Lori's smile grew even brighter as she clung to him."So, what's next? We only have 30 days. Let's visit Auntie and Uncle first, then go see my parents. How does that sound?"
Zheng Zha nodded with a smile, but then he suddenly froze. After a long pause, he chuckled bitterly."Damn... we don't have any money. My wallet was in the clothes I left behind in Alien 1. Looks like we'll have to walk."
It was an awkward predicament: his storage ring contained a cubic meter of platinum, but he didn't have a single cent for a taxi. Zheng Zha felt like a man starving while holding a golden rice bowl. With no other choice, he and Lori set off on foot toward his parents' house.
By noon, Zheng Zha and Lori finally arrived at his parents' home, a modest apartment in a middle-class neighborhood. When they knocked on the door, it was answered by a woman in her fifties. Her facial features bore a clear resemblance to Zheng Zha.
As soon as she saw him, her face lit up with a wide smile."Son, what brings you here today? You weren't home last weekend, and your phone kept saying it was out of service. Business trip? Come in, come in!"
Zheng Zha pulled Lori out from where she was shyly hiding behind him. He smiled at his mother and said,"Mom, look who's here."
Lori stepped forward timidly, smiling sweetly."Hello, Auntie, it's Lori. I've come to visit."
Zheng Zha's mother blinked in confusion, then gasped in shock. She grabbed Lori, examining her from head to toe. Suddenly, she yelled out,"Dear! Come here, quick!"
As Zheng Zha quietly shut the door, his parents buzzed around Lori with barely contained excitement. The little girl, though shy and nervous, couldn't hide her own happiness. Following Zheng Zha's instructions, she said nothing about her origins or how she had come to be here. Even so, the elder couple couldn't contain their joy. They called Lori's parents and bombarded her with questions, but Lori skillfully evaded answering anything specific. Left with little choice, the conversation soon turned to mundane family matters.
About an hour later, while they were still eating lunch, a loud and urgent knock came from the door. When Zheng Zha's mother opened it, two figures in their fifties rushed in—a man and a woman. The moment they saw Lori, they bolted toward her. The woman embraced her, crying uncontrollably and calling her name, while the man, though clearly emotional, maintained his composure and greeted Zheng Zha first.
"All right, calm down. Let's figure out what's going on," the man said, gently pulling his wife away. His eyes, red with suppressed tears, shifted to Lori."Is it really you, Lori? That's impossible. We saw you... We saw you die…"
His voice trailed off, and his gaze snapped toward Zheng Zha."You! Did you pay someone to do this? Tell me, what the hell is going on?" By the end of his sentence, he was practically shouting.
Seeing that Lori was on the verge of breaking down, Zheng Zha quickly patted her hand. He addressed the man, saying,"Uncle Luo, you know I would never joke about something as serious as Lori. I swear to you, this is really her—your daughter, Lori. As for the rest, I'm sorry, but I truly can't explain."
Before Luo could respond, Zheng Zha's father interrupted, shouting,"Can't explain? What do you mean you can't explain? Do you think this is some company secret? Or one of your girlfriends' phone numbers? This is about life and death! I'm your father! If I tell you to talk, you talk!"
Zheng Zha shook his head with a bitter smile."Dad, you think I don't understand? But I really can't say anything. If I do, Lori and I will die. All I can promise is that she's truly Lori."
Zheng Zha's father was about to retort when his mother stopped him. Still an elegant woman with a clear hint of her former beauty, she chuckled and said,"No matter what, it's a blessing that the child is back. If she's really from… there, maybe there are things they really can't say."
The elder men suddenly realized what she was implying. There? It could only mean the underworld. Given their age, they were inclined to believe such things. Seeing their daughter, who had been dead for ten years, now standing before them, unchanged in appearance, behavior, and speech, and coupled with Zheng Zha's cryptic demeanor, they couldn't help but draw this conclusion. Lori's mother started crying again, clutching her daughter tightly.
Zheng Zha heaved a sigh of relief. This misunderstanding was a godsend. It neatly explained everything he couldn't, and he was more than happy to let it stand.
"Dad, Mom, Uncle Luo, Aunt Luo," Zheng Zha said once everyone had calmed down,"Lori and I are only back temporarily. We'll be staying for a month, and then we'll have to leave."
His mother trembled, her eyes filling with tears."Son, you're not… You're not already…"
Zheng Zha quickly steadied her, smiling as he reassured her."No, Mom, I'm alive and well. Feel my hand—warm, isn't it? I just mean Lori and I will be leaving for a while. There's still something we need to take care of. But after a year or two, we'll come back for good."
His mother wept as she gripped his hand, while Lori's mother's cries grew even more heart-wrenching. The two men exchanged a glance and began comforting their respective wives. Lori's father even added,"He's right. It's a miracle they're back. What's another year or two? We've already waited ten years. This will fly by. Stop crying."
Despite their words, the atmosphere grew increasingly somber. Lori, overwhelmed by seeing her aged parents, broke down completely, sobbing into their arms as if she might faint.
Sighing, Zheng Zha walked to the window and drew the curtains. Focusing his internal energy, he activated his storage ring, spilling its contents onto the floor. The room was instantly filled with a sharp metallic clatter as objects tumbled out. Dozens of platinum ingots, each as thick as three fingers, rolled across the floor, their brilliant silver sheen almost blinding. Alongside the ingots were firearms, knives, and other items. The four adults stared in stunned silence.
Picking up a platinum ingot, Zheng Zha said,"You don't need to worry. I promise I'll bring Lori back safely. These platinum ingots are… let's say, a specialty of the place Lori and I need to return to. They're incredibly cheap there. Uncle, Aunt, you've had a hard time these past years. These ingots are thanks to Lori as well. Take half for yourselves. But remember, wealth attracts trouble. These are worth a lot, so be cautious. Selling even one will be enough."
The ingots on the floor spoke louder than his words. The living room fell silent, save for Lori's quiet sobs. No one noticed the faint green light that briefly flickered on the base of a high-frequency particle blade among the scattered items. It blinked once before fading back into the handle's matte black finish, unnoticed by anyone.