**Chapter: A Parallel Life Unfolds**
"What's wrong, Brother Chen? Why don't you rent the place anymore?"
Chen Wei sent the message with a mix of curiosity and mild concern. He had been living in the same small apartment for years, renting it from a rather straightforward landlord named Chen Guang. The thought of needing to move out and deal with the hassle of relocating made his stomach churn.
"It's like this, Xiao Chen," came the quick reply. "I've decided to sell the house. I need the funds soon."
In recent years, the real estate market had been shaky. Prices had dipped from their all-time highs, and it seemed like Chen Guang was eager to liquidate his asset before values slid further. The apartment was modest—a cozy 90 square meters with two bedrooms, a living room, and a bathroom. It wasn't luxurious, but the layout was practical, and its location close to the school made it convenient.
Chen Wei pondered for a moment. The market rate for the apartment hovered around 2.9 million yuan, and at its peak, properties in the area had gone for an astronomical 4.5 million yuan. Renting for so long had been a decent arrangement, but a thought struck him: why not buy the place outright?
"Brother Chen, would you be willing to sell the house to me?" Chen Wei typed quickly, feeling a strange sense of excitement.
Chen Guang's reply came almost immediately: "Do you really want to buy it? I wasn't expecting this, but if you're serious and can pay the full amount within half a month, I'll let it go for 2.6 million."
Chen Wei's heart raced. A discount of 300,000 yuan was no small amount, especially in this market.
"Let's finalize it tomorrow morning," Chen Wei replied, surprising even himself with his decisiveness.
"Are you joking, Xiao Chen?" Chen Guang asked skeptically.
"No jokes. I've lived here for three years, and this place already feels like home. Buying a new house means waiting for construction or renovations, which will take years. Why not save myself the trouble and take over this one?"
Chen Guang, always a practical man, agreed readily. "Alright then. Tomorrow, 10 a.m., we'll meet at the housing authority to transfer ownership."
Chen Wei leaned back in his chair after setting his phone down, a small smile playing on his lips. For once, things seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
After wrapping up the conversation, Chen Wei lay down on his bed and soon drifted into a deep sleep.
---
Meanwhile, in the apocalyptic world, Chen Wei's alternate self stirred awake. The stark contrast between the two worlds he inhabited was jarring—one a modern, bustling cityscape and the other a desolate wasteland filled with danger at every turn.
"It seems the time difference between my two realities is exactly twelve hours," Chen Wei muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "When I'm awake here, I'm asleep there, and vice versa."
The realization was both intriguing and troubling. He was essentially sharing his consciousness between two bodies, but the inability to wake up in one world while active in the other posed significant risks.
"If a horde of zombies attacks while I'm sleeping, I won't be able to defend myself. I need a safe place to sleep—somewhere secure, fortified."
Chen Wei pushed these thoughts aside for the moment and turned his attention to his immediate needs. With a mental command, he retrieved supplies from his spatial storage—a mysterious ability he had unlocked only recently.
The contents were meager but sufficient: two machetes, three axes, 20 kilograms of rice, a few kilograms of beef and pork, fresh vegetables like cabbage and potatoes, condiments, an alcohol stove, and a small stash of water bottles.
"The space is still too small," he muttered, eyeing the pile. "I need to find more of those crystal cores to expand it."
Chen Wei set to work cooking a hearty meal, the smell of sizzling beef and pork filling the room. The food provided more than just sustenance; it was a brief reprieve from the harsh reality of the apocalypse.
After eating his fill, Chen Wei felt a surge of energy coursing through him. His body, already stronger and more agile than before, seemed to demand more nutrition to sustain its rapid improvements.
---
"Time to test my limits," he decided, picking up an axe. "Let's see if I can find more crystal cores."
Rather than heading straight for the streets where zombies roamed in larger groups, Chen Wei opted to sweep through the building he was in. The confined spaces meant fewer zombies at a time, making it easier to handle.
He started with the 20th floor, carefully prying open each apartment door with skill born of practice. Unit 2001 was empty—its previous occupants long gone. Chen Wei combed through the rooms, searching not just for food and water but also valuables like gold, silver, and antiques. His logic was simple: what held value in the apocalyptic world might be worth even more in the modern one.
Jade jewelry, vintage watches, and even small figurines went into his bag. Although he wasn't sure if everything would sell, he figured it was worth trying.
By the time he reached the 29th floor, his backpack was noticeably heavier. However, fortune and danger often walked hand in hand. As he forced open the door to Unit 3001, three zombies lunged at him from the darkness.
"Roar!"
The guttural cries of the undead filled the air, sending a chill down Chen Wei's spine. But unlike his first encounter with a zombie, he was better prepared this time.
His grip tightened on the axe as he swung with all his strength, cleaving the head of the nearest zombie in one clean blow. The creature collapsed instantly, its body twitching in a pool of dark, congealed blood.
The narrow doorway worked to his advantage, bottlenecking the remaining two zombies. Still, their relentless snarls and flailing arms made the fight far from easy. Chen Wei pulled out a machete with his free hand, slashing wildly while keeping his movements controlled.
Sweat dripped down his face as the second zombie fell, its skull split open by the axe. The third, slightly larger than the others, required several well-placed strikes before it crumpled to the floor.
Panting, Chen Wei surveyed the carnage around him.
"I'm still panicking," he admitted to himself, his hands trembling slightly. "Even though my physical strength and reflexes have improved, the fear hasn't completely gone away."
The fight had taught him an important lesson: courage wasn't about the absence of fear but the ability to act despite it. He resolved to train harder, honing his skills and mental fortitude.
---
Breaking open the skulls of the fallen zombies, Chen Wei searched for crystal cores. To his disappointment, only the largest one had a small, glass-like orb embedded in its brain.
"So not every zombie has a crystal core," he murmured. The discovery was frustrating but also enlightening. If he wanted to expand his spatial storage and improve his abilities, he would need to seek out stronger or more evolved zombies.
He pocketed the core and continued his search of Unit 3001. Amidst the chaos, he found a few more valuables—gold necklaces, a stash of canned food, and a working flashlight.
By the time he finished, the sun was beginning to rise. Chen Wei returned to his temporary shelter, exhaustion settling in.
As he closed his eyes, he felt the familiar pull of his consciousness shifting back to the modern world.
---
Chen Wei woke with a start, the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant sounds of traffic grounding him. The apartment felt surreal after the horrors of the apocalypse, but he couldn't help but smile.
Tomorrow, he would officially own the place he had called home for years. And perhaps, with the wealth and resources he was starting to amass in both worlds, he could finally take control of his destiny.