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Chapter 2: There Are Only Two Things That Cannot Be Looked at Directly
"Let's go. Your friends don't seem too pleased with your presence," Gu Ziming said calmly.
After his brief encounter with Lin Fan, Gu Ziming had no interest in lingering any longer.
Right now, Lin Fan was nothing more than a rabid dog—freshly reborn into the apocalypse, filled with resentment, rage, and fear, all of which desperately needed an outlet. And in the original plot, both Qin Feifei and his past self had been the perfect targets for that outburst.
In the novel's original timeline, Lin Fan had slapped Qin Feifei in a fit of anger, announced their breakup, and stormed off. Meanwhile, the original Gu Ziming, blind with rage, had initiated a series of irrational actions against Lin Fan.
The result?
He had hand-delivered resources, opportunities, and even his own life to the protagonist.
But things had changed.
Qin Feifei furrowed her brows and hesitated before finally stepping into the car. As she fastened her seatbelt, she glanced at Lin Fan one last time before looking away.
"Mr. Gu," she said after a moment, her voice measured. "Lin Fan is my neighbor. We grew up together. I don't know why he's acting this way, but something must have happened to provoke him."
Despite her discomfort, she still felt the need to offer some kind of explanation for Lin Fan's erratic behavior.
Gu Ziming turned his gaze toward her, his tone casual yet probing.
"Are you two in a relationship?"
This question had been lingering in his mind since he first met her.
After all, according to Lin Fan's memories in his past life, he and Qin Feifei had been lovers. They had survived the apocalypse together for six months before things took a turn.
But from what Gu Ziming had seen so far, Qin Feifei's submissive behavior and her willingness to leave with him didn't quite align with that version of events.
Also, when exactly had Qin Feifei betrayed Lin Fan in the original timeline? And what role had Gu Ziming played in that betrayal?
The novel had only mentioned these events in passing—just a few vague details in the protagonist's recollection at the beginning and again in Gu Ziming's final downfall.
Yet, these details were now crucial to him.
Qin Feifei shook her head. "No, we're just neighbors," she replied, her voice neutral.
After that, she turned away, staring out the window, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.
Gu Ziming narrowed his eyes slightly. So, they weren't together yet?
That meant their relationship had only developed after the apocalypse began.
More importantly, according to the novel, Lin Fan had been granted a full month after his rebirth to hoard supplies and prepare.
And from today's date…
In exactly 30 days, the apocalypse will begin.
A cataclysmic cosmic storm would trigger an extreme solar radiation event, drastically raising Earth's average temperature by 20 degrees. The polar ice caps would melt at an accelerated rate, unleashing widespread disasters that would wipe out countless lives.
Gu Ziming recalled how the novel had described the apocalypse.
Except for the protagonist, everyone else suffered terribly.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the mechanical voice of the system echoed in his ears.
> Ding!
Congratulations, Host! You have successfully deprived the protagonist of 130 Luck Points.
The Luck Exchange Mall is now open! You can exchange stolen Luck for items in the mall.
Gu Ziming's expression stiffened.
Huh?
I didn't even do anything. Why did I take away the protagonist's Luck?!
> Ding!
Host has caused heroine Qin Feifei to feel dissatisfied with Lin Fan. Luck -30!
Host has prevented Lin Fan from relieving his psychological burden. Luck -100!
Gu Ziming raised an eyebrow. That makes sense for Lin Fan, but… Qin Feifei is actually the heroine?
Thinking back, it did seem logical.
The novel started with Qin Feifei.
Then, as Lin Fan's harem expanded, Qin Feifei was reduced to a mere background character, enslaved and discarded.
Yet, throughout the story, she had the most scenes among the female characters.
And more importantly…
Even after she had been with Gu Ziming for a while, when she returned to Lin Fan—
She was still as pure as snow!
Gu Ziming scoffed inwardly.
The original author's intentions couldn't be more obvious.
Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the system mall.
The inventory was surprisingly extensive, containing physical goods, skills, and even knowledge-based abilities.
The pricing also perfectly aligned with the harsh reality of the apocalypse.
For example—
1 Luck Point could be exchanged for 1 kilogram of rice or 500 ml of purified water.
The same 1 Luck Point could also be exchanged for basic knowledge like elementary mathematics or beginner dance skills.
The more useful an item was in a post-apocalyptic world, the more expensive it became.
Before long, the car arrived at their destination—a high-end state banquet restaurant.
As they pulled up, Gu Ziming stepped out first and courteously opened the door for Qin Feifei, maintaining his usual gentlemanly demeanor.
The two of them—a strikingly handsome man and an elegant beauty—walked inside together, drawing the attention of passing diners.
Inside the private dining room, a table overflowing with exquisite dishes awaited them.
Gu Ziming took his seat but couldn't help feeling a twinge of irony.
Even a wealthy man like me might struggle to afford such a meal in the apocalypse.
The soaring temperatures wouldn't just change the climate. They would decimate agriculture and drive countless species to extinction.
Resources like fresh vegetables, meat, and clean water would become priceless luxuries.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Gu Ziming turned to Qin Feifei.
"Miss Qin," he said smoothly, "I hope you don't mind me calling you that?"
Qin Feifei hesitated briefly before nodding. "That's fine, Mr. Gu."
With that formality settled, Gu Ziming wasted no time getting to the point.
"As your professor may have mentioned, I'm interested in acquiring the patent for the special graphene material. We've already discussed the pricing beforehand," he said, watching her reaction closely.
Qin Feifei nodded. "Yes, my mentor told me she'd like to adjust the terms slightly—an additional 5% increase in the patent fee."
She hesitated for a moment before adding, "In return, she's willing to personally oversee production at your facility. Additionally, any future advancements based on this research will be provided to you free of charge."
Gu Ziming fell silent, closing his eyes in thought.
After a few moments, he slowly opened them and replied:
"Three percent. Take it or leave it."
His tone was calm, yet absolute.
In the original timeline, Lin Fan had become a hero in his community without resorting to mindless killing like most apocalypse protagonists.
Why?
Because government institutions had still been operating, albeit with diminished authority.
Small survival zones had implemented self-governance, but any larger organizations eventually came under state control.
That was why Gu Ziming needed this patent acquired legally—before the apocalypse began.
Because once chaos took over, the true fight for survival would begin.
And there were only two things in this world that should never be looked at directly:
One was the sun.
The other was the human heart.
And in just one month, both were about to reach their breaking point.
Author: I have already written 100 chapter for this novel. I will publish it all based on the readers response. So lemme know if you want more free chapters.