“Let’s go. Your friend doesn’t seem very happy to see you.”
After meeting the protagonist, Gu Ziming had no interest in lingering any longer.
At this point, Lin Fan was nothing more than a mad dog who had just been reborn from the apocalypse. The resentment, anger, and fear inside him desperately needed an outlet.
In the original plot, Qin Feifei and Gu Ziming, the minor villain, were that outlet. Lin Fan slapped Qin Feifei, broke up with her, and left feeling relieved. Meanwhile, Gu Ziming made a fool of himself, flew into a rage, and, as if losing his mind, launched a series of retaliations against Lin Fan. The result was predictable. He delivered experience points, equipment, and ultimately his own life.
Qin Feifei frowned and glanced at Lin Fan before getting into the car.
“CEO Gu, Lin Fan is my neighbor. We grew up together. Maybe he was just triggered by something today, that’s why he acted that way,” Qin Feifei said, her expression uneasy as she tried to explain on Lin Fan’s behalf.
“Are you two in a relationship?”
Gu Ziming finally voiced the question that had been circling in his mind. In Lin Fan’s first life, Qin Feifei had indeed been his girlfriend, and they had survived together for six months in the apocalypse.
Yet judging from how obediently she got into the car just now, they did not seem like a couple.
Also, when exactly had Qin Feifei betrayed Lin Fan in that first life? And what role had Gu Ziming played in it?
The author had glossed over these details, but for Gu Ziming, they were crucial. After all, his character only appeared in the opening flashback and at the moment he exited the story.
“No, we’re just neighbors,” Qin Feifei replied. She turned her head to look out the window, clearly unwilling to continue the topic.
Just neighbors? That meant they probably became a couple only after the apocalypse began.
According to the original setup, Lin Fan had been given one full month after his rebirth to stockpile supplies. Starting from today, in 30 days, the apocalypse would descend.
It was said that a cosmic storm would trigger abnormal solar activity. The resulting thermal radiation would raise Earth’s average temperature by 20 degrees Celsius. The polar ice caps would melt completely, and extreme disasters would claim countless lives.
Recalling the book’s description of the apocalypse, Gu Ziming realized that aside from the protagonist, everyone else suffered miserably.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully deprived the protagonist of 130 points of destiny.]
[The Destiny Exchange Mall has been unlocked. You may use the destiny taken from the protagonist to exchange for items in the mall.]
???
He had not done anything. How had he already deprived the protagonist’s destiny?
[Host caused female lead Qin Feifei to feel dissatisfaction toward Lin Fan +30.]
[Host caused Lin Fan’s psychological frustration to remain unresolved +100.]
Lin Fan’s pent-up frustration made sense, but—
Qin Feifei was the female lead?
Reading the system prompt carefully, Gu Ziming realized that Qin Feifei truly was the female lead. It made sense. The story began with her. Lin Fan later built a massive harem, and Qin Feifei ended up enslaved. Throughout the narrative, she had the most screen time.
There was even a key piece of evidence. After spending time with Gu Ziming, the minor villain, Qin Feifei returned to Lin Fan and was still pure as untouched snow.
Well then. The author’s intentions were painfully obvious.
Gu Ziming opened the system mall. It contained all kinds of items, including intangible goods such as skills and knowledge.
The pricing was perfectly aligned with the apocalypse.
One point could be exchanged for 1 kilogram of rice or 500 milliliters of purified water, basic survival supplies. At the same time, one point could also buy beginner-level mathematics or beginner-level dance, skills that normally required enormous time and effort to master but had little impact on surviving the apocalypse.
The principle was simple. The more practical an item was for survival in the apocalypse, the more expensive it became.
Soon, the car arrived at the pre-booked State Banquet Restaurant. This time, Gu Ziming acted like a true gentleman and opened the car door for Qin Feifei.
The handsome man and beautiful woman walked side by side into the restaurant, drawing curious glances from passersby.
Inside the private dining room, a table filled with delicacies from mountains and seas awaited them. Gu Ziming could not help but sigh inwardly. In the apocalypse, even someone as wealthy as him would struggle to enjoy such a meal.
The rising temperatures would not only alter ecosystems but also devastate countless species of animals and plants.
“Miss Qin, may I address you that way?” Gu Ziming asked calmly, unaffected by the luxurious spread before him. His priority was to settle the patent matter.
Liu Xiaoxiang, the Professor Liu Qin Feifei had mentioned, had invented a special graphene material with thermal conductivity six to seven times faster than ordinary graphene.
If, before the apocalypse, he could reinforce the shelter he planned to build with a layer of this special graphene and extend it deep underground, it would form an exceptional thermal protection barrier.
Moreover, Gu Ziming had even grander ambitions in mind.
“Yes, CEO Gu,” Qin Feifei replied. It was her first time in such a formal business setting, and she seemed nervous.
“Good. Professor Liu must have informed you that I intend to purchase the special graphene patent outright. We have already discussed the price before,” Gu Ziming said, looking at her expectantly.
“Yes, CEO Gu. My mentor hopes to add an additional 5% patent fee to the price you offered.”
Qin Feifei glanced at Gu Ziming. Seeing no change in his expression, she continued, “My mentor will personally guide the production at your company. If there are any new discoveries based on this research in the future, they will be provided to you free of charge.”
Gu Ziming took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, then said slowly, “3%. Otherwise, we walk away.”
In the original plot, Lin Fan became the so-called Neighborhood War God instead of slaughtering indiscriminately like other apocalyptic protagonists because the national system was still functioning. Its control was weaker than before, but it remained operational.
In scattered survival zones, communities might govern themselves and engage in minor conflicts, and the authorities might not have the capacity to manage everything. But once any force grew too large, it would inevitably face guidance and regulation.
That was why Gu Ziming had to acquire the graphene patent legally and transparently. Once the apocalypse erupted, such a superior heat-conducting material would skyrocket in value.
Of course, it might be requisitioned, but there would definitely be compensation. Without fairness, public morale would collapse, and true chaos would follow.
Gu Ziming’s ambition was never to bully people within a single residential compound.
Living comfortably in a shelter, eating, drinking, and enjoying life as a recluse might seem pleasant. But what if an even more powerful protagonist appeared later?
Besides, aside from the protagonist, who could confidently claim they would survive safely in the chaotic apocalypse?
There are only two things that cannot be stared at directly: the sun and the human heart.
And in one month, both would reach their peak.