Lin Ran returned to Cloud Metropolis a month later.
During this month, she and Lin Ze had traveled across the country, stockpiling local delicacies and supplies from various regions. All sorts of delicious food, fine drinks, and entertaining items were stored away.
She had initially worried her Dimension might not be spacious enough, but half a month ago, her Spatial ability leveled up once more. With a 6th-level Spatial ability, her Dimension had doubled in size, making it capable of storing anything and everything.
This time, she returned to collect the weapons Wu Dahai had prepared for them.
After Lin Ran and Lin Ba retrieved the weapons and gasoline from Wu Dahai, they finally returned home to Mid-Levels Cloud Villa.
It was the weekend, and Jiang Chen, rarely having such leisure time to stay home, had just picked up a freshly brewed cup of coffee when he heard the sound of a car braking next door.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he rushed out of the house, not even noticing the scalding coffee spilling on his hand.
The parking area of Lin Ran’s villa was located at the entrance. After parking the car, she hopped out of the driver’s seat of the off-road vehicle.
The afternoon sunlight glinted off the tips of her hair, accentuating her youthful vitality. As an Ability User, she could keenly sense her surroundings. The moment she stepped out of the car, she felt a burning gaze seemingly fixed intently on her.
She turned around, looking toward the source of the gaze, curious to know who this bold person was.
However, the sunlight was too glaring, and at first glance, she couldn’t clearly make out the person’s face.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen, standing at the entrance, saw Lin Ran’s face clearly, along with her inquisitive gaze.
Usually composed, he felt as if pricked by her stare, becoming as flustered and awkward as a panicked child.
Lin Ran blinked in the sunlight, quickly adjusting to the bright light. Finally, she could see the other person’s face clearly—a face as if kissed by God, so extraordinarily handsome it seemed like the creator’s special favor.
She knew this person. In the last moments of her previous life, she had spent them with him.
Jiang Chen’s heart was in turmoil. He didn’t even know what expression to wear in front of her. Logically, they had never met, and their paths had never crossed.
He shouldn’t be reacting this way—so why was he so flustered?
Hadn’t he already planned how to build a good relationship with this lovely neighbor?
How should he break the ice now?
What should he say first?
In Lin Ran’s mind, memories from her past life replayed incessantly—how he, with those bloodthirsty eyes, had set the research institute ablaze, declaring they would destroy it together.
He had helped her exact revenge.
He had asked her, “What’s your name?”
In her past life, she hadn’t had the chance to tell him. Now, in this life, she could make up for that regret.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Lin Ran’s lips. She took two steps forward and said, “Hello, my name is Lin Ran. I’m your neighbor.”
My name is Lin Ran—her name?
Jiang Chen: “…”
The girl’s voice was like the strongest liquor, instantly intoxicating his heart.
Hearing those words felt as if a missing part of his soul had suddenly been restored.
“Hello, Miss Lin. My name is Jiang Chen. I look forward to your kindness in the future.”
Struggling to suppress the storm of emotions raging inside him, Jiang Chen managed to respond with perfect courtesy.
Jiang Chen’s voice was as pleasant as ever, just like when he was the Zombie King.
Lin Ran didn’t know what identity Jiang Chen held now and was somewhat surprised by his appearance.
But since they had met, it wasn’t a big deal. It just seemed this person wasn’t as fortunate as her—he didn’t possess memories from their previous life.
Lin Ba got out of the passenger seat and noticed an exceptionally outstanding young man standing at the gate of the neighboring villa.
However, the way this young man was staring at his daughter instantly triggered this old father’s protective instincts.
“So it’s you, our neighbor! Haha, I’m Lin Yinan, and this is my daughter Lin Ran. Let’s chat when we have time, haha. We just got back from out of town and need to rest first.”
Jiang Chen, no longer flustered as he had been with Lin Ran, responded with an appropriate smile, “Alright, Uncle Lin. I’m Jiang Chen. I’ll visit you after you’ve rested.”
“Good, good, no need to stand on ceremony.”
Lin Ba chuckled heartily and ushered Lin Ran into the house.
“Ran Ran, that young man turned out to be Jiang Chen.”
“You know him?”
Lin Ran had never heard her father mention Jiang Chen’s name in her previous life.
Lin Ba sighed, “Who in Cloud Metropolis’s business circle doesn’t know him? The most talented business prodigy, the young and promising head of the Jiang family. Such an outstanding young man—if he were born in peaceful times, his future would be limitless.”
Actually, even in the apocalypse, his future would be limitless.
Lin Ran silently added this thought to herself.
She recalled the stories she’d heard about him in her previous life. He emerged suddenly in the third year of the apocalypse, astonishing everyone with his mastery of the five elements abilities.
Countless Ability Users and survivors competed to follow him, and he lived up to their expectations by leading them to establish his own Sharp Knife Base.
His Sharp Knife Base was the safest among all bases.
Because of his presence, it seemed zombies and Mutated Beasts dared not approach. People lived peaceful and prosperous lives in his base, enjoying several carefree years.
But later, after his identity as the Zombie King was exposed by that vile person, people treated him so cruelly.
Humanity truly didn’t deserve him.
This lifetime, they had met much earlier. So, what could she do?
Or rather, should she do anything at all?
Before she could figure it out, Lin Ba called her to the warehouse to receive supplies, and Jiang Chen missed another opportunity to visit Lin Ran.
It wasn’t until 10 PM that the father and daughter returned to the villa.
By then, Jiang Chen could only hide by the window, watching helplessly as the beauty entered the house.
Sigh!
Another day without managing to speak with her.
He had wanted to ask if they knew each other? Had they ever met before? It seemed he’d missed his chance again.
That night, Jiang Chen had a strange dream.
He dreamed of a cold, pale room where he and Lin Ran lay side by side.
The girl’s eyes burned with bone-deep hatred as she gritted her teeth, saying she wanted to burn the place down. In that moment, he felt exactly the same.
Flames shot from his eyes as he said, “Then let’s burn this place.”
As the fire erupted, the girl’s beautiful eyes reflected the blazing flames, filled with overwhelming hatred.
In that moment, he thought her eyes were extraordinarily beautiful.
He couldn’t bear the thought of such beautiful eyes disappearing in that inferno.
He wanted to know her name, and then she said her name was Lin Ran.