Zhang Guo; Flight Attendant Li Ya

The plane roared into the sky, the vibrations of the engine gradually turning into a steady hum.

Lin Chen leaned back in the slightly hard economy class seat and exhaled a long, slow breath—a breath he felt he had been holding for fifteen days.

From Los Angeles to New York, from clearing out the Great Lakes in Duluth to sweeping across the Little Days Islands, and now boarding the flight home...

He was like a pre-programmed apocalyptic harvester, carrying out a near-frenzied "clearance sale" on the land of the United States and its people:

Supermarket shelves were emptied, military port supplies vanished into thin air, water levels in the Great Lakes plummeted, and even Maritime Self-Defense Force ships mysteriously disappeared...

The value of civilian supplies alone is incalculable, not to mention the 10,000-ton cargo ships, destroyers, and even the entire armory that have quietly entered his space.

This "account" has probably already exceeded one trillion in scale.

Both countries across the ocean are currently shrouded in gloom.

American supermarkets were so empty you could see your reflection in them, and housewives argued over the last roll of toilet paper; the FBI director roared at a hearing, "This is no ordinary theft, this is a terrorist attack on the lifeline of the nation!"

Xiao Ri Zi convenience store has been out of rice balls for three consecutive days, prompting young people to lament, "What's the point of life without seaweed rice balls?"

The "Ghost Cleaners Special Investigation Headquarters," urgently established by the Metropolitan Police Department, has yet to retrieve even a single frame of valid surveillance footage.

The online world was in complete uproar.

"A North American supermarket was turned into a bare-bones building overnight, not even a mop was left behind!"

"Are the Great Lakes almost drained? Are aliens coming to Earth to build infrastructure?"

"The Tokyo zaibatsu laments: Their 30-year-old sake collection, even the bottle, has been stolen!"

The comments section has already exploded:

"This is definitely a premonition of the apocalypse!"

"No, this is clearly the strongest warehouse manager and mover in history!"

"Looking for a big shot to take me in! I can cook and warm your bed, and I have a very strong survival instinct!!"

Lin Chen, the instigator of all this, was currently resting with his eyes closed, his face calm and gentle, looking no different from any other tired traveler returning home.

Only he knew that he was silently reciting that slightly mocking adaptation in his heart:

"I came softly, and I will go softly, with a wave of my sleeve, without leaving a cloud—but I will take all your stock."

The end times are less than five days away.

"After this ordeal, the population of the United States and Japan that can survive until the end of the world will probably be less than one-tenth of that in the previous life."

A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, but his heart remained completely unmoved.

In his past life, when the zombie apocalypse struck, it was the dead of night in America. Surprisingly, there were more survivors in the early stages, and after gaining superpowers, they developed an ambition to rule the world...

After the sea level rose, the little people attempted to land on the mainland again by passing through South Korea. Although they were eventually wiped out by the superpowered people of Northeast China, the people of Northeast China paid a heavy price.

All he's doing now is collecting a tiny, insignificant "interest" in advance.

Just as my thoughts were racing, a clear and gentle voice sounded beside me:

"Sir, would you like a drink?"

Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the face of the person in front of him, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face—he had seen this person in his previous life!

The flight attendant standing in front of me had a classic oval face, simple pearl earrings, and her hair was neatly styled in a bun.

Her makeup was light and delicate, her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and she had a perfectly professional smile on her lips. Her appearance was absolutely stunning.

She was about 1.72 meters tall, and her dark blue uniform perfectly accentuated her slender waist and exquisite curves. Every move she made exuded a well-trained elegance and poise.

The name tag had two neat Chinese characters printed on it: Li Ya.

Seeing that Lin Chen did not respond immediately, she smiled and repeated softly, "Sir, would you like something to drink?"

Lin Chen quickly composed himself, regaining his composure, and smiled slightly: "A glass of water, thank you."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

She deftly took a paper cup from the food cart, poured in hot water, and handed it over with both hands, her fingertips never touching the cup; her movements were smooth and gentle.

She then turned around, pushed the food cart, and continued serving the next passenger.

Li Ya was already used to Lin Chen's momentary loss of composure.

In her view, this was just another stranger who was amazed by her appearance, at most a polite person who was amazed.

As she passed through business class, those "successful people" either talked loudly about business or deliberately lowered their voices to make calls that revealed their status.

Some people casually loosened their ties and showed off their expensive watches—all these gestures were aimed at attracting the attention of this stunning flight attendant.

"I never expected to run into her here," Lin Chen thought to himself, watching her graceful figure disappear into the distance.

He had indeed seen this woman in his previous life.

In the apocalypse, beauty is the cheapest asset, yet also the most deadly burden.

He had witnessed too many so-called "goddesses" become playthings, slaves, or even be transformed into "living containers" for storing crystal cores.

As for those men in business class flaunting their worldly "strength," everything they rely on will vanish in an instant in the impending collapse of the world.

However, there are still five days until the apocalypse. Order still exists, and rules still apply.

Someone like him, seemingly an ordinary "loser," could only catch a glimpse of a woman like Li Ya from afar.

Lin Chen chuckled self-deprecatingly, closed his eyes again, and sank into his own thoughts.

Five hours later, the plane landed smoothly at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

Lin Chen took a taxi back to that familiar rented room.

Pushing open the door, a faint musty smell mixed with the scent of dust hit me.

The first thing he did after entering the house was to go straight into the bathroom and turn on the shower.

The cool water cascaded down, washing away the sticky sweat and the dust from days of travel.

Wrapped in a bath towel, he stood in front of the mirror, water droplets rolling down his firm and well-proportioned shoulders and back.

The muscles are well-defined and smooth, possessing the explosive power of a leopard, without an ounce of excess fat.

This body is far healthier and stronger than it was in the early stages of the previous life's apocalypse.

"With this physique alone, without using any special abilities, he could easily take on thirty strong adult men single-handedly."

He whispered to himself in the mirror.

In this life, thanks to the early awakening and repeated tempering of his superpowers, his body has already surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.

He was no longer the ant who had to rely on flattery, forbearance, and clumsy earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magical ability) to survive.

"Get a good night's sleep," he told himself. "After the apocalypse, even getting six hours of sleep in a row will be a luxury."

Supplies have been stockpiled, and the plan is progressing steadily. His heart, which had been shattered by betrayal and despair, finally felt a long-lost sense of peace at this moment.

He slept very soundly that night.

No zombie howls pierced the dream, no bone spikes whistled through the air, no Zhao Kai's ferocious laughter, no Li Qiang's numb and empty eyes, and certainly no Black Dragon's cold and cruel gaze...

All that could be heard was the occasional sound of cars passing by outside the window, the rhythmic melody of "The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style" playing in the distant square, the daily bickering of the couple downstairs, and the intermittent notes of the neighbor's child practicing the piano...

These sounds, unique to the "old world" and destined to be lost forever after the apocalypse, now sound like the gentlest lullaby, softly soothing his once wounded soul.

He didn't wake up until 2 p.m. the following afternoon, when the intense sunlight shone through the gaps in the blinds, cutting out patches of light and shadow on the indoor floor.

He stretched his body, and his joints made a series of crisp cracking sounds, as if every inch of his bones was celebrating this complete rebirth.

After a quick wash, he changed into a clean and comfortable T-shirt and jeans. He locked the door and went downstairs.

Outside, the sun shines brightly and a gentle breeze blows.

He walked briskly, heading straight for the long-established wonton noodle shop on the street corner that had been in business for over twenty years.