My Apocalypse, My Rules

2.Two-faced woman

Zhang Yi stepped out of his apartment building into a world of deceptively tranquil normalcy. The scene was vibrant, brimming with the simple joys and comforts of human life. Parents laughed as they played with their children on the community square, their faces illuminated by genuine, carefree smiles.

But Zhang Yi knew. In one month, all of this would be obliterated, a forgotten memory.

He quickened his pace, leaving the residential compound behind. Not far away stood a Michelin three-star Western restaurant. A single meal here could easily cost five or six thousand yuan—a price that had always made him hesitate in the past.

Now, he couldn't care less.

He walked in, found a seat by the window, and proceeded to order the most expensive dish of everything on the menu, topping it off with a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild. The total bill came to around fifty thousand yuan.

Even the servers were looking at him with a new, appreciative curiosity, clearly pegging him as a wealthy second-generation heir. Why else would an ordinary person spend so much on a single meal?

Zhang Yi paid them no mind. When the magnificent spread of gourmet dishes arrived, he dug in with a fervor that was almost visceral. Perhaps it was the memory of those six months in the frozen hellscape; the explosion of flavor on his tongue was so profoundly moving he felt close to tears.

His table manners became a bit… fierce. It drew whispers and sidelong glances from the other diners.

Zhang Yi ignored them all. He knew what was coming—a time when people would literally kowtow for a single packet of instant noodles. In the face of that, civility and morality would shatter like glass.

As he was eating, a woman passing by the window suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She had long, flowing hair, impeccable makeup, and wore a pair of Gucci heels. It was Fang Yuqing, the very woman who had orchestrated his death in his previous life. Beside her was her best friend, Li Caining.

The two of them always slowed down when they passed this Michelin restaurant, casting longing glances inside. This temple of high-end dining was a place they deeply desired but could never afford on their budgets.

That didn't stop them from scanning the interior with a predatory hope—maybe they'd spot some high-quality, eligible bachelor to latch onto.

This time, however, Fang Yuqing's eyes widened in shock as she spotted Zhang Yi inside, seated before a table laden with top-tier food and wine.

"Isn't that Zhang Yi?" she exclaimed, bewildered. "Since when could he afford to eat here?"

Li Caining covered her mouth in equal surprise. "Zhang Yi… was he actually rich all along?" She then shot Fang Yuqing a knowing, envious look. "You lucky girl! The 'simp' chasing after you turns out to be a secret rich kid! Look at that spread—it must've cost at least fifty or sixty thousand. No ordinary person drops that on one meal!"

There was no hiding the jealousy in her voice. She knew Zhang Yi had been pursuing Fang Yuqing for half a year. Fang Yuqing, ever the player, had kept him on the hook—never outright rejecting him, but never committing either.

Fang Yuqing was a gold digger through and through, convinced she was destined to marry into wealth and become a pampered young madam. Yet, she'd been reluctant to completely cut loose a prospect like Zhang Yi, who owned a car and an apartment in Tianhai—a solid, upper-middle-class catch.

So, she'd kept him firmly in the "backup" category.

But seeing him casually enjoying a meal worth tens of thousands all by himself planted a new seed of doubt in her mind. "Could it be… Zhang Yi is actually from a wealthy family?" she mused, resting her chin on her hand.

The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. "You know, they have characters like that in TV dramas all the time," she said, convincing herself. "Super rich, but pretending to be average to find true love."

Her eyes began to sparkle. If it were true, it would save her so much effort. After all, Zhang Yi was already wrapped around her finger. She felt sure that if she just gave the word, he'd propose immediately.

Li Caining nudged her. "Yuqing, let's go in and talk to him!" Truth be told, her own motivation was that table of exquisite food. A Michelin three-star restaurant was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people.

Fang Yuqing hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "That wouldn't be good. It'd make me look like a gold digger." A calculated smile played on her lips. "Let's wait for him outside instead. We can make it seem like a chance encounter."

Fang Yuqing was no fool. She wouldn't compromise her poised image for just one meal. Even if Zhang Yi *was* rich, she needed to maintain her goddess persona. That was the only way to ensure she could keep him under her thumb, forever her loyal simp, once they were together.

So, the two women found a spot to hide not far from the restaurant entrance, lying in wait for Zhang Yi to finish.

Zhang Yi ate for over an hour, finally leaning back and patting his full, content stomach. His next plan was to head to a nearby supermarket to stock up on some initial supplies. While he was highly confident in his plan to raid the Walmart warehouse, it never hurt to be cautious. He was a man who had known true hunger; he couldn't allow for any potential missteps.

He paid the bill without a second thought and walked out of the restaurant, the servers bowing with respectful smiles.

Just then, a sickeningly familiar voice called out from the side. "Zhang Yi! What a coincidence!"

He turned his head. It was Fang Yuqing and Li Caining.

Fang Yuqing reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, a deliberate gesture meant to showcase her slender, pale neck and delicate, pink earlobe.

Zhang Yi sneered inwardly. It was a classic move from the green tea b***h handbook, designed to appear effortlessly alluring and make a man's heart flutter. As a top-tier green tea white lotus, Fang Yuqing had this act down to a science.

It was just a shame that the Zhang Yi standing before her now was no longer the naive simp he once was. Not long ago—from his perspective—this very woman had been responsible for his gruesome death, even demanding his ribs for her soup!

The memory sent a wave of pure, icy killing intent flashing through his eyes. Soon, it would be the apocalypse. Killing her wouldn't even be a problem.

Fang Yuqing shivered under his gaze, a chill running down her spine. "Zh-Zhang Yi… wh-what's wrong?" she stammered, unnerved.

Zhang Yi quickly reined in the visible hostility, his expression turning neutral. "It's nothing," he said flatly. "I mistook you for someone else."

A new thought had just occurred to him. Letting her die quickly would be far too merciful. It would be much more satisfying to let her first experience the true, soul-crushing despair of the apocalypse, and *then* orchestrate her demise. With his foreknowledge and meticulous planning, he had a hundred different ways to make her suffer before the end.

So, for now, there was no need to deal with her directly.

The absolute priority was to build the most secure survival shelter possible, one that would allow him to live out the end of the world in safety and comfort.