Doomsday Paradise

Chapter 2: A Searing Steak Night

**What’s the difference between midnight and 1 a.m.?**

Under normal circumstances, hardly anyone would notice.

But tonight was anything but normal.

The sun had long vanished, yet the scorching heat in the air seemed to intensify with each passing minute. Worse still, there hadn’t been a whisper of wind for days. The air outside the window didn’t flow—it hung like sweltering sand, ready to smother anyone who dared breathe it.

As if obeying some unspoken command, the last few households stubbornly resisting air conditioning finally caved. Outdoor units rumbled to life one after another. Those without AC fled to bars, 24-hour convenience stores, office buildings—anywhere with a hint of cool air.

Thirty minutes later, with a soft *click*, the night lights in the 38th-floor apartment flickered out. The room plunged into absolute darkness. The faint hum of the central air conditioning, a constant presence in the bedroom, had quietly ceased.

The cold air was gone.

It didn’t take long for Lin Sanjiu to toss restlessly in her sleep. Without the steady 25°C breeze, a clammy layer of sweat soon coated her skin like a suffocating second layer. She woke, groggy and uncomfortable.

*Hmm… the remote’s on the nightstand…*

Half-asleep, she reached out—then froze.

Something was wrong.

Her breath hitched. She forced herself to stay still, then slowly cracked her eyes open, peering upward.

A pale face hovered inches above hers. Two black holes for eyes stared unblinking into hers in the dark.

*Again—! Again—!*

A scream tore through her mind, but her throat was too dry to make a sound. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, growing louder, faster—

The white face tilted slightly, as if listening, then lunged closer.

Two weeks ago, she’d woken thirsty and sat up—only to collide with *this face*. Back then, she’d shrieked, scrambled for the light, and discovered it was just Ren Nan.

Ren Nan, who had been sitting beside her in the dark, watching her sleep for who knew how long.

Just like tonight.

*"I’ve had sleepwalking episodes since childhood,"* he’d explained.

Had she not already been suspicious, she might’ve believed him. Now, she fought to keep her terror hidden, pretending to rub sleep from her eyes as she whispered, *"Ren Nan… sleepwalking again?"*

In the dark, his lips split into a grin. His words were perfectly clear. *"Yeah, my old problem’s back. Didn’t scare you, did I?"*

*"A… a little…"* She practically fled the bed, backing toward the doorway—the illusion of an escape route calming her just enough to notice the suffocating heat. *"Why’s it so hot? Did you turn off the AC?"*

Ren Nan didn’t answer. Instead, he tugged the heavy curtains aside, revealing floor-to-ceiling windows. Normally, this view showcased the city’s glittering skyline. Tonight, however, the endless lights had vanished. Even the stars seemed to have retreated, leaving only an abyss of black.

The sealed apartment was an oven.

*"The grid’s overloaded. Looks like a citywide blackout,"* Ren Nan said, amusement lacing his tone. He stood slowly, circling the bed toward her.

Every nerve in Lin Sanjiu’s body screamed danger. Before he could get close, she spun and bolted for the living room. Her months of living here paid off—even in pitch darkness, she navigated flawlessly to the elevator, slamming the call button.

No red light.

*No backup power in a penthouse this expensive?!*

*"Emergency power only covers hallway lights. Private elevators? Not so much."* His voice, the same one she’d listened to for half a year, oozed warmth. Yet now, beneath the polished syllables, she detected something wet—as if he couldn’t control the saliva pooling in his mouth.

The shadowy outline of Ren Nan advanced, stopping at the room’s center.

Dizziness washed over her. Her instincts had been right—*and she’d ignored them*. *"What… what do you want?"*

*"You’re sharp,"* Ren Nan said, swallowing audibly. *"You must’ve sensed it. But you should’ve trusted your gut sooner… then you wouldn’t have come back here with me. These past few days, struggling with yourself… thank you for choosing to trust me."*

Unaware of her own trembling fists, Lin Sanjiu barely registered his words.

*"Xiaojiu, with this heat… have you been sweating much?"* The sudden non sequitur threw her.

She touched her arm. Only a faint dampness. *Why ask that now?*

Ren Nan nodded in approval. *"Good girl. All my nurturing these past six months… it wasn’t wasted."*

*What is he talking about?!*

Her jaw clenched so hard her teeth ached. The suspicion she’d buried for days finally surfaced: *"You… want to eat me?"*

The shadowy figure emitted a pleased sound. *"Such sharp instincts."*

Rage cut through her fear. *"Stop joking! What *are* you? Why me? And what’s this about ‘evolution’? You said you’d explain—so EXPLAIN!"*

*Buy time. Just a little more.* As she shouted, her hand groped behind her, finding the knife block on the kitchen counter.

Ren Nan’s gaping mouth shrank slightly, revealing fragments of his once-handsome features. *"Sigh… must I spell it out? I *am* human. Ren Nan is my real name. But I’m nothing like you backward creatures. I’m from another world—a ‘New World.’ There, surviving humans evolve unique abilities… ones you couldn’t begin to fathom."*

He wiped drool from his chin. *"Put the knife down. My vision’s excellent. Just let me eat you. I promise it won’t—"*

*"f**k YOUR PROMISE!"*

Terror and fury propelled her forward, the boning knife gleaming as it arced toward his chest—

Ren Nan sidestepped effortlessly. Lin Sanjiu stumbled, her foot landing on a shard of glass. She crashed to the ground, the knife skittering from her grip.

Before she could rise, the mouth—now stretched ear-to-ear—lunged. She rolled desperately, hurling the blade. It grazed Ren Nan’s arm, drawing a thin line of blood before clattering away.

*"A STEAK SHOULD KNOW ITS PLACE!"* Enraged, he pinned her, his pupils contracting to pinpricks.

In the dim light, Lin Sanjiu watched helplessly as the shadow descended toward her throat.

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