Chapter 1 Rebirth

• "Ah..."
• Nadia Jean's eyes snapped open as she sat up abruptly in bed. Beads of sweat were dripping down her forehead. Her gaze filled with confusion and despair.
• Her muddled consciousness was startled by the scene before her. Is my apartment before the apocalypse?
• Ding. Ding.
• A series of text notifications pinged in quick succession. She reached for her phone on the bedside table. 'September 14, 2029. 9:32 a.m.' was displayed on her screen.
• She scrolled through a dozen unread messages. All of them were warnings about a super typhoon named "Aeolus" that was expected to make landfall along the coast in the early hours of the 17th. The messages detailed a Category five storm and forecasts of torrential rain.
• Nadia was bewildered. Hadn't I died? Didn't I perish in the cannibalistic darkness of the apocalypse?
• Could it be my unresolved desires that trapped me in a nightmare on the brink of death?
• Ding.
• Another warning text arrived at 9:37 a.m.
• Nadia pinched her arm hard. The sharp pain confirmed that this wasn't a dream. She was reborn—three days before the super typhoon.
• No. To be precise, I only have two and a half days remaining.
• Nadia felt no joy. Only an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that was weighing on her heart.
• Typhoons, torrential rains, floods, extreme temperatures, and earthquakes. Each disaster is a living hell. What's the purpose of me being reborn?
• But now that I'm back in this life, do I want to await the arrival of death? No, absolutely not!
• She splashed her face with cold water and gazed in the mirror. The reflection showed a young, beautiful woman with clear skin. This was a woman untouched by the horrors of the apocalypse. Everything seems so perfect.
• Her tired gaze fell on the jade pendant around her neck, something she had since she was abandoned at the hospital during birth. Wayne York once requested it as a gift for the popular girl in school—Maya Smith.
• Three years into the apocalypse, Maya remained delicate and radiant. Her clothes were always spotless, and her skin was rosy white. It was as if she was still living in the era of abundance.
• Nadia remembered a moment when hunger nearly overcame her. She caught a glimpse of Maya taking out an ice cream from the pendant and licking it gracefully.
• This memory ignited an idea within Nadia. She reached for a blade and cut her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the pendant.
• The pendant emitted a brilliant glow. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in an apartment without a front door. Aside from running water and electricity, it was completely unfurnished. The two-bedroom, one-living room layout spanned about 80 square meters, with ceilings around three meters high. Adjacent to the living room was a 10-square-meter garden filled with dark soil.
• '01:56:13'. A glowing timer was suspended in the living room's mid-air.
• Is this the space that allowed Maya to live so exquisitely, or was it taken from me?
• As she left the space, a vision of another house lingered in her mind. With a concentrated thought, she could sense everything within it.
• Nadia decided to use boiling water to test the functionality of the space. She found out that the water maintained its freshness everywhere except the balcony and garden.
• As she began to store items within the domain using her consciousness, the timer paused. But entering the domain caused it to resume its countdown automatically.
• Time was running short, and she couldn’t afford to waste a moment pondering the mysteries.
• Given this second chance and the power of the space at her fingertips, she had to seize the opportunity to turn her fate around.
• She had spent her previous life keeping track of the upcoming natural disasters.
• She was overwhelmed by the truth and answers.
• Life is hard.
• As she pushed aside any lingering emotions, she took out paper and pen to note down a list of supplies.
• Nadia grew up in an orphanage. Despite its outwardly peaceful facade, the environment was filled with ruthless competition. This had shaped her into a self-serving individual.
• From a young age, she felt an inherent lack of security. In elementary school, she scavenged for cardboard and trash to make ends meet. During middle school, she took on various part-time jobs such as tutoring, cleaning, and anything else that paid. If there was money to be made, she was in.
• Besides, she excelled in her studies and was top-ranked in the entrance exams. Even as a second-year medical student, she balanced her coursework while tutoring five high school seniors, charging 200 per session.
• Driven by a relentless pursuit of financial stability, Nadia dabbled with side hustles. Whether it be an insurance agent or an online media uploader, she was willing to work legally. Over the years, she managed to save up to 200,000 for her down payment.
• But now, all my efforts are futile.
• In the afternoon, she had classes in school. Her evenings were followed by tutoring sessions for her students. Yet, these were no longer necessary.
• Nadia sent a WeChat message to the parents, informing them that she was hospitalized and unable to continue her tutoring. She urged them to find a replacement and requested that they settle the outstanding fees.
• The parents were financially secure. That's why the tutoring fees were paid every half a month. Soon after, two of them responded with 500 as a condolence gift, adding up to a total of 6,000.
• In this urgent situation, she made sure to remind the parents. 'A super typhoon is approaching. Please make sure to stock up on food and emergency supplies.'
• Natural disasters were becoming a frequent occurrence. Nadia's list of medications stretched across three large pages. Most of the drugs were not only costly but difficult to find in local pharmacies as well.
• She snapped a photo of the extensive list and sent it to Caleb Zink, a pharmaceutical salesman and a childhood friend. 'A wealthy new client needs these urgently. Have them delivered by tonight. Please offer me a discounted price.'
• Caleb replied instantly, 'Got it.'
• Within five minutes, Nadia received his call. "Nadia, this list is weird. Are you sure you're not joking?"
• "The payment has been made. The client only has one requirement. They want to have the package by tonight."
• Without hesitation, she hung up and transferred 50,000. Better to overpay than under-deliver.
• Nadia felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of supplies she needed to gather. As she grabbed her keys and headed out, she caught sight of the limited-edition Air Jordan sneakers on the table. She couldn’t help but wish she could smash her head against a wall out of frustration.
• She had always lived a practical life. Yet when it came to Wayne, it felt as if she were under a love spell.
• To pursue him, she had made significant sacrifices. She moved out of her dorm to rent an expensive apartment in the school district. During the early hours, she even queued up at the specialty store to buy him the Air Jordan sneakers.
• While she never spent more than 300 on her own shoes, she had no hesitation in spending over 8,000 on a limited-edition pair for him.
• However, his response was lukewarm. He accepted the gift, only to ask for the pendant. When it came to her confession, he never gave a clear answer. Instead, Wayne had taken Maya out during the impending typhoon and consumed the emergency supplies she had carefully hoarded.
• For three relentless years, Wayne never lifted a finger to help Nadia. Instead, he watched coldly as she was beaten and tormented by the monsters of the apocalypse.
• If I had known this, I would have fed the Air Jordan sneakers to a dog. This time, I would like to see if Wayne and Maya could live luxuriously without my stockpiled supplies and space!
• The super typhoon raged for half a month, followed by three consecutive months of torrential rain. The entire metropolis was submerged in water.
• Her rented apartment on the 18th floor spared her from the floodwaters. But her life was far from easy.
• …
• Nadia left her apartment complex and headed to a nearby breakfast stall to have her first meal of the day.
• Without delay, she made her way to a car rental agency and rented a box truck. Her first stop was the Air Jordan specialty store. The staff were surprised by her request to return the sneakers. After all, these were limited-edition new releases that were highly sought after by customers.
• She received a refund of over eight thousand. With this money, she could stock up on daily necessities that could last for years. Who needs a man anyway?
• She drove to a street lined with doors and window shops. She ordered the two sturdiest stainless steel doors available, each equipped with three-bar locks that were guaranteed to withstand even a sledgehammer. The total cost came to over 6,000 including the installation fee.
• Nadia had measured the dimensions of her door before leaving home.
• Initially, the store owner was concerned about the accuracy of her measurements, but upon hearing the name of her residential complex, he readily agreed. He had done plenty of business there and knew the specifications well. "If you're in a rush, we can have it ready by the day after tomorrow."
• Across the street was a glass shop. Nadia chose the thickest shatterproof glass. It was priced at 600 per square meter. The installation was scheduled for the same morning.
• I'll let them hammer and smash. In this life, no one is getting in with a knife to harm me.