11. The hour has arrived.

"I'm Shen Zhiling. My family just moved into the flat opposite yours—1501."

"I'm Lu Ningfei, and I live in 1504, right across from you."

The two seemed a bit awkward.

Shen Zhiling nodded, his gaze lingering on Lu Ningfei for a moment longer than necessary, as if he were assessing him.

It wasn't an uncomfortable scrutiny, but it was noticeable enough to make Lu Ningfei slightly self-conscious. Before the conversation could progress further, the door to the flat next to Lu Ningfei's—1502—opened, and a young couple stepped out.

"Ah, you must be the new neighbors!"

Lin Yuxi stepped up to have a talk, No one knows how lucky she is to see so two good-looking men in her floor.

She looked at Shen Zhiling, Tall, Fierce but handsome feature, A full male hormone machine.

Then she looked at Lu Ningfei, Beautiful, tall and slim, Fair skin, long hair to the knees and not to mention those noticeable blue eyes.

As a fujoshi, she has already shipped them.

"Yes, we just moved in today," Shen Zhiling confirmed, turning to face the couple. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Welcome to the building!" Zhang Wei said, offering a handshake.

"I'm Zhang Wei, and this is my wife, Lin Yuxi. We live in 1502. If you ever need anything, feel free to knock on our door."

As the four of them exchanged pleasantries, Lu Ningfei noticed the door to 1501 opening again. This time, it was another man—slightly younger than Shen Zhiling, with an easygoing smile and a carefree air about him. He stepped out of the flat, yawning widely and stretching his arms above his head. It was only when he noticed the small group of people staring at him that he froze, his eyes widening in surprise.

It took him a moment to realize why they were all looking at him with such strange expressions, and then it hit him—he was only wearing a pair of shorts, his bare chest exposed to the world.

"Uh…" The man, who Lu Ningfei quickly deduced must be Shen Zhiling's younger brother, coughed awkwardly, trying to regain his composure.

"Hello?"

Shen Zhiling's frown deepened as he looked at his brother.

"Zhiwei, go back inside and put some clothes on."

Shen Zhiwei, seemingly unfazed by his brother's stern tone, shrugged nonchalantly.

"What? It's just neighbors. Besides, it's not like they haven't seen a shirtless guy before."

Shen Zhiling's gaze hardened, this guy is still shameless as ever.

"Now, Zhiwei."

"Fine, fine," Zhiwei sighed, rolling his eyes as he turned back toward the door.

"But I don't see what the big deal is…"

As Zhiwei disappeared back into the flat, Lin Yuxi and Zhang Wei exchanged amused glances, while Ningfei simply offered a small, polite smile. He had met many different types of people in his life and don't mind this type of behavior, it's actually normal among boys.

"Well, it's getting late," Lu Ningfei said, breaking the brief silence that had settled over them. "I should head back inside. It was nice meeting you all."

"Likewise," Shen Zhiling replied, his gaze once again lingering on Lu Ningfei.

Lu Ningfei nodded to the couple and gave a final glance at Shen Zhiling before turning to his own door.

He could feel Shen Zhiling's eyes on him as he walked back into his flat, closing the door behind him. Once inside, Lu Ningfei leaned against the door for a moment, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

This handsome man is clearly seducing him and he is actually seduced!!

Ningfei walked back to the large windows in his living room, the ones that offered a panoramic view of the city.

The sky had darkened considerably since earlier, the clouds now thick and heavy with the promise of rain. But this wouldn't be any ordinary rain—Ningfei knew that all too well.

According to the plot in the book, this acid rain would be the catalyst for everything. It would fall for ten days straight, eating away at weaker buildings, old vehicles, and anything else unfortunate enough to be caught in it.

But more importantly, it would be the trigger for the zombie transformation, the beginning of the end for those who were unprepared.

Lu Ningfei's mind was racing with the knowledge he had from the novel.

After the rain, there would be landslides, earthquakes, and more acid rain. The world would be thrown into chaos, with the final ten days before the virus outbreak marked by a snowstorm that would send temperatures plummeting below freezing. Communications would falter, infrastructure would crumble, and society would fall in chaos.

--

Shen Zhiling's glare was sharp enough to cut through steel as he watched his younger brother, Shen Zhiwei, saunter around the living room shirtless and entirely too comfortable.

Shen Tianmeng sipped his tea calmly, His graying hair was neatly combed back, and he wore an expression of quiet contentment, as if the storm brewing between his eldest and youngest sons was merely background noise to his morning ritual.

As Shen Zhiling's glare intensified, Shen Zhilan emerged from the kitchen carrying two cups of freshly brewed coffee.

With a gentle smile, he handed one cup to Shen Zhiling, who accepted it with a nod of thanks, and then offered the other to Shen Zhiwei, who took it without a second thought.

Shen Zhilan began, his voice calm but laced with mild reprimand.

"Zhiwei, don't you think you should at least put on a shirt in the home? What will our neighbors think if they see you like this?"

Shen Zhiwei rolled his eyes dramatically, clearly unbothered by the criticism.

"First of all, this place is hardly what I'd call home. It's more like a glorified shoebox compared to what we're used to. And secondly, I'm only staying here for three days because our dear eldest brother insisted. I don't care what the neighbors think."

Shen Zhiling sneered from his place on the sofa, his gaze still locked on Zhiwei.

"It's too late for that. They've already seen this idiot wandering around half-naked."

Shen Tianming's teacup clinked softly as he set it down on the table, the sound cutting through the tension in the room. He looked up, his expression serene.

"Zhiwei, you may not care now, but you might regret this attitude one day."

"Exactly," Shen Zhilan agreed, sitting down beside his father on the sofa. 

"One day, when you meet someone you love, I'll be interested to see how much you care about what they think."

Shen Zhiwei scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a dismissive wave.

"Love? Please. Such a day will never come. I'm perfectly fine on my own, thank you very much."

But as he said the word "love," Shen Zhiling's hand, which had been raising the cup of coffee to his lips, hesitated. For the briefest moment, an image flashed through his mind—Lu Ningfei, standing in the hallway this night, looking up at him with those clear, unwavering eyes.

The image was so vivid, so unexpected, that it took Shen Zhiling by surprise. He quickly lowered his gaze, his expression darkening as he took a sip of his coffee.

What nonsense was this?

He had met the man only once, and yet his face had appeared so clearly in his thoughts.

It was nothing, he told himself firmly. A stray thought, nothing more. 

There was no need to dwell on it.

Shen Zhiwei, meanwhile, had noticed the subtle shift in his eldest brother's demeanor. He wasn't the most observant person when it came to feelings—especially his own—but he had a keen eye when it came to reading others. And right now, Shen Zhiling looked… 

"Brother, what's wrong?" Shen Zhiwei asked, genuinely curious. "You've got that look on your face."

Shen Zhiling's frown deepened, but he didn't immediately respond. He wasn't about to discuss his stray thoughts with his younger brother, especially not when they were so ridiculous. Instead, he shook his head slightly, dismissing Shen Zhiwei's question.

"Nothing."

He said curtly.

Shen Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"You're usually better at hiding whatever it is."

Shen Zhilan sighed.

"Just stop teasing brother, Zhiwei. He must be thinking about work."

Zhiwei shrugged, not particularly bothered by the rebuke.

"Fine, fine. I'm just saying, it's not like him to be distracted. But if you say so."

Shen Zhiling glanced at his father and suddenly felt subtle air around him.

"Father, Is everything ok?"

Shen Tianming looked up, meeting his son's gaze with a smile that was both fond and a little sad.

"Just thinking about how quickly time passes. It feels like just yesterday that the three of you were children, running around the estate. And..."

He paused and a beautiful woman's face appeared in his memories.

"...Father, I believe mother is still alive."

Shen Zhiling lowered his eyes and comforted his father.

Shen Tianmeng smiled bitterly.

"Mn."