Chapter 1: Return

"Ah!"

The moment the cold, steel-hard tentacle of the Lurker pierced his body, Ye Zhongming couldn't suppress a cry of pain.

But in the haze that followed, his hands touched something warm and smooth.

His vision slowly focused, and he saw a face—a beautiful, familiar face.

Her?

Wasn't she supposed to be long dead?

As if to confirm what he was seeing, Ye Zhongming tried to sit up from the body he knew so well, but the woman's limbs wrapped tightly around him, holding him in place.

Confused, Ye Zhongming stopped moving. His eyes scanned the room, and gradually, he began to understand.

The cartoon-patterned mug, the glowing digital alarm clock, the plain-patterned curtains, and the woman in his arms—all of it transported him to a scene he had lived through before.

September 10, 2220. 3:35 PM.

One hour before the cataclysm that would change the world forever.

But wasn't he supposed to be on a mission? He had been attacked by those damned insects, barely escaped, only to be ambushed by a Lurker. Its tentacle had shot up from the ground, piercing his body. With his experience, he knew it was a fatal wound.

And yet, here he was, reliving a passionate memory from a decade ago—a beautiful afternoon that had been the calm before the storm.

Years of training and survival had honed Ye Zhongming's ability to stay calm under pressure. In just ten seconds, he confirmed it: this wasn't some illusion or dream. He had truly returned to the past—ten years into the past.

He glanced at the alarm clock again. 3:35 PM, September 10, 2220.

One hour and five minutes remained before the moment that would forever scar his memory.

At 4:40 PM on that day, something terrifying would happen, plunging Earth into an icy, merciless apocalypse.

Ye Zhongming sat in stunned silence, his mind racing. Was this a blessing from the heavens—or another form of punishment?

Slowly, he raised his hands. They were smooth and pale, the skin healthy and unmarked. These were the hands of someone who held pens, flipped pages, and typed on keyboards. A far cry from the hands he would have a decade later—calloused from gripping guns, scarred from countless battles, and stained with blood.

Had he really been given a second chance at life? Ye Zhongming felt numb. Not everyone would consider reliving their life a blessing. For him, who had endured a decade of nightmares, the idea of going through it all again was anything but comforting.

Could he really endure another ten years of bloodshed, cold survival, and hopelessness? Ye Zhongming let out a bitter laugh. He wasn't sure he had the strength to face that despair again.

As for the woman clinging to him like an octopus, Ye Zhongming felt no warmth. Instead, a sense of rejection welled up inside him. He knew what was coming next: his girlfriend was about to break up with him.

Bai Shishi—Ye Zhongming's girlfriend, the most frequent visitor to his rented apartment. They had been together since their sophomore year, nearly two years now.

For Ye Zhongming, who had lost his parents, this relationship meant everything. Anyone with a kind heart and a sense of loyalty would treasure their first love, especially when that love was someone as beautiful as Bai Shishi.

But when that love couldn't last, the pain cut deeper than anything else.

In his previous life, Ye Zhongming had hated her at first, believing she had betrayed him. But now, knowing the truth, he felt no hatred. Perhaps her decision to leave him for someone else had been cruel, but he understood that she had only agreed to be with that man the day before.

"Actually, I'm grateful for the way you've taken care of me these past two years," Ye Zhongming said, his mind racing as he spoke. "I've been careless and inconsiderate at times, and I owe you an apology."

The sudden shift in tone after their intimacy left Bai Shishi feeling an unexpected emptiness. It amplified the guilt she already felt. But when she heard Ye Zhongming's words, her beautiful eyes widened slightly—a subconscious reaction to her surprise.

"I'm also grateful that a good student like you skipped class to come back and spend time with me. But this kind of farewell—this act of charity—only serves to ease your guilt about leaving. For me, it means nothing."

"Zhongming, you…"

Ye Zhongming raised his hand, cutting Bai Shishi off. He walked to the window and looked out at the school playground bathed in sunlight. A group of energetic boys were playing soccer, while a girl in a white dress sat on the bleachers, holding a water bottle and tissues, watching her lover with tender eyes.

"You once said that love might be an indispensable part of life, but it's not everything. I agree with that, and I genuinely hope you'll remember those words. Right now… things might seem fine. But if the world changes—if it becomes a dangerous place where life is cheap—I hope you'll let go of love. Because that love… might not be as beautiful or loyal as you imagine."

"What are you talking about?" Bai Shishi suddenly felt like she didn't know the man she'd been with for two years. Was he hinting at something?

"If things stay the way they are now, I won't deny that Qin Jun is an outstanding person. He might even make a good lover or husband. But he…" Ye Zhongming trailed off, unsure how to continue. Should he tell Bai Shishi that the man she was leaving him for would abandon her in a crisis? That he would trade her for a few pieces of bread or use her as bait to save himself during an attack by mutants? Would she even believe him? The events he'd witnessed half a year after the disaster hadn't happened yet. Telling her now would only make him sound delusional.

As Ye Zhongming lowered his head in thought, Bai Shishi was utterly stunned. She knew Ye Zhongming would eventually hear about her and Qin Jun, but she never expected him to figure it out so quickly. She had been so careful to keep it a secret. Had he known all along?

The thought made her face pale, as if she'd been caught doing something shameful.

And in a way, she had.

"You… you know about… him?"

Ye Zhongming nodded. "The 99 roses left anonymously in your dorm lobby every night. The heart made of a thousand candles on your birthday. The thoughtful texts sent every day without fail. Concert tickets, gardening event passes, café memberships, and even lecture videos from Oxford professors. Even as a man, I have to admit Qin Jun is impressive. He's handsome, comes from a good family, and knows how to sweep someone off their feet. He understands your preferences perfectly. No wonder you fell for him. Compared to him, I really don't know much about what girls want."

Outside, the campus buzzed with activity as the break began. Ye Zhongming glanced back at Bai Shishi, whose face was a mix of shock and fear.

"In the end, no matter what you think, I have to say this: be careful with Qin Jun. He's the kind of person who can share your joys but not your sorrows. When his own interests are at stake, he'll abandon everything—including love, including you."

"Is there still a chance for us?" Despite everything, years of feelings couldn't be severed so easily. Ye Zhongming hesitated, then made one last attempt to salvage what they had. But the woman on the bed averted her gaze.

He understood.

What was meant to be lost would be lost. Bai Shishi had made her choice, and he wouldn't try to change it, not even with the knowledge of his ten-year nightmare. After all, Ye Zhongming didn't even know how long he would live this time. What right did he have to interfere in someone else's life? Besides, the butterfly effect of his return might have already altered the future. Perhaps Qin Jun would treat Bai Shishi well, and they would survive together.

Ye Zhongming quickly dressed. The brief conversation with Bai Shishi had given him enough time to process everything. A decade of living on the edge had taught him to stabilize his emotions. He had accepted the miracle of a second chance and quickly ruled out the option of suicide to escape the impending apocalypse.

If he was going to live again, he would live well.

He opened a drawer and took out his bank card. Inside was the compensation from his parents' car accident—the last thing they had left him. Over the years, Ye Zhongming had never touched the money, choosing to earn his own living instead. To him, it was more of a keepsake. But now, things were different. He knew his parents, if they were watching from above, would want him to use it to survive.

"Where are you going?"

Bai Shishi watched nervously as Ye Zhongming prepared to leave.

She knew she loved this man. But with graduation approaching, a man without parents or a clear future couldn't offer her the life she wanted. That was why she had chosen to leave. Yet now that the separation felt out of her control, a sense of unwillingness crept in. In Bai Shishi's mind, even if they broke up, this man should still belong to her—at least for a little while longer.

Ye Zhongming checked the time: 3:50 PM. Fifty minutes remained before the disaster. He thought about what needed to be done and realized time was running out. After a brief pause, he made the most critical decision.

"I'm going out to take care of some things. Before I get back, you should leave. Go to Qin Jun. Since you've made your choice, be decisive. That's always been your style, hasn't it?" Ye Zhongming frowned as he spoke, heading toward the door. But thinking of the woman who had been with him for two years, he added one last piece of advice: "Go quickly. Qin Jun's side will be safer for now. If anything happens, that's where the government will focus their rescue efforts. There… you might have a better chance of surviving."

With that, Ye Zhongming put on his shoes and left, leaving Bai Shishi sitting stunned on the bed.

Right now, he had two urgent tasks:

1.Buy essential medicine.

2.Acquire tools for combat.