Chapter 2 Preparation for the upcoming

My gaze drifted from the window, the sunlight now a stark reminder of the world I'd lost and the one I needed to rebuild. Securing a safe haven was paramount, but a fortress required resources, and resources cost money. I needed to assess the safety and Apocalypse Resistant Power of the Fortress I will build,My hand instinctively went to my phone,

I checked my bank account. 200 thousand yuan. A decent sum, but not nearly enough to build what I envisioned. I needed more.

The thought of my parents sent a bitter taste rising in my throat. They were alive, technically, though "family" felt like a distant, almost foreign concept. Their affection had always been conditional, reserved for my "perfect" twin sister, Ru Yan. I was the shadow, the disappointment, the one who never measured up. Now, though, their opinion meant less than dust motes in the sun. I needed what was rightfully mine, regardless of their feelings.

I dialed their number, my voice carefully neutral, devoid of any warmth they might have mistaken for genuine affection. "I need to discuss my inheritance," I stated, bypassing any pleasantries.

Silence crackled on the other end, followed by a collective sigh of annoyance. "Su Yan," my mother's voice dripped with thinly veiled impatience, "can't this wait? We're busy."

"No," I replied, my voice hardening. "It can't. I need it now."

"Inheritance? You're not getting anything until we're gone," my father snapped, his voice laced with the familiar disdain. "You haven't earned it."

"Earned it?" I scoffed, the bitterness finally seeping into my tone. "I seem to recall a distinct lack of effort on your part when it came to, oh, I don't know, parenting me. Consider this a belated payment for emotional neglect."

The line went silent again, the air thick with unspoken animosity. I could practically feel their resentment radiating through the phone. Finally, my mother spoke, her voice tight. "Fine. We'll transfer it. Just… just don't contact us again. We're done."

"Suits me perfectly," I said, a cold satisfaction settling in my chest. "Consider this a clean break."

The call ended abruptly. A few hours later, notification on my phone money transferred on my account. It was more than I expected, a testament to their eagerness to get rid of me. They even send a message, a final, stinging barb: "Don't bother us again. Forget you're part of this family. You've brought us nothing but shame."

I stared at the message, a humorless chuckle escaping my lips. Shame? They thought I brought them shame?

I deleted the message, the last vestige of their influence over me. The money was a tool, nothing more. It would fuel my preparations, my survival, my revenge. They were relieved to be rid of me? Good. Let them be relieved. They wouldn't recognize me soon enough. The "Su Yan" they knew was gone. In her place was something… sharper. Something more Determined and Focused.

With the inheritance finally in my account, I had the means to secure the foundation of my future. The money wasn't just money; it was a weapon, a tool to carve out my survival in the coming storm of Tragedy and Misery a world where only about survival of the Fittest . And the first step was acquiring a suitable location, a place that could be transformed into the fortress I envisioned. I needed space, security, and the potential for long-term sustainability. My search led me to an old military base, currently up for auction. It was perfect – a sprawling complex with numerous storage facilities, once used for weapons and military supplies before they built their fancy new military base. It was exactly what I needed.

I contacted the agency handling the auction and enlisted myself as a participant. A man named Freidrick Richards became my assisting agent. He was a powerfully built Black man (African-American), his presence radiating an aura of quiet strength and brawn. He gave me the auction brochure, outlining the details of the property and the bidding process. As he handed it over, he mentioned that if I was interested in selling or acquiring any other properties, I could contact him. He boasted a wide network of connections. The name "Freidrick Richards" sparked a flicker of recognition. Tank. That was the nickname he'd earned during the apocalypse. I remembered him vividly – a freak of nature, a one-man army. I'd witnessed him, single-handedly, take down two Evolved with his bare hands. He was one of skilled survivors, resourceful and formidable. An ally, perhaps?

I smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Richards," I said, accepting the brochure. "I appreciate the offer. I might just take you up on that." I tucked the brochure into my bag, my mind already racing. Securing the base was the priority, but building a network of reliable individuals would be crucial in the long run. And Friedrick Richards or Tank, as he would become, was a valuable asset. I made a mental note to cultivate this connection. He might not remember me from the previous timeline, but I remembered him. And in this new life, Knowledge and Connections are Assets.

I pulled my car into the parking garage of my condo building, the familiar concrete a stark contrast to the opulence I no longer cared for. This place, once a symbol of my freedom and comfort, now felt tainted, a reminder of the betrayal that had unfolded within its walls. I stepped out of the car, my movements deliberate, my expression carefully neutral. I wasn't here to socialize; I was here on a mission.

As I entered my condo, the sounds of their… activities… drifted out from the living room. I pushed the door open, the scene before me exactly as I'd imagined it. Li Zhi Yi and Gu Li Nan, caught in their moment of intimacy, scrambled apart, their faces a mixture of guilt and surprise. Li Zhi Yi, the scumbag I'd once called my boyfriend, straightened his clothes and plastered on a disingenuous smile.

"Su Yan! Darling, how was your day?" he asked, his voice dripping with false concern. He took a step towards me, but I held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Did you ask mother and father in law for that… allowance?" he continued, his eyes glinting with undisguised greed. The audacity of this man! Even after being caught red-handed, his only concern was money.

"I came to break up with you, Li Zhi Yi," I stated, my voice flat, devoid of any emotion.

His smile faltered, replaced by a look of confusion. "Break up? What are you talking about?" he stammered, taking another step towards me. He reached out a hand, as if to touch me, but I recoiled.

"Don't," I warned, my gaze hardening. "Don't even pretend. I know exactly what you two have been up to."

He tried to backtrack, his voice taking on a pleading tone. "Su Yan, it's not what it looks like. We… we were just… talking."

Gu Li Nan, my supposed "best friend," chimed in, attempting to salvage the situation. "Yes, Su Yan! We were just catching up. You know how close Li Zhi Yi and I are." Her words dripped with insincerity.

I cut them off with a wave of my hand. "Save it. I'm not stupid. And I'm certainly not blind." I looked directly at Li Zhi Yi, my eyes boring into his. "You pretentious bastard. You were only ever sweet to me because of the inheritance I will get from my parent that you think will enjoy because I will share with you?"

His face paled, his eyes widening in shock. He hadn't expected that. I will be stupid and be clingy with me he is wrong, So very wrong.

"I'm not here for a discussion," I continued, my voice cold. "I'm here for one thing." I walked past them, ignoring their protests, and went straight to my dresser. I opened the drawer and pulled out an envelope. Inside was the ownership title to this condo, solely in my name.

I turned back to them, the envelope clutched in my hand. "Consider this your eviction notice," I said, my voice laced with finality. "You have 24 hours to clear out. After that, I'm changing the locks."

I didn't wait for their response. I turned and walked out of the condo, leaving them to their stunned silence. I had what I needed. And I was done with them. They were nothing more than a footnote in my story now, a painful reminder of the past. The future was mine to shape, and it wouldn't include them.

With the condo now a toxic space, haunted by the echoes of betrayal, I knew I couldn't stay there any longer. It was just another loose end to tie up, another piece of the old life to discard. I contacted Mr. Richards, my auction agent, and instructed him to handle the sale of the condo. I needed the funds, every last cent, to fuel my plans. He didn't ask questions, which I appreciated. He simply confirmed the details and assured me he would take care of everything. Efficient. Just what I needed.

My next stop was the auction house. Time was of the essence, and I couldn't afford any delays. I drove directly there, my focus is High and laser-sharp. This is it – the first major step in securing my future and plans. As I entered the grand building, a uniformed guard approached me, politely requesting my invitation and participant number. I produced the documents, and he nodded, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He escorted me to the reception area, where a smartly dressed receptionist greeted me with a professional smile. She handed me a thick folder containing the bidding materials and a detailed list of the properties up for auction. I thanked her and took the folder, my heart pounding with anticipation. This was it. The beginning.

I scanned the list of properties, my eyes quickly moving past the initial offerings. There were several attractive options, including the West Peninsula Villa, a luxurious estate that was currently the center of attention. The bidding was already fierce, starting at one million yuan and escalating rapidly. The numbers climbed – five million, ten million, fifteen million… the crowd murmured with excitement. I watched the spectacle with detached amusement. The villa was impressive, no doubt, but it wasn't what I was looking for. Too exposed, too flashy. I needed something more… substantial. The bidding finally closed at a staggering twenty-five million yuan. Clearly, someone was very interested in living the high life.

The next property on the list was the Hotel Blue, a once-prestigious establishment that had declared bankruptcy a few months prior. It was a large, multi-story building in a prime location. The starting bid was ten million yuan. This was more like it. A large structure, potentially useful for fortification and resource storage. The bidding began, and while not as frenzied as the villa, it was still competitive. The price rose steadily: fifteen million, thirty million, fifty million… My interest piqued. This could be a viable option. The final bid landed at seventy million yuan. A significant investment, but potentially worth it. I made a mental note of the final bidder. Knowing who my competition was could be useful later. However, my focus remained on the military base. That was the prize I was after.

Finally, the moment I'd been waiting for. The auctioneer announced the next property: the abandoned military base. A wave of anticipation washed over me. This was it. My fortress. The other bidders, as expected, showed little to no interest. The location, far from the city center, was deemed unprofitable, a wasteland. Perfect. Exactly what I needed. The initial bid was a mere five hundred thousand yuan. A steal for such a vast area. I almost couldn't believe my luck. Almost.

Just as I thought I had the property in the bag, a handsome man, radiating an air of quiet confidence, raised his paddle. My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't anticipated any competition. The bidding began, and the price climbed steadily. We reached twelve million yuan. He bid twelve point five million. I countered with fifteen million. He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, before raising the bid to twenty million. My stomach clenched. This was getting dangerously close to my limit. I took a deep breath and bid twenty-one point five million. I crossed my fingers, praying he wouldn't go any higher. The crowd around us murmured, their voices laced with confusion. "Why are they bidding for such a wasteland?" they whispered. "No profit will be generated there."

The man looked at me again, a subtle smile playing on his lips. And then, he lowered his paddle. He'd let me win. Relief washed over me so intensely I almost sagged in my chair. That was my absolute limit. If he'd bid again, I would have had to concede. Fortunately, he hadn't.

After the auction, as I was still processing my win, the man approached me. "Congratulations," he said, extending his hand. "You were quite determined. I was amused by your tenacity, which is why I decided not to compete further." He paused, his eyes curious. "But I must admit, I'm intrigued. Why that particular… wasteland?"

I met his gaze, my expression carefully guarded. I wasn't about to reveal my plans to a stranger, no matter how charming he seemed. "That's for me to know," I replied, a hint of mystery in my voice.

He chuckled, undeterred. "Fair enough," he said. "I understand. Some secrets are best kept close." He then extended his hand again. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Go Lao Wei, son of the business tycoon, Go Chen Gu."