The Two-Faced Woman

Lin Xiao stepped over the threshold of his home, and the warm sunlight, mingled with the hustle and bustle and warmth of the world, instantly enveloped him. In the community square, young children were laughing and running around, and the parents wore gentle smiles on their lips, their eyes full of the ease and contentment of life. In the past, Lin Xiao would have regarded this bustling and lively scene as an ordinary part of daily life. But now, knowing that the countdown to the end of the world had already begun, he felt that this scene was full of a fleeting and illusory quality. In just one short month, all of this would shatter and dissipate like bubbles.

With a mix of emotions about his rebirth and plans for the future, Lin Xiao walked briskly towards the luxurious three-Michelin-starred Western restaurant not far from the community. In the past, the high cost of dining at this restaurant had been like an insurmountable barrier, making him hesitant to enter. A meal here would cost at least five or six thousand yuan, an amount that would have required him to budget carefully for a long time. But at this moment, having come back from the brink of death, he had broken free from the shackles of the past. His heart was filled with a desire to cherish and indulge in the present, and he was determined to give himself a good treat for having gone through life and death.

As he entered the restaurant, the soft lighting poured down, intertwining with the faint and alluring fragrance in the air. Lin Xiao strolled towards a seat by the window. The dappled shadows of the trees and the passersby outside the window formed a unique scene. He reached out to take the menu, his fingertips gliding over the list of dishes. Without hesitation, he ordered the most expensive dishes on it and added a bottle of vintage red wine from Château Lafite Rothschild. This meal cost fifty thousand yuan, the money flowing out like water. The waitstaff around him looked at him with a mixture of speculation and envy. In their eyes, Lin Xiao, who was so generous with his spending, was undoubtedly a rich second-generation hiding his identity. After all, ordinary people, busy struggling for their livelihoods, would never squander so much money on a single meal.

When the delicious dishes were served, the rich aroma wafted up. Lin Xiao completely ignored the strange looks from those around him and eagerly began to feast. Having endured six months of hunger and cold in the icy apocalyptic world, these delicacies were a precious gift to him after crossing the line between life and death. Every bite was filled with the emotion of having survived a disaster, so much so that his eagerness to eat was a bit obvious, causing the other diners around to cast sidelong glances and whisper among themselves. But Lin Xiao paid no attention. He knew very well that when the end of the world came, the bottom line of human nature would be severely tested. People would even kneel and beg for a pack of instant noodles. At that time, the barriers of civilization and morality would collapse, turning into forgotten ruins.

Just as Lin Xiao was immersed in the comfort brought by the delicious food, a graceful figure stopped outside the window. The woman had long hair like a waterfall, falling smoothly down her back. Her delicate makeup outlined the charm in her eyes and brows. She was wearing a form-fitting long dress that perfectly showcased her graceful figure. She was wearing a pair of Gucci high heels, each step exuding confidence and elegance. The LV bag on her arm added a touch of nobility to her. She was Su Mengli, the woman who had pushed Lin Xiao into the abyss of death in his previous life, and by her side was her inseparable best friend, Li Shihan.

Every time this pair of best friends passed by this three-Michelin-starred restaurant, they would unconsciously slow down, their eyes revealing an uncontrollable longing. They yearned for this place that embodied luxury and refinement, but unfortunately, the contents of their wallets couldn't support them to splurge here. Even so, every time they passed by, they couldn't help but look through the bright glass window, eyeing everything inside with a scrutinizing gaze. Deep down, they secretly hoped to meet a wealthy and generous rich second-generation and thus change their fate.

With just one glance, Su Mengli instantly spotted the familiar figure in the restaurant—Lin Xiao. He was sitting by the window, with a table full of top-notch delicacies in front of him. The candlelight flickered, casting a contented glow on his face. "Isn't that Lin Xiao? How can he afford to eat here?" Su Mengli's voice was full of surprise, involuntarily rising in pitch. Li Shihan also widened her eyes and exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand, "I didn't know Lin Xiao was this rich!" After saying that, she looked at Su Mengli with a meaningful look, the corners of her mouth curling into a mischievous smile as she teased, "Mengli, you're so lucky! This guy who has been chasing you for two and a half years turns out to be a wealthy second-generation hiding his identity. Look at the dishes on his table. It must cost at least fifty or sixty thousand yuan. Ordinary people couldn't possibly afford such an expensive meal!" Li Shihan's words were filled with undisguised envy.

Su Mengli was a complete gold digger. In her understanding, marrying a wealthy rich second-generation and becoming a pampered young mistress was the ultimate goal of her life. Although Lin Xiao, a young bourgeois man with a car and a house in Tianhai City, didn't meet her ideal standards, she still couldn't bear to give him up easily. So, Lin Xiao became the spare tire she carefully cultivated, firmly in her grasp as she adhered to the "three no principles" of not taking the initiative, not refusing, and not being responsible.

At this moment, seeing Lin Xiao enjoying such a luxurious meal alone, Su Mengli's heart was stirred, and a bold conjecture gradually took shape in her mind: "Could Lin Xiao really be a hidden rich second-generation?" She subconsciously placed her chin in her hand and fell into deep thought. The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. "Aren't there always such plots in TV dramas? Those rich kids always disguise themselves as ordinary people when they're looking for true love," Su Mengli murmured to herself. As she spoke, she became more and more convinced, her eyes shining with excitement. If all this were true, she would save a lot of effort. After all, Lin Xiao had never stopped pursuing her. She was certain that as long as she gave him a little hint, Lin Xiao would propose to her without hesitation.

Unable to contain her excitement, Li Shihan urged from the side, "Mengli, let's go in and find Lin Xiao!" In fact, her mind was entirely on the table full of delicious food. The cuisine of a three-Michelin-starred restaurant was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime gustatory feast for an ordinary person. Upon hearing this, Su Mengli hesitated for a moment and then gently shook her head, pretending to be reserved as she said, "That's not a good idea. It might make him think I'm a woman who only cares about money. Why don't we just wait outside and pretend to run into him by chance?" Su Mengli was very shrewd. She wouldn't lower her status just for a meal. Even if Lin Xiao was extremely wealthy, she wanted to maintain her goddess image. In her opinion, only in this way could she firmly control Lin Xiao when they were together in the future and make him willingly continue to be her admirer.

So, the two of them hid in a corner not far from the restaurant, their eyes fixed on the restaurant's entrance, eagerly anticipating Lin Xiao's appearance. Lin Xiao indulged in the world of delicious food for over an hour. Only then did he lean back in his chair contentedly and gently pat his slightly bulging stomach with his hand. Although the dishes in the three-Michelin-starred restaurant were delicious, for him, who had just been reborn from the apocalyptic world, these foods carried more of a farewell to past hardships and an expectation for a new life.

A moment later, Lin Xiao stood up and walked briskly towards the cashier. He took out his wallet and settled the bill with a generous gesture. Under the smiling and attentive gazes of the waitstaff, he pushed open the restaurant door. Just then, a familiar voice came from beside him, "Lin Xiao, what a coincidence!" Lin Xiao turned his head upon hearing the voice, and in front of his eyes were Su Mengli and Li Shihan.

When Su Mengli saw Lin Xiao turn his head, she immediately put on a pitiful and charming pose. She raised her hand and gently tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear. This seemingly casual action skillfully revealed her fair and slender neck and pinkish earlobes. Her eyes were appropriately filled with a hint of surprise and shyness. Seeing this, Lin Xiao sneered inwardly. He was all too familiar with these seductive tricks commonly used by women like her. They were nothing more than attempts to tug at a man's heartstrings with these seemingly inadvertent gestures. As a top-notch "green tea" and two-faced woman, Su Mengli was an expert in this regard.

However, things were different now. Lin Xiao was no longer that simple admirer who had been carried away by love and could be easily manipulated. Not long ago, he had died filled with hatred under Su Mengli's schemes. She had even cruelly broken his ribs just to make a so-called "tonic soup." This painful memory was like a sharp blade, leaving an indelible scar in his heart.

Remembering the past, Lin Xiao's eyes instantly turned icy cold, revealing an undisguised killing intent, as if he could freeze the surrounding air. Anyway, the end of the world was approaching. In this chaotic apocalyptic world, killing her might not cause too much of a stir. Should he take action now and make her pay for her past misdeeds? Su Mengli was chilled to the bone by Lin Xiao's sudden cold gaze. An unprecedented fear welled up in her heart, and she trembled as she asked, "Lin Xiao... What... What's wrong with you?"

Lin Xiao stared at Su Mengli, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After a moment, he gradually suppressed the killing intent in his eyes, his expression returning to calm as he said indifferently, "It's nothing. I mistook you for someone else." He suddenly changed his mind. It would be too easy for her to die like this. And if he took action now, it would surely attract legal sanctions. He didn't want to be trapped in a small cell in the detention center when the end of the world came, missing the opportunity for revenge and survival.

It would be better to bide his time for now and let Su Mengli continue to live freely in this seemingly peaceful life. When the end of the world arrived, let her experience the taste of despair and helplessness firsthand, and then slowly push her into the abyss of pain. With his memories of the previous life and his advance knowledge of the apocalypse, Lin Xiao was fully confident that he could come up with hundreds of ways to make Su Mengli die in agony. So, for now, he would spare her. After all, the most urgent task was to build an impregnable safe shelter. Only in this way could he survive safely in the upcoming apocalyptic world and lay a solid foundation for his future revenge plan.