Zhou Peng fawned over Fang Yuqing by the side.
Clearly, Fang Yuqing wasn't into guys like Zhou Peng. Financially, Zhou was worse off than Zhang Yi—he didn't even own a house, just rented.
But Fang Yuqing still smiled sweetly, "Thanks, Zhou Peng. But I have plans that night. What a shame!"
Disappointment flashed across Zhou Peng's face. Those concert tickets cost him a month's salary! He'd hoped to confess to Fang Yuqing at the concert. Now, it was all for nothing.
Zhang Yi watched this, a mocking smile on his lips. He knew this simp would get nowhere.
But Zhou Peng, feeling awkward, noticed Zhang Yi's smile and flared up. To shift the embarrassment, he walked over and snapped, "Zhang Yi, you're such a jerk!"
"A grown man, letting a woman carry your stuff. Have some shame?"
"Yuqing's been complaining about a sore back since work. Next time, don't bother her!"
Zhang Yi glanced at Fang Yuqing. So she'd spread the word.
Fang Yuqing feigned innocence, "It's fine, really. I'm not that hurt."
"I just can't handle heavy work. My waist feels twisted." She pinched her waist, frowning in fake pain.
Zhou Peng, trying to play tough in front of Fang Yuqing, pointed at Zhang Yi, "Give Yuqing 500 yuan for medical bills, now!"
Zhang Yi's eyes turned cold. He glared at Zhou Peng. "She offered to help. I never asked her."
"Who do you think you are, bossing me around?"
"You think you're someone?"
Zhang Yi's tirade left Zhou Peng and Fang Yuqing stunned.
Zhou Peng was just a low-level clerk at the warehouse—no power, no status. He'd dared to yell at Zhang Yi only because Zhang was usually easygoing. Now, seeing Zhang's anger, Zhou Peng cowered.
"You… why yell so loud?"
"I was just discussing."
Zhang Yi sneered and walked away.
He didn't bother wasting words on Zhou Peng. Because now, Zhang Yi saw everyone as a dead man walking.
In a month, 99% of these people would freeze to death in the apocalyptic storm. Why bother talking to the dead?
After Zhang left, Zhou Peng ran to Fang Yuqing and whispered, "Yuqing, I told you Zhang Yi's no good. Stay away from him."
Fang Yuqing frowned, confused.
Zhang Yi had changed completely these past few days. He didn't greet her proactively anymore. He didn't chat or say goodnight every night.
"There's something fishy here," she thought.
…
After work, Zhang Yi drove to a five-star hotel in Tianhai—the Hongfu Tianxia he'd ordered banquets from.
The manager, hearing Zhang was here, immediately arranged a room with a smile. A five-star room cost over a thousand yuan a night.
Zhang Yi didn't care. He still had millions left—wasting money would be the real shame.
That night, Fang Yuqing—the so-called "white lotus" (green-tea, faux-innocent)—took the initiative to message Zhang Yi.
Fang Yuqing: "Zhang Yi, I passed by your place today. Saw people renovating!"
Zhang Yi's mouth twitched. "Mm, yes."
Fang Yuqing: "You've been acting weird lately—stockpiling stuff, renovating. Is something gonna happen?"
Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. This green-tea was bad, but not stupid. His strange moves had caught her eye.
But Zhang Yi didn't care. Others' opinions meant nothing to him now.
"Nothing."
He replied coldly, then tossed his phone aside.
On the other end, Fang Yuqing hated Zhang's indifference.
For two years, Zhang had doted on her—checking in, chatting every night.
Now? He'd become a different person—cold, never initiating contact.
It pissed her off. She could ignore Zhang, but he couldn't lose interest in her. To her, it was like a fish escaping her pond.
Even if Zhang wasn't a rich second-gen, he was a decent middle-class guy. If she couldn't snag a rich husband, he'd be a backup.
She sent another message: "We've been talking less lately. It feels… lonely."
No reply.
Fang Yuqing bit her lip, growing restless. "Zhang Yi, are you cursed? I messaged you first, and you ignore me!"
Lin Caining, her roommate, heard this and laughed, "Yuqing, you're being silly! If something big was happening, the government would announce it. Let's not worry. Hoarding supplies would just make us look stupid."
Fang Yuqing forced a laugh. "Yeah, you're right."
…
Zhang Yi stayed in the five-star hotel suite for days. He did two things: bought tons of hotel banquets, and practiced his compound bow and crossbow in the room.
Luckily, he'd loved hunting before—he had a solid foundation. Now, within 15 meters, his accuracy was top-notch.
With a professional compound bow, even an average guy could shoot like an ancient archer. It could take down not just people, but wild boars, wolves, or big dogs.