Jade City, Paramount Restaurant.

"Miss Lu Nanzhi, your father, Mr. Lu Jingnan, was one of Chairman Lu's legitimate sons. Chairman Lu recently passed away and left a will stating he would pass 15% of the Synergy Company shares to Mr. Lu Jingnan."

The lawyer's gaze lingered on the young woman seated across from him.

Withdrawing his stare, he slid a stack of papers across the table—copies of the will—before continuing.

"Since you are Mr. Lu Jingnan's sole surviving descendant, you are the rightful heir to the inheritance."

"My client, Mrs. Lu Meiying, your father's half-sister, is kind enough to offer help. She has heard of your family's debt and is willing to buy the shares for 500 million yuan."

The lawyer placed a black-and-gold debit card and a pen beside the documents. "Sign these papers, and this card, loaded with 500 million yuan, is yours."

Slender frame, slightly weathered skin, calloused hands from overwork, a face bare of makeup, and faded clothes.

Yet, nothing could hide her inherent charm—especially her pair of clear, piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through him.

He knew about her circumstances. To repay debts from her mother's hospital bills, she had juggled several jobs, her main one barely sufficient to cover basic needs.

500 million yuan was more than enough to clear her debt of 3 million and live comfortably for the rest of her life.

However, to the lawyer's surprise, Lu Nanzhi wasn't moved.

Instead, she smiled coldly, her gaze flickering to the name tag on his chest.

"Mr. Cheng, Synergy Company is valued at no less than 70 billion yuan. Its annual profit is around 4 billion. Since this will was drafted three months ago, the accrued income of 15% profit I'm entitled to should also be included. Don't you think 500 million is too small?"

A mere 500 million for 15% shares?

What a joke.

These people clearly thought her a naive country girl.

Mr. Cheng frowned. "Miss Lu, after Chairman Lu's death, the management shift caused the stock prices to drop, and profits have—"

"No need for excuses, Mr. Cheng. Five billion yuan, and I'll sign."

She knew Lu Meiying wasn't as benevolent as portrayed. This was pure scheming.

Mr. Cheng stiffened. "Miss Lu Nanzhi, your demand is outrageous! Two billion, and that's final."

Lu Nanzhi responded with a faint smirk, pulling out a calling card. "Another lawyer from my uncle already contacted me yesterday. He offered the same."

A lie. Her uncle had only offered 700 million—payable in installments.

But Lu Nanzhi was no longer the naive girl from before. Her hardships had forged her into someone who wouldn't let the Lu family take advantage again.

Her sharp eyes glinted.

Mr. Cheng examined the card and paled. If the other side was moving, their position was precarious.

The next board meeting would decide the new chairman, and Mrs. Lu Meiying's shares fell short compared to her siblings. She needed these shares desperately.

Realizing Lu Nanzhi wouldn't relent, Mr. Cheng loosened his tie and called his client.

As the call connected, Lu Nanzhi could hear Lu Meiying's furious insults, labeling her as a "greedy b*tch."

But to her, the price she quoted was already a fraction of the true value. She was the one losing out.

Finally, after much haggling, Mr. Cheng relented. "Mrs. Lu Meiying has agreed but will only pay 4.3 billion yuan."

Lu Nanzhi's lips curled in satisfaction. "Fine. I accept... but she must pay in full, in cash."

"Miss Lu, 4.3 billion is a substantial amount. Liquidating assets will take time—"

"You have two days. Contact me once the money is ready."

She rose, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Wait! Miss Lu!" Mr. Cheng called after her, but she had already disappeared into the bustling city.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, beads of sweat forming.

This was one of the toughest negotiations he'd ever faced.

Relaying the details to his client, he could hear Mrs. Lu Meiying fuming on the other end.

But Lu Nanzhi?

She couldn't care less.

Standing outside, she hailed a cab and turned her attention to the glowing holographic screen before her.

Ding—

[Time Left Until Disaster: 59 Days: 12 Hours: 37 Minutes]

[Please Claim Your Beta Test Rewards!]

Lu Nanzhi was living her second life.

In her first life, despite being burdened with massive debt from hospital expenditures, Lu Nanzhi had no complaints. Her parents have treated her well, providing all her needs.

She never repaid them because of the car accident.

Therefore, this was her form of making it up.

She worked many jobs. Although it was exhausting, it served her with a new purpose, filling the hole her parents' absence left behind.

Her mental health became more stable.

However, a series of disaster swept the entire world, from scorching heat waves, to torrential rains, massive floods, extreme winter, tsunamis, and so on, two months later.

Food and water became scarce. Disease and sickness spread, and fight for the remaining resources broke out.

The disasters nearly wiped out humanity.

Lu Nanzhi could barely survive.

She replied through the vegetables she had grown to satiate her hunger and dew drops to quench her thirst.

After three months of grueling experience when the weather returned to normal, the people thought that was the end of the dark era, but the true nightmare was only beginning.

As Lu Nanzhi recalled more and more memories of her past life, her face was shrouded in gloom.

In that nightmare, she could only endure two more years before succumbing to fate. She never witnessed the end, nor was she able to know if humans had survived.

She didn't know why she was given the chance at a second life, but if she did nothing.

She would suffer the same torment again.

Lu Nanzhi entered her small apartment and headed for the balcony. A hit of nostalgia brushed over her form.

It's been two years since the last time she had seen her apartment and pots of plants that saved her life.

This time, she will prepare for it well.

It was the past life, she would never believe in this sort of thing but after regressing, Lu Nanzhi didn't have any a reason to doubt it.

[Please claim your Beta Game Test Rewards!]

Lu Nanzhi stared at the screen and at the [Yes] option for five seconds before tapping it.

[Personal Inventory is now available.]

[City Map is now available.]

[Personal Data is now available.]

[Player needs to level up to open more features!]

Honestly, she wasn't fond of games. The only game she played was called 'Sim City Disaster Management'.

It was because of an annoying online ad that made forcefully download the game and the app comes with no uninstall button.

Helpless, she checked out the game.

It was about gathering resources, leveling up, building a small base, upgrades and surviving the calamities.

Her eyes suddenly widened in realization when she saw the tiny icon on the lower right of the screen, which was very similar to the icon of the game app.

Come to think of it, before she died in her previous life, she definitely heard a mechanical voice that said, "Beta Game is now over! All data will be cleared."

A trace of suspiciousness flashed in her eyes. During the previous timeline, within this time frame, she was still playing that game whenever she had free time.

She fished out her phone from the bag and scrolled through the apps but can't find it. It was not even in a playstore app.

No search results popped when she typed the game's name, just like before.

Lu Nanzhi stopped after figuring out it was pointless.

She transferred her attention to the rewards instead.

[Personal Inventory]

She read the two words, and a tab popped in front of her. It was like a book with endless pages.

Every page had ten slots, and every slot had [0/99] same item capacity.

When the inventory was activated, three option boxes floated over all the inanimate objects inside her apartment, including the phone she was holding.

[Collect]

[Discard]

[Destroy]

She was familiar with these functions.

Staring at the phone, she mumbled, "Collect," and the phone vanished.

A small picture of the phone appeared on one of the slots- [Unrated XJ Phone X1].

Her eye became increasingly hot.

Using the keyword, "Discard!" the phone returned in her hand.

As for 'Destroy', she tested, consuming a piece of blank paper.

[The item 'Unrated Paper' is destroyed.]

Not a bit of single of trace left, as if the paper never existed. Lu Nanzhi was chilled to the bone. But besides that, it was a convenient function.

Most importantly, she doesn't have to worry about where to store her supplies. With the [Personal Inventory], she can stockpile without concern.

If it was the same as the game, the slot can even accommodate vehicles or heavy construction machineries and it has an additional function of preserving the freshness of food.

The function [City Map] allows her to see the layout of Jade City, including the roads and distribution of buildings, residences, business establishments, and so on.

As for the [Personal Data], it only shows two lines.

[Player Name: Lu Nanzhi Level: 0 (0/10)]

[Combat Power: 0 (Unwakened)]

Combat Power is more likely referring to mental power. After the disasters, people started awakening Mental Power.

This mysterious Mental Power gave the humans leeway. It directly boosts physiques, allowing humans to possess superpowers and resistance again the harsh environmental changes.

These three functions would increase her chances of surviving. It gave Lu Nanzhi a bit of confidence.

Now she can stock supplies without worries.

Next was to make a plan.

Besides from food and water, she also needed cold and rain gears, install heating and cooling system, air filtrations system.

Generators, diesel, gasoline to produce power, transportation like boats, solar powered cars, extra batteries, home essentials, medicines, seeds, and weapons too.

Sadly, because of the debt, she only had 3,000 yuan savings left on her card. She still had to wait for Lu Meiying to pay the money for the shares.

Lu Nanzhi exhaled a long breath. One step at a time.

In her past life, she sold the shares for only 500 million to Lu Chenyu, Lu Meiying's brother, because they threatened to kill her.

Lu Nanzhi was only alone and she couldn't fight against someone like Lu Chenyu who had thousands of underlings beneath him.

In order to transfer the shares, Lu Chenyu sent someone to pay her a 'visit' and under with the muzzles of three guns aiming at her, Lu Nanzhi helplessly signed the deal.

It was only then Lu Chenyu stopped bothering Lu Nanzhi.

Not long after a week later, Lu Meiying, because of failing to get the head seat, made Lu Nanzhi's life difficult to the point she didn't want to go outside anymore.

When she came to report about the incident, the police only spouted some excuses. Lu Nanzhi knew that the police were probably bribed already.

She didn't rely on the police anymore and changed apartment. She was only a bit relieved that Lu Meiying didn't have the intention of killing her directly. Probably because she was afraid of Lu Chenyu would take this case as a handle to bring her down or it may be because of something else.

It was only after the disaster came that Lu Meiying stopped the harassment.

Therefore, her impression of the Lu Family was terrible.

And it even became worse after the dark era where she came to know the culprit behind her parents' 'car accident'

Lu Meiying and Lu Chenyu.

She wouldn't be able to touch them these two months, but she won't let them off when the time comes.

Lu Nanzhi knew that the handover of the money would not be peaceful. She better prepare for it.

Picking up her phone, she dialed several numbers.

"Hello, Uncle Wang. I wanted to call you about the lease. I won't be continuing it next month. A distant relative of mine offered to let me live in her house. I'm planning on moving out today..."

It seems like she was developing a knack for lying. The words coming out of her mouth were flowing like water.

The two talked for a few minutes more because Uncle Wang was persuading her to stay until the end of the month.

As much as she appreciated the kind thoughts, if she stayed any longer, Lu Chenyu's goons will come after hearing her meeting with Lu Meiying.

Uncle Wang didn't insist anymore and end the call.

Afterwards, Lu Nanzhi browsed the net to search for a van renting a company to help her move the money. She could find a cheap one for 400 yuan a day and rented it for three days.

An hour passed, and an agent drove the van to her apartment building and handed her the keys. Lu Nanzhi scanned the QR code and paid the 1200 yuan in advance as stipulated.

Afterwards, she started carrying her luggage down and stuffed it inside the van. She only brought clothes, the potted plants, the blankets and mattress, kitchen utensils, small appliances and remaining supplies that were less heavy.

The heavier ones were stored in her space beforehand.

Because of working too many jobs, Lu Nanzhi's social life was nonexistent. The times she had mingled with the neighbors was only during New Year, there were only the guards helping her move the luggage and Uncle Wang retrieving the keys and sending her off.

"Yatou, take care of yourself." Uncle Wang smiled warmly. Lu Nanzhi had never given him any headaches during her time of stay and always pays the rent on time, thus he was sad to lose a good tenant.

(A/N: Yatou- girl)

"Uncle Wang, you too!" Uncle Wang had been very accommodating to her and often sends her food during holiday seasons and she couldn't help but remind him, "Uncle I heard from my colleagues at work that there will be an economic crisis after 2 months, the prices of oil will increase and it will affect the prices of the goods as well. It's better to stock up early."

"Is that so? I'll bear it in mind."

Looking at the old man's smile, she doesn't know if Uncle Wang heed her words, but she wished him well.

Lu Nanzhi looked back at the building one last time before storing the things in her inventory space while driving away.

Using the City Map, she searched for a secluded alley way with no CCTV before parking her car and storing it in her space.

Three hours after Lu Nanzhi left, a car parked beside the entrance. The car door opened and men in black suits, wearing black shades, and bringing baskets of fruits and snacks came to inquire about Lu Nanzhi's unit.

The guards stationed at the gate saw the men and became wary. In the semi-poor neighborhood, these men looked out of place.

"Good day. Our boss is a friend of Lu Jingnan. He heard his friend's daughter is living in this area and sent us to check on her."

There's only one tenant with a Lu surname around.

"If it's that girl, Lu Nanzhi, then you're late. She already moved out three hours ago." The guard replied.

The men frowned and asked whether Lu Nanzhi said anything before leaving?

The guard called the apartment building owner.

Uncle Wang went to greet the visitors and told them that the girl Lu Nanzhi was contacted by a distant relative and offered her a much better house to live in.

"Did she say the name of the relative?"

"She did not." Uncle Wang shook his head.

"What car was she riding?"

"A white cargo commercial van."

The men asked a few more strange questions and Uncle Wang answered perfunctorily, sensing something odd about the group, and he became certain when they asked to see the CCTV. "I'm afraid I cannot. That is confidential." Uncle Wang refused.

One of the suspicious men was angry about Uncle Wang's stubborn personality and reached for something in his jacket. Someone stopped him and whispered in his ears.

"Don't do something impulsive. I heard that the Old man had some powerful relatives."

The men appeared to be agitated and hurriedly returned to the car before speeding off, leaving the gifts on the gate.

"Hey! You forgot your—"The guard failed to catch up and could only return, carrying those gifts.

"These things look so expensive. Why did they leave it behind?"

Uncle Wang stared at the back of the disappearing car and sensed something was wrong. "Lao Yang," He addressed the guards, "If those people returned and asked about that girl Nanzhi again, tell them I'm not here."

Although the guards were curious about the odd order, they still complied. "I'll keep that in mind, Uncle Wang."

Uncle Wang returned to his room and called Lu Nanzhi.

Lu Nanzhi answered after three beats.

"Yatou, some people came to my apartment building and were asking about your whereabouts. They say your father's friend sent them."

Lu Nanzhi clenched her fists. They still came.

Uncle Wang appears to be worried and reminded her to be mindful of her surroundings.

At the end of the call, Lu Nanzhi withdrew the remaining 1, 800 yuan from her savings account. She reluctantly destroying her sim card and phone before walking on foot, searching for a cheap capsule hotel.

In the car, Lu Chengyu's subordinates reported Lu Nanzhi's disappearance.

"Search for her and make her sign the documents."

But after hours of searching around the city, they couldn't find Lu Nanzhi. They resorted to tracking her phone, but it was another failure.

Lu Chenyu, upon receiving the news, was infuriated and smashed the phone on the group of men.

"Just a little girl and you can't even find! A bunch of useless clowns!"

Two days later...