"Recently, influenza has been frequent. Please pay attention to personal protection, reduce unnecessary public activities, avoid gatherings if not essential, and keep warm..."

The voice of the news on TV faded into the background, but Li Chenxi was abruptly jolted from her reverie. She stared in disbelief at everything before her—it was all too surreal.

The room she was in was an old, outdated living room spanning just over thirty square meters. The furnishings hadn't been updated in ages. Middle-aged men and women filled the room, their eyes fixed on Li Chenxi, each face conveying pressure and demands in varying degrees.

Seated prominently in the center was a chubby elderly woman in her sixties or seventies, with white hair. She glared at Li Chenxi with furious eyes, her thick facial muscles twitching with agitation. This scene shook Li Chenxi to her core; she recognized these people—they were the ones who, three months before the apocalypse erupted, had pressured her to vacate the house.

She had just experienced the crisis of a zombie siege at the Eastern Base, and now, in some inexplicable way, she had been transported back to half a month before the apocalypse. It was utterly unbelievable.

"Li Chenxi, your mother passed away, and your stepmother has treated you like her own. Everyone says she has been incredibly caring towards you! Now, your brother is getting married and needs your house. How can you be so selfish? You're simply ungrateful!"

"Mom, Chenxi isn't selfish. I'm sure she'll be grateful," a plump woman sitting beside the elderly lady tried to placate.

"Hmph!" The elderly lady snorted disdainfully. "Quickly vacate the house. Your brother said your place has been rented out for too long, and the furnishings are too old. It won't do without new furniture. You'll reimburse the costs yourself. He's your brother. Shouldn't you help prepare something for him?"

Li Chenxi couldn't help but burst into laughter. They wanted her house and expected her to foot the bill for new furniture—it was beyond absurd. Even more laughable was the fact that she had actually complied with such demands in her previous life!

Her mother had passed away in a car accident when Li Chenxi was fourteen. Soon after, her stepmother, Wang Lin, entered her life with a son. Wang Lin showed extraordinary care on the surface, especially during Li Chenxi's rebellious teenage years, her gentle support making Li Chenxi believe she was genuinely cared for.

She had given them everything, including the only house left by her mother. She had agreed to their demands without hesitation, believing herself to be an insignificant pawn.

However, the apocalypse revealed her folly. She had been abandoned by these people, even pushed away when rescue arrived, so they could secure their own escape. In that moment, she had understood the true nature of their feigned affection and the reality of being used.

She had been nothing more than a piece of meat on their dinner plate, discarded without mercy once she lost her usefulness. Her anger and sadness towards their so-called "care" knew no bounds.

"Bang!"

Li Chenxi suddenly threw several bags of cheap fruit into the trash can, then sat down before them without a shred of reservation. Her actions left everyone stunned.

"Li Chenxi, what are you doing? These apples were specially bought by my mom for you. She knew you liked apples. How could you throw them away!" A young man playing on his phone on a short couch angrily rebuked her.

Li Chenxi chuckled coldly, her heart filled with irony. She liked eating apples the most? That was utter nonsense!

She shot a cold glance at her "good brother" Li Nanying, her eyes piercing. Li Nanying involuntarily shivered, unable to meet her gaze. Her eyes conveyed a coldness and fierceness honed over ten years of surviving the apocalypse, enough to make Li Nanying shrink back.

"Li Chenxi, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? If so, we can come another day. Mom knows you're feeling wronged, but after all, Li Nanying is your brother. Shouldn't you help him out a bit? Especially since downtown housing is so scarce..."

Wang Lin tried to ease the tension, but Li Chenxi found herself increasingly annoyed by their words. Her father, Han Lao, stood nearby, angrily shouting, "This house was originally your mother's pre-marital property! What does a girl need a house for? Give this house to your brother, and when you get married, let your husband buy you a new one!"

Li Chenxi was beyond anger by this point. She had long realized that Han Lao never really cared about her. Li Nanying was his biological son, while she was just an outsider, never to be compared to his own child. After the apocalypse, Han Lao's ugly nature had been laid bare even more.

She raised two fingers. "Two million."

The entire room fell into silence, everyone frozen in place.

"Li Chenxi, what are you saying?" Wang Lin asked in astonishment.

"This house was a gift to me through legal donation by my mother before her marriage. The property deed is in my name. If you want it, pay up. Two million. Take it or leave it," Li Chenxi said icily.

"You want to sell the house to us?! Are you kidding? And where do you think we'll get that kind of money?" Li Nanying said incredulously.

Li Chenxi raised her wrist, showing them her watch. "You have five minutes to decide. If you don't agree, I'll sell it to someone else. Five."

"Li Chenxi, we're your elders. How can you discuss money with us?" The elderly lady shouted in anger.

"Four."

"You ungrateful wretch, watch me teach you a lesson!" The elderly lady's face turned menacing, as if she would physically harm Li Chenxi.

Li Chenxi stared coldly at her, picking up the pace. "Three, two."

"You dare!" Li Nanying's father stood up, apparently ready to attack Li Chenxi.

Without hesitation, Li Chenxi kicked his chair over, watching him fall to the ground. Her voice was chilling. "One."

"Li Chenxi, you're so bold. Even daring to hit Dad!"

Facing their anger, Li Chenxi didn't want to waste any more time. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "Manager Li, I want to sell the house for two million..."

This house had been rented out through an agency until she turned eighteen and could reclaim the keys, allowing her to retain ownership.

"If you want it..." Li Chenxi smirked, awaiting their response. "...fine, I'll..."

"Stop, we agree!" Wang Lin saw that Li Chenxi was about to sell to an agent and hurriedly interjected. "Chenxi, sell it to us!"

Wang Lin appeared urgent. With a market value of three million, two million was indeed a bargain. Besides, new housing in the city center was scarce. Even though they weren't sure why things hadn't gone as planned, ensuring they got the cheap house before someone else did was crucial.

Two million now could mean more profit later!

Li Chenxi smiled with satisfaction as she hung up the phone.

Though selling at two million was a slight loss, it was the quickest solution she could implement. She needed time and resources. Moreover, once sold to them, they wouldn't have any more money to interfere with her.

She had calculated—they could hardly afford this two million.

Three days before the outbreak, the government had begun hoarding supplies. She wanted to see what they would hoard!

Thirty minutes later, at the bank counter, Li Chenxi's account was credited with two million.

Though Wang Lin and the others appeared reluctant, they had to pay the money. Li Manager's phone kept ringing, worried that Li Chenxi would sell the house to an agency.

"The Housing Authority is closed these days. We'll arrange the transfer when they reopen," Li Chenxi told them.

"No problem, Chenxi. We trust you!" Wang Lin smiled graciously, though her eyes betrayed wariness. "We'll inform you about the transfer later!"

Her smile seemed generous, but it was actually out of concern about the legal issues surrounding the property deed in Li Chenxi's name.

Hearing this, Li Chenxi's smile deepened.

Perfect. She would use this opportunity.

Li Nanying coldly remarked from the side, "Now that you've sold us the house, hurry up and move out! Get rid of all your junk! Leave nothing behind!"

Wang Lin tried to soften the blow. "Let her stay a few more days. She'll surely give you a storage fee and even buy you new furniture. You're her brother; show some understanding."

"Mom! With her money-grubbing face, she deserves none of this!" Li Nanying impatiently retorted. "Kick her and her dog out!"

"Dog—"

Li Chenxi's heart skipped a beat. Her dog—Summer was still here!

Without hesitation, she rushed back to her room and opened the door to find her quiet German Shepherd, Summer. Upon seeing her, Summer jumped into her arms.

"Woof woof!"

"Summer!" Li Chenxi almost cried. Her Summer was still alive!

Summer was a retired military dog her mother had gifted her on her tenth birthday, and it had accompanied her through countless hardships. Although her stepmother's family didn't like it and had tried several times to get rid of it, Summer always found its way back. Li Chenxi had argued with them repeatedly to protect Summer, and eventually, after her mother's death, she had been allowed to keep it in her room.

She couldn't let it get hurt again!

"Summer, don't worry. I'll never let you get hurt again in this lifetime!" She hugged Summer tightly, her voice resolute.

"Woof woof woof!" Summer responded, as if understanding her words.

After ensuring Summer was settled, Li Chenxi began packing her things. The furniture, though old, held precious memories left by her mother. She stood in the room, her gaze lingering with reluctance.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind: "Ding—Super Lord System activated!"

"Within one hour, each item valued over one thousand yuan carried with you rewards one cubic meter of space!"

Li Chenxi was shocked by the message in her mind. She instinctively grabbed the phone on the table to test it out.

"Ding—Detected phone, valued at 4999 yuan! Reward: four cubic meters!"

Instantly, in her mind, a space of four cubic meters appeared. Her phone disappeared from her hand and materialized within that space.

Li Chenxi: "!!!"

Space!

She finally had the opportunity to change her future.

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