Chapter 33: Zhang Chenjun

Zhang Chenjun clearly wasn’t going to provide any more answers. Father Zhang quickly ushered Mother Zhang out of the bedroom.

“Hey, I still haven’t gotten to the bottom of this!”

“What more is there to ask? It’s likely that Nini had a breakup. Look at her—do you want to wound her even further?”

“That’s not right. Nini never mentioned dating anyone.”

“Even if a young person were in a relationship, would they tell an old woman like you? Young people value their privacy these days!”

“I’m only fifty, and you’re calling me an old woman? Do you think I’m old? You old geezer!”

“Aren’t an old woman and an old geezer a match made in heaven?”

Zhang Chenjun listened to the retreating voices and wept in silence. Gently resting her right hand on her lower abdomen, she whispered, “Baby, Mommy will avenge you. I won’t let that bitch Chen Jin get away with this. Baby, Mommy loves you!”

Eyes vacant, Zhang Chenjun lay on the bed. 

She loved her baby, but Chen Jin had cruelly exploited her vulnerability during childbirth and smothered her child. A part of herself, cruelly taken before she could even hold it, gone before a single drop of milk, before even seeing the world, murdered by that bitch Chen Jin.

Zhang Chenjun could never forget her baby’s heartbreaking cries. How could Chen Jin, a woman of seemingly delicate appearance, be so vicious as to harm an innocent newborn?

‘Chen Jin, in this life, we are sworn enemies. I’ll destroy all you hold dear and crush your every hope. I’ll condemn you to a world of darkness, consumed by demons!’

After composing herself, Zhang Chenjun rose and tidied herself in the bathroom. Tall, with chestnut brown wavy hair, large eyes accentuated by slightly upturned corners, and full lips and her slightly pale complexion lent a delicate, ethereal quality to her beauty.

This beauty had always been a source of pride. In her previous life, her appearance had helped her secure a place at Xiao Fei’s side without suffering too greatly.

“Heh!” Zhang Chenjun touched her face with a self-deprecating laugh. In this life, she’d sooner take up farming than be Xiao Fei’s mistress.

Revived, Zhang Chenjun exited the room. “Dad, there’s something important I want to discuss!”

Father Zhang, seeing his daughter so serious for the first time, nodded. “Let’s talk in the study.”

In the study, after deep breaths, Zhang Chenjun decided to be honest about her rebirth. “Dad, something extraordinary happened to me. I’m afraid if I tell you, you’ll think I’m mentally ill. Can I tell you?”

Zhang Chenjun gazed into her father’s eyes, her own welling with tears. She was afraid of his rejection. It had taken all her courage to even begin this conversation.

Father Zhang remained silent. He looked at his daughter’s bloodshot yet teary sincere eyes and his heart couldn’t help aching. How had his pampered girl who was excitedly planning a trip abroad days ago with her best friend, become like this after a brief illness?

Finally, he spoke, “Tell me. Dad believes you wouldn’t say this lightly.”

Zhang Chenjun managed a smile, though it held a note of sorrow. “Dad, would you believe me if I said I know what happens in the next three years? This isn’t delusion, I swear.”

She looked into Father Zhang’s eye and said with unwavering sincerity, “I am Zhang Chenjun, reborn from three years in the future!”

Father Zhang’s teacup slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor, tea pooling around the shards.

Neither of them spared a thought for the mess. Tremors coursed through Father Zhang’s body as his mind reeled. His daughter seemed different, but her eyes shone with clarity, her words and logic sound. Could she truly be reborn? Then, who had harmed her and caused her to be reborn? Where was he at that time?

Seeing that Father Zhang didn’t stop her, Zhang Chenjun continued, “In less than half a year, the apocalypse will begin. Heh, at that time, no one thought it was the apocalypse. They only dismissed it as abnormal weather. But this ‘abnormality’ will become commonplace later on. In my previous life, Mom died of a plague, and your health declined. I later followed a man named Xiao Fei…”

Zhang Chenjun paused upon seeing her father’s eyes redden.

“He was married. I, and another girl, were his mistresses. Food was scarce in the apocalypse. But with Xiao Fei, I could at least eat my fill and even bring some food home every month. We survived until the third year of the apocalypse… when both Xiao Fei’s wife and I became pregnant. His wife gave birth first and she… killed my baby while I was weak after giving birth.”

Both Zhang Chenjun and her father were now openly weeping.

After a good while, Zhang Chenjun continued, “At that time, I was utterly broken. I died of a hemorrhage.”

Upon hearing this, Father Zhang was overwhelmed by sorrow. It was as if a knife had been plunged into his heart. His darling, whom he had spoiled for over twenty years, had actually been ruined like this by someone.

Zhang Chenjun walked over and hugged Father Zhang. “Dad, let’s not be sad anymore, okay? Look, I’ve been reborn. This is heaven’s compensation for me. In this life, we will all be well!”

Father Zhang nodded while crying, his throat so hoarse that he couldn’t speak.

Zhang Chenjun just held Father Zhang like this until his emotions stabilized. “Dad, there are still five months. We need to prepare some supplies.”

Father Zhang choked back his sobs, his voice a rasp. “Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

“With five months left, we must prepare. Food will be the most precious thing. Yields fail in the apocalypse, and most people starve. Next, we’ll need thick clothing. Summer is easier but apocalyptic winters are brutal. We also need medicine—Mom died because we had none. And daily necessities… Dad, we must be discreet.”

“I’ll prepare two sets of supplies—one as a decoy, the other hidden. If we’re discovered, we can surrender the decoy supplies.” Father Zhang was already strategizing.

Zhang Chenjun’s chest constricted with dread. Yes, being discovered would be the end.

“We’ll say we’re opening a supermarket, that this is pre-stocking. If it really comes down into it, we’ll surrender the decoy set as Dad said,” she added after some thought.

“I’ll lease a storefront tomorrow. We need a convincing cover.” A torrent of ideas flooded Father Zhang’s brain.

Zhang Chenjun nodded, lost in thought. An unsettling memory flickered: “Where did Xiao Fei get food in my past life? He didn’t seem like he’s a reborn who had stockpiled it before so is it after the apocalypse?… But I never saw him leave to gather any. It was as if the food simply appeared out of thin air. That’s right…out of thin air!”

Suddenly, the realization struck her like a lightning bolt. Xiao Fei’s ring, which he wore on a fishing line around his neck and never removed or let anyone else touch it!