Chapter 5: Big Shot Shen Zhigui

Jianglin Hotel was located near the Shengshi Huadu community. Although Shengshi Huadu was a villa district, there were still quite a lot of people around.

Not long after Cui Hao left with Jiang Zhenzhen, Chu Jiangyue, through the hotel’s open front door, saw someone blast several zombies into piles of charred black with supernatural powers.

The apocalypse had just begun, yet this person had already awakened an ability—and not just any ability, but the lightning element, recognized in her previous life as the strongest offensive power. A textbook male lead’s standard configuration!
But someone this powerful, this big-shot level… why hadn’t she ever seen him before in her past life?

Chu Jiangyue was puzzled.

Shen Zhigui had already noticed Chu Jiangyue and the Jianglin Hotel.

He had lived in Shengshi Huadu for five years and was very clear that the sudden appearance of both this woman and this hotel only happened after the zombie virus outbreak.

Whether it was the mysterious woman or the overnight emergence of a building, both reeked of strangeness.

For the safety of himself and his teammates, Shen Zhigui decided to probe.

Seeing the big shot walking toward her, Chu Jiangyue stood behind the counter, showing just the right smile.
“Hello, this is Jianglin Hotel. Would you like a room? Grand opening special—only 100 copper coins a night~”

Yes, Chu Jiangyue hadn’t given Cui Hao the grand opening discount, but for this big shot, she definitely wanted to build some goodwill.

The moment Shen Zhigui entered the hotel, he realized his powers no longer worked. That made things even stranger.

A lone woman, running a hotel that could suppress abilities—this was more than enough to make Shen Zhigui cautious.

“100 copper coins? What’s that?”

“Copper coins are the hotel’s universal currency. 100 copper equals 1 silver coin, 100 silver equals 1 gold coin.
You can exchange anything for them. On your first recharge, you’ll also receive a hotel-exclusive identity card.”

Having seen how he handled zombies, Chu Jiangyue figured he was going to be a major client, so she put on her best attitude.

She was a professional at reading people.

“I heard from someone on my way here that you had supplies,” Shen Zhigui said, not offering anything, just asking again.

He really had been directed here by someone, but the situation wasn’t what he expected.

“Liu Yiyi?”

Other than the man before her, only Liu Yiyi had come here before.

“Don’t know her.”

Shen Zhigui was telling the truth. The one who had led him here was indeed a woman, but he didn’t know her name.

“No problem. If you want to buy supplies, recharge first.”

Chu Jiangyue narrowed her eyes, smiling brilliantly.

But the brighter her smile, the bigger the trap seemed to Shen Zhigui.

Still, he did need supplies.

He took off his wristwatch and placed it on the tray Chu Jiangyue indicated.

【Metal watch detected ×1. Exchangeable for 500 copper coins. Confirm exchange? Press YES to confirm, NO to cancel.】

Shen Zhigui pressed YES.

【Dear Mr. Shen Zhigui, congratulations on becoming Jianglin Hotel’s second guest. 500 copper coins have been credited. First recharge bonus: identity card. Please keep it safe.】

The watch disappeared, replaced by a bank-card-like identity card.

“This is your identity card. From now on, for entering, staying, and shopping in the hotel, you can simply swipe it.
A standard room costs 100 copper coins per night. Would you like to stay, sir?”

Shen Zhigui picked up the card. “No, I’ll buy supplies.”

He hadn’t forgotten his purpose.

Chu Jiangyue: …

Internally cursing, outwardly smiling sweetly.

“There, follow the instructions to purchase.”

She pointed at the display cases of steamed buns and meat-filled buns.

Pretending not to notice her gritted teeth, Shen Zhigui calmly walked over.
Without needing her guidance, he placed an order with ease.

A virtual screen popped up before him, showing his balance and the items he had just bought.

But what really caught his attention was the “friends list.” Though currently empty, it intrigued him.

“Boss Chu, this friends list…”

“Oh, if your friends are also hotel guests, you can add them. Just think of it as a pre-apocalypse social app.”

Chu Jiangyue had no idea how much joy that single sentence gave Shen Zhigui.

With Blue Star’s magnetic field disruption, all electronics had ceased functioning. Out in the field, there was no way to contact others.

If what she said was true, Shen Zhigui felt it was absolutely necessary to bring his team here.

His 500 copper coins didn’t buy much.

“I’ll go back and bring my friends.”

Carrying too much alone was inconvenient, but his team had someone with a space ability.

“Friendly reminder—if you encounter a level 1 zombie and kill it, you can exchange its core here.
One level 1 zombie core equals 100 copper coins.”

Since Shen Zhigui had managed to come here alone, with barely a stain on him, it proved his skills were strong.

He paused, eyeing Chu Jiangyue. She seemed to know too much.

Chu Jiangyue met his gaze without a hint of guilt, her lips curving in the faintest, teasing smile.

Finally, Shen Zhigui looked away. “I understand. Thanks for the reminder.”

“No need to thank me. Guests need money for my hotel to thrive, after all.”

Without replying, Shen Zhigui left with his card.

Her current task was to receive 10 guests and have them check in. Right now, she only had customers recharging, but no one staying. Chu Jiangyue felt a little depressed.

But her luck must have been shining—Shen Zhigui soon returned with several people.

Each carried a backpack, eyes sparkling as they stepped inside.

“Boss Chu, they all want to recharge.”

The identity cards had solved one of their biggest problems, so their attitude toward her had noticeably improved.

“Alright, alright. One at a time.”

Thanks to Shen Zhigui’s instructions, they recharged smoothly, dumping everything they considered valuable—gold, silver, jade, gemstones—onto the exchanger.

These things, worthless in the apocalypse, trash no one would bother picking up on the street, were now being put to use.

Of course, they were delighted.

Once everyone exchanged, Chu Jiangyue: Happy happy (><)

Shen Zhigui’s group, meanwhile, stood before the shelves, placing orders.

Among them, Jiang He had awakened a space ability, currently equivalent to two 24-inch suitcases in capacity—and, most importantly, with a preservation function.

This ability made life much easier for them.

Chu Jiangyue watched wide-eyed as Shen Zhigui’s group bought 20 of each of the five foods and had Jiang He store them away.

What surprised her most was that their team already had a space-type awakened.

In her past life, she hadn’t even heard of such an ability until a year into the apocalypse.

She cast another glance at Shen Zhigui’s group, feeling something was very off.

‘Little Fox, do you know what role Shen Zhigui’s team plays?’

With power like this, there was no way she shouldn’t have heard of them in her three years of surviving the apocalypse!