Apocalypse Chapter 3: Assets

Chapter 3: Assets

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

When Chu Qiang spoke like this, Jiang Rong couldn’t hold it anymore. He silently got up, walked to the door, grabbed the handle, and closed the compartment door. The noisy construction sounds outside faintly came through, making the compartment even quieter. At that moment, Chu Qiang could only hear Jiang Rong’s heavy breathing.

Jiang Rong lowered his head, staring at his tightly clenched hand holding the door handle. He really wanted to lay everything out, but the rationality gained from three years of struggle after the Great Crisis prevented him from doing so.

Chu Qiang could be trusted, but his friends might not be reliable, especially with such a variety of characters, some of whom had questionable morals. Chu Qiang was straightforward and easily influenced by others. This meant that what Jiang Rong said now could easily be taken advantage of by others. They might find it ridiculous now, but when the Great Crisis arrived, they would know what preparations Jiang Rong had made.

Jiang Rong, polite and weak, had a three-year-old child who stumbled around. After the Great Crisis, not only were there dangerous mutated flora and fauna, but human hearts also couldn’t withstand the test. If anyone remembered Jiang Rong among them, then Jiang Rong and his son, with so much hoarded goods and such a sturdy house, would be easy prey… There was no need to think about the final outcome.

Jiang Rong couldn’t afford to take this risk, nor could he afford the consequences. He wiped his face and tentatively muttered, “If I told you there really would be an apocalypse, would you believe me?”

Chu Qiang paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, “Hahaha, have you been watching too many movies lately? Don’t think nonsense; where would an apocalypse come from?”

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Rong’s heart sank. He gave up the attempt. Obviously, even if he told Chu Qiang the truth, Chu Qiang wouldn’t believe him. But could he really say nothing to Chu Qiang? Just asking him to reinforce his house and hoard goods without telling him the reason, who would believe such flimsy words?

A fire seemed to burn in Jiang Rong’s heart, making his eyes red again. His shoulders drooped involuntarily. Although he was anxious and agitated, the words that came out were strangely calm, “Brother Chu Qiang.”

All the hairs on Chu Qiang’s back stood up when Jiang Rong called him by his full name, followed by a title; it meant Jiang Rong wasn’t someone to be messed with at the moment.

Jiang Rong took a deep breath, “I know my actions seem crazy to you. I sold two houses in City C, built a house in my hometown, and I’m going to hoard goods… I know I seem out of line, but please believe me, I have my reasons. I can’t disclose them to you.”

Chu Qiang scratched his cheek and muttered, “Why so serious? I didn’t say you were crazy…”

Jiang Rong let go of the doorknob and looked directly into Chu Qiang’s eyes. There was a faint bloodshot in his eyes, and although his expression was calm, his gaze was earnest, “Trust me, I’m not in debt, I haven’t done anything illegal. I’m fully aware of what I’m doing now. I hope you can help me, and I hope you can take my advice. Brother Chu Qiang, reinforce your house and hoard goods, it won’t harm you.”

The confusion on Chu Qiang’s face gradually turned into seriousness. If someone else stood in front of him saying this, he would surely think the person was crazy. But the person in front of him was Jiang Rong, his childhood friend. He didn’t understand others, but he understood his childhood friend.

Jiang Rong had always been the exemplary child of other families, with a good temper and good grades, calm and organized in his actions, always able to observe the flaws in others, completely different from someone like him who was prone to impulsive decisions. Jiang Rong had nothing to say about himself. If there was anyone in this world willing to genuinely care for him, apart from his parents, it was Jiang Rong. Sometimes they disagreed on certain matters, but every time proved that Jiang Rong was right.

Seeing emotions flicker in Jiang Rong’s eyes that he couldn’t understand, Chu Qiang nodded solemnly, “I understand, Xiao Jiang, I’ll listen to you.”

Jiang Rong said seriously, “The things I just said to you, don’t tell anyone.”

Chu Qiang responded, “Okay, don’t worry, I won’t even tell my parents.”

Jiang Rong still didn’t relax, “And, make sure you hoard goods, medicine, everything you can think of… Remember that?”

After a moment of contemplation, Chu Qiang nodded, “Got it.”

Jiang Rong breathed a sigh of relief discreetly. If Chu Qiang’s family hadn’t rebuilt their house in the countryside two years ago, he would have even asked Chu Qiang to build another house. He had visited Chu Qiang’s house before, and the materials used were very solid. With just a change of doors and windows, it wouldn’t be worse than the house he planned to build.

After having lunch with Chu Qiang, when he returned to Love Home Real Estate, it was already three o’clock in the afternoon, and Xiao Zhou had been waiting there for a while. As soon as Jiang Rong entered, Xiao Zhou warmly greeted him, “Mr. Jiang, the money is ready, we just need your signature.”

Jiang Rong nodded slowly, took the tablet handed over by Xiao Zhou, opened the contract, scrolled up and down, and after seeing the two requests he made written in the contract, he signed his name with a flourish.

Buying and selling houses used to be a cumbersome process, requiring registration at various agencies. But now, once the contract was effective, the corresponding procedures would be handled online.

When his name appeared on the screen, Jiang Rong was momentarily lost in thought. It wasn’t the first time he had sold a house. Previously, in order to buy a house in Xintiandi, he had sold two other houses owned by his family. Regardless of how many times he sold a house, whether it was a house he had lived in or not, there would always be some reluctance in his heart.

After signing the contract, it didn’t take long for him to receive a message on his phone confirming the transfer of the house payment. Xiao Zhou happily took back the tablet, “Mr. Jiang, thank you for choosing Love Home Real Estate to sell your house. Please, remember to follow the terms of the contract, and have a pleasant cooperation.”

Jiang Rong nodded with his eyes downcast. Indeed, the real estate agents were the most heartless; they greeted you with smiles when they thought you were profitable. When you were no longer useful, they were indifferent.

Thinking of this, the advice that was about to be said turned into a calm response, “Don’t worry, I’ll move out early.”

After leaving the real estate agency, Jiang Rong checked the amount on his phone. Combined with his savings and the money in the stock market, his total assets now amounted to 21.65 million.

After some calculations, Jiang Rong walked towards his car, holding the keys. As he approached, the car lights flashed twice. Jiang Rong stood in front of the car, stroking the window for a while before opening the door. “Let’s go, let’s pick up your little master.”

Usually, Jiang Rong was busy with work, and by the time he picked up his son and got home, it was often already past six in the evening. However, today, when they arrived home, it was only a little after four in the afternoon. Jiang Xiaoheng, with his small backpack shaped like a beetle, was skipping and jumping while holding Jiang Rong’s hand, eager to tell his father about all the fun things that happened at daycare.

As the father and son entered the elevator lobby, they bumped into their neighbor from the ninth floor. More accurately, it was the neighbor’s nanny. Most of the residents in the community were quite busy, so many households had live-in nannies.

The nanny, in her forties, always smiled and praised Xiaoheng whenever she saw him. This time was no exception.

Seeing the food box in the nanny’s hand, Jiang Rong casually asked, “Are you going to deliver food?”

The nanny sighed helplessly, “Yes, the old lady of the main family was hospitalized again a few days ago. The couple is worried sick about it. Hopefully, the old lady will be discharged from the hospital safely.”

Jiang Rong’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm. “Good fortune favors good people; she will surely be discharged safely.”

He meant what he said. The old lady from the ninth floor would indeed be discharged soon. However, the family of five from the ninth floor never woke up after the Great Crisis. Today, encountering the nanny from the ninth floor, he realized that there was something as important as hoarding goods and building houses: having a healthy body.

After the crisis, many people died inexplicably. Those who survived varied in age and gender. Therefore, Jiang Rong had always been unclear about what kind of person could survive, let alone understand what kind of person could possess special abilities.

This question wasn’t just on his mind; it was on the minds of all the survivors. The experts and scholars in the base had never given up searching for answers. In the third year after the crisis, they finally unlocked this mystery. The people who survived were all very healthy before the crisis, without any underlying illnesses. Whether they could mutate depended on the excellence of their genes. The more excellent the genes, the higher the probability of mutation.

After scientists solved the puzzle, the day of the Great Crisis was called “Awakening Day” by those who gained abilities. In short: the body is the capital of the revolution.

Realizing this, Jiang Rong looked down at his slender arms and legs. The slight relaxation he felt after the house payment came in was once again replaced by tension. In their past lives, both he and his son had opened their eyes after Awakening Day, but neither of them had awakened any abilities.

As an ordinary person, he just wanted to live a peaceful life. However, he and his son were in poor physical condition. Not to mention facing those with abilities and mutated flora and fauna, even facing those without abilities, they might not have a chance of winning.

With his small stature, how could he fight against ordinary people with well-built bodies? No, he must start exercising. He wanted to become a muscular man that everyone feared.

After the elevator closed, Jiang Xiaoheng looked up at Jiang Rong in confusion, “Dad, what’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Rong patted his son’s head, “Xiaoheng, do you want to exercise with Dad and become a real man?”

Jiang Xiaoheng didn’t understand, but still nodded obediently, “Okay~ Xiaoheng wants to exercise with Dad.”

Looking at his son’s tender little face, Jiang Rong made a firm decision. After dinner, he would find a reliable gym to start his exercise routine. He would become a strong man first, and then teach his son. In their past lives, they became vulnerable and pitiable because they were unprepared. This time, with strong bodies, he dared anyone to bully them.

 

 

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