Apocalypse: Resources consumed by women will be returned ten thousandfold.

--Translated by likesnovel--

The truth was, Jiang Fan had noticed the pair the moment they stepped onto the 27th floor.

With growing interest, he watched them make their way up the stairs until they reached the 32nd floor and stopped outside his apartment door.

The man was hiding behind the fire-exit door near the stairwell, a kitchen knife clenched in his hand.

Judging by their silhouettes, the man was heavyset and bulky, while the woman was slim with an attractive figure.

From Jiang Fan's perception, both of them radiated a deep crimson aura—a clear sign of intense malicious intent.

Tang Mengyao's smart peephole system was connected to a small monitor inside the apartment, allowing a clear view of everything happening outside.

As a result, Jiang Fan could see every detail perfectly.

The two visitors were none other than Hu Lei and his beautiful fiancée, Xu Mengqian.

Xu Mengqian stood facing Jiang Fan's door, though her body was slightly angled toward Tang Mengyao's apartment.

Meanwhile, Hu Lei, gripping the kitchen knife, remained hidden near the stairwell corner.

They thought they had successfully avoided the viewing angle of Jiang Fan's peephole camera.

What they didn't know was that Tang Xuerou's smart peephole could see everything clearly.

Jiang Fan let out a mocking chuckle.

"Heh... Looks like they really didn't come here with good intentions."

Tang Xuerou stared at the monitor in shock.

"Brother Jiang, he's carrying a knife! What are they planning to do?"

Surprisingly, she wasn't very frightened.

Jiang Fan's strength gave her an overwhelming sense of security.

As for that fat guy with the knife...

He looked more like someone delivering supplies right to their doorstep.

Still, she never imagined society would collapse this quickly.

Things had already deteriorated to the point where armed robbers were showing up at people's homes.

Jiang Fan replied casually,

"Then I'll find you another 'big sister' to keep you company."

Tang Xuerou froze for a moment.

A complicated mix of emotions filled her heart.

There was satisfaction at the thought of the people outside getting what they deserved.

There was bitterness and jealousy when she realized Jiang Fan was about to add another woman to his group.

And there was also an inexplicable sense of relief.

At least...

If there was another woman around, some of Jiang Fan's attention would be diverted elsewhere.

Jiang Fan picked up his phone and called Xu Mengqian.

He fully intended to toy with both of them.

"Hu Lei didn't come with you, right?"

Xu Mengqian answered calmly,

"No, he didn't."

Behind the fire-exit door, Hu Lei's grip tightened so hard that veins bulged across the back of his hand.

Yet Jiang Fan didn't expose her lie. Instead, he continued,

"Take a few steps back and give me a turn. I want to make sure you're not carrying any weapons."

Xu Mengqian instinctively tightened her grip on her handbag.

Then she stepped back once and slowly turned around.

The moment Jiang Fan saw the movement, he immediately understood.

There was probably something hidden inside that bag.

Just then, the system notification sounded.

**Xu Mengqian**

Age: **23**

**Appearance: 8.5 Points**

(Top-Tier Beauty)

**Virtue: 9 Points**

(Despite being engaged, she had never been intimate with any man.)

Overall Rating: **8.5 Points**

**[Ding! Target meets the system's requirements!]**

A broad smile appeared on Jiang Fan's face.

Hu Lei...

I gave you an opportunity, but you were the one who failed to seize it.

He chuckled softly.

"Mm... Nice legs. Black stockings too. Not bad at all. I'm quite satisfied."

"You bastard!"

Hu Lei's face flushed red with rage.

His grip on the knife became so tight that his knuckles turned white.

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to charge into the apartment.

Kill Jiang Fan.

Then claim the apartment and all the supplies for himself.

Xu Mengqian pretended to be impatient.

"Are you done yet? I'm just a woman. Why are you so paranoid?"

But inwardly, she was becoming increasingly uneasy.

Why was this man so cautious?

Jiang Fan smiled faintly.

"I can't see your shoes clearly. Take a few more steps back. I want to make sure you're actually wearing high heels."

Xu Mengqian's face reddened with embarrassment and anger.

Completely unaware that she was walking into a trap, she reluctantly continued moving backward.

1 step...

2 steps...

Until she finally stopped in front of Tang Xuerou's apartment door.

Behind her, Hu Lei clenched his teeth.

His eyes remained fixed on Jiang Fan's door.

The farther Xu Mengqian moved away from him...

The more Jiang Fan would lower his guard.

And the better Hu Lei's chance to strike.

Just open the door...

And I'll cut you down on the spot!

Suddenly—

**Bang!**

Another steel door burst open without warning.

The door swung past Xu Mengqian's nose by mere inches.

The gust of wind sent strands of her hair flying.

Xu Mengqian screamed in terror.

"Ahhh!"

Before Hu Lei could even finish his sentence—

Jiang Fan lunged forward, grabbed Xu Mengqian by the collar, and yanked her inside with overwhelming force.

With his immense strength, she didn't have the slightest chance to resist.

Her body was dragged into the apartment like a weightless rag doll.

Then Jiang Fan casually flung her aside.

Still wearing high heels, Xu Mengqian immediately lost her balance.

Her slender body staggered before crashing heavily onto the floor.

"Ahhh!"

**Bang!**

The reinforced steel door slammed shut once more.

A second later came the sound of the lock engaging.

**Click!**

Hu Lei had been focused entirely on Jiang Fan's apartment door.

By the time he realized the neighboring door had opened, it was already too late.

He rushed forward with the kitchen knife in hand.

But all that remained before him was a cold steel door sealed shut.

His fiancée had been taken right in front of his eyes.

The veins on Hu Lei's forehead bulged violently.

He slammed his fists against the door like a madman.

"You bastard! You're asking for death!"

Inside the apartment, Jiang Fan had no interest in wasting time.

The moment Xu Mengqian tried to get back on her feet, he drove a knee into her back and pinned her down.

**Thud!**

Her body was forced flat against the floor again.

"Ah!"

Xu Mengqian cried out in pain.

"It hurts... It hurts! Please be gentler!"

Since childhood, she had never been treated so roughly.

Tears instantly streamed down her face.

Yet Jiang Fan showed no intention of going easy on her.

He snatched her handbag and searched through it quickly.

After only a few moments, he found a can of pepper spray hidden inside.

Jiang Fan sneered.

"You crafty woman. What exactly were you planning?"

**Smack!**

His palm struck her face hard.

The blow left Xu Mengqian dazed.

She no longer dared to cry out.

Trembling uncontrollably, she hurriedly tried to explain.

"Please don't misunderstand... It's for self-defense..."

Jiang Fan ignored her excuse.

He took out a roll of wide transparent tape that he had prepared beforehand.

A few moments later, her wrists were secured behind her back.

After making sure she could no longer resist, Jiang Fan thoroughly searched her for any additional concealed weapons.

The process was no different from the inspection he had performed on Tang Xuerou earlier.

Once he confirmed she wasn't carrying anything else dangerous, he turned her over and delivered a heavy punch to her abdomen.

**Thud!**

Xu Mengqian's eyes widened instantly.

Her body curled up reflexively like a shrimp.

Only muffled groans escaped her throat.

Watching from nearby, Tang Xuerou felt chills run down her spine.

Fortunately...

She had never tried to resist him before.

This man...

Was far more ruthless than she had imagined.

Yet at the same time, a strange sense of security emerged within her.

In a collapsing world like this one, only someone as strong as Jiang Fan could truly protect her.

Outside the apartment—

**Bang! Bang! Bang!**

**Bang! Bang! Bang!**

Hu Lei continued pounding on the door in a frenzy.

But it was completely useless.

A reinforced security door wasn't something that could be broken down so easily.

His voice cracked with panic and rage.

"Jiang Fan! Let my wife go right now!"

Jiang Fan walked toward the door and laughed.

"Thanks for the wife, Boss Hu. You're incredibly generous."

"Generous my ass!"

Hu Lei nearly coughed up blood from anger.

"Let her out now, or I'll call the police!"

Jiang Fan let out a scornful laugh.

"You still haven't paid me last month's wages."

"So let's just consider your fiancée payment for the debt."

As he spoke, Jiang Fan glanced at the surveillance monitor.

The mutated husky had already climbed up from the 28th floor.

Its body glowed with a vivid crimson aura.

It was rapidly making its way upward.

But Hu Lei had no idea.

He continued shouting hysterically.

"You bastard! Let Mengqian go!"

"Otherwise, I'll make sure you die the most painful death imaginable!"

Jiang Fan's expression remained calm.

"Fat Hu, whether I'll die or not, I don't know."

"But today..."

"The one who's definitely going to die is you."

After pounding on the door for so long, Hu Lei was already breathing heavily.

One hand rested on his knee while the other still gripped the kitchen knife tightly.

Then he shouted back,

"If you've got guts, come out here!"

Jiang Fan chuckled softly.

"Idiot... Why don't you turn around?"

Hu Lei froze.

A confused look appeared on his face.

Turn around?

What did that mean?

Then—

A deep, heavy breathing sound echoed from the stairwell behind him.

**Huff... Huff... Huff...**

The atmosphere turned icy in an instant.

And Hu Lei slowly began turning his head... toward the sound.