Chapter 197: The Phoenix Man Who Soared Before the Apocalypse (Part 2)

As he got more and more into the thrill of it, he started coming home less and less.

His wife eventually sensed something was off and thoughtfully asked if something was wrong at work.

The original host always had the same few excuses ready: work was busy, he had to attend social events.

His wife believed he was dissatisfied with his current situation and was working hard to improve it, so she didn’t suspect a thing.

She had no idea her husband was out partying with a group of people, indulging in a life of debauchery.

Fortunately, the original host still feared his father-in-law, so he didn’t go completely off the rails. He stuck to drinking, eating, and gambling, never daring to mess around with women.

He was terrified that gossip would reach his father-in-law’s ears.

By this point, he had already given up on himself. He knew that trying to earn more money than the Su Family through his own efforts was nothing but a pipe dream.

All he wanted now was for his father-in-law to die soon. Then the Su Family would be left with just two easy-to-control women.

He could finally take over and become the head of the household, inheriting everything the Su Family had.

When that day came, he’d see who still dared to look down on him.

But before his fantasy could come true, the Apocalypse arrived.

Life in the Apocalypse was brutal—far more terrifying than anyone had imagined. Ordinary people had to fight tooth and nail just to survive.

But somehow, the original host got incredibly lucky and awakened a supernatural ability at the very start of the Apocalypse.

As the only one in the family with a supernatural ability, he suddenly had all the power.

In that era of survival of the fittest, money meant nothing. The entire family had to rely on him just to get by.

His pride swelled to new heights.

But even then, his family still treated him the same as before, which left him deeply dissatisfied. As his level increased, he started to resent being dragged down by them. The malice he had buried for years began to surface.

First, he orchestrated an “accident” that led to his in-laws being killed by zombies.

Then he tried to ditch his wife using the same tactic, but this time he got caught.

His wife survived—and even awakened a supernatural ability of her own. When she later discovered that her parents’ deaths weren’t just an accident, she chose to perish together with him.

The memory ended abruptly, leaving Shen Xiuyan shaking his head.

A Phoenix Man indeed. A pig can’t appreciate fine bran.

From what he saw in the memory, the in-laws and the wife treated him incredibly well. What more could he have wanted?

Where did that inflated pride even come from? He enjoyed all the benefits his wife brought him but couldn’t stand the idea of others living better than he did.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Truly, it takes all kinds to make a world.

If it were him, and someone treated him so wholeheartedly, he’d definitely say, “Sugar mommy, let’s cuddle.”

Some people die of thirst, others drown in abundance.

Shen Xiuyan pulled himself together and began surveying his surroundings.

He was in a hotel room, reeking of alcohol and stinking to high heaven.

Clearly, he’d gone out drinking the night before and, not wanting his family to know he’d been fooling around, chose to crash at a hotel instead of going home.

Shen Xiuyan wrinkled his nose in disgust and quickly slipped into the bathroom to wash up.

A short while later, a freshly groomed Shen Xiuyan emerged.

He dressed neatly, adjusted his collar, and prepared to head home and get a divorce.

He wasn’t the original host, and he had no emotional ties to the original host’s wife. The sooner they divorced, the better.

After all, the Apocalypse was coming soon. Dragging along a whole family would only slow him down, and he still had a mission to complete.

Before long, he drove back to their shared home.

As the daughter of the prestigious Su Family, she naturally wouldn’t be living in a high-rise apartment downtown. Instead, she had bought a villa in a location neither too close nor too far from the city center—over a thousand square meters.

The villa had a massive yard filled with all kinds of flowers and plants.

There was a swimming pool, a swing set—everything was beautifully designed and exquisitely maintained.

Shen Xiuyan clicked his tongue in amazement. The lady of this house really knew how to enjoy life.

Now this—this was the dream.

He calmed his envious heart, opened the door, and the moment he stepped inside, he was even more stunned.

The villa’s interior was luxurious and comfortable. Every piece of furniture looked like a high-end custom order.

Even the decorative items, the ornaments, and the teacups scattered around the house were all luxury goods.

Shen Xiuyan looked around, growing more and more shocked. Even the decorative paintings on the walls looked like antiques.

Clearly, he had no idea just how wealthy the Su Family really was.

He truly couldn’t understand the original host. If he had a life like this, where would he find the time to wallow in pride?

Instead of overthinking everything, why not just eat, drink, and enjoy life?

This kind of life was the definition of bliss.

“Honey, you’re home early today~” came a surprised and delighted voice from a distance.

The voice was so pleasant, like a songbird singing—crisp and melodious, it struck Shen Xiuyan right in the heart.

He clutched his wildly beating chest, unsure why he felt so suddenly and inexplicably moved.

Shen Xiuyan pressed his lips together, steadied his emotions, and turned around with a soft “Mm.”

By then, the woman had already walked up to him and sweetly took his coat from his hands.

“You’ve been so busy lately. I’ve told you, you don’t have to work so hard. Even if we don’t push ourselves, our family will still be just fine. If you wear yourself out, what will I do?”

Shen Xiuyan was touched. What a good woman.

He suddenly wondered if bringing up divorce would hurt her.

“Mingyue, I have something I want to talk to you about—” Shen Xiuyan began, lifting his head to meet Su Mingyue’s gaze.

But the moment their eyes met, his words died in his throat.

Holy crap! Was this love at first sight?

Why did the woman in front of him look exactly like his type? She was the spitting image of his dream girl.

Even though he had no memories from before, he just knew—he must have liked her.

What the hell was happening to him?

“Hmm? What did you want to say?” Su Mingyue smiled and patted the empty spot on the sofa. “Come sit, honey.”

Shen Xiuyan shuffled over step by step.

His brain was spinning at full speed, trying to figure out what to say next.

As for that divorce he was about to bring up?

What divorce?

He’d never even considered it, okay!

He still had to atone for the original host’s sins. At the very least, he had to make sure the woman in front of him survived the Apocalypse.

Yes, that was it.

It definitely wasn’t because he was smitten.

Shen Xiuyan kept repeating that to himself, ignoring the fact that he was completely contradicting his earlier intentions.

“Honey, why are you just standing there like a dummy? Come sit.”

Urged by Su Mingyue, Shen Xiuyan plopped down on the sofa.

They were sitting so close that he could smell the faint scent of orchids coming from her.

His face turned so red it looked like it might start bleeding.

Wasn’t this a little too close?

Then he thought again—wait a minute, this was his wife. His!

If she didn’t sit close to him, who else would she sit close to?

At worst, he’d just follow the trend and do the whole “married first, fall in love later” thing. That was all the rage these days anyway.

With that thought, he felt completely justified.

Shen Xiuyan put on his best smile and said, “I suddenly forgot what I was going to say…”

“That’s okay. Just tell me when you remember.” Su Mingyue didn’t notice he was changing the subject and kindly let it slide.

After all, who hasn’t forgotten what they were about to say at some point?

— Translator’s Notes —

• Some people die of thirst, others drown in abundance: Chinese saying highlighting the irony of life where some lack what others have in excess.

• Sugar mommy: Slang term for an older woman who provides financial support or gifts to a younger partner in a relationship.

• married first, fall in love later: Refers to the concept of arranged marriages or pragmatic marriages where love develops after marriage, contrasting with Western romantic ideals.