Rebirth in the Apocalypse: Third Time's a Charm



Wang Chao sat across from the man that raised him, whom he respected more than anyone else, except for maybe Liu Wei, and just looked at him.

The Old Master's hair was long past grey and had turned white in his old age. Although he did not look like he was 74 years old, it was clear from the lines etched into his face that during his time in the military and as head of the Wang family, the years were not kind to him.

Maybe that was why he could no longer see what was in front of him. It was not until everyone died in his dream that his grandfather finally woke up to see what a snake Zi Mo was.

"It matters, Old Master, because Wang Zi Mo should never tell the location of the head of this family to anyone. You wouldn't give away the location of a superior in the military, would you?"

"Of course not! But those are two completely septate things! You are changing the subject. If you want a woman so badly that you are willing to settle, then I will have you married tomorrow," threatened the old man as he took out his cell phone as if he was going to make a call and find him a wife.

Wang Chao looked up at his grandfather from under his brows. "You can try, old man," said Wang Chao, appreciating Li Dai Lu's nickname for the Old Master. Seeing his grandfather's face changing colors like a mood ring made him raise his eyebrows. He never knew that the Old Master was so sensitive in his old age.

Years ago he would have just slapped him upside the head for daring to speak like that to him, now he was acting as if this was the greatest insult ever delivered. Wang Chao had originally been worried about moving in with Liu Wei and Li Dai Lu, that he might regret not being with his grandfather when the apocalypse came. He was relieved that he no longer felt that way.

"Wang Zi Mo has been stealing money from Phoenix Conglomerate for the past few years to the excess of 20 million dollars."

"Why are you being so fussy? It's his money too, he also has the Wang surname," said the Old Master, waving his hand like stealing 20 million dollars from a company was nothing.

"Fussy…" replied Wang Chao. "Okay, then shall we hand over everything to Wang Zi Mo? Would that be more in line with your thinking?"

"Stop being so superfluous. As the oldest Young Master, if he wanted the company and all that it entailed, he would have had it by now," said the Old Master, putting the last nail in the coffin between him and Wang Chao.

Wang Chao did not flinch, did not react in any way. He just looked at his grandfather, memorizing him as he was now. "I understand. And if he kills Wang Shu Lan, Zhang Hui Fen, and Wang Zi Hao? What then?"

"That doesn't matter because that will never happen."

Wang Chao nodded his head and stood up. "I understand. Please excuse me. There are some issues to attend to and Liu Wei and I will be staying in the apartment closer to work."

After saying his peace, he went and packed a bag of only what he considered essential. He had no plans to return to this manor after tonight. Anything that he forgot could just be purchased.

Leaving the manor, he made a quick call to his older sister. "Shu Lan?"

"Yes?" She replied, surprised that Wang Chao would be calling her. She rarely heard from her family unless it was something important.

"How are you and Zhang Hui Fen doing?"

"We are doing very well," Shu Lan said, even more confused. She looked at the man sitting beside her on the couch of their living room.

"That's good. I will not be returning to the manor any time soon and I suggest you do the same. If you need me, I'll send you my address."

Silence met Wang Chao's statement.

"Is everything ok, little brother? If you need anything, you know you can talk to me. I might not want to take over the industry, but I can temporarily step in if you need help."

Her reply made the last few minutes fade away. He might not have the closest relationship with his sister, but he knew she would always be there for him. "I know, and I'm fine. There are going to be a few upsets coming in the next few months, so you should prepare. And if you want, I can give you the address of a friend who I will be living with starting in November."

"I see," replied Shu Lan. She didn't know what was going on with him, but she would support him however she could.

"And Shu Lan?" Wang Chao started, not sure how he should put this, "If Wang Zi Mo and Wang Zi Hao want to meet you… even if grandfather wants to meet you… tell them no. If you can't tell them no, come get me. Don't go there alone. Do you understand me?"

Shu Lan closed her eyes and leaned into the comforting embrace of her fiancé. "And if they ask for me and Hui Fan?"

The sigh on the other end of the phone was her answer. "A viper has taken over the nest. Do not go there or even meet up with them unless I am with you. Even if Hui Fen is with you, wait for me."

"That bad?" She asked. Growing up in a family like hers, she knew that the glamour that was on the surface was in no way, shape, or form what it looked like under it.

"Much, much worse. And the Old Master has refused to believe anything."

"Understood, I'll warn Hui Fen too, just in case they try to go through him."

"That would be for the best," said Wang Chao pulling up to the apartment building. The raising of his eyebrows was the only sign that he was surprised to see Liu Wei pulling up too.

"Understood. And little brother?"

Wang Chao hummed in response and waved at Liu Wei.

"Thanks for the heads up."

"Of course, big sister. You are my family."

"Always," she replied before hanging up the phone. She didn't know what was going on, but she would start to prepare, just in case Wang Chao got in over his head.