Early Morning.
A sliver of sunlight crept into the room.
Lam Pham got out of bed and washed up. Since Vuong Khai said the water was usable, he didn't use bottled water. If you can save, then save—life is like that. Be frugal and it will surprise you; be extravagant and it will leave you helpless.
He made porridge for Manh Manh, and cooked two eggs for himself.
Blowing gently on the porridge—it was at a perfect temperature.
"Come on, open your mouth..."
Feeding a baby was a test of patience—one spoonful at a time.
Twenty minutes later.
After feeding the baby, he finally began to fill his own stomach.
"Manh Manh, another beautiful day has begun."
Lam Pham spoke gently, pinched Manh Manh's cheeks, making her giggle out loud, then held her close in his arms and headed outside.
The kindness Sis Ly showed by helping care for the baby—he kept it close to heart.
No need for too many words. Just remembering is enough.
Downstairs.
He inhaled the fresh morning air.
Perhaps it was just an illusion, but the air felt fresher than ever. Breathing it into his lungs, his whole being felt uplifted.
He headed to the fitness area.
Thirty minutes of exercise.
It helped keep the body healthy.
During his workout, two elderly uncles joined in the routine.
Grandpa Luong and Grandpa Tieu Hoa started their own little class. Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh—two studious little girls—buried themselves in their books in the intense study atmosphere.
Grandpa Tu went into the vegetable garden.
Ly Mai carried Manh Manh on her back, holding tools in her hand. Smiling brightly, she greeted Lam Pham and walked toward the garden.
Everyone had something to do.
A popular livestream dancer descended the stairs for her morning workout, still in her pajamas, greeting everyone with a smile as she jogged around the apartment complex.
"Little Phàm, got a busy day today?" asked old man Vuong while moving on the elliptical, his body swaying back and forth.
Lam Pham replied, "Patrolling the complex, cleaning up stores, heading to the water plant with Vuong Khai, and then I've got more matchmaking to do this afternoon."
"Truly a busy man," the old man sighed, realizing that in the entire post-apocalyptic world, no one was busier than Lam Pham.
"Fulfilling and peaceful," Lam Pham smiled.
That was life—no earth-shattering changes, just the quiet rhythm of daily living. That was what real life was. He always lived by his own beliefs.
He didn't want to cause trouble for others. If he encountered something he could help with, he would extend a hand. Smile and say, "Need a hand?"
That was the life he chose.
He never aspired to anything grand or dramatic.
Just an ordinary man, a regular citizen of Hoang City. Nothing worthy of admiration, no ambitious dreams—just enough to get by and be at peace.
"Uncle, I'm off to patrol. You all keep busy," Lam Pham said, finishing his workout and starting his security rounds.
"Go on then."
Old man Vuong had a gentle, kind smile. Back in the day, he used to be fierce and intimidating—just his gaze could make kids cry.
But age mellowed his features. Now, the kids loved calling him "Grandpa Vuong."
His wife once told him: "Looks follow the heart. In youth, your face is given by your parents. In old age, it's shaped by your heart. A kind heart shows on the face."
Yes, that made sense.
Lam Pham nodded. Dressed in his security uniform, he walked the residential area with purpose, glancing left and right, ears alert.
He listened for the sound of zombies.
His duty was to keep the complex safe.
No other intentions.
Just earning his 5,000 yuan salary with dignity.
The previous security guards had been a headache—always hiding inside watching some random show on their phones. Even if an electric bike was stolen, they'd just nod at the thief like he was a business partner.
Lam Pham would never act like that.
Walking. Observing.
"big brother Pham."
A clear voice called out behind him.
"Miss Nhan." Lam Pham smiled and greeted her. She was beautiful, polite, and friendly. He liked talking to people like her. So young yet already a famous livestreamer—truly impressive. As for him, all he could do was work rain or shine.
But he never envied her. Everyone had their own role, their own contribution. All of it was about realizing personal value.
Miss Nhan had beauty and talent; she danced well, brought joy to others.
He, on the other hand, was good at design—creating warm, comfortable homes for people in need.
All of it was service to others.
Nhan Ny Ny said, "big brother Pham, no need to be so formal. You can call me Little Nhan or just Ny Ny. My friends all do."
"Alright, Miss Nhan," he replied.
Nhan Ny Ny: ...
Under the morning sun.
She walked beside Lam Pham. For some reason, he could always catch the scent of a woman's fragrance—every woman had their own scent. Some light and elegant, others rich or even sharp.
"big brother Pham, Grandpa Vuong always tells us he hopes Hoang City will return to its lively days. Do you think that's really possible?"
Her voice was soft. She didn't hold much hope for the future. To most people, the apocalypse was a disaster—a destructive catastrophe. Not a dead zone or nuclear war, but man-eating zombies.
Morality and ethics had already collapsed.
Not because the apocalypse required it—but because time slowly corroded those values. If you still followed ethics strictly, you might die at the hands of others. So people unconsciously changed—losing the once-sacred concept of morality.
Lam Pham paused and looked at her with a gentle smile. "Do you think it's possible?"
He was waiting, hopeful for her answer.
"If I hadn't met all of you, I wouldn't believe it. But now, I do," Nhan Ny Ny answered firmly.
Lam Pham resumed walking. "Then you already know the answer. You've found your belief. Just keep following it—and you'll succeed."
Nhan Ny Ny pondered for a while, then quickly caught up with him. "big brother Pham, why do you still work for money in this apocalypse? I know a lot of people out there just take whatever they want, hurting each other."
Lam Pham smiled. "Because I'm afraid that when peace returns, I won't be able to go back to the way it was."
That simple sentence—
—left Nhan Ny Ny stunned.
Unable to go back?
She silently watched his silhouette ahead. Though they had only known each other for two days, for some reason, she felt a strange sense of security. As if this little community was full of hope, sparkling even in the apocalypse.
As if something became clear in her heart, she felt light, happy, and energetic. Her twin braids bounced side to side—brimming with youthful vigor.
"big brother Pham, do you have a girlfriend?"
"No."
"I don't either. Have you thought about dating?"
"No need."
"Why not?"
"I'm still young. I'm only twenty."
Nhan Ny Ny: ...
In the field.
Sis Ly and Grandpa Tu were clearing weeds from the plot. The soil was rich, and if the weeds weren't removed, they would steal all the nutrients, affecting the vegetables.
"Sis Ly, Grandpa Tu —it's sprouting!" Lam Pham noted. With two experts tending the land, the results were great.
Ly Mai smiled, "It's all thanks to our little treasure's care. If it didn't sprout, that'd be strange!"
"What's this, Sis Ly?" Lam Pham pointed to something in the plot.
Sis Ly glanced over. "Ah, that's garlic. We planted some around the crops to repel insects. Plus, garlic is a great seasoning and stores well."
"Oh, I see," Lam Pham nodded.
Seeing the healthy crops lifted his mood. With steady effort, there would definitely be a harvest.
Grandma Tu said, "In just a while longer, we'll be able to enjoy fresh vegetables. This type of crop has a fairly quick growth cycle—usually around eighteen to twenty-five days."
"And this Chinese chive, once it matures the first time, can be harvested continuously."
With dedicated care, the chives would surely grow well, and soon they could be harvested batch after batch.
Lam Pham wasn't too familiar with this kind of work, but he knew Sister Lý and Grandma Tu were experts in the field. He could safely leave it in their hands.
The apartment complex wasn't very large, but the open ground was spacious. The largest empty lot used to be a place for physical exercise. Later on, some investors of the complex colluded with local shady figures to repurpose the area into a parking lot and sell it to business owners. At night, they even brought in bulldozers to try and level the area before anyone could object.
During the chaos and destruction, an elderly doorman had once tried to stop them.
He was thrown into the bushes by those burly thugs.
What happened afterward, Lam Pham didn't know. That spot had since been left to ruin.
The patrol ended.
At the entrance of the complex, Lâm Phàm ran into Vuong Khai.
"Brother Pham."
Vuong Khai greeted him with respect. He hadn't expected to sleep so soundly—it was the kind of peace of mind he hadn't felt in a long time.
Lam Pham smiled, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Vuong Khai replied.
"Do you have anything to do?" Lam Pham asked.
"No," Vuong Khai shook his head. He really had nothing to do.
Lam Pham knew he was poor. But poverty wasn't scary—what was scary was not trying to change it. That's why he wanted to bring him along to earn a bit of money. After all, there was always work to do, and he wanted to help others find something meaningful.
"Want to pick up a side gig with me? Cleaning up a shopfront. We'll split the pay evenly. It's not a lot, but enough to get by."
"Huh? Ah... Okay." Vuong Khai was still a bit stunned, but he didn't refuse. He didn't care what it was—as long as Brother Pham said it, he'd do it. And if it paid, that was even better.
He was starting to realize something: everyone living in the Duong Quang complex had their own responsibilities. They were building a better place together, and through that, proving their own worth.
Silk & Red Bean Shop.
"What a mess."
Lam Pham stood at the entrance, looking inside, then turned to Vuong Khai and said, "Let's clean up here. Just sweep everything nice and tidy. Don't say anything yet—I'll talk to the owner."
Vuong Khai was still in a daze.
Lam Pham knew the owner was a woman in her forties. She was very kind, and business used to be decent. He began speaking to the seemingly empty shop.
A short while later—
Lam Pham smiled at Vuong Khai. "All set. Clean everything up—500 yuan. We split it. Let's get to work."
"Huh? Ah... ah ah..." Vuong Khai blinked in disbelief. Something about this just felt surreal.
Seeing his dazed look, Lam Pham patted him on the shoulder.
"Let's get to work."
As they worked, Vuong Khai kept glancing nervously down the road, afraid zombies might appear. But seeing brother Pham focused and calm, completely unfazed by any threat, he couldn't help but admire him. Maybe this is what strength looks like, he thought.
Lunch.
Old man Vuong kindly invited everyone to eat together. The atmosphere at the table was warm and lively.
Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh, the two little girls, were eating at the tea table, occasionally glancing at the adults. Dinh Dinh would ask Phi Phi study questions from time to time.
Phi Phi leaned on her hand, swirling her chopsticks with mild exasperation.
At the main table—
"Today I took him to clean the Silk & Red Bean shop. We split the pay evenly—he did great," Lam Pham said with a smile. Joy often came from simple things. Earning money through your own effort was a good reason to be happy. He didn't mind splitting the pay; having someone to share the work with made life feel a lot easier.
Vuong Khai had been much more diligent than he expected.
Even Doggi was impressive—sitting at the shop entrance like a loyal guardian, watching for danger.
Old man Vuong said, "Very good. Having something to do makes life less dull."
"Mm, that's true," Lam Pham nodded.
Vuong Khai was still in a bit of a daze.
Nhan Ny Ny ate slowly and thoughtfully. Their conversation that morning had helped her understand things better—maybe this is what it means to live purposefully.
Afternoon.
Lam Pham accompanied Vuong Khai to the water plant.
They sped along a deserted road on an electric scooter. The dog sat in between them, flapping in the wind.
Vuong Khai kept glancing around, nervous about possible zombies. But brother Pham remained calm, not slowing down or saying a word.
"Vuong Khai."
"Yeah?"
"Is it hard to get a job at the water plant?" Lam Pham asked.
"It depends. There's a written test and an interview. If you pass, it's not too bad," said Vuong Khai.
"Sounds hard," Lam Pham muttered. He had test anxiety—just looking at test questions would send his mind spiraling. So for him, tests were like giving birth—tough.
"brother Pham, are you thinking of getting a side job?" Vuong Khai guessed. He remembered how Pham ca always liked to find ways to make money. If he was asking about the water plant, he probably wanted to work there.
"If it's part-time, that's easy. We're hiring someone to do installations. I can decide who we bring on. If you want the job, I can make it happen."
"You can?"
"Yep."
"Great! Making money is tough—I'd love to have more side gigs."
Getting confirmation from Vuong Khai, Lam Pham grinned behind the handlebars. He even imagined the zombies by the road were nodding and smiling at him in greeting.
Vuong Khai sighed. Now who do I even submit the paycheck to? That part was tricky.
As for getting the job—don't kid yourself. He was the only one left at the plant. Who would even object?
With Lam Pham around, Vuong Khai was able to calmly inspect the equipment, adjusting settings without the usual panic.
The water plant was vital—it was the lifeline for survivors in Hoang City. But to Vuong Khai, it had never felt quite so important until now.
Maybe he had been impressive once.
But now it just felt... normal. With brother Pham around, everything felt manageable.
"You really know these machines, huh?" Lam Pham commented.
"Of course. I've worked here for years," Vuong Khai replied proudly.
"Fair enough."
Vuong Khai grinned. He had always wanted to see what that zombie horde looked like during the peak of the chaos. But they had vanished. Who knew where they went?
Still, he had seen Pham ca in action.
Wielding Frostmourne, cutting down vicious zombies with ease—anyone who saw that would be left trembling.
Newly formed apartment complex.
Second floor.
"Brother, hold yourself back, you need to hold yourself back." While eating, Nham Giai Le tried to advise him.
One day.
Morning, noon, evening.
Three times, each lasting thirty minutes to an hour.
Even an iron bull would be exhausted.
Nham Nham picked up a steak, brought it to his mouth, and said, "I'm already being very restrained."
Nham Giai Le muttered, "Brother, don't you think he's super disgusting? Just like a fat pig. Shouldn't we find a way to leave this place and find someone more reliable?"
Nham Nham looked up and said, "Your brother here has always been proud and competitive. What if he's a fat pig? Could he be worse than that A Tam?"
Nham Giai Le: ???
Nham Nham finished the steak cleanly, picked up the plate, and walked back into the room.
Inside the room.
Thu Đao Tram Ngu – Ha Minh Hien had the face of a dark-skinned beauty.
Dazed, simple, and seemingly clueless.
He heard the conversation outside. Inside, his rage was burning. Damn slutty siblings. Damn disgusting perverts. I'll definitely kill you both.
Someone once asked him, "Do you know why ass is so popular?"
He'd slap them in the face and say confidently, "Now you know why ass is so hot."
Now he truly understood what "why ass is so popular" really meant.
His current demeanor was all fake. He wanted them to lower their guard, to believe he had submitted. Once the opportunity came, he would strike with no mercy.
Click!
The door opened.
Big-sized Nham Nham entered with a grin, placed a tray of food in front of him.
"Baby, time to eat."
As the tray was set down, Hà Minh Hiên dove in like a dog, stuffing his face and licking madly, while Nham Nham smiled contentedly.
Nham Nham was very confident.
His confidence came from experience.
Basically, all the tender little meats he'd ever caught were tamed by him.
Even this fat pig—he had no doubt in his own abilities.
"You eat fast. Big appetite is good." Nham Nham chuckled, then sniffed, wrinkling his nose. "You stink, and it's rank. Time for a bath. Be good and don't make me mad."
He moved behind Ha Minh Hien, untied him, and dragged him toward the bathroom by the shoulders.
Ha Minh Hien leaned into Nhậm Nham's chest, voice delicate, flirtatious.
"You're so nice to me."
"Haha," Nham Nham grinned smugly—a grin full of pride and triumph, the look of someone in control.
Outside, Nham Giai Le was eating. Seeing her brother being all cuddly with the disgusting fat pig, she almost threw up from sheer nausea.
Although it looked like Ha Minh Hien was snuggling up, he was actually surveying the surroundings carefully.
In the bathroom.
Water splashing.
"Be good, take off your clothes and wash up properly." Nham Nham blew on Ha Minh Hien's nose.
"Mm, I know~" Ha Minh Hien cooed in a voice that, coming from a greasy fat man, was truly stomach-turning.
But for Nham Nham, that tone was exactly what he liked—it gave him a sense of conquest.
Ha Minh Hien undressed quickly.
Though quick, his movements were still somewhat soft and graceful. Once done, he traced Nham Nham's chest with a firm finger.
"Let me help you take yours off."
"Hahaha... sure." Nham Nham laughed wickedly.
Ha Minh Hien grabbed Nham Nham's shirt hem and began lifting it—left arm, right arm, shirt over the head.
But right at that moment—
Ha Minh Hien's expression turned cold. With lightning speed, he grabbed the shower hose and wrapped it around Nham Nham's neck. BANG! Both of them crashed to the floor of the bathroom.
Outside, Nham Giai Le heard the commotion. She was about to stand up when she heard moaning from the bathroom.
"No~ Ah… No, you're so bad~…"
Upon hearing that…
PFFT!
"So gross," Nham Giai Le said with a disgusted look.
Inside, Ha Minh Hien roared, eyes bulging, legs kicking, hands locked tightly around the hose. He poured all his fury into the strangling, unleashing strength he had never shown before.
After a while—
Nham Nham lay motionless.
But Ha Minh Hien didn't let go. He kept tightening the grip.
Finally, gasping for breath, he lifted his shirt and looked at Nham Nham's face, letting out a low, menacing laugh. He turned toward the door, saw a toothbrush by the sink, grabbed it, and pushed the door open.
"AHHH—!"
A shriek echoed.
Ha Minh Hien was kicked to the floor.
Nham Giai Le stood in a horse stance, legs spread wide.
"Hmph, your girl here is a level 7 taekwondo black belt. You wanna die, you disgusting fat pig?!"