ID 123321: "1945, your arrogance knows no bounds!"
ID 89454: "Um, could someone pass me some water... please?"
ID 453643: "Seeing 1945 live like royalty makes me green with envy."
ID 894759: "Wait a minute—does that wine look like Romanée-Conti to anyone else?"
Amid the flood of messages criticizing Chen Du, one survivor suddenly spoke up, recognizing the bottle of red wine in Chen Du's photo.
Notably, even Chen Du himself hadn't realized what it was.
But then again, he wasn't exactly an expert on fine wines.
ID 123321: "What's this Romanée-Conti nonsense? Can you explain it in simpler terms?"
ID 894759: "Romanée-Conti is one of the rarest and most prestigious wines in the world, often fetching astronomical prices at auctions."
ID 345634: "How expensive can a bottle really be? In this wasteland, clean water is far more valuable than any vintage."
The chat channel erupted into chaos.
They had never imagined that the red wine Chen Du was casually sipping was such a legendary luxury item.
Chen Du was equally taken aback.
He hadn't expected the system to gift him an endless supply of such a prized wine.
In the real world, owning something like this would instantly elevate his status and secure a lifetime of wealth.
Unfortunately, in this apocalyptic reality, Romanée-Conti was just another bottle gathering dust.
Here, no one cared about indulging in extravagant luxuries.
Chen Du stared at the French label on the bottle, chuckling to himself.
"So it's written in French. No wonder I couldn't decipher it."
ID 345634: "1945, are you selling the wine? I haven't had a drink in days—it's killing me! If you're willing, we can negotiate a price."
ID 345654: "Unbelievable! That's the epitome of sophistication right there!"
Zhou Yu, who had previously crossed paths with Chen Du, was also monitoring the chat channel.
In his hand, he swirled a glass of cheap, mediocre red wine.
Once upon a time, Zhou Yu had relished the refined pleasure of savoring premium wines.
Before the apocalypse, Romanée-Conti wouldn't have been anything extraordinary to him.
But now, he rationed himself to a single bottle of subpar wine each day.
He'd tried to console himself by thinking that at least he still had access to wine—a rare indulgence in these times.
After all, countless others risked their lives daily just to scavenge basic necessities.
But when he saw the photo Chen Du posted, his composure shattered.
With a growl, Zhou Yu hurled his glass against the wall, wine splattering across the surface.
"Why?! Why does 1945 have enough resources to afford Fortress Wall? And why can he sip Romanée-Conti while the rest of us struggle?!"
Proud as he was, Zhou Yu couldn't bring himself to beg Chen Du for wine.
The thought only fueled his rage further.
ID 1945: "Resource trading open. Want wine or cheese sticks? I only accept combat gear."
ID 123321: "Are you serious? You think people will trade valuable combat supplies for trivial luxuries like wine and snacks? Last time, we only caved because of the weather crisis. This isn't the same situation!"
ID 1945: "Exactly. So don't waste my time if you're short on resources. I'm catering to those who already have plenty and are looking to upgrade their lifestyle. Clearly, you're not part of that crowd."
ID 123321: "*******! You smug bastard, 1945!"
ID 1945: "Wow, nothing but curses? Learn how to type properly—or maybe go back to school while you're at it."
Chen Du unleashed his full arsenal of online banter, honed from years of clashing with internet trolls, directing every barb toward ID 123321.
But he wasn't finished yet. He filmed a video tour of his villa, ending with a shot of himself holding the wine glass, partially obscured from the neck down.
"Cheers, everyone. I'll finish this glass—you do whatever helps you sleep at night."
The moment the video went live, the chat channel exploded once again.
The enigmatic 1945 had finally revealed his true identity!
Many had assumed 1945 was a grizzled, muscular middle-aged man—a stoic figure fitting the archetype of a post-apocalyptic survivor.
Instead, his youthful voice suggested otherwise.
On second thought, it made perfect sense. His sharp wit and constant quips hinted at a younger personality.
Chen Du ignored the half-hearted threats flooding the chat, but the barrage of private messages gave him a headache.
Just moments ago, several survivors had sent him direct messages.
Some wanted to buy wine; others were interested in cheese sticks.
But they all complained about the price, hoping for discounts.
And then there were the freeloaders.
These opportunists bombarded him with lofty speeches, urging him to share his resources for free.
They claimed it would earn him good karma, promising prayers in return.
Chen Du dismissed them outright.
We're surviving an apocalypse, and you're talking about karma?
Focus on staying alive first.
But one message caught his eye.
"Is that you, Chen Du? It's Tian Xiaoyu."
Chen Du immediately recognized Tian Xiaoyu. They weren't close friends, but they shared a cordial rapport during university.
She was the campus queen, admired by countless students whose hearts fluttered whenever she walked by.
Chen Du could hold a conversation with her, cracking light jokes here and there.
But he always knew better than to entertain unrealistic fantasies.
After graduation, they drifted apart, losing touch entirely.
Two years had passed in the blink of an eye.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him.
Shaking it off, he replied without denying his identity.
"Miss Tian, impressive deduction skills. Yes, it's me, Chen Du."
This was the first familiar face he'd encountered since the apocalypse began, leaving him momentarily disoriented.
He was curious—how had Tian Xiaoyu, whom he hadn't seen in two years, identified him from a video showing only his torso and voice?
"Miss Tian, how did you figure it out? I didn't show my face. Do you secretly possess superhuman abilities? Scary to think you've been watching me all along."
The chat box indicated she was typing.
Moments later, her reply appeared.
"It's your voice, of course! Don't you remember how I used to compliment it back in college?"