Luo and Lily finally arrived in Korea at 3:13 AM.
For Luo, the moment his feet touched Korean soil felt unreal. He had imagined this day countless times—reading manhwa late at night, watching travel videos, dreaming of neon streets and late-night food stalls. But standing there now, with Lily beside him, made it feel even more special. This wasn't just a trip. It was a memory being born.
The airport was quieter than expected for such a large city. The lights were bright, but the atmosphere felt… muted. Still, Luo brushed the feeling aside and smiled as he pulled Lily closer.
As soon as they exited the terminal, they ordered a cab to their hotel near the city center.
The car drove smoothly through wide roads lined with towering buildings. Seoul at night was beautiful—endless lights stretching into the distance, reflections shimmering on glass and steel. Luo leaned forward in his seat, pointing excitedly at landmarks, talking nonstop about places he wanted to visit.
Lily smiled and listened, but her gaze kept drifting back to the dark spaces between the lights.
Something felt off.
She couldn't explain it. It wasn't fear, exactly—more like a quiet, creeping unease. Her chest felt tight, as if the air itself carried a warning. She thought about saying something, but stopped herself.
He's waited for this for so long, she thought.
I won't ruin it.
"So," Luo asked suddenly, his voice full of excitement, "are you happy?"
Lily turned toward him and smiled. "Yes."
That single word seemed to energize him even more.
"I'll get us a house near the city," Luo said confidently. "Somewhere with a good view. Maybe close to the river."
Lily laughed softly. "You always say things like that."
He grinned. "This time, I mean it."
She believed he meant it—even if she knew he tended to overthink and rarely followed through on such grand ideas. Still, hearing him talk about a future that included her made her heart feel warm.
Usually, Lily was the one who bought expensive gifts for Luo, surprising him on random days. But tonight, she said nothing about it. The atmosphere felt strange. Every time she tried to bring up her uneasiness, Luo changed the subject—talking about food, shopping, or places he wanted to show her.
The cab ride lasted thirty-nine minutes.
When they finally arrived, Luo stepped out of the car and stared up at the building in awe.
A five-star hotel towered above them, its golden lights cutting through the darkness like a beacon.
"Wow…" he whispered.
Lily smiled. "Can we order room service now?"
"Yes," Luo replied instantly. "Until we get a house and a car in Seoul."
He pulled out his phone, holding it up excitedly, clearly wanting to take pictures. A few people nearby noticed them—some whispering, some staring openly. A couple even seemed ready to approach, curiosity written all over their faces.
Then, suddenly, a strange group moved between them.
Their movements were stiff. Jerky. Their eyes unfocused.
They blocked the path without saying a word.
Lily felt a chill crawl up her spine.
She didn't understand Korean, but the murmurs around them felt tense. Confusion washed over her, and she clutched Luo's sleeve lightly.
"Luo…?"
He frowned, instinctively stepping in front of her.
Before anything could escalate, hotel staff rushed forward, speaking sharply and guiding the strange group away. The tension dissolved as quickly as it had formed.
Still, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that she had just witnessed something she wasn't supposed to.
They entered the hotel and were escorted to a VIP room on the 20th floor.
The moment Lily stepped onto the balcony, her breath caught.
The city stretched endlessly beneath them—alive, glowing, beautiful.
"I love it," she whispered.
Luo walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"So," he asked softly, "how do you feel, my love?"
Lily turned, her cheeks flushed. "Loved. Happy."
She kissed him, slow and warm.
That night, they slept peacefully.
And the world was still whole.
---
The first scream shattered the silence at 5:42 AM.
Luo jolted awake to the sound of sirens screaming endlessly outside. Lily sat up instantly, fear flashing across her face as emergency alerts flooded Luo's phone.
EMERGENCY BROADCAST:
Unidentified outbreak reported.
Remain indoors.
Avoid physical contact with infected individuals.
From their window, they saw people running through the streets below. Cars crashed. Smoke rose from multiple directions.
A man fell.
Then he stood back up.
Wrong.
"What's happening?" Lily whispered.
Before Luo could answer, something slammed against the door of the room across the hall. Screaming followed. Then silence.
The hotel descended into chaos.
They tried to escape through the main stairs, but the lower floors were already overrun. People attacked each other with terrifying desperation. Blood stained the walls.
Luo grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her into a service corridor.
"Don't let go," he said firmly.
They survived the first day by hiding.
The second day was worse.
Food vanished. Water ran out. The infected grew faster, stronger. Some learned to open doors. Some screamed like humans.
On the third night, while trying to escape through the underground parking, everything went wrong.
A horde surged from the darkness.
Luo pushed Lily forward. "Run!"
They were separated in the chaos.
He searched until his throat bled from screaming her name.
She was gone.
---
Days passed.
The city fell.
Luo stopped counting time.
Hunger became a constant ache, twisting his insides. He scavenged abandoned stores, fought off the dead with whatever he could find. His eyes grew colder, his movements sharper.
Then he remembered Mia.
Ignoring exhaustion, Luo pushed toward the university district.
Inside a collapsed library, he finally found her.
Thin. Pale. Alive.
"Luo…?" she whispered.
He pulled her into his arms.
"I'm here," he said quietly. "You're not alone anymore."
Mia broke down completely.
Outside, the dead roamed.
Food was scarce. Danger was everywhere.
But reunion had happened.
And in a world ruled by hunger and death, that single moment of warmth was enough to keep them alive—just a little longer.