I Opened a Supermarket in the Apocalypse

Xiang Nanchuan, a wealthy young man from an ordinary background, dies in a brutal mugging and is subsequently bound by a mysterious entity known as the System. The System reveals that he has been chosen by the Time Travel Association to serve as the manager of a supermarket in a parallel universe. This world is in the midst of a catastrophic zombie apocalypse, and Xiang Nanchuan is given a singular goal: complete all assigned tasks to earn enough gold coins and reputation to upgrade his store, after which he will be allowed to return to his original life. Upon arrival, he finds himself in a desolate commercial street in a fourth-tier city, surrounded by hundreds of zombies. His initial days are marked by terror and helplessness, as he is an ordinary human with no combat abilities, forced to hide within the safety of his small, spartan supermarket while watching survivors get devoured outside.

The core conflict arises from the System's first task, which demands that Xiang Nanchuan attract a customer within three days or face a loss of reputation. With the streets empty of living souls, he faces imminent failure. His situation changes when Chi Yan, a powerful superpower user with the ability to generate fireballs, arrives on the rooftop of a nearby jewelry store. Chi Yan is being hunted by a horde of zombies, including one that has evolved to spit wind blades. Recognizing an opportunity, Xiang Nanchuan guides Chi Yan to safety, using a summoned driverless bus to create a barrier and lure the zombies away. Chi Yan escapes into the supermarket, completing the mission and securing his first customer. In exchange for saving his life, Xiang Nanchuan provides food and shelter, establishing a tentative alliance between the store manager and the superpower user.

As the rain begins to fall, Xiang Nanchuan receives a warning from the System that the rain contains energy that will cause the zombies to evolve. Realizing the existential threat this poses to both their lives and his business, the two men decide to act. They venture out to collect gasoline and books from neighboring stores. Together, they set fire to the commercial street, incinerating the majority of the zombie horde. The battle leaves them both exhausted and injured, but it solidifies their bond. Chi Yan, who reveals he was betrayed and abandoned by his former bodyguards during the initial outbreak, begins to trust Xiang Nanchuan. In return, Xiang Nanchuan gains a protector capable of handling the dangers outside the supermarket. They share meals and discuss their pasts, with Chi Yan learning that Xiang Nanchuan is an employee of a mysterious company called Tengxun Technology, a cover story provided by the System.

The story takes a darker turn with the introduction of a rival faction led by a man known as Brother Lu, who controls a nearby department store. Brother Lu’s subordinates, including a violent thug named Da Fei, begin to terrorize the remaining survivors on the street, stealing supplies and committing murder. When Chi Yan confronts them, he kills one of the thugs and injures others, forcing the rest to flee. This act of violence draws the attention of Brother Lu, who becomes determined to eliminate Chi Yan. Meanwhile, Xiang Nanchuan’s supermarket begins to attract more survivors, allowing him to earn the gold coins and reputation needed for expansion. He unlocks new products and upgrades his store, transforming it into a vital hub for the local survivors. However, the peace is short-lived as Brother Lu devises a plan to lure a massive horde of evolved zombies toward Xiang Nanchuan’s location, intending to use the undead as a weapon to destroy the supermarket and its manager.

The narrative culminates in a looming crisis as the zombie horde approaches the commercial street. Xiang Nanchuan, sensing danger through a superstition about his twitching eye, prepares for the worst. Chi Yan, aware of Brother Lu’s cunning nature, anticipates the attack and readies himself for defense. The alliance between the two men is tested as they face not only the evolving zombies but also the malicious intentions of human survivors. Xiang Nanchuan must balance his desire to complete his missions and return home with the growing responsibility he feels toward the survivors who depend on his store. The story ends with the threat of an imminent zombie assault, setting the stage for a confrontation that will determine the fate of the commercial street and the future of Xiang Nanchuan’s supermarket empire.