Chapter 43: Global Rainfall

The next morning, both Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an slept in, their bodies intertwined beneath the warm covers. As Bi Qiao’an’s eyes fluttered open, she found herself nestled within Shen Yanming’s strong embrace, memories of the previous night flooding back and bringing a warmth to her heart.

With gentle fingers, she traced the contours of his face, again and again, until his large hand softly caught her wrist. 

“Good morning, my love,” Shen Yanming murmured, leaning in to place a tender kiss on Bi Qiao’an’s forehead.

“Good morning, dear,” Bi Qiao’an whispered, returning the gesture with a kiss on his left cheek before playfully hiding beneath the covers, a shy giggle escaping her lips.

Shen Yanming’s heart soared. Though they had only kissed and embraced the night before, it was progress, a sign that his wife was finally beginning to see him as a man. 

The sweetness of the moment lingered as he held her close, savoring the intimacy of washing up together, eating breakfast with her perched on his lap, and sharing tender kisses in between.

However, as they prepared to leave the house, they realized they were running late. The relentless downpour obscured their vision, forcing Shen Yanming to drive with extreme caution. By the time they reached the Human Resources Bureau, it was already 9:30.

Bi Qiao’an rushed upstairs, stunned by the nearly empty office. “What’s going on? Where is everyone?” she asked, her voice echoing in the unusual silence.

Wei Qin, scrolling through her phone, didn’t bother to look up. “The rain, of course. Most people took the day off,” she replied, her tone flat.

Li Yueya pouted, adding, “It’s been raining nonstop, and no one’s here for business anyway. It’s so boring!”

Bi Qiao’an chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, let’s relax and just surf the net. But if this keeps up, we should consider shifts. No need for everyone to travel in this weather; it’s unsafe.” She paused, feeling the weight of her words, and quickly added, “Of course, who knows if it’ll even rain tomorrow…”

Yu Shui, a young male colleague, piped up, his voice tinged with concern. “Has anyone else noticed how odd this rain is? I’ve been checking the forecasts, and 80% of Qinghua is experiencing the same non-stop rain. And it’s spreading…”

The others, drawn by Yu Shui’s words, joined the conversation, their voices overlapping. “Really? I only paid attention to our Hai City and didn’t really check the weather forecasts of other cities.”

“I saw posts on Weibo! People all over are worried about floods in their areas!”

“This does seem a bit abnormal…”

As panic began to spread, Yu Shui continued, his voice low and grave. “And it’s not just here. I’ve been following the international news…”

Everyone stared at Yu Shui, fear gnawing at their hearts as they waited for him to continue.

“Many countries are facing the same situation as Qinghua, and more are experiencing this… relentless rainfall.”

The sound of a plastic cup hitting the floor echoed through the room as Li Yueya’s trembling hands lost their grip, her eyes wide with terror. 

“Could it be… the apocalypse?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

A heavy silence descended upon the office, their worst fears taking shape in the stillness.

Wei Qin, sensing the growing panic, tried to project an air of calm. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. This could just be unusual weather. Those apocalyptic novels you all read…they have zombies, right? And look around – everything’s stable. No zombies. So, don’t let fear get the better of you.”

Despite her reassuring words, Wei Qin felt a pang of dread herself. This weather was far from normal, and she silently resolved to stock up on food after work, just in case.

Her attempt to reassure the others had some effect, their expressions softening slightly. After all, humans cling to hope, even in the face of the unknown.

Meanwhile, in the Qinghe Alliance in the imperial capital, Chief Officer Li Cheng addressed his team, his face etched with worry.

“Any word from the meteorological department?” he asked, his voice strained.

“They’re stumped, sir. Everything seems… normal, despite the endless rain,” one of his subordinates replied, hesitation in their voice.

“Normal? You call nationwide rain for two weeks normal? Now half the world’s caught in it?” Li Cheng snapped, his frustration palpable.

Silence followed, the weight of the situation pressing down on them all.

“What about intelligence? Any news from abroad?” Li Cheng pressed, desperate for answers.

“They’re as clueless as we are, sir,” came the reluctant response.

Li Cheng sighed, his shoulders sagging. “Well, give me something! Tell me what you think is causing this global downpour!”

His people shrank back, their heads lowered, unable to provide the answers he sought.

Li Cheng slammed the materials onto the table, his voice rising. “No ideas? Then go investigate! If the national departments are stumped, consult the public. Look for any nationwide abnormalities in the past six months – anything unusual with the climate, people, objects– anything!”

“Yes, sir!” they responded in unison, their voices laced with determination.

“Send out the notice. All regions nationwide must prepare for flood prevention. Ensure the timely evacuation of affected residents, focusing on mountainous areas. Residents must be relocated before the onset of mountain torrents, mudslides, and reservoir discharges. Protect lives above all else. Closely monitor online public opinion, actively guide netizens in flood control, and prioritize calming public panic…”

“Understood!”

After everyone left, Li Cheng slumped in his office, overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom. A deep unease filled him, as if the world was on the brink of collapse, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something far more sinister was at play.

---

After work, Wei Qin headed to the supermarket, determined to stock up on essentials. 

The supermarket was less crowded than usual, likely due to the ongoing rain, and Wei Qin made a beeline for the large bags of rice and noodles. However, she quickly realized that she wouldn’t be able to carry them alone. After some thought, she opted for multiple vacuum-packed bags of rice instead.

A dozen bags of rice filled her cart, along with five packs of brown sugar, five of white sugar, and ten packs of salt. It was a manageable amount, given her limits, and she paid for her purchases before wobbling home with her plastic bags, the weight of her decisions heavy on her mind.

Upon returning home, Wei Qin faced complaints from her husband, An Dongyang. He questioned her recent rice purchases, pointing out the large bag they still had and the slow consumption of sugar and salt. Buying so much in bulk, he argued, might lead to the products passing their expiration date.

An Dongyang’s nagging was familiar, and Wei Qin didn’t take it personally. After decades together, she knew his meticulous nature came from a place of practicality, not ill will. She shared the unsettling news from her office, explaining the unease she felt and the growing sense of impending disaster.

An Dongyang listened, his expression shifting from skepticism to concern. Despite a teasing, “You’re so old, yet you still believe in rumors,” his fingers were already tapping on his phone, searching for confirmation.

Ten minutes later, he shut his phone, his face pale. “Wife, what do we do? I’m starting to panic too!”

Wei Qin forced herself to stay calm, her mind racing. “Let’s start by stocking up on grain. We’ll focus on vacuum-packed rice. That has a longer shelf life.”

An Dongyang nodded, his earlier reservations forgotten. “I’ll go buy it now,” he said, grabbing his coat and heading for the door.