[edited]

Jiang Ning kicked hard, sending the man tumbling down the stairs. He landed heavily on the ground and couldn’t get back up.

She walked down the stairs step by step with an expressionless face, and stepped on his neck for a long time without letting go… 

After a while, she walked out of the office building and arrived at the agreed place. 

Huo Yishen was already waiting. “Is it resolved?” 

Jiang Ning nodded. “It’s done. How about you?” 

“Yes, no loose ends.” 

They had swapped everything that needed to be swapped, and unless something unexpected happened, they wouldn’t need to go out again before the extreme heat arrived. 

The day Zhang Chao and the others returned from their break, the temperature had already dropped to over forty degrees below zero. 

Seeing several water towers piled up in the corridor, the three of them were shocked. “Anning, it looks like we don’t lack water towers.” 

They had struggled to haul back seven water towers to the rooftop, only to find that after a few days of use, the extreme cold had suddenly hit and the pipes had frozen and burst. 

Now Ning Jiang had brought back even more, filling not only the corridor but also placing several on the stairs. Were they collecting scrap? 

Lu Yu and Wei Li Zheng were slow to react, but Zhang Chao figured it out. “Anning, do we need to store some water?” 

“That’s right, getting these wasn’t easy. We were just waiting for you to come back and install them.” 

Heaven had given them a way out, and the temperature had risen by nearly 30 degrees. If the survivors hadn’t responded yet, their fate would truly be left to chance. 

Jiang Ning had acted early. Outside, people were already talking about the end of the extreme cold. Some were just excited and hopeful, while those with inside information were secretly stocking up. 

Grandma Zhong came up the day before yesterday, saying there was a seventy to eighty percent chance of extreme heat in the future and advised them to prepare quickly. 

To make things clear, Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen had almost broken their legs while dragging these water towers up the stairs yesterday. 

They didn’t skimp this time, giving two water towers to the Zhong family as a reward. 

Grandma Zhong was excited. “Little Jiang, you always have the connections. We couldn’t find any even after asking around.” 

She insisted on exchanging food for them, but Ning Jiang didn’t accept. “If one day you get any drought-resistant and heat-tolerant experimental seeds, just give us some.” 

It wasn’t just Grandma Zhong. Other survivors in the community also saw the 18th floor as a weathervane. 

They were smarter this time. When they saw the 18th floor dragging back water towers, they immediately went out to get some as well. 

The 18th floor was doing so well, there must be someone up there with insider information. Following their lead was the way to go. 

Suddenly, water towers became highly sought after. 

Sharp-mouthed monkey, constantly asked by customers for water towers, felt speechless. 

He was now seriously doubting his life. His sister had exchanged so much material from him for just 100 pounds of potatoes, including several water towers. 

He was about to go crazy! 

He had been pleased with himself for getting rid of what he thought was junk, only to find that now people were willing to trade 20 pounds of potatoes for one water tower. 

What to do? The boss had agreed to the deal, but he was always capricious, and he’d definitely kill him! 

Ahhh, his sister had tricked him again!!! 

“Achoo!” 

Jiang Ning sneezed several times in a row, rubbing her nose hard. 

Huo Yishen handed her a cup of hot water. “Caught a cold?” 

“No.” Ning Jiang’s eyelids twitched constantly. “Feels like someone is cursing me.” 

Huo Yishen chuckled and ruffled her hair. “Don’t overthink it.” 

Jiang Ning stood up. “I’m going to room 1803.” 

He didn’t follow, instead preparing meals for the three of them and the dog. 

When she reached 1803, Jiang Ning got straight to the point without any preamble. “The temperature has been rising steadily lately, and it’s getting faster. 

The Zhong family has connections within the system, and there’s information circulating from the meteorological department that extreme heat is likely to arrive soon. 

I’ve been out these past few days, gathering supplies ahead of others. When the time comes, if you need anything, just come over and choose.” 

The three of them were stunned. “Extreme heat?” 

“Yes, prolonged scorching heat. Heatstroke would be the least of our worries; the real danger is heat exhaustion.” 

Heat exhaustion is no joke. It’s like cooking an egg—skin becomes scorching hot, consciousness is impaired, and the body’s internal heat cannot dissipate. The body’s proteins and enzymes denature, and once affected, it almost always means death. 

Zhang Chao felt a chill down his spine. “Is this information reliable?” 

“It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but there are already rumors.” 

Jing Ning handed over the daily recorded temperature charts. “I don’t think this is just a rumor. It’s best to prepare in advance.” 

The three of them looked at the steadily rising numbers on the paper and they feel increasingly anxious. 

As a friend, Jiang Ning sincerely advised, “If one day the temperature suddenly spikes, the ice will quickly melt, and Fengcheng will be flooded again. 

There are so many corpses and foul-smelling garbage in the water. If we really have a scorching heatwave, an epidemic is very likely. 

I suggest you quit your jobs. It’s not too late to make plans after surviving this disaster.” 

You need to be alive to earn money, but you also need to be alive to spend it. 

The three exchanged glances, and Lu Yu was skeptical. “Is it really that bad?” 

Before their break, the captain had just talked to him about his outstanding performance and promoted him to team leader, with a raise in salary and food rations. 

In his twenty years of life, besides his looks, Lu Yu had never been so recognized and praised by anyone. It was an honor and a badge of achievement he had never experienced before. 

“When the extreme cold hit, the temperature dropped over forty degrees overnight. Do you think it’s possible for the temperature to rise over forty degrees in one night?” 

Lu Yu was speechless.

Jiang Ning could see that the three of them cherished their current jobs and didn’t want to quit. 

There’s no point in forcing a cow to drink water. She had done everything she could. “This is just my suggestion. You decide for yourselves.” 

After a few more words, she got up and left. 

Back at 1801, the meal was already prepared. Doudou was setting the table. “Sister, time to eat.” 

The three of them and the dog sat down to eat. Seeing her slightly troubled expression, Huo Yishen asked, “They don’t believe in the extreme heat and don’t want to quit their jobs?” 

Not wanting to quit was a given. Zhang Chao had recently made his way to a team leader position, Lu Yu had earned his promotion through his abilities, and Zheng Weili was the captain’s trusted aide and was already promoted to district leader. 

During this time, the three of them had gained plenty and enough food to last two years, plus various other supplies. 

Their future seemed promising; who would want to give up their jobs? 

“You’ve done all you could. Besides, their situation is different from ours. An average person wouldn’t easily give up their job. There’s no need to force it.” 

Jiang Ning took a deep breath. “Yeah, let’s eat.” 

Despite her words, she didn’t sleep well. 

People are not plants; they have feelings. Coming back to life, she only wanted to take care of herself and Coke. But Zhang Chao and Lu Yu were her only friends, and Zheng Weili had saved her life. After over a year of fighting side by side, how could she remain indifferent? 

Whether it’s an epidemic or heat exhaustion, it’s no joke. 

Just as she was about to get out of bed, there was a loud knock at the door. 

Lu Yu was in the corridor; he’s not only knocking on her door but also on 1801’s door. 

Hey, he had just bet with Zhang Chao, saying the two had come out of 1801, but actually, they had come out of 1802. As a result… pure coincidence. 

He lost, owing Zhang Chao a pack of Hua Zi cigarettes! 

Seeing his impure look, Ning Jiang was speechless. “Did something dirty get into your eye?”