Chapter 70 – Investigating the Background

From the beginning, Jiang Yuan had no interest in aligning herself with that group. Regardless of anything else, they might turn on each other when it mattered most.

She wasn’t about to walk into danger herself—especially with a storm this severe.

The chances of returning? Practically zero.

There’s no way Sun Yian didn’t understand this. So, did he have his own agenda?

“Well then, forget it for now. Once the timing is right, we can head out together,” he said, nodding and motioning for everyone to leave.

That old lady’s family member—whether it was her son or someone else—shot Jiang Yuan a fierce look on the way out. His lips moved silently, clearly saying: Just you wait.

Jiang Yuan only found it ridiculous. A grown man acting so cowardly.

The apocalypse was already here. Who had the patience to pamper him anymore?

“Let’s head back too…”

“Jiang Yuan, be careful these days. I have a bad feeling about that guy,” Song Yi warned.

Of course she knew.

“I made my move before. I’m not about to let them walk all over me. Worst-case scenario, it’s mutually assured destruction.”

“Good. As long as you know what you’re doing. That family seems to have quite a few people.”

Yes—more people meant more danger. Two fists couldn’t fend off a dozen.

Was Song Yi trying to hint something?

“Got any suggestions? Strike first?”

He didn’t respond. It was as if he were thinking—or silently agreeing.

“Dad, you head back first. I want to have a word with Song Yi.”

Jiang Xingzhi understood that he wasn’t needed here right now. Anyway, they were still in the building, and he could keep an eye on things through the cameras. So he didn’t say anything.

Now that it was just the two of them, the atmosphere became slightly tense.

“So… do you have a plan? Just say it.”

Jiang Yuan didn’t want to beat around the bush. Besides, she still had her spatial ability as a trump card.

A retreat option—but only for dire situations.

Song Yi looked at her seriously.

“Jiang Yuan, I know you’re not afraid. But this building is full of mixed characters. We have to be cautious. When we meet people like that again, the only way to prevent future trouble… is to take them out.”

So basically… he didn’t have a solid plan either.

“I got it. I’ll be more careful next time. Oh, by the way, don’t you think it’s strange? The storm’s so intense, and yet Sun Yian still wants people to go scavenging. Isn’t that just sending them to die?”

“To lead a group, he needs to eliminate opposition. This kind of situation is the perfect opportunity for that.”

Hearing this made Jiang Yuan feel cold inside.

“So that bastard really does have something up his sleeve. We’ll have to stay on our toes.”

“I suspect the same thing is happening in other buildings. The storm hasn’t stopped, and criminal elements are becoming more active. When the weather clears up and people can move around freely again, the real chaos will begin.”

Natural disaster not over yet, and already man-made disasters were brewing. Unbelievable.

“Song Yi, I think the rain might let up soon. Should we head out early to scavenge? What do you think?”

“Yeah, let’s prep for a day or two. If we get a chance to go, we go.”

“Great.”

…

If nothing else, the two of them were at least on the same page about gathering supplies.

Song Yi went downstairs to inform Zhang Kaiyang and Ye Mianmian, while Jiang Yuan returned home to study the map.

Know your enemy and know yourself—then you won’t lose a hundred battles.

At 8 PM, there was another knock at the door. Jiang Yuan went to check.

Seeing it was Song Yi, she opened the door without hesitation.

Jiang Xingzhi and Qin Yue were still very cautious—nowadays, the biggest fear was a surprise visit.

Because you never knew if the next second would bring heaven—or hell.

“They’re both here. Let’s go to my place to discuss,” Song Yi said.

“Uh, alright. You go ahead—I’ll grab a few things.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Yuan hadn’t expected Song Yi to openly invite them into his home.

If it were her, she would’ve just had the meeting in the hallway.

Grabbing her map and a pencil, she headed out.

Inside Song Yi’s apartment, it was warm. He didn’t seem to be hiding anything.

The living room wasn’t overly furnished, but near the TV wall were piles of boxes.

Probably supplies—but she didn’t look too closely. That would be rude.

“Yuan-jie, come in! There’s heat in here!” Ye Mianmian greeted happily.

“Coming.”

He had a space heater running, and with the small space, it was comfortably warm.

Everyone gathered around the coffee table like they were holding a meeting.

“Brother Song, I found out about the family you asked me to investigate. It’s Unit 1501!

Their situation is complicated—I asked a few former neighbors. Some details are likely exaggerated.”

“Go ahead,” Song Yi said calmly, like a leader conducting an inspection.

“That trouble-making old lady has lived here for a long time.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan perked up. So this was all for her sake—to figure out that family’s background.

She appreciated that.

“They have a son and daughter living with them. The woman who came by with supplies earlier was probably the daughter-in-law.

The one who came to cause trouble at night was likely the daughter.

There are two kids too—one boy, one girl.

The old lady has money and wields a lot of power at home. She used to live with her son’s family, but after her daughter got divorced, she moved in too.

They fight a lot. The old lady always takes sides and favors boys over girls, so she spoils the daughter and grandson.

Her own granddaughter, though? She barely cares.”

“Now that you mention it, I remember seeing them in the elevator once.

She bought a ton of snacks—for the boy. The girl got nothing, and she even called her ‘a money-losing good-for-nothing.’”

Jiang Yuan remembered it vividly. She was raised by her own grandmother and couldn’t believe someone could talk about their own granddaughter that way.

“Given her personality, she’s totally capable of stirring up trouble.

She’s not well-liked in the complex either. She’s always trying to take advantage of others—she even fought with the cleaners over recycling bottles.

She insists on dragging her electric scooter upstairs to charge it. When security stopped her, she started a fight.

Then she’d resort to crying, yelling, and threatening to kill herself. Even the police couldn’t deal with her.”

Zhang Kaiyang recounted this, clearly disturbed by the old woman.

“But wait, last time two men came by. If they only have one son, who was the other guy?”

“The other one is probably the daughter’s boyfriend.

My neighbor on the 9th floor told me. Apparently, they’ve argued about him before.”

That cleared it up for Jiang Yuan. So the guy who came today was the son.

If they weren’t married but living together, arguments were inevitable.

“Also, something else pissed me off today.”

“What happened?”

Zhang Kaiyang puffed up like a little bird ready to explode.

“Some bastard broke into my apartment. I went back to check today and found not one, but several people inside!”