Many people in the hallway were poking their heads in to check, and when they saw Yu Xifeng, they hesitated to speak.

When they noticed the man in uniform standing next to her, their expressions became a bit awkward.

Since the lower floors were flooded and many households moved into the hallway, a lot of people started trying to figure out who was living in the building.

Those who had already moved out wanted to borrow a place to stay; those on the third and fourth floors wanted to take precautions.

In the two days Yu Xifeng hadn’t come back, several people had already knocked on her door.

The water level rose from low to high, so naturally the top floor was the safest.

Many also asked Sister Yun for help, but Sister Yun’s friend refused to lend a place and made excuses. Another household on the top floor, six people spanning three generations crammed into a two-bedroom apartment, couldn’t ask either.

Seeing Yu Xifeng return, countless people started thinking about borrowing space in her home.

Captain Wang escorted Yu Xifeng to her doorstep.

Seeing the double doors, Captain Wang praised, “Nice door.”

The rescue team was so busy, and Captain Wang would only get busier.

He turned and left.

Yu Xifeng quietly let out a breath of relief. This man had a strong sense of justice, which made Yu Xifeng, who sometimes bent the rules, feel a lot of psychological pressure.

Captain Wang stopped in his tracks, then turned back, pulled out a pen from his pocket, and hastily wrote down a number: “This is my personal number. If you need anything, you can call this.”

Yu Xifeng was surprised, looked up, but the determined face showed no extra emotion. She couldn’t guess what he was thinking.

She thanked him in a restrained tone.

This time Captain Wang really left.

After the door closed, Yu Xifeng put away the supplies she had just brought in and pressed her fingers against her temples.

In the past two days, she had been soaked in water for over half the time, resting no more than four hours in total.

This intensity was nothing before the apocalypse; everyone went through this.

Now, her body couldn’t take it.

Yu Xifeng collapsed onto the bed.

The cat that had come back with her cautiously inspected the house, then laid down next to her face.

Yu Xifeng had a dream.

In the dream, she was submerged underwater, a clump of waterweed covering her face. She lifted it away, but the waterweed seemed to have a mind of its own and soon floated back.

Then Yu Xifeng stopped struggling, exhaustion pulling her down deeper.

She slept until noon the next day.

When Yu Xifeng opened her eyes, the cat was lying by her pillow, its dirty tail resting on her face.

She got up and saw a bunch of muddy spots around the house — all brought in by the cat.

“You dare sleep on my bed like this?” Yu Xifeng glared at it.

She took the cat to the bathroom to give it a bath.

The cat was unhappy, splashing water everywhere on Yu Xifeng’s head and face.

“Move again and I’ll throw you out,” Yu Xifeng said fiercely.

The cat seemed to understand and stopped struggling.

As the water rinsed, Yu Xifeng realized she had mistaken the cat for a gray tabby; after washing it, she saw it was actually a bright orange cat.

The rinse water was black.

Looking back at the muddy spots on the quilt and floor was unbearable.

Yu Xifeng resigned herself to stripping the quilt cover and washing the sheets.

She gave the house a thorough cleaning.

She put the washed quilt cover and sheets into the dryer, and the cat into a pet dryer.

The dryer blew hot air with high power, warming up the room considerably.

Yu Xifeng, wearing only a thin sweater, pressed the mop and started cleaning the floor.

The doorbell rang.

Outside was Ma Tian, with his heavily pregnant wife.

The surveillance system was connected online and had facial recognition; whenever it recognized a face, a notification was sent to Yu Xifeng’s phone.

Yu Xifeng checked her phone; in the past two days, Ma Tian had come five times, and last night he knocked twice.

She had been sleeping deeply and didn’t hear.

Yu Xifeng opened the inner door.

Outside, Ma Tian wore an apologetic smile. “You must be Xiao Yu, right? I’m Ma Tian from downstairs. This is my wife, Chen Caifeng. We live on the third floor.”

Chen Caifeng, with her big belly, craned her neck to look inside. “Sister, it’s so warm in here, and the weather isn’t even cold yet, you’ve already turned on the air conditioning?”

Yu Xifeng didn’t respond, her expression cold. “Do you need something?”

Ma Tian hunched slightly, his eyes flickering as he glanced at Yu Xifeng’s face.

“It’s like this, the water on the lower floors has flooded. My house is damaged. Isn’t it just you living alone? We were thinking of borrowing a room from you to stay in until the water recedes, then we’ll move back.”

“No.”

Yu Xifeng refused without a second thought.

Ma Tian said, “Miss, you probably don’t feel comfortable. How about just my wife coming in? I’ll stay outside.”

“Yes, all women go through this. Help us out, and we’ll remember your kindness,” Chen Caifeng chimed in.

Yu Xifeng tilted her head. “We’re not close. What use would your gratitude be to me?”

Ma Tian said lightly, promising to leave after the water receded, but the rain was supposed to last three months. Why would she want to live with strangers for that long?

Besides, if his wife came in, Chen Caifeng would have to open the door for her husband, and Yu Xifeng couldn’t guard it 24 hours a day.

Those words might have been tolerable if they were just words.

With her past life’s experience, Yu Xifeng knew this couple well.

Before the disaster, when Chen Caifeng was pregnant, she bought lots of milk powder for the child.

Ma Tian now said he cared about his wife, but later behind her back, he took the milk powder to woo other women.

That was the child’s food supply.

Ma Tian kept talking, looking submissive: “My wife’s pregnancy is difficult. I can’t have her living in the hallway with me. I’ll pay you. One hundred a night.”

He mentioned his pregnant wife but his gaze stuck lecherously on Yu Xifeng.

Yu Xifeng found it both laughable and disgusting.

She’d be crazy to agree to let these two stay.

“No rent.”

Yu Xifeng reached to close the door, but Chen Caifeng blocked it with her body.

“Don’t you have any sympathy? We bought the same building, all neighbors here. My house is unlivable, and you live on the top floor so comfortably?

My husband is paying, what more do you want?

I’m pregnant—if I die outside your door, will you be happy?”

Yu Xifeng smiled. “By your logic, I have no money, but you still have money in your bank account. If you don’t share it with me, how can you afford to spend?

Your husband is paying, so I have to rent? Is he the heavenly king descended to earth? Must I give him face? Go look in the mirror and see if you have that much nerve.

The child you’re carrying isn’t mine. What are you making a fuss about here?

I don’t know you. If you want to die, it’s not like I can stop you. There are so many households in this building, why pick my door?

You think I’m young and soft-skinned, an easy target to bully?”

Yu Xifeng had a gentle face with a natural smile and soft voice.

Her words were sharp as knives, making Ma Tian and Chen Caifeng’s faces go red then pale, stammering with nothing to say.

Chen Caifeng leaned on her belly and tried to sidestep.

Ma Tian caught her just in time. “Yu, if you don’t want to rent, then don’t. Stop being so sarcastic.”

Yu Xifeng nodded. “Right, I don’t want to rent. I’ve made it very clear. Do you understand now?”