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Chapter 8
Shu Fu pressed and held the “Book” icon on her wristband, retracting the notebook. A fifth icon appeared below the “Raft” icon: a circular wheel.
When she pressed and held the “Wheel” icon, a small, metallic, circular display screen materialized in her palm.
The center of the screen featured a pointer, surrounded by a spinning wheel divided into 24 sections of varying sizes and colors. Most sections were red, blue, or green, with irregular sizes, but three tiny golden sections stood out. The smallest golden section was barely wider than the pointer itself.
The wheel, slightly smaller than her palm, resembled a pocket watch. The central dot of the pointer displayed the number “1,” indicating she had one chance to spin.
Curious, Shu Fu tapped the dot.
The delicate metal pointer began to spin, gaining speed until it whirred rapidly for about ten seconds. Then, it gradually slowed and stopped on a green section—one of the larger segments on the wheel. Shu Fu immediately guessed she’d landed on a consolation prize.
The pointer and wheel vanished, replaced by a dark green surface with small text:
[Congratulations on winning Fifth Prize: Unlimited Power Card (24 hours, Note: Usable on Level 2 Raft).]
[Redeem Prize? Yes/No]
She tapped “Yes,” and a green, metallic card, the size of a playing card, appeared in her palm. It bore the text:
Unlimited Power Card (24 hours). Please swipe on the Level 2 Raft display to activate.
Shu Fu: …
Good news: When the raft upgraded to Level 2, it might develop a self-powering function.
Bad news: She couldn’t use the prize until then.
Sighing, Shu Fu stashed the power card into the wristband’s storage space.
For the rest of Saturday, after completing her morning visit to Yao Ji and a stop at the nearby hardware store, she stayed home.
Firstly, several same-city delivery orders were expected. Secondly, she had some ideas regarding the progress bar tasks that she wanted to test.
Her visit to the hardware store stemmed from several high-rise falling object incidents in Suicheng the previous day. She planned to reinforce her apartment’s windows with a layer of laminated glass and sturdy the frames, adding sliding security bars on the outside.
Laminated glass, made of two tempered layers bonded with a special interlayer, was far more durable than regular tempered glass and wouldn’t shatter upon impact.
The store initially misunderstood, thinking she wanted to replace her windows and said it couldn’t be done in the rain. Once clarified that she only wanted reinforcements, they promptly measured the dimensions on-site.
Her apartment had only three outward-facing windows: the glass balcony door, the three-panel bedroom window, and the small bathroom window.
As the laminated glass required customization, it would take three to seven days. Concerned about delays, Shu Fu negotiated and paid extra to have it completed in two days, provided there weren’t extreme weather conditions.
The rest of her day was spent alternately lying down, browsing her phone, taking delivery calls, and signing for packages.
Items ordered from the previous day—kerosene stoves, specialty oils, and other essentials—arrived steadily. Larger appliances were delivered to her garage, while smaller, immediately useful items were brought to her door.
Same-city shopping had its perks: She had already inspected every item in person, eliminating mismatched orders or returns. Same-city stores often offered door-to-door service, too.
One vendor not only delivered her new coffee machine but also installed it and ensured it worked. As soon as they left, Shu Fu brewed herself a cup of fresh, aromatic coffee.
Listening to the rain outside, she sipped her coffee in a cozy balcony chair, retrieving a newly purchased high-storage phone and tablet.
On the phone, she downloaded maps and survival resources: disaster survival guides, extreme weather data, and marine biology information.
On the tablet, she compiled entertainment: post-apocalyptic novels, romance books, movies, TV shows, and piano music playlists.
For now, these devices were backups.
While the downloads proceeded, Shu Fu browsed same-city stores to buy survival equipment: a multi-tool hammer-plier capable of cutting wire, unscrewing bolts, and opening cans; fire-starting tools; survival rope; a steel wire saw; and a tactical flashlight.
She also bought five heavy-duty nail guns tailored to her hand strength. Designed for concrete and brick walls, each gun came with two large-capacity batteries, chargers, goggles, and earplugs, along with 1,000 three-centimeter-long nails per gun.
Though small, the nails could incapacitate an attacker in an emergency without being lethal. Efficient and easy to use, they provided her with a sense of security.
She knew that with her survival plan focused on “lying low,” these items might not necessarily be used, but better to have them and not need them. Since she had the opportunity, she naturally bought everything she needed.
These online shops offered same-day delivery, which was more expensive than standard shipping, but her top priority now was speed. As long as it could be delivered the same day, a slightly higher price was acceptable. Besides, most of these items could be bought on installment plans, so the initial cost wasn’t significant.
Perhaps because she hadn’t driven out, her wristband hadn’t shown any new task prompts.
It wasn’t until Sunday morning, when she was ordering takeout for herself, that the wristband vibrated, signaling a new task.
[Tip the delivery rider working hard on a rainy day to receive a 5% progress boost for upgrading the raft to level 2. (Current progress: 20%)]
Shu Fu perked up. It seemed that even if she stayed home and avoided interacting with acquaintances, tasks would still align with her daily life. Compared to the previous tasks, this one was clearly much simpler but still offered a 5% progress boost.
What extra reward could she get if she wanted one this time?
The rain outside fluctuated between heavy and light. She didn’t order from far away, choosing a breakfast shop just 500 to 800 meters away on a street near her neighborhood. In addition to handmade crepes, the shop sold pan-fried buns, spicy soup, tofu pudding, congee with preserved egg and pork, soup dumplings, glutinous rice sticks, fried dough sticks, and tea eggs.
Shu Fu naturally over-ordered as usual, thinking ahead. Every day, she planned to order takeout four to five times, and each order would be oversized. This time was no exception; she ordered everything she liked.
The delivery rider arrived quickly and knew the address well. From placing the order to receiving it at her door took no more than 20 minutes.
Because of the task, she instinctively observed him for a moment. He was young and good-looking, wearing a brightly colored delivery uniform that seemed waterproof. He wasn’t wearing a raincoat but had a helmet on, though his cheeks and hair were damp from the rain.
However, the two large bags of food he handed over were well-protected, with hardly a drop of rain on them. She couldn’t figure out how he managed it.
She thought for a moment, took the food, and tipped him the highest level available on the app—50 yuan.
The tipping system seemed to have instant notifications. The rider, who had already started to leave, stopped a few steps away and turned back, looking confused.
“Hi, did you input the wrong amount by mistake?” he asked.
“No,” Shu Fu replied, shaking her head.
His surprise was understandable. Her order was so close by that, with platform discounts, the delivery fee was nearly free. Yet she tipped him 50 times that amount.
She could see the astonishment and delight in his eyes. This was probably the largest tip he had ever received as a delivery rider.
He looked at her and sincerely said, “Thank you.”
Shu Fu only took out the crepes, storing the rest of the breakfast in her wristband space. She heated a glass of milk and ate while patiently waiting. About half an hour later, her wristband vibrated.
[Task completed: Tipping the delivery rider. Reward: 5% progress for upgrading the raft to level 2; additional reward: 1 spin of the prize wheel. (Current progress: 25%)]
Well then…
She wasn’t greedy. Getting the progress boost was enough. The extra reward was a nice bonus.
Unsurprisingly, the prize wheel’s needle stopped on a larger segment again, but this time the segment was red.
[Congratulations! You’ve won the fourth prize: 1 BBQ gift package.]
This reward surprised her. The raft, notebook, and prize wheel all belonged to a kind of high-tech category, like game equipment—appearing and disappearing out of thin air, leaving no trace in the real world.
However, this BBQ gift package was actual material. Could it really be taken out and eaten?
If it was real food, this prize wheel could become another significant source of resources.
It turned out to be real.
After she claimed the prize, a thick cardboard box, about a foot square, appeared on the dining table. It looked like an ordinary delivery package, but unlike typical parcels, there were no advertisements or logos on the box—only the words “BBQ Gift Package.”
She opened it to find its contents unexpectedly rich:
The different types of meat were neatly arranged on white trays, sealed with transparent plastic wrap, and labeled with the type and weight—much like pre-prepared BBQ items found in supermarket freezers.
The condiments and side items included sliced garlic, chili peppers, lettuce leaves, BBQ seasoning, and sauce.
Such a BBQ gift package was enough for her to have five or six meals.
With an electric grill, she could start feasting on BBQ right away!
Suddenly, the crepe in her hand didn’t seem so appealing anymore…
If it weren’t for the lunch appointment she had to attend to complete the next task, she’d have stayed home and grilled the BBQ instead.
The group message that day came from her college roommate group chat. She had lived with the same roommates for four years, and the four girls had gotten along quite well.
This harmony didn’t mean their personalities were perfectly aligned, but rather that they were all normal, average university girls with their own strengths and flaws—none of them particularly extreme.
During their four years of university, they naturally experienced some disagreements, but they understood that living under the same roof required compromise. Small arguments would pass, and within a couple of days, things would return to normal.
Sunday’s gathering was organized by Zhang Tian. Her birthday was approaching, but she wouldn’t be in Suicheng on the actual day, so she decided to celebrate early and share some important news.
Zhang Tian was a local from Suicheng with a comfortable family background. After graduation, she didn’t enjoy working regular jobs, so her parents funded her to open a milk tea shop. The shop was part of a franchise and had employees to manage it. This allowed her to live a semi-retired lifestyle, choosing when to manage the shop or travel at her leisure.
Zhang Tian was lively and stylish, always emphasizing the importance of not wasting her youth. Throughout university, she almost always had a boyfriend, with her longest single period lasting only a week. She truly made the most of her youth.
Another roommate, Chen Fa, complained in the group chat about Zhang Tian scheduling a meetup on a rainy day. Zhang Tian explained she had initially wanted to schedule it the previous week, but the intense heat had been unbearable—it would ruin her makeup after just a short walk.
Now, even though it was raining, at least the oppressive heat was gone. She suggested meeting at a shopping mall near a subway station to have lunch and afternoon tea. The mall was connected to the subway station by an underground passage, ensuring they wouldn’t get wet.
Chen Fa, who worked at a Fortune 500 company and had grueling hours with only one day off each week, had hoped to relax at home on Sunday. She reluctantly agreed after Zhang Tian pleaded with her.
“Fine, but if it’s still pouring rain by lunchtime, we’ll reschedule and celebrate when you’re back,” she said.
Shu Fu, however, had no choice and had to accept the invitation.
Their last roommate, Wu Shaoshan, who lived with Chen Fa, rarely voiced objections. She would usually go along with whatever the group decided.
The meetup was set for 12:30 PM. By 10 AM, the rain had started to lighten. Shu Fu, accustomed to driving, didn’t want to take the subway. Since the shopping mall had many stores, she also planned to stock up on supplies, so she left early.
As she passed a gas station, she stopped to fill up her car and purchased six portable 30L fuel containers, filling each to capacity. The combination of a weekend and rainy weather made the roads less busy, and by the time she parked in the underground lot, it was only 10:30 AM—she had two hours to shop.
She returned to her car with 30 cups of milk tea and two large boxes of cheesecakes and mousse cakes. On her way back to the parking lot, she passed a young couple arguing. The man was handsome, the woman beautiful, and though they were eye-catching, their voices were loud. Judging by their expressions, they seemed to be in the middle of a fight.
“Can you stop causing a scene? I’m already exhausted…”
“Of course you’re tired! How could you not be? Tell me the truth—do you like her?”
“What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly like her?”
…
Though their conversation was dramatic, Shu Fu didn’t feel it was appropriate to linger and watch. She quickened her pace, loaded her purchases into the car, and used the vehicle as cover to transfer the items into her wristband space.
When she returned along the same path, the couple had made up and were now hugging—and kissing.
Shu Fu: …
The girl, perhaps realizing they were still in public, pushed the guy away bashfully. However, he clung to her waist, coaxing her: “There’s a new karaoke place upstairs. I heard the private rooms are quite… special.”
The girl playfully scolded, “You’re so naughty!”
Passing by, Shu Fu: …
She really didn’t want to understand what they meant, but she couldn’t help it.
By the time Chen Fa, Wu Shaoshan, and Zhang Tian arrived one by one around noon, Shu Fu had made seven or eight trips to and from her car. She had stocked up on all sorts of ready-to-eat meals, salty and sweet snacks, a cart full of fruits and vegetables, and even ordered 40 boxes of canned goods, instant meals, and dehydrated vegetables from a specialty store, scheduled for delivery to her home the following afternoon.
She also restocked on essentials like sanitary pads, underwear, cotton T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants. Thinking ahead to both hot and cold weather, she bought face wash, moisturizers, lotions, insect repellents, mosquito coils, and comfortable bedding, along with warm blankets and clothing.
Considering potential communication issues during a disaster, she even purchased two satellite phones, ensuring she had thought of everything.
Using her car as a shield, all of it went into her wristband space.
Thanks to this shopping spree, Shu Fu was in an excellent mood. Even when Chen Fa complained about Zhang Tian, the organizer, being 20 minutes late, Shu Fu maintained her cheerful demeanor.
“Why are you grinning like that?” Chen Fa asked in disbelief. “Have you lost your mind from working too much?”
“No, I’ve decided to quit my job next week,” Shu Fu replied.
Chen Fa: …
“Seriously, I’m planning to move to Shacheng. Do you guys want to come with me?” She mostly directed this at Chen Fa. Shacheng was a large city in the western highlands of Hua Country and her ideal place to relocate.
Unfortunately, she was stuck in Suicheng for now. Shacheng was just a dream.
But this restriction didn’t apply to ordinary people in this world. If Chen Fa and the others wanted to leave, they would surely be able to do so without any issues.
After her previous experience, Shu Fu had learned to discern what she could and couldn’t say. Too direct a warning was out of the question.
“Really, Shacheng is great. Its location is excellent—you should think about it!”
“You should stick to drinking juice…” Chen Fa sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Wu Shaoshan didn’t say much but gave Shu Fu a curious and probing look.
The conversation then shifted to work and daily life. Since graduation, everyone had found stable jobs, and their spending habits had changed. Things they couldn’t afford or didn’t need before had now made their way onto their shopping lists.
Chen Fa mentioned that after lunch, she planned to visit a few jewelry stores. A popular affordable brand had released a new bracelet that was both exquisite and reasonably priced.
“You should come with us. Let’s get matching ones,” she said, grabbing Shu Fu’s hand. Looking at her slender, empty wrist with its delicate, fair skin, Chen Fa remarked that such a beautiful wrist was wasted without a bracelet.
Shu Fu glanced down at her wrist and froze.
Because of Chen Fa’s tugging, her sleeve had ridden up slightly, revealing the inconspicuous silver matte wristband snugly resting on her arm. They—couldn’t see it?