Chapter 24: “Unauthorized Entry!”

Jiang Yan had just pulled a simple foldable stool out of her space and sat down when the trailer carrying the mobile Apple pod and the installation workers arrived.

Accompanying them were the company’s boss and a few cleaning ladies in uniform, each carrying various cleaning equipment.

After all, this was a private order worth over six million, and with today’s unusual weather, the boss decided to come personally to oversee assembly and cleaning.

The company’s main purpose, of course, was to meet Jiang Yan, a major client, hoping to maintain a good relationship for future cooperation.

Unfortunately, there would be no future cooperation.

The boss, Liu Lei, was a stylish young man around 27 or 28.

Seeing Jiang Yan fully armored, he paused in surprise.

Another young man, seemingly his assistant, directed the workers to carry down several boxes of electrolyte water, ensuring the installation crew stayed hydrated. He also had the cleaning ladies spray mosquito repellent throughout the warehouse. Then he called out:

“Hot weather, everyone, work efficiently—finish early, get inspected early, collect your bonus early, and go home early!”

The workers, seeing that they would get free neck fans and bonuses, temporarily ignored the heat and immediately got to work with energy.

Liu Lei, as the boss, was attentive to details.

He opened a bottle of chilled electrolyte water from the car’s small fridge and handed it to Jiang Yan.

“Miss Jiang, even though you’re wearing a heat-resistant suit, it’s extremely hot today. You could easily get heatstroke—have some water.”

An extreme sports enthusiast himself, he was familiar with professional gear and recognized Jiang Yan’s equipment at a glance.

Jiang Yan said “thank you” and took the bottle.

“By the way, Miss Jiang, are you sure you want to install this mobile Apple pod inside this warehouse?” Liu Lei asked, glancing around.

The warehouse was spacious and mostly empty, with a pile of water taps nearby.

In this blazing heat, the temperature inside was slightly cooler than outside by a degree or two.

But to him, living here was clearly impractical.

The area outside the warehouse was overgrown with weeds, which at night would attract mosquitoes.

If the giant blood mosquitoes appeared, her small frame would barely be a pre-meal snack for them.

Also, such a high-end, luxurious mobile Apple pod was better suited for a lakeside golf lawn.

Placing it here seemed completely out of place.

Additionally, the warehouse had no sunlight, so installing the photovoltaic panels would be as pointless as “farting while pulling down your pants.”

Despite the mobile gimmick, the pod was too large.

Once installed, it was essentially stationary unless someone removed it again later.

Jiang Yan just responded with a simple “Mm” and said nothing further.

Liu Lei didn’t press.

As a businessman, he respected boundaries.

Though professional, he only had advisory power; the final decision was entirely the client’s.

Often, his role was simply to get things done.

Meanwhile, with the help of two hoisting machines, the workers, faces flushed red, began unloading and assembling the shipment.

Liu Lei chatted briefly with Jiang Yan before taking his position to supervise, leaving Jiang Yan free to herself.

“Beep!! Unauthorized intruder detected at the front door!!”

Jiang Yan had just finished her electrolyte water and was about to check the news when her smart home app issued an alert.

She had invested in some advanced tech for her system.

Beyond regular functions like TV, lights, and curtains, it was linked to her security cameras, smoke detectors at the door, and window and door sensors.

Any unfamiliar person lingering near the door for over three minutes and making contact with it would be flagged as an unauthorized intruder.

She could remotely trigger the system via phone or tablet, delivering anything from 110V low-voltage to 500V high-voltage shocks, and could also activate water and pepper spray jets.

The water and pepper spray nozzles were hidden behind the first door, making them difficult to tamper with.

Jiang Yan roughly guessed who the intruders were.

She opened the app; the HD camera view displayed the front door.

As expected, it was He Chunmei and Zhou Guangfu.

But in addition, there was a boy around seven or eight and a girl around three or four.

Both children looked flushed and listless, appearing sickly, each holding a small cartoon plastic stool.

Next to Zhou Guangfu stood two thin, solemn-looking elderly people with gray hair and walking sticks—presumably his parents.

The neighborhood passageway was narrow, and the six people completely blocked the doorway.

He Chunmei pushed back her hair and instructed the children:

“BaoBao and BeiBei, this morning you’re sitting in front of this lady’s house. If she opens the door, tell her it’s unbearably hot and ask to come in to cool down. If she refuses, grab her legs and hands, understood?”

The boy pressed his lips together, glanced at the small hammer in her hand, and lowered his head.

The little girl responded in a babyish voice, “Yes, Mommy.”

“This is begging at someone’s door?! I, Zhou Shangyou, have lived an honest life. I can’t disgrace myself like this. I’d rather die of heat! Let’s go home, wife!” The old man slammed his cane and tried to pull his wife Jiang Lifen away.

Earlier, the daughter-in-law had said the new neighbor had air conditioning and invited them over temporarily, but it was just a trick to get them there.

Jiang Lifen looked embarrassed for a moment but, seeing her feverish grandchildren, didn’t move.

“Dad, what are you saying?! Do you know the forecast for today at noon? 47 degrees!!!

Do you know that Guangfu contacted the AC company this morning, and the installation is scheduled three months out?!

Three months! At this heat with the blood mosquitoes, people would roast to a dried corpse by then!

In our building, the only air-conditioned unit with a single occupant is her house!

BaoBao and BeiBei were vomiting all night, and now they’re running a fever. If they get heatstroke, their lives could be ruined!

In extreme times, extreme measures are needed. Why would she just stand by and do nothing?

And compared to life, what is pride or face worth?!

Yes, you’re cultured! You’re dignified! You don’t fear death!

But shouldn’t you think about BaoBao and BeiBei?!”

After sudden natural disasters, social order might be disrupted, but it doesn’t collapse instantly. Since the heroine had stockpiled supplies and still had some work to finish, the next few chapters serve as a transitional period.