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From the first time Yan Mo met Shu Xin, he noticed that she was different. There was always a feeling about her, as if she existed outside of this world, which intrigued him and made him want to understand her better.
As they spent more time together, this feeling only grew stronger. Even when she was right in front of him, he had an inexplicable sense that she might vanish at any moment. He didn’t know where this feeling came from, but he was certain it wasn’t just his imagination.
The deeper his feelings for Shu Xin became, the greater his fear of losing her.
When he didn’t see the person he was looking for on the bed in the room, Yan Mo panicked for a moment. Then, hearing movement from the bathroom, he forced himself to calm down.
“Xinbao, are you inside?”
The sound of running water gradually ceased, and Shu Xin responded, “I’m here! I was washing my hair. Did you just get back?”
“Yeah, you finish up first. I’ll go clean up, and we’ll talk when you come out.”
Hearing Shu Xin’s reply, Yan Mo felt reassured. His heart settled, and he finally noticed the way his rain-soaked clothes clung to his skin, making him feel unbearably uncomfortable. His expression darkened as he frowned—his cleanliness obsession couldn’t tolerate even a second more of this discomfort.
Without hesitation, Yan Mo strode into his own room and headed straight for the bathroom.
Meanwhile, in another apartment complex on the other side of the neighborhood, Ye Yuan had also gone out—but she had left in the early hours of the morning when everyone else was still asleep.
Living alone, she preferred taking an inflatable boat for mobility. Going out during the day with others would only attract unwanted attention, especially from those with ulterior motives. By leaving at dawn, she could avoid prying eyes and move freely.
Having already experienced this once before, Ye Yuan had a general grasp of the outside situation. Though there were some differences compared to her past life, as long as the overall development followed the same trajectory, she wasn’t too concerned.
Her early morning outing was intended to gather supplies while they were still salvageable. The power outage had only just begun, meaning many places still had usable food stored. Before heading out, she rearranged her belongings, making space in her storage bracelet for more provisions.
She hadn’t had enough time to prepare supplies before the disaster. Some things were left behind due to the rush, while others had been impossible to purchase in bulk—she had sensed that the authorities were already enforcing restrictions on large-scale food purchases. To avoid drawing their attention, she had to buy supplies in multiple locations and in small quantities, which wasted a lot of time.
This trip was meant to replenish her stock. By the time she went out again, the government would likely have started distributing relief supplies.
Ye Yuan avoided nearby supermarkets, restaurants, and convenience stores, opting instead for a commercial food district a few kilometers away.
Her reasoning was twofold: first, the area was in a newly developed district, with high ground and modern infrastructure. Even after two weeks of heavy rain, it was likely still intact, making it a valuable source of supplies. She didn’t want to waste time and effort on a fruitless trip.
Second, by gathering resources further away, she ensured that people in her own neighborhood still had places to scavenge. As long as there were supplies to be found, panic and chaos could be postponed. The longer order was maintained, the longer she could enjoy a peaceful life in the community.
A peaceful life was a rare luxury. After all, constant fighting and struggle were exhausting. Having lived through the apocalypse once, Ye Yuan cherished stability more than ever.
Her judgment was correct. The commercial food district was still in relatively good condition. Only the first floor had flooded up to ankle level, and since it was on the same power grid as her neighborhood, the electricity had only recently gone out.
When she opened a freezer in a hotpot restaurant, she found it still filled with fresh ingredients, cold mist pouring out as she lifted the lid. She also discovered a stash of hotpot soup bases in the back kitchen.
With a wave of her hand, she collected everything into her storage space. She then went from shop to shop, taking anything she deemed useful.
By the time she had swept through the entire food district, her supplies had increased significantly. Satisfied, she hurried back before dawn, ensuring she returned before anyone woke up.
Once home, Ye Yuan indulged in a hot bath. With power outages came water shortages, and she knew every hot bath could be her last for a long time. Her storage space wasn’t large enough to waste room on hot water reserves—other necessities took priority.
Even so, she was content. In the apocalypse, even staying fed was a struggle—who cared about hygiene?
Once the water supply was cut off, baths would become a luxury. Washing one’s hair would be considered extravagant, and clean water would only be used for drinking and survival. Only after water-ability users emerged did the situation improve.
She had been given a second chance at life. With knowledge of the future and the rare opportunity to prepare, she had no complaints.
As for those who had betrayed her in her past life? Ye Yuan truly hoped that Du Hanxu and Wang Yayun would live long enough to witness the consequences of their actions. Without her to risk her life gathering supplies and protecting them, she wondered how they would survive.
She would just watch from the 25th floor.
She had deliberately guided Du Hanxu and Wang Yayun to rent an apartment in the same building, even bribing the real estate agent to ensure they ended up there.
Keeping them within sight would make the spectacle more entertaining. After all, a bit of drama could liven up the monotony of apocalypse survival.
Back in Yan Mo’s apartment, the heavy rain had drenched everyone despite their rain gear. Shu Xin had even boiled a pot of ginger tea for them, hoping to ward off the cold and prevent illness.
Since they had all been caught in the rain, and the weather was already chilly, she decided that hotpot would be the perfect meal. With Mu Qimai’s help, she began preparing the ingredients.
By the time Yan Mo and Bu Xiangwen finished showering and changing, the dining table was already set with a bubbling hotpot, filling the entire dining room with warmth and the comforting aroma of food.
Having spent so much time outside, both Yan Mo and Bu Xiangwen were starving. Only after they had eaten their fill did they finally discuss what they had discovered during their trip.
“The situation outside is worse than I expected,” Yan Mo said, his expression grim. “The lack of official intervention has caused widespread panic among civilians. The continuous rain has also taken a psychological toll on people. We need to start preparing now.”
“This afternoon, let’s install the iron doors on the stairwells of the 24th and 25th floors. Those were left unfinished during renovations—we need to secure them to prevent strangers from coming up too easily.”