The nanny and the driver had already been dismissed by Chen Wen, and she even gave them generous severance pay. She also reminded them—since the news had already reported it—that a severe winter was coming, and told everyone to stock up on food. She even gave each of them a specialized Antarctic research base thermal coat. She had done everything she reasonably could.
After several days of nonstop preparation, only three women and one child remained in the household. Li Su wasn’t idle either—she first led everyone in packing up essential household items.
“I’ll cook. You all go upstairs and pack. Anything useless—sell it, or exchange it directly for gold.”
Even if gold might be useless during the apocalypse, after it ended, whether for rebuilding or base construction, gold would still be one of the most stable metals.
“I’ll go with Grandma too.”
Yangyang followed behind Yang Wen. The two adults and one child quickly went upstairs while Li Su headed to cook.
She prepared three dishes and a large pot of rice. When she went out to call everyone, she found the living room already piled high with items.
Luxury goods were stacked on the floor, suitcases were open and filled with sportswear, sneakers, and thermal gear—no dresses, no useless clothes at all.
Upstairs, the three of them were still constantly bringing things down.
“Let’s eat first.”
“Okay!”
Everyone silently and efficiently washed their hands and sat down to eat.
Meanwhile, Li You had finally met Huo Sinian.
The man was extremely tall, with sculpted, perfect features. His tailored suit was immaculate, and he carried an air of absolute authority.
It was very difficult to meet Huo Sinian. Li You had only managed it through multiple connections. He needed to find out what really happened six years ago at that bar.
“Mr. Li is looking for me?”
Li You nodded. “I heard Mr. Huo specializes in network technology and artificial intelligence. I was wondering if you could help me recover a video—from six years ago.”
“I’ll try.”
He didn’t refuse—so there was hope.
Six years ago. That video. Li You had searched everywhere online, and no one had been able to recover it. Yet Huo Sinian could actually do it?
He watched in surprise as Huo Sinian’s long fingers tapped on the keyboard. A video that should have been completely unrecoverable was somehow reconstructed.
Although curious, Li You didn’t ask further. This was not something he was qualified to know.
“Done.”
The laptop was pushed back toward him. Huo Sinian stood up, preparing to leave.
“Mr. Huo!” Li You stopped him. After glancing around and confirming no one was present, he lowered his voice. “I heard this year will be a severe winter?”
If there really were signs of something major happening, then in the entire city, only the Huo family would likely have access to classified information.
And besides—weren’t all the people who had disappeared six years ago suddenly returning to the city now?
The man paused, turned back to look at him, and said meaningfully:
“Mr. Li, you can turn on the news right now.”
Then he left without looking back.
Li You’s expression darkened, but he still immediately took out his phone and opened the news.
At the same time, back at home, the four people at dinner also turned on the television.
“According to forecasts, this year will be the coldest winter on record, with temperatures at least ten degrees lower than previous years. The coldest period is expected around the 39th and 49th days of winter, accompanied by large-scale cold waves. Experts are urging citizens nationwide to stay warm and prepare basic supplies…”
When Li Su saw this news, she froze slightly.
Because in her previous life, this news never appeared.
Why had things changed after she returned? Even the news itself seemed different—as if the official channels were deliberately warning everyone that extreme cold was coming.
Yang Wen pointed at the TV. “Su Su, does this count as an official announcement? Let’s go stockpile supplies tomorrow. Zhenzhen is pregnant—she should stay home with Yangyang.”
The three women all nodded. Ning Zhenzhen’s expression grew heavier as she gently touched her lower abdomen.
This child—should she keep it or not?
Meanwhile, after watching the full video alone, Li You slammed his hand onto the table, his eyes red with rage.
“So it was true—she really was set up!”
He saw it clearly: a stranger secretly sprinkled white powder into Li Su’s drink. The act was captured by surveillance. Not long after she drank it, she became dizzy and disoriented. The man who drugged her pretended to help her up and half-carried her away.
And in a nearby booth, Shen Jianchen was sitting there the whole time.
He looked at the scene more than three times.
Even wearing a faint, indifferent expression.
He never stood up to stop it. Not even a warning.
“Bastard!” Li You gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. “For years you pretended to be the victim, spreading rumors that Su Su had an illegitimate child and betrayed you, painting yourself as the victim—while watching her being framed and doing nothing! Even if you weren’t the mastermind, you were an accomplice!”
What made him even angrier was this:
For the sake of Li Su’s dignity—and because they believed Shen Jianchen’s “victim” story—the Li family had tolerated the Shen family for years in business.
They gave up projects, shared profits, overlooked payments, and even lowered themselves just to avoid “hurting the injured Shen Jianchen” and embarrassing Su Su.
“Connect me to the executive department!” Li You grabbed the internal line, his voice cold as ice. “Immediately cut all cooperation with the Shen Group! Terminate every ongoing project! Recover all previously given benefits! Demand repayment of all outstanding debts within three days, with maximum penalty interest for delay. If they refuse—take legal action immediately!”
The order was executed at once.
Within 24 hours, the Shen Group felt like the sky had collapsed.
Projects were suddenly halted, investments turned to waste, repayment demands flooded in, and liquidity was instantly drained. At the same time, the Li Group began dumping Shen stocks without mercy, triggering a chain reaction. The stock price crashed, billions in market value evaporated, and shareholders panicked, rushing to sell.
In the Shen Group chairman’s office, Shen Weiguo stared at the loss report, his brows tightly furrowed. He called Shen Jianchen, suppressing his anger.
“What the hell is going on? Did you offend the Li family?”
On the other end, Shen Jianchen was also overwhelmed, but upon hearing that Li Su had returned to the Li family, he forced himself to reply:
“Dad, I officially broke up with Li Su.”
“You idiot!” Shen Weiguo roared. “Everyone else may not know she’s the Li family’s daughter—but how can you not?! Without the Li family’s support, would the Shen Group even exist today? And now you broke up with her—you want us to die faster?!”
“Dad, why are you panicking?” Shen Jianchen sneered. “The apocalypse is coming soon. Money and companies are meaningless. Only stockpiling supplies and finding a safe shelter matters. Once the apocalypse arrives, what can the Li family do with money? They’ll still have to rely on us. The Shen Group will dominate everything!”
He continued, getting more excited:
“Hurry and buy an abandoned mine! Remote location, large space—perfect for a shelter. Stockpile food, medicine, energy. Isn’t there a mine in Li Su’s hands? If she won’t sell it, let it rot. I’m the only one who knows how to use a mine to survive the apocalypse—because I came back with memories from my previous life!”