The villa district where Gu Cheng was currently living was the best residential area in Hai City. Everyone who lived there was either extremely wealthy or influential. The property management was very efficient as well.
The day before, they had already received advance notice. The management helped all residents count the number of people in each household and organized a collective supply run. Every household stocked at least two weeks’ worth of food and water.
There were also arrangements for purchasing freezers. Those who had enough freezer storage space stocked up for up to two months. Large amounts of self-heating hot pots and self-heating rice were also included.
To avoid suspicion, Fu Zhe also participated in the process. Fortunately, there were not many households in the district—just over twenty. Even if each household stocked a lot, it was still manageable. Wealthy people also had connections, so as long as they paid extra, everything could be arranged.
Around 7 p.m., just after the sun had set, the property management notified everyone to go to the clubhouse entrance to collect their supplies.
The group had just finished eating and went out for a walk to digest their food. While other households sent servants or bodyguards to pick up supplies by car, Gu Cheng and the others each pulled a camping cart.
Fu Zhe rode a trendy bicycle with a large front basket that could seat two people. Wang Xin happily sat inside and asked Gu Cheng to take photos of her.
Gu Cheng stuffed a teddy bear into Wang Xin’s arms and helped them take a beautiful picture.
After sunset, the temperature still hovered around 50°C. The heat radiating from the ground made breathing difficult, and sweat poured continuously.
Everyone wore quick-dry inner clothing, applied cooling patches, sprayed cooling mist, and wore thin lightweight jackets, yet it was still unbearably hot.
Gu Cheng wanted to go back and enjoy the air conditioning, but Wang Che grabbed her and pushed her forward.
“Come out and adapt to the environment. You can’t hide in air-conditioned rooms forever. Over-dependence will get you eliminated by the environment.”
With no choice, she dragged her heavy steps forward with the group. After walking for a while, she did feel slightly more adapted—just slightly.
From the side, Wang Che kept observing her condition, worried she might suffer heatstroke. Fortunately, she seemed to be adapting quite well.
After about ten minutes, they finally reached the designated area. A queue had already formed. Property staff and security were helping to check and load each household’s stockpile onto vehicles.
It was rare to see people like Gu Cheng’s group walking over to collect supplies themselves, so they attracted attention. Several children—clearly from wealthy families based on their clothing—looked like a group of rich second-generation heirs.
“Gu Cheng, why are you here?”
A sharp female voice rang out.
Everyone turned.
Gu Cheng and Wang Xin immediately recognized Jiang Li. Beside her stood Ye Wen. Why were they here too?
Wang Xin looked at Gu Cheng, as if asking whether they should confront them.
Gu Cheng shook her head and pretended not to see them. In this heat, every extra word was a waste of energy. Not responding meant she didn’t want to argue. Once she spoke, it would definitely turn into a fight.
“I originally wanted to find you before leaving school,” Jiang Li continued loudly. “But you and your roommates weren’t there. So it turns out you’ve been living with several men in the villa district. Even though my aunt and uncle passed away early, seeing you become like this… how heartbreaking would they be?”
Gu Cheng ignored her completely and stared at the property staff moving supplies, sincerely admiring them. In this heat, they were still able to carry such heavy loads without collapsing from heatstroke.
She then walked over to Wang Xin, took out several cans of iced cola from the shopping bag at her side (actually from her Storage Space), and handed them out.
Wang Xin and Shi Qiao gratefully accepted them. Wei Jiawen shamelessly asked for orange juice, so Gu Cheng handed him some orange juice. She also gave mineral water to Fu Zhe and Wang Che, while she herself drank iced cola.
Inside the bag were also ten bottles of electrolyte water, intended for the property staff later to replenish themselves after sweating so much in the heat.
Jiang Li was practically furious. She had said so much, and Gu Cheng hadn’t responded to a single word—she was even drinking beverages now.
“Did you hear what I said? Come with me! We are cousins after all—I can protect you! It’s better than humiliating yourself staying with a bunch of men!”
Her loud and nonstop complaining made the people around them frown. It was already hot enough; everyone just wanted to finish collecting supplies and go back to air conditioning. No one had the patience for this.
“Gu Cheng, stop pretending you can’t hear me,” Jiang Li continued.
But before she could finish, Wang Che suddenly threw the half-finished bottle of mineral water in his hand.
It flew straight and hit the face of the man standing beside Jiang Li.
“Ah… who threw that?!”
The man covered his face and cried out in pain.
Only then did Gu Cheng notice that there were two other men beside Jiang Li and Ye Wen. One was clutching his face in pain, while the other stared fiercely at Wang Che.
Gu Cheng recognized them immediately.
Chu Xiuyuan and Zhou Tong—the male lead and his loyal lackey.
They had grown up as neighbors. Chu Xiuyuan often helped the neglected and underfed Zhou Tong by giving him food, which earned him absolute loyalty.
Zhou Tong had suffered abuse and starvation since childhood, with no moral bottom line. Any dirty work Chu Xiuyuan could not personally handle was done by Zhou Tong.
A pitiful person often had a hateful side.
Almost instinctively, Gu Cheng stepped in front of Wang Che, not wanting a conflict to erupt. Zhou Tong was like a ferocious hunting dog that would not stop once it locked onto a target.
But her small frame could not block him at all.
From a distance, Wang Che met Zhou Tong’s gaze, completely unfazed. He lowered his head to look at the girl in front of him and smiled.
“Why are you sticking so close to me?”
Gu Cheng whispered urgently, “Don’t get into a conflict with those two for now.”
“Why?” Wang Che glanced at them again, completely relaxed.
“They might be the protagonists of fate.”
Wang Che was speechless.
Shi Qiao walked over while putting away his phone.
“The illegitimate son of Chu Ling from the Chu Corporation is Chu Xiuyuan. His mother and he are not favored. The guy beside him is just an unknown nobody.”
As he finished speaking, Chu Xiuyuan walked over with his group.
He stood in front of Wang Che.
“Were you the one who threw that bottle at me just now?”
Wang Che glanced at Jiang Li and replied calmly, with a hint of impatience.
“She was too noisy.”
Chu Xiuyuan disliked that arrogant, superior tone the most.
“So she was noisy, and you hit me?”
His words made Jiang Li feel extremely embarrassed.
Wang Che pulled Gu Cheng back a few steps.
“Don’t come closer. It smells too strong.”
Chu Xiuyuan was about to respond when Gu Cheng suddenly interrupted.
“Wait, why do you kind of look like my ex-boyfriend?”
Chu Xiuyuan looked at her. He had noticed her earlier—she looked like a German iris flower, fresh and beautiful.
“You might be mistaken. But I live here too. If fate allows, we can get to know each other.”
Gu Cheng chuckled.
“No need. My ex-boyfriend has erectile dysfunction.”
That ex-boyfriend was the one who had been beaten up by her cousins before she transmigrated. He was indeed very handsome—her type—but basically useless.
Now, after seeing Wang Che, even though he was cold and ruthless, he was clearly on a completely different level. Chu Xiuyuan couldn’t compare.
Fu Zhe was also handsome—military-trained, steady and warm, a dependable type with a gentle personality toward Wang Xin.
Wei Jiawen and Shi Qiao were both small-town boys.
Wei Jiawen was pure and sunny, a former athlete—bright and energetic.
Shi Qiao, despite his name, was fair and refined-looking. Quiet, disciplined, highly self-demanding, and extremely capable at gathering information.
Jiang Li seized on her words immediately.
“Since when did you have a boyfriend? And you even know he had that problem? How shameless. Brother Xiuyuan is not your ex—and he definitely doesn’t have that issue!”
Gu Cheng sneered.
“Oh? So I can’t say it, but you can rush to prove he’s not impotent? Your tea smell is so strong it can’t even be covered by your stink.”
Today she had clearly checked the almanac incorrectly—every enemy had gathered together.
Without wasting another second, she grabbed Wang Che’s arm and pulled him forward.
“Your turn. Hurry up and load the supplies so we can go back. It’s too hot.”
The others, full of questions, did not ask yet. They helped load everything onto the camping carts.
Behind them, Chu Xiuyuan stared at Gu Cheng’s back with a meaningful expression.
Interesting.