The clouds hung heavy over the city, and the storm outside the window was even fiercer than yesterday, blurring the view beyond the glass.
Yunjin Garden was a district of detached villas, the spaces between buildings wide enough to park several cars. The Cheng family’s villa was near the entrance of the residential community, and from the third-floor living room, one could see the status of the main gate.
At that moment, all the neighbors’ doors and windows were tightly shut, the area silent, with barely a flicker of light, and no human voice could be heard. The only movement in the residential community was a single security patrol car, its faint warning lights flickering as it crept slowly along the wet asphalt.
The television in the living room was on, showing a female reporter holding a precarious umbrella, standing on a flooded street, her voice taut with barely contained urgency:
“Citizens, please take note. Due to continuous heavy rainfall, parts of the city’s low-lying areas have experienced severe indoor flooding this morning. Residents in affected areas must closely monitor water levels and move to higher floors for safety. The meteorological department urges, if not necessary, please stay indoors and avoid going outside.”
The camera then switched to the entrance of a chain supermarket in the city center. A throng of people pressed against the doors, the line winding for half a street. Some carried bags of rice and oil, others cradled cases of bottled water, their faces etched with anxiety and panic.
The reporter’s voice sounded again, “Currently, all major pharmacies and supermarkets across the city are overcrowded with customers. Relevant departments have urgently dispatched supplies. Citizens are advised to remain rational and avoid hoarding to prevent unnecessary waste.”
Cheng Lin sat on the sofa, watching the chaos on the screen, her mood heavy, as if a huge stone pressed upon her chest. She rose and went to the bathroom, turning on the hot water. The warm flow gushed down, and the rising steam soon filled the small space. She took a soothing hot shower and changed into a fluffy coral fleece home outfit, the soft fabric wrapping her body comfortably.
Returning to the living room, she carried all the prepared dishes to the dining table at once. Greasy roasted wings, fragrant cheese-baked rice, sweet and tart strawberry cake, and several delicate desserts—an entire table overflowing, dazzling to the eyes.
She sat cross-legged on the carpet, a small elegant plate before her, taking large bites while occasionally feeding a piece of fruit to little Mo Yang nestled beside her.
The little one blinked its round eyes and nibbled at the strawberry in small bites, pink juice smearing the corners of its mouth. Cheng Lin watched, feeling a slight relief.
No matter the chaos outside, only the food and those before her could not be neglected. The creamy sweetness melted on her tongue, triggering a surge of dopamine—simple pleasure that temporarily dissipated the looming shadow of the apocalypse.
The late breakfast-lunch was leisurely, both human and dog eating slowly. By the time she set down her chopsticks, the wall clock indicated noon. Cheng Lin rubbed her round belly and suddenly recalled what Jiang Yi had told her yesterday—his assigned protector would arrive today at noon.
A sense of helplessness surged in her chest. Once these people arrived, she could no longer freely manipulate the space at will.
She did not dare delay. Rising immediately, she went to the storage room. The shelves, once somewhat empty, were now filled as she dug through boxes, arranging common supplies meticulously.
Rice, flour, oil, salt, toiletries, emergency medicines—all neatly categorized, appearing as if pre-stocked long ago. The refrigerator in the kitchen had been filled to the brim with fresh ingredients during her previous stockpiling; the vegetables crisp, the meats frozen solid, no additional supplies needed.
She then moved to the snack cabinet in the living room, pulling out every treat from the space: chips, chocolate, nuts, candy—filling three entire drawers. Only then did she pat her hands in satisfaction.
After finishing, she took out her phone and made a video call to Jiang Yi. The call connected quickly, revealing the handsome face of the man on the screen. Cheng Lin immediately adopted a coquettish demeanor, lingering affectionately before reluctantly ending the call.
Placing the phone down, she leaned against the sofa, quietly waiting for the bodyguards to arrive.
Time passed, minute by minute, the clock hands slowly approaching one in the afternoon.
Still no one had come.
Cheng Lin frowned slightly, about to message Jiang Yi when her phone on the coffee table vibrated—it was an unknown number.
Hesitating for a moment, she swiped to answer.
“Miss Cheng, hello. My name is Jiang Feng. I was sent by Director Jiang to protect you,” came a calm male voice tinged with apology. “We encountered a chain accident on the highway caused by the heavy rain. The road is completely blocked, delaying us. We estimate we can only reach you tonight. We are truly sorry.”
Cheng Lin exhaled in relief, replying quickly, “It’s alright, no worries. Thank you for your hard work. Traveling in this weather is too dangerous—please stay safe. Call me when you reach the residential community gate; I’ll inform the security to let you in.”
“Understood, thank you, Miss Cheng. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
After hanging up, Cheng Lin leaned back against the sofa, sighing lightly. Chain accidents on the highway… this storm was unusual, and it was very possible that zombies had already appeared in those crashes.
So far, the television had not reported anything about zombies. Perhaps the authorities were suppressing it, or perhaps it was only just beginning. She pressed her lips together, silently praying that Jiang Feng and his team would arrive safely, avoiding those terrifying things.
She knew what she should do next was exercise in the gym. In an apocalypse, physical strength was the key to survival. With her current feeble condition, she would probably be unable to outrun even a single zombie.
Yet, glancing at her round belly and the wind and rain lashing outside, her resolve melted instantly. Stuffed and lazy, Cheng Lin only wanted to collapse on the sofa, doing nothing. Her life’s ambition had always been a peaceful existence of eating and sleeping; who would have expected she’d wake to face an apocalypse-level challenge?
After a struggle, she abandoned the idea of going to the gym. She went to the study, took out the iPad, smartwatch, and backup phone she had bought two days ago, connected to the network, and began downloading obsessively.
Offline maps of the entire country had to be secured—disconnection was inevitable during the apocalypse, and offline maps would prevent her from getting lost. Survival videos, from identifying edible wild plants to building makeshift shelters, she downloaded in bulk.
Additionally, she downloaded a large collection of apocalypse-themed movies and series, planning to watch them for both entertainment and survival knowledge.
Of course, she also prepared relaxation materials—an entire hard drive of soothing music, exercise videos, and dozens of books and courses on psychological guidance.
The apocalypse was a test not only of the body but also of the mind; she had to prepare in advance to avoid being driven insane.
Once downloads were complete, Cheng Lin curled up with little Mo Yang on the window-side lounge chair. The soft sofa sank into a comfortable curve; she held the warm little one, watching the world outside torn apart by wind and rain, momentarily lost in a daze.