After Wen Ruchu boiled some meat for Egg Tart, she put it into the puppy’s bowl and then left it alone. She went into the bathroom to shower. After cooking all day, her body was covered in the greasy smell of oil—sticky and uncomfortable. She figured a shower first was best. Once clean, she took a serving of the three dishes and one soup she had just prepared, added a bowl of rice and a plate of watermelon, and dug in.
After eating her fill and tidying up, Wen Ruchu went into one of the spare bedrooms, which was fully equipped with exercise machines. Another spare bedroom had been prepared for Egg Tart. Although the puppy still slept in her room for now, once it grew, it would no longer fit. Being a Caucasian Shepherd, it could grow up to ninety kilograms, so giving Egg Tart its own room made sense.
Every night, Wen Ruchu exercised for two hours to maintain her physical fitness and condition. Egg Tart even ran alongside her on the treadmill.
…
Over the next few days, Wen Ruchu prepared more dishes and stocked up on quick meals and cold drinks: rice balls, mung bean soup, popsicles, and so on.
She had also supplemented her ice cream supplies after realizing gaps in her stock. She didn’t buy much because she could make it herself, but she purchased plenty of ingredients.
In addition, the two ice machines in the living room worked nonstop, producing ice, which Wen Ruchu stored in Dimensional Space using buckets.
Apartment 2901 appeared serene, but outside, the world was like a living hell. Workers who used to commute during the day now stayed home at night. Many people simply stepping out to buy groceries succumbed to heatstroke and were sent to hospitals, only to be declared dead after resuscitation failed.
The sirens of ambulances rang constantly along the streets. Too many people suffered from heatstroke. The outside temperature had already reached fifty degrees Celsius. Yet, people still had to buy food. No matter the heat, they had to go out.
Rice prices had skyrocketed to a terrifying fifty yuan per jin and kept rising. Rationing was in place—two jin per person at most. Many who bought rice were robbed before leaving their homes. With such frequent incidents, the police couldn’t manage. Those with savings could survive, but for those who lived paycheck to paycheck, buying food was impossible. Their only options were to starve or resort to robbery. Most people had already been traumatized by the previous pandemic, so Wen Ruchu believed that the majority had stored some food at home—just in case.
Wen Ruchu checked the temperature outside with a thermometer: 53 degrees Celsius.
What the hell? It’s only the 22nd, and it’s already 53°C? The apocalypse must have come early.
This world was certainly different from her last life.
The community’s resident group chat was lively. Some posted high offers for rice, others asked if they could bring someone along to the supermarket. Road temperatures had exceeded seventy degrees Celsius. Many tires exploded mid-drive, and multiple accidents occurred from vehicles overheated under the sun.
Wen Ruchu considered whether she should also go out to make a show, lest her abundance of supplies become obvious.
At that moment, her phone rang. The caller ID read “Scumbag.” Wen Ruchu smirked and answered the call.
“Ruchu, where are you? I just went to your villa. Why wasn’t it you who opened the door?”
Ah yes. In her previous life, Shen Chiyan had come to find her too, bringing Tang Xinhua along. He had claimed it was safer for the three of them to watch out for each other.
“Brother Chi Yan, I forgot to tell you—I moved. I’ve sold that villa.”
“What? You moved? Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve been waiting for you here! Do you know how hot it is outside?” His tone clearly flared with irritation.
Wen Ruchu held the phone a bit further from her ear to avoid discomfort. After he finished, she calmly replied, “Sorry, Brother Chi Yan. Is there something you need from me?”
He seemed to remember his purpose and softened his tone.
“Ruchu, it’s just so hot… I was worried you, as a girl, couldn’t take care of yourself at home. I just wanted to check on you.”
Such a sudden change in tone! If it weren’t for the fact that in her last life these two freeloaded at her house under the pretense of mutual care, she might have believed him. She had cooked for them daily back then—it would have been better to feed the dog.
Looking at Egg Tart, whose head was resting on her palm while watching TV, she thought, No way am I insulting the dog.
“I see. Brother Chi Yan, I’m fine. You can go back now. It’s really hot outside.”
“Ruchu, I’m genuinely worried about you. Tell me where you are. I’ll come find you.”
His words sounded caring, but Wen Ruchu knew better. He probably just didn’t want to buy food himself and hoped to freeload.
“Here’s the plan, Brother Chi Yan. You go back for now. In a couple of days, I’ll come to you with my supplies. That way, we can watch out for each other.”
Hearing that, he relaxed—probably also because it was unbearably hot outside.
“Alright, Ruchu. In a couple of days, you’ll come here, or give me your address and I’ll come to you. You’re a girl, I can’t help worrying. By the way, Huahua is alone too, right? Bring her along. The three of us will be safer getting food. Lately, many people who went alone were robbed.”
Tch, the audacity! Wen Ruchu simply pretended not to notice.
“Sure, Brother Chi Yan. Huahua is my best friend. Thanks for bringing her along—you really are kind.”
If she hadn’t done it herself, Wen Ruchu wouldn’t have known she was so skilled at the art of subtle manipulation. She almost laughed out loud.
“Don’t mention it. It’s the right thing to do.”
After hanging up, Wen Ruchu petted Egg Tart’s head and smiled.
Welcome to hell, Shen Chiyan.
She did plan to visit him in a couple of days—but to take his life. This heat… if he died, his body would rot and smell, attracting flies and rats…
Egg Tart seemed to sense something. It lifted its little head from the TV.
“Woof woof!”
Something’s not right with the human… this smile is unsettling.
Egg Tart tilted its head toward the other side, trying to avoid her gaze, but she gently guided it back.
The next night, Wen Ruchu planned a trip to the supermarket to maintain appearances. Otherwise, her abundance of supplies would be obvious. At least some activity needed to be heard by the neighbors.
She dressed in long sleeves and pants, wore a baseball cap, and grabbed her car keys, ready to go out…