But why did it look like he was carrying it as if it were a little chick?
After the man from Apartment 2902 placed the security door in the hallway and started installing it, Wen Ruchu realized she had no idea how to help. She didn’t know how to install a door, so the only thing she could do was hand him tools and, incidentally, admire the man’s biceps.
The man wore a black tank top. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs were clearly visible. His muscles were well-defined. If Wen Ruchu had guessed correctly, the man must have undergone strict training. Was he a soldier? Or something else?
The man from 2902 worked quickly. In about ten minutes, he finished installing the door. Afterward, he packed up the toolbox and handed it to Wen Ruchu together with the keys.
“By the way, there’s something I want to ask you,” the man from 2902 said.
Wen Ruchu gestured for him to continue.
“The apartments downstairs, 2801 and 2802, are both my people. I want to give them a key as well. Is that okay?”
Wen Ruchu shrugged, indicating it was fine. The keys were already in his hands anyway. Even if he didn’t give them the keys, if they wanted to come in, he could simply open the door for them. There was no point worrying about it. As long as they didn’t disturb her, it didn’t matter.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
After that, they each returned to their own homes. Now Wen Ruchu could finally lie flat at home in peace. At last, no one would come to disturb her.
Wen Ruchu continued living as she usually did. She woke up early, watched dramas, occasionally cooked some foods with mild smells, tended to her vegetables, and exercised together with her dog.
One day, Wen Ruchu went to the kitchen as usual, planning to make some ice jelly dessert. However, when she turned the faucet, no water came out.
Had the water been cut off?
Wen Ruchu quickly opened the Residents Group Chat, and the group was already in chaos.
Building 3, 1001 – Divorced with Two Kids:
“The water’s been cut! How are we supposed to live like this? I’m asking if the property management is doing anything at all. We paid so much in property fees—did they just pocket it all? @Property Management”
Building 3, 1502 – Escaped Female Monkey from Flower Fruit Mountain:
“And the electricity has been out for almost a month! When is it coming back? I’m so hungry I’m about to start chewing on the table.”
Building 5, 1401 – You’re Pressing on My Hair:
“Does anyone have bottled water? I’ll trade instant noodles for it. I’m going to die of thirst.”
Building 6, 1101 – Word Mom Oh My:
“Looking for water +1. I’ll trade compressed biscuits.”
Building 6, 1002 – Almost Grew Up to Be a Beauty:
“Didn’t I ask you to lend me some compressed biscuits before? Why did you say you didn’t have any? @6栋1101Word妈呀”
Building 11, 2102 – Domineering Boss Chai:
“Private message me @5栋1401你压到我头发了”
…
Wen Ruchu scrolled through the chat records. Almost everyone was asking for water, though some people were also asking for food. Still, requests for water were far more common. After all, a person could survive three days without food, but not three days without water—especially in weather this hot.
Since there was no water, the ice jelly dessert obviously couldn’t be made.
So Wen Ruchu decided to simply give up and do nothing.
It wasn’t that she wanted to slack off—it was just impossible to cook without water.
However, on the third day after the water supply stopped, the authorities finally made a move. A notice was issued saying that starting the next day, water trucks would arrive at each residential community every morning from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Each person could receive 1.5 liters of water with their ID card.
There was no choice. The daytime heat was too intense, so they had to distribute water during the cooler hours.
As soon as the notice appeared, the group chat exploded again.
1.5 liters of water—about three jin. At most, it would only be enough to drink. What about cooking? In such hot weather, even drinking that amount was barely enough.
Wen Ruchu had already expected this. In her previous life, after the water supply had been cut off, the authorities had also sent water trucks to distribute water. They couldn’t just watch the survivors die of thirst.
Wen Ruchu took out her ID card.
She hadn’t gone outside in a long time. It might be good to go out and take a look.
This time, she also planned to bring Egg Tart with her.
Egg Tart was now over four months old. Compared to when she first bought him, he had grown quite a bit, though he still looked rather small.
Wen Ruchu felt it was time to let the dog go outside and get some exercise. When she had first brought him home, he had been very insecure. But after spending time together, he trusted her completely now.
Keeping him protected inside the house all the time wasn’t a solution. He should see the harshness of the world.
Besides, Wen Ruchu hoped that one day the dog might even protect her.
The next day, at 3:30 a.m., Wen Ruchu was fully prepared. She wore a hat, fastened the leash on Egg Tart, and prepared to leave.
Egg Tart was extremely excited. His tail wagged nonstop.
Wen Ruchu had never allowed him outside before, so this was his first outing. Naturally, he was thrilled.
Wen Ruchu gave both herself and Egg Tart a little spiritual spring water, then headed out.
Outside was completely different from inside the apartment—it was like heaven and hell.
Egg Tart stuck out his tongue from the heat.
After locking the door, Wen Ruchu led him downstairs.
It was 29 floors. With the electricity cut off, the elevator no longer worked. Climbing stairs had become a physically demanding task.
Going down was still manageable, but climbing back up later would definitely be much harder.
When they arrived at the water distribution point, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Yet a long line had already formed.
Wen Ruchu had arrived half an hour early, but the line was still this long.
There was no helping it. Since she was already here, she might as well queue up.
The moment Wen Ruchu appeared, many people present immediately turned their attention toward her.
At a time like this, anyone who could still afford to keep a dog must have plenty of supplies. Many of them were already struggling just to find enough food.
Wen Ruchu naturally noticed that while standing in line, many people kept secretly glancing at Egg Tart.
However, since no one made any actual move, she didn’t say anything. She simply swept a cold gaze over them.
Those who met her eyes quickly withdrew their gazes, though after a while they would sneak another look.
Egg Tart sensed it too.
The way these people looked at him was full of ill intent—like starving ghosts staring at meat.
Egg Tart tensed his entire body, ready to fight at any moment.
“Grandma, there’s meat over there.”
Wen Ruchu turned toward the source of the voice.
It was a little boy with a large head and thin body from hunger. He was pointing at her dog. The adult beside him pretended not to notice Wen Ruchu’s gaze and allowed the child to keep pointing.
Egg Tart understood what the boy meant. He bared his teeth at him.
The boy seemed frightened and immediately burst into tears.
The adult beside him quickly crouched down to comfort him, then led the boy toward Wen Ruchu in an aggressive manner.
“Your dog scared my child. You must compensate us.” The old woman pointed at Egg Tart with claw-like fingers.
Egg Tart saw someone pointing at him and began barking loudly.
“Woof! Woof!”
The people around them all turned to look.
Wen Ruchu crouched down to calm Egg Tart, then stood up and looked down at the old woman, who was a head shorter than her.
“What kind of compensation do you want?”
Seeing Wen Ruchu follow along with her words, the old woman immediately pointed at Egg Tart.
“As compensation, you can just give me this dog. I’ll stew the meat and let my grandson have something nutritious.”
Looking at the shameless expression on the old woman’s face, Wen Ruchu directly lifted her foot and kicked the woman flying.
“You want my dog? You’ll need to have the life to take it.”
The little grandson saw his grandmother being kicked away and was completely stunned.
Having been spoiled since childhood, he had never seen such a scene before. He didn’t even dare cry anymore. He hurriedly shouted “Grandma!” and ran toward her.
Wen Ruchu knew exactly how much strength she had used. The old woman wouldn’t die, but she would definitely suffer for quite a while.
With this example made of the old woman, the surrounding people no longer dared to stare at the dog.
This woman was too fierce. Without a word, she had kicked an old lady flying.
“Miss really is as fierce as ever. One disagreement and she sends someone flying with a kick.”
Yes, the five of them had also come to line up.
They had arrived a bit later and were standing farther back in the queue, but they had seen everything that had just happened.
A trace of approval flashed in the eyes of the man from 2902.
With people like that, there was no need to waste words. Letting them know you weren’t someone to mess with was the right approach.
He became increasingly curious about this girl.
Why had she installed such a heavy and sturdy door?
Why did she keep a dog that ordinary people wouldn’t raise?
Why were her fighting skills so ruthless?
She seemed completely merciless when killing people, as if she had fought her way out of a pile of corpses. There was a fierce aura around her.
What had she experienced?
She seemed indifferent to everything, as if nothing could affect her emotions.
And in the past half month, she had barely gone out at all, yet she still kept a dog—proof that she had stocked up on plenty of supplies in advance.
Unless she was also…
…
Soon, the water truck arrived.
Along with it came a truck of armed police carrying guns, standing guard on both sides. No one dared to act recklessly. Everyone obediently lined up to receive their water.
After Wen Ruchu received her water, she didn’t linger and immediately left with Egg Tart.
A man stepped forward with two ID cards to collect water. He said his mother had poor legs and couldn’t come in person, so he was collecting the water for her.
However, the distributor refused.
The extreme heat had lasted for over two months, and order had already collapsed. Many people had died without their deaths being officially recorded.
To prevent anyone from using the ID cards of the deceased to claim water, the rule was that each person had to come personally with their own ID.
The man kept pestering them endlessly.
In the end, two armed police officers dragged him away.
With guns present, the man naturally didn’t dare continue arguing. He collected the water allocated to him and left in embarrassment.