The moment Mi Beibei pushed open the apartment building door, the silver-bell laughter of children cheerfully drifted into her ears. Following the sound, she looked toward the plaza, where it was filled with children who had just gotten out of school. They ran and played like carefree little deer, their colorful backpacks bouncing with every step like lively musical notes. Their bright laughter pierced through the evening air and carried far away on the breeze.
Parents stood together in small groups nearby, each holding a heavy school bag. Gentle smiles filled their faces. Sometimes they burst into laughter over something amusing their children had done, and sometimes they gathered together to exchange parenting tips. Mi Beibei took a deep breath, savoring the warmth of ordinary life in the air, and her steps unconsciously became lighter.
Soon, Mi Beibei arrived at the revolving hotpot skewer restaurant she had been craving. Warm orange light streamed through the glass doors like a flickering flame, driving away the chill of the night. The rich aroma of spicy broth drifted into her nose, instantly awakening her appetite.
In the past, every time she passed by, she could only stand outside the window, staring longingly at the steaming hotpot and endless variety of ingredients inside, swallowing both her saliva and her envy. But today, she could finally walk through the door with confidence.
As soon as she entered, a wave of warmth and delicious fragrance enveloped her. After paying at the counter, she found a seat. The rotating conveyor in the center looked like a magical carousel, carrying countless fresh ingredients that glistened under the bright lights as if inviting her to take them. Crisp green lettuce still sparkled with droplets of water, plump meatballs rested playfully on small plates, and neatly layered slices of meat resembled blooming flowers. Every ingredient tempted her taste buds.
Not long afterward, her personal hotpot was brought to the table.
Mi Beibei eagerly switched it on, staring at the pot without blinking. Tiny bubbles began rising from the bottom, gradually becoming cheerful bursts of boiling water as the spicy aroma grew even stronger.
Her eyes sparkled like a child who had just discovered hidden treasure. She quickly grabbed several plates of fresh meat rolls and bouncy meatballs from the conveyor, then picked up a few plates of crisp lettuce and plump mushrooms, carefully placing everything into the boiling broth.
Watching the ingredients dance up and down in the bubbling soup, she swallowed hard in anticipation.
Finally, the vegetables had absorbed the flavorful broth, becoming glossy and tender, while the meatballs happily “swam” in the soup, releasing an irresistible aroma.
Mi Beibei picked them up and generously coated them in the restaurant’s special dipping sauce.
Red chili oil mixed with sesame seeds, minced garlic, and vinegar exploded with fragrance.
The moment the food entered her mouth, the vegetables burst with sweet juices, while the springy meatballs released rich meat flavors with every bite. The spicy, savory, tangy, and fresh flavors danced joyfully across her tongue, blending into a delicious symphony.
She closed her eyes in satisfaction, letting out a contented sigh as happiness filled her entire body.
Before she knew it, empty plates had piled into a small mountain on the table, while the bamboo skewers stood stacked like a tiny tower. The waiters came by several times to clear away the evidence of her feast.
Mi Beibei ate to her heart’s content until fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
Eventually, the bubbling red broth settled down. She gently wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth with a napkin as the last slice of tripe, coated in sesame oil and garlic, melted in her mouth.
Only after her stomach was completely full did she reluctantly set down her chopsticks. Leaning back in her chair with complete satisfaction, she let out a hearty burp scented with beef tallow and Sichuan peppercorns. The warm amber lighting fell across her slightly flushed cheeks, and even her eyelashes seemed covered in a mist of lingering steam.
With light steps, she pushed open the restaurant door.
The cool night air mixed with the lively sounds of the city rushed toward her.
Neon lights glittered along the streets as people carrying grilled skewers and milk tea walked back and forth. The cries of street vendors blended with the noisy conversations from nearby hotpot restaurants, creating a lively urban symphony.
Wrapping her coat tightly around herself, Mi Beibei let the evening breeze carry away the lingering hotpot scent from her clothes.
Her shadow stretched and shrank beneath the streetlights.
As she passed a convenience store on the corner, she suddenly found herself buying a strawberry ice cream.
Licking its cool sweetness while humming a tune, she strolled home with happiness evident in every step.
After returning home, Mi Beibei quickly washed up and climbed into her soft, fluffy bed. Since she wasn’t sleepy yet, she took out her phone and started scrolling through short videos.
She had no idea how much time had passed before her eyes slowly drifted shut.
Soon, the only sound left in the room was her steady, gentle breathing.
…
She slept dreamlessly through the night.
Morning sunlight slowly climbed over the folds of the curtains and spread across the head of her bed. Tiny patches of light danced playfully across Mi Beibei’s face.
Still half asleep, she raised a hand to block the sunlight. Her eyelashes fluttered a few times as birds chirped cheerfully outside the window.
Reluctantly, she opened her eyes.
With cheerful steps, Mi Beibei headed to a breakfast stall.
Steam rose from the large iron griddle.
“Boss, two eggs and one crispy sausage!” she called out familiarly.
She watched as the batter spread into a thin pancake beneath the wooden spreader, the golden egg instantly setting on top before the cook brushed it with special sauce and wrapped it around a crispy cracker.
The moment the steaming jianbing was handed to her, its aroma rushed straight into her nose.
Squatting beside a roadside flower bed, Mi Beibei took a huge bite.
The crispy cracker and soft pancake blended perfectly together, while the savory sauce and rich egg flavor filled her mouth.
After only a few bites, a thin layer of sweat formed on her forehead.
She devoured the breakfast in no time, wiped the corner of her mouth, and walked home carrying the lingering fragrance of the food.
Back home, Mi Beibei opened the window that connected to the apocalypse.
She sat in the chair beside it, opened a novel on her phone, and became completely absorbed in reading.
Knock, knock, knock…
Just as she was immersed in the story, a series of knocks startled her.
Standing up, she looked toward the window.
Outside stood a vulgar-looking man with a monkey-like face and pointed ears. His greasy forehead was pressed against the windowsill. His tiny beady eyes shone with a murky light, and when he grinned, a row of tobacco-stained teeth was exposed.
“Little girl,” he said with a lewd smile, “I heard you’ve stocked up on a lot of good stuff?”
Mi Beibei’s fingers tightened around the window frame until they turned pale. Catching sight of the gray lice crawling on the back of the man’s neck, she forced herself to suppress the nausea rising in her stomach and merely nodded.
The man let out a croaking laugh like a toad before suddenly raising a greasy hand in front of her.
A gleaming gold bracelet reflected dazzling sunlight.
“See this? Pure gold! Give your big brother a whole box of instant noodles and another whole box of sausages, and this treasure is yours.”
“Not enough.”
Mi Beibei immediately stepped back half a step and replied with obvious disgust.
“One bracelet can only be exchanged for two cups of instant noodles and two sausages.”
Before she even finished speaking, the man’s face instantly turned the color of pig liver.
Bang!
His thick palm slammed against the glass, making dust fall from the windowsill.
“You little bitch! Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!”
He yanked open his collar, revealing a hideous scar across his chest.
His foul-smelling breath made Mi Beibei’s eyelashes tremble.
“Believe it or not, I’ll kick down this damn door and take both you and all your food—”
“Liu Laosi! What are you doing?”
A stern voice interrupted him.
Following the sound, Mi Beibei saw Liu Jingming standing at the front with a bloodstained broadsword strapped across his back.
Gu An’an was wiping the blood from her dagger with her sleeve.
Li Long and Zhang Zeyu kicked aside a twitching zombie at their feet, the sound of their boots crushing rotten flesh making anyone’s teeth ache.
Several unfamiliar faces walked over, stepping on broken zombie spines.
One of them suddenly pulled a military knife out of a zombie’s chest, causing dark red blood to splatter across the cracked concrete, forming a strange pattern.
“What I do is none of your damn business!” Liu Laosi suddenly roared.
His thick finger pointed toward Liu Jingming.
“Don’t think just because your team found food the base commander treats you like treasures! I’m your cousin!”
The fat on his neck shook violently as he shouted, exposing the greasy collar of his shirt.
With a cold expression, Liu Jingming slapped his hand away.
When he looked back at Mi Beibei, however, the coldness in his eyes disappeared and was replaced by a gentle smile.
“Boss Mi, I’m sorry.”
He brushed zombie flesh from his shoulder, while dried blood on his sword sheath glistened dark red under the sunlight.
“Liu Laosi only came along to help carry supplies. He has no filter on his mouth. Please be generous and don’t take it to heart.”
Before he finished speaking, another wet gurgling sound came from behind him as Gu An’an cleanly sliced a newly approaching zombie’s head in half.
Lowering her eyes as she brushed the dust from the windowsill, Mi Beibei said,
“I’ve already prepared everything according to the list you gave me. Are you moving it now?”
Her eyelashes trembled slightly as her gaze swept over the zombie corpses scattered behind Liu Jingming, making her throat tighten unconsciously.
“Thank you for your trouble, Boss Mi.”
Liu Jingming wiped the blood from his forehead before signaling to his companions.
Li Long immediately handed over a large bundle wrapped in waterproof cloth.
As Mi Beibei accepted it, she caught the faint scent of soap—it had obviously been carefully cleaned.
The moment she untied the rope, cold light flashed before her eyes.
Tangling gold chains gleamed with a heavy luster.
On the inside of a dragon-and-phoenix gold bracelet, the faded “Double Happiness” character was still engraved.
Two jade bracelets were stacked together, their translucent ice-jade quality casting a green reflection across her palm.
At the very center lay an enormous pigeon-egg-sized diamond that sparkled so brilliantly it was almost blinding.
Mi Beibei ran her fingertips across the cool jewelry, struggling to control her racing heartbeat.
She carefully pushed the bundle aside and calmly began handing over boxes of instant noodles in an orderly manner.
The rustling sound of plastic sausage packaging mixed with the zombies’ low growls, echoing clearly through the cold wind.