“Miss Shen, are you sure you want to replace all the insulation in these walls with… these metal panels?”
The foreman, Old Zhang, held the materials Shen Xingdu had given him, looking puzzled.
They were black glossy panels, thin yet incredibly hard. Sparks flew whenever the cutting machine touched them, and it took ages to make even a single cut.
These were the [Titanium Alloy Blast-Proof Wall Panels] she had exchanged 10,000 Survival Points for. Not only were they bulletproof and explosion-proof, their insulation was a hundred times better than ordinary materials.
“Do as I say,” Shen Xingdu said, wearing a safety helmet and holding the blueprints.
“Cover all interior walls with this material, then paint over it to hide it. I’ll double the labor pay, but one condition: total discretion. Anyone who leaks the structure of this house won’t see a single cent of the final payment.”
The moment Old Zhang heard “double pay,” he pounded his chest.
“Don’t worry! We know the rules of this trade! Brothers, let’s work!”
Beyond the walls, windows were critical too.
The vault security company she hired was installing a custom blast-proof door.
The door had a 30-centimeter-thick alloy steel panel, equipped with a mechanical keypad, fingerprint lock, and iris scanner—triple protection. The frame was welded directly to the steel reinforcement of the load-bearing wall. Unless the entire building was blown up, forcing entry was impossible.
All the windows were replaced with five-layer laminated one-way bulletproof glass, and an electric titanium alloy shutter was installed outside each.
Normally the shutters were rolled up and invisible. But in danger, lowering them turned the whole house into an airtight metal box.
“We also need a power system.”
Shen Xingdu stood on the rooftop terrace, directing workers to install solar photovoltaic panels. She had exchanged for high-efficiency solar converters in the system mall, ensuring reasonable power generation even under the gloomy apocalypse sky.
In addition, she placed two diesel generators in a well-insulated storage room and routed the exhaust pipes to the rooftop chimneys.
While busy, the doorbell rang.
Shen Xingdu opened the door to see a middle-aged woman with permed hair and a plump figure, followed by a young man with a brutish face.
“Oh, you must be the new owner of 3801, right?” the woman said with a fake smile, her eyes scanning the interior like radar.
“Renovation sure makes a lot of noise. I’m the property manager downstairs, call me Aunt Wang. This is my nephew Li Qiang, also the head of the security team in our community.”
Shen Xingdu squinted slightly.
Aunt Wang… Li Qiang.
These names were too familiar.
In her previous life, this aunt-nephew pair had been the tyrants of this neighborhood.
At the start of the apocalypse, they had embezzled supplies bought by residents and organized the security team to rob apartments.
Shen Xingdu’s former residence wasn’t far from here. She had heard of their infamy—they loved assigning pretty female owners to their men.
“Do you need something?” Shen Xingdu blocked the doorway, giving no sign they could enter.
Aunt Wang’s face stiffened, then she forced a smile:
“Nothing serious. Just seeing you installing steel panels and iron doors… looks like a bunker. Our community is upscale with good security; what you’re doing damages its image. Also…”
She rubbed her hands together, revealing her real intentions:
“Your renovation materials are dirtying the elevators. By regulations, you need to pay wear-and-tear fees and a deposit. Looking at your project, five thousand yuan should cover it.”
Five thousand? Why not just rob it?
Li Qiang’s gaze roamed shamelessly over Shen Xingdu’s naturally beautiful face, leering:
“Beauty, if you don’t have cash, add me on WeChat. We can settle privately. Uncle can give you a discount.”
Shen Xingdu smiled—the look of someone staring death in the face.
“Get lost.”
One word.
Aunt Wang froze, then screamed:
“How dare you speak to me like that?! Believe it or not, I’ll have the security team block your renovation crew!”
Shen Xingdu stepped forward. Suddenly, a utility knife appeared in her hand. It twirled at her fingertips, glinting coldly.
Her aura exploded—the murderous energy of someone who had clawed out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
“You can try,” she said softly, yet her voice sent shivers down the spine.
“If you block my workers, I’ll tear down your property office. If you stop my renovation, I’ll wall you two up in cement. I have enough money to pay for it anyway.”
Li Qiang stepped back, legs trembling involuntarily. Her eyes were meaner than any killer he’d seen in jail.
“You… just wait! Don’t you dare leave your house!” Aunt Wang hissed weakly, dragging Li Qiang away in disgrace.
Watching their retreating backs, Shen Xingdu sheathed the knife, eyes icy.
Lawful society or not, killing is troublesome—you have to deal with the body. In the apocalypse, the first strike would be on them.
She turned back inside:
“Speed up! Also, embed a high-voltage electric grid in the ceiling of the hallway outside the main door. Run the switch to my bedroom headboard.”
If there are evil neighbors, one must be prepared for guests.