Li Yao returned a step ahead of Yan Wantong. Su Xiao, watching secretly through the peephole, frowned. Normally, Wantong should have come back with Li Yao.
After Li Yao closed the door, she subtly glanced backward. She could feel a pair of eyes watching her from behind the door. Was it the man who knocked her down that day?
She curled her lips—ambition and greed were plain in those eyes. No good person for sure.
Li Yao still woke up early. Since she was back before Earth’s apocalypse, she wanted to stockpile supplies well.
As soon as she stepped out, she ran into Su Xiao.
Su Xiao’s eyes lit up when he saw Li Yao. “Miss Li Yao, out so early?”
“My new store is about to open, and I have a ton of things to handle. I’m dizzy with busyness,” Li Yao sighed.
Watching the camera feed, Zhou Chengxing noticed something off.
He dragged over the drowsy Jiang Yong. “I noticed something different.”
Jiang Yong knew Zhou Chengxing paid special attention to Li Yao, so he forced himself to stay awake.
Zhou Chengxing pointed at Li Yao’s earlier expression. “Look at how cold her eyes were just now. She rarely shows emotion, so she definitely has no feelings for this guy named Su Xiao.”
Jiang Yong yawned, “Isn’t that a good thing?”
Zhou Chengxing sneered, “What do you know? Now I want to see if anything can make Li Yao lose her composure. The other three groups are just messing around. I hope Li Yao’s group gives me something different.”
Li Yao looked at Su Xiao: “What’s this about?”
Su Xiao laughed heartily. “Morning run.”
They took the elevator down together. Su Xiao tried to get close, but Li Yao’s phone rang.
Li Yao said, “Someone at the warehouse will sign for my orders. I’ll transfer the remaining 800,000 deposit later. As for the batch of seafood I ordered, I’ll inspect it myself. It has to be fresh and lively.”
She felt the burning gaze behind her, even hotter when she mentioned the 800,000. Li Yao finally understood Su Xiao’s purpose—he was after her money.
“My supermarket still needs a batch of cigarettes, alcohol, sweets, and tea—all high quality. You’ll have to help me check those. Money’s no problem,” she added.
Today was her last day at the slaughterhouse. She happily paid the bill, and the owner threw in two extra sheep.
One big client like Li Yao was enough to keep them going for a year.
She then drove to the warehouse and sorted everything out. She had been handling this warehouse herself.
Today was the handover day for the property. Feeling watched by Su Xiao, she sneaked in through the back door.
The sturdy, fortress-like house had insulation in every room and even places for ice blocks.
After paying the deposit, Li Yao had even booked the plane ticket. She flew out tomorrow, two days before Su Xiao’s team. She didn’t want those foreigners to stay longer. They knew how solid this place was.
Li Yao realized she had been paranoid. Su Xiao’s team had many projects to handle. Although this project was weird, it paid well, and they were conscientious, saving her a lot of trouble later.
After they left, Li Yao inspected the house again. Once she confirmed there were no cameras or bugs, she set up the rooms and changed the locks before leaving.
That afternoon, she went to the warehouse, secured her goods, and messaged the warehouse manager that she wouldn’t be around for a few days, asking him to keep an eye on things.
She also went to her supermarket and indeed spotted someone surveilling nearby.
Before, she didn’t understand why Su Xiao targeted her. Now that she knew it was for money, it was easier to handle.
She couldn’t take action now—after all, it was the apocalypse. But once it started, if anyone was unruly, she’d be the first to kill them.
Both warehouses and the supermarket were running smoothly.
Li Yao thought for a moment and added her two teammates into a group chat, sending them an address.
[Li Yao: My place is safe and renovated. Come stay here.]
She spent a lot on renovating the house and wouldn’t leave it, but since they were in the same team, they had no choice but to come over.
Her teammates Ning Xinyue and Yan Yuansi privately felt speechless. They had heard Li Yao was high-maintenance and bad-tempered before, and it seemed true.
Fans of Yan Yuansi and Ning Xinyue were suddenly unhappy.
[What is Li Yao doing? Who is she ordering around?]
[I’ve had enough. Li Yao is just a pretty face; why is she so tough?]
[Really, I just became a fan of Li Yao, but I have no good feelings anymore.]
In the end, Ning Xinyue and Yan Yuansi privately decided to visit the address Li Yao gave in a few days.
Su Xiao waited early at the door for Li Yao. From 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., she didn’t show.
Just as he was about to give up, Li Yao came out carrying a suitcase.
Su Xiao was stunned. Was she going out?
He immediately told Yan Wantong to block Li Yao at the door and inform her.
Li Yao planned to drive to the airport. The truck was inconvenient, so she rented another car casually.
Yan Wantong was stunned when she saw the car. Its sleek lines and the Kulinan logo were familiar.
“It’s you,” Yan Wantong said excitedly, looking at Li Yao.
Li Yao’s hand on the wheel paused, as if she couldn’t remember who this woman was.
Yan Wantong smiled: “You saved my life that night. I’ve wanted to thank you. I guessed you lived nearby. I didn’t expect you to be in the same community. What a coincidence. Let me treat you to a meal.”
Li Yao shook her head: “I have a flight today. Last time was just a favor. No need to eat.”
She tossed the suitcase into the trunk and sped off.
Yan Wantong was dumbfounded. Li Yao didn’t give her any face. Su Xiao also looked displeased watching Li Yao disappear. “You’ve made no progress.”
Hearing the complaint, Yan Wantong retorted, “You haven’t made progress either. Li Yao isn’t like the girls you used to fool.”
Su Xiao sneered, “She’s different. 800,000 just like that—yesterday morning I saw her transfer the money without blinking.”
Eight hundred thousand was enough for them to live well for a long time. If Su Xiao could control Li Yao, they’d have a good life.
After boarding the plane, Li Yao rested. Things in the U.S. were arranged so she could get what she wanted once she arrived.
After landing, someone took her to a manor. Li Yao had prepared gold; no one knew how she managed it.
Money and goods exchanged smoothly, cooperation was pleasant. Li Yao stayed in the U.S. for three days. She contacted more than one place: one to buy guns, another for bullets, grenades, and soon she had tens of millions left.
After ditching the people from the U.S., she took a flight back home, traveling light, and passed security smoothly.
She booked a hotel and got busy with supplies again. She went to the warehouse outside the city to pick up deliveries—cold-weather supplies.
As for fuel, she stockpiled a lot. If it ran out, she’d have to get zero-cost supplies once the apocalypse started.