Someone in the residential complex was staking her out. Since she had important matters to deal with, she temporarily stayed at a hotel.
She didn’t even have time to adjust to the time difference. Early in the morning, she returned the Cullinan she had rented. That car had only been used to test Su Xiao.
After putting everything in the warehouse away, Boss Li called to inform her that the batch of seafood she had ordered had arrived.
She drove to the dock. As soon as she arrived, Boss Li came forward to greet her—the same Boss Li she had met previously when buying cold-weather clothing.
Li Yao smiled and said to him, “Thanks a lot this time, Boss Li.”
Boss Li replied generously, “Hey, if you find any good money-making opportunities in the future, just think of me.”
Li Yao smiled. “Of course. I’ve seen Boss Li’s capabilities clearly.”
However, Li Yao had underestimated him—she couldn’t fit that entire truckload of seafood.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “If Boss Li doesn’t mind, why not come with me to my warehouse?”
Boss Li readily agreed. Once they arrived at the warehouse, people immediately came forward to help unload the goods.
Li Yao stepped up to inspect the seafood. “The condition of these seafood items is very good. Thank you, Boss Li.”
Just this alone would be enough for her to eat for several years. However, the amount of shrimp was a bit small—what would she do about shrimp paste when eating hotpot in the future?
After the warehouse staff got off work, Li Yao stored all the seafood into her space.
There were still three days left before the apocalypse arrived. Everything she needed was fully prepared, and she still had a little over two hundred thousand left in cash.
Her teammates hadn’t arrived yet. After thinking for a bit, she sent them a message.
[Li Yao: Sister Ning, Brother Yan, when are you coming over? I’ll treat you to a meal.]
This time, Li Yao’s attitude was good, and Ning Xinyue and Yan Yuansi were both easy to talk to.
[Yan Yuansi: I’m already at the station. Transportation here is really slow.]
[Ning Xinyue: I’ll need two more hours.]
Li Yao glanced at the time—it was 8 p.m.
[Li Yao: I’ll come pick you up.]
Yan Yuansi wouldn’t arrive until the next morning, so Li Yao booked another hotel room. Once Yan Yuansi arrived the next day, they would go to the renovated apartment together.
[The other groups had already gathered early to build rapport.]
[This is the group I’m least optimistic about.]
[Their relationship already isn’t great. Once the apocalypse comes, who knows how bad it’ll get.]
At 10 p.m., Li Yao went to pick up Ning Xinyue.
The moment Ning Xinyue walked out of the station, she saw Li Yao—because Li Yao was truly beautiful, the kind you could spot at a glance in a crowd.
“Sister Ning, hello. I’m Li Yao.” After Ning Xinyue got into the car, Li Yao gave a brief self-introduction.
Ning Xinyue replied, “Hello, my name is Ning Xinyue.”
Li Yao said, “Sister Ning, I’m staying at a hotel right now. I also booked a room for you. The formaldehyde was just cleared today. Once Brother Yan arrives tomorrow, we’ll go choose rooms together.”
Ning Xinyue felt that Li Yao was different from how she seemed over messages. She nodded. “Okay.”
After checking Ning Xinyue into the hotel, Li Yao said to her, “See you tomorrow.”
There would be plenty of time in the future to get along—no need to rush bonding over just a day or two.
The next day, Li Yao took Ning Xinyue to pick up Yan Yuansi.
“Wow, I already saw how beautiful Miss Li Yao was last time. Seeing you up close, you’re even prettier.” Yan Yuansi’s familiarity made Li Yao feel he was a bit frivolous.
Li Yao drove in through the north gate and went up to the thirty-third floor. “I chose a high floor. If there’s no electricity during the apocalypse, we’ll have to take the stairs.”
Yan Yuansi asked, “Why?”
Li Yao replied, “To guard against people. You’ll understand later.”
On the thirty-third floor, Li Yao unlocked the door. Yan Yuansi noticed that behind the first door, there was another one—thicker, with reinforced walls.
“This place looks really safe.” Just the two doors alone gave Yan Yuansi a strong sense of security.
Li Yao opened the door and let them in. “I reinforced the entire apartment. The windows are blast-proof—bullets can’t damage them. Soundproofing measures were added everywhere. The living room isn’t large, mainly because I’m worried about staying warm during extreme cold weather.”
Yan Yuansi was stunned. “There will be extreme cold later too?”
Li Yao countered, “Didn’t you do your research?”
Yan Yuansi scratched his head. “Ahaha, I did.” He insisted stubbornly.
Li Yao didn’t mind. “For the first four months, Earth will be submerged in rain. Then come two months of thunderstorms, followed by six months of extreme heat. After the heat ends, there will be half a year of torrential rain—worse than the extreme weather before. After that comes three years of extreme cold. That makes four and a half years.”
She recited it fluently. Ning Xinyue and Yan Yuansi exchanged glances—they hadn’t expected it to be this severe.
Li Yao continued, “After three months of brief stability, a virus will break out. Humans and animals will mutate—like zombies in novels.”
She thought of her past life. “After four and a half years of natural disasters, how much strength will humanity have left? Between zombies and human nature, it’s hard to say which is deadlier.”
Li Yao said to them, “At the very least, we’ll be living here for the next four and a half years. Sister Ning, Brother Yan—choose your rooms.”
Ning Xinyue and Yan Yuansi exchanged another look. Since this apartment belonged to Li Yao, they both chose the side bedrooms.
After they were done, Li Yao handed them the room keys.
Then she looked at them and said, “I have one more question. Over the ten years of the apocalypse, how do you plan to get food? I don’t want my teammates to become a burden to me.”
Yan Yuansi asked, “Then what do you suggest?”
“You sign IOUs. I’ll provide the food.”
Yan Yuansi laughed in anger. “Yao-yao, we’re teammates.”
Li Yao shrugged indifferently. “It’s just a proposal. I said I’d treat you both to dinner today—I’ve already made a reservation.”
She booked a table at the best hotel in the city.
Ning Xinyue and Yan Yuansi could tell at a glance that this place was expensive.
Li Yao requested a private room—it would make them feel more at ease.
“Wow, this is so good!” Just the appetizer alone amazed Yan Yuansi.
Li Yao’s plan was to get them used to good food so they wouldn’t want to drink interstellar nutrient solutions anymore.
Besides, Yan Yuansi and Ning Xinyue were too good-looking—easy targets. That would bring her plenty of trouble, and she couldn’t guarantee her abilities wouldn’t be exposed one day.
No rush. There would be time later.
Li Yao looked at the two of them, satisfied and content, and felt very pleased.
She said to them, “There are three days left. Today and tomorrow, I might not go back. Brother Yan and Sister Ning, try not to expose the renovations at home.”
They both agreed.
Before they even finished dinner, Li Yao received a call saying she had a delivery—a cat.
Li Yao looked at the two present. “Sister Ning, Brother Yan—did either of you bring a cat?”
Yan Yuansi raised his hand. “Me! o(^▽^)┛!”
Li Yao sighed helplessly. “Does this cat really have to be kept?”
Yan Yuansi nodded. “Yes. Absolutely.”
Li Yao said nothing. For now, there was nothing wrong. She only hoped Yan Yuansi wouldn’t regret it later. Still, the cat gave her a reminder—flushing toilets might not be possible in the future. She should stock up on cat litter and deodorizer.