Since Li Yao’s background was exposed, no one ever called her cold-blooded again. Being able to come out clean from a place where people cannibalized each other was already impressive. If she were still innocent and passionate, she wouldn’t be human — she’d be a god.
People from the interstellar community worship strength. Coupled with Li Yao’s constant cooking of delicious food every day, her reputation soared rapidly. Previously, she ranked last out of twelve in the livestreamers’ ratings; now she was fifth.
The heavy rain opened the chapter of the apocalypse. The other three teams cowered at home every day. At first, they still chatted and played games, but after a while, they could only zone out. Such livestreams had no entertainment value.
Compared to that, Li Yao’s stream was full of highlights: from ignoring Yan Yuansi’s attempts to save others, to revealing her background, then being investigated by the authorities, and finally going out into the rainy night to search for supplies.
Plus the endless cooking.
Zhou Chengxing, who drooled watching Li Yao’s livestream daily, felt like he had entered Li Yao’s home turf.
In the same apocalypse scenario, Li Yao’s life was exceptionally exciting. Now everyone in their residential complex was looking for who in building 43 had the patrol boat. Sooner or later, they would be exposed.
In the main group chat, people still discussed who had food. Li Yao thought that after half a month, with no incidents of theft or robbery, the residents’ quality here must be quite high. In her past life, where she lived had already gone through multiple rounds of looting.
Li Yao was enjoying the lively discussion when suddenly the network went down. That day had truly arrived — from now on, things would really get chaotic.
With no entertainment to watch, Li Yao planned to go to bed early. Early to bed, early to rise, good for health.
“Ning Xinyue,” someone called out to her.
Li Yao was a bit surprised — she thought Yan Yuansi would be the first to waver.
“Is your proposal still effective?” Ning Xinyue asked.
She nodded, “Of course.”
Ning Xinyue was securing her own future. The shock from going out last night was not small. She admitted she had underestimated the apocalypse on Earth. The nutrient solution she carried was not a guarantee.
But she believed in Li Yao’s ability. As long as she stuck with Li Yao, she basically wouldn’t go hungry.
Ning Xinyue said, “Name your price.”
Li Yao thought for a moment and held up five fingers.
Ning Xinyue’s eyes widened. “Five hundred million is too much. I can accept two hundred million at most.”
Before Li Yao could say anything, Ning Xinyue said, “Let’s sign the contract.”
Li Yao had secretly contacted Zhou Chengxing and prepared two copies of the contract as she wanted. She said, “Take a good look at the terms.”
Ning Xinyue shook her head, “No need.”
Then she quickly pressed her handprint — the contract took effect from that moment.
Ning Xinyue asked, “What were you about to say?”
Li Yao said, “I was going to say fifty million…” As long as they were grasshoppers on the same boat, that was enough. The extra one hundred and fifty million was beyond her expectations.
Ning Xinyue gritted her teeth, “Then why didn’t you say so?”
Li Yao calmly and innocently said, “You didn’t give me a chance.”
Ning Xinyue stood up quickly, “I don’t want to see you at all tonight.”
Li Yao thought about the morning ingredients — Ning Xinyue was a big client, so she had to eat well and drink well.
She happily went to sleep.
【Ning Xinyue, turns out the biggest fool is me.】
【Ning sister, if you don’t want to see her tonight, you should make Li Yao leave, why are you the one leaving?】
【Yeah, Ning sister, we spent money, so we have to be firm now.】
Ning Xinyue was indeed a bit depressed. She had grown up in the entertainment industry, always lukewarm. One hundred and fifty million was a sum she had saved up since childhood. This job felt wasted.
The next morning, Li Yao was already prepared breakfast.
“Ning sister, time to get up. Want some breakfast?”
“Of course.” Ning Xinyue sat firmly opposite Li Yao — after spending money, she had to act confident.
Li Yao quickly served a sumptuous breakfast.
While they were eating, Yan Yuansi dragged his tired body out of the room. Seeing Ning Xinyue and Li Yao eating together, his sleepiness immediately vanished.
“As you can see, I agreed to Yao Yao’s terms.” Ning Xinyue’s way of addressing Li Yao had changed — this breakfast was too delicious.
Yan Yuansi looked at Ning Xinyue with grievance, as if she had betrayed their alliance. Ning Xinyue leisurely stuffed a steamed bun into her mouth. If she could eat such delicious food for the next ten years, the one hundred and fifty million wasn’t a loss.
Li Yao looked at Yan Yuansi like a little fat lamb.
“Yan brother, want some too? Three hundred million is cheap, and we accept installments.”
“You’re robbing me!” Yan Yuansi snapped angrily.
Then he looked at Ning Xinyue in disbelief, “Ning sister, you didn’t spend three hundred million, did you?”
Ning Xinyue was shocked by Li Yao’s huge demand — yesterday it was only fifty million; now it was three hundred million.
Expressionless, she said, “No, I only spent two hundred million.”
Yan Yuansi retorted to Li Yao, “Why do you ask for three hundred million from me?”
Li Yao took a sip of milk.
“I’ve stockpiled enough food to feed the three of us for two lifetimes. We’re a team, but I don’t trust you guys.”
Ning Xinyue nodded; she could understand Li Yao’s suspicion. If she were from the Ainiu star system, she’d be even more wary.
“To be honest, this money is also from the show producers. I can share it, but food comes too easily here. Your lives are too smooth. I’m afraid your kind-heartedness will ruin things. This money is just our cooperation guarantee. Only by spending money do you realize how hard it is to get supplies.”
She leisurely said,
“I like to say unpleasant things upfront. I don’t trust you. I’m afraid you’ll reveal my secrets later. I just want to live well. That’s not too much to ask, right?”
Ning Xinyue agreed with her, and Yan Yuansi did too — but he was unhappy, so he went off to train.
Li Yao looked outside at the weather. Such rain would continue for more than three months.
Now with power and internet outages, food scarcity, and no way for people in the complex to go out, how many more days of peace could the same building maintain?
Watching Yan Yuansi vent his frustration on the treadmill — yesterday he gave that old lady instant noodles — the balance in the building was already broken. One led to two, and life would get lively from now on.
Their building was already chaotic. Knowing there was a patrol boat, everyone in building 43 began to distrust each other.
With a patrol boat, they could go out, and only by going out would they have a chance to survive.
A building with 45 floors, three households per floor — now there were eighty to ninety families living there, over two hundred people.
Floors one and two had already evacuated; some people had to move upward. Originally, only Li Yao’s family lived on the 35th floor; now there were others too.
Hearing the noise outside, she quieted her cooking sounds — apparently, she was being careful.
Thinking this, she turned on the kitchen ventilation system. Without sniffing carefully, you couldn’t smell anything. She once again felt the money spent was worth it.
Knock knock.
The door knocked again.
Yan Yuansi answered again.
He didn’t open the door.
“Who is it?”
“Hello, we’re the new neighbors from across the hall. Let’s help each other going forward.” A refined man spoke. They lived on the 5th floor, about to be flooded. Gritting their teeth, they directly moved up to the 35th floor.
They pried open door 3501 and found 3502 already occupied.