In mid-November, the weather in S City, which had already entered deep autumn, started to heat up again after being grazed by a tornado.

“This crazy weather, can you believe it’s 25 degrees today?” A young couple quietly chatted in the elevator on their way home.

“I already brought out the winter clothes to air them out, but today everyone on the street is wearing short sleeves.”

“Isn’t that nice? It means this winter should be mild.”

“You don’t get it. This is the greenhouse effect. Winters on G Blue Star will only get shorter and warmer each year.”

“That’s not how the greenhouse effect works, is it?”

“What do you know? If you understand, then explain it…”

Yu Xi stood in the corner of the elevator, quietly listening to the couple’s conversation. The elevator soon stopped on the eighth floor, and the couple walked out, followed by faint complaints: “This place is still under renovation? How long have they been at it?”

“Maybe the windows broke during the tornado.”

“Forget it, forget it…”

The closing elevator doors cut off the complaints from the hallway.

Yu Xi returned to her parents’ apartment on the fifteenth floor. Fan Qi had already prepared dinner, and Yu Feng was helping by serving the dishes.

Fan Qi noticed Yu Xi coming in and exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming home for dinner? It’s the weekend; aren’t you going out for a date or something?”

While changing her shoes, Yu Xi felt a bit emotional. This was so typical of her mother. When she used to come home for dinner only once every week or two, Mrs. Fan would always greet her enthusiastically and ask what she wanted to eat, making whatever she requested. Now that Yu Xi was coming home for dinner every night and occasionally staying over, Mrs. Fan started to complain about her being at home too often…

It had been over ten days since the tornado, and the fear it caused had long dissipated. Nobody was talking about it online anymore.

Opening the trending searches, the entertainment industry took up most of the space, followed by social news and fun stories. There were only one or two posts about the recent heatwave, buried at the bottom.

In the past, there had been similar warm spells in the autumn and winter, which initially drew concern. But as they became more frequent, people got used to it. Everyone had heard of the greenhouse effect, and with the increasing atmospheric pollution on G Blue Star, erratic temperatures weren’t surprising. These mild heatwaves, which had no impact on daily life, rarely attracted much attention.

“Wash your hands and come eat,” Fan Qi said, happy to see her daughter home more often, even though Yu Xi was now twenty-six and had yet to bring home a boyfriend.

While Fan Qi and Yu Feng weren’t the type to pressure their daughter about marriage, Fan Qi still hoped Yu Xi would date more during her youth, enjoying her time and relationships.

Yu Xi nodded and headed to the bathroom. The apartment had two bathrooms, one next to her parents’ bedroom upstairs and another downstairs.

As she turned the doorknob, what appeared before her wasn’t the usual small bathroom but a spacious, forty-square-meter, light gray Star House.

A week ago, when she decided to move the Star House to her parents’ apartment, she had considered where to place it. The system required the Star House to be situated in a single, fixed space, like the stairwell in her small apartment. It couldn’t cover an entire apartment with multiple rooms. Moreover, the Star House had to be placed in a space that a normal person could access and enter, emphasizing accessibility and integrity. For example, a room with only a mouse hole wouldn’t work because a normal person couldn’t enter, nor would a room with just a door frame, as it would lack completeness.

Once the Star House is successfully placed and fixed in position, there is no need to worry about the above requirements. Whether the door breaks, the room structure gets damaged, or even if the roof collapses or the floor disappears, the Star House will remain in its original fixed position.

Yu Xi had considered not moving the Star House at first and letting her parents move into her apartment. However, everything was still just a guess, and her original world was currently calm. Although there had been disasters before, one or two incidents didn’t mean much, especially since they hadn’t caused collective casualties.

Therefore, she hadn’t planned to tell her parents about the Star House yet. Once that conversation started, she wouldn’t be able to hide anything else. She didn’t want them living in constant worry about something that might never happen. If her world remained fine, she didn’t want her parents living in fear every day.

She wanted to prepare everything to give her family a safe retreat without causing them anxiety about a potential apocalypse. After much deliberation, she decided not to immediately activate the “Star House Traveler” feature for her parents but rather place the Star House as close to them as possible.

Since her parents’ entire floor, except for the bathroom, was an open space, she placed the Star House in the downstairs bathroom. Due to the orientation and angle of this placement, the two windows of the Star House overlapped with the exterior wall of the residential building. After the Star House was moved and fixed, she noticed that the foggy scene outside the windows was replaced by the familiar cityscape.

“Is this a real view?” Yu Xi was surprised.

【When the Star House windows overlap with the outer wall or windows of the original space, they will ignore the existing obstacles and display the external scenery.】

That made sense. When the Star House was in her stairwell, the wall overlapping with the window was not an exterior wall, so the view outside appeared foggy.

Once everything was settled, Yu Xi realized that after the Star House overlapped with a space, she, being bound to the Star House, would always enter the Star House instead of the original space whenever she tried to access it.

This meant that whether she wanted to take a shower or use the restroom, she would have to go to the upstairs bathroom. It would be fine at night, but during the day, when everyone was downstairs, wouldn’t she seem a bit strange?

While thinking this, she began reorganizing the Star House warehouse, placing the temporarily stored items back into the warehouse. Once all the items were moved, she discovered an extra door on the back wall.

This door was on the right side wall of the Star House, made of the same light gray material, with no handle and only a slight gap. It was almost unnoticeable unless closely inspected.

She touched the door, and it automatically opened to reveal a small bathroom. It was about five or six square meters, with a curved shape, frosted white tiles on the walls, and black tiles on the floor. The curved wall had, from left to right, a floating sink with a mirror, an integrated toilet, and a glass shower enclosure. There was also an open wall cabinet on the left side of the mirror.

Although everything in this bathroom had extremely simple lines, exuding a cold, technological feel, it gave Yu Xi immense joy. Sleeping could be handled with a mattress on the floor, rolled up during the day. Eating could be done with an alcohol stove, like camping. But the most crucial aspect of life couldn’t be compromised.

When she was alone, she could use a portable toilet. But when her parents were around, how would she manage? The forty-square-meter space outside, though not small, was just one open area, often inconvenient.

Now, with the upgraded Star House including a bathroom, she could even take a shower. Wait, a shower?

Being able to shower meant there was water. Did the Star House have its own water supply?

【Yes, ten tons of water for one Star Coin, purchasable before use.】

At this point, the cost of the water was irrelevant. Yu Xi suddenly realized, “Can this water be drunk?”

【According to the habits of G Blue Star residents, it can be consumed after boiling.】

Yu Xi: !!!

The issue of water resources was now solved. Whether it was advanced technology or something magical, at that moment, Yu Xi just wanted to hug the Star House. She touched the white frosted tiles of the bathroom wall and gave the cold surface a kiss.

【…】

After relocating the Star House, Yu Xi no longer worried about staying at her parents’ home at night. If anything happened, she could instantly move to the Star House from wherever she was and then exit from the bathroom in her parents’ house.

For over ten days, she had been doing the same thing: discreetly converting a bit of gold and stockpiling supplies. She didn’t go to the wholesale market to buy tons of basic grains like rice and flour. Firstly, she wasn’t a glutton. Secondly, she wasn’t sure if her world would continue to experience disasters or if those disasters would lead to an apocalypse. Everything was still just speculation. She still had to continue her apocalyptic missions every month, and with limited space in the Star House warehouse (it’s bigger than a storage now), it wasn’t practical to buy large quantities of rice and flour.

Thirdly, in the apocalyptic missions, she could bring supplies in and take supplies out. If her world did become an apocalypse, she could reverse the operation since rice and flour were everywhere and easy to stockpile. What she really wanted to stockpile were some complex food products and essential daily necessities.

She had already stockpiled almost a truckload of various snacks, convenience foods, and frozen meats, so this time, she prioritized daily necessities. She bought two years’ worth of hand soap, shampoo, shower gel, scented bath salts, laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, paper towels, kitchen paper, wet wipes, and alcohol wipes online from several different shops, with the goods delivered in batches to her apartment.

She didn’t need to stockpile purified water for now since she had solved the water resource issue, and she still had 60 barrels of 19-liter purified water in the Star House warehouse. She also bought clothing and shoes for three people, from summer to winter, including clothes that could withstand temperatures below freezing, all online. She focused on loose, durable, and comfortable sportswear. She didn’t buy many clothes, as good quality clothes could last four or five years as long as one’s body shape didn’t change, but she did buy hundreds of pairs of disposable cotton underwear for convenience and to avoid washing.

She also bought camping gear like tents, sleeping bags, moisture-proof mats, solar lights, and complete sets of outdoor cooking utensils, buying two sets each as spares. Additionally, she bought ten sets each of three-section batons, electric batons, and multifunctional shovels as self-defense items, considering her current financial situation didn’t allow her to buy 【High Temperature Perfume】 and 【Air Hair Dryer】 like before, and these items were sufficient for small situations without spending Star Coins.

She also stocked up on several years’ worth of skincare sets, sunscreen, and various feminine hygiene products, as well as her father’s favorite red wine. In this era where everyone loved online shopping and was a shopaholic, this amount of goods wouldn’t attract any attention.

Every day, she would personally drive her father’s car to different breakfast shops, restaurants, and food stalls in the city. She went to familiar shops she had eaten at before, popular shops recommended by netizens, and some old, reputable shops. At a breakfast shop known for its delicious jianbing (Chinese crepes) that didn’t do takeout due to high demand, she pre-ordered 100 jianbing the day before. The next day, she picked them up, packed in a new cardboard box she had prepared, which fit perfectly.

At a popular bakery where her mother loved the sea salt bread and cheese sticks, she pre-ordered 100 sea salt breads and 50 packs of cheese sticks, arranging for the bakery staff to help her load the boxes into her car.

The city also had a famous street full of crayfish restaurants, stretching for a few kilometers. She called various reputable or previously visited restaurants to place orders, buying twenty extra-large portions of each flavor: special thirteen spices, pepper and salt, golden garlic, and iced, from ten different restaurants. She then drove along the street, stopping at each restaurant to pick up the crayfish, transfer them to her warehouse, and continue to the next spot.

The storage room in the Star House was lined with the first row of 18 aluminum shelves. She had purchased another 18 identical aluminum shelves. The 200 boxes of extra-large crayfish perfectly filled up two of these shelves. Looking at the neatly arranged 36 shelves and the remaining 20 that were yet to be filled, Yu Xi decided to keep up the effort.

Just one more… another… yet another one…

Running around personally took some time, but it allowed her to buy larger quantities at once, from multiple shops, without revealing her address. After a few days of food stockpiling, she spent an entire afternoon shopping at several cosmetics counters in the mall, selecting perfumes and makeup.

While she was roughing it in the mission worlds and didn’t use skincare products or makeup—especially in the last world—in her original world, she did use these items. Among all the cosmetics she bought, she got the most lipsticks from brands like C and D. She usually collected new shades whenever they were released. Most of these lipsticks she had only used a few times before they expired, which would never happen again now.

Lip glosses, lip stains, lip balms, and moisturizing lip balms… she bought every shade she and Fan Qi liked, buying two of each—one to use and one to keep for display. She also bought several sets of different brands of foundation, powder, loose powder, eyeshadow, eyebrow pencils, and eyeliners for herself and Fan Qi.

Perfumes too—she had a passion for them. The glass cabinet downstairs in her apartment was filled with miniatures of classic branded perfumes. She would occasionally use them when alone at home, working on her drafts, to find inspiration. This time, she carefully selected about twenty different small bottles of perfume for herself and Fan Qi, buying two of each as usual.

Money was no object for her.

【……】

Noticing the system’s reaction, she couldn’t help but say to it in her mind: Today, I’ll show you what truly popular makeup products are for girls. I hope this shopping—no, this learning experience will help the Star House Mall refresh its products with more reliable and varied items next time.

【…………】

Because she bought so much, the saleswomen at the counters were incredibly enthusiastic. After she swept through one counter, they would eagerly promote their new products, telling her about gift sets and discounts. The saleswomen at the cosmetics counters were all more beautiful than the next, and they smelled nice too. Yu Xi’s face remained expressionless, but her feet wouldn’t obey, and she ended up buying so much she couldn’t carry it all. She had to ask for help to get everything to the car.

She planned to unpack these items and sort them into two small storage boxes according to her and Fan Qi’s preferences, which wouldn’t take up much space. But just in case… if her world did face an apocalypse one day, these beautiful things exclusive to peaceful times would become a luxury and a memory. Even if they weren’t used, it would be nice to keep them as mementos.

After placing the makeup and perfumes, she returned to the mall and bought three self-winding mechanical watches from a well-known luxury store. All three watches were from the same series: one with a pink dial, one with a red dial, and one with a white dial. Together, they cost over 100,000 yuan, which was relatively cheap for high-end mechanical watches.

Fan Qi had always said she wanted to buy her a beautiful mechanical watch for her thirtieth birthday. Yu Xi thought it was better to be prepared and buy them in advance. Plus, buying three at once meant each family member could have one.

As Yu Xi was carrying the watch bags through the mall and preparing to leave, she saw her cousin Zhao Xuefei at the entrance of another luxury store. Zhao Xuefei seemed to be arguing with someone. The man facing her was dressed in branded clothes from head to toe, and though he was good-looking, his expression of impatience ruined his good looks. Behind him, not far away, stood a stylishly dressed woman, scrolling through her phone with an equally impatient look. She occasionally took a sip from her coffee and muttered complaints to the man.

Yu Xi wasn’t sure if this man was the “BMW guy” her aunt Yu Li had mentioned last time, but from the current situation, it seemed that he was Zhao Xuefei’s current boyfriend, and he had been caught cheating red-handed.

Zhao Xuefei initially looked sorrowful, clinging to the man and saying something tearfully, with tears stubbornly welling up in her eyes. The man seemed somewhat softened, his expression becoming gentler. However, the woman behind him, also dressed in designer clothes, was unhappy. She put down her phone and prepared to leave. The man immediately turned to coax her softly.

Even though Yu Xi and Zhao Xuefei weren’t particularly close as relatives, the scene made her uncomfortable. Why tolerate such a scumbag?

Before she could finish her thought, Zhao Xuefei abruptly stepped forward, slapped the man hard, and then snatched the coffee from the woman’s hand, pouring it directly over her.

Yu Xi: …

The transformation was so quick that neither the couple nor Yu Xi had time to react.

Zhao Xuefei, still unsatisfied, kicked the man in the leg as she passed him and quickly walked away, bumping into Yu Xi.

Zhao Xuefei was initially stunned but then frowned, “What are you doing here?”

“…Just passing by,” Yu Xi replied. After a few steps, she was pulled back by Zhao Xuefei.

“I need to talk to you,” she said urgently, glancing back as if afraid the couple would follow. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Ten minutes later, Yu Xi’s car had left the mall’s underground parking lot and was driving along the riverside avenue toward the bridge.

Zhao Xuefei hadn’t said a word since getting into the car. Yu Xi didn’t mind; she had to cross the bridge to go home anyway, so she could just give her a lift.

“Are you happy to see me like this?” Zhao Xuefei finally spoke.

“Why would I be happy?”

“You’ve always enjoyed watching my misfortune from the sidelines.”

“What misfortune have you had that’s worth watching?” Yu Xi slowed down and merged onto the bridge.

Maybe it was Yu Xi’s calm expression, but Zhao Xuefei bit her lip, and after a moment of silence, she spoke again, her tone softer, “Don’t tell my mom about today. You know how she is—she values face. If she finds out…”

“Why would I tell your mom out of the blue?” Yu Xi glanced at her, reached for the tissue box, and handed it to her. “Do what you want; I won’t watch.”

“I’m not crying…”

“Mm, you’re not crying. The tissues are for your runny nose.”

“…I don’t have a runny nose when I cry!” Zhao Xuefei said, embarrassed.

Yu Xi didn’t respond and focused on driving. It was rush hour, and the bridge was busy. She kept a careful distance from the car ahead.

But soon, the traffic in front slowed down and eventually stopped. Although her car was high off the ground, the vehicles ahead included buses and coaches, blocking her view of what was happening.

The bridge was nearly three kilometers long, with the main span being about two kilometers. They had only driven a third of the way across.

Blocked in front and behind, her car was stuck. She had no idea how long it would take to get off the bridge.

Yu Xi pulled out her phone, intending to call Fan Qi and let her know she might be late. Just then, she felt the car shake violently.

“What happened?” Zhao Xuefei, still holding the tissue box, was startled. “Is the car having problems?”

“I don’t know. It felt like… the bridge shook.”

“The bridge? That’s impossible!”

“When the wind is strong, large bridges like this can indeed shake and vibrate,” Yu Xi explained. The traffic ahead was at a standstill. Due to the recent tremor, some people opened their windows to look up, and others got out of their cars.

Yu Xi pushed open her door, contemplating climbing onto the roof to check the situation. Just then, the bridge trembled again, with several strong shakes. She could even hear the steel cables creaking.

Something wasn’t right—the shaking was too intense. What was going on?

Without hesitation, Yu Xi climbed onto the car roof to get a better view of the traffic ahead.

At the end of the blocked lane, people had left their cars and gathered, trying to see why the cars weren’t moving, while other vehicles were heading towards the other end of the bridge.

When the people at the front finally saw what was happening, they were terrified. They began to back away, shouting in panic, “Go back! Retreat, retreat!”

“What’s going on? Why do we need to retreat?” asked those further back who hadn’t seen the situation yet.

“Hurry, retreat! The bridge… the bridge is cracking!”

Yu Xi: …!!