Chapter 11: Secrets

Of course, the show-and-tell of stockpiled goods was inevitable, though Lin Buwan merely watched, never joining in. Bragging about your supplies now was simply setting yourself up for trouble down the line. Sure enough, a resident from the twelfth floor started flaunting their stash—ready-to-eat hotpots, cola, cigarettes, alcohol... They even posted a photo of a delicious curry beef rice meal.

It wouldn’t be long before someone came knocking, asking to borrow something—would you lend it or not? With so many people in the group watching, who knew what they were thinking. And the show-offs weren’t limited to just the twelfth floor; a few others joined in as well, but this person was the most conspicuous. Lin Buwan couldn’t recall what they’d been like in her previous life. After all, her past had been too miserable for her to pay attention to such things.

The chat history scrolled rapidly upward, and suddenly a familiar avatar appeared—1008 Ji.

1008 Ji: Does anyone have instant noodles? I’ll pay double.
1008 Ji: Does anyone have instant noodles? I’ll pay double.
1008 Ji: Does anyone have instant noodles? I’ll pay double.
…

They spammed this message seven or eight times in a row, making it impossible for Lin Buwan to ignore. Soon, someone responded.

2004 Zhang: I have some, DM?

Presumably, the two began chatting privately, as there were no further messages in the group. Lin Buwan knew 2004—after all, they lived on the same floor and would occasionally pass by each other. She seemed to recall that resident was a bespectacled girl, about her age. They’d barely interacted in their previous lives.

Lin Buwan lived in 2009, while Hua Xiao’s place was 2008, both at the end of the corridor. She clicked on 2004’s avatar—a cartoon pig—paused for a moment, then sent a friend request, which was immediately accepted.

2004 Zhang: ???

Lin Buwan: Hey, with the typhoon going on, you really shouldn’t sell your supplies.

2004 Zhang: What’s it to you?
2004 Zhang: You’re in 2009, right? Don’t be so selfish—we all live in the same building.

The tone was hostile. Lin Buwan gave a cold laugh—like a dog biting Lu Dongbin. She deleted 2004’s contact without hesitation. On normal days they’d simply nod in the hallway; she hadn’t expected such a temper. Lin Buwan even wondered if Ji Dong had said something.

But that didn’t matter. She’d tried to warn her, partly to prevent Ji Dong and his group from getting what they wanted, partly out of kindness. But the gesture was clearly unwelcome, so she let it go.

Ji Dong’s household now held seven people—four men, three women—all of whom had come for dinner the night before. Once the typhoon hit, they were stuck and couldn’t leave the apartment. Normally they didn’t cook, so naturally, they hadn’t stockpiled much food. What little snacks they had had been mostly consumed the night before, leaving them with no choice but to buy supplies at inflated prices in the group.

Not long after, the elevator on the twentieth floor dinged open, and Ji Dong and Qin Wei stepped out.

Qin Wei glanced in the direction of 2009 and spoke gently, “Should we go check on Wan? The typhoon was so fierce last night—I wonder how she’s doing.” She paused, then added, “Didn’t you mention she loves to stockpile food?”

Ji Dong was about to refuse, but he recalled that Lin Buwan really did enjoy hoarding supplies. He’d been to Lin Buwan’s apartment twice; the living room shelves were packed with food and daily necessities, and the kitchen was well-stocked too. At the time, they were in the ambiguous stage of their relationship, and Ji Dong had even joked that she was like a hamster.

If Qin Wei hadn’t appeared, perhaps he and Lin Buwan would’ve become official. In Ji Dong’s eyes, Qin Wei outshone Lin Buwan in every aspect—especially her family background, which was far superior to Lin’s broken home. Plus, Lin Buwan refused to let him get close, making Ji Dong even more dissatisfied.

Seeing his hesitation, Qin Wei continued softly, “I’ll wait here for you. Go talk to Wan properly.”

“What do you mean, Weiwei?” Ji Dong was confused. “We’re already together—why do you keep pushing me toward Lin Buwan?”

Qin Wei grew anxious. If she didn’t get that jade pendant soon, she’d miss the best opportunity. Her eyes flickered for a moment as she decided to tell Ji Dong the truth.

They whispered back and forth at the elevator entrance, Ji Dong’s expression shifting repeatedly. “You’ve been reading too many novels, haven’t you?”

“I’m telling the truth—believe it or not,” Qin Wei replied, feigning anger.

Ji Dong thought it over. If it really was true, he’d hit the jackpot. Who would have thought that Lin Buwan, an orphan in all but name, possessed such a treasure?

Qin Wei revealed the secret of the jade pendant but kept silent about the apocalypse. She didn’t belong to this world—she was a transmigrator, aware of everything that would unfold, and she knew the jade pendant’s secret.

As long as she got her hands on the pendant, she planned to leave the apartment. Now was the perfect time for a shopping spree at zero cost. Before everyone realized what was happening, she’d become the most powerful figure in the apocalypse.

At that thought, the corners of Qin Wei’s lips curled up involuntarily. She nudged Ji Dong. “So, are you going or not?”

“I’m going.” This time, Ji Dong didn’t hesitate.

Qin Wei nodded. “I’ll wait here, so Wan doesn’t get upset seeing me.”

Ji Dong planted a kiss on her cheek and strode toward apartment 2009.

* * *

*Knock, knock, knock—*

Lin Buwan had just finished her meal and was preparing some puppy food with goat’s milk for the little dog. She glanced at the door, assuming it was Hua Xiao.

When she opened the door, Ji Dong stood there, leaning against the frame with a greasy air.

Lin Buwan was instantly repulsed. Without a second thought, she slammed the door in his face.

Ji Dong hadn’t expected her to shut him out without so much as a word. Cursing inwardly, he forced himself to calm down by recalling the storage space that seemed straight out of a novel. He raised his hand to knock again.

This time, Lin Buwan gripped a baseball bat, a cold smile on her lips, and opened the door.

Just as Ji Dong was about to speak, she swung the bat at him. His reflexes saved him; if he’d been any slower, the bat would have struck his head. As it was, it landed hard on his shoulder.

Lin Buwan didn’t pause. The bat swung again, this time hitting his arm.

Ji Dong was terrified, convinced his shoulder was about to break. He turned and bolted.

Hua Xiao, hearing the commotion, opened her door just in time to see Ji Dong fleeing in panic while her best friend Lin Buwan stood in the hallway, baseball bat in hand, looking every bit the avenging warrior.

“Wan?” Hua Xiao called out. “Was he causing trouble?”

Lin Buwan nodded. Before she could say anything, Hua Xiao was already shouting down the corridor.

“Ji Dong, have you no shame? You’re sleeping with someone else and still harassing Lin Buwan!” Her voice was loud and clear. “Once the water recedes, I’ll post proof of your affairs all over the office building, so everyone can see what trash you are…”

Ji Dong, gritting his teeth in pain, spotted a trash can by the elevator and gave it a furious kick. Unfortunately, it was bolted down and made of stainless steel. Not only did it not budge, but he hurt his foot in the process.

Now the whole twentieth floor had heard the ruckus. Doors flung open, neighbors came out to watch, and some even started filming. Mortified, Qin Wei hastily pressed the elevator’s open button.

Just as the doors slid open with a metallic screech, all the lights in the hallway and elevator went out, plunging the twentieth floor into complete darkness.