This is the Knight XV!
A bulletproof armored vehicle worth 16 million. A black steel behemoth, armed from the body to the windows, with even the tires being bulletproof.
The entire vehicle can withstand an attack from a 15-kilogram TNT bomb—truly the ultimate apocalypse war machine!
Annan couldn't help but look back, watching the car of her dreams roar past.
She longed for it!
It was said that there were only two of these vehicles in the entire country. Annan had only seen Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and various supercars in the villa area. She had never noticed such a flashy armored car before.
As she pondered, she unknowingly arrived at her destination.
Aunt Chen had already spoken to the security, so Annan didn't face any obstacles and smoothly entered the Chen residence.
The place was as grand and luxurious as her former mansion.
Aunt Chen sat on a lavish sofa, handing over the prepared triangular bayonet to Annan.
Annan took it with both hands and politely thanked her.
Aunt Chen observed the girl before her, who despite her family's fall from grace, remained composed and graceful, stirring a pang of sympathy in her.
It was remarkable that, despite her downfall, she still managed to maintain her dignity and poise.
Aunt Chen then pulled out a beautifully crafted jewelry box.
"This jade pendant was a gift your mother gave me. I heard you left your home without much, so take it back, as a keepsake."
Annan was stunned. "Since it was a gift from my mother, how can I take it back…"
"I said take it, so take it," Aunt Chen interrupted, pressing the jewelry box into Annan's hands before turning to head upstairs.
"Xiao Liu, show her out."
The housekeeper immediately approached, gesturing for Annan to leave.
Annan, contemplating, glanced at Aunt Chen's retreating figure before leaving with the pendant and the bayonet.
She remembered meeting Aunt Chen during her visit to her scoundrel father's house in her previous life, but back then, Aunt Chen had shown no compassion, watching coldly as she was driven away. Yet now, she had warmly handed her the pendant.
It seemed human nature was truly complex.
When one was wealthy, they could afford to "help the world," but in a world of scarce resources, it was only natural to prioritize oneself.
...
Annan returned to the city and found a popular hotpot restaurant.
— Rainy days and hotpot go hand in hand.
As she dipped lamb slices into the broth, she reviewed her stockpile list.
Everything was checked off, except for one remaining item: "spiritual sustenance."
After finishing her meal, she immediately headed to the electronics market, buying more tablets, phones, memory cards, hard drives, and headphones as planned.
She intended to continue downloading movies and files she hadn't finished the night before.
After packing everything into her space, Annan hesitated for a moment before walking into a pet shop.
Humans are social animals, and long-term isolation can lead to depression. Especially in the high-stress environment of the apocalypse, Annan thought, she needed a companion to keep her sane.
In her past life, her companions were Wei Wenbin and Qian Ying'er.
But experience had proven that humans were not trustworthy. Only dogs could remain faithfully loyal.
With enough supplies in her space, Annan decided to buy a dog to keep her company through the darkness of the apocalypse.
As she entered the pet store, the puppies immediately rushed toward her, barking excitedly.
Annan frowned: Were the dogs always this loud? Such a ruckus could attract unwanted attention. If others discovered her, they might see her as a source of food.
Suddenly, a pale, fluffy pup caught her attention.
Behind the excited pack of puppies, there was one lying calmly on a cushion, its head lazily resting on its paws.
Annan walked over and picked it up, only to see its true appearance.
Uh… this dog is kind of… ugly.
It looked like a little pig.
As if it had heard her thoughts, the dog grumbled a few times in protest.
Annan turned to the shopkeeper. "Does this dog bark?"
The shopkeeper smiled. "It's a French Bulldog. They hardly bark. This little one is only half a year old and has a lazy disposition. It doesn't like to move much."
Lazy? That's perfect. It would be inconvenient to walk a dog in the apocalypse, but this little one would be fine running around the house.
Plus, it didn't bark—small enough to hide in a bag.
Annan grew fond of its awkwardly adorable face.
She decided, this was the one.
She also bought plenty of dog food, treats, a bed, pee pads, dog clothes, and small toys.
Before leaving, she glanced at the other puppies and said to the shopkeeper:
"My friend at the weather station says there's a risk of flooding tomorrow. You might want to prepare ahead of time."
With that, she turned and left.
In the apocalypse, it's hard enough to survive as a human, let alone these little creatures. She wasn't a savior, and with her own survival uncertain, all she could do was offer a warning.
After leaving the pet store, Annan went to a wholesaler and loaded two large trucks with pet supplies.
As she was checking out, she spotted a stack of cat litter and had a sudden realization.
After the apocalypse, without running water, toilets would be useless. Though her space had trash bags, cat litter would be much more convenient and sanitary.
So, she bought a truckload of cat litter.
With the purchase of the cat litter, her 3 million loan was nearly spent, leaving her with only 3,000 yuan.
Annan sighed with relief. This time, at least the money hadn't turned into worthless paper.
In high spirits, she petted the dog in the passenger seat. "Let's go, little one. Time for a joyride."
The dog responded with a couple of satisfied grunts.
Under the light drizzle, Annan drove, carefully consulting a paper map.
Soon, the phone's GPS would be useless, and she would need to rely on the map to navigate.
She marked several important landmarks and shopping centers on the map, carefully memorizing the upper parts of the buildings (the lower portions would soon be submerged by floodwaters).
After a while, she returned the truck before the rental company closed and swapped it for a camper van.
Although her space already contained a Wuling Hongguang, for comfort, she needed a proper camper van.
The interior of the camper van was far superior to the Wuling van.
She rented it for two days, using the deposit from the truck and paying an additional 3,000 yuan.
She wouldn't need to wait for the return date. The torrential rains would flood the city soon.
If she didn't take the van, it would be destroyed in the flood, so she might as well make use of it.
Annan had no hesitation as she swiped her card, emptying her account.
Once the camper van was stored in her space, the last bit of room was filled.
400 million might not sound like much, but converted into supplies, it was a considerable amount.
With a satisfied smile, Annan walked home, umbrella in hand, her dog by her side.
Just as she approached her building, she saw Wei Wenbin standing at the entrance.
Annan inwardly groaned.
"Nan Nan!" Wei Wenbin called, noticing the dog in her arms. "Did you get a puppy?"
Annan remained expressionless. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"No, no, I just wanted to ask why you suddenly blocked me."
"Yesterday, Ying'er said you called us ugly."
"I know you're not like that. There must be some misunderstanding."
"I came to find you on the 14th floor today, but you weren't home. So, I waited here for you. Nan Nan, I..."
"No misunderstanding," Annan interrupted. "I just simply think you're ugly."
Wei Wenbin choked, his expression faltering.
But he swallowed and said, "Nan Nan, I really like you. I hope you'll give me a chance, even if just to be friends..."
How clingy could this man be?
After a long day, Annan just wanted to get home.
She replied, "I'm tired. If you have more to say, meet me at 12 PM tomorrow at the Huai Shu Restaurant in the Wide City District. We can talk over lunch."
Wei Wenbin's face lit up.
Huai Shu Restaurant was a famous couples' spot. Annan inviting him there was surely a sign of...?
Annan ignored him, stepping into the elevator and heading upstairs.
Let him dream.
Wide City was the lowest point in the city. She wondered if he would still be so cheerful tomorrow when trapped in floodwaters.