Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 11

Yuxi: “The catastrophe is happening simultaneously? Why didn’t you warn me in advance?”
[The task description was very clear.]
“Which sentence?”
[World Type: Apocalyptic Natural Disasters (Mixed), Tsunami and Low Temperatures.]
“This is considered clear?!” Yuxi was speechless. It sounded like an ordinary description, and after arriving in this world, she found herself on a tropical island, where she wouldn’t have thought about low temperatures at all.
[I hope the host understands that this is an apocalyptic world. This time, due to the novice task, you were able to know the world type six days in advance. Future tasks will become increasingly difficult. The host should think more comprehensively and not make subjective judgments.]
“…” Although she was being lectured, this time, the other party was right, and she had no retort.
When assessing the disaster, she indeed made subjective assumptions, thinking the tsunami and escaping the island came first, and the low temperatures would start after she returned to the city.
This was her mistake, and she must not make it again!
Fortunately, this was a novice task, and she had been informed about the apocalyptic world type in advance, allowing her to prepare cold weather gear in her world. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome now, as the tropical island had very few cold weather supplies in the stores, and even if there were some, she couldn’t go store to store searching for them in this situation.
Next time, regardless of the type of apocalyptic world, her preparations in her original world must be as comprehensive as possible.
Yuxi thoughtfully closed the balcony door, washed up briefly, and took out a serving of braised beef noodle soup.
It was too cold, so she needed some hot soup to warm up.
After breakfast, she took her backpack and organized it. Inside were two bottles of water, three pieces of bread, two instant noodle cups, several vacuum-sealed sausages, and two apples.
These items were originally meant to fill up the backpack, but since yesterday, a bartering market had appeared in a certain open space in the hotel area.
There weren’t many stalls, mostly set up by survivors in the hotel area. Although all supplies could be obtained for free now, the quantities were fixed, so anyone wanting extra had to trade something in return.
Some people wanted more fruit and traded clothes for it; some, feeling cold due to the drop in temperature, traded food for long-sleeve tops; others, with children to care for, wanted to trade for milk and snacks.
Yesterday, she traded two boxes of milk, two pieces of chocolate, and a box of coconut jelly for a high-powered binoculars. The family had children and didn’t hesitate when they saw the chocolate and coconut jelly.
With the temperature dropping significantly today, many people had only summer clothes. The rescue team, busy collecting supplies from the buildings left in the water, should now have ample supplies and likely would organize the distribution of blankets and clothing.
With more people around, there was more information to be had, and she wanted to see what was happening.
She neatly arranged the items back in her backpack, took out a pack of dried fruit, two boxes of coconut drinks, and a bag of pork jerky from her Star House storage, and put them in. Finally, she threw some small packets of candy and chocolate into her pocket.
She left her travel bag in the room. It contained some clothing, towels, and daily necessities. The food items had long been moved to her Star House storage. This room in the guesthouse wasn’t entirely safe, and with the Star House storage, she wouldn’t leave important items in the room.
After locking the room, she unwrapped a White Rabbit candy and put it in her mouth, then headed downstairs.
On the second floor, a woman in her twenties came out shivering, wrapped in a thin blanket from the room, carrying a water bottle to the landlady downstairs, and asked in broken international language if there was hot water.
This woman was also from the capital country, arriving a day after Yuxi. Originally, she stayed with some friends in the hotel area, but after the tsunami, they were reassigned to a crowded room. Finding it too cramped and inconvenient, they moved here.
“I boiled some water when the power was on this morning, but I don’t have much left. I can pour you a cup.”
“A cup is too little; we have three or four people.”
“If you have water yourself, you can use the stove in the kitchen on the ground floor to boil some. There’s a stove and pots there. You can use wood to make a fire and boil water.”
The woman looked uneasily towards the kitchen and asked, “I haven’t used a stove before. Do you have an alcohol burner?”
“I have one, but there’s not much fuel…”
“Can I buy it with money?”
There was a moment of silence, as if the landlady was discussing with someone in the room. Then she replied, “Forget about money. Trade food or water for it.”
“Okay, I’ll go upstairs and get it.” Wrapping herself in the blanket, she went upstairs, complaining that she left the winter clothes she brought from her country in a hurry when leaving the hotel area. Now, she couldn’t find them even if she wanted to, wondering who might have picked them up.
Hearing this, Yuxi pushed open the guesthouse door and went out.
The wind outside the building was strong, seemingly colder than before. The temperature was dropping too fast.
Yuxi pulled up the collar of her down jacket, zipped it up tightly, and walked quickly towards the hotel area.
Due to the cold, tents had been set up at the registration and supply distribution points. After days of rescue operations, all the survivors on L Island had been transferred over.
The rescue team finally had the manpower to organize chefs to help with meals. Now, they could guarantee at least two hot meals a day, even if it was just simple vegetable soup, meat porridge, noodle soup, steamed buns, or boiled corn and potatoes. It was still better than eating dry instant noodles and raw carrots.
Meanwhile, a small hotel had been converted into a temporary hospital. Survivors injured in the tsunami and patients from L Island’s hospital were all accommodated here.
The first to third floors housed the severely injured, the fourth floor the lightly injured, and the fifth to seventh floors housed the original hospital patients.
L Island had three large hospitals. One, near the sea, was completely destroyed in the tsunami, with no survivors.
The outpatient and inpatient buildings of the other two hospitals were half-submerged, with equally heavy casualties. Many bedridden patients had no chance to escape and were swallowed by the water.
Medical staff were similarly affected. Some were in the middle of surgeries, unprepared, and were forever submerged by the seawater and collapsing buildings.
Although the rescue team made immediate efforts, medical personnel, equipment, and supplies were still critically short.
Lin Wu, with his medical knowledge, was immediately conscripted. He took Simon with him to the temporary hospital. Simon, being quick-witted and dexterous, could assist him, act as a nurse, and help communicate with patients through translation.
Because of this, they were assigned to a double room without additional roommates, a rare privilege.
Among those who went to the supermarket to get supplies, besides Lin Wu and Simon and two other hotel staff, the rest were all assigned to the same hotel.
The hotel was diagonally opposite the temporary hospital, and at this moment, a farce was unfolding in one of its rooms.
Three days ago, when Meng Lu and her two companions first arrived at Sea view mountain, things were relatively okay. They were among the early evacuees and, being tourists from the capital, were quickly assigned to the same three-star hotel. The hotel’s facilities were much better than those of a guesthouse, and the rooms were clean.
Two couples were assigned to a slightly larger double room with a balcony, a family of three was given a smaller double room without a balcony, and Yuan Qi’s group, having a small child, was assigned a single room with a balcony.
Meng Lu had inquired about others’ situations and then discussed with Fang Zichen. They all had supplies, so it was inconvenient to separate and stay with strangers. Eventually, they decided to stay together.
Meng Lu actually just wanted to stay with Fang Zichen but couldn’t shake off Mang Mang, the third wheel. Moreover, if it were just her and Fang Zichen, the rescue team would likely arrange for more survivors to stay with them, which would be even more inconvenient.
So, reluctantly, the three of them moved into a double room.
The room was about thirty square meters, with only two single beds. Fang Zichen decided to sleep on the sofa, leaving the beds for the two girls.
Mang Mang immediately offered her bed to Fang Zichen with a worried and concerned expression, saying she would sleep on the sofa. Her sweet, soft voice almost made Meng Lu vomit.
Fang Zichen naturally didn’t accept, but he became even more gentle and caring towards Mang Mang, while Meng Lu’s patience wore thin.
Today, after the temperature dropped, Meng Lu went downstairs to get supplies and returned to find Fang Zichen comforting a crying Mang Mang in his arms.
In terms of appearance, temperament, and personality, Mang Mang was the complete opposite of Meng Lu. Meng Lu was cheerful, outgoing, and lively, not particularly beautiful but very sunny when she smiled, easily attracting attention.
Mang Mang, on the other hand, was delicate, soft, and pure, clearly the type that needed protection and easily evoked men’s protective instincts.
Meng Lu hadn’t expected Mang Mang to trigger Fang Zichen’s protective instincts so quickly.
The sight acted as a fuse, causing all the anger accumulated in Meng Lu to explode. She directly pulled Mang Mang out of Fang Zichen’s arms and slapped her.
“Xiao Lu! What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? You should ask yourself what you’re doing! If I had come back a bit later, would you two already be rolling in bed?”
“You’re talking nonsense… BrotherbFang and I are innocent. How can you insult me like this?” Mang Mang trembled with anger.
“Stating the facts is an insult? Stop pretending to be a pure white lotus in front of me. Do you think I don’t know what you are? Clinging to Zichen like a leech all the time, can’t you live without a man?”
“Meng Lu!” This was the first time Fang Zichen addressed her by her full name. “You’ve gone too far! Mang Mang is just scared. She’s a young girl who recently graduated and came on this trip, only to face such a major disaster…
Our colleagues are all dead. Do you know how terrified and helpless she’s been these past few days? She has nightmares every night but pretends not to be afraid during the day. She’s following me because she feels insecure! You’re four years older than her. You should be the one comforting and taking care of her, but all you see is this kind of thing!”
“Who isn’t scared? Is she the only one who’s terrified and helpless? Does comforting her mean you have to hold her? Do you think I’m a naïve girl?”
As they argued, Mang Mang, unable to bear the accusations and insults, softly said, “Please stop fighting. It’s all my fault. I’ll leave… and give you the room…”
Saying this, she ran out crying, without even taking a coat.
Fang Zichen, unable to stop her, quickly grabbed a thick blanket and ran after her in worry.
Meng Lu coldly laughed at his back and followed.
She wanted to see how that shameless white lotus would act in this play!
xxx
Besides gathering information and news, Yuxi’s main goal today was to find Yuan Qi and the others. She had a plan to leave the island, but it was impossible to do it alone; she needed help.
As she walked, she organized her plan, reaching the hotel only to find a crowd gathered at the entrance.
Because of the uneven terrain on the mountain, there was a height difference between the road and the hotel. The hotel had a central upward staircase and curved driveways on both sides. The people were gathered on the steps, so she walked a few more steps to use the curved driveway and reached the hotel’s front yard.
She then saw the cause of the gathering: someone was arguing and pulling each other, and the main characters were people she knew.
After following outside, Meng Lu found that Mang Mang hadn’t gone far. Fang Zichen caught up with her at the hotel entrance, draped a thick blanket over her, and gently stroked her hair, whispering softly.
Mang Mang was still crying, her eyes red, looking like a frightened little bunny, evoking sympathy.
Meng Lu knew it would be like this. She sneered and sarcastically mocked Mang Mang. If she really wanted to leave, she would have gone already, instead of being caught and comforted.
After that, Fang Zichen and Meng Lu began to argue again. During the commotion, there was some pushing and shoving. Mang Mang tried to intervene, but Meng Lu pushed her away, telling her not to be so fake.
It was unclear whether Meng Lu used too much force or if Mang Mang simply lost her balance, but Mang Mang, who was standing at the edge of the steps, fell down.
Fortunately, the steps were not a straight drop; every eight steps, there was a larger platform, and each step was quite low. Nonetheless, she seemed to fall heavily, lying there weak and fragile, silently crying with red eyes. It was unclear whether she had injured her leg or hand.
This scene instantly infuriated Fang Zichen. He rushed down the steps, scooped her into his arms, and then furiously yelled at Meng Lu, who had followed, “I don’t understand what has gotten into you! You’ve been acting like my girlfriend these past few days, but haven’t you already rejected me? Since you rejected me, I’m not your boyfriend, and whoever I’m with is none of your business! You have no right to interfere, and even less right to bully her!”
Meng Lu had been startled by Mang Mang’s fall and felt a bit of fear and concern. But Fang Zichen’s words made her snap back, and she continued to argue aggressively.
Even though some of the onlookers were not from the capital and couldn’t understand what they were saying, love rival dramas are universal. This scene was a classic love triangle plot.
The language barrier didn’t stop the audience’s enthusiasm for the drama. Since the tsunami four days ago, everyone had been bored out of their minds while taking refuge, so even though it was cold, they wrapped themselves in blankets and continued to watch, shivering.
Yuxi, who happened to see this process: …
Goodness, these three really know how to create drama. At a time like this, they’re still causing trouble. Isn’t it cold lying on the ground in this weather?
Fortunately, she had decisively cut ties with them, but unfortunately, the ones she distanced herself from didn’t realize it.
Yuxi turned to enter the hotel, but Fang Zichen’s voice called from behind, “Yuxi! Great, you’re here! Mang Mang is hurt. Please help me get Lin Wu over here. I’ll carry her back to the room!”
Yuxi: …
Yuxi glanced at the temporary hospital, only fifty meters away: “I think it’s better if you carry her directly over there.”
“Xixi? I don’t understand why you’ve suddenly become so heartless, but in this situation, can’t you put other things aside and help save someone first?” Fang Zichen looked both reproachful and surprised.
Yuxi’s expression remained blank: “First, I don’t know where Lin Wu is. Second, do you think you’re so close to Lin Wu that he’d come over just because I ask him? Where do you get the confidence that he’d do that for you? Third, don’t try to morally bind me. I’m just passing by; it has nothing to do with me.”
Fang Zichen stared at her in shock, unable to believe these words were coming from the usually gentle and quiet Yuxi. Though she spoke little, she had always been obedient and trusting towards him.
It was just a disaster, but he couldn’t understand why she had become so cold and unfeeling.
Before leaving, Yuxi added, “By the way, I suggest you take her to the hospital. Only the temporary hospital has surgical equipment.”
“Surgery?” Fang Zichen was stunned for a moment.
“She looks like she’s either broken an arm or a leg, lying there like a car accident victim. She’ll need surgery.” With that, Yuxi glanced at the still fragile and weak Mang Mang clinging to Fang Zichen. “Better hurry up. If you wait any longer, the wound might start healing on its own.”
“You… you…” Mang Mang’s voice trembled, soft and helpless.
Fang Zichen finally understood what Yuxi meant. He wanted to say something in defense of Mang Mang, but Yuxi had already turned and walked towards the hotel entrance, as if his response didn’t matter at all.
“Xixi!”
In the hotel lobby, someone called from behind.
Yuxi hunched her shoulders, hiding her ears in the collar of her down jacket, pretending not to hear.
xxx
Thingyan
: Way to go Xixi. This stupid Fang guy just pisses me off