Apocalypse Star House Hoarding-Chapter 174

Yu Xi never imagined hearing Zhao Xuefei recount such a painful story with a tone of self-deprecating indifference.
At the onset of the catastrophe, Zhao Xuefei admitted she had been naïve, living in denial for a time. Back then, she and her mother, Yu Li, hadn’t yet relocated to the air-raid shelter on the other side of the city and were still staying in a hotel.
A terrifying thunderstorm transformed the world overnight. Explosively growing plants and mutated animals, insects, and birds made the lower floors of the hotel unsafe. Everyone moved upwards, causing a growing scarcity of rooms and resources.
Recalling Yu Xi’s past warnings, Zhao Xuefei, despite initially arguing with her cousin, had subconsciously stocked up at a supermarket after dining out. When her mother questioned her about the sudden shopping spree, she didn’t dare admit it was because of Yu Xi’s advice, brushing it off as her own idea.
Looking back, she was glad she had done so. Those supplies helped her maintain some semblance of stability during the chaos that followed.
Initially, Zhao Xuefei believed that Yu Li’s new partner would abandon them when disaster struck. Surprisingly, not only did he stay, but he also reassured them that his elder brother, a capable military officer stationed nearby, would come to their rescue.
Three days later, she met Zhou Ningyuan for the first time.
A tall, strong, and sharp-eyed soldier, Zhou Ningyuan exuded a commanding presence, making him the ideal protector in such a perilous world. Zhao Xuefei was immediately drawn to him.
Despite noticing a gentle young woman—edly the daughter of a local supermarket tycoon—always by his side, Zhao Xuefei dismissed her as irrelevant. To her, a man she desired was fair game as long as he was single. She had confidence in her experience and charm, certain she could win his favor.
In the following days, the military stayed nearby to gather supplies. Zhao Xuefei focused entirely on gaining Zhou Ningyuan’s attention, ignoring the dangers of the outside world. She assumed he preferred kind and caring women, so she played the part of a saint, often giving away her own food stores to build goodwill.
However, the supermarket heiress was not as innocent as she seemed. Seeing through Zhao Xuefei’s intentions, the woman despised her and used her connections to orchestrate her downfall. Through a mutual acquaintance, Zhao Xuefei was lured out and handed over to a shady group of strangers.
When Zhao Xuefei awoke, she was in an unfamiliar location. At first, she thought it was bad luck, but as the men restrained her and began tearing at her clothes, their gloating revealed the truth.
Though terrified and disgusted, she tried to stay rational, knowing that survival was her priority. But learning she had been deliberately betrayed sent her into a cold fury.
Her captors, confident in her perceived helplessness, had left her alone with their leader. Summoning all her strength, she grabbed a broken chair and smashed it against the man’s head. With no time to think, she hit him repeatedly until his cries of pain drew the others back into the room.
Before they could grab her, she climbed to the window and leaped out.
It was the second floor. She braced for broken bones, but fortune favored her. Though injured, she managed to escape, eventually collapsing at the feet of Zhou Ningyuan.
Zhou Ningyuan had only come looking for her at his uncle’s request. Yu Li, unable to contact her daughter, had sought Zhou Guoqiang’s help. Zhou Guoqiang had sent Zhou Ningyuan, who begrudgingly added this to his already heavy workload.
Uninterested in women’s petty schemes, Zhou Ningyuan wasn’t oblivious to their intentions but found them irrelevant amidst the chaos. He bluntly told Zhao Xuefei he had no interest in her, emphasizing his focus on survival and duties.
Despite his cold words, Zhao Xuefei refused to leave until she exacted her revenge. Borrowing an iron rod from him, she returned to the building and incapacitated her assailant in the most brutal way.
Shaking and disheveled, she declared to the writhing man, “Come for me if you dare. I’ll be waiting.”
Later, she limped back to Zhou Ningyuan, thanking him for saving her life. Though his attitude had been harsh, she acknowledged her debt.
The incident opened her eyes to the harsh reality of their world. No one would protect her unless she could protect herself—and her mother. From that day on, she vowed to become stronger, no matter what it took.
From that day onward, Zhao Xuefei’s true world began.
Two cotton candies, a cup of iced latte with whipped cream, a box of cumin fried chicken wings, and a serving of coconut milk fruit salad later, Zhao Xuefei finished her story.
Inside the cool air-conditioned RV, Zhao Xuefei sat on the chair across from Yu Xi at the dining table, tilting her head to gaze at the vast blue sky outside the window.
She wasn’t sure what had come over her. Since that day, she hadn’t shared this story with anyone, not even Yu Li, who knew her best. She had kept everything hidden, not wanting to burden her mother with worry.
Even when her body was covered in bruises from training and sparring, she never uttered a complaint.
Yet here she was, spilling everything to a boy she had only just met. Strangely, she didn’t feel the usual wariness she held toward unfamiliar men. She even sat inside his RV and accepted his food.
It was bizarre.
But for some inexplicable reason, looking into his eyes gave her a sense of familiarity and security, as if they had known each other forever. It was as if, at some point in her life, he had once protected her.
But today was the first time she’d ever met him…
“So, is your mom still with that man?” Yu Xi asked.
“No,” Zhao Xuefei replied. “She originally agreed to marry him on impulse, but now that it’s the apocalypse, who’s she trying to impress? She’s worried marriage might create distance between us or that he wouldn’t treat me well, so she turned him down. But Uncle Zhou is a good man; he still looks after her at the shelter.”
“And that supermarket heiress?” Yu Xi’s tone grew noticeably colder.
“She? Well, she caught wind of the situation before Zhou Ningyuan could bring her group back, packed her things, and disappeared. The other girl who helped her is also gone—probably left together. Last I heard, she’s at another official shelter, but I don’t know much else.”
Zhao Xuefei scoffed. “If she knows what’s good for her, she’d stay far away from me. If she dares show up in front of me, she’s not escaping without a slap or two.”
Yu Xi let out a low hum. “Right, people like that need to be taught a lesson. Being kind doesn’t mean being a pushover.”
Warmth spread through Zhao Xuefei at his words. She couldn’t help but ask, “Have we… met before?”
Yu Xi looked at her tanned, makeup-free face and reached for a napkin to wipe the cream from the corner of her mouth. Just as she was about to reply, a knock came at the RV window.
Both Yu Xi and Zhao Xuefei turned to see a tall, stern-faced man standing outside. His sharp gaze swept over the RV’s interior, briefly resting on Yu Xi’s hands before focusing on Zhao Xuefei.
“What are you doing?” he asked coldly.
Zhao Xuefei waved her empty coffee cup. “Having drinks with a friend.”
“Have you completed today’s mission?”
Yu Xi raised an eyebrow, studying the man. It seemed like overkill for him to personally check on a subordinate who hadn’t finished her task.
Zhao Xuefei rolled her eyes. “Ugh.”
“Watch your language, Zhao Xuefei. Get out.”
Although reluctant, Zhao Xuefei respected the importance of her duties. She thanked Yu Xi for his hospitality and promised to return after her mission. She even hinted at a gift she wanted to give him.
“I’ll leave after dark,” Yu Xi replied. She had promised Yu Feng and Fan Qi to return home for dinner, and the RV was out of the transparent phone’s range, so they couldn’t contact her. She knew they’d worry if she didn’t show up.
“I’ll probably be back around that time too,” Zhao Xuefei said before stepping out. When she rounded the RV to wave goodbye, she saw Yu Xi leaning out the window, waving with a smile. “It was nice meeting you!”
She walked away briskly, while Zhou Ningyuan lingered, casting a probing look at the young man in the RV.
Mixed-race, handsome, with a charming smile, and clearly younger than Zhao Xuefei.
Was she… interested in this type?
Yu Xi felt his scrutiny but paid it no mind. While she didn’t dislike Zhou Ningyuan, his connection to Zhao Xuefei colored her view, leaving her indifferent.
Boldly declaring he wasn’t interested, yet here he was, acting concerned. What was he trying to pull?
Meeting his gaze briefly, Yu Xi reached for a sign reading
Closed
and replaced the
Open for Business
sign in the window.
After a moment, Zhou Ningyuan turned and walked away. As he rejoined his team behind the iron fence, he ordered, “Look into this ‘Star House.’ Find out what it’s about.”
“Yes, Captain.”
At 7:30 PM, Yu Xi loaded the gift from Zhao Xuefei into her RV, drove into the forest, and disappeared moments later.
She reappeared inside the comfortable, climate-controlled simulation apartment.
The aroma of dinner filled the air. Fan Qi was seated on the couch, watching a show while waiting for her. Yu Feng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, peering outside.
“Mom, Dad, I’m back,” Yu Xi announced.
Yu Feng turned immediately. “Yu Xi, come look. Are those people from Sister Wei’s group? It looks like they’re fighting someone!”
Hearing this, Yu Xi joined him at the window, setting aside whatever she’d planned to say.
Outside, under the dim light of the moon, two groups were indeed clashing on the dark beach.