Due to the frozen water pipes, the water supply in the community became a significant problem.
To quench their thirst, residents had to brave the extreme cold of over seventy degrees below freezing to fetch snowwater from the first floor.
Yet, melting the snowwater became a considerable issue once brought indoors.
Indoor temperatures plummeted to around fifty to sixty degrees below zero, causing solid ice to be as hard as cement.
Some residents, driven to extreme thirst, resorted to licking the ice, only to have their tongues stick to it, resulting in painful freezing.
In the past few days, Zhang Ye observed through surveillance cameras that Chen Zhenghao's subordinates would come to spy every day.
Apparently, they believed Zhang Ye would also come out to fetch water, intending to seize the opportunity to eliminate him.
However, for several consecutive days, they did not see Zhang Ye leave his door.
They couldn't fathom how well-stocked Zhang Ye's home must be.
As long as he wished, he could live in this room without worry about clothing or food until his last breath!
"Is Chen Zhenghao still alive? He's quite resilient," Zhang Ye muttered to himself.
Chen Zhenghao's lower leg had been hit by an arrow, and without effective treatment, it was bound to be crippled. Moreover, due to infection, even his life was at risk. Not to mention that any minor injury in such extremely low temperatures would lead to a high fever.
Surviving was truly a miracle!
"Could it be that the virus can't survive because the temperature is too low, explaining why he's still alive?" Zhang Ye, unfamiliar with medical matters, couldn't understand the reason behind Chen Zhenghao's survival.
Nevertheless, he didn't care much. Whether someone outside lived or died had little impact on him.
Chen Zhenghao's death was just a matter of time.
...
Early the next morning, after Zhang Ye woke up, he groggily picked up his phone.
Checking the messages in the group chat every day and perusing the forums for information about the outside world were his current main sources of entertainment.
In this apocalyptic world, witnessing others struggle in extreme cold while enjoying a life akin to paradise himself gave Zhang Ye a tremendous sense of satisfaction.
At the very least, it dispelled his inner boredom and occasional loneliness, considering how fortunate he was compared to those suffering from hunger and freezing or struggling on the brink of death.
Opening his phone, unexpectedly, the first messages he saw were from Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining.
Fang Yuqing: "Zhang Ye, I'm sorry. I might have been too cold yesterday, and my emotions weren't great. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"You're right. In the past, I was too naive and didn't understand who truly treated me well."
"Now I realize that you are the one who treated me the best. In fact, I have a deep liking for you in my heart."
"Can you forgive me? Let's live a good life together in the future!"
"I want to be your woman. Living alone, wouldn't you feel lonely?"
"I can come over to accompany you, so you won't be lonely in the apocalypse."
Zhang Ye sighed inwardly.
The formerly aloof Fang Yuqing had finally discarded all her dignity and arrogance in the face of disaster.
Even after Zhang Ye's heartless ridicule, she had to abandon her pride and choose to kneel and fawn over him.
"Tsk, tsk."
Zhang Ye shook his head. In his previous life, he was foolish.
If he had known she was this type of woman, he wouldn't have hesitated to pursue her?
A woman like Fang Yuqing, who was clearly worthless, insisted on pretending to be a high and mighty goddess. Acting pure and innocent when she was anything but!
Zhang Ye replied with a sentence, "Although rotten pears can quench thirst, I haven't reached that level of desperation."
He was a man with ancestral skills.
Even if that failed, there were still many props to use in the different space.
It was a high-end product, a fully simulated product developed by Sakura Nation.
Ah, it wasn't what Zhang Ye wanted, it was just that Walmart's warehouse had a complete range of products.
After closing Fang Yuqing's chat window, Zhang Ye opened Lin Caining's.
This woman was even bolder than Fang Yuqing.
Perhaps aware that her looks were inferior to Fang Yuqing's and she couldn't compete, Lin Caining sent several suggestive selfies.
Compared to Fang Yuqing, she was more unrestrained. If these were to circulate, it would undoubtedly lead to her social death.
Zhang Ye quickly replied, "My heart remains unmoved, and I even find it amusing."
And then, he ignored her.
He knew that after these two women saw the beauty of his home, they would spare no effort to enter.
Now, they had abandoned their dignity to beg him, but later, they would resort to any means.
However, what could be done about it?
Zhang Ye had spent a considerable amount, turning his home into an iron fortress to cope with any possible situation.
...
After receiving Zhang Ye's replies, Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining vented their anger and scolded him vehemently.
They had abandoned even their dignity, humbly begging Zhang Ye.
Especially Lin Caining, who had taken pictures of every part and pose of herself.
Zhang Ye had the audacity to say that he felt like laughing after seeing her photos?
It was a disgrace!
Although she currently had no time and energy for makeup and dressing up, there was still a difference in appearance and figure. Wasn't she still a woman?
Did she not care about her dignity?
The more they thought about it, the more unwilling they became.
In the current hellish days, enduring hunger and extreme cold, Zhang Ye's home was their last hope!
Fang Yuqing clenched her teeth, a fierce look appearing in her eyes.
"If it comes to it, let's break into his house!"
"I must live in his house. I don't want to endure hunger and cold anymore!"
"If necessary, killing Zhang Ye is fine too!"
As long as she could move into Zhang Ye's house, she was willing to do anything now!
Although she thought so, she was still a woman.
If she went to Zhang Ye's house to knock on the door, she would definitely not be able to beat Zhang Ye.
Thinking of this, Fang Yuqing cast a cold look toward the next door.
She and Lin Caining had already fallen out, tearing off the last facade of the plastic sisters.
But now, Fang Yuqing needed someone to help her.
So, she went to the next door and said to Lin Caining, "This damned wretch Zhang Ye actually watches us suffer from hunger and cold without letting us into his house."
"We can't just sit and wait for death!"
"That great house is not meant for him. Let's find a way to take it over!"
Lin Caining, upon hearing Fang Yuqing's suggestion, also had a gleam of greed in her eyes.
Begging Zhang Ye had no effect; then they could only find a way to deceive or seize it!
"Alright, I agree with your idea!"
"That scoundrel Zhang Ye, why does he deserve to live in such a nice house!"
"He should get out,
freeze to death, and be bitten by wild dogs!"
"We moving into his house is the most suitable!"