As Su Nian had anticipated, the temperature suddenly soared, causing many people who had ventured outdoors to faint from the heat. Those fortunate enough to be noticed received assistance, with someone calling for an ambulance. However, those unseen succumbed to the scorching conditions, especially the elderly who enjoyed their morning walks only to find themselves overwhelmed by the midday heat while grocery shopping. The abrupt rise in temperature proved too much even for the resilient youth, let alone the elderly.
Throughout the day, the sound of ambulances echoed incessantly. Su Nian resided in an upscale residential complex, comprising both apartments and houses. Despite the affluence, numerous residents fell victim to the heat, prompting multiple ambulance runs. Online, posts regarding the heatwave inundated forums like falling snowflakes.
Initially, Su Nian glanced at these posts but soon opted to switch off her phone. This was merely the beginning; the days ahead promised even greater challenges. It wasn't until nightfall that the temperature finally relented.
The once tranquil neighborhood erupted into clamor after dark. Su Nian, having changed into fresh attire, descended from her apartment. Stepping out of the building, she was greeted by a wave of heat. Even though night had fallen, Su Nian estimated the temperature to still be over thirty degrees Celsius. She hadn't walked far before she felt the stickiness of sweat coating her skin.
Nevertheless, Su Nian had no intention of returning indoors. With temperatures expected to rise further each day, she aimed to acclimate herself to the current conditions, vital for survival in this post-apocalyptic world.
Outside, every shop was open, and various street vendors lined the sidewalks. Su Nian strolled along, purchasing numerous trinkets. Over the past three months, she had been diligently amassing supplies, having already spent most of her fortune. Only a few million yuan remained in cash, the rest converted into gold bars and stored in her spatial inventory. Su Nian wasn't certain if this remaining sum could be spent before currency lost its value.
As she wandered for two hours, Su Nian eventually returned home. Her first task upon arriving was to take a shower. Emerging from the bathroom, she approached the ice maker, transferring its contents into a large bucket before storing it in her spatial inventory.
Since returning from the neighboring city, Su Nian had ordered two ice makers to run continuously, producing ice around the clock. She had also purchased ice cream and popsicles from several cold storage facilities upon acquiring the ice makers. Additionally, she stocked up on ingredients for making more frozen treats, occasionally preparing them and storing them away in her fridge.
Like a diligent squirrel, Su Nian diligently filled her spatial inventory to the brim, the contents neatly organized for easy retrieval. Before retiring for the night, she checked her inventory, content with its contents.
Having been reborn for three months, Su Nian no longer suffered from nightmares. When she awoke, the sun was already high in the sky, its rays filtering through the curtains.
Rubbing her eyes, Su Nian glanced at her phone. It was only half past four in the morning! Not only was the weather becoming increasingly hot, but dawn also arrived unusually early. Fortunately, the sun had yet to rise, allowing for a brief respite of cool morning air.
Su Nian switched off the air conditioner and opened the windows, welcoming the fresh air. She had no plans to venture outdoors during the day, opting to acclimatize herself to the external temperature from the comfort of her home.
After freshening up, Su Nian proceeded to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She cooked green bean porridge in a large pot, adding some rock sugar for sweetness before letting it simmer slowly. In the meantime, she retrieved flour from her spatial inventory and began kneading dough for scallion pancakes.
Su Nian intended to make scallion pancakes for breakfast. After cooking each pancake, she immediately stored it away in her spatial inventory to preserve its freshness. Time stood still within her inventory, preventing the aroma from dissipating and ensuring that the flavors remained distinct.
With her martial arts training, Su Nian possessed greater strength than the average person, enabling her to knead dough and roll out pancakes effortlessly. Despite the laborious task of cooking, she considered it a form of physical exercise.
Once the green bean soup had cooled to room temperature, Su Nian transferred it to the freezer, allowing it to solidify into green bean ice dessert after a few hours. She then portioned it into disposable containers and stored them away in her spatial inventory.
In the sweltering summer, indulging in a bowl of chilled green bean dessert provided refreshing relief from the heat. Su Nian remained occupied with her tasks, oblivious to online updates.
After completing her chores and showering, it was already two in the afternoon. Su Nian settled in the living room with half a chilled watermelon, placing it on the small table before sitting cross-legged on the carpet.
The chilled watermelon was sweet and refreshing, soothing Su Nian's fatigue from the morning's activities. After a few bites, she finally glanced at her phone.
According to the weather forecast, today's temperature was expected to reach a scorching fifty-five degrees Celsius. To avoid sunburn, schools had declared holidays, and many companies had implemented work-from-home policies. Su Nian closed the social media app and opened a forum instead.
The forum was abuzz with discussions about the apocalypse, with many users advising others to stock up on food and water. Some daring individuals even posted photos of their hoarded supplies. Su Nian recalled seeing similar posts in her past life but hadn't taken them seriously until she heard about people being robbed for their stockpiles.
This incident served as a wake-up call for Su Nian, emphasizing the importance of discretion and secrecy when it came to wealth. In the neighborhood WeChat group, the messages had piled up to over 999, with new notifications constantly popping up.
Most were complaints about the oppressive weather and suggestions to purchase more supplies. Some expressed concerns about the increasing power consumption during the heatwave and the possibility of power outages.