Living in a high-rise was troublesome, but Su Nian didn't want to live in someone else's home, let alone among crowds of people. After all, living alone in a high-rise meant some peace and quiet.
Apart from the daily trips downstairs, Su Nian found solace in solitary living. As November rolled in, the state took over the supermarkets. Those who used to cause trouble in the supermarkets lost their nerve, redirecting their schemes towards others buying supplies. Su Nian had been targeted a few times; with just a glance, she knew those people had blood on their hands.
Su Nian harbored no mercy for such individuals; usually, she'd dispatch them with a single stroke. Every dark midnight brought with it another death. Patrols and suppression efforts from above didn't yield significant results. Surviving had become a luxury; who would heed authority? As the New Year approached, there was no joyous atmosphere, only escalating oppression.
The extreme heat accelerated food spoilage. Even uncooked grains harbored worms. In the past, the worms found in rice or flour were tiny. But now, they were significantly larger, almost the size of pearl rice. Some people, upon opening their grain containers, found them teeming with creepy crawlies, inducing despair not from fear but from the loss of food.
The previously harmonious small groups gradually fell silent. When Su Nian used to go out at night, she'd see people flocking together to buy supplies. Now, they maintained distance, evident of growing conflicts. It wasn't strange for temporary companions to part ways after conflicts of interest arose. This was why Su Nian avoided teaming up with others fundamentally.
On New Year's Eve, Su Nian retrieved sweet and sour fish, soy sauce beef, blanched shrimp, and garlic broccoli from her storage space, celebrating the New Year alone. It was the first New Year in the apocalypse. In her previous life, Su Nian had shared a pot of plain noodles with her neighbors, almost coming to blows due to uneven distribution, leaving everyone without smiles. Now, Su Nian was alone, yet she felt she had a happy year.
If every year could be like this, Su Nian would be content. After the New Year, the power completely shut off, and the water supply trucks ceased coming to the neighborhood. Though the malls opened every night, the available items dwindled, with some people queuing all night without guarantee of purchase.
The small rivers and lakes in the city dried up long ago. The sun still scorched the earth, with low shrubs dead and used for fuel, and tall trees drooping lifelessly. Such a life offered no hope; despair spread gradually. Some people with relatives in the countryside decided to go there, but without gasoline, transportation posed a problem. Even if they reached the countryside, whether life would be better was uncertain.
Many residents in Su Nian's neighborhood left. Some came to borrow gasoline from Su Nian, but she refused, claiming she had none. To prove it, Su Nian walked everywhere every night. Some wanted to break into Su Nian's home, but failing to overpower her, they left reluctantly.
Many left, but not Su Nian. She waited for news from the base. In her previous life, at this time, she had already gone to the countryside with her neighbors, but life there wasn't much better than in the city. Only deep wells produced some water; shallow ones yielded nothing. The countryside lacked large supermarkets; villagers had some reserves but didn't sell. They scavenged for roots and bark, barely surviving until they heard of the base and migrated there, only to face harsher conditions with a sudden drop in temperature.
This time, Su Nian didn't want to take any detours. She wanted to wait here until the official announcement of the top ten bases, then head straight to the official one. She remembered in her past life hearing about the smaller bases around May, so the official announcement should be around the same time.
Calculating the time, the base's announcement would soon be made. Unless necessary, Su Nian didn't go out anymore, spending each day listening to the radio, awaiting news from the base. Su Nian had stocked up on radios of various prices and models, even accessories.
In June, one afternoon, while Su Nian was half asleep, she heard the sound from the radio. Upon hearing the word "base," Su Nian snapped awake, listening intently to the broadcast. The government had established ten safe bases nationwide. The first one was only two hundred kilometers away from Su Nian's city. Two hundred kilometers wasn't far; under normal circumstances, Su Nian could reach there in no more than three hours.
Even with the current situation, Su Nian believed she could get there within five hours. Finally hearing news about the base, Su Nian didn't hesitate; she immediately prepared to depart. It was only five in the afternoon, with several hours until sunset. Su Nian wasn't in a rush; she could use this time to pack her things.
All the familiar furniture and appliances were stashed away in her storage space. Solar panels and sunshades were also dismantled and stored away. The apartment felt empty now. Anticipating someone checking her place after she left, Su Nian brought out a set of furniture and appliances from her storage space, although they weren't anything valuable.
After ensuring everything that could be taken was packed, Su Nian dressed neatly, locked her door, and headed to the underground parking lot. Many cars in the parking lot were covered in thick layers of dust, clearly untouched for a long time. Su Nian paid them no mind, getting into her own car.
Aside from the Hummer, Su Nian's storage space held several other vehicles, some custom-made, including off-road vehicles, camper vans, and heavy trucks. Two were purchased from dealerships after prices soared.