While Mu Nan was helping Qin Huai scrub his arms, Qin Huai suddenly said, "I had originally planned to go down to rescue people. I had systematically trained in rescue operations during my time abroad. When I discovered survivors below, they were still alive and able to call for help, but someone had to go down with a rope."
Mu Nan didn't respond, but he began to scrub more gently. "And then?"
Qin Huai continued, "Then someone else went down, rescued two children, but the opening collapsed. The children's parents, grandfather, and the rescuer were all crushed by falling rocks."
Qin Huai turned his head to look at Mu Nan. "At that moment, the first thought that crossed my mind was actually relief. I thought, if I had gone down, what would you have done?"
Mu Nan lowered his head and said quietly, "I wouldn't have done anything. We promised to die together. If you weren't here, what's the point of me living alone? I would have gone to the military camp, given them everything in the space, then gone home and jumped out of our window."
Qin Huai gently stroked Mu Nan's face with his soapy hand. "You're a fool."
After washing up, Qin Huai put on a pair of shorts. Mu Nan cleaned some scratches and minor wounds on him with iodine, then said, "Let's eat something before sleeping. Do you want congee or a bowl of mung bean soup? Or maybe both—a bowl of mung bean soup with a flower roll and some pickles?"
Qin Huai agreed, and Mu Nan quickly retrieved the food from his space. At that moment, Mu Nan heard a beep, and the air conditioner turned on, earlier than he expected. "Great, there's power now. The sun must be really strong. If we had more solar panels, we might be able to run two air conditioners."
He still had some solar panels in his space, but those were for backup, as they have a limited lifespan. It's uncertain if they can be produced in the future or if they could afford them as ordinary civilians. He mentioned to Jian Chu that if they could find more solar panels, they could set them up on the wall outside. One generator could probably power two households, but beyond that might be overloading.
Jian Chu knew where to buy solar panels, having delivered goods and familiarized himself with the area. However, with the heat, the price of solar panels had gone up, and the store might have run out of stock or kept the panels for themselves. They planned to try their luck but had to adapt to the current situation first. Since the store was far, finding bicycles would make it easier.
After eating, exhaustion set in. With the air conditioner running, the temperature quickly dropped. They went to sleep on the bed with a cooling mat. As soon as Qin Huai lay down, he didn't want to move. Mu Nan, still energetic, took out some ointment from his space and applied it to Qin Huai's arms, legs, shoulders, and back—wherever he felt sore.
Once he finished, Qin Huai reached out to pull him closer. "You haven't slept all night, have you? Come here and sleep with me."
Mu Nan said, "You sleep first. I'll tidy up the house. It's better to get things in order in case they come over."
Mu Nan tidied up the house and saw that the empty package Qin Huai had brought was full. He opened it to find water, some large damaged packages, but small packages of instant noodles were intact, and even a few sealed bottles of oil.
Qin Huai, lying on the bed and watching Mu Nan sort through the package, smiled. "Everyone was taking supplies. When we were digging through the rubble, we put anything useful into the bag. I took some too, even though I didn't need it."
These items could be stored outside, so Mu Nan left them on the floor instead of putting them in the space. Once he confirmed there were no unwanted items, he climbed into bed. Qin Huai immediately pulled him into his arms. "Sleep now, don't fuss."
Mu Nan shifted slightly. "Even though the air conditioner is on, isn't it hot to be like this?"
Qin Huai closed his eyes. "It's hot, but being held like this is comforting."
Mu Nan thought Qin Huai might be overwhelmed by the impact of the rescue mission and didn't resist. He stayed close, hoping the temperature would drop soon.
Usually, Mu Nan fell asleep before Qin Huai, but this time he was so exhausted that even before he was asleep, Qin Huai had already started to snore lightly. Mu Nan carefully turned around, and as soon as he moved, Qin Huai held him tighter but continued to snore, clearly still asleep.
Mu Nan found it amusing and waited a bit longer until Qin Huai was deeply asleep. Then, he took a pillow from the side and placed it in Qin Huai's arms. Seeing that Qin Huai was sleeping soundly, Mu Nan got up. Despite the ointment, the swelling in his arms wasn't easy to reduce. He yawned and gently massaged Qin Huai's muscles to help relax them. By the time Qin Huai woke up, his muscles should be less sore.
Qin Huai slept deeply until around 7 or 8 in the evening. When he woke up, Mu Nan was still asleep, lying on his back with a small blanket covering him. Qin Huai lay there for a while, then squeezed his arm. Even though he was deeply asleep, he had some awareness of someone massaging him. Feeling relaxed, he let himself drift back into a deep sleep. The soreness had eased significantly, not just from the ointment but from the comforting presence of Mu Nan. Unable to resist, Qin Huai leaned in and gently kissed Mu Nan's slightly reddened lips, finding them just as soft as he imagined.
If not for the gentle knocking on the door, Qin Huai would have continued admiring the sleeping Mu Nan. It was such a pleasant sight that he could look at him endlessly. Unfortunately, it was getting dark, and they needed to prepare to go downstairs. He adjusted the blanket over Mu Nan, removed the ointment patches, and then got up to answer the door.
At the door were Jian Chu and Yu Zibai, both clean and refreshed after their showers. Before Jian Chu could speak, Qin Huai quietly said, "Nan Nan is still asleep."
Jian Chu immediately made a gesture to speak softly. Qin Huai stepped aside to let them in. Yu Zibai was carrying a bag full of items salvaged from the rubble. Jian Chu said, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? What should we prepare? Yu Zibai found a bag of flour and some pickles yesterday. How about making pickled vegetable pancakes? We don't know how long these can last, so we might as well cook them now."
When Mu Nan heard the noise at the door, he woke up and, hearing the conversation, struggled to get up. Seeing Jian Chu and Yu Zibai had arrived, he started searching for his phone. "What time is it?"
Qin Huai replied, "It's 7:30."
Mu Nan checked the time on his phone. "It's that late already?"
Qin Huai walked over and ruffled his hair. "Go brush your teeth and wash your face first. Do you want pickled vegetable pancakes?"
Mu Nan pinched Qin Huai's arm. "Making pancakes is so troublesome. Aren't your arms sore? How about just having a couple of buns instead?"
Jian Chu tilted his head and said, "I'll make them, so they don't have to help. Yu Zibai is too tired to lift his hands, and Qin Huai probably isn't much better. They don't need to cook; I can handle simple home cooking like this."
Hearing that Qin Huai wouldn't have to cook, Mu Nan agreed, "Okay, let's eat."
Jian Chu was amused by Mu Nan's practical attitude, realizing that as long as it wasn't too hard, Mu Nan was fine with it.
Jian Chu came over not only to eat with Qin Huai but also because he thought Qin Huai would be as exhausted as Yu Zibai, unable to even lift his arms. If they relied on Mu Nan, they might only end up eating instant noodles. Moreover, their batteries were dead, and without gas and electricity, they couldn't prepare any food. Since the flour and pickles were dug out by Yu Zibai and Qin Huai, it made sense to eat together and not worry too much.
Mu Nan retrieved the induction cooker and pot, found a container for mixing flour, and took out disposable chopsticks and bowls. He asked Jian Chu, "Do we need any seasoning?"
Jian Chu responded, "We brought seasonings. Do you have chili powder at home?"
Mu Nan opened the cabinet and took out an unopened pack of chili powder. "Yes."
Jian Chu said, "That's enough."
While they were preparing the food, Qin Huai connected a power strip to the neighboring room. A single power strip should be sufficient to support a freezer and an air conditioner.
As they sorted the cables, the smell of pancakes started wafting through the room. Jian Chu mixed the flour with the pickles, added seasonings, and cooked the pancakes in the pan. Unfortunately, there were no eggs, which would have improved the taste. Seeing them enter through the newly installed door, Jian Chu said, "I added a little chili powder to the pancakes for flavor. If you find it not spicy enough, you can add more yourself. It's a pity we don't have sauce or pickled vegetables. Lettuce and a roll of luncheon meat would have been the perfect addition to the pickled vegetable pancakes."
Mu Nan took out a few bottles of water from the fridge. He kept the beer for Qin Huai to drink, so he didn't offer it to them. Jian Chu took a sip of cold water, enjoying the coolness from the air conditioner and sighed, "I've never felt that having an air conditioner and a glass of cold water could be so blissful."
Mu Nan said, "If we could find a few more solar panels, your house could have air conditioning too."
Jian Chu's desire to visit the solar panel store grew stronger.
Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai and Yu Zibai. "Aren't you planning to take us down today?"
Jian Chu also looked at them, but his concern was different: "If there's no one at home, could someone break in? A generator is quite a valuable asset."
Qin Huai nodded, "Definitely. Although solar-powered generators are silent and you can't hear anything from outside when the door is closed, the iron door outside is tightly secured. It might make people think there's something valuable inside that's worth breaking in for."
Mu Nan said, "We can't leave just the two of us guarding the house. How about today you and Yu Zibai stay home to rest, and Jian Chu and I go down?"
Jian Chu immediately agreed, "That works. You two were exhausted yesterday; take a rest today, and Mu Nan and I will go down. We can take turns so everyone has a chance to recover."
Qin Huai was the first to object, "No."
Mu Nan turned to Qin Huai, "I'm twenty-two, not twelve."
Jian Chu asked, "Is it possible to find a bicycle now? If not, should we go check out the solar panel store? On the way back, we can see if there's anything worth picking up."
Qin Huai suggested, "It might be better to go to the cooling supply center. They have solar panels installed there, but we don't know if they're still usable after the collapse."
This realization struck Jian Chu. "How did I not think of that? Okay, let's go to the cooling supply center together. That way, we don't have to argue about who stays and who leaves. I've noticed Qin Huai would rather keep Mu Nan at home or with him, but definitely not alone outside."
As for the house, it should be safe for now. The real concern will come later. After a day or two, it might not be about rescue anymore, as survival in such extreme conditions with the high-rise collapse would likely mean dealing with decomposing bodies, which is too dangerous. Rescue operations might turn into clearing and rebuilding, and since Yu Zibai wouldn't be sent for that, it's best to prepare as much as possible before that happens. Stock up on food and supplies, and it's best to stay safe until the hardest times are over.
Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai, who had an expression that seemed to say, "What else do you have to say?" Qin Huai couldn't help but smile and finally conceded, "Okay, we'll all go together. But you have to promise me not to overexert yourself."
Mu Nan was satisfied and asked, "Should we bring a cart?" If they found solar panels, they couldn't carry them all individually.
Yu Zibai replied, "Yes, bring one. I saw someone using a cart to sift through things yesterday."
After finishing the pickled vegetable pancakes, they rested at home for a while. When they saw it was getting late, they prepared to leave. Before heading out, Qin Huai said, "Bring two lunch boxes."
Mu Nan went to the kitchen with his bag and, after retrieving the two lunch boxes, asked, "What are these for?"
Qin Huai explained, "Yesterday, we got meal tickets for the cafeteria. Before we come back today, we can check out what the cafeteria has. If there's food, we can bring it back and eat it." He was concerned that the tickets might expire or that food supplies might diminish, so it was better to use them as soon as possible.
Once everything was ready, they went outside. While it was manageable at home, Mu Nan realized his legs were trembling once they reached the stairs. Trying to hide it from Qin Huai, he stiffened his legs and walked carefully.
However, Qin Huai, knowing Mu Nan well, noticed immediately and humorously tapped him on the forehead. "It's normal to be shaky. It's not a big deal. It's not like you climb stairs every day. It's normal to feel unsteady after climbing so much."
Mu Nan grinned and rubbed his legs. "I was just worried you might send me back."
Qin Huai asked, "If I did, would you just go back obediently?"
Mu Nan huffed, "No way."
Going downstairs was indeed easier than going up. The process was only slowed down by the heat, and they encountered people coming upstairs twice. It seemed some people were still worried about the building collapsing and hadn't dared to return home. Today, the situation looked better; the building didn't seem likely to collapse, but it was unclear if people were returning to collect things or to stay.
Once they were out of the building, Mu Nan sighed, "So hot."
Qin Huai handed him a water bottle. "Have a drink."
The water in the bottle, provided by Mu Nan, was kept cool with ice cubes. The ice hadn't melted yet, providing a refreshing relief from the heat. However, the air was stifling and dusty, hinting at impending decay. Mu Nan knew this was just the beginning; in a couple of days, the pervasive stench of decomposing bodies would be unavoidable.
The small cart was foldable and light when carried, but the ground was uneven, covered in rubble, making walking unstable. Yu Zibai carried the cart, while Qin Huai closely watched Mu Nan, worried he might fall and get injured by the sharp debris.
Jian Chu asked while walking, "Have many people been rescued these days?"
Yu Zibai replied, "Not many. There are too few rescuers and the quake affected a huge area. Some are saying the earthquake might have impacted the entire city, which is why there's been no rescue yet and the signal remains down. If it's as severe as they think, our city's population loss could reach one-third."
Jian Chu frowned. "One-third seems too much. Our city has at least tens of millions of residents including temporary ones. Losing one-third, even if it's ten million, means over three million people would have died in an earthquake. That would be unprecedented. If it's really that bad, the whole country should mobilize for rescue."
Yu Zibai said, "So, aside from rescue, it's important to search for and stockpile supplies. It feels like things are about to get worse."
He then naturally reached out to help Jian Chu. "Let me support you."
Jian Chu pushed his hand away. "I'm fine on my own. I don't want to accidentally cause both of us to fall."
Mu Nan was about to turn back but was stopped by Qin Huai's hand. "Don't look around. Watch your step."
Mu Nan nodded and, once they were out of the neighborhood, found the road surface was slightly better but still uneven. With no streetlights yet, they had to be careful of any cracks that might be deep. Fortunately, they reached the cooling supply center safely. Compared to other neighborhoods, the cooling supply center had fewer floors, only four or five, so the collapse wasn't as severe. Even the roof still had half of its solar panels intact.
However, all the solar panels were gone, and Jian Chu's heart sank.
Yu Zibai frowned. "Solar panels are important supplies. They were likely collected by the military right away."
Jian Chu was visibly disappointed. "So, it's a wasted trip?"
Mu Nan said, "Since we're here, let's help with the rescue. The cooling supply center has lower floors, so if anyone is still alive, it's easier to rescue them here. But there don't seem to be many resident rescue teams, mostly soldiers."
Qin Huai added, "That's expected. The neighborhoods have more residents, while at the cooling supply center, fewer people escaped. Those who couldn't escape are likely still inside. Residents aren't likely to come here to help since they're busy with their own issues."
Jian Chu sighed, "Since we're here, let's go. We should find the registration place first otherwise we might end up working hard without even getting a meal."
As they talked, they walked toward the ruins and successfully found the registration area. Qin Huai asked a soldier, "Do you know how many people are still down there?"
The soldier, his voice raspy and tired from lack of rest, struggled to speak but answered seriously, "Some people left the cooling supply center after dark, but those in dire need are still inside. There are over 300 elderly individuals in this area. Some escaped from lower floors, but those on higher floors are trapped. It's estimated that at least 1,000 people are still inside."
Qin Huai said, "Thank you. Where should we start helping with the rescue?"
The soldier pointed in a direction. "The rescue teams are working in the southern district today. They opened a gap there yesterday."
Qin Huai thanked him again. Mu Nan rummaged through his bag and handed two throat lozenges to the soldier. "Here, for you."
The soldier quickly shook his head. "I don't need them. You should keep them for yourselves." They were acutely aware of how scarce resources were at the moment. With the destruction caused by the earthquake, it was uncertain when supplies like candy would be produced again, so he couldn't accept them.
Mu Nan firmly took the soldier's hand, placing the lozenges and a bottle of water in it, then hurried back to Qin Huai without giving the soldier a chance to refuse.
From the brief touch, he could feel the soldier's rough, cracked hands, many wounds, and dried blood in the nail crevices. The soldier's eyes were bloodshot, a clear sign that they hadn't had proper rest since the earthquake and had been working tirelessly. All Mu Nan could offer was those two lozenges and a bottle of water.
He wasn't the type to feel sympathy for everyone he met, but he couldn't remain indifferent to those risking their lives to help others.