The eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano in the Beautiful Country was both expected and beyond anyone's imagination. As a supervolcano, Yellowstone had no intention of sparing the nearby human population from the moment it erupted!
Ash clouds darkened the sky, stirring the winds; lightning and thunder followed, raining down fire and meteors. Witnesses were filled with despair.
However, the eruption was just the beginning. Ten minutes later, an earthquake struck! Roads split, mountains and rivers overturned, countless buildings shattered and collapsed in the nearly nine-magnitude quake, turning into rubble. Some people escaped, covered in dust, either wailing or in shock, like walking corpses. But many more couldn't escape in time, blending with the collapsing buildings.
Post-disaster statistics showed over 300,000 deaths at the time of the earthquake...
The advanced internet allowed the world to witness the desolation brought by Yellowstone's eruption, but human emotions didn't connect globally. At least on the surface, everything in Summer Country was still running normally.
On the train, Ai Bing kept a stern face. She had hoped Zhou Lin would switch seats to accommodate her, but in the end, she had to smile at the middle-aged man next to Zhou Lin, which annoyed her.
But Zhou Lin ignored her completely. He barely looked at Ai Bing, even when not dozing off, he kept his eyes closed, deep in thought.
Three days after the Yellowstone eruption and earthquake, intense tectonic activity triggered volcanic eruptions worldwide, including in Summer Country. The dense volcanic eruptions brought secondary disasters and affected the sky.
In about seven days, the volcanic ash in the atmosphere would reach a critical level, blocking sunlight completely, plunging the world into three months of darkness.
Crops and fruits would nearly fail, many plants would die, disrupting the food chain; lack of sunlight would cause temperatures on land and sea to plummet, drastic temperature differences would change ocean currents, causing frequent hurricanes, making coastal areas uninhabitable due to continuous severe weather.
Inland areas, though spared from the sea's fury, would experience even faster and more severe temperature drops. In his past life, when Zhou Lin and Ai Bing evacuated to the South Lake area with the army, the temperature was around minus twenty degrees Celsius, later dropping another twenty degrees, with the lowest temperature exceeding minus forty degrees.
He wondered if the temperature in the Bashu Basin would be relatively better, but even if it dropped to minus forty degrees, Zhou Lin wasn't worried. The two nuclear reactors on the Laifu carrier weren't just for show.
"Zhou Lin, I'm hungry."
The meal cart had just passed, and Ai Bing hadn't ordered, expecting Zhou Lin to suggest going to the dining car.
"I brought instant noodles."
"Instant noodles? You just sold a house and you're eating instant noodles?" Ai Bing couldn't believe her ears. Zhou Lin had indeed changed.
"Suit yourself. If you want to eat, make it yourself."
After tossing a cup of noodles into Ai Bing's lap, Zhou Lin got up to get hot water, showing no intention of helping. Extremely annoyed, Ai Bing threw the noodles onto Zhou Lin's seat and pulled down her eye mask, determined not to forgive him unless he apologized.
But Zhou Lin had seen through everything and ignored Ai Bing's theatrics.
Ai Bing was still sulking, unaware that in Zhou Lin's mind, she had "died" several times over.
When the train arrived at Shudu Station, it was already night. After leaving the station, Zhou Lin didn't hesitate to take Ai Bing to a hotpot restaurant.
"I've booked a hotel nearby," Zhou Lin said.
Ai Bing nodded. Although Zhou Lin had been acting strangely these past two days, she tolerated it for the sake of the millions. She had already decided to part ways with Zhou Lin once the property was in her name, not indulging him at all.
"Wow! Someone stole an entire car town overnight. Impressive."
"They say the loss is in the millions. What kind of cars are that expensive? Made of gold?"
"You're such a novice. Do you know the Conqueror? One costs over ten million, even more if customized!"
...
Zhou Lin paused.
The car town incident had reached Shudu. Had the authorities discovered his identity? If so, were they taking action? Zhou Lin lowered his head, aware of the ubiquitous cameras and surveillance, trying to stay low-key.
"What's a Conqueror? Is it really that expensive?" Ai Bing asked curiously.
"It's an off-road RV modified from a Mercedes heavy truck. Ten million is just the starting price..."
"Ten million as a starting price... We'll never afford that in our lifetime." Ai Bing looked envious. Zhou Lin smiled and whispered:
"It's no big deal. My family has one."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Zhou Lin smirked. "Want to try it?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Ai Bing nodded eagerly.
Maybe in the next life, Zhou Lin thought. But he could show her, let her experience what it means to see but not touch. As for exposing himself—dead people can't leak secrets.
The next morning, Zhou Lin yawned and woke Ai Bing. It was time to go.
Originally, Zhou Lin planned to take the high-speed train home, but he changed his mind last night. He didn't even call a ride-hailing service, instead hailing a taxi at the hotel entrance.
Ai Bing didn't understand, and Zhou Lin didn't explain.
After a two-hour drive, Zhou Lin called his mom, asking the taxi to take them directly to his home.
"Your home is in the countryside?" Ai Bing couldn't believe it, seeing the rural courtyard. She thought Zhou Lin's family was at least middle-class, given they could buy a house in Deep City outright. How could they be simple farmers?
Zhou Lin didn't answer, carrying the luggage towards the gate. Before reaching it, a large black dog rushed out, barking fiercely, then pounced on Zhou Lin!
"Hei Zi, stop, no licking." Zhou Lin put down the luggage, petting the dog's head, barely avoiding a face wash from its tongue.
Following Hei Zi was Zhou Lin's mother, Cheng Yali.
In her forties, Cheng Yali looked robust, almost like a female warrior. Ai Bing was stunned, unsure how to greet her.
Zhou Lin didn't bother with introductions, pushing Hei Zi aside to hug Cheng Yali, "Mom, I missed you!"
"Stop flattering me. It's been less than six months, acting like it's been half a lifetime!" Cheng Yali said, but she was clearly happy. When she saw Ai Bing at the gate, her smile widened.
"Why not invite her in? Is she your girlfriend?"
"Mom..." Zhou Lin whispered in Cheng Yali's ear, "What if I told you she's my enemy, would you believe me?"