As soon as the clock struck midnight, the timer updated to show 130 minutes remaining.
This meant that time could accumulate.
Jiang Ning was overjoyed. Every second counted—those minutes could be life-saving in critical moments.
She decided that unless absolutely necessary, she would not enter the space, choosing instead to save up time for extreme cold or earthquakes.
The thought made her heart ache, but there was nothing she could do.
She avoided security cameras and mixed the books she wanted with other items before discreetly storing them in her space.
Yang Weicong called again. Without hesitation, Jiang Ning blocked him.
Leaving school, she went to a large supermarket and took the elevator up to the rooftop parking lot. After walking around carefully, she finally headed down to shop.
Surrounded by an array of products, she didn't buy anything right away. Instead, she wandered around the second floor several times before leaving to visit other locations.
A call came from the car rental company. They were closing early due to the approaching typhoon and required her to return the vehicle by 3 PM.
Jiang Ning agreed but didn't return the car until 4 PM. By then, the typhoon's howling winds filled the air, sending eerie gusts through the streets.
The owner, a decent man, checked the vehicle and refunded her 2,000 yuan deposit.
Natural disasters didn't strike all at once—they always gave warning signs. Unfortunately, humanity had failed to notice them.
Jiang Ning kept her cash for emergencies and stopped spending recklessly.
Back at her apartment, she grabbed her laptop, tablet, and phone, downloading everything she could—movies, music, survival guides, cooking recipes, offline maps, disaster response techniques, and first aid tutorials.
Suddenly, a notification popped up from a shopping app. A logistics message reminded her of something crucial—she had forgotten about her arctic survival gear!
It should have arrived the previous evening, but the seller had delayed shipping, and the typhoon had further delayed delivery. Now, the package had only just arrived at the courier collection center.
She immediately called the courier service, but they informed her that deliveries were suspended due to the typhoon. If she needed it urgently, she could pick it up herself before 6 PM.
By now, the wind outside was howling fiercely, and the trees in the residential complex swayed violently.
If the typhoon hit, the courier center would be flooded. Without the arctic survival gear, she wouldn't last in the extreme cold of -60°C to -70°C.
No drivers were accepting ride requests. Gritting her teeth, Jiang Ning rushed downstairs, unlocked a shared bicycle, and pedaled furiously toward the courier center.
The two-kilometer journey was a battle against the wind. Trash and pieces of cardboard flew into the sky, and she could barely keep her eyes open.
By the time she arrived, she was drenched in sweat, her hair disheveled.
With deliveries delayed by the typhoon, the courier center was overflowing with mountains of packages.
Ignoring her exhaustion, Jiang Ning rolled up her sleeves and dug through the pile.
Thankfully, her package was large. After searching for more than ten minutes, she finally found it.
Outside, the typhoon had grown even stronger. The sky was ominously dark, almost like night had already fallen.
Jiang Ning gritted her teeth, hugged her package tightly, and stepped out of the center.
Just then, a powerful gust of wind slammed into her.
She was lifted off the ground, sent flying—
At that moment, a man standing by his car, loading goods, reacted swiftly. He reached out and grabbed her arm in one quick motion.
His stance was firm, and he effortlessly pulled the flailing Jiang Ning back to the ground.
She gasped for breath and quickly tried to thank him, but her voice was lost in the roaring wind.
The man looked at her briefly. "The typhoon's here. It's not safe to be carrying that package."
The storm had arrived faster than expected. Jiang Ning had no choice but to retreat into the courier center and desperately refresh her ride-hailing app, adding extra tips and bonuses.
Still, there were over 300 people in the queue ahead of her. No drivers were taking requests.
The man finished loading his vehicle—an off-road Hummer—until it was packed with deliveries. Seeing Jiang Ning's anxious expression, he hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Where do you live?"
Under the dim light, Jiang Ning finally got a good look at him.
He wore a black T-shirt and jeans, appearing to be in his early twenties. His short-cropped hair was neat, and his sharp jawline gave him a strong, chiseled look.
He was tall—at least 185 cm (6'1"). His long legs were particularly striking.
Jiang Ning thanked him again. The man remained indifferent. "It was just a small favor."
"I live in Jinrong Community. Could you give me a ride? I'll pay for the trip."
He nodded and opened the car door.
The back seat was filled with packages. Jiang Ning opened the front door and found a little girl sitting in the passenger seat.
She looked about four or five years old, with a small, delicate face, fair skin, and big, round, dark eyes. She wore a pink dress and stared at Jiang Ning timidly.
The man spoke, "Dou Dou, let the sister hold you."
At this point, breaking traffic rules hardly mattered.
Jiang Ning carefully lifted Dou Dou onto her lap and placed her package at her feet.
The wind roared as the Hummer drove steadily through the storm.
The darkening sky was filled with debris—broken tree branches and torn metal sheets rattling as they were swept away.
In the distance, a girl in a dress clung desperately to a utility pole. Her lips moved soundlessly, but it was clear she was screaming for help.
The catastrophe had officially begun.