Chapter 11: The Changing of Hearts

Chapter 11: The Changing Heart

This statement was indeed accurate, and many residents began to join the discussion.

Resident of Unit 901, who drinks purified water: I can endure the cold, but I cannot tolerate living in such filth.

Resident of Unit 402, who keeps pets: How about we take turns throwing out the trash, dress warmly, and just toss it into the nearest dumpster outside our unit door? Ten meters isn’t far; that should be fine, right?

Resident of Unit 402: Should we start from the first floor and go up, or from the top floor down?

Residents of Units 101 and 102: Of course, from the top down.

Residents of Units 1101 and 1102: Naturally, from the bottom up.

Resident of Unit 901: Then what’s the point of throwing it out at all? It’s all just at the unit entrance anyway. How’s that different from tossing it directly from upstairs? The snow is already over half a meter deep, and it’s a blizzard. If someone goes out, they might get blown away, buried in snow, and unable to come back—or get hit by something. And now, with no way to get to the hospital?

In truth, no one hadn’t considered this, but it seemed too uncivilized. Going out and throwing trash into the dumpster felt like the decent thing to do.

But now, as the resident of 901 said, people going out might not come back. Compared to human life, nothing else matters.

Building leader of Unit 401: Then each household should manage their own trash, but don’t use the bathroom. We’re all family here, we must help each other and get through this together. This weather should pass soon.

There was a brief silence in the chat group before the resident of 901 broke it: Could it really be the end of the world?

Resident of Unit 501: You young people talk nonsense. I’ve lived over sixty years and never heard of the end of the world.

Resident of Unit 901: If there was an end of the world before, none of us would be here. The dinosaur extinction doesn’t count.

Resident of Unit 501: What a bunch of nonsense. Don’t scare people.

Building leader of Unit 401: Even if the snow is heavy, it can’t last more than two days. It will stop tonight, I promise. Let’s not argue—everyone should eat breakfast.

Regarding the bathroom situation, Guan Pan and Lu Ruisheng had prepared some cat litter, at least preventing the waste from turning into a filthy soup should the temperature suddenly rise.

Later, more residents complained about the lack of food at home, but it was only the second day. No one was starving yet, just lacking appetite. So the complaints were mild, with no strong emotions.

After breakfast, Guan Pan and Lu Ruisheng went to the space. Lu Ruisheng installed shelves while Guan Pan continued rummaging through Zhuang Jie’s boxes—many unopened, piquing their curiosity.

They found many valuable items, including 3D-printed gun parts. It seemed Zhuang Jie had survived the apocalypse for a long time and had access to better resources than they did.

But it didn’t matter now; all of it belonged to them.

Toward the last dozen boxes, they were stunned. Unexpectedly, Zhuang Jie had stockpiled numerous seeds and hatching eggs, all kept in an incubator.

The fact that Zhuang Jie had saved these indicated the space could preserve them and that after the apocalypse, they could be planted and bred. New life meant a future, filling them with hope.

That afternoon, the space usage was maxed out, so they couldn’t enter and began assembling guns. Although the blizzard had lasted ten days, many government offices reopened after a few days, but disorder had already started.

When the power went out and the internet was gone, street surveillance ceased, and contact with the police was lost, people were no longer restrained.

Although government broadcasts urged everyone to wait for national arrangements, hunger drove many to break the law, especially without surveillance or police presence.

The days grew darker earlier; by 4 p.m. it was already night.

At dinner, complaints in the residents’ chat group peaked. Without water and lacking food reserves, many began voicing grievances.

Residents of Units 101 and 102 complained most. The snow was nearly level with the first-floor windowsills and showed no sign of stopping. They feared their windows would be sealed shut by snow.

Building leader of Unit 401 reassured them in the group: Don’t worry too much; snow can’t fall endlessly. Even in winter, it doesn’t snow like this. It will most likely stop by tonight.

Resident of Unit 101: But the snow is heavier than yesterday. You on the higher floors aren’t scared, but what about us on the first floor?

Resident of Unit 102: Yes, we’re on the first floor. How can we not be scared? If the snow really seals the windows, where could I go to stay upstairs?

Resident of Unit 501: We’re neighbors. If anyone really needs help, who wouldn’t lend a hand?

Several others echoed similar kind words.

Guan Pan shook her head as she read these. She turned to Lu Ruisheng and said, “By tomorrow morning, the first-floor windows will be completely sealed by snow. All this talk of kindness—no one will take them in.”

Lu Ruisheng replied, “The apocalypse truly tests human nature.”

That night, Guan Pan and Lu Ruisheng took a shower. They didn’t dump the used water; instead, they stored it in the space since the drains were frozen. They would dispose of it once they could go outside again. After all, there was a waste bucket in the space.

They truly owed thanks to Zhuang Jie, who had prepared everything they hadn’t thought of.

After the shower, the electric heater was on in the room. The bedside lamp cast a soft, inviting glow. The newlyweds, after more than ten days of hard work, deserved a moment of relaxation.

Their phones were turned off—no need to be disturbed, as no urgent matters could be dealt with outside.

After several intimate moments, they fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Guan Pan woke to find Lu Ruisheng leaning against the headboard, reading and downloading military and weapons information on his tablet.

Seeing her awake, he kissed her forehead. “Up? I’ll make breakfast. Check the residents’ chat group—just as you said.”

He handed her his phone. They never kept secrets from one another and freely shared devices.

With no electricity, cooking was different now, so Lu Ruisheng cherished these few days of easily using appliances as he prepared breakfast.

Guan Pan watched him, puzzled. Surely men put in more physical effort during certain activities, yet she felt sore and achy while he seemed energized, almost hyped.

She shook her head in confusion, sat up, and opened the group chat. Seeing over ninety-nine new messages, she sighed. Perhaps these people had their flaws, but if it weren’t for the apocalypse, they wouldn’t have turned into villains. Yet the apocalypse changes everything.

At that moment, the resident of Unit 101 was posting: Our window is half sealed by snow. If it keeps snowing tonight, our home will be buried.

Resident of Unit 102: Yesterday everyone talked about helping each other. @Resident 501, Auntie, isn’t it just you and your little grandson at home? Can we stay with you a few days?

Resident of Unit 501: Our child is timid and scared of strangers. Sorry, we can’t.

Everyone knew the little grandson of 501 was a handful—a rambunctious five or six-year-old, quite sturdy and always causing trouble in the elevator. Everyone was suffering silently. Claiming he was scared was an obvious lie.

(End of chapter)